Sike’erlin completed the registration quickly.
Using a quill, he gently touched the palms of Muxuan, Qiansitelin, and Ailiya in turn.
A faint warm light merged into their bodies, and soon a small emblem appeared on the back of their hands—the crest of Saint Delosia Academy, radiating a soft magical fluctuation.
“This is your temporary identity mark,” Sike’erlin explained.
“With this mark, you can access most of the open areas of the academy.”
“Once you receive your official identity token later, it will merge with that. Now, please follow me.”
He closed the hardcover book, which turned into a stream of light and dissipated into his sleeve.
Then he turned and walked toward an arched door on the other side of the hall, formed by naturally entwined vines.
Muxuan and Qiansitelin glanced at the emblem on the back of their hands, hesitated for a moment, then followed Sike’erlin.
Ailiya, visibly excited, trailed behind Muxuan and Qiansitelin, carefully stepping through the archway.
Behind the door was a teleportation array glowing with a soft green light.
“Since the enrollment period has ended, according to school rules, the main gate cannot be opened under any circumstances. So we will enter the academy through this teleportation array.”
After explaining, Sike’erlin stood firmly within the array and added, “Stand steady.”
With that, he said no more.
Once Muxuan and the others had all stepped into the teleportation array, he slightly opened his palm.
The array immediately burst with a surge of green light, and in the next instant, the solid wooden floor beneath their feet transformed into cold, smooth stone.
In less than half a quarter-hour, they found themselves inside Saint Delosia Magic Academy.
Before them stretched a wide, curved corridor.
The walls were built of huge, jade-white stone blocks, also crawling with glimmering emerald vines.
The vines wound along magical circuits etched with complex runes that flowed across the walls.
Qiansitelin could tell at a glance that these were part of the academy’s defense and energy circulation system.
The ceiling was extremely high, embedded with a magical dome simulating natural light.
Muxuan squinted slightly, adjusting to the suddenly expansive view.
Mentor Sike’erlin’s calm voice soon echoed through the somewhat empty corridor.
“Welcome to Saint Delosia Magic Academy—the Core Corridor Area.”
The corridor extended in both directions, disappearing into a soft halo at the edges of sight.
“Wow…”
Ailiya let out a very quiet exclamation at the sight before her.
The rune walls flowing with magic, the strange vines radiating life’s brilliance, the towering dome that seemed to reach the sky…
She had never been this close to the core area of the academy.
Everything here far exceeded her meager imagination.
Excitement flushed her small face red, and even her breathing became cautious.
Sike’erlin’s closed eyes seemed to clearly capture Ailiya’s excitement.
He turned slightly, pointing a long, fair hand toward the direction the corridor extended.
There, faint silhouettes of many elves wearing different styles of academy uniforms could be seen moving about.
“Probationary student Ailiya.”
His voice carried a hint of coolness yet also a trace of gentleness.
“Go along this direction.”
At the end, you’ll find the Apprentice Guidance Office.
“Report there and collect your apprentice manual and basic supplies. They will inform you of your specific dormitory arrangements and initial guidance for your studies.”
He paused, then added, “Remember, abide by all the academy’s rules and cherish this opportunity.”
“Yes! Mentor Sike’erlin!”
Ailiya’s voice trembled with excitement.
She bowed deeply, then quickly glanced at Muxuan and Qiansitelin, her eyes full of gratitude.
Then she took a step in the direction Sike’erlin had indicated.
She carefully avoided the faint light flowing on the smooth floor, and her figure soon merged into the stream of other students deeper down the corridor.
Watching Ailiya’s slightly flustered yet hopeful figure disappear from view, Sike’erlin finally turned fully toward Muxuan and Qiansitelin.
“Two mentors.”
He no longer used the term “honored guests,” and his tone became more formal.
“Please follow me. We need to go to the Academic Affairs Tower for formal registration and to confirm your teaching responsibilities in the coming period.”
With that, Sike’erlin turned and walked along the wide Core Corridor in the opposite direction from where Ailiya had gone.
Muxuan watched Sike’erlin’s back but didn’t immediately follow.
Instead, she looked at Qiansitelin, her expression grave.
“You sensed it too?”
Qiansitelin nodded slightly, then loosened her grip on Lyrasel a little, saying in a low voice, “The life force here is strong… but it can’t cover up the sense of decay.”
“And it’s strange… they don’t seem to notice, or perhaps they’ve grown accustomed to it.”
Muxuan didn’t refute Qiansitelin’s observation.
Inside Biercuiluoda, she hadn’t felt this decay, but after entering Saint Delosia Academy, the feeling of decay had abruptly appeared in her perception.
Recalling that the Great Artisan God had said the academy was built upon the Holy Tree, Muxuan’s suspicion that something was wrong with the Holy Tree deepened.
Of course, there could be other reasons.
Regardless, at least they had entered Saint Delosia Academy and taken the first step.
They would certainly need to find a way to contact the Holy Tree later.
With that thought, Muxuan stopped overthinking and quickly caught up to Sike’erlin, who had already walked some distance away.
Sike’erlin sensed the two approaching, glanced back slightly, then quickened his previously slow pace.
Occasionally, elf students or mentors in academy uniforms passed by.
They all respectfully nodded when they saw Sike’erlin.
When their gazes swept over Muxuan’s distinctive silver hair, they showed a mix of curiosity and awe.
After about five minutes of walking, Sike’erlin finally stopped.
The end of the corridor connected to a wide circular platform, at the center of which stood a magnificent building.
It was clearly the Academic Affairs Tower.
The base of the tower had several enormous pillars that seemed to merge with the branches supporting the entire academy space.
The tower itself was also built of large white stone blocks, but the structure was more solid.
“This is the Academic Affairs Tower.”
Sike’erlin stood at the entrance of the tower and said calmly, “It’s the core administrative area of the academy. Mentor registration and duty assignments are also handled here.”
He slightly gestured with his hand.
But after Sike’erlin finished, Muxuan and Qiansitelin didn’t move for a moment.
After hesitating, Muxuan looked at Sike’erlin and asked, “Mentor Sike’erlin, may I ask what the Academic Affairs Tower is built on?”
The closer she got to the tower, the stronger the sense of decay became, heightening her vigilance.
If her guess was correct… this tower was built against the Holy Tree.
Hearing Muxuan’s question, Sike’erlin was visibly taken aback, then shook his head with a smile.
“Sorry, I don’t know that either.”
“Don’t know? How is that possible?”
Muxuan frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed and also smiled.
“Well, the Academic Affairs Tower does look truly magnificent. We’ve never seen this type of architecture in the Ariadolia Empire.”
She said no more, took Qiansitelin’s hand, and walked into the tower.
Seeing this, Sike’erlin quickly followed them.
Inside the tower, the space was even more grand than it appeared from the outside.
Light came not from ordinary windows or magical lamps but from the walls themselves.
The air was thick with a strong life essence, almost tangible, yet it was permeated by a deeper, colder sense of deathly stillness.
The sense of decay that Muxuan and Qiansitelin had sensed reached its peak here.
“Two mentors, this way.”
Seeing them hesitate, Sike’erlin stepped ahead and began to lead.
This time, Qiansitelin followed first.
The three of them walked up a wide, spiraling stone staircase, passing several platforms with closed, ornate wooden doors engraved with different emblems representing various departments of the academy.
Occasionally, figures in mentor robes hurried past.
Upon seeing Sike’erlin, they respectfully bowed, their gazes briefly lingering on Muxuan’s silver hair, but no one spoke.
The entire tower was eerily quiet, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing in the emptiness.
“Mentor Sike’erlin.”
Unable to hold back, Qiansitelin suddenly asked, “What are the usual procedures for mentor registration?”
“The process isn’t complicated.”
Sike’erlin paused in his steps but didn’t turn around, continuing naturally, “After writing your names and qualification certificates in the Academic Affairs Center, you will be entered into the Core Array to generate official identity tokens.”
“Then, based on the academy’s vacancies and your areas of expertise, specific teaching subjects and departments will be assigned.”
He turned his head slightly toward Muxuan.
“Both mentors are from the Ariadolia Empire. I assume you have considerable achievements in the field of magic?”
Areas of expertise?
They knew nothing about this region’s magic system.
Moreover…
What concerned Muxuan more was the name.
They would have to write down their names?
The Elven Forest was definitely problematic, and leaving their names here… who knew if there was a trap.
Even as her wariness deepened, Muxuan maintained a calm expression.
“Our areas of study in the empire are quite diverse, covering elemental shaping, energy analysis, and… some ancient heritage.”
She deliberately blurred the focus, giving extra weight to the phrase “ancient heritage.”
As honored guests from the Ariadolia Empire, having “ancient heritage” was perfectly reasonable, right?
Sike’erlin nodded slightly, as if this answer was expected.
“Saint Delosia embraces all knowledge and welcomes any valuable magical wisdom. The specific assignments will be determined by the central system.”
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