“Oh, good day, Deputy Professor. How may I help you today?”
“Where can I find books, notes, and records about the Quinquennial Arcane Institute Convocation?”
The name was a mouthful, and as soon as he said it, the person at the desk simply nodded. Roland waited for a moment, and after a short pause, the librarian cast a guiding spell that created a small orb of light to lead him there. Before he could leave, however, he was stopped by a blue-robed mage.
“Professor Wayland, what about my request? Isn’t this the regular library?”
Anzeneus gestured toward the other teachers and even students wandering about, something that should have been impossible with knowledge reserved for the Archmagus Headmistress.
“Um, how about you first look through the regular library? You might still find something worth researching here.”
The old man stroked his beard and, after a moment, seemed to reach an epiphany.
“I see. So the true research is locked away and not easily accessed? I knew something like this would happen!”
Anzeneus clearly misunderstood the situation, but Roland had no intention of correcting him. For now, he needed to keep the old man distracted before he reached any conclusions. He could still provide what Anzeneus wanted even after refusing the Headmistress, but it would take more time.
At the moment, Roland only wanted to study the Quinquennial Arcane Institute Convocation to plan his next move. If he could not meet the threshold the Headmistress required, there would be no reason to accept her offer. Yet if his chances of success were high, participating in the large-scale event might prove worthwhile.
He had remained hidden in Albrook for quite some time. Rumors of his work were already spreading throughout the kingdom, and though he tried to stop them, it was impossible. Perhaps it was better to look ahead now. Presenting his achievements and observing what the other mage schools could offer might not be such a bad idea after all.
It was likely that the proverbial ball had already begun to roll. The Duke, the entire Valerian household, and the nobles under their influence were now aware of him. Danger surrounded him, and hiding was potentially no longer an option. Perhaps showing a bit more confidence would serve him better, as new opportunities could emerge from boldness.
‘Chances will come naturally to the victor. Gaining favor with the mage schools and exchanging theories with other crafters could prove valuable in the future.’
Although his progress was impressive for his age, he knew that without the Institute and without the help of the Dwarven Union or Rastix’s expertise in alchemy, he would never have reached this point. He could still conceal his face and true identity as he always had. Testing his inventions against the finest minds in the Kingdom would reveal how far he had truly come in the world of craftsmen.
“I’ll leave you to your research, Professor Anzeneus. If we lose sight of each other, you can probably find me at the Runic Department. If not, just ask Professor Arion to send a message.”
Anzeneus smiled faintly, but it seemed that he wasn’t truly buying Roland’s story.
“Of course, of course. The Runic Department…”
“Just use your temporary badge. With it, you will be able to access all the facilities at the Institute that any other professor can, with a few exceptions, of course.”
Roland gave a polite nod, though inwardly he sighed. The old mage was far too inquisitive for his liking. Still, for now, he needed the man to be patient. He was soon guided to an area filled with books, notes, and even schematics of past creations from previous competitions, and there was a great deal of it.
‘The ones about the golem competition are here.’
He focused his research on the main event, the one the Headmistress wanted him to design a golem for. As he expected, this Institute, which lacked expertise in magical crafts, had never been victorious and usually ended up near the bottom of the rankings. Their best result in the last century had been a modest fourth place.
‘How many schools are going to participate…’
For a moment, Roland stopped thinking about the competition itself and instead focused on who he would be up against. The most likely to win the golem event was a school near Mount Varrin, an area known for its dwarven craftsmen and runesmiths. The mages there had a symbiotic relationship with the dwarves and specialized in earth magic. The school’s name was the Ironspire Collegium, built into the mountains with its own A-plus rank dungeon for hunting monsters and gathering materials. It was one of the more prestigious schools in the kingdom, known for its mastery of a single element, though there were many others as well.
‘Even though most of the schools have no Archmages, Yavenna’s presence doesn’t really help with these things.’
There were many smaller mage schools in the kingdom and six main ones. The one he was teaching at was one of them, Master Anzeneus came from another, and the third was the Ironspire Collegium. There were three more, with one that had remained at the very top for the last hundred years.
‘The Starbloom Elemental Academy has won almost all of these competitions. They are usually first or second at worst.’
This academy was led by another Archmagus, one who followed the path of an elementalist. It was located in the central part of the kingdom, within the capital city. The school was closely tied to the royal family, and the Archmagus there also served as the court mage. He held significant political influence and had a unique position, answering only to the king and advising on matters of magic.
‘At least that’s what the rumors say. People claim he is more powerful than Yavenna, but tier four class holders rarely fight each other anyway, so no one can really confirm it.’
Battles between individuals of such high class were extremely rare. Their power was usually reserved for wars between kingdoms or empires. They served as the ultimate weapons, waiting to be unleashed if ever necessary. Their mere existence was often enough to deter other nations from invading.
‘Now then…’
Roland began flipping through the many tomes and notes laid out before him. He learned about the various competitions, how some lesser-known schools had managed to win a few, and what kinds of support items could help this institute achieve victory. It quickly became clear why one school kept winning the golemic competitions. Few schools dedicated much effort to that field, as most focused on events that showcased speed in spellcasting, precision, or combat against summoned creatures.
‘It’s obvious why the institute hasn’t won much.’
When he closed the last book, he finally understood why the Headmistress had given him this task. Compared to the other schools, this institute lagged behind in one specific area: enchantments, the very field he specialized in.
“It’s possible, twelve months isn’t too bad. I might even have time to finish my other projects, and the school will provide me with the materials for free…”
The more he thought about it, the more he planned, and the clearer his decision became. In truth, only one thing held him back from joining: once he revealed his abilities, his reputation would grow. Yet at this point, was there any reason to keep hiding? Perhaps showing his talent to the kingdom would earn him protection. His enemies were only beginning to study him, so now was the perfect time to make his presence known.
“This is going to be troublesome, and how big will this budget even be?”
At that very moment, he made up his mind. Roland closed the last book and placed it on the table. The sound it made was softened by the silence enchantments covering the library. Once finished, he added a bit of mana, and the books began to float back to their shelves, drawn to their proper places.
“I guess I’ll do it.”
The words were quiet, spoken more to himself than to anyone else, yet as soon as they left his lips, the air around him seemed to shift. He was no longer wondering whether he should accept the offer. Instead, his mind was already planning several steps ahead. The participants for the games had not yet been selected, but he could still obtain a list of the top students.
‘Some competitions have age restrictions, if I remember correctly. It won’t be only upperclassmen and teachers taking part.’
There would be a great deal of research required, but he could delegate most of it to Arion or some of the other assistant professors in the Runic Department. His task would be to bring out the best in the chosen participants with custom-made enchanted gear and to prepare the golem for the competition. With that decision made, he turned toward the Headmistress’s tower.
By the time he left the archives, the sun was already setting behind the institute’s buildings. Crimson light stretched across the courtyard, and fortunately, the old man in the blue robe was nowhere to be seen. He was probably still somewhere inside the archives. There was little more Roland could learn here, but going through all those books would take time.
“Ah, Deputy Professor, you’re back already. Have you made up your mind?”
Roland found himself once again in the Headmistress’s office. She looked as though she had known what his answer would be all along, and he couldn’t help but wonder if he had been playing into her hands from the very beginning. Still, the proposition was not without merit. Before he could fully commit, however, there were a few questions he needed answered. It was one thing if the institute covered all expenses, but quite another if he had to rely on his own research funds to secure a victory.
“Yes, but first, could you tell me how much money the institute plans to invest in this golem?”
“Investing? Ah, right. I forgot that people like you tend to worry about such things… Will this be enough?”
Yavenna’s lips curved into an all-knowing smile. She extended one hand, and her long nails gleamed faintly in the lamplight. For a moment, Roland assumed she meant to summon a contract or perhaps a set of ledgers to show the monetary limit he would be given. Instead, the wood beneath his feet began to groan.
The planks slowly parted to reveal something hidden. At once, he felt the pull of spatial magic, and a concealed area opened before him. Within the gap that had formed in the floor lay rows upon rows of sparkling treasure. Gold, silver, and platinum glittered among piles of coins from many different kingdoms. It was the largest treasure hoard he had ever seen, and he thought that if this woman lived in modern times, she would easily be a billionaire.
‘Those metals, Orihalcum, and so much mithril… but what are those, I don’t recognise that mana signature…’
There were countless metals in the chamber, some still in raw ore form, pulsing faintly with magic. The space stretched far beyond what he could fully see, yet one thing was clear. This archmagus was wealthier than most of the high nobility. He did not know where she had gathered such riches, but it was evident that money had never been her concern.
“As you can see, Deputy Professor.”
Yavenna said, her tone almost playful.
“Resources are not an obstacle. What matters are results. I can provide gold, mithril, orichalcum, even arcanite, but without a skilled craftsman with true vision, none of it will matter.”
Roland stood in silence, gazing into the abyss of wealth beneath the tower. The sheer density of mana was overwhelming. After a short moment, the display ended as the floorboards began to close, sealing away the treasure once more. Now he understood why there was always such commotion whenever one of these archmages died. They left behind treasures beyond measure, riches that could change the fate of kingdoms.
“Any other questions?”
He was left somewhat dumbfounded after the spectacle. With this amount of wealth, he could probably fund his next golem project without any trouble. This would leave most of Albrook’s diminishing funds available for the subway project and the fight against Theodore’s economic attacks.
“Uh… will it be fine if I do most of my work at my own workshop?”
“That’s fine. If you wish, you may ask for help from anyone in the Runic Department, but try not to overburden them. Everyone still has their own work to do.”
“I see… then I suppose… Could I have an explanation of my full responsibilities? I’ve done some preliminary research, but I’m sure there is more to it.”
The Headmistress nodded and began explaining what she expected from Roland. It took about an hour for her to finish the description, and it was roughly what he had anticipated. He would be responsible for creating many support items such as enchanted bracelets, pendants, armor, and even magical staves. The participants would be chosen six months before the events, giving him enough time to prepare everything.
This arrangement would free up a great deal of time for him, as he would no longer be required to give lectures. Instead, he could focus entirely on his research, something he had already been planning to do. While the large-scale event was not the testing ground he had hoped for, it was still a perfect opportunity to measure his creations against the best the kingdom had to offer. He could finally see how his skills compared to other tier-three runesmiths and enchanters.
“I will be expecting a lot from you, Deputy Professor Wayland.”
Roland nodded and excused himself from the Headmistress’s office once he had received all the necessary information. There was one contract to sign to secure his position, but it carried no serious consequences if broken. It seemed that the Archmagus trusted him completely, and he could not understand where such faith came from. Ever since his arrival, she had been favoring him, though he had no idea why.
‘Well, at least I got this. This should keep Anzeneus off my back.’
In his right hand, he held a tome on tier-four fire magic. As soon as he stepped outside the tower, his so-called friend appeared. He had taken only a few steps when the blue-robed mage materialized in front of him.
“Professor Wayland, there you are!”
“Yes, here I am…”
“Oh, that tome you’re holding… could it be?”
Anzeneus caught on quickly. His mana perception was probably stronger than Roland’s, as he immediately sensed the flame mana swirling around the book.
“Indeed. As you know, you may not remove this book from the Institute. The Headmistress has granted permission for you to study it for three days, but it must be returned afterward.”
“O-of course! I would never dare to anger the Archmagus!”
The old man’s fingers trembled as Roland handed him the book. It was a funny sight. Anzeneus looked like a child who had finally received a toy he had wanted for years. His eyes sparkled with delight, and he struggled to keep himself from opening the book right then and there.
“Follow this summoned creature to your accommodations. It will be your guide through the Institute while I am gone. I probably will not be returning for some time, so we may not see each other again for a while.”
Once Roland uttered these words, the old mage seemed to awaken from a trance.
“Ah, I hope our paths cross again in the future.”
“They probably will, but for now I will bid you farewell, Professor Anzeneus.”
Both of them understood that mages were always occupied with research, spellcraft, and mana training. Anzeneus bowed slightly, his blue robe fluttering as a soft gust of mana passed through the park. The summoned creature, which resembled a small plant fairy, flew ahead, guiding the old mage toward his temporary quarters. The little being acted not only as a guide but also as a chaperone, and it would alert the Headmistress if the old man ever attempted to carry the tome outside.
‘Now then, I should go to Arion and discuss a few matters with him.’
With nearly everything settled, Roland made his way to the Runic Department to inform Arion of the news. He would not be attending future lectures and would likely return only to request additional funds or in six months when the competition participants were chosen.
“Oh, Professor Wayland, I’ve heard the great news!”
“You did?”
“Indeed!”
The department had expanded since his first visit to the Institute, and even at this hour, it was filled with activity. It appeared that the Headmistress had already told Arion about the plans for the upcoming event.
“Good, then I won’t need to explain anything to you.”
The two spoke for a while, discussing possible runic devices for the students and identifying the best potential recruits for the competition. To Roland’s surprise, Arion had already prepared several scrolls listing the school’s top students, clearly compiled even before Roland had agreed to the Headmistress’s proposal.
‘So she expected me to agree from the start…’
He sighed softly and left the Runic Department, heading toward the teleportation gates. Out of idle curiosity, he opened one of the scrolls and skimmed through the names, grades, and ages of the students.
‘Hm?’
Just as he reached the gate chamber, he stopped in his tracks. His eyes lingered on one particular name, a student he recognized…
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