The Magic Tower Lord Arrives! (3)
Teleos Academy had been rife with disturbances lately. Sure, it only looked peaceful on the surface—the principal's educational policy held that such incidents were par for the course in a free-spirited academic environment. But this year, it wasn't just petty squabbles among students. Far graver problems, driven by external forces, had piled up one after another.
Especially during what was supposed to be a peaceful summer break, the biggest incident yet had erupted, turning the internal atmosphere into a tightrope walk over thin ice. And right after the intruder's identity came to light, an unprecedented emergency had summoned every professor—whether residing in academy housing or back in their homelands.
Who knew how many such meetings this made? At the head of the conference table, Academy Principal Hagrina Rosfel clutched her furrowed brow and let out a heavy sigh.
"It's been a week since the semester started, and the disturbances show no sign of letting up."
"It's unavoidable, I believe. The incident was just that massive..."
"Indeed. The mere fact that they made a move is enough to dominate the front page of any gazette—not to mention that they set foot in Teleos Academy, the continent's premier institution of learning."
The professors around her swallowed the rest of her grim mutter, their faces hardening. Teleos Academy's position was beyond awkward—it was precarious.
With so many heavyweight figures gathered this year, the fallout from any incident was unimaginable. Just listing them was daunting: the eldest daughter of the Bronheim family, second only to the emperor in the Valkadian Empire's power structure; the second princess of the neighboring Ruendel Kingdom; and the saintess of the Holy Kingdom, whose symbolic weight eclipsed even the first two. These three alone represented the pinnacle of influence from three nations.
"Exactly. Even the usually quiet Holy Kingdom has risen in arms. They've gone so far as to send an official letter, demanding we allow their Holy Knights to be stationed here for 'protection'—a downright coercive request."
"What...!"
Hagrina brandished a freshly arrived letter, and the room buzzed with shock. The Holy Kingdom was inherently isolationist—not quite a nation, more like a massively swollen religious order that always maintained strict neutrality. That was its greatest strength... and weakness.
For them to break precedent and demand deployment of their Holy Knights meant the situation had spiraled into true crisis. Sending such a letter from abroad bordered on interference in internal affairs, but Teleos Academy's unique status and the Holy Kingdom's nature made outright refusal a heavy burden—especially given the pretext of this incident.
Special Invited Lecture - Amelia Luminis
"Refusing would brand us as heretics' accomplices... What a mess."
"His Holiness the Holy King isn't the type to do that, is he?"
"It's not about his disposition. It's the public opinion among those in the Church of Light—including the Holy Kingdom—that matters."
Indeed. The enemy now out in the open was none other than the Silence Followers. Ancient devotees of Nemesis, history's worst criminal and black mage, who had once drenched the continent in blood. They were the object of the Holy Kingdom's deepest hatred—the largest heretical collective they had branded.
Even after Nemesis's subjugation and the extermination of his followers, the Holy Kingdom had dispatched Holy Knights periodically, gathering intelligence and quietly hunting remnants.
To refuse their protection now? It would inevitably label the academy as harboring heretics. And it wasn't just the Holy Kingdom—the Church of Light had deep roots in the Valkadian Empire and Ruendel Kingdom too.
"At least Ruendel Kingdom hasn't shown any signs yet... but who knows. Even Altena Bronheim, famed for her immovable stance, sent a personal letter."
"Bronheim Duchess herself..."
A guardian of the empire and key military figure—yet ironically, a woman notorious for her disinterest in power struggles, always keeping a low profile. For Altena Bronheim to step forward underscored how gravely the world viewed this affair.
Thankfully, current student council president Siel Balshutain, though Ruendel's second princess, was dismissed by her homeland as a "cast-off child," sparing them much attention. Had Ruendel protested, even the opening ceremony might have been postponed, leaving the academy deserted.
"Worrying about the three nations' reactions won't help much now, will it? Instead of tracking their movements, we should focus on ways to protect our students."
Azela, the knight professor who had stayed silent, spoke up. Hagrina nodded vigorously. It was spot on. Ears tuned to international noise yielded no solutions. A principal truly devoted to the academy should prioritize proper education and defense for the students.
"...You're right. With the first-years' survival evaluation coming up soon, we should focus there."
"Yes. The first-year professors are already discussing it thoroughly—just in case something similar happens again."
"I'll leave that to Professor Azela. I've spoken with the security captain too, so requisition any manpower you need. Prioritize student safety above all."
"Understood."
Hagrina issued crisp orders and adjourned the meeting. The professors dispersed swiftly.
"...Wait. There's still that other important matter."
Watching them file out, Hagrina checked another document in her hand and gave a wry smile.
A short while after the semester began—ten days, give or take—one morning in the packed auditorium, Theo was buzzing with excitement amid the crowd.
"The Magic Tower Lord is coming...! I'm so hyped! What do I do, Aren?"
"That excited, huh?"
"Of course! She's a legend to us mages."
"Yeah?"
I snorted indifferently at the kid's sparkling eyes. I'd heard of the current Magic Tower Lord a few times, but she felt so distant—like some mythical figure. No real sense of it, so whether she was amazing or not didn't really hit home for me.
But that was just me. Judging by the other students, opinions differed.
"To think I'd actually meet the Magic Tower Lord in person!"
"Can we even understand half of what she says?"
"Idiot, grasping even a tenth would be impressive."
"Come on, maybe she'll adjust to our level since it's a lecture."
"I'd be happy just hearing her mindset on magic as a discipline."
Glancing around, everyone was reacting like Theo. And this was optional attendance. With the lecturer being the Tower Lord, knight and spirit students had little reason to care. Magic and spirit arts overlapped somewhat, so it wasn't useless—but knights might be better off napping.
Yet every first-year had shown up just to catch a glimpse. Her fame was no joke.
- Waaaaah!
"Hm?"
I'd been slouching, half-melded with my chair, wondering when she'd arrive, when a commotion erupted outside. Probably students who hadn't entered yet. Something up?
As puzzled glances turned to the doors, they creaked open—massive things, two or three times human-sized.
Bathed in midday sunlight like a halo, a woman appeared.
Her hair was a deeper black-purple than Neriel's. Her sharp pupils, ringed in red and serpentine, sent chills down my spine just looking at them.
But that wasn't all.
"Aren, you okay? You're shaking all of a sudden..."
"...Nah."
The moment she stepped into the auditorium, the air grew heavy. Was I the only one feeling this dissonance? Around me, only eager murmurs filled the space.
Damn, is that a person or a goblin?
As she strode gracefully to the stage, I could only hold my breath and swallow hard. Looming vaguely behind her was something enormous, staring right at me.
No overt threat, no mana flare. Just her gait and the overwhelming aura radiating from her entire being screamed it:
That's a monster.
"Ah, sorry I'm late. Students of Teleos Academy. I ran into an old friend on the way and got held up greeting them."
She hopped lightly onto the stage and spoke calmly into the crystal orb. No one dared interrupt her relaxed demeanor and friendly tone.
Perhaps irked by the silence—or wanting to seem more approachable—she stepped back, bowed politely, and introduced herself to the assembly.
"I'm Amelia Luminis, here as your special invited lecturer to share what little knowledge I have. I humbly hold the position of current Magic Tower Lord."
"Woooow!"
Only then did the auditorium erupt in cheers that shook the rafters. The massive silhouette behind her faded away smoothly.
"Haa... Hm?"
I exhaled in relief—just a little—when,
"Hehe."
For a split second, it felt like she was smiling right at me.
'Not bad.'