1.56 Nexus Wraiths

"I can see you understand what I mean," Castra said.

Michael nodded. "What they do is an abomination."

Castra righted her chair and sat back down, apparently calm once more. "Indeed," she said. "For four hundred years, we and the demons have been in a kind of truce. That changed after the incident that involved freeing the prisoners the demons had taken after a small skirmish with us. It may be only a matter of time before it escalates into a continent-wide war."

Liam let out a whistling breath. "Are you saying a war is coming?"

"The war never stopped," Castra said. "But who can say? Things might cool down before it escalates into a continent wide war once more. But this is a tangent. I came here to discuss something else with you boys."

"Discuss what?" Michael said.

Forgive him if his voice came out a bit squeaky. A war that might cover an entire continent might be on its way. Only fools did not tremble at the thought of such a horrible future. Michael was no fool.

"The two of you have the potential to become a talented Mage," Castra said. "You have the perfect constitution to study at the Black Coral Academy."

Michael blinked, trying to process her words. From what he had learned from Liam, The Black Coral Academy was renowned, an institution that only the best of the best could dream of attending. 

Liam gaped like a fish.

"Good Mistress Castra," Liam said. "You must be mistaken. I am nothing more than a simple countryman. I could never compare with the students from that school. I am sorry to have wasted your time, but I do not think you want me."

Castra laughed. "And I was Fletcher's daughter. Now I am a Great Mage. You give yourself too little credit, Liam. You have what it takes to be a student of the Black Coral Academy. Or do you doubt the words of a Great Mage?"

Liam opened his mouth, and "I…" was all he said before closing it again.

Castra gave him a knowing smile.

"I know a thing or two about the Academy," Michael said. Whatever he knew had come from Liam. 

"It is sad that it is nearly impossible for commoners to be admitted into the school, and even if it happens, I hear it is ridiculously expensive. Four hundred gold coins per semester. If I'm not mistaken, that's twenty-six hundred gold coins in total."

"All true," Castra said placidly.

Michael stifled a growl of frustration. Couldn't the woman see the problem? "How do you expect us to study in an institution like that? I do not even have a copper on me."

Castra raised one finger. "Anyone who wishes to be a student of the Black Coral Academy must first study under a Great Mage—a proxy for the Academy—for a few months. Then they can give the entrance examination under the recommendation from the said Mage."

"I am one of those proxy from the Academy, so it won't be difficult for you to be admitted into the Academy so long as you study under me and pass the entrance examination."

She raised her second finger. "As for the payment for studying under them, gold is not the only payment they accept. A price worth paying for the education they provide, if you ask me."

Michael folded his arms, pretending what Castra had said mattered little to him. "Say we decide to be your student and are successfully accepted into the Academy, what is in it for you?"

Castra didn't just laugh. No, she roared with it, a deep and hearty laugh that filled the room. "You and Nairobi are so alike, it's uncanny."

"I'm nothing like her," Michael snapped.

Him? Like that… that woman? It was preposterous! Michael ground his teeth, his veins popping out.

"Hit a nerve, Did I?" Castra said with that stupid smile of hers. Women!

Castra answered his questions though, which was the second payment method to study at the academy. You did not have to pay the Academy in gold if you agreed to become the proxy for the school after graduating—until twenty of your recommended students were accepted into the Academy. And it seemed Castra was nearing the end of her obligation, suggesting that this was why she was offering this opportunity to them.

"Will you give us time to think about it, Mistress Castra?" Liam said.

"I asked a few villagers questions, and I learned something interesting," Castra said. " A Hunter had arrived at your village with the news before the attack from the Titans Spawns. News about the people who were behind the attacks. Apparently, those people had taken prisoners from the villages they attacked. All these prisoners were those who had manifested a Nexus and taken up a class they could level up on. Do you know why they only took such prisoners and killed everyone else?"

Michael and Liam shook their heads in unison. Why had the woman so abruptly changed the subject from the Academy to the attacks on the village? There must be a reason behind it.

Castra's mouth twisted into a nasty grimace before she continued. "Gaining a class comes with its own advantages, but danger follows. If your Nexus is destroyed, and yes it can be destroyed, it consumes five of your levels to repair itself. What do you think will happen if your Nexus is destroyed repeatedly? What happens when your level hits negative?"

Nothing good, Michael suspected, considering the expression on the woman's face. Why did there always have to be dangerous consequences for everything?

Castra's answer proved he was not wrong. "The bones in your body break. Every muscle is torn down and then they resemble into something hideous, something grotesque. A creature in constant pain. You will remember what you were. But will always be driven by your instinct. Instinct, to kill everyone and everything in your path. We call such creatures Nexus Wraiths."

Michael felt sick. That sounded like fate worse than Death. 

"Where are you going with this, Mistress Castra?" Michael managed.