“Good evening, Mr. Hamilton. No need for tea. First of all, congratulations on joining the Faculty of History at St. Byron’s Comprehensive Academy, but tonight is about two other matters.”
Professor Garcia, the Deputy Director of the Faculty of History, said, applauding lightly. He then extended two fingers, not giving Shard a chance to speak. This professor was quite direct:
“First, about you. Please show your core rune.”
With a heavy impact, the mist of scorching steam revealed the life ring, and the brass-colored [Time and Space] appeared in front of the three translucent figures.
Every time Shard summoned the life ring, he felt that this system of power was exceptionally stylish.
Professor Garcia nodded satisfactorily and said in not-so-fluent Delarion, “Very good, Mr. Hamilton. This is indeed [Time and Space]. You have now been placed on the priority list for cultivation at the Faculty of History. In addition to the relic already given to you, I will personally guide your [Time Travel Practical Training]. According to the Academy’s regulations, this course begins after you engrave your first rune. However, as a priority student, the time for time travel can be advanced.”
“Advanced?”
Shard blinked.
“Yes, tonight. More precisely, after we finish all the discussions tonight.”
Professor Garcia’s speech lacked any emotional undertone, giving Shard an impression of seriousness and rigidity, but Shard admired professors with this personality.
“Most correspondence students of ring magic are unaware of the priorities given to certain students.
You are different from ordinary correspondence students. Although we cannot break the rules to directly let you enter the academy, St. Byron’s will provide you with many educational conveniences and more cultivation resources, but more will also be expected of you. Mr. Hamilton, the Faculty of History looks forward to the day you officially step into the academy. I seldom praise students actively, but please do not waste your talent. Generally speaking, the [Time Travel Practical Training] at the Faculty of History is taught by regular lecturers.”
After speaking, Professor Garcia squeezed out a somewhat strange smile at Shard. This professor probably didn’t smile often. Shard nodded with a serious face; he was obviously happy about such a matter, but also anxious about the upcoming time travel.
“Before the course begins, there’s a second matter unrelated to our Faculty of History but concerning your group.”
Professor Garcia pointed to Professor Sanchez, sitting opposite Shard. Although both were professors at St. Byron’s, it was evident the latter had a higher status.
“Mr. Shard Hamilton, I hope you can promise that the topics we will discuss next will not be shared with anyone else.”
Professor Sanchez, who wore a pocket watch chain across his chest, said.
“In other words, can the privileges for priority students be mentioned?”
Shard thought to himself. He did not say anything like “the following words should not violate morality” but simply nodded. His ears seemed to hear the sound of cat claws scratching the door, and he was very worried about Mia destroying household property:
“I swear I will keep it confidential.”
“Very well, we are going to discuss your five-person group, which has significant issues.”
Miss Jones lowered her head to take notes while Professor Garcia sat up straight, listening to the conversation. Professor Sanchez, who seemed to be over fifty years old, had a serious look in his eyes.
He opened his mouth to continue speaking but suddenly paused, looking towards the window of the living room along with Professor Garcia. Shard had closed the curtains as requested. The thick fabric curtains could completely block the warm yellow light of the gas lamps in Ring Square. Now, from beneath the curtains, a faint silver mist had appeared at some point, slowly spreading throughout the room.
“Mercury mist?”
Even though their actual bodies were not in this detective office living room, the two professors with tenure still recognized what it was.
“Mr. Hamilton, someone is attempting to invade here.”
Professor Sanchez said, though he remained seated, his brows furrowed as he looked at Shard:
“Did you do something in the last two days?”
The detective, covering his nose and fearing mercury poisoning, immediately nodded. When he heard “mercury,” he understood. Knowing that now was not the time to hide anything, he fully disclosed the matter of the Old God statue but did not mention the time and place of his meeting with “that lady,” only stating that he found a reliable buyer.
The professors didn’t care that he sold the Old God statue instead of giving it to the academy. The two professors exchanged glances, and Professor Garcia, using his not-so-standard Delarion, said:
“Then it’s roughly clear. The buyers you found helped you remove the [Blood of Mercury]’s tracking of the statue finder but left minute traces. They initially only wanted to test, not expecting that you would happen to initiate the ritual, which let them confirm that you are a ring magician.”
Shard did not know the professors’ methods of reasoning and did not know how to describe such bad luck.
“But don’t worry. I chose tonight as the meeting time, Mr. Hamilton. I will handle this matter.”
Professor Sanchez said, looking at his secretary. The latter responded clearly:
“In compliance with the academy’s rules, but I must remind you, professor, that during the ritual projection, even high ring magicians’ powers are diminished.”
“That’s alright. Although the [Blood of Mercury] is an ancient organization, their current strongest is only the nine-ring magician ‘Silver Eyes.'”
Professor Sanchez said, incidentally educating Shard once more:
“The ring magicians have thirteen rings, but thirteen-ring magicians are rare in this epoch and all have unique titles. St. Byron’s has two thirteen-ring magicians: our Dean, Professor Pigman, the ‘Silver Guardian,’ and Miss Danester, the ‘Red Moon Witch,’ librarian of St. Byron’s Grand Library. Below them, ten-ring magicians can serve as archbishop guardians for the True God churches or professors with tenure at the academy. Outside of the churches and academy, magicians above ten rings are rare.
The [Blood of Mercury] has an ancient lineage, supposedly originating from the late Fourth Epoch, but it has declined and is currently allied with the [Blood Spirit Sect], which the Five Gods’ churches hunt. The inheritors of Blood of Mercury are too obsessed with the angel-level relic – Mercury Blood.”
The professor did not rise as he spoke, and by now, the mercury mist had almost reached everyone’s feet from the window. Shard wondered whether he should remind the professors that the projection might not be affected by poisoning, but he, a physical entity, was at risk.
“But what is the [Blood Spirit Sect]?”
He believed that St. Byron’s professors wouldn’t let him die.
“Should I take on these ancient madmen or will you?”
The Deputy Director of St. Byron’s asked the Deputy Director of the Faculty of History. The latter thought for a moment and said calmly but in not-so-fluent Delarion:
“Let me handle it first. At least, we need to know who they are and how much information they have on Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton, watch closely; this is the power of space.”
