How to Survive at the Academy
chapter-83

“Come, Spring” (1)

The sky viewed from Acken Island at early evening was always a mingled palette of colors, like paint not fully mixed. The sun gently retreated to the west, emanating a crimson aura that gradually faded as it reached the expansive heavens above. The blue-purple sky, not yet dark, was occasionally pierced by stars. This sight solidified the necessity of the term ‘early evening,’ as it was too late to be called the day yet too bright to welcome the night.

As my breathing settled and my body leaned against the altar, I could feel my strength wane. The early evening sky had a calming force, steadily pressing upon the soul. It was the crossroads of day’s end and night’s inception, the world leisurely embracing the coming darkness.

“Do you know? I believe in a beauty that transcends eras and values,” I pondered aloud.

“A clear testament to that is this very sky. Even the most treasured works of art can be subject to diverse interpretations and tastes, but who could gaze upon this sunset and not find it beautiful? That must be unchanging beauty.”

“That’s a complicated thought.”

“It’s not complicated, you’re just too lazy to understand. Humans have such brief lives, yet they don’t know how to be moved by every moment.”

A wind wolf, now smaller in size, lay atop the altar, sweeping its tail back and forth. With its reduced stature, it was more endearing than imposing. Even its voice was gentle, melding perfectly with the sunset scene and bringing forth an unbidden drowsiness.

It made sense to feel sleepy. The day had been sufficiently draining.

‘Ed looks exhausted, let’s have him rest by the altar for now. The remaining cleanup is minimal anyway, just organizing magic engineering supplies and counting items,’ Assistant Professor Claire had suggested, before she disappeared with the other students up the slope over 30 minutes ago.

From my perspective, it was a much-appreciated consideration. As Claire had aptly noted, I was completely worn out.

“The absence of ups and downs and a dry life is the most terrible curse one can experience as a human,” the wolf continued. “One must learn to be moved by even the trivial things and find meaning in routine. Right?”

“You’re surprisingly sentimental.”

“I’ve always preferred the sentimental. Haven’t I mentioned that before?” It was a chatty creature, as Yenika had previously pointed out, and it was clear why.

“If human lives are like the four seasons, a spirit’s life is surely a long winter. A monotonous and desolate life eventually gives way to a sentimental disposition. A long life may seem more like a curse than a blessing, not just for spirits but humans as well.”

“I’m at a loss for words when you put it that way.”

“So, my point is, you need to start dating, you blockhead.”

Merilda, grooming its forepaw, let out a sigh through its nose.

“If you’re totally clueless, I’ll coach you. People like you are meticulous and faultless in everything but tend to be numb to their own selves. Collapsing from overwork and constantly getting injured are telltale signs.”

“You’re… just like what I heard about.”

“Meddlesome? I’ve heard it so many times that pointing it out again is pointless. Anyway, Ed, you’re incredibly dedicated. You’d match well with someone who is sincerely willing to look after you. A life partner, perhaps… You should look for such a person.”

Merilda, as if fixated on something, whispered insistently into my ear.

“Isn’t this a splendid opportunity? Find someone who’s genuinely kind, cheerful, preferably a friend, and adequately strong to lean on… Do you have any idea how emotionally helpful it can be to interact and grow with such a person?”

“Do you have to sound so aggressive about it?”

“If I release the summon now, who knows when you’d be able to summon me again. I must tell you everything while I can. And I’m not wrong, am I, Muk?”

“You speak the truth, Merilda!” Muk, who had a well-disciplined air about him, sharply straightened his back by my shoulder.

Merilda was not bound by a contract with Yenika; they were merely close. This meant Muk wasn’t in a direct hierarchy with Merilda, yet due to his deep camaraderie with Yenika, he seemed to be treated with respect akin to that given to Tarkan in the spirit community. The world of spirits remained enigmatic to me.

“Lord Ed, heed Merilda’s advice as always! It’s treasured wisdom among us subordinate spirits, akin to a sacred text! Why not listen to Merilda’s words as if taken with a grain of salt?”

“Grain of salt? Have we finished talking, Muk?”

“No, that… I apologize! This insolent Muk has misspoken again! To suggest taking it with a grain of salt… I’ll atone with my–“

Before Muk could ramble on and proverbially bash his head in apology, I quietly touched his wing and reversed the summon. The mana from the magic stone seemed to be fully depleted. Extended discussions with Merilda were no longer sustainable.

Merilda had transformed her massive body into something much smaller to maximize mana efficiency. Yet, even in such a form, a higher spirit like her voraciously devoured mana just by existing.

I hadn’t fully manifested her. Just resonating with her spirit form had drained a substantial amount of mana. This elemental was still beyond my control. Forcing a contract through mana overload came with inevitable penalties.

“Anyway, Ed, you must be tired too. Two witnesses saw you summon me. Wouldn’t the academy be in chaos if they informed the staff? If they push you up to Class A like Yenika, well, that’s a different story.”

“Really think it would get to that? The faculty aren’t fools. If they hear rumors, they’ll ask me to summon you again. Though, I doubt I have the mana left for that.”

“Right… You lack conclusive evidence to prove our contract. Even if you could, not being able to properly wield it somewhat depreciates the value of being a spirit summoner.”

“I’d rather not deal with being interrogated on how I contracted you. I’m not keen on revealing much about the ring. It didn’t come from the cleanest of origins.”

“So, how will you handle the testimonies?”

“I’ll claim it was an enhanced illusion created by a magic disc. No one was seriously hurt, and any wind you’ve raised can be attributed to my doing.”

“As always… you are thoroughly prepared.”

Merilda sighed deeply and resumed grooming her paw.

If Muk is a sniper rifle, then Merilda is a bazooka… no, a tank. Each shot’s value and power differ, requiring long preparation and consuming substantial resources.

Unlike Muk, which I can wield effortlessly, Merilda devours mana to its limit without fully exhibiting her potential. She is certainly not a spirit I can control at my level.

To utilize Merilda effectively, as I had by using the mana stones provided by the academy, external mana sources become essential. Yet these are incredibly inefficient compared to mana naturally formed within the body.

Thankfully, I’ve dabbled in magic engineering. It’s one of the deepest fields concerning mana efficiency and resonance. With proper magic engineering, I may develop a systematic alternative to manage Merilda’s requirements – something more sophisticated than primitive methods like mana stones.

“By the way, Yenika seemed quite down. Do you know anything?”

Yenika’s melancholic gaze into the fire came to mind. After all, to Merilda, Yenika was a dearest friend among friends.

“Oh… worrying, are we?”

“Of course, I am…”

“Oh my… Hmm… Hehe…”

Merilda, trailing off with a mischievous smile, said,

“I wouldn’t spill something Yenika refrained from sharing. However, some concern on your part wouldn’t hurt. While you’re at it, why not show a bit of care – attend to her, maybe even hang around and wait?”

“You should work on breaking the habit of slipping into monologues mid-conversation.”

“Sorry about that. Guess I’ve picked up some habits from Yenika.”

Merilda shook her tail a few times and then straightened up, gazing at the sky now smeared with red twilight.

“Yenika needs some internal growth too. The ways of the world are like that. Being naively kind doesn’t mean the world will return the favor. Right now, you don’t have much to do. Just be patient and stay put. Stay close.”

Gone was Merilda’s playful tone, replaced with a whisper as she continued staring skyward.

“I told you, a spirit’s life is but a long winter, whereas human life resembles the diverse seasons. For Yenika, this is a long winter.”

Though she spoke as if it were nothing, I could clearly feel through her voice the concern and implicit trust she held for the evolving spirit summoner. Despite her verbal assurance, it was evident she worried. But the steadiness in her voice was more reassuring than unsettling.

“But remember, spring always comes. After all, seasons are cyclical.”

“That’s hopeful of you to say.”

“Oh, I’m naturally optimistic. Pessimism doesn’t help. So, should we wrap this up? I’ve guzzled enough of your mana as it is.”

Indeed, even when Merilda took the form of a small wolf, she still consumed an unbearable amount of mana.

“Just because you’re smaller doesn’t mean you’re easier to handle.”

“I happen to be on the costly side. You see, even this tiny form is uncomfortable for me. Among all the forms I can take, this is the most considerate for your mana efficiency.”

“Really? You have other forms?”

“Of course, but assuming my true form is most comfortable. And among those, the wolf form is superior.”

And so, Merilda’s voice regained a playful note.

“What, you’d prefer a more beautiful girl form? I can do that, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Your mana wouldn’t sustain such a delicate form. Fine for eye candy, but impractical.”

“Enough. No use talking about unnecessary things. I just didn’t think there was such a big difference in mana efficiency between the large wolf form and this current one.”

“Ah, you’re unaware. Since you used mana stones to compensate, you couldn’t detect the difference properly. Mana from such stones is naturally dull compared to that formed within the body.”

Gradually, the wolf form began to dissipate into the wind like mist. The mana, forcibly stored within, escaped, and the resonance with the spirit weakened.

It would likely not be until after the vacation that I’d be able to resonate again.

“A spirit like me doesn’t contract with just one person. Did you really think you could handle all the mana alone?”

As she began to vanish, bidding a temporary farewell, Merilda added no further words.

Finally alone atop the altar, the last of the sunset faded away.

Shadows tilt and lengthen.

Other than the occasional sound of the wind rustling the trees, complete silence envelops the area.

“Ugh, kuh.”

Though I had told myself to rest, I forced my body up and looked towards the altar’s stele.

Mulling over Merilda’s words, I sighed deeply at last.

The stele stretched toward the vast sky.

Gazing earnestly at its peak, I placed my foot on a protruding part next to the stele and I began to climb.

*

– “What is it, Senior Yenika?”

– “Ah, no… I thought I saw someone on top of the altar just now… Hmm… Maybe I saw it wrong…”

My sore body ascended with difficulty, stepping on the side projections of the stele and reaching the top.

A solitary altar standing in the clearings of the Orun Mountain’s peak. There hardly seems to be any place for someone to hide.

It might be more suitable to say that they are simply not visible.

Eventually, I reached the top of the stele.

The highest point of the Orun Mountain. With no obstructions, the full view of Acken Island unfolds before my eyes.

Standing straight against the fluttering wind, everything else fades and it seems as though I’m floating in the air.

“…”

I sat down next to Lucy, who was watching the setting sun.

I didn’t pester with pointless questions like why are you here, how long have you been here, or what are you doing.

Lucy is someone who wouldn’t seem out of place no matter when or where.

I did feel a sense of dissonance.

No matter how abundant the mana stones may be, handling high spirits as naturally as flowing water should be impossible. The mana required for manifestation or communion came entirely from my own power, but during combat, the full strength of Merilda was drawn out by a different source of mana.

If there was a power capable of intervening in the manifestation of Merilda’s energy, it would surely belong to someone who made a contract with Merilda, and there could only be one suspect.

“I didn’t expect you to help. I appreciate it.”

“It felt wrong to ignore it.”

If Lucy had been sitting here from the start of the test, that meant she likely witnessed most of what transpired on Orun Mountain.

It’s a hypothetical situation.

Even if I ultimately could not prevent the new students from overpowering me alone, I doubt Lucy would have sat idly by.

Seemingly disinterested and detached from the world, there comes a moment when if Lucy decides to act, she invariably rolls up her sleeves.

Whether it was Joseph, Agui, Tanya, or Kylie… whoever finally brought me down, would inevitably come face to face with Lucy, leaping from the stele.

I could easily imagine that scenario.

Lucy, rising from the altar after hitting the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust, adjusting her hat, would surely be an insurmountable wall.

The test from the beginning was… the epitome of unfairness.

“This doesn’t seem like a good place for a nap.”

“I didn’t come here to nap.”

“Then?”

“I did think about going to take a nap at the cabin but…”

I spent nearly the entire day unable to visit the cabin due to scholarly duties and camp maintenance, leaving me with no time for rest.

“I don’t like an empty cabin.”

At her words, I cast my gaze downward.

Sitting side by side, watching the darkening sky, Lucy’s expression remained unchanged.

Fluttering white hair and a skin like white jade absorbed the dwindling sunlight, their color muted more than usual.

With sleeves fluttering about and a buoyant stride, I reached the campfire, but it was extinguished, the cabin inside empty. It felt the same as when I had woken from sleep, the eerie atmosphere of the camp lingering.

The great mage Glast ended his life in a cabin in the Rameln Mountains, or so it’s said.

I could easily imagine the scene after his departure, making it difficult to offer any response to Lucy.

“So I took a walk instead.”

Stopping at that, Lucy absently stared at the sky.

Regrettably, this ‘Altar of Alternation’ is where Lucy would stand up against the apostles of Telos in the third act.

It’s quite ironic.

The death of the prophet Adelle.

Clarice, realizing the will of the god and the dark of the saintly, turns into the saintess of disbelief.

Telos’ apostles descend to condemn Clarice.

Lucy trying to protect Acken Island from the apostles following Glast’s will.

The main characters, unaware of the backstory, stand in Lucy’s way following the archbishop’s edict.

Caught in a tangled web, even being branded a heretic by the church, she doesn’t complain.

Lucy standing aloof, overlooking all creation between the punitive force and the apostles… that’s the highlight of this third act.

Princess Phoenia’s royal guardians, Lortelle’s mercenary band, the cathedral knights of the church, the Lucy punitive force composed of the main characters, the high officials of the academy, and even Headmaster Obel Forcius himself being crushed to bits, leaving only Lucy to eliminate more than half of Telos’ apostles in her battered state…

Ultimately drained of her strength, she’s subdued by Taely, who has mastered the final sword ceremony.

Only after all the backstories are revealed do people understand why Lucy tried to kill the god’s apostles… Perhaps she’s the tragic hero of the tale.

It’s late recognition that can be more painful than misunderstanding.

‘That guy wasn’t actually bad.’, ‘I didn’t understand why he did that crazy thing, but now I see.’, ‘Who could have known he had such circumstances’

Such reflections, suggesting that the truth was different after all, may well aid the immersion into the narrative.

However, if you’re the actual person caught in such a fate, could you really withhold any complaints?

Who knows whether it’s due to inborn nature or simply feeling it’s pointless to speak up… Lucy ends up shouldering everything alone.

And I have no intention of stopping her path.

It’s not about sacrificing Lucy for political reasons, cold-bloodedly.

Simply put, this turn of events isn’t necessarily just a bad ending for Lucy.

Only after this third act ends will Lucy be able to set aside her heart’s burdens, presumably meant to be carried to her grave, and live her own life.

Without shedding those burdens, Lucy would forever be unable to escape the shadow of Glast’s death.

– ‘The Sylvania Academy is a treasure built through a lifetime of effort by my teacher, Sylvania Lobester, for the progression of scholarship.’

– ‘This precious treasure is riddled with trials that have already been observed. Of course, only visible to the eyes of the celestial scholar, Sylvania.’

– ‘It’s said that the earth hardens after rain, so most trials will be overcome by Sylvania Academy itself… but there will come a trial once that cannot be done without your power.’

– ‘When that time comes… will you lend me your strength for this old man’s sake? Lucy.’

A dying archmage.

With just skin and bones left, he reaches out with difficulty to clasp Lucy’s hand while speaking of the burden that must have remained heavily upon her.

The sticky sentiment shed, I look again to the refreshing wide view of Acken Island.

The scale of Sylvania Academy sprawls impressively.

From the new semester… those who make use of that vast ground will start splitting by half.

Once Phoenia and Lortelle divide the school’s influence in two, it will ultimately be a recurring fight for power and politics.

The Sylvania Academy’s third act, the beginning of the power struggle part, is practically initiated at the start of the term with the student council president election. The main branching points that determine the course of the scenario will soon unfold.

It’s a long fight, but there will be gains as well.

Thus, I spent a great while gazing down upon Acken Island.

– Thud. Whoosh.

Suddenly, Lucy stood up, approached me to around my knees, and began pressing down on one knee, apparently to smooth it out.

Once satisfied with the work done, she laid on her stomach, and as if it were nothing, she spoke up.

“I realized this recently…”

Absentmindedly flailing her arms, she continued,

“I guess I get lonely.”

It wasn’t quite natural for her to come up to the peak of Orun Mountain under the guise of a walk.

Next time I plan to leave the cabin empty for long, maybe I should let her know.

But since Lucy is everywhere at once… I don’t really have anything to say.

The last rays of the setting sun gradually fade as the sky starts to be overtaken by stars.

The changing of day to night, the changing of seasons.

Night falls. And spring comes.

*

“You’ve arrived earlier than expected.”

“I couldn’t wait to bolt out of that dingy place. Ugh.”

As Beal Mayar made to take the luggage, Klara enthusiastically declined with a bright smile.

Now that you’re the head maid, I can’t let you do this much. After all, you’re not even assigned to me.

Continuing on with her bags, Beal wore a slightly uncomfortable expression and sighed deeply.

Despite originating from a well-known viscount family, Klara refrains from flaunting her title.

Just by her appearance, calling her noble would be a stretch. Clad in a simple flared skirt and a solid-colored blouse, her sharp-bobbed hair combed neatly, anyone would mistake her for an energetic village woman.

If someone were asked to pick the noble between Anis and her, everyone would choose Anis without hesitation.

“Looks like I’ve managed through this break as well, phew!”

Hating her excessively authoritative family to the core, she prefers to cling to the academy as much as possible, but even so, she has to greet her family during the holidays, so she returns to her hometown periodically.

And then, like roasting beans on lightning, she cuts her visit short and rushes back to school. Even returning so hastily during the break period speaks volumes.

“The nagging of those nobles would’ve nearly caked my ears. Ugh, really… talking nonsense without understanding…”

Klara grumbled as she handed Beal a gift she’d brought from home, having apparently stopped by the rose garden first.

When Beal unwrapped the package, it revealed a luxurious mug. Beal thanked her profusely.

With a beam, Klara modestly downplayed the gift and once again looked towards the academy.

“Sigh, ha… There’s nothing like the air of your true home. The warm air of my dear hometown! Compared to my place brimming with clueless fools, Sylvania filled with dear friends I can share hearts with is the best!”

Jubilantly, she picked up her bag laden with gifts and bade Beal farewell.

“Anyway, Beal, I’m glad you’re looking well! I have to go see my academy friends now. It’s been a while, and I’ve brought plenty of snacks, so I’ve even got everything ready for a tea party with Anis and Yenika.

I’ve written them both and they said they’d come. Just thinking about seeing them makes me thrilled. My chest pounds with all the stories we have to share… Ha ha, maybe I’m still not quite grown up. Take care, Beal!”

Klara waved her hands cheerfully as she headed off.

Watching Klara skip away with pure excitement, Beal failed to offer a proper farewell.

She just stood there, holding Muk tight… sweating buckets.

It was an unprecedented expression for Beal.