Doggone Academy

Silveryns hair fluttered lightly in the breeze. After ascending to the island, she was taking a brief respite, gazing at the landscape spread out below her feet.

Then, a man dressed in priestly robes silently approached her along the corridor that encircled the sky garden.

The man stopped four steps away from Silveryn and bowed politely.

I had not thought we would meet again, Lady Silveryn.

Silveryn slowly turned her body to look down at the priest and said,

Its been a while, Price. I didnt think this place would last much longer, becoming doomed so soon. Seems its lifeline is tougher than I thought.

The Altar of the Stars had stopped accepting successors. Therefore, whether one way or another, it was fated to have its lineage cut and to be completely forgotten by the world eventually.

Haha, its always been in a position where it wouldnt be unusual to fall.

Thats right. I came hurriedly to seek some help before it does.

If not for help, there would be no other reason for you to visit this place again. When you left before, you said you would return once you found the owner of the cube. Am I right in thinking that is what brought you back?

Silveryn produced a glass bottle filled with blood and showed it to him.

As she gently shook the bottle, the cube made a clinking sound within.

The priests eyes sparkled with keen interest as he observed.

So it truly happened. I never thought Id see the day. The Silveryn was able to acquire the Rosenthal Cube

Silveryn narrowed her eyes and cut off the priest sharply,

Unfortunately, its not what youre thinking.

Price hesitated, his face reflecting confusion.

Not what Im thinking? What are you implying? Dont tell me you disregarded the traditions of the Rosenthal Cube?

Yes. I just used it in a hurry.

No, how could you with such a sacred object

The priest was so astounded he couldnt continue. The Rosenthal Cube wasnt just difficult to source material for; it also took years to make. It was not an item to be used carelessly.

Upon witnessing Silveryns confident demeanor, Price sighed deeply as if resigned and spoke,

Your headstrong ways remain unchanged. The wind is colder up here than below. Lets go inside.

The priest led Silveryn to where the Altar of the Stars was located. As they walked along the corridor, he asked her,

So even if not to that extreme, there must be someone bothering you, Lady Silveryn. The purpose of the Rosenthal Cube itself implies as much.

For the normally aloof Silveryn to use the cube on someone implied something significant.

The Rosenthal Cube was traditionally a relic meant for betrothed lovers to swallow one each and form a spiritual bond.

It was unlikely she handed over one of her pair of cubes to someone else without attaching any meaning to it.

Prices mind brimmed with questions. Silveryns cube was a token of gratitude for the help received from the Altar of the Stars.

Although the priests of the Altar had owed their lives to Silveryn, all she strove for had resulted in failure.

The cube was given with the hope that the disillusioned Silveryn would find meaning in a different life.

The priests all genuinely wished for contentment and happiness in Silveryns future.

Price, like any other priest, deemed it important to know who had unsettled her heart.

May I inquire who it is that has so stirred Lady Silveryns heart?

Women typically sought ascendant unions, rarely engaging with men of lower station than themselves. To be on par with Silveryns standard, one would have to think about princes, swordmasters, or great magicians.

Anticipation about who the impressive figure might be made the priests lips twitch slightly.

However, for some reason, Silveryn maintained her silence.

Realizing he had prodded too deeply into her personal affairs, the priest quickly recanted,

In my pleasure upon seeing you, I have overstepped. My apologies.

Silveryn hadnt swallowed the remaining cube but had instead brought it in the bottle. Perhaps she genuinely attached no meaning to the tradition and utilized the cube solely for its functional convenience. Considering Silveryns character, it was a plausible possibility.

While Price inwardly concealed his disappointment, Silveryn tentatively began to speak.

My disciple.

Price suddenly stopped and turned to face Silveryn, his curiosity piqued.

Your disciple, did you say?

Yes.

Prices eyes widened incrementally.

Though he was already surprised to hear disciple, what halted him to reconfirm were the uncharacteristic feelings lacing Silveryns voice.

There was an absence of her usual nonchalance when she mentioned her disciple, replaced faintly by what appeared to be a hint of bashfulness.

That was something never seen in Silveryn before.

***

Erzebet had told Damian the iron bracelet would ward off curses.

There was talk of curses spreading through the labyrinth. However, what the curse entailed remained a mystery.

It was his first time seeing so many corpses. Damian was busy looking for anyone still breathing amidst the sea of bodies.

Much of the ground was stained with blood, and sticky black substances squirmed on the surfaces and atop the cadavers.

What is all this

Damian pulled at the black substance with his hand, identifying it as leeches. The needle-like holes in the bodies were formed as the leeches fed on blood.

The sight of leeches clinging to and drawing blood from bodies was nightmarish in its gruesomeness.

He didnt know how leeches came to be here, who spread them, or why.

In the midst of his thoughts, coughing sounds reached him.

Damian laid down the body he was carrying and rushed toward the source of the coughs.

Damn, damn, where are you? Where are you!

While hastening and scanning around, his eyes caught a librarian trembling like a leaf.

Approaching the librarian, Damian halted, resisting the urge to support them. The leeches apparently craved living blood, latching onto the librarians skin in countless numbers.

The librarians body quaked like an aspen as he coughed out in agony.

Damian removed the librarians mask, revealing a face already full of leeches.

Becoming desperate, he started frantically plucking the leeches barehanded.

Damn, damn, just hold on. Ill get you out of here.

After several handfuls were removed, the librarians face could finally be identified.

With coughing spasm, he spat out a mouthful of dark blood and said,

Cough. Whowhowho are you?

Something was off. Damian had removed all leeches from his face and, despite his eyes being wide open, the librarian didnt see him.

The librarians pupils had turned white and lost focus. He had gone blind.

Damian clenched his teeth.

Damian. Dont talk! Ill get you help right now.

Damian tore open the librarians clothes to assess the condition but bit his lip once more. There was no spot untouched by leeches.

He swiftly stripped away the leeches.

In the midst of that, the librarian abruptly grabbed Damians wrist, halting his actions.

Imcough, its too late for me. You must escapeimmediately.

Stop talking already!

The mans hand shook violently.

That Trisha aiming for in the labyrinth You must escape, quickly, quickly

Damians heart sank.

Trisha. He had momentarily forgotten about Trishas existence.

What happened to Trisha?

Its still not confirmedcough, go now, flee escape

Just stay alive and lets go together!

Its useless You must leave now the compass is pointing cough, as far away from here as possible before its too late, hurry.

The librarian vomited blood as if his innards were being squeezed out.

And then the hand that gripped Damians wrist fell lifelessly; the librarians breathing had stopped.

Damian stood motionless, his heart pounding as if it would explode, wishing all this was a dream.

What on earth was happening?

The place had become a veritable hell on earth.

He repeated the librarians words. Targeting Trisha? Damian didnt notice her among the bodies when he scanned the area.

Only one thought flickered in Damians mind.

He had to save Trisha.

Again fierce winds swept through the labyrinth, and clouds of red mist rolled in like dark storm clouds.

A putrid smell of blood and rotting corpses jabbed at his nostrils.

Goosebumps rose on his skin and he felt a chill. Damian stood up and turned in the direction from which the bloody mist came. His vision was obscured; he couldnt see anything, but his instincts told him something was approaching.

A strange wailing suddenly filled the labyrinth. A demons cry, surely not of human origin.

It was a sound that once tore through his soul long ago. Thanks to that, Damian recognized it in an instant.

It was the cry of a wraith.

Damian felt his heart turn to ice. Memories of being helplessly thrown off a cliff flashed through his mind.

Suddenly, there was a sign of life from one direction.

Click-clack

Someone, their footsteps light, was coming toward him. Damian stood frozen, nervously swallowing saliva.

Something then pounded noisily against his chest. Damian pulled out the necklace he wore. The necklace gifted to him by Professor Ella vibrated intensely.

There was only one danger the necklace detected.

A dark mage. It was the herald of death.

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