Arcane Cathedral

What is The Sky Association? Julius murmured to himself, ensuring that his thoughts remained concealed behind a composed facade.

Lady Violet observed his lack of reaction, her violet eyes narrowing slightly. Then, with a voice that carried both authority and amusement, she spoke, "You already know that you've passed the final examination, securing first place among the students. Your performance was exceptional." She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing, "If not for your foolishness—your reckless obsession with forbidden magic—perhaps The Sky Association wouldn't have hesitated to invite you themselves." A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.

Julius remained silent, his mind digesting her words as she pressed on. "Because of your talents, there are only three viable paths for you."

His fingers curled slightly, an unintentional sign of anticipation. Seeing this, Lady Violet let out a quiet chuckle before elaborating, "The first option is to remain at the academy. As a former student, you could take up a teaching position, guiding new mages in their studies." Her gaze sharpened, carrying an implicit warning. "Of course, under no circumstances are you to teach them anything…forbidden."

She exhaled lightly, as if weary of the discussion, before proceeding, "The second option is to accept the offer I received." Her piercing gaze locked onto his. "Which would mean becoming an official member of The Sky Association… Surely, you understand what that entails?"

Julius kept his expression neutral, but inwardly, he cursed. Understand? He had no idea what The Sky Association truly was!

Yet, instinct urged him to feign knowledge. With an almost mocking tone, he responded, "You know how much I am drawn to the study of magic… Would either The Sky Association or the academy allow me the freedom to indulge in it?"

Lady Violet's eyes gleamed coldly. "Neither."

Julius was taken aback, but before he could react, she elaborated, "To be a member of The Sky Association is to dedicate your skills to serving the aristocracy. Naturally, you will gain access to rare magical components and artifacts… but in the end, you will be nothing more than a hound, bound to the whims of nobles."

She leaned back, her expression unreadable. "The academy will offer you nothing beyond what you've already learned in the past seven years."

Julius fell silent, weighing her words carefully. He had no interest in becoming a mere servant to aristocrats. At the same time, remaining at the academy would severely limit his ability to uncover the mysteries of this world—his own existence, the legacy of The Starlit Hall, and the connection to the King of Darkness that had drawn him into this world in the first place.

As he pondered, Lady Violet observed him closely. Then, with a slight smile, she spoke again.

"There is… another option."

Julius snapped out of his thoughts, his curiosity instantly piqued.

"Have you considered joining the Arcane Cathedral?"

Julius blinked. The Arcane Cathedral? He had never heard of it before.

Sensing his confusion, Lady Violet continued, "It is an independent organization, one that operates to assist those in need. Unlike The Sky Association, which serves the aristocracy, the Arcane Cathedral exists to uphold justice across society. It was established with the backing of the royal family."

Julius absorbed her words carefully. This meant that the Arcane Cathedral opposed the aristocracy's exclusive control over magic.

But the real question was—did they possess the same level of authority and resources?

Without hesitation, he asked, "Do they wield as much power as The Sky Association?"

Lady Violet let out a soft chuckle. "Greedy, aren't you?" she remarked before adding, "But don't worry. If you prove yourself, you will be granted great opportunities."

Julius fell into deep thought. The Arcane Cathedral seemed like the best choice. It wouldn't force him to become a noble's lackey, nor would it restrict his freedom the way the academy would.

With renewed determination, he rose to his feet and declared, "Lady Violet, how do I join the Arcane Cathedral?"

At that moment, Doman, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.

"Joining them is not easy… but I happen to know someone within their ranks."

He stood from his seat, reaching into his coat pocket. A moment later, he pulled out a sealed letter, its wax emblem bearing an unfamiliar sigil. Without a word, he extended it toward Julius.

Julius hesitated for a fraction of a second before accepting it.

Doman offered him a small smile. "I suspected you would choose this path, so I prepared this in advance. Take this letter to Sebastian Moore, a priest of the Arcane Cathedral."

A strange warmth spread through Julius's chest.

Mister Doman… He had always been an enigma. His relationship with the previous owner of this body had been nothing more than that of a teacher and his pupil. Yet, at this moment, his actions felt… fatherly.

Julius lowered his head in genuine gratitude. "Thank you… for everything."

Doman's expression softened, his usual composed demeanor momentarily giving way to something warmer. "Just stay safe," he said. "Promise me that."

Julius smirked slightly. "I can't guarantee that… but I'll try, Mister Doman."

Doman chuckled, shaking his head. "Then I suppose you should leave now. The sooner you set out, the better."

Julius raised an eyebrow. "Why so suddenly?"

Doman merely smiled. "Let's just say… I have a feeling that you shouldn't delay."

Julius exhaled, then nodded. He trusted Doman's intuition.

"Mister Doman… how do I get to the Arcane Cathedral?" he asked.

Doman arched a brow. "Just hire a carriage, of course. What kind of foolish question is that, Julius?"

Julius was momentarily stunned by how obvious the answer was. He had been so focused on assimilating into this world that simple things still caught him off guard.

Feigning a nonchalant tone, he muttered, "I wasn't sure if I had the money for it, so I had to ask."

Doman let out a hearty laugh. "You really are reckless. Have you squandered all your funds on your insane experiments?"

With that, he reached into his pocket again, producing five silver coins and two gold ones. He handed them to Julius.

"This is what I have on hand. It's not much, but if you ever need more, you know where to find me."

Julius accepted the money, feeling a deeper sense of appreciation for the man before him.

Lady Violet scoffed from the side. "Not much? That's enough to rent a house for a month."

Julius froze slightly. He had misjudged the value of the coins. He shot a glance at Doman, whose expression remained lighthearted.

Words of thanks felt insufficient, but a strange urge arose in Julius—the impulse to embrace this man who, despite his aloof nature, had been the closest thing to a parental figure in this unfamiliar world.

Instead, he chose a formal approach. He bowed deeply toward both Lady Violet and Mister Doman.

"I wish you both a pleasant day. I'll take my leave now… until we meet again."

Lady Violet nodded, "Go forth on your path."

Doman smiled. "Take care of yourself, Julius."

Without another word, Julius turned and strode toward his new destination—toward the Arcane Cathedral.