Chapter 401: A Strange Place
Yuzii was really getting sick, all the girls were gathered in a sort of resting place of the academy. It was outside overlooking the forest, a place full of concrete benches and wooden tables.
The group decided to leave the optional afternoon classes to help their friend in distress. Yuzii was sweating, her face red and panting, the symptoms resembling that of an ordinary fever. But when someone approached her, it was possible to smell a strangely sweet odor.
Ainz was shaking the girl with a book, while Ruby was chatting with Ellen. Meredith, taking advantage of the situation, approached Yuzii to chat a bit. Since the two were half-beast girls, there was a certain natural closeness between them.
"I've never had a problem like this" Meredith said, laughing a little.
"I always suffer from it, ever since I had my first moon party, umu" Yuzii replied.
"What's a moon party?" Meredith questioned, as she picked up Ainz's book to shake the rabbit girl.
"Oh yeah... Moon party is an event that occurs when members of the moonlight clan reach adulthood. Mine occurred a year ago, since I'm 19 years old" Yuzii said, soon after giving another gasping sigh.
"I've never done... breeding. I wonder what it must be like umu"
"I imagine that must make you more apprehensive" Meredith said.
In her head, that bold, even dangerous idea wouldn't go away. She was going to do anything to have her beloved. With that, Meredith decided that during the next night, she would use a cloth with Yuzii's scent to encourage Luke. The only problem was that Luke didn't go to the dorm that day.
**
The moment Luke arrived in the center of the academy, surrounded by several students walking back and forth. A figure came up behind him, before this person could touch Luke, the half-wolf turned around, keeping his murderous desire low.
As soon as he turned around, that student with blond hair raised both hands. Startled. The figure was Adrian Hortfield, who just wanted to surprise Luke with a greeting. Luke's quick movement, even if without the intention to kill still frightened Adrian, causing the boy to widen his eyes and give two pessums back with surprise.
"Wow, but you can react really fast hahaha" Adrian said, feeling a little uncomfortable with the situation. He didn't know how to react.
Luke just pointed to one of his ears. "I can hear very well, even in this busy place."
"I can imagine, half-beasts really are amazing" Adrian replied.
Luke then crossed his arms, remaining silent. This simple gesture already made Adrian start to explain what he wanted, even without Luke speaking a single word.
"I managed to get myself signed up within the team that is going to do the battle management for the next real combat event. But I don't have very good news for you Luke..." the moment Adrian spoke this, Luke raised one of his eyebrows. Suspecting that it would not be possible to duel with Max Willford.
"So I won't be able to challenge a member of the academy?" Luke said, cutting off Adrian's speech.
"Actually, it's just the opposite. You can challenge teachers without any problem, but this year, the committee decided to hold a tournament. Only students in the tournament will have the right to propose challenges.
[You can never get away from tournaments, Luke, they will always chase you.]
I can't help it, they are fun. Another win for my list.
"All right, do you know when registration will start?" the half-wolf asked, scratching the back of his ears.
"Today," Adrian said with a smile.
"Then take me to the committee" Luke replied, releasing some of his bloodlust.
The committee building was not far from the square where Luke and Adrian were standing, the center of Melki's academy of magic was extremely well planned. The entire institution was built from mathematical calculations, in order to make a place that was not only perfect, but also efficient.
No other city on the continent had been planned in this way. For example, Melki's forge was close to the beach and had a harbor nearby, to facilitate the transportation of materials and heavy iron from the boats to the craftsmen. The laboratories that performed the most intensive tests were in the farthest parts of the island, so that there was no noise in the center at night.
The botanical laboratories were in buildings within the forest, so that basic studies could be carried out on local plants.
But the most amazing thing about the place was undoubtedly the center of the archipelago, the central square was divided in such a way that the streets were all equally distributed. As much as the buildings had their differences in architecture, in general the size was proportional.
It was easy to move from one place to another, the centers were divided efficiently, making it almost impossible to be late. Add this to the students' and professors' habit of flying with swords, and the city was probably the busiest and at the same time least complex place in the world.
Luke would never have a problem finding himself in that place, even if he was still illiterate. All the buildings had wood, stone, and metal carvings showing what they were intended for. Even though these symbols were sometimes a bit confusing, they made it easier to understand.
For example, three books lined up together symbolizes a library. A book and a quill means the desk. A book and a sword means the place of combat art studies. And so on, that city was perfect.
These were some of the many details that were put there by the great thinkers and mages who developed that paradise hundreds of years ago. According to some sources, the academy of melki actually existed even before the current empire. Which explained the independence and sovereignty of the teachers.
This kind of information was what Adrian explained to Luke whenever they walked. As the two young men were walking towards the student council building, the blond-haired boy was pointing to each of the buildings and again, giving the half-wolf a tour of the city.
As annoying as it was to hear Adrian babbling, this kind of information was crucial for Luke. It was a way to quickly learn the details of that institution, its history, origin, customs.
Plus all this knowledge of running a city, however specific was useful.
'It's good to write that down, in case someday I become king'
[You don't plan that, so why bother?]
'Look, I kind of find it interesting to reign. I'd probably be a fairer leader than the eltie of broteforge and the melki empire.
[Luke, the Howling King]
'I don't howl Balance, what a stupid name'
[Ok. I'm sorry, until you rule the Melki Empire I'll think of a better name.]
After 10 minutes of walking, Adrian and Luke arrived at the student council building. Adending that place, Luke was reminded again of the Stroguehers' mansions, leaving the half-wolf feeling a bit like going back to Ayumi.
The building was somewhat reminiscent of the other buildings in Melki's academy, however, the student council building was also the center of much of the administrative meetings of the other groups in Melki's academy.
Every student group had a meeting room within that location, including the ethics council, the student group that managed the library, as well as most of the student groups that organized research groups. So that even though the place was extravagant and grand, it still had a good use of space, it was efficient.
With its architectural style based on the use of marble and the glittering crystals of the academy. The Student Council building was one of the buildings that had already caught Luke's eye; it was an eye-catcher within the academy's landscape. The marble columns in front, with their smooth, gleaming parts, reflected a part of the grandeur of the place.
The building was built more than two centuries ago and is one of the academy's newest buildings, second only to the forge, with intricate details and sculptures of magicians and important students on its walls. The main entrance to the building is adorned by a columned portico, leading to a large center with a polished marble floor.
Here visitors are greeted by a wide, elegant staircase leading to the upper floor where the meeting rooms and Student Council offices are located. The meeting rooms are spacious and well-lit, decorated with antique carpets from different parts of the continent, and on the walls, oil paintings of former professors and prominent students mark the corridors.
All the rooms have comfortable chairs and circular conference tables, which allow the academy's students to discuss important matters for hours in comfort.
The offices in the Student Council building are cozy and well-organized, providing a quiet and productive working environment for the members. Here, they can focus on their daily tasks and ensure that the needs of the students are effectively met.
In addition, the Student Council building has a resource-rich library, which houses the only collection of books that are not focused on magical study, and is a place with archives and data on the happenings of the academy. Soon, Luke's name would be filled in on several new books.