Chapter 164: Chapter 164: The Eternal City of Pain, and a Reunion with Alita!
Dean Bruce wasn't surprised, silently weighing whether to teach her an older spell or keep up the mystery with something new.
He already had quite a few attack spells at his disposal, and when it came to pain and suffering, spells like Wailing Flame Graveyard certainly fit the bill.
[No, wait… This girl has the same protagonist's aura as Nicholas, with an exceptional talent and a heart brimming with vengeance. She's driven in her training; giving her a new spell would maximize the benefits here.]
[And as for Nicholas, he probably hasn't been focusing on his training lately.]
Making up his mind, Dean Bruce finally spoke, "Your hatred runs deep. I know what you've been through, and I'll teach you a terrifying spell—one that will plunge those people into the depths of fear."
At his words, Lucy Michelle glanced at Nemesis Bruce with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Nemesis Bruce's eyes filled with excitement. "Thank you, Teacher, for giving me this second chance at life!"
"There's no need to be so formal; you're my disciple now." Dean Bruce's eyes gleamed as a thought struck him, and he continued in a deep, resonant voice, "The spell I'm going to teach you is called The Eternal City of Pain! It's classified as an Ultra-High-Level spell!"
He paused, then turned to Lucy Michelle, adding, "Though this spell isn't specifically for you, you're still my disciple. Listen carefully; if you can comprehend it, it will be to your advantage."
"Really?"
Lucy Michelle, who had been about to cover her ears, lit up with excitement at this new opportunity.
In a world where strength reigned supreme, who wouldn't want to master an additional spell?
Dean Bruce recited solemnly, "Through me, enter the City of Pain; through me, enter the Pit of Eternal Sorrow; through me, join those condemned to endless suffering!"
"…"
The two young women had already experienced success in mastering Dean Bruce's previous spells, so they didn't find the incantation unusual and began committing it to memory right away.
Once they had both memorized it, Dean Bruce turned back to Lucy Michelle, speaking softly, "The spell you wished to learn is simple, really—it just speeds up your training. The spell is called Tower of Belief. I'll recite the incantation for you."
Hearing this, Lucy Michelle focused intently, memorizing the Tower of Belief incantation.
This time, however, her expression changed noticeably.
The incantation for Tower of Belief was far stranger than any she had encountered before.
Dean Bruce spoke softly, "Nemesis has already grasped the Tower of Belief, though her understanding is still shallow. But if you're unsure about anything, you can always ask her."
"Huh? Ask her?" Lucy Michelle's eyes widened with embarrassment. After all, she was the senior.
What kind of senior would ask her junior for guidance?
"Alright, off you go, back to your rooms to rest and focus on understanding the spells," Dean Bruce said with a dismissive wave. "Lucy, remember to get up early tomorrow and handle your own registration. I'll be heading over with the Nine Provinces Alliance team."
Although the continent was still home to many empires, the growing strength of the Nine Provinces Alliance now allowed them to act as the continent's primary authority.
They had influence over many matters, particularly when it came to magical academies.
Dean Bruce's instructor position had been granted through the Nine Provinces Alliance, so he would be joining their group for the journey.
Lucy Michelle, oblivious to these political intricacies, had her mind entirely focused on the two spells and nodded absentmindedly before rising to leave.
Fortunately, Nemesis Bruce wasn't an ordinary blind person; her heightened senses made moving around easy, so she required no assistance or guidance as she walked away.
Watching her retreating figure, Dean Bruce rubbed his chin thoughtfully and murmured, "If I remember correctly, in the games I used to play, some of the strongest characters were blind. They could activate something like a 'Mind's Eye,' which not only compensated for their blindness but also made them even stronger!"
"Maybe I should throw out a few hints and see if I can nudge Nemesis into developing something similar?"
With this new idea taking root, Dean Bruce mused over it as he headed back to his room.
The new semester at Saint Laurent Advanced Magic Academy was about to begin, and the Quicksand Secret Realm would soon open. He had plenty to do in the coming days and needed to stay well-rested.
Opting not to bother with additional training—since, with the Tower of Belief and Dragonheart Pendant, training would only waste time—Dean Bruce simply went to bed.
The night passed without incident.
The following morning, when Dean Bruce awoke, daylight had already filled the room.
After getting dressed, he was about to leave the main building when two maids approached, carrying a basin of water and assisting him with his morning routine.
Once he was ready, Dean Bruce noticed how quiet the courtyard was.
Spotting Hakenny standing in the corner, Dean Bruce asked, "Where are the two young ladies?"
"Reporting to you, Master," Hakenny replied promptly with a bow. "Miss Nemesis went to the street to train again, and Miss Lucy left for Saint Laurent Advanced Magic Academy after breakfast!"
"Would you like breakfast, Master?"
Since he didn't have to check in early as an instructor, Dean Bruce saw no rush. Nodding, he agreed to enjoy a leisurely breakfast.
Simply cooking beast flesh isn't ideal for regular consumption, but with this special treatment, each meal brought slight improvements. Dean Bruce wouldn't miss out on that.
Money wasn't an issue for him now—time was. Only by advancing his strength as quickly as possible could he delve deeper into the Nine Provinces Alliance and uncover the truth behind his parents' disappearance.
After a leisurely breakfast, Dean Bruce instructed Hakenny to prepare the carriage and set off toward the Nine Provinces Alliance headquarters.
He had to admit, Cyb Louis was quite meticulous. Although he'd mentioned buying a few servants casually, he'd actually sourced a wide variety, leaving Dean Bruce with nothing to criticize.
Seated in the carriage, Dean Bruce's mind wandered back to spells related to the Mind's Eye concept, thinking of all the anime and novels where blind characters possessed immense power.
Just then, an urgent commotion broke into his thoughts, causing him to frown slightly.
Drawing back the carriage curtain, Dean Bruce looked outside and found himself at the gates of the Nine Provinces Alliance headquarters. But today, the place was abuzz with activity.
At least a hundred figures clad in mage robes had gathered, blocking the entrance and preventing him from proceeding.
With a quick glance, Dean Bruce immediately understood their identity.
These must be the top candidates from various cities, awarded the chance to study at the advanced magic academy for a time.
But the sheer number of instructors present surprised Dean Bruce.
Does Saint Laurent Advanced Magic Academy have that many students?
His eyes shifting with curiosity, Dean Bruce stepped out of the carriage and instructed his servant, "You can head back."
"Yes, Master."
The servant replied without hesitation and promptly left.
Dean Bruce's descent from the carriage drew the attention of the crowd.
Sensing the magic pulsating from his robe and staff, many eyes widened, and they began whispering in low voices, casting curious glances his way as they speculated about his identity.
A female mage pushed through the crowd, excitedly approaching Dean Bruce and exclaimed, "Professor Dean, you're finally here! We didn't see you earlier, and even Alita was missing. We thought you both might have given up on this opportunity!"
Hearing this, Dean Bruce scrutinized the female mage for a moment, recognizing her as his former colleague, Nos Taylor.
She was quite striking in appearance, though her skills were lacking, and she wasn't as well-known in the academy as Alita Miller.
Thinking about it, he realized Alita Miller was indeed absent.
Her faction wouldn't likely pass up a chance to enter a top-tier academy, though.
A teasing laugh rang out. "Oh, I wouldn't miss this for the world. You just didn't notice me because all your attention was on Dean."
Turning toward the voice, Dean Bruce spotted Alita Miller leaning lazily against the wall, toying with a dagger. She wore tight leather armor that revealed fair skin, her stance relaxed.
Instantly, countless men's gazes were drawn to her, throats constricting as they swallowed.
Alita tilted her head slightly, grinning at Dean Bruce. "Dean, it's been a while. Miss me?"
Her blunt question drew disappointed expressions from the male instructors around them. They weren't oblivious; they could see that Alita Miller had taken an interest in Dean Bruce.
For a moment, their eyes turned toward Dean Bruce, filled with envy and jealousy.
"If it weren't for running into you, I'd have practically forgotten you even existed," Dean Bruce replied, unaffected. He wasn't one to fall for a beauty's charm and was well aware of Alita Miller's shrewdness. If she were stronger, he'd probably consider her an even greater threat than some of the spectral enemies he'd faced.
Alita rolled her eyes and tucked her dagger away, about to respond when the heavy sound of the main doors opening and the voice of a guard interrupted her.
"Lord Cyb has arrived!"
At these words, every instructor turned, composure restored, and looked toward the entrance.
Though they didn't know Cyb personally, they understood that anyone addressed as "Lord" and emerging at such a moment had to be their superior.
Cyb Louis appeared, scanning the crowd before a smile broke across his face. "Dean, what are you doing down there? Come on up here!"