The Arrogance of Humility 8

After the boring speech from Headmaster Arcus, now, it was the time for the debates from the founders’ descendants (Harvey, Draco, Arcus, and Arias) to become the next head of the academy.

The candidates sat on their respective family seats. The present descendants from the Harvey family were only Professor Vennefer Harvey, as he had no relatives or (blood) descendants; from the Draco family: Lord Alphonse Draco and Malus Draco; from the Arcus family: Headmaster Mesdoram Arcus and Professor Arkana Arcus; from the Arias family: Professor Glewan Arias, Professor Sheila Arias, and Cletus Arias.

The Reinhart family descendants were driven out from the candidate seat because the last heir of the Reinhart family abandoned magic, disgraced the family, and left behind the descendants whose presences were unknown.

Headmaster Arcus was a tall and sturdy man in his early 50s having pale-white skin, a pointed nose, blue eyes, and white medium curtained hair with handlebar and goatee. He wore a Sage robe with various medals and white gloves. He was brutally honest, short-tempered, and just like his daughter, he’s a strict person. He was always serious with his sharp, hawk-like stare.

“Anyone want to go first?” he asked. “Please raise your hand.”

Professor Glewan raised his right hand.

Professor Glewan was a lean and tall man in his late 40s having pale-ivory skin, a flat nose, blue eyes, and brown combed-back short spiky hair with no facial hair. He wore a Tech Lord robe, black latex gloves, and steampunk small round sunglasses. Professor Glewan was a diligent and ambitious person in his pursuit of crazy and unique inventions.

His daughter and Cletus’ sister, Sheila Arias, was a slender and tall woman in her mid-20s having pale-ivory skin, a pointed nose, blue eyes, and brown long hair tightly curled at the base. She wore a Tech Lord robe and a steampunk iron mask with black tinted steampunk goggles. Sheila was a quiet and observant person.

“I would like to recommend either I or my daughter for the position, Headmaster Arcus. With the achievements and inventions my daughter, Professor Sheila, made about automata, it is surely enough for either of us to be the head of the academy now. Moreover, my son, Cletus, had proved to be one of the academy’s best.”

Lord Draco raised his arm.

“Oh?” Headmaster Mesdoram said. “Please state your objections, Lord Draco.”

“Ahem. It may be true that your daughter surprises us with her inventions, Professor Glewan. Even we, the imperial soldiers, considered using Professor Sheila’s improved automatons. But with that achievement only, I don’t think it’s enough for either of you to be the head, I’m afraid.”

“And why is that?” Professor Glewan asked.

“Inventions alone has nothing to do with becoming the head. It might be considered as outstanding achievements but, If I remember correctly, her inventions were for her Tech Lord test, no? She made improvements herself with no help. Plus, If inventions alone could make you the head, then surely Professor Vennefer or his father, the late Professor Salazar, could have been the head instead of Headmaster Mesdoram Arcus for their major improvements in developing and mastering the forbidden Maleficium. But that was not the case, correct?”

“Agh…” Professor Glewan looked away, speechless.

“We do know how Headmaster Mesdoram Arcus became the head, no?” he asked with a subtle smirk. “Headmaster Arcus produced talented students such as Professor Arkana, Professor Vennefer, who once known as the youngest of the sage only, that ‘twins’, and etcetera. During his time as a professor, Headmaster Mesdoram made a world-shaking invention by successfully perfecting Alchemy and Magic. Professor Arkana, his daughter, was one of the best among the students before and created a powerful Vitae capable of healing any superficial wound in a minute.”

“But my son is also among the best—!”

“Cletus Arias is indeed one of the best, but in magic, which is being taught by Professor Vennefer and Professor Arkana. You should ask yourself: Why aren’t there any technician top students? Why are there only alchemy and magic students? You and Professor Sheila are in charge of teaching them, no?”

“What are you implying?”

“What am I implying? Simple, you failed to reach the criteria.”

“How dare you—!” Professor Glewan said, angry as he stood.

“Order!” the headmaster said as he looked at Professor Glewan. “Don’t lose your temper, Professor Glewan. General Alphonse Draco has a point there. Since you and Professor Sheila became the professor of technology, you’ve both yet to produce outstanding students, and ironically, your son, Cletus, was among the best, but in a major you don’t teach.”

“Grrr…” Professor Glewan clenched his trembling fists in shame as he sat down.

“No more questions?” Headmaster Arcus asked, and the candidates went silent. “Then, let’s continue.”

Lord Dracon raised his hand.

“I believe the next head should be from my family, Headmaster Arcus. I have achieved the rank of general in the imperial army, meaning my feats alone are sufficient.”

“It is correct, but since you have obtained that rank, why did you desire to be the head?”

“Because I want to train and produce more talented and perfect students using my own ways. I will take the position even if it means I have to resign from my position as a general.”

Professor Arkana raised her hand.

“Yes?” Lord Draco raised an eyebrow.

“And what are the ‘ways?’” she asked. “If you implement dangerous and destructive ways, it will bring catastrophe.”

“I know that. But for the sake of the empire, we need to become stronger than before. We have to reach Gnosis as soon as possible, but we are too hesitant. We’re too fearful of the consequences. Our progress is slow because of morals.”

“The lack of compassion for the living and the sense of balance of the world would mean the world’s end,” Headmaster Arcus commented. “Besides, we have reached Gnosis shown by imperial units.”

“Indeed, however, it was a plain Gnosis.”

“Plain?” Professor Arkana said, riddled. “What do you mean by that? Gnosis is Gnosis.”

“We have yet to reach true Gnosis,” Lord Draco said. “The Gnosis is only 3/4 perfect! If we don’t reopen the study of Maleficium, Dark Alchemy, and Thanatech—”

“That’s dangerous!” Professor Arkana said aloud. “Professor Salazar Harvey lost his life trying to perfect Maleficium, Professor Altus Celzan went insane after founding Thanatech, while Headmaster Argus Reinhart got consumed by Dark Alchemy’s rebound!”

“Such studies are dangerous, Lord Draco,” Headmaster Arcus said. “Only a fool and a selfish person would do such a forbidden act to pursue knowledge. Unearthing them once more would burden us more than benefit us!”

“No one has ever perfected those,” Professor Vennefer said. “Even those twins were afraid to explore them fully. My father told me not to touch Maleficium anymore the moment before his death.”

“However ambitious I am,” Professor Glewan said. “I don’t want to explore such destructive knowledge.”

“Pathetic,” Lord Draco said coldly. His attitude changed from friendly to stoic person. “You’re all too afraid. After some research, I partially harnessed the power of Maleficium and Dark Alchemy with no drawbacks.”

Malus stood and took a dagger from his pocket.

“Show them, Malus,” Lord Draco ordered.

“What are you thinking—?!” Professor Vennefer said as he stood.

Malus wounded himself and muttered, “Amaymon…”

The blood darkened, turning into black liquid.

“This is Dark Alchemy,” Lord Draco said. “Turning blood into black azoth.”

The black liquid flew, forming a black orb.

“And this is Maleficium Vitae. If I failed to combine them both, then my son wouldn’t be able to live until now. He’s the living example of my accomplishment.”

“You are using your own son?!” Professor Vennefer said, surprised.

“Yes.”

“How could you… What if you failed?! You will lose your one and only son—!”

“But I succeed, correct? Malus is the example I want all students to be. Undefeated and perfect!”

“Tch… Undefeated and perfect?” Professor Arkana muttered. “You’re delusional.”

“Hm?”

“The number one is still Luxianne, Professor Vennefer’s adopted daughter,” Headmaster Arcus said, “With the students as the eye-witnesses and from my far-sight magic, I confirmed that. Until now, she remains undefeated with little to no use of those forbidden knowledge.”

“...” Lord Draco clenched his teeth.

“Damn it…” he thought, infuriated at his son’s failure.

“Which means yours isn’t perfect either,” Professor Glewan said as he fixed his glasses and smirked. “And the idea to relearn the three dark knowledge, I am against that.”

“Same for me,” Professor Arkana said.

“To honor my father’s last words, I too shall not allow it,” Professor Vennefer said.

“I, with all of my heart and mind, am against it,” Headmaster Arcus said.

“So,” Lord Draco said, “Who shall take the place as the head? I believe none except I am perfect for that—!”

“You are too reckless. It’s dangerous for a person like you to take the seat. You might be talented, General Draco, but still, abide by morals!” Headmaster Arcus said. “The reason we exiled the Celzan, Daemalus, Sildrag, and Ascer families from the academy was because they went mad with those kinds of knowledge. Don’t let our ancestors’ sacrifice be in vain, Lord Draco. The academy shall stick to its current curriculum. As for the next head, I suggest either my daughter or Professor Vennefer for their feats in producing the best students.”

Professor Vennefer raised his hand.

“I’ll pass,” he said.

Professor Vennefer’s refusal surprised everyone.

“And how about you both, Professor Glewan and Professor Sheila?” Headmaster Arcus asked. “Any objections?”

“Tch! Whatever,” Professor Glewan said as he looked away. “We’ll take the seat next decade.”

“...” Professor Sheila said nothing as she shook her head.

“Then, it is set. Professor Arkana would be the next Headmistress of the academy.”

They had reached their conclusion for that day. After the head had been appointed, the ceremony would be held a week after as Professor Arkana had to find her replacement.

Most students and professors had left the auditorium, except for Lucy; she was still sleeping, missing all the debates.

“Hey, Lux!” Gina whispered, trying to wake her up. “Wake up! The meeting is done already!”

“Yawn…” Lucy barely opened her eyes as she stretched her arms. “It’s… Done?”

“Yes. Come on, let’s go somewhere else.”

“Hmm…” Lucy stood and rubbed her eyes with her left hand. “So, what did I miss?”

“Hm… Pretty much, everything.”

“Oh? So, who’s the head now?”

“It’s Professor Arkana.”

“Hah?!” Lucy opened her mouth agape. “Oh no… Then she would force her strict rulings globally!”

“That’s what you’re afraid of?”

“You know it’s a hassle to obey all of her stupid rules, you know!”

“It’s just you.”

“Sigh…” Lucy sat down as she pouted.

“Hey,” Gina said. “Professor Vennefer declined the offer to be the headmaster.”

“I’ve expected that.”

“Hm? But why? Everyone wants to be the head. Even Lord Draco is ready to resign from his position as a general for it.”

Lucy closed her eyes for a moment and looked up.

“Sometimes, you can’t really escape from the feeling of guilt.”

“What do you mean? What did Professor Vennefer do to make him feel guilty?”

“I thought everyone knew already.”

“I haven’t.”

“I’ll talk about that later,” Lucy said as she stood. They both headed to the auditorium entrance, but on their way, Justus stood in front of them, blocking their way.

“Excuse me,” Justus said with his usual calm looking face. “Do you have a moment?”

“Ah, good afternoon,” Gina said. “Do you need me or Luxianne?”

“Luxianne,” he replied. “But I see no problem in you joining too.”

“What do you need from me?” Lucy asked.

“May I see your right arm, Luxianne?”

“But, it is—”

“I know. That’s why I want to look.”

“Oh, sure.” Lucy rolled her right sleeve and showed her pale-corpse-like hand to Justus. Justus slightly opened his eyes and looked.

“This condition…” he thought. “Is this the toll of using Maleficium?”

He opened his pocket and took a silver rosary.

“I will try to return your hand from normal,” he said.

“But, it’s from the cost of Maleficium,” Lucy doubted. “This right arm is no longer mine.”

“I had someone with the same symptom as yours, Luxianne. I healed him.”

“Oh? That’s neat. Then, please help me.”

They all took a seat, and Justus recited a prayer as he put the rosary on her right palm. In the process, Lucy felt her right arm could be moved like normal.

“It’s working!” Lucy said as she moved her right arm fingers.

“Whoa!” Gina said, surprised. “I don’t even know it’s possible.”

Five minutes later, Justus felt his head hurt as an ominous aura came out from Lucy’s right arm. Lucy and Gina could feel the unnerving pressure too as their breathing became heavy. Chills ran down their spine as Lucy’s right arm trembled.

“What’s happening?” Gina asked.

“The spirit…” Justus muttered. “It’s resisting?! Then, I can’t back down too!”

Justus chanted more as his voice became louder, making them the center of attention.

“No way…” he thought. “It’s stronger than I thought—!”

Suddenly, a powerful shock wave happened, knocking Justus away from Lucy and sending the rosary flying. Justus got sent blasted outside through the auditorium door with his back colliding against the ground hard.

“Argh!” Justus lied on the ground. “What kind of demon…?” he thought with his eyes wide opened. He calmed down as he closed his eyes slit, stood, and wiped the dust from his clothes. “Even The Almighty disallows me to cure her…”

He didn’t suffer any serious injury from the blow, but he felt pain on his back as if his back was going to shatter. He limped back to the auditorium back, and Gina hurried to help him by carrying his arm on her shoulder.

“Are you okay?” Gina asked.

“I am.”

“Show me the wound,” Gina said. “I’ll try to heal it.”

“No, please don’t.”

They both sat down like before. Justus’ attempt failed as Lucy’s right arm remained the same as she couldn’t move it.

“I forgot to ask you,” he said. “What demon caused this?”

“Corson,” Lucy replied.

“It’s been a while since I heard that name…” he thought. “Matthias told me there were two demons whose power couldn’t be revoked as God allowed their powers to remain to punish those who dare to use them.”

“I see…” Justus said as he looked down. “That’s too bad.”

“You mean, Lucy’s arm can’t be healed?” Gina asked.

“For now, I can’t think of any other way of healing it, sorry.”

“Ah, thank you so much for trying to help Lux,” Gina thanked.

“It costs an arm for an arm,” Lux said as she held her right forearm.

“A man reaps what he sows…” Justus thought.

“You have to sacrifice someone for it?” Gina asked.

“Yes. I guess there’s no other way…”

“You’re planning to sacrifice someone?”

“Of course I’m not! Why would I do something like that?”

Justus took the rosary on the ground.

“Hold this on your right palm,” Justus said, and Lucy put it on her right arm.

When Lucy’s right arm touched the rosary, she could move her right arm like normal.

“Eh?” Lucy said as she moved her right arm like normal. “I could move my arm!”

“It can’t be removed, but it can be weakened,” Justus thought.

“For now, you should wear that on your right arm.” Justus stood.

“Thank you, uh…”

“Justus,” he said before he walked away.

“Oh? Thanks, Justus.”

“Thank you, Mr. Justus.” Gina stood and slightly bowed.

Lucy stood and chained the rosary on her right wrist.

“This will do just fine,” she thought as she moved her right arm.

“Now, do you want to eat something?” Gina asked.

“Hmm… Let’s see…”

Meanwhile, at the back of the auditorium.

There were only Lord Draco and Malus there. Lord Draco was furious at his son’s incompetence for failing to reach the rank one student in the central academy, causing him to fail to convince the rest of the professors to elect him as the new head of the academy and implement the study of forbidden knowledge.

“Lord Father—!” Malus said, but Lord Draco slapped him hard.

“You worthless!” he scolded. “I made you perfect, but you still lost?!”

“Give me a second chance—!”

“Second chance?! There’s no second chance! Tch!” He looked away as he clenched his fists. “I can’t believe that old bastard elected his own daughter, damn it! The one on the top should be the Draco family and yet you failed—!”

Before Lord Draco could hit Malus again, the voice of a man interrupted them.

“Don’t be too harsh on him, Alphonse,” a voice of a man in his late 30s said to them from the shadows. “Malus did his best. In fact, I’m proud of him for being able to withstand this long.”

Lord Draco turned back to the man. He was standing under the auditorium curtains, causing the shadow to obscure his face. It was an average build man with ivory skin and amber eyes. He said with a confident tone.

“We have our second plan in case Malus failed, remember?” the man said as he chuckled. “Everything is still going according to our plan.”

“We could have won if only my foolish son—!”

“Calm yourself, Alphonse. Don’t need to be so hasty.” The man opened his pocket, revealing a colorless gemstone about the size of a fist. “As long as we have this, everything will be okay.”

“That stone…” Lord Draco muttered as he looked at the gemstone shining from the dark.

“Yes. But this isn’t the stone we needed. In fact, this thing is empty; it’s hollow. We don’t need this. Just as we heard from Justus, Matthias needs us to capture the important piece.”

“Where is it?”

“That’s the main concern. But, I know Justus found it already. This evening, it’s time for the true heir to regain control.”

Black fog surrounded the mysterious man.

“Bathin.”

The black fog coated him and entered the ventilation, flying outside.

Far from the academy’s gate, on the way to the empire’s street, Justus was walking alone. He ambled because of the damage earlier. The black fog flew and arrived in front of Justus, causing him to take a few steps back.

The fog opened a portal and the mysterious person earlier appeared.

“Emmeroloth Mortis Celzan…” Justus muttered, looking at the man as he opened his eyes with his face turned bitter.

Emmeroloth was a tall, average build man with ivory skin, a pointed nose, amber eyes, pointed ears, sharp-vampire like teeth, and medium black spiky hair without bangs or facial hair. He wore a black unbuttoned blazer and a white shirt underneath. He wore a dark red robe with black flame markings.

“Now, Justus. Who is it?” he asked as he ambled closer.

Justus took a rosary from his pocket, but suddenly a black snake appeared from Emmeroloth’s right-hand sleeve and snatched it. The snake fell down with the rosary, and it withered into black liquid.

“Don’t waste time already,” Emmeroloth said as he grinned. “Didn’t Matthias tell you to cooperate with us?”

Justus lowered his guard, surrendering as his eyes closed slit.

“Luxianne,” Justus said.

“That girl who defeated Malus, hm? My prediction is correct after all…”

The black liquid from the ground returned to his sleeve, and black fog appeared from his sleeve.

“Bathin.”

The black fog transported him away, leaving Justus alone. Justus smirked maliciously as he opened his eyes wide.

“Fool,” he thought as he took a violet stone from his pocket. “In the end, everyone’s but a tool. Whether it is you, Luxianne, or Alphonse…”

He picked the rosary from the ground and continued walking to the empire.

Three hours later, almost evening, outside the dorm. Lucy and Gina just entered the first floor. As soon as she stepped her foot there, the boys lined like that day.

“Good afternoon, Princess Luxianne!” the boys shouted.

“What in the…” Lucy thought with an annoyed face. “Lancelot…!”

Lance descended the stairs, ambling towards Lucy with a smug smirk.

“Ah, my beautiful, gorgeous, sexy, hot, sweet, cute, lovely—!”

“Argh…” Lucy muttered. “Not this thing again…”

“There is, however, an important matter that I should talk to you and only you—”

“Just get to the point damn it!” Lucy said aloud, annoyed. “What is it again?!”

“Oh? You’re too hasty today, dear—”

“Lancelot, if you don’t say your intention in 3 seconds, I’m going to punch you.”

“Maybe I’ll say it after you give me a hug—”

Lucy hurried to him and punched him on the face hard with her right hand, sending him flying, and it’s obvious that his flying was just an exaggeration to add a dramatic effect. He fell on the ground pathetically.

“Aww…” he said as he stood, holding his face. “Such a powerful, energetic, firm, forceful, tenacious—”

She stared at him with death, unpleased stare enough to strike fear into Lance’s heart. He ordered the boys to abandon their position and return to normal. He stood and wiped the dust from his robe.

“Well, my love, if you insist,” he said after faking a cough.

Lucy, Gina, and Lance went to the rooftop, over-viewing the rest of the academy buildings.

“The necklace I gave to you,” Lance said. “Where is it?”

“Its—”

“Disintegrated, right?”

“Yes.”

“In your fight against Malus, I felt something familiar before.” He looked at Gina. “You felt it too, correct?”

“Ah, yes,” Gina said.

“He, Malus, used a Deus-Level Maleficium,” Lucy said. “He wanted to self-destruct and take everyone down.”

“Deus?” Lance said as he raised an eyebrow; it was the first time he heard such a term. The same went for Gina.

“Reality breaking magics,” Lucy said. “The most taboo of all. The cost to bend reality is severe. It doesn’t matter how talented a person is; they would die if they dare to use it. To prevent me from dying, I have to use the azoth to help the cost.”

“I see… So that’s why you fainted after defeating Malus.”

Lance turned to leave, but he stopped, almost forgetting something important.

“Ah, I’m sorry… Because of me, your right arm—”

“It’s fine,” Lucy said with a sincere smile. “With this rosary, I could move my right arm like normal.”

“If Azoth could be used as a cost, then—” Lance hurried and grabbed Lucy’s hands. “—I promise I’ll return you to normal! Whatever it takes, my love—!”

Lucy’s face turned sour as she slapped him hard.

“D-Don’t t-touch me out of a blue, you idiot!” Lucy’s face was red out of embarrassment.

“S-Sorry,” he said as he held his slapped face. “It just… Ahem! Anyway—” He winked at her and turned back, leaving. “See you later, my love!”

Lance left them alone. Lucy sat and admired the view.

“That boy is serious, you know,” Gina said as she sat next to Lucy.

“Sigh… I know.”

“Why don’t you just… Accept his feelings?”

“He’s annoying.” Lucy pouted as she looked away.

“You know, when you are unconscious, he was worried sick of your condition. He noticed that you lacked iron in your blood, so he helped Professor Carolus to search tonic ingredients for you.”

“He did?” Lucy was doubtful.

“I told you, he sincerely loves you. But deep inside his heart, he felt guilty for your condition now.”

“Hm…” Lucy smiled as she lied down, looking at the darkening evening sky. “If he didn’t give me the Azoth necklace, I would have been erased from existence.” Lucy smiled. “I haven’t thanked him yet.”

The evening came, and far from the academy, four persons, including Emmeroloth, made their move.