Chapter 200
Chapter 200: The Succubus's New Bodyguard
Because it was morning, the Academy was exceptionally quiet.
In the vast Academy, only Heni was running about everywhere with Safirose in tow.
"This is the Academy's laboratory."
Heni brought Safirose to stand before 1 of the classrooms.
Safirose slowly raised her head, gazing at the enormous magic classroom.
The surrounding air seemed to shimmer faintly with magical luminescence, and a thin veil-like film covered the door.
After pushing it open and stepping inside, a wide, open space revealed itself before the 2 of them.
On the walls were several glowing rings of light, pulsing with a gentle radiance.
Upon sensing someone enter, the spacious magic classroom suddenly produced a three-dimensional outline from thin air, as several forms of Magic gradually converged within it.
In moments, a table laid out with various Rune-carved items appeared before the 2 of them.
"This is where students of the Royal Magic Academy learn how to craft Magic items."
Heni picked up a slightly rough and uneven stone, then began engraving Magic onto it from memory.
Only a few seconds passed, and the stone in her hand had been inscribed with 2 different kinds of Runes, flickering with a faint red light.
"Rune Stone—Throwing type."
Using 2 Runes in a simple alternating pattern to achieve the effect of automatic acceleration after being thrown.
Once hurled, it carried considerable force and moved at considerable speed.
An excellent emergency item to have on hand in combat.
Heni turned to face the Wooden Training Dummy standing upright ahead of her, gave the Rune Stone a light toss in her hand, and flung it.
The instant the Rune Stone was launched, the red Runes blazed with light and it shot through the air—striking the Dummy's body squarely.
It dealt a solid amount of damage to the Dummy.
"This is a Magic item—something that helps Mages deal with emergency situations."
Safirose seemed to have taken an interest as well, and picked up a stone.
Heni spoke up from beside her, slowly:
"Ah, that one—that one hasn't had any Rune carving done on it yet. It's just a normal st—"
In an instant, Heni felt a storm bearing down on her face. Her hair was swept entirely backward, and her wide robes pressed tightly against her body.
Before she could process it, that stone cleaved through the air and slammed into the Dummy at a speed completely invisible to the naked eye.
Bang!
The next second, the Dummy shattered completely—fabric scraps and wood chips exploding outward.
Heni turned around and stared at Safirose, who had just completed her throwing motion, blinking in blank confusion.
"Uh, this......"
The Dummy's material was deliberately robust, designed for Magic instruction purposes.
It could withstand ordinary 3rd-Tier Magic.
But Safirose had just hurled an uncarved, plain stone with her bare hands—and blown it apart?
Heni genuinely could not comprehend this.
What on earth had this girl been eating to grow up this strong?
To shatter a Wooden Training Dummy through pure physical force alone—this level of strength had already reached at least the standard of a 3rd-Tier Warrior.
"Safirose, you......"
Safirose turned around and tilted her head at Heni.
"No......never mind."
Heni had no desire to pry too deeply into someone else's secrets.
At the very least, the girl in front of her seemed a bit clueless and clearly needed her help—Heni was certain of that much.
"Next, let's go take a look somewhere else."
Heni took Safirose's hand and they left the laboratory.
Under Heni's guidance, Safirose came to stand before a tall tower.
The tower's gate seemed to be blocked by a blue Formation.
"This is the Mage Tower."
Heni began to explain to Safirose.
"Mages with the proper access privileges can enter the Mage Tower freely, and teleport to any location within the Academy from here."
Heni patted her own chest with confidence, the peaks hidden beneath her robes bouncing with considerable presence, as she walked to the front of the Mage Tower.
【Identity verification successful—Associate Professor Heni, welcome back to the Mage Tower.】
A flat, mechanical voice rang out, and the blue Formation before the tower's gate vanished.
The 2 of them gradually stepped inside the Mage Tower, and the surroundings seemed to transform into an infinite starscape.
A purple-blue nebula began to spin rapidly beneath their feet, as the brilliant, star-filled sky flowed along with it.
Then, just as swiftly, that fantastical vision seemed to be peeled away, retreating rapidly behind them.
Their surroundings gradually cleared, and they found themselves in an entirely different setting.
This was a very warm and cozy office. A rosewood desk sat in one corner, with a leather chair behind it.
Several small flowering plants bloomed on the desk surface in the sunlight, and all around were stacks of thick, heavy books.
Safirose looked around, then turned to look at Heni.
"You......seem very happy."
She didn't understand why Heni was so happy.
But this emotion felt like she was deliberately showing something off.
Heni gave 2 small coughs and continued:
"Next, let's make a trip to the Arcane Hall."
"I'll assess your magical aptitude there."
This was also Heni's purpose for coming.
If Safirose had magical aptitude—even if it wasn't particularly high—Heni could still use her Associate Professor privileges to apply for her enrollment.
As for why she wanted Safirose to enroll.
It was because Heni had always believed deeply in the importance of education.
Although Safirose seemed formidable, the fact that she appeared unable to read properly and could barely string a sentence together genuinely worried Heni.
Also because Heni herself had been saved by Professor Viktor, she always wanted to extend a helping hand to others as best she could.
Then, 2 streaks of blue luminescence lit up at Heni's fingertips and began to waver slowly in the air.
A blue Formation gradually spread to fill the office, slowly wrapping around the 2 of them.
2 streaks of blue luminescence descended from the sky and appeared inside the Arcane Hall.
The vast Arcane Hall was utterly empty at this hour—not a single soul other than the 2 of them.
Heni took Safirose by the hand and led her to a room within the Arcane Hall.
In the center of the room, a transparent crystal pillar stood quietly.
【Genesis of Magic】
Looking at it, Heni couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.
This was a Magic item personally crafted by Principal Rashel Azure-Blue in his capacity as a Council Member—capable of discerning the precise nature of a person's magical aptitude.
It was here, long ago, that Heni herself had been declared to have no magical aptitude.
Had it not been for Professor Viktor, she would never have become a proper Mage.
Heni shook her head, willing herself not to dwell on the past, and urged Safirose forward.
"Place your hand on it."
Safirose obediently followed Heni's instruction and slowly set her hand on top of it.
Several threads of luminescence, like flowing water droplets, began to merge together within the crystal.
Soon, what resembled droplets of Magic Power fused together and began to gradually spread—drawing out 3 brilliant columns of light across the crystal's surface.
Heni stared at the crystal, rooted to the spot.
"Magic Power—Rank 3!"
Generally speaking, the 【Genesis of Magic】 would assess a person's aptitude across 10 ranks.
At different levels of Magic Power, the number of light columns the crystal displayed would differ entirely.
And Safirose's aptitude was middling—even slightly on the low side.
But very quickly, the Genesis of Magic grew unstable. Those 3 columns of light recombined, then spread outward once more.
This time, there were 5 columns of light.
But this too didn't last long before reorganizing again.
The crystal's surface then displayed 8 columns of light.
Witnessing the scene before her, Heni drew in a sharp breath.
Before she even had time to react with astonishment, those 8 columns of light recombined once more—and in the end, the luminescence gradually faded away, the entire crystal growing dark and dim.
Now Heni couldn't make sense of it at all.
Was this indicating aptitude, or wasn't it?
Then, the Genesis of Magic fell completely silent.
Heni placed her own hand on it—not even the slightest tremor responded.
"It......broke down?"
This was the first time Heni had ever encountered a situation like this, and she stood there completely frozen.
She scratched her head, somewhat flustered.
Worried about making Safirose feel bad, Heni took the initiative to reassure her.
"Actually, magical aptitude doesn't mean everything—I was even assessed as having no magical aptitude."
"And yet here I am, a Mage."
But seeing that Safirose still wore an expressionless face, Heni hurriedly added:
"Mm, if you can't enroll, then I'll apply to the Principal to make you my Teaching Assistant! "
That way, Safirose would have a job in the Royal Capital at the very least.
She wouldn't end up unable to read a single character—completely clueless—and get taken advantage of by some people in the Royal Capital.
Safirose slowly turned her head and looked at Heni.
"Teaching Assistant......what is that?"
"Mm......basically just staying by my side and helping with some odds and ends—of course I won't work you too hard."
Heni smiled and explained to Safirose, then, thinking of Safirose's formidable destructive power, she quickly added a playful remark.
"Maybe I'll even need you to protect me."
Hearing this, Safirose's body gave a faint tremor.
【Command keywords detected: 'follow,' 'protect'】
【Scanning target—】
Safirose's green serpentine pupils contracted repeatedly, as though confirming something.
【Whitelist character—Heni】
【Command—Execute】
She stared blankly at Heni and gave a nod.
"Understood."
"Oh, that sentence came out so smoothly—very good, very good."
Heni smiled and patted her shoulder, continuing:
"Next, let's go have a look around other places."
She led Safirose out of the Arcane Hall, Safirose following close behind her.
The 2 of them wandered about until they arrived before the enormous pit enclosed within the Academy grounds.
This pit, significant with its history, had remained here since the Demon Invasion.
Over the span of several months, the pit had been nearly filled by rainwater, becoming a natural lake.
Heni stood here, the light of memory flickering in her eyes.
Every time she came to this place, she was struck by something deep and profound.
It was here that Professor Viktor had saved her from a Demon's hands.
Quickly, Heni's gaze refocused, and she turned to Safirose behind her with a smile, beginning to explain.
"This is the place where Chief Professor Viktor Clavena of the Academy defeated a Demon. It holds great historical significance."
Safirose's gaze was fixed on the pit, her serpentine pupils sweeping steadily across the lake.
【Preliminary assessment—4th-Tier War Magic】
【User—Viktor Clavena】
"Recording complete."
"Mm? What are you saying?"
Heni had just barely begun to ask when, all at once, a voice sounded beside her:
"A sacred ground......where a Demon was defeated."
She turned around. A silver-haired man in noble attire was walking toward her.
Owaise Sorel narrowed his eyes, meeting Heni's gaze.
"I too find Demons very interesting, Miss."
"Would you be willing to tell me more?"