Chapter 516

I am uncertain of the events that transpired five millennia ago.

‘One certainty remains: a profound darkness has corrupted the core of Berkea.’

It was potent enough to drag her into the state of undeath, causing her revival as a creature of the night.

This is far more complex than a simple corruption of character.

Berkea grew to loathe the tranquil era she had once so desperately longed for.

‘Is it even possible for my words to reach her now?’

Those who have passed are fundamentally fractured entities.

Even if he were to step forward and uncover his identity as Kyle, they might reject his words.

Furthermore, even with acceptance, there is a strong probability that the issue would remain unresolved.

Step- Step-

The mystery remained: why did Berkea, who used to view the world with absolute optimism, turn to absolute hatred?

‘To begin, I must uncover the root cause of that transformation.’

Leo exhaled slowly and deeply.

‘Should she refuse to comprehend, I will simply have to force the realization into her through combat. First, I must stabilize the crisis at Lumerne, and then I will go after Berkea.’

“Ah, welcome! Student Leo!”

“My apologies for dropping by at such an unearthly hour.”

“Ho-ho, think nothing of it. You are welcome at any time.”

Professor Ren extended a warm and energetic greeting to Leo upon his late-night arrival at his quarters.

“Now, what brings you to my office at this hour? Could it be that you have finally resolved to commit fully to the magic department?”

“No, that is not the reason.”

“What a shame.”

Ren gave a slight shrug.

Though he spoke of disappointment, Ren’s expression lacked any genuine regret.

In truth, Ren had long since surrendered the idea of directing Leo’s academic focus.

He wasn’t the only one.

Even Ain, who had desperately sought to recruit Leo to their side after witnessing his raw capability, and Yura had ceased their persistence regarding the matter.

The reason was that the primary anxiety shared by the three educators had ultimately been resolved—or so it appeared.

Under normal circumstances, an individual pursuing a dual-class path rarely attained pinnacle mastery in both disciplines.

Throughout history, only two swordmasters had ever been recognized as achieving the pinnacle of dual-class excellence since the legendary Age of Heroes:

Fairy Knight Berkea and Twilight Knight Lumerne. Apart from that legendary duo, no other multi-talented figure had reached heroic heights in two separate paths.

The vast majority of dual-class individuals who attempted to seize two distinct goals simultaneously ended up failing at both.

Consequently, conventional wisdom dictated that a person choose one primary discipline and treat the secondary art merely as an auxiliary tool for enhancement.

For this reason, the trio of professors had collectively concluded that Leo, an unprecedented all-class prodigy, would eventually need to designate a single discipline as his core focus while using the remaining two as secondary supports.

‘Ultimately, it proved to be nothing more than empty anxiety.’

Leo, defying all standard rules as an all-class archetype, climbed to an astonishing level across every single discipline without exception.

‘And he accomplished all of this in under two years.’

Merely observing Leo, who had already stepped into the legendary echelon of a hero, was enough to leave a spectator breathless with awe.

At this point, fretting over the future academic direction of someone like Leo felt entirely absurd.

“Well then, what is the purpose of your visit? If your intention is to converse about the arcane arts, my door is always open.”

Ren offered a gentle smile and gave a slight flick of his finger.

A teapot and its matching vessel drifted smoothly through the air toward Leo.

A stream of steaming liquid spilled down into the cup with a soft, bubbling rhythm while suspended in mid-air.

Leo caught the floating vessel in his hand and spoke,

“I came regarding Lady Luna.”

“Lady Luna…”

Ren offered a slightly bitter, self-deprecating chuckle.

“If only I had possessed the foresight to realize her true identity back then.”

Ren had accidentally earned the distinction of being the sole academic to instruct the very creator of the nebula in the ways of magic, yet he harbored immense remorse over the missed opportunity.

Had he recognized Luna from the start, he could have engaged in far more profound and elevated academic discourses with her.

‘As expected, this man is a mage through and through.’

Leo, silently amused by the professor’s academic regrets, noted,

“Nonetheless, Lady Luna spoke of Professor Ren quite frequently.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed. It was Lady Luna’s ultimate wish to be preserved in memory across the ages, regardless of the medium.”

Leo took a slow sip from his teacup before continuing,

“From that perspective, Professor Ren successfully realized Lady Luna’s ambition.”

“Are you speaking of the introductory text regarding star magic?”

“Yes. She reviewed it and was genuinely delighted. She examined Professor Ren’s scholarly paper over and over, praising your brilliance relentlessly until she was out of breath.”

“There is no greater praise a man could receive; I truly feel unworthy of such commendation,”

Ren responded, his joy entirely transparent.

To an academic of the arcane, what endorsement could possibly eclipse such validation from a historical figure?

“Because of that, I believe I can confidently rely on you and hand over something of great importance, Professor Ren.”

“Oh?”

Leo unsealed a spatial pocket and produced four distinct volumes of magical studies.

They were standard notebook formats easily obtained at any basic supply shop around the Lumerne grounds.

Ren observed Leo as the youth offered the remarkably thick documents, showing a look of confusion as he reached out to take them.

His gaze fell upon the calligraphy gracing the front cover.

“Illiana Raden?”

Confused, he turned the page of the manuscript and began analyzing the written formulas.

In an instant, Ren’s expression turned utterly rigid.

“This cannot be…”

“These are the arcane principles left behind by Lady Luna.”

“Spells formulated from the inspiration she gathered from student Illiana?”

“That is correct.”

“Incredible.”

Ren parsed the details within the volume with an intensely focused demeanor.

His gaze darted rapidly across the lines of text.

Moments later, having processed the introductory concepts, Ren moved systematically through the remaining volumes designated for Chloe Müller, Abbad Rwaryn, and Chelsea Rwaryn.

Gathering his composure, he released a long, steady breath.

With a slight quiver in his tone, he asked,

“Student Leo, you fully comprehend the magnitude of what these manuscripts represent, do you not?”

“I do,”

Leo gave a firm nod.

“It represents a monumental leap forward.”

The research documents preserved by Luna detailed specialized arcane formulas she had devised, drawing inspiration from those four specific pupils.

Each entry represented a highly personalized form of magic tailored exclusively for each individual.

Furthermore, the fundamental theoretical frameworks applied to construct these spells existed on a tier far above the contemporary magical paradigms recognized in the current era.

“Naturally, because these are highly specialized and unique formulas, translating them into widespread application immediately will prove incredibly complicated,”

Ren observed, his expression deeply serious.

“Furthermore, they remain in a formative state.”

Even an individual like Luna, widely celebrated as the preeminent prodigy in the chronicles of sorcery, could not perfect a paradigm-shifting magical system within a brief window of time.

Consequently, the sorcery Luna conceptualized during her brief stay in the contemporary world remained incomplete.

“Is your objective in granting me access to these works to have me mentor the pupils and see these formulas to completion?”

“Yes, it is.”

Ren retreated into silent contemplation.

Under normal circumstances, he would have embraced such a task without a single doubt.

Ren viewed his own intellect as unrivaled within academic circles regarding pure magical theory.

Granted, there existed numerous spellcasters whose raw destructive power eclipsed Ren’s capabilities.

Yet, within the realm of theoretical development and institutional research, Ren stood among the absolute elite globally.

However, the weight of this particular endeavor was staggering.

‘This is the task of decoding and perfecting the legacy of sorcery left behind in this world by none other than Lady Luna herself.’

After sorting through his thoughts, Ren finally spoke.

“What made you select me for this?”

“Lady Luna herself would have made the same choice, Professor Ren.”

“She would have?”

“Yes. She referenced Professor Ren quite often, and beyond that, you are an educator who genuinely cherishes his pupils and devotes his entire existence to the arcane.”

“I see.”

Though Leo made the choice, it was clear that Luna would have mirrored the decision.

Absorbing Leo’s rationale, the pondering Ren gave an affirming nod.

“Very well, I shall accept this responsibility.”

“You have my gratitude.”

Knock-knock—

Right at that perfect moment, a rhythmic tapping echoed from the entrance.

“Enter.”

The moment Ren granted permission, the door swung inward, allowing Illiana, Chelsea, Abbad, and Chloe, accompanied by Kyle, to step inside the professor’s workspace.

“Chloe, Abbad, Chelsea, Illiana. The four of you, please take a seat over here.”

Ren gestured for the quartet to occupy the available chairs.

As the four students assumed their positions with expressions of clear bewilderment, Leo pushed back his chair and stood.

“I shall take my leave now.”

“Go ahead.”

Leo offered a parting gesture to the group and exited the room alongside Kyle.

Creak— Thud—

The door clicked shut behind them, and as their footsteps echoed down the stone passage, Kyle inquired,

“What business did Professor Ren have with those four?”

“He intends to train them in the specialized magic that Luna bequeathed.”

“Are you serious? Magic directly from Lady Luna? That is absolutely mind-blowing!”

“Keep this entirely to yourself.”

“Ah~ but I am practically bursting with the desire to share this.”

Kyle remarked with a mischievous grin.

Naturally, Leo simply laughed, knowing full well that Kyle was far too reliable to ever indiscreetly reveal such confidential matters.

“Out of curiosity, what category of magic did she actually leave behind?”

“They are still unpolished concepts. The ultimate manifestation depends entirely on how each individual refines and adapts the theory.”

“Even so, there must be a core foundational theory behind the magic, right?”

Kyle pressed, his curiosity piqued.

His inquiry stemmed from a very practical perspective.

‘Ultimately, on any field of war, a skilled mage represents the ultimate wild card.’

A spellcaster possesses the unique capacity to entirely alter the trajectory of an engagement.

Furthermore, this was specialized legacy magic tailored by Luna for the three most outstanding talents of the magical department, setting Leo aside.

On top of that, Illiana was already a highly capable combatant with the blade.

‘This sounds like the perfect asset to hold in reserve as a hidden trump card for future conflicts.’

While Kyle viewed himself strictly as a supporting asset, his innate capability to read the chaotic flow of an engagement, issue directives, and formulate tactical maneuvers was unmatched among the entire second-year cohort.

‘Even though he routinely discounts his own abilities.’

Typically, as individuals grow in raw power, cooperating seamlessly with peers becomes increasingly difficult.

Because exceptional fighters possess intensely distinct temperaments, internal friction is almost guaranteed.

Kyle’s leadership style was the exact element capable of neutralizing that friction on the spot.

‘It demands not only keen analytical senses but also an incredibly adaptable mindset. He is uniquely suited to command.’

Recognizing Kyle’s latent strengths, Leo explained,

“For Illiana, the core concept revolves around a specialized form of acceleration magic.”

“Acceleration? That sounds surprisingly standard, doesn’t it?”

“It appears standard on the surface. However, when the velocity escalates to a degree that bypasses standard sensory perception, the entire nature of the spell shifts. The primary advantage of the light element has always been sheer velocity.”

Leo envisioned Illiana’s typical combat style.

“Illiana is incredibly stubborn and aggressive, which prevents her from properly capitalizing on her inherent strengths.”

“That is true, she behaves like a reckless vanguard charging blindly. Managing light magic demands extreme precision and delicacy, qualities completely at odds with her hotheaded nature. Consequently, she falls back on raw destructive output, spamming massive area-of-effect spells until her reserves are entirely depleted.”

“Exactly. For that reason, she places an excessive reliance on her blade skills, but from my observations, Illiana possesses a far greater innate affinity for magic than for aura.”

Leo commented as they continued their stroll through the corridor.

“Therefore, utilizing that magical capacity to elevate her swordsmanship to its absolute limit is a logical progression.”

“That makes perfect sense.”

Kyle rubbed his jaw thoughtfully.

“What about Chloe?”

“A magic centered on spatial dominance.”

“Oh? An advanced iteration of her frozen domain?”

“Precisely. Based on the structural design of the formula, it actively interfaces with the spirit realm.”

“What?”

“To put it simply, it is a specialized spell that transitions the caster into a spirit-like state the exact instant it is triggered.”

“Hold on a second. Chloe doesn’t possess the slightest affinity for spirit manipulation, does she?”

“She doesn’t. She forces her way into the spiritual plane purely through calculated magical formulation.”

“Wow… just listening to the theory makes my head spin.”

“And that is assuming she can successfully finalize the formula.”

‘Though there is no doubt she will achieve it.’

The Chloe within Leo’s memories was more than capable of bringing that magic to fruition.

“What is the nature of Abbad’s spell?”

“Instantaneous casting without incantations, though restricted exclusively to wind-based spells.”

“What? Casting without a single word?!”

Kyle’s jaw dropped in sheer disbelief.

Incantationless spellcasting.

A legendary milestone that no contemporary practitioner had ever successfully realized.

Even Luna merely possessed incredible execution speed; the foundational vocalization process was still an absolute requirement.

“That is absolutely absurd.”

“It defies all reason.”

“Then what is the deal with Chelsea?”

“If you evaluate it solely by the observable phenomenon, it shares similarities with Chloe’s concept.”

“Is that so?”

“It is an arcane method that grants her absolute authority over every current of wind within a given space, directed entirely through song.”

“Every single one of these sounds terrifying.”

“These are concepts only Luna could conceive, and principles only she could translate into functional theory.”

Leo himself expressed genuine admiration.

He had always recognized Luna’s extraordinary nature, yet this revelation forced him to respect her genius all over everything.

“Of course, all of this hinges entirely on their ability to actually perfect the formulas.”

“Man. If they manage to weaponize those abilities, the results will be utterly terrifying!”

It was right as Kyle was offering his continuous exclamations.

“Shifting subjects, you all crossed paths with a legendary champion from antiquity during this recent operation, did you not?”

“We did. Let me tell you, the experience was absolutely terrifying.”

Kyle shook his head tightly at the memory.

“From your perspective as someone managing the tactical coordination alongside them, how would you rate the current capabilities of our peers?”

“Why even ask? They performed like absolute monsters, naturally.”

Kyle, having taken a sharp breath, elaborated,

“They were already terrifying anomalies to begin with, but this joint training operation seems to have triggered something in them. Within a remarkably brief window, everyone has completely outgrown the standard expected of a second-year student.”

“Youth truly adapt and mature at an astonishing pace.”

“Wow! Hearing you say that makes you sound exactly like an ancient patriarch.”

Kyle remarked with genuine amusement.

Leo merely offered a quiet laugh, looking toward his companion.

“With that said.”

“With that said?”

Observing the shift in Kyle’s tone, Leo raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

“There appears to be one individual who is completely stagnant, so to speak.”

A shadow of genuine anxiety crossed Kyle’s features.

“Eliza hasn’t shown any noticeable advancement.”