Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 464

Salco grumbled, “Wodanaise is from a noble family. He’s used to getting his way.”

*Noble families grab people like this?* Seiren thought, surprised, looking at Ethan.

“What are you staring at?” Ethan asked.

Seiren quickly looked away, a little embarrassed, and started writing again.

Seiren knew this swamp used to be a beautiful, clear lake. It was a peaceful resting place for Seirens like her, who traveled through the underground rivers of Einroguard. But then, the spirit flood turned it into a muddy swamp. And to make things worse, Maek, who should have stayed deep in the library, had come out in a rage, smashing things and claiming the swamp – *her* lake – as his territory.

The students from the Black Tortoise Tower stared at Ethan, their faces blank. They seemed to be thinking, *Are you mad because we wrecked the library furniture to build our fort?*

Ethan said quickly, “It’s the spirit flood, of course.”

“I didn’t save you for thanks,” Ethan said, “but spirit descendants remember their debts, right?”

Salco felt his face flush. *He’s right,* Salco thought, feeling a little ashamed. He knew about honor, but Ethan was on another level.

“Come on, Salco,” Ethan said. “We need to see where Maek is going.” He thought, *If the Headmaster is involved, we can’t just leave it.*

Salco hesitated. “But Wodanaise… if Maek is angry about the fort, maybe it’s just that. And… Maek isn’t sneaky enough to kidnap someone quietly. Especially when he’s this mad.”

Ethan shook his head. “I think someone made Maek do it.”

“Who?” Salco asked, worried.

“The Headmaster. Maybe. I’m not sure yet.”

“I knew it!” Salco exclaimed, his eyes wide. Ethan jumped.

“Hey, hey, calm down. It’s just a guess. That’s why we need to follow Maek and see.”

“Wodanaise,” Salco said seriously, “Elves have intuition, right?”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. *He’s an elf, not me…*

“Well, my elf intuition is screaming at me. It’s the Headmaster! Who else would it be? If he wanted someone, he’d take those White Tiger Tower bullies!”

“So, you agree we should follow him?” Ethan asked, trying to get back on track.

“Yes. Sorry for getting carried away.”

A soft melody drifted through the air – *♪♩♩♩…*

“There he is!” Ethan spun around, wand raised.

Suddenly, Seiren slammed her hand on the ground, looking furious. *Tap! Tap! Tap!*

She had been trying to get their attention, writing and calling out, but they were too busy talking.

“Oh! Sorry!” Ethan said quickly.

Seiren glared at him, all thanks gone from her eyes. She looked like she wanted to burst into a song of pure rage.

“Really? You’ll help us track him? Just… you’re not doing this *just* to repay the favor, are you? I had to ask.”

*Seirens are more than just singers,* Ethan thought, impressed. *They’re perfect for this swamp.*

Seiren shook her head and pulled out an old rowboat, putting the students on it.

Then she started swimming, pushing the rowboat. The rowboat quickly picked up speed and sped through the swamp.

Seiren watched Sharkan, her eyes wide with wonder. *How can a student control such a creature?* she thought. *He must be using up all his magic.*

*Grrrr!* Sharkan growled, stopping suddenly, claws out.

The students gasped. Ahead, a small island was shrouded in darkness. It looked like a thick, black curtain had been thrown over it, shimmering with an unnatural, oily light.

*♪♩♩!!* Seiren sang a quick, sharp note, and Ethan turned to her. She stopped singing and scribbled quickly on her board.

Her writing was messy, like Gainan’s, but Ethan squinted and read.

“…Maek’s using his power?” Ethan asked.

Seiren nodded fast.

Maek was known to hoard nightmares, feeding on them. But when truly threatened, he could spit them back out as a weapon. This black curtain was a nightmare made real.

“Why is he doing this?” Ethan wondered aloud.

Seiren and Sharkan exchanged glances, then looked at Ethan. Their eyes seemed to say, *Well, you followed him…*

“It’s not like we’re a threat!” Ethan protested. “And I just want to know what’s going on!”

Seiren wrote quickly: *Talk to him!* But even as she wrote, the black curtain began to spread, growing larger and faster.

“Light, show the truth!” Ethan shouted, casting a spell. A beam of bright light shot from his wand – *Granting the Light of Truth!* Then, “Mist, cover everything!” – *Ogonin’s Mist!* A thick fog rolled out.

But Maek’s nightmare was stronger than he expected. It surged forward like a dark wave, swallowing the light and mist whole, crashing over the students.

“Ugh!”

“Cough!”

The students stumbled, groaning. They were caught in Maek’s nightmare.

“…Huh,” Ethan said, surprised.

Not by the nightmare itself, but by how little it seemed to affect them. He knew they were magically strong, but he thought they’d at least see some scary visions.

He was almost embarrassed that the nightmare just washed over them without any obvious effect.

*Focus, Ethan!* he told himself. He had to stop Maek. Even if the nightmare seemed harmless on the surface, it could be doing damage inside. The longer they were exposed, the worse it could be.

He glanced at Seiren, who was staring blankly ahead. *Wait… Seiren!* He almost reached for his wand again, thinking he needed to wake her up. *But… wait.*

Then it hit him. Seirens were spirit creatures, known for their enchanting songs. Of course, she’d be resistant to nightmares!

Ethan lowered his wand, feeling a bit foolish.

Seiren looked at him, a question in her eyes.

“Faster! Take us to Maek! We need to talk to him!”

*Waaaaah…* Maek’s mournful cry echoed across the swamp as they pushed through the nightmare barrier.

“What’s he saying?” Ethan asked.

Seiren wrote quickly: *Why are you still here?*

“Tell him,” Ethan said loudly, “we’re not here to fight! But he attacked us first! If he stops the nightmare now, and promises to leave us alone, we’ll leave the library as soon as the flood is over. Deal?”

Seiren paused, surprised by the offer, then wrote it down.

*♩♩♩♪…* Maek sang, a questioning melody.

“What now?” Ethan asked.

Seiren wrote: *He asks, really? You will leave the library?*

“Yes! I swear it,” Ethan said firmly. “On my family name.”

Seiren’s eyes widened. Swearing on your family name was a serious thing. *Is he really that sincere?* she wondered.

“But,” Ethan added quickly, “I need to check something first. I think someone might have told him to do this.”

Seiren wrote: *Nonsense!*

“Just tell him! Let me check, or we fight!”

The nightmare faded, and they cautiously approached Maek’s nest. It was just a messy pile of library books and furniture, but there was no sign of the Skull Headmaster, no dark magic, nothing.

Salco frowned. “Maybe it’s hidden? A disguise?” he whispered.

Maek glared down at Salco, his eyes full of disdain.

Ethan sighed. “Look, Maek,” he said, trying to sound reasonable. “A student is missing. We’re looking for him. Do you know anything about it?”

*Waaaaah…* Maek whined.

Seiren hesitated, then wrote: *Professor Krauer… often takes students… illusion exam… ridiculous… not Headmaster… Krauer… never…*

Ethan frowned. “Professor Krauer?” he repeated. He thought for a moment. *Wait a minute…* He didn’t really know Professor Krauer. He’d always assumed…

*Never underestimate the professors,* he reminded himself. That was the only rule he truly knew.

*Waaaaah…* Maek continued.

Seiren wrote: *Helped with exam prep… past… received exam directly…*

“Okay, okay,” Ethan said, holding up his hands. “Let’s hear it. Tell me everything. When did you help with the illusion exam? This year too? And if it’s about the *divination* exam, where are the students?”

Maek hesitated, looking worried. He hadn’t been told *not* to talk about this, but…

“Hey!” Ethan said sharply. “Do you want us to stay in the library forever?”

Maek’s eyes welled up with tears. He finally gave in, and began to explain, in mournful sounds, everything he knew.

As Seiren translated, her expression changed. Maek, who had seemed like the villain, suddenly seemed… almost like a victim. She had come to reclaim her lake, but now…

Ethan’s face, lit by the flickering swamp light, seemed sharper, more cunning than before. *Is he… enjoying this?* Seiren wondered, a chill creeping up her spine.

*No, it’s just my imagination,* she told herself quickly.

Maek…

Power…

Activating…