Chapter 9: Chapter 9 – It’s All Stone (I)

"I d-do, sire."

Diopis, the young engineer, nodded, sweating profusely with his shoulders stiff.

Horus had something in mind after cramming all the books last night. It is something not complex but something he will need in the future.

"I need a small, preferably sphere, clockwork device that absorbs mana surges. No need to make the mana releasable; I only need a mana-absorbing device. Ah, I don't need it right away; take your time. Can you do it?"

"Yes. My father is a blacksmith. We will certainly make it."

Horus nodded, satisfied, then turned to Gwen and asked.

"Ah, Gwen, give him thirty."

Gwen gave Diopis the initial payment, showing a gentle smile. Horus observed the stiff Diopis as he crossed his arms, then spoke, smirking.

"Please, take it as an advance payment. Looking forward to your work."

"Y-yes, sir. Thank you for your patronage."

He was confident about Diopis' engineering skills after seeing how he managed to pull off micro mana-compressors with such humble materials. Alchemic engineering requires a lot of experience and knowledge; considering how young Diopis looks, he must be hardworking.

'Well, let's see how it will turn out.'

"Let's go."

The harsh midday sun had struck the solid bed of the city. Gwen double-checked the list of items upon noticing they had all the supplies. Horus was quite surprised by Gwen's keen eyes on quality control. She took the lead and kept all the items in check and of high quality.

"Okay, looks like we have it all. We can now resume, Sir Landon!"

Gwen called out to the coachman, Landon. Dale and Gwen had just finished packing the new luggage in the carriage's compartment as Horus comfortably helped himself onto the carriage, delighted, for he didn't expect that things had turn out easy thanks to the three.

'Being rich is great.'

"Giddy-up!"

They continued their way southward toward the academy. Occasionally, they had to take short halts to feed and rest the horses. They passed groves with all greenward, ruins draped with vines, and small villages until they arrived at the Cradell-Durkton border, where the guards inspected the carriage. Dale would mount off to talk to the guards for a moment, then continue their way smoothly.

Gwen had talked a lot, showing her diverse knowledge about places of interest they passed by. Horus often kept his reply short, but it didn't hold Gwen from chattering cheerfully.

The view is already dark - so dark he could barely see any presence - when a gigantic castle draws closer and closer as they pass the cobblestone pathway that cuts into the more dense, shady forest.

The self-sustained, evenly distanced lampposts lit the haziness surrounding them. Each had small banners hanging, almost obscured by the thick mist.

Gwen started to mumble in awe, observing the sight with her hands on the carriage's glass window.

"Ohhh, so this is the Gilshire Academy! It's brighter than I anticipated, though."

What appeared next was a gigantic stonework castle, spanning thousands, maybe a million yaks side-by-side, front-and-back.

Covering it was a tall, soaring solid brick wall that shelters the campus from the dangers of the murky forest around it. The bright windows and the hanging lamps cut the haze, tearing the eerieness of the cold, damp atmosphere.

'It looks more of a fortress; it's all stone.'

The academy resides at the edge of denser South Glimp Forest. Low- to mid-tier monsters are known to linger here, perhaps because of the presence of dungeons around the vast woods. That is also why traveling here is challenging, unlike its north counterpart full of dirt roads.

Luckily, the location of the Gilshire Academy is pretty far from the dungeons, making it comparably safe than one might think.

The stillness of the night was deep, but loud laughers of resting coachmen and armored guards shore the eerie haze on the castle. They arrived at the castle's inner courtyard, where some guards patrolled on alert, but some sat with their faces flushed red.

"The Headmaster will give us a word after this! Gatekeepers aren't allowed to drink!"

"Ah, Maria. Maria. Get a life sometimes. It's been ages since I last drank. Why don't you join us and see?"

The only female among the bunch yells back in rage, seemingly ready to cast any spell at any time.

"I can't believe I got assigned with dirtbags like you! I will-"

At that moment, the sudden noise of the arriving carriage made the female mage-guard abruptly tilt to the decelerating vehicle.

Sighing, she knocked at the doorframe of the carriage the moment it halted, then uttered a tired, brusque voice.

"Your admission paper, please."

Gwen hopped off and merrily handed a piece of red parchment envelope. After checking, the female guard stared at Horus sitting inside for a moment, then resumed speaking.

"Late again, huh? Well, we'll take it from here. Mr. Durkton, please head to the lobby right away."

Horus got off as he stretched, yawning as it was already late and he had barely slept last night. He could hear the drunk guards and coachmen gabble things about him but ignored it for good.

'They are loud.'

The female guard motioned to him, leading the way as he parted a wave to Gwen, Dale, and Landon, who started carrying his things in the opposite direction.

"Mr. Durkton, this way, please."

He entered the cobblestone hallway connecting the courtyard and the lobby, smirking as he was relieved. He intended to arrive at night, for he knew the academy kept strict curfew hours, which meant fewer chances of stumbling upon disciples.

Horus arrived at the lobby full of empty, long seats. There were a few people, perhaps late-arriving disciples as well.

In front of them was an old lady wearing a black robe and a pointed hat, who started speaking as she noticed Horus' arrival.

"It seems like that's all of you, latecomers."

It was a stern yet professional tone. Short after, the old lady waved a hand, causing a sucking blast of wind that shut the wide archaic door from the hallway. It made Horus' clothes and hair flutter in disarray.

[ Air Vacuum ]

It's a common wind-element spell Horus is familiar with from the novel. He was dazed since it was his first genuine encounter with this world's magic.

"Please follow me."

Another wide door swung open as they arrived at the end of yet another hallway. The old lady slightly frowns as she strode, then whispers without turning.

"Please be aware that the Headmaster was quite fussy about latecomers recently. So I advise behaving to get your admission stamped."

'Wait, they punish latecomers?'

They entered a spacious office. It was slick and sufficiently lit, with windows and bookshelves on every wall. At the center was a basalt desk, and behind were barely noticeable stone doors that led to some unknown.

A hairless yet goateed wrinkled man turned to them, sitting still at his desk, hands clasped as his eyes barely open.

"Thank you, Professor Malwint. I'll take them from here."

The Headmaster uttered crisply, rough and deep-toned as if out of saliva. The old lady, Professor Malwint, nods as she leaves, closing the wide door with a soft creak.

'To think that this grandpa was the real deal.'

<Garon Von Viscador>

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He was the Headmaster in the novel's first half and recognized as an ace-tier earth mage despite being called an egghead by most disciples.

In the novel, Headmaster Viscador was the first Headmaster who allowed the admission of commoner disciples into the Gilshire Academy. It was quite a talk by the Royal Society, but they couldn't ignore Headmaster Viscador's political influence.

After all, he was a former Magic Tower Head and didn't become one of the continent's Seven Guardians for just show. Even the Golian Royal Family fears meddling with him.

The Headmaster stood and rounded each of the five, causing his white robe to wave on each gentle yet heavy step. His eyes darted to the young lady wearing a black veil and ended to Horus, who was frowning, arms crossed with his eyes shut.

"Hmm... Last year, I was carelessly considerate to rule-breakers. That is why I had been revising most of the academy's rules and ordinances, but the recent years are the worst in history; two hundred rule-breaking incidents in a single year."

Headmaster Viscador spoke, putting weight on each word that echoed into the silent room.

"I do admit that I had relied too much on the same ways of punishment the last Headmasters relayed to this generation. This time, rather. I am thinking of giving alternative ways to put rule-breakers on work, you see."

Those words made everyone focus on the Headmaster, showing hints of relief on their puzzled faces, some anxious.

For Horus, however, he felt iffy. He knew Headmaster Viscador was neither lenient nor forgiving. After all, the man in front of him was a sharp commanding general who turned the tables of the incoming war to the Golian Kingdom's side. This aged man is no joke, to say at least.

"Hmm... I shall enlist you all at the Watchers Assembly. They have been running out of members recently. Counting you in might be a good way to learn your lecture."

'Ah. Hell, no way.'

Horus swore internally as his frown sank more than ever. One of the latecomers started to utter in a whisper, enough for him to hear.

"The Watchers Assembly?"

Silence fills the room until the veiled young lady answers, delivering in a grim tone as everybody turns to her.

"They are a body of disciples observing concord of the campus zone. They had three main intents: patrol and report on their designated campus post, make disciples follow and be aware of the protocols and curfews, and take disciplinary action against any misconduct."

'Simply put, they don't rest. But ah..., what mess just I have gotten myself into.'

Horus felt weary thinking that his living-a-stress-free-academy-life scheme had crumbled into pieces. He hated any laborious job unless he had an opportunity to exploit things. Moreover, he recalled that Axel and Effelia were already members of the assembly.

"Excellent. It seems like I don't have to explain things further. I'll credit you, Ms. Guillan, for remembering it."

The young lady nods and turns away as another guy mutters in a stutter.

"B-but Headmaster, I'm on a strict training schedule. P-please reconsider-"

"Please, rest assured. If you accomplish your work well, your service term will only last a semester. You may go now."

Headmaster Viscador turned away as he chuckled softly, hands on his back. All started to head to the door with different expressions until he continued.

"Ah, except you, Mr. Durkton."

In response, Horus halted, watching the others leave as the door creaked to silence. Now that the two were alone, Headmaster Viscador turned to the unbothered Horus, who he thought was unexpectedly quiet.

"Mr. Durkton, do you feel any strange sensations... or pains in your body?"

'...?'

Horus blankly stared at Headmaster Viscador, who showed a somewhat concerned face. It made Horus think for a moment.

The Headmaster and Horus in the novel should have no interaction except when Horus got suspended for a week after harassing a professor. However, his father and Headmaster Viscador must be relatively close. Count Durkton is one of the major sponsors of the academy, after all.

"You seem to be out of it just now. I suppose you don't feel good?"

"I'm fine, sir."

The Headmaster slightly bends his head unconvinced to the response, observing Horus almost glaringly, taking a moment before giving a reply.

"Okay. You may go. Don't be late tomorrow."

Slowly turning and walking away, Horus holds the doorknob gently, then halts as Headmaster Viscador seems about to say something.

"Come to me if so, Mr. Durkton. I will personally nurse you."

"...Thanks, Headmaster."

The depth of midnight sunk deep as Horus flopped his tired body on the bed. He is currently in a double dorm room on the sixth floor of the men's dormitory tower - which happened to be the last floor dedicated to misbehaving students. Luckily, he had no roommate; one reason he knew no one wanted to share a room with him.

Horus scratches his messy hair, unable to sleep. He rolls the bed twice until he finally calms down, resting on his stomach.

'The pills.'

It was what he had been up to his mind after his conversation with the Headmaster.

'It's suspicious. Why is the Count keeps reminding me to take it?'

He finds it too suspicious: the pills inside the small glass jar he is currently holding. He knows Horus Durkton shouldn't be sick, but what concerns him is the effects of the drug since he hadn't taken any since he transmigrated four days ago.

'I need to investigate this.'

Assuring himself with that words is the last thing he could remember before falling into slumber.

Clang! The blasting noise of the dormitory's belfry reverberated on the corners of the building; it was the morning call for the starting ceremony. The bell was latched on the topmost part of the dorm's tower, making it much louder, at least for Horus' room on the sixth floor.

Students had one hour to prepare, and those who were late will not be able to attend the rite. Additionally, watchers and first-year students are mandated to partake.

'Hell.'

After a bath in the dorm room's bathroom, Horus strapped himself with the academy's uniform. It's a plain white cotton shirt and tie, topped with a layer of a sweater and a knee-long coat with wide lapels. The colors are pretty much deep-tinted gray, and the accent colors are yellow, which signifies the color of alchemy. It's a pretty good uniform, he supposed.

"What's with the black glasses?"

Those were the first words of the alchemy department's senior, who named herself Korina, upon fetching him into his dorm room. She wore the same uniform as Horus, but her's had a lot of badges on it.

"They told me to fetch you for some reason. Are you some VIP or something?"

"What's with your goggles?"

Without addressing either question, Horus asked. He observes the aviator goggles on Korina walking beside him. Undeniably, it matched well on her olive hair's curls.

He was following Korina heading downstairs, along with the horde of rushing students who wore the same uniform but different accent colors.

"Oh, this? It's my signature alchemy goggles. It's the figure of my success."

Korina pinches her goggles while showing a proud smile.

"Good for you."

Korina's chattering continues until they reach the ground floor, where other alchemy students gather in a cluttered crowd, perhaps waiting for him as he is almost late.

Korina halts and shouts to call, maintaining a proud stance.

"Everyone, gather round!"

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