Chapter 15: Planning

I awoke with a start, my heart racing, and my mind plagued by the unsettling memories of last night.

The sun had not yet risen, and my room was shrouded in darkness, which only seemed to accentuate the lingering shadows of the previous night's events.

The pain I had inflicted on the assassin, driven by the original Roderick's soul possessing my body, left me feeling uneasy. I grimaced, rubbing my temples to try and banish the lingering images.

The fact that Roderick's soul had completely taken over my body and used it to brutally torture a man, even if that man had tried to kill us multiple times, was unnerving.

I was powerless to stop him, or me... It was very confusing, I had never felt him closer, more concrete than a set of hazy memories lingering on the border of my consciousness.

The fact it had woken up, albeit briefly, was it a sign of more to come?

As I sat up in bed, I glanced around my room, seeking comfort in the increasingly familiar surroundings. The faint glow of the moonlight cast eerie shadows on the polished wooden floor, like tendrils of light invading my room.

A collection of dusty tomes was neatly arranged on a bookshelf, and a vase of freshly-picked flowers adorned a small table in the corner. Their sweet fragrance filled the room, providing a small sense of solace amidst my turmoil.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself. My hands were trembling slightly, so I clasped them together to steady myself. I resolved to wait for the dawn when the sun would rise and dispel the darkness, both inside my room and within my troubled thoughts.

As I sat there, unable to sleep, I began meditating in an attempt to calm my restless thoughts. The darkness of the room seemed to swallow me whole as I closed my eyes, my breathing slow and steady. Yet, my mind insisted on conjuring up vivid images of my past lives, scenes from two vastly different worlds.

One moment I was in Italy, enjoying a warm plate of pasta with my family, their laughter and love surrounding me. The next, I was plunged into chaos, the ground shook, and the air filled with deafening explosions. The night sky seared with streaks of blazing fire—like malevolent shooting stars threatening to incinerate us all at any moment.

Thane screamed at me to wake up just as one of the spells was about to hit us, and as the conflagration spread around me, I was back in the Italian countryside, enjoying the warm sun on a beach.

These memories seemed to blend and bleed into one another, making it increasingly difficult to discern where one life ended and the other began.

"Am I really still Alex?" I wondered idly, the question echoing through my thoughts like a haunting refrain. Before my transmigration, I had been a bachelor in physics, a man of reason and science who never imagined he'd find himself in a world of mystery and magic.

Now, I was Roderick, a veteran war mage turned adventurer turned dean of a magical academy. The memories and experiences of both lives had begun to fuse, intertwining until I could no longer separate the two.

I pondered the philosophical implications of my dual existence. Was I still the same person I had been before? Did the merging of memories and experiences create a new, unique individual altogether? Or was I simply the sum of my experiences, an amalgamation of two lives lived?

As I continued to ponder the questions of my dual existence, the Ship of Theseus conundrum came to mind. It was the classic philosophical thought experiment: if a ship was slowly replaced with entirely new pieces over time, through maintenance or repair, would it still be the same ship? Could it ever truly be identified as its original self, or just an amalgamation of its parts?

I found myself wondering if this could be applied to my situation in any way. Had I been changed too much by my transmigration for me to remain the same person? Or had I been altered enough that I was now something entirely new?

As I continued to meditate, I realized that perhaps my identity was not a fixed, immutable thing but rather an ever-evolving construct. Like a river constantly reshaped by the landscape it flows through, I too was shaped and molded by the experiences I had encountered in both worlds.

In embracing this new perspective, I found a sense of acceptance and peace. It didn't matter if I was Alex or Roderick or some combination of the two. What truly mattered was the person I chose to be in this new life, the choices I made, and the impact I had on those around me.

As the first rays of sunlight crept through the window, casting golden patterns on the floor, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. It was a new day, and I needed to focus on the future. The revelation of the rival academy's involvement in our recent hardships made me grimace. I needed a plan.

Firstly, I must tackle the opposing school and all of the other rodents hiding between our walls. I need to prepare for possible future attempts on my life and the safety of the academy, for the knowledge of our prisoner will prove essential, I`m sure Thane should have finished extracting all intel by now.

Secondly, I won't be satisfied by just protecting myself. As long as they exist, we are in danger, I have to discuss a plan of attack, maybe this world has some sort of magic police I could talk to?

Third, I need strength. If the assassin had been someone more like Thane, I wouldn't have lived to see the sunrise. I need to be stronger, more like the real Roderick. For that, I need to speak with Elara, maybe she has some suggestions.

Lastly, I should check the system. My foundation in this world lies on the Argentum Academy. If I want to prosper, so should it.

I reached for a quill and parchment, jotting down my thoughts in an effort to organize them. First, I opened the Magical Academy System and checked my Academic Points balance. To my surprise, I had gained forty points since the last time I checked!

"Forty, huh?" The first thing that came to my mind was that the four orphans who had joined us must have contributed to this increase, and it dawned on me that enrolling more students could be a way to earn more points.

I noted it down. Then I noted that I should check on the orphans.

Feeling like I was going the right way, I began brainstorming a list of other possibilities to earn points. Perhaps improving the academy's infrastructure, discovering new magical knowledge, and hosting events or competitions could all contribute to our point balance. The more points we had, the more we could invest in the academy's growth and security.

As my mind raced with ideas, I also contemplated how to investigate potential spies within the academy. I recalled my ability to sense when a student was lying. If I could have the entire student body recite something simultaneously, including statements that were true or false, I could potentially identify those who intended harm to the academy and me.

But first things first, let's look at the list of available buildings:

Enchanted Dormitories: The Enchanted Dormitories offer a serene and comfortable living space for academy residents. Enhanced by the subtle, magical energies flowing through the halls, each room adapts to the personal preferences and needs of its occupants. The ambient lighting and temperature adjust automatically, providing a customized atmosphere for relaxation and study. Additionally, the dormitories feature noise-canceling enchantments, ensuring a peaceful and quiet environment for restful sleep and focused work.

Elemental Gardens: The Elemental Gardens is a unique and powerful space imbued with unaligned elemental energy, providing an ideal environment for students to practice harnessing and attuning these energies to fire, wind, earth, and water. The gardens' rich elemental essence allows for a smoother and more efficient energy flow, enabling students to sharpen their spellcasting skills and gain a deeper understanding of elemental magic.

Nature Sanctuary: The Nature Sanctuary is a tranquil and harmonious haven designed to attract and nurture magical and non-magical wildlife. Within its boundaries, violence is strictly forbidden, creating a peaceful environment for creatures to thrive and coexist. This sanctuary offers students and residents the opportunity to safely study, observe, and interact with a diverse range of flora and fauna.

Laboratory: The Laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility, equipped with advanced magical and technological tools to support research, experimentation, and innovation. The modern, modular design of the space allows for easy adaptation and expansion as new discoveries and techniques emerge.

"Hmm." I hummed. I had four options that were available to buy, but I couldn't afford any of them with my remaining 83 points. The fountain had cost 100, and the scout's eyes and truth and false sense both cost 50 each.

I looked back at the list of available buildings and considered the current situation: the academy was broke, in debt, and threatened by another academy. I needed to make a choice that would offer immediate benefits and improve our standing.

Enchanted Dormitories: While the comfortable living spaces would undoubtedly improve the students' quality of life, it didn't seem like the most pressing need at the moment. Our students needed to grow stronger and more knowledgeable, and the academy needed to generate income to get out of debt.

Elemental Gardens: This option seemed more promising. A place for students to practice and hone their elemental magic could lead to rapid growth in their abilities. Stronger students could potentially bring more prestige to the academy, perhaps attracting wealthy sponsors, more students, or could be more useful in case we were attacked...

Nature Sanctuary: Although it sounded like a beautiful and serene space, it didn't seem to offer any immediate benefits in terms of strengthening our students or improving the academy's financial situation. This option could be revisited later, once the academy was more stable.

Laboratory: The laboratory attracted me a lot, maybe because of my background. A state-of-the-art facility for research and experimentation could lead to groundbreaking discoveries that could attract attention and funding. Additionally, it could serve as a hub for collaboration between students and professors, fostering a culture of innovation and growth.

Upon further reflection, I realized that the laboratory might be a risky investment. The potential for groundbreaking discoveries was alluring, but it could take months or even years for research to yield results that would attract sponsors and generate income.

Given the immediate financial difficulties and the looming threat from the rival academy, I needed to prioritize something that would yield more immediate benefits.

Stronger students would not only be better equipped to defend the academy from outside threats but could also attract attention. As I reconsidered the options, the Elemental Gardens caught my attention again.

A dedicated space for students to practice and refine their elemental magic could lead to rapid growth in their abilities. Stronger students would not only be better equipped to defend the academy from outside threats but could also attract attention from potential sponsors, who might be impressed by the academy's ability to produce skilled mages.

Moreover, students who excelled in their elemental magic could participate in magical competitions or even offer their services as mercenaries, generating additional income for the academy. In this way, the Elemental Gardens could indirectly help address the academy's financial situation.

Each building cost 125, so I would need to either enroll six more people or find alternative avenues of earning points.

I decided to focus on the latter option for now. There had to be other ways to earn points. Was there some kind of rulebook or manual for the Magical Academy System? I searched my room and found a dusty old tome hidden behind some other books on the shelf. The cover was inscribed with the words "Argentum Academy System: A Comprehensive Guide."

...

"I wish." I sighed, wishing it was that easy.

I realized that there was no book in my room that could provide the information I sought. Instead, I turned my attention back to the Magical Academy System interface. Surely, there must be some guidance or documentation available within the system itself.

I sighed again, since the system provided no direct help or guidance. I would have to rely on my own intuition and analysis to determine the best course of action.

"Gotta roll up my sleeves and figure it out myself."

It might be hard work, but there was an excited thrill as I realized I'd be following in the footsteps of the giants on whose shoulders I had traveled when I studied, and I too would embark on a journey of discovery of a whole new world.