Chapter 30: The Kryle Abnormality (1)

Magnus sat through class for about three hours until Eremid dismissed everyone, granting them the freedom to do as they pleased. He and Luden talked briefly when class was over, but he said he had to leave shortly after. He still had no clue why Luden wanted to hang around him during class. It seemed like innocent interest at first glance, but he felt like there was probably more to it than that.

That aside, Eremid explained that the academy would be taking it slow with them, given that they were still getting used to their new surroundings.

Once they were up to speed, they'd have two classes a day. Their first class would be with him, focusing on the lecture side of things. The topics covered would vary; sometimes they would relate directly to their secondary class; other times, they would be more general, covering the essential knowledge every future knight and mage needed.

The second class was all about putting what they had learned into action. The sparring matches that Gerald supervised were part of this second class. Of course, sparring was just one of the many activities they could engage in. More often than not, the academy used the second class to gauge the students' progress, testing how quickly they could apply the lessons from previous sessions.

When Magnus heard about all of this, he couldn't help but wonder why they set things up this way.

I guess when your sole purpose is to groom the next generation of mages and knights, bothering with other classes is a bit pointless. Or maybe it's more of a filtering process, designed to sift out those who don't have what it takes? After all, when students have this much freedom and free time, along with all the perks and comforts, there's no way the slackers won't be weeded out.

Walking through the halls, lost in thought, Magnus could only make assumptions. Still, the fact that people held such reverence for Takerth Academy indicated that their methods, strange as they were, worked.

Well, I'm sure it'll all make more sense the more time I spend here. For now, I should focus on what to do for the rest of the day. Since I've settled into my dorm room, I should make sure to keep up with my training schedule. Even though Basker lets me push my mind to its limits, that doesn't mean I'm working the most efficiently within those limits.

Achieving proficiency is important, especially if I get into stressful situations in the future. Besides that, I should probably check out the library again. I got sidetracked with those damn doors and never found those books on biology I wanted. Plus, maybe, if I'm lucky, there will be some information about parallel worlds or something; this is a world of magic, after all.

Even after Magnus's classes, it was still fairly early in the day. While formulating his plans in his head, he had made his way back to the dorm building and was already heading up to his floor. As he activated his Sigilbrand at the door of his room, he walked inside and prepared to get ready for the rest of his day.

But after a single step inside, he froze, and his heart nearly leaped out of his chest.

His eyes quickly caught the figure of someone sitting on the couch in his room. Right then and there, he almost instinctively pulled Rokshaata from his pocket but halted midway as the figure turned to face him and spoke.

"Huh? Oh, Magnus, you're back." Hearing the familiar voice, Magnus let out a sigh of relief and put Rokshaata back in his pocket.

"Jeez, Celia, you scared the living shit out of me!" A few days had passed since Magnus first entered Takerth Academy as a student. In that time, not much had changed compared to the first day, but Celia had finally ended up getting permission from the Head Maid to work for Magnus at Takerth Academy. She had actually arrived just yesterday, but since it was so late, they barely had any time to talk.

Closing the door behind him, he couldn't help but feel a little silly when he really thought about how he reacted. This was the dorms of Takerth Academy; no one in their right mind would try to break in, let alone actually succeed with all the security they had.

Still, he couldn't help it. Even back on Earth, he was never good at dealing with horror or scary things in general. Hell, if he heard the wrong sounds at night while getting a glass of water, he would bolt upstairs and lock his door, not leaving until morning for anything.

Celia stood up from the couch, chuckling to herself as she saw Magnus's reaction.

"Wow, I didn't know you were so easy to scare. You're definitely not going to have a good time during the Netherwave Communion this year."

"Yeah, yeah, get the laughs out now. And for your information, I don't plan on going outside at all during the Netherwave Communion. Me and ghosts don't exactly mix well." The moment he finished speaking, he noticed an excitement spark in Celia's eyes, which he immediately snuffed out.

"No, I've never seen an actual ghost before." Hearing that, Celia's excitement died off instantly, and she replied to him in a dispirited tone.

"But you said…"

"By that, I meant I watched 'The Exorcist' one time and proceeded to have nightmares for days. Besides, why would you need me to tell you about ghosts? Don't people get to talk to the souls of the dead or something during the Netherwave Communion?" Although the knowledge he gained from the Major General's Library was lacking in terms of what could be applied to the Command Console, that didn't mean he hadn't managed to learn a lot of other information from his time spent there.

One such thing he learned was about this world's celebrations and how they kept track of the passage of time. Unlike on Earth, years and months weren't based on the planet's rotation around the sun. Instead, the 248 days that made up the year were based on four special phenomena. There were only eight months a year, and every two months was dedicated to one of these great events.

This meant the first such phenomenon occurred on the first day of the year in the first month, and the fourth occurred on the first day of the year in the eighth month, with the other two fitting somewhere in the remaining four months. The Netherwave Communion was one such phenomenon, a day that allowed for those who had long passed to intersect with the living once again, or at least that's what the stories he read said.

Since there was magic in this world, Magnus didn't really doubt it when he learned about it, but Celia's expression was now telling him otherwise.

"Huh? No, not really. I mean, maybe there's some truth to it, but most people just treat it as a holiday. If I'm being honest, the number of people who claim they've talked to the souls of the dead is so high, no one can tell what's true or not." Magnus reacted with a lazy smirk upon hearing Celia's skepticism.

So it's just like every other paranormal holiday back on Earth.

Celia's slightly sour expression vanished a moment later, though, as Magnus started asking how she liked being within the walls of Takerth Academy.

"Oh, where do I even start?" Celia said as she started to tell Magnus about some of her experiences, which were pretty similar to his own. After the guards called someone to give her a mark, she nearly fell over when she walked through the barrier and suddenly saw a bunch of students appear out of thin air due to the illusion cast over the academy.

And just like with Magnus, the guards nearly laughed their asses off seeing her reaction.

That embarrassing moment aside, she didn't get to look around much, mostly because of the rules she was told she needed to follow. Since she was technically here as Magnus's servant, there were a lot of things she couldn't do.

Sightseeing was a no-go, and unless she was heading to the dorm area or leaving the academy grounds, she had to stick to his side like glue. These restrictions limited her movements, and of course, she also had to follow the same rules as the students.

"Oh yeah, I had to shadow Gerald when I first came here. It sucks not being able to go where you want, but I'll make sure to show you around later." Celia nodded, showing she was in no rush.

She then shifted the conversation to Magnus's experiences.

"So what about you? Did anything interesting happen while you were here? I mean, I know it's only been a few days, but this is Takerth Academy after all."

Listening to her, Magnus's mind couldn't help but flash back to his time in the library.

"Oh, I have a story I think you'll like."

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The soft scratch of a quill bounced lightly through the office.

Major General Arbarth was fully investing himself in his work, methodically signing and sealing one document after another. The large stack of papers on the left side of his desk slowly dwindled as he navigated through them. As he continued to work, suddenly the stillness and air of concentration in the room were abruptly shattered by a resounding knock at the door.

Arbarth couldn't help but groan inwardly.

I swear, if those are more papers needing my signature, I'm going to end up choking the carrier.

Setting down his quill, he beckoned to the visitor outside.

"Come in."

The office door swung open, revealing a guard who quickly made his way inside in a hurry. Arbarth immediately recognized the young man's attire; he was responsible for receiving and delivering important messages and letters to the general's office.

"What is it?" Arbarth asked, his tone wary. Hardly anything good came from messages being delivered directly to his office.

"We've received two reports from the 23rd Eastern Border Defense Company, led by Captain Reiheim, delivered by messenger hawk. Both of them have been marked as urgent." The guard quickly presented the letters, their red symbols indicating haste.

Just a glance revealed that they were hurriedly composed and folded. With a nod, Arbarth dismissed the guard after taking the letters. He'd known Mia, Marcos, and Gerald for years; they commanded the 23rd Company, a group he trusted implicitly, and that's why he sent them on such a sensitive mission.

It was supposed to be a simple reconnaissance; what could have happened to warrant them sending two letters to me like this?

Arbarth's mind thought of the possibilities as he broke the seal of the first letter. Unfolding the paper inside, he began reading, realizing that it wasn't a simple letter but a meticulous, moment-by-moment account of what had occurred on their mission.

[Written on the Year 348 of the Great Sundering Era, 1st Month, 9th Day of the Astral Reflux Cycle.

This is Marcos Zulg, leader of the 23rd Eastern Border Defense Company's Recon Group, writing with hopes of reaching Major General Arbarth in Arlcliff City.

As of this moment, Mia Reiheim, Captain of the 23rd Eastern Border Defense Company, has been severely injured and rendered unconscious, unable to fulfill her duties.

Gerald Lerium, leader of the 23rd Eastern Border Defense Company's Knight Platoon, has also sustained injuries and is currently bedridden.

I believe I have successfully gathered information about the anomaly that is said to be responsible for the loss of the 20th Company.

This information was chanced upon after a sudden, unexpected attack and ambush by Kryle, whom we at the time suspected had made their way inland using the anomalies initial breach of our border defenses.

In our efforts to confront them, we made the decision to locate their hive and attempt to destroy their central link...]

Mia, Marcos, and Gerald navigated the forest with abnormal agility, leaping over obstacles while maintaining their pace. Their goal was to move as quickly and silently as possible, evading the Kryle to prevent themselves from being surrounded and having to endure another ambush.

But as they pressed on, a strange phenomenon unfolded—an eerie transformation of the once-lush forest. The gentle sound of rustling grass and leaves underfoot slowly changed into a horrible crunch as the green tint of the forest began to fade.

"Looks like you were right, Mia; there's definitely a hive somewhere nearby," Gerald remarked, his expression unchanged as he observed the eerie metamorphosis surrounding them.

Encounters like this had become all too familiar; it was the unmistakable mark of the Kryle.

With every step, the soil under their feet seemed more and more devoid of life, with any signs of insects slowly vanishing. The treetops, which had once been adorned with countless leaves, seemed bare and empty, and even the slightest sounds common to nature were gone.

Everything felt still, as though the very life force of the forest was gradually draining away.

As they moved, Mia's gaze constantly swept across their surroundings, as if she were searching for something. As for what she was searching for, Marcos immediately knew the answer and spoke up.

"I know, I noticed it too; it's odd. With the number of Kryle that were on our tail, there's no reason we shouldn't see any chasing us right now. It's not like them to just give up, and with how many resources are available to them in this forest, I doubt they're worried about conserving their numbers."

The Kryle were relentless in their pursuits, especially against people close to their hives, yet there wasn't a single insectoid in sight. It went entirely against the norm of what they were used to.

Just to make sure they weren't being tracked in secret, Mia had communicated with the spirits in the area multiple times, trying to detect any abnormalities around them, yet there were none. It was simply quiet; everything was quiet, to the point that it put her on edge.

"Well, whatever is going on, we need to focus on not dying first. We're about to enter their hive's activity range, so start using your aura to filter the air around you," Gerald instructed. Mia and Marcos nodded, shifting their focus to mobilizing their aura.

Aura's properties were vast and ever-changing. Even between twins born in the same environment, there would be innate differences. However, one thing everyone's aura shared in terms of traits was its need to reject and resist things foreign to its owner's existence. The only limits to this rejection were determined by one's control and skill.

As for trained knights like Gerald and the others, the act of filtering the air around their bodies at a microscopic level was something they could achieve subconsciously.

After a few more minutes of traveling, they eventually entered an area that could only be described as utterly lifeless. It had to have covered an area of at least five hundred square meters, in which the earth here was arid, lacking in any form of organic matter.

Trees stood entirely bare, their bark brittle and dry. The once-vibrant forest had lost all color and vitality; it had become a desolate wasteland. However, in this desolate place, one form of life thrived: kryle. There were numerous varieties of Kryle; they were beings that had conquered the skies, the earth, and even the seas.

Even at this moment, countless minuscule insectoid creatures floated in the air around Mia and the others.

They were so tiny that only a microscope could reveal their true forms. Drifting with the natural currents of the air, they were always ready to infiltrate any living being or plant they came across, simply by being inhaled.

In a world without gas masks and where magic was hoarded, these types of Kryle were akin to chemical warfare. Their poisonous nature and ability to consume and disrupt the functions of living organisms from the inside were virtually unheard of for non-magical creatures.

The only saving grace was that they had very short life spans and died out rather quickly. As such, they only lived in proximity to their hive, which was where they were produced.

Nonetheless, this small mercy didn't change the fact that they were an incredibly effective defense mechanism. Besides knights and mages, regular folks had no choice but to use fire to deal with these tiny creatures. Even then, they would eventually adapt to the higher temperatures, creating a new breed that's even more deadly.

"Those critters are still keeping quiet, even though we're walking so close to their hive? Now, this is just getting creepy," Gerald remarked as the three of them began scouring the area for the hive's entrance.

He couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

As they started their search, they made progress fairly quickly. This was mostly due to the absence of any plant life. After all, there was no need to rummage through foliage or keep an eye out for things hidden under the forest floor. Still, they made sure to be thorough, starting from the outer edges of the area and working their way inward as they looked around, following a ring-like pattern.

However, even with how carefully they were searching, as they approached the center, their efforts yielded no results.

No tunnels, no concealed cave entrances—only more barren terrain, sporadically adorned with dead trees. Mia's mind wrestled with the strangeness of it all as her gaze swept across their surroundings.

The Kryle don't usually bother to hide their presence, so why can't we find their hive? It's definitely around here. The fact that everything in this area is dead to this degree proves it, but still...

While lost in thought, Mia glanced over at Marcos. He had stopped his search and was curiously bent down, observing the ground.

"Did you notice something, Marcos?" Mia inquired.

Marcos pondered for a moment before raising his head and pointing to the ground.

"Have any of you noticed how strangely cool the ground is? There's no vegetation around, no leaves to shield it from the sun. It should be scorching at this hour, but it's not." Listening carefully, both Mia and Gerald paused in their search, instead looking down at the ground as well.

Bending down, Mia reached out and touched the ground at her feet, and just as Marcos had noted, it was surprisingly cool.

"If we were dealing with anything else, I would say all this is pointing to some sort of trap. But the Kryle aren't capable of something like that… right?" Mia glanced at Gerald as she voiced her concern.

His hand was already inching towards the great sword strapped to his back.

"From what I've seen, these roaches aren't smart enough to set up traps. Even their ambushes are just a case of unfortunate timing. But then again, this entire situation is abnormal."

Despite their senses telling them that nothing living was nearby, their instincts as seasoned soldiers warned them otherwise. The fact that they still hadn't even located the entrance to the hive they were looking for only added to their unease.

"Yeah… And it's not just the weird ground temperature, either. This entire place feels… off for some reason. I think it's best if I switch spirits and take a closer look." Mia spoke as she continued to examine the ground, and both Gerald and Marcos nodded as they moved to guard her.

The unsettling feeling she was getting wasn't fading; instead, it was growing stronger.

Her expression shifted as she closed her eyes, and she began to concentrate. Her mind was filled with noise and sounds that defied replication in the mortal realm. The sounds remained incessant, an eternal cacophony swirling within her consciousness, rising and falling like relentless tides. Yet they never ceased, instead bombarding her brain with information she could hardly process all at once.

There were many who envied spirit naturalists; after all, they appeared to be humans born with powers beyond the categories of aura and magic. However, hardly anyone who envied them could truly fathom the agony they endured. The searing, mind-numbing pain of having one's mind flooded with knowledge yet understanding only a fraction of it.

The voices of beings from the world's depths communicated in tongues and words that predated language itself, narrating to her every moment of her existence.

The only respite for spirit naturalists came from the fact there were various degrees of mental strain when one communicated with different spirits—some interactions were less taxing than others, a kind of harmonious meshing.

Nonetheless, Mia shifted her focus away from her communion with the wind spirits swirling around her. Instead, she attempted to connect with the spirits residing within the earth beneath them. Unlike when she formed a connection with the wind spirits, the moment she made contact, it felt as if her mind was being assaulted.

A horrendous migraine struck, as if her head had gained weight, followed by the spirits' clamor. Thumping, grinding, and noises that defied description were deafeningly loud within her mind.

Still, despite a slight flinch at the abrupt change, Mia didn't allow any hint of pain to cross her face. Instead, she quickly absorbed as much information as she could. In this instant, when everyone was on high alert, an eerie silence enveloped them.

A few seconds later, though, that almost-perfect silence shattered. Mia's eyes snapped open, and she gazed at the ground in sheer horror.

"But... how? It's alive... This whole place is alive! Damn it! Marcos, move! Gerald, aim an attack at the ground now!" She immediately cut her connection to the earth spirits and harnessed her aura to boost her speed as she bolted into a sprint.

Responding to her urgency, Marcos dashed away as well, trying to escape the area as quickly as possible.

On the other hand, Gerald carried out Mia's orders without question and swiftly drew his greatsword from its sheath, raising it high with one hand. His eyes turned deadly as his body began to emit a deep red light, reminiscent of a red dwarf star.

However, the red light was almost immediately engulfed by a dark mist. The mist and the light entwined, creating a constant, eerie dance that shrouded Gerald's entire body.

Within this swirling aura, where Gerald's body was barely visible, his deep voice cut through the air.

"Imperious Arts: Colossal Crush!"

Just as Mia and Marcos cleared the danger zone, they turned to witness an enormous pillar of earth and debris soaring high into the sky, obliterating anything in its path. The force unleashed in the attack was equivalent to multiple bombs all being detonated at once at a concentrated point, and the resulting shockwave could be felt for kilometers.

The dead trees quivered so violently that they disintegrated into dust, while the already lifeless ground fractured and splintered like fragile stone.

The ear-splitting roar of the attack alone would have been enough to deafen anyone standing too close, though that posed no threat to the two knights, who could employ their aura to shield themselves.

As they gazed at the aftermath of Gerald's attack, Marcos couldn't help but inquire, "What did you see, Mia?"

"You'll see it for yourself. We injured it before it sprung its trap." Mia's tone was deadly serious as the ground began to tremble once more, this time akin to an earthquake. Moments later, they noticed the silhouette of a figure hurtling toward them through the settling dust.

Swiftly moving out of harm's way, they watched as the figure crashed into the earth, its body burrowing deep into the soil like an excavator before finally coming to a stop several dozen feet away.

It was Gerald, lying in the newly formed ditch, groaning and coughing as he spoke in a gravelly voice.

"Ugh... It looks like it's just as tough as it is big. I don't know what it was, but something sent me flying."

With the dust now settled, Mia and Marcos took in the transformed landscape where they had been standing. The dead trees were gone, and the top layer of soil had vanished. In its place, it seemed as if the very earth was pulsating. These pulsations resembled veins or perhaps mycelium, extending through the dead soil and spreading across the area, like a spider's web.

They blended so seamlessly with their surroundings that it would have been challenging to distinguish them if not for their rhythmic throbbing.

"What in the world is that?" Marcos stood there, a mix of disgust and shock on his face. He had never seen anything quite like it before. Mia spoke in a low voice as she responded to him.

"As much as I hate to say it, that's the hive we've been searching for."