Chapter 18 – Scream of the Shadows
William stepped into the professor's office, the heavy wooden door closing behind him with a dull thump. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment, dried ink, and melted wax. Bookshelves curved along the stone walls, and dozens of scrolls, tomes, and fragments lay scattered across the desk in a carefully orchestrated chaos.
Aurus awaited him, seated with his fingers intertwined and a sharp gaze beneath the faint glow of a silver candelabrum.
"I've prepared some material for you," he said, nodding toward a side table. "Take a look."
William approached calmly. On the table rested several strips of yellowed leather—clearly the tanned hides of ancient beasts—engraved with symbols that pulsed faintly with mana, imperceptible to the human eye. Volgaris. The strokes were harsh, aggressive, like open wounds. Beside them lay other scripts, softer, almost melodic. Remika.
He examined them one by one, narrowing his eyes. Letting his fingers hover just above the surface, he showed interest without actually touching them.
"This... is different from what we saw in class," he murmured, feigning effort as he read.
"It is," Aurus replied, rising to his feet. "The first text is in Volgaris. You've already tasted its power. The second is Remika, the common tongue of magic. That is what I'll teach you."
William tilted his head. "I thought we would study Volgaris."
Aurus's voice dropped a tone. "You're not ready yet. Volgaris is dangerous, unstable, fragmented. It reacts. Remika, on the other hand, is stable, structured. You must master it first. From now on, remember—words are not as safe as they seem."
William nodded slowly. "Understood."
He didn't need to pretend ignorance with Remika. Angel was already translating everything directly into his vision. Still, he moved his lips silently, letting his eyes drift over the text as if trying to decipher it with great difficulty.