Looming Crisis

Walking past the garden located beside the west dorms, Leylin stopped to inhale the sweet aroma from the flowers and bask in the artificial sunlight radiating from the roof moss. His mood improved even more. It had been a great day so far.

Leylin sat down on a wooden bench and looked at the acolytes walking past, his mind at peace.

"Coming out here to enjoy this garden's beauty is also a type of enjoyment, isn't it?" -A voice traveled over and a grey-robed youth sat beside Leylin.

'Well, well, well. If it isn't that genius child who almost killed Kaliweir.'

"Jayden?" -Leylin's eyes opened wide in feigned surprise. In truth, Aralis had already alerted him to his presence in the garden.

The youth's Spiritual Force was the highest amongst their generation, and even his Vitality had increased after the constant mana radiation absorption. Normally, a Magus would intentionally increase their Vitality to prepare for future transformations of the body.

Right now, Jayden's Spiritual Force was higher than Leylin's by 2. He also carried a magic artifact, but no one knew of his battle experience. It was probably inferior to that of the Farlier heir.

'There was a time when I would've rather avoided a fight with him. But it was only a brief period of obscurity. Back when I had no arcane means at my disposal. Notwithstanding, regardless of his mighty talent and valuable magic artifacts, I could defeat this haughty kid with a 97.65% probability of success.'

[Doctor, not burst your bubble or anything, but my calculations show only a 56% chance in your favor. His being able to cast more spells than you should tell you enough.]

'Only in a fair fight, dear Aralis. And you should know that I never play fair...' -Leylin smirked under his mask.

"Jayden, I haven't seen you in months. How have you been?" -Leylin greeted with a naturally fake smile.

The boy did not know that Leylin had devised three different ways to murder him in just a second. He adjusted his robes and sat by Leylin's side. He revealed his pale, white face as he raised his head to meet the light from moss.

"I haven't basked in so much artificial sunlight for the longest time. Ever since I started following my mentor, my schedule has revolved around meditation, experiments, and my studies." -Jayden stretched his body, looking contented.

"By the way, I heard that you are doing pretty well under Kroft?" -Jayden said suddenly after a few seconds of uncomfortable silence.

'Either he had a change of attitude by divine intervention, or he wants to get something out of me. Let's see which one it is.'

"It's going alright. I'm basically just brewing potions and exchanging them for resources." -Leylin came off as extremely modest and overall the perfect noble.

"And you recently went on a mission with Kaliweir and his party of... Anyway, be honest with me: are you going to join his side?" -Jayden suddenly smiled, but a hostile glint seemed to flash in his eyes.

'So there it is. Interesting, that their petty feud still going strong. This is perfect.' -Leylin was beaming under his mask.

[May I ask why you think that way, Doctor?] -Aralis was dumbfounded as to why her Master would see that as a good thing.

'Do not forget, that conflict is the mother of all profit. Especially for someone who knows how to make the most of every opportunity.'

"We're acquaintances. We just did a mission together since we met by coincidence and I needed the extra income. That is all there is to it, dear Jayden." -Leylin talked the youth's ear off.

[Doctor, the rascal just tried to use a lie-detecting spell on you!] -Aralis said indignantly.

'Hahaha, thinks he's so smart. Let him use his entire arsenal of mind spells on me. My brain can not be infiltrated by the likes of this buffoon.' -Leylin was absolutely confident of his countermeasures put into place during his meditations.

After some time, Jayden gave a radiant smile: "I'll admit, Leylin... I think highly of you. Intelligent, knowledgeable, and prudent. Being with Kaliweir and the others would only drag you down. Only by joining a higher circle of true friends can you obtain more resources, glory, and power!"

'Now he's trying to lecture me. This guy wrote the book on how not to be a prosperous shady character.'

Jayden got up and continued in an indifferent tone: "Let me give you some advice, dear Leylin. Hurry up and leave this school..."

Leylin's brow rose slightly but did not say anything. He knew the conversation was over.

Jayden only smiled and walked away without taking a single glance behind him.

[Trying so hard to be mysterious...] -Aralis pointed out in mockery.

'You are overlooking something. He has access to privileged information, what with being Dorotte's personal apprentice. Not to mention, he's a fifth-grade acolyte with an almost guaranteed future as a proper Magus.'

[What are you getting at, Doctor? I thought you saw him as inferior?]

'He is, although not in all aspects. Jayden knows something, I am sure of it. He would not be getting that idea of abandoning ship if things were not looking that great for the cream around here. His words could have a thousand different connotations or hidden messages, but one thing is clear: I am better off looking for fortune around the Poolfield Kingdom, than standing here doing nothing. I will have to move up my timetable.' -Leylin decided.

[But Doctor, what if he was just messing with you? Or if he was overreacting?]

'Maybe. However, be assured that I do not alter my plans based only on what an edgy pale-faced idiot tells me on a park bench. I had actually been munching over going outside sooner than planned as I left Guricha's room.' -Leylin explained.

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In a dim room, the blue magic fire was still burning on the chimney, and a lewd atmosphere permeated through the room.

The moaning and shrill cries of a woman sounded, blending with the constant crackling of the fire.

After climaxing for the nth time, the girl lay in the arms of the man, as limp as a bag of soil.

"Oh heavens, you are awesome! Just like a fierce lion!" -Neela's expression was hard to make out in the darkness, but she sounded very pleased.

"Is it done?" -Leylin asked coldly, his true personality almost seeping through the temporary cracks on his mask. He detested having to lay with a woman that did not meet his standards.

"What, my love? If you mean sex... I could definitely go for another round..." -The redhead purred.

Leylin felt like strangling her right then and there. She was so lame in bed that it seemed almost impossible. Seeing how liberal people were with sexual relations in this world, Leylin was expecting a blowjob at the minimum, but the girl did not even know what that was. It had been 1 hour of starfish sex and some minor foreplay.

"No, woman. I mean what you promised to get for me. Do you have it?" -Leylin asked as he sat on the edge of the bed. He was barely restraining himself from crushing Neela's neck at this point.

"Why yes, my lion. It is in my nightstand's drawer. Be careful though, the one who sold it to me said it was to be handled with precaution." -Neela rolled on her back, and her nude chest lay there for Leylin to gaze upon.

However, the Farlier heir ignored her advance entirely and reached for the nightstand, taking out a small black pouch. After confirming the contents with a satisfied nod, he looked at Neela.

His face was hidden in the dark, but had the girl seen it, she would've run out of her room in fear. Leylin's countenance showed the eyes of a murderer before he cut someone to pieces.

'Be grateful that you are a serviceable tool. Otherwise, I might have ended your life tonight.' -Leylin thought as he took in a deep breath, and his gentlemanly smile returned to his face.

"Leaving me so soon?" -Neela asked with a hoarse voice, the result of her endless moaning.

"Yes. I have many things to attend to yet." -Leylin replied, as he quickly put on his clothes and put away the black pouch inside his satchel.

"Also, now that you have completed that task, I have another one for you. Don't worry, it will not be nearly as hard this time." -Leylin said warmly.

"Whatever you need, Leylin." -Neela promptly said, as he sat on her bed and covered herself with the sheets.

"I want you to keep an ear to the ground for anything related to Professor Harosi's expedition to avenge senior Perry. When I say anything, I mean it." -Leylin said.

"Please, that is too easy. As soon as I have something worthy of your knowledge, I'll come by your dorm." -Neela replied with a playful tone.

"Sure. Then I'll be off, my lioness." -Leylin said his goodbyes as she kissed Neela's plump lips, making her giggle.

'If that is a lioness, a cat would be the death of me. Not ever had I been with a woman so incompetent in bed. She treated the whole thing as a ritual to get pregnant for fuck's sake! I wonder how she lost her virginity; by falling off a horse?!'

[Lucklily, you used that contraceptive spell.] -Aralis chimed in.

'Thanks to whoever came up with that. If I accidentally had a child with that piece of trash, I would kill them both... Oh well, at least she delivered what she promised. And after I am positive that Harosi has cleaned out the closest roads to the graveyard, I will have the green light to go on my journey. My preparations for leaving Abyssal Bone Forest are almost complete. Whether I leave permanently though, that remains to be seen.' -Leylin was assuaged by that package Neela had gotten for him.

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It was the morning of the second day after he had walked out from Neela's room. Leylin presently felt extremely refreshed and full of vigor. Having received a timely payment for his latest batch of potions had put a genuine smile on his face.

After meditating for a while, Leylin took a cold shower and then headed towards Professor Kroft's lab.

The aforementioned Magus happened to be brewing some kind of advanced potion. Red-colored beetles were climbing around inside a test tube, occupying half of the space inside it. It looked rather disgusting.

"Leylin, my boy! Why that look? Is something the matter?"

Kroft sprinkled some blue petals into the test tube without even looking. The red-colored beetles hurriedly gorged on those petals, after which they dissolved and turned into a green-colored liquid.

A dozen seconds later, the test tube half-filled with the red beetles had turned into a green-colored potion.

"Your skills are really amazing, Professor!" -Leylin gasped in pretended astonishment.

"Haha! It's just practicing! Now... you always look like that when you have a problem, so don't be shy and ask. I may be able to aid you."

"It's like this: I haven't seen senior Merlin for some time now. I needed his help for one of my experiments, and I wondered where I could find him." -Leylin looked a bit dubious, but it was part of the act.

"Merlin? He has accepted a mission and left the academy this morning. Have I forgotten to inform you? I am sure I did tell Bicky about it..." -Kroft's face had on a disconcerted expression.

"How long will that mission last, Professor?" -Leylin pressed on.

"About 1 to 1.5 years. Though it may take longer." -Kroft's tone became sterner, but there was a hint of gratification in it.

"One last question: was the mission submitted by the family supporting senior Merlin?"

As a family that was able to rope in a genius Potioneering acolyte from Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, their influence should be one of the greatest in South Coast. After all, they had an intricate relationship with Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, so their information network might even be more efficient than Kroft's.

"Yes... By the way, some things were agreed on between the academy and me, so I cannot say it directly... But if you were to discover it on your own, then it would be none of my business. Just bear in mind that this is not the best time to be trotting about the academy..." -Kroft told cryptically.

'This old man has just confirmed my suspicions. Jayden, Merlin, Kroft. They are all but shouting that the academy is about to face a major crisis; if it isn't already. My position as a middle-high level acolyte has allowed me to gather this much on the current situation surrounding the academy. As for those whose aptitudes are even worse than mine, they probably won't know what happened even after they are dead.'

[You think that this information will be kept a hermetic secret?]

'No, I think that they do not have the power to escape death, should it come for them.'

Once again, Leylin was determined to leave: "So, may I also take up a dispatch mission?"

"You may. I'll put it in a good word about your Potioneering abilities so that you can get a quest without having to wait for too long." -Kroft nodded his head.

"I appreciate your support, Professor." -Leylin bowed, to which Kroft waved his hand with a modest smile.

Allowing acolytes to leave was an extremely high privilege that mentors only granted to their favored students. If the situation was as bad as Kroft insinuated, then he was practically doing Leylin a solid.

Thereafter, Leylin assisted Kroft in a few more research experiments in Potioneering and also took the opportunity to learn a new potion recipe.

After bidding farewell to his mentor, Leylin walked outside.

'There is only a small family backing the airheaded Bicky. As for Kaliweir and the other primates, they aren't fifth-grade acolytes, so they will most likely not receive the news. I could drop a hint to them, but I would be disturbing the process of natural selection. Evolution waits for no one. Plus, I'd assume that by now, most of the acolytes know thanks to hallway rumors. If they do not take appropriate action and die, then it is their fault for being so stupid.' -Leylin shrugged mentally.

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In the lavish second level of the Dining Hall, the gorgeous crystal lights sparkled dazzlingly. Numerous hired musicians performed their tranquil music.

Furthermore, the food here was all prepared with the utmost care. Not only could they increase one's stats, but they could also speed up the meditation process. As such, they have always been welcomed by acolytes and Magi alike.

However, there were very few customers here today. Most of their faces were gloomy, and the sight was rather unappetizing.

Leylin sat on a goose-feathered coach as Neela snuggled close to him, while she stirred a cup of hot cocoa that had Strength-increasing properties. A sparkling blue light emitted from the liquid when the light shone on it at a certain angle.

"Here, my dear. Drink. I had it made just for you." -The redhead grinned, as she watched her crush drink it in one gulp. She hurriedly cleaned the corners of his mouth with a pink handkerchief.

'I'd have some whiskey right now, but hey, stats are stats.' -Despite having Neela as his pet, he ordered Aralis to analyze the contents of whatever the redhead gifted him.

[By the faces of everyone here, I'd say that your prediction has come true, Doctor. The news has spread like wild fire on dry grass.] -Said Aralis.

'I don't really care. As long as no one stands in the way of my plans, I say let them sulk all they want. When disaster knocks at our door, the weeds will burn regardless.'