Chapter 555: Headmaster
Chapter 555: Headmaster
Headmaster's Office, Saratoga Castle.
It was a grand and enigmatic place, filled with an air of mystery and magic. The room was circular with high arched windows that allowed natural light to filter through.
The walls were lined with wooden shelves filled with ancient tomes, strange apparatuses, and magical artifacts.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
At the center of the room stood a massive desk made of oak. It was covered with parchment papers, quills, books, and old trinkets.
Marcus Blackwood, the headmaster of this ancient castle, sat at the head of the table. Across from him, sat the Department Head of the School of Summoning, Mathilda Whitaker.
"So what do you think, Headmaster?" Professor Whitaker asked in a respectful tone.
"Hmm." Headmaster Blackwood gently placed Adam's book on the table, speaking with a faint smile, "Fascinating."
Professor Whitaker sincerely praised, "His insights into the art of teleportation are truly deep. When I asked him how he came to know such profound secrets, he said he was fortunate to have had an epiphany."
"An epiphany?" Asked the old headmaster with a raised eyebrow. "To have gained enlightenment at such a young age, he is truly a very promising young man."
Professor Whitaker smiled. "It has something to do with his deep understanding of the Way."
The headmaster's eyes lit up. "No wonder..."
Professor Whitaker glanced at him with an inquisitive look. Seeing this, Headmaster Blackwood lightly chuckled, "No wonder he found one of the Raven Inheritances."
"What?!" Professor Whitaker nearly shot from her chair. She looked at the headmaster with a dumbfounded expression, asking incredulously, "Adam, he... he found one of those inheritances?!"
Saratoga Castle was an ancient magical institution considered to be one of the Four Pillars of the Acadian Empire.
It had nurtured and raised generations of powerful Magi who had gone on to leave a deep mark in the world of Tron.
These powerful Magi who had graduated from this prestigious institution had left behind countless inheritances for future students.
But the most precious and sought-after of all these inheritances were the Raven Inheritances.
The reason why they were called so was because these inheritances were left behind by the founder of Saratoga Castle and Ravenfell who had a mystical connection with ravens!
In many cultures across Tron and even numerous magical civilizations in the Greater Universe, ravens were associated with wisdom and mystery.
Furthermore, these birds were also said to have an intimate relationship with the Spirit World.
"The revered founder of this castle was an expert in the School of Summoning. Moreover, he was also said to be a great philosopher of his time who studied the profound subtleties of the Way," the Headmaster began.
"So it isn't a surprise that someone like Adam has stumbled upon one of his inheritances." "Legend has it, that his inheritances cannot be found when searched for. Supposedly, the inheritances choose their inheritors," said Professor Whitaker in a slight daze.
The only other person she knew who had chanced upon one of the inheritances was the person sitting in front of her-The Rank 4 - Mana Core Magus, Marcus Blackwood!
However, even she had never imagined that Adam would be destined for another of the inheritances left behind by the founder.
"When did he find it?" She asked curiously.
"Hmm, I believe it was two months ago," said the Headmaster after some thought.
As the current owner of the castle, naturally, he knew everything happening inside this ancient structure.
He had the power to surveil every nook and cranny of this place, however, he refrained from monitoring what happened inside private spaces such as the dormitories and the professors' offices.
But Adam had come across the entrance of the Raven Inheritance in one of the secluded corridors of the castle. So, naturally, the headmaster knew about it.
"Given the nature of the Raven Inheritances, it is going to take him quite a long time to complete it and acquire whatever it is that the founder left behind," the Headmaster continued.
"What do you wish to do afterward?" Professor Whitaker asked cautiously.
Headmaster Blackwood stroked his chin in deep thought. "I would have loved for the young
man to grow powerful and perhaps one day succeed in my position."
He paused for a moment before shaking his head in slight disappointment. "But given his
nature, I doubt he's going to be a good fit for the role of the Headmaster."
Recalling the conversation she had with Adam when he first came to her office, Professor Whitaker faintly smiled. "He has the spirit of a wanderer."
"He travels a lot to the Spirit World, doesn't he?" The headmaster asked curiously.
Professor Whitaker sighed, "Yes, unfortunately so. Despite my repeated warnings, he refuses to listen to me."
The headmaster spoke with empathy, "I know you're very guarded about going to the Spirit World after what happened to your last student..."
Hearing about her deceased pupil, Professor Whitaker's eyes flashed with immense sorrow.
"But you shouldn't restrict Adam like that. Based on my observations, he's got quite a rebellious nature. The more you prevent him from doing something, the more inclined he will be to do that," added the headmaster with a serious tone.
"I suppose you're right..." Professor Whitaker sighed.
"Besides, something tells me he will be safer in the Spirit World than he is in the material world," the old man chuckled.
"Why do you say that?" Professor Whitaker asked with slight surprise.
"Huhu, call it the intuition of an old man," Headmaster Blackwood chuckled as he conjured a
long smoking pipe and began indulging in the taste of tobacco.
After blowing several rings of smoke toward the ceiling, the headmaster stated, "I hear
you've taken a new disciple. Will you talk to me about it?"
Professor Whitaker smiled fondly. "Yes, she's a sweet child. Her name's Autumn Godsaint and she has great talent for spell-casting. But she's still very young, so I haven't made her go
through the ritual of becoming a Magus yet."
"Hmm, what made you choose her?"
"She has a deep affinity with animals," Professor Whitaker began. "I believe she will become a splendid Magus if she pursues the School of Summoning."
Headmaster Blackwood nodded. "She must be quite the child if she's piqued your interest."
He paused for a moment before adding with a serious tone, "However, try not to give her too much preferential treatment. She might invoke the ire of her fellow classmates."
"I understand, Headmaster," Professor Whitaker politely replied.
The old headmaster thought for a moment and spoke, "You may even have Autumn study
under Adam from time to time."
Professor Whitaker chuckled, "I was of the same mind."
"So you've noticed too, eh?" Said the headmaster as he took a puff from the pipe.
"Indeed." Professor Whitaker nodded with gratification.
"I've had the opportunity to speak with his students, Arthur Doyle, Aiden Thorne, and Eleiney Strange recently. All three of them have shown deep understanding in not just the analytical aspect of magic, but also the philosophy of the Way."
She paused for a moment before adding in an amused tone, "I still remember the day I had told Adam about taking in students. He had vehemently argued with me, saying he wasn't fit to be a teacher. But it turns out, it was just the opposite."
"Hmm." Headmaster Blackwood went into deep thought. "It would appear that the Magus named Berger Glynhorn has done quite a job in raising this young man." "Headmaster, do you know Adam's mentor?" Professor Whitaker asked with slight surprise.
"I do not." The headmaster shook his head. "I've only recently gone through Adam's
background. You could say his encountering the Raven Inheritance has made me very
interested in him lately."
He then looked at Professor Whitaker and asked, "Anyway, what did you want to see me for?
Surely, it can't just be about Adam's research paper."
Professor Whitaker solemnly replied, "It's about the Grand Magus Tournament!"
"Ah, I see." The headmaster nodded. "So the time has arrived."
"Yes. Although it's still five years away, we need to start making preparations since this time
we'll be the one hosting it," said Professor Whitaker, her eyes twinkling with anticipation.
In the years following the establishment of the Acadian Empire, four powerful organizations
rose to prominence.
They were called the Four Pillars of the Empire!
The Grand Magus Tournament was inaugurated by the founding emperor of Acadia to foster friendship and camaraderie between the young Magi of this continent.
Of course, the Four Pillars used this tournament to establish just who amongst them was the
more superior arcane institute.
This tournament was held every thirty years as a friendly competition between the Four Pillars of the Empire as well as the elven Magi of the Baja High Forest. It was hosted by each of
them in turns.
This time, it was Saratoga Castle's turn to host the Grand Magus Tournament!
"Alright then, Mathilda." Headmaster Blackwood got up from his seat and walked toward the window. "I'll give you full authority over this. Don't let me down."
Professor Whitaker hurriedly got to her feet and respectfully bowed, "It will be my honor,
Headmaster!"
"Hmm, good." The headmaster looked out of the window, gazing at the distant city of
Ravenfell.
"It's been a while since I've visited the city. I suppose I'll go for a stroll."
The next moment, the old man's body broke down into countless ravens before all of them
flew towards Ravenfell.