Doggone Academy

Chapter 85 The Shadow (8)

Would the boy named Damian know the person who painted this picture?

For Georgia, paintings were at the same time spiritual, private, and personal domains. Just as there were paintings one would want to boast about to others, there also existed paintings one would deeply wish to hide from public view.

She could feel that this painting was not intended to be flaunted around the neighborhood. It contained a profoundly personal attachment. Therefore, Georgia found no reason to personally seek out Damian and inform him of this paintings existence.

It was unclear whether the painting depicted long-lost lovers or was the result of a young girls unrequited love. Although a desire to uncover the story behind the painting arose in Georgias mind, she deemed it better to keep it buried within her.

One day, he would visit this storeroom, and then he would naturally come to know about it.

***

The first art club lesson was at three oclock in the afternoon. The art room existed, but it was rare for lessons to take place there. Georgia had an aversion to confining spaces, preferring mostly to conduct classes in the greenhouse of the alchemy department or outdoors. Due to the class venue changing daily, she advised always to check for announcements.

After completing my art club membership processes, as if it had been waiting for me, a silver stitch flew in front of me.

Attached to it was a single note addressed to me.

It was a message from Ella, instructing me to go to the Forbidden Forest through the labyrinth.

The Forbidden Forest was the place where my masters class entrance ceremony was originally supposed to have been conducted. Was there something she wished to show me?

I wasted no time and proceeded.

At the Protector Tree, the librarians were waiting for me. They led me towards the Forbidden Forest.

Unusually, the fog in the labyrinth had lifted. The librarians mentioned that this clear state would be maintained until everything was restored.

After walking for a while, I entered the Forbidden Forest, and delving deeper, a large clearing appeared.

There, stood an altar constructed of long logs piled up to form a square. I had seen such altars before when I was at the orphanage they were used for funerals.

On top of it lay bodies clad in pristine white garments, neatly arranged. I could immediately intuit that these were the librarians who had been slain by the dark mage.

About fifty people, Ella included, were gathered there. A few wore masks, while some held theirs in their hands.

This was my first time witnessing so many individuals assembled in the labyrinth.

I silently approached Professor Ella. Understanding what the gathering was for, I refrained from asking any unnecessary questions.

Someone recited a prayer before the altar. After the prayer concluded, people started placing flowers on the altar one by one.

Soon, two men circled the altar, pouring oil.

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Then, with solemnity, they traced the sign of the cross and lastly set it ablaze. Fire erupted on the oil-soaked logs and began spreading, gradually engulfing the bodies.

The crackling of the fire was the only sound that filled the stillness.

The wailing and weeping often heard at funerals were absent.

The actions of the people present were circled only by solemnity and contained sorrow.

As if this occasion had been long anticipated and prepared for.

To me, their composed and steady conduct felt somewhat alien.

Ella looked at the rising grey smoke quietly before speaking.

The masters class typically starts with stepping foot here for the initiation ceremony. Its regrettable that your initiation turned out this way.

Sincerity and regret exuded from Ellas words.

Its okay.

The fight was not mine alone to bear. All I could do was come to terms with the circumstances.

And Whats even more regrettable is that despite the sacrifice of so many, including yourself, nothing has actually ended. Theres not much time left for grieving

Ella continued speaking powerlessly as she watched the consuming flames.

While you were lying down, the magic society was hit with a barrage of letters asking for assistance. It wasnt just in Eternia. Ghouls launched surprise attacks on shrines all across the continent. Some places managed a successful defense, but others were destroyed beyond the point of recovery. Even if I told you what this incident is connected to, you wouldnt fully understand just yet. All I can say right now is this is merely the beginning.

Just what is unfolding? Could Silveryns departure to the Holy City be related to this?

Isnt there only one dark mage?

The situation suggests that there could be more. However, you are the only one so far who has seen a dark mage and lived to testify.

This could also imply that everyone else who had seen the dark mage had died.

Truly, my state had been as good as dead too. My survival was nothing short of a miracle.

Did the dark mage spare my life?

Ellas eyes deepened. After pondering deeply for a while, she opened her mouth.

I cannot be certain of anything. Whether you defeated the dark mage, or she could have surely killed you but retreated. Perhaps she indeed intends to use you as a sacrifice, just as you had heard.

Why? She seemed to be informed about me, as if she had been observing me for a long time

What could she want from me?

It remained an unresolved question.

Casting aside the strange discomfort, I shifted my gaze to the altar engrossed in flames.

***

After the funeral rites, Ella took me to the Filiaion Magical Research Institute, located within the labyrinth.

She said that Luna was being cared for right there.

While moving to the institute, I learned more about the present condition of the Protector Tree and what Luna had experienced.

Does Luna know about the labyrinth?

Now that shes come into contact with the dark mage, we need to manage her situation. She is a child with an extraordinarily sensitive perception. She even had a vague sense of the masters class and could see through peoples true forms despite their disguises. Even if she doesnt join the masters class, Luna will learn about our work once the situation improves.

Then she must know about me too.

I had met Luna while wearing a mask before.

Yes. Luna is quite aware of you too. She spilled everything. She guessed your identity after seeing all the spirits and thought-forms disappear.

And she also mentioned something quite profound. Isnt it said that children with magical talent can see the future?

Yes, my teacher once told me.

Silveryn had once mentioned my prophetic dreams. Children with magical talent can see the future, but as they acquire human language and knowledge, they gradually lose that ability.

Right, then this will be quick. Due to her limited interaction with humans, Lunas ability was preserved longer than other childrens. Though its nearly degenerated now, it seems to have faintly lingered in the shape of her intuition.

And that intuition seems to be telling her that theres something about you, Damian. The otherworldly spirit trying to control Luna and the Protector Tree is extremely fearful of you. It feels like you can change something.

What expectations do they have for me? Yet, theres nothing I can do right now. The presence is not even perceivable. How can one deal with something unseen and untouchable?

Any guess as to why that might be, Professor?

Maybe it has something to do with your sword. There are very few swords in the world that can cut through wraiths. Even infused with sword energy, capturing wraiths is impossible. They are not entities bound to our world. Neither dead nor alive. If its possible to cut through a wraith your sword might also have the potential to slay beings from other dimensions.

Is there perhaps any historical record concerning my sword? A sword that kills spirits and thought-forms

Ella shook her head firmly.

Not one. At least not until now. Perhaps they exist in the archives of elves who ceased interaction with humans or in the Land of Death in the north, existing undiscovered. The best thing we might do is to explore the Land of Death.

Land of Death what kind of place is that?

The archives of the elves or the northern Land of Death were both unfamiliar to me.

It was clear I could not find the original purpose of my sword through ordinary means.

You dont need to be in a hurry to find out. Now that youve entered the masters class, youll come to know organically. The very existence of this labyrinth is for that land.

Ella checked the time on a pocket watch and then said,

First, lets go and check on Lunas condition.

***

Ella led me to where Luna slept.

More accurately, it would be correct to say she was sealed.

The dark spirit that cursed Luna and the Protector Tree was still exercising its domination over her.

The situation resembled a reversed structure of command between a spirit summoner and the spirit. They executed control over Luna, drawing on her magical power as an energy source to curse the Protector Tree. It seemed certain that the true master of the dark spirit was the dark mage.

Eternia managed to prevent the curses progression merely by depleting Lunas magical power and sealing her strength, solving nothing at its core.

Lunas physical condition had improved substantially, and she had regained consciousness, but due to being in a state of magical depletion inducing extreme fatigue, she could only maintain consciousness for about an hour each day.

During my visit, she was deep in slumber.

In the basement of the research institute, a prison-like space was enclosed by multiple layers of semi-transparent barriers and whitewashed iron bars. In the center of it all was a single bed.

Luna, lying on the bed, was bound by chains glowing a bluish hue.

Though she had done no wrong, she was restrained like a prisoner.

A heaviness settled upon my chest as if a weight was anchored upon it.

How long will she have to remain this way?

Even if research progresses fast, she is likely to spend this entire semester unable to do anything.

The upcoming joint classes were said to be exceptionally advantageous for spirit summoners. It could have been Lunas solo stage, a chance for her to shine and be noticed.

To think her opportunity to display her talent and be recognized could just slip away like that.

Did Luna have any particular extracurricular activities she was fond of?

Ella answered my somewhat unexpected question.

Lunas butler says Even though she shies away from contact with people, she very much enjoyed watching plays. Why do you ask?

Just curious.

When she regains consciousness, shes always reading the play Canary and the Clown on repeat. Why, you thinking of bringing her a book?

No.

I had no intention of becoming friends with Luna. I knew well enough that due to the particular scars she harbored, it would be difficult for us to form a close bond.

I just wanted to check on something, and asked in the hope it might serve as a clue.