LGT Chapter 8

The current headmaster of the academy was once a knight of the kingdom, and that carried significant meaning. Vasamiel Academy is divided into six faculties. The most popular ones are, of course, the Knight Faculty and the Magic Faculty, which have produced many talented individuals due to their popularity. Aside from these two, the next in line is the Arts Faculty, which is favored by children from wealthy and somewhat prestigious families. Unlike knights, who sweat through training, or mages, who have to study intensely, the Arts Faculty allows students to maintain a certain level of elegance while still carrying the prestigious Vasamiel name, making it a perfect choice for them.

Next is the Administration Faculty, primarily chosen by commoners from wealthy families who were lucky enough to enter Vasamiel. Graduates often found practical employment in the kingdom’s administrative offices or immediately joined the family business, making this faculty a very pragmatic choice.

The Alchemy and Spirit Faculties always competed for the least popular spot. These two required deep academic knowledge and were typically chosen by children from noble families who either wanted to show off their intellect or indulge in some pretense. However, there were a few students who genuinely chose Vasamiel Academy for its rich history in alchemy and spirit studies.

Throughout history, the academy’s headmasters were selected from talented individuals across these fields. The previous headmaster, rather unusually, was a spirit scholar well-versed in spiritology. Upon being elected, he actively devised various curricula utilizing the forests surrounding Vasamiel Academy, as he believed that students should be nurtured in nature. It’s said that he faced numerous complaints from aristocratic parents.

This term’s headmaster was the renowned “Declaire Fauster,” a name anyone aspiring to be a knight would have heard of at least once. After becoming a knight, she fearlessly fought on countless battlefields. She was the only human known to faintly imbue her sword with mana. As a human, she stood at the pinnacle of swordsmanship achievable by mankind. Yet, she never quite reached the rank of Sword Master. The gap between a Sword Master and an exceptionally skilled human swordsman was enormous. Declaire spent her entire life striving to bridge that gap. As proof, beneath the dress she was wearing, her body was likely covered in countless scars.

“Let’s begin the unique entrance ceremony of Vasamiel Academy.”

Sweeping back her gray hair, Declaire gestured to someone at the back of the hall. The man she signaled to lifted his head.

As he approached, the students seated with the band stopped playing. He positioned himself between the headmaster and the new students in the center of the hall.

When he waved his hand, the marble bricks on the floor began to move one by one, forming a circular structure. As a well-like shape emerged, a marble pillar rose in the center, and atop it, a gleaming set of scales was placed.

When the freshly cast golden scales took their place on the altar, clear water began to flow from the base of the scales, trickling down into the circular well below.

It was a marble fountain with an altar piece at the center. Crystal-clear water flowed slowly from the top, creating a beautiful display.

All the new students, including Adrian, were curious about what this could possibly be.

“This is Vasamiel’s Fountain,” Declaire said with a slight smile, observing the curious faces of the students. The older students who had gone through this procedure also looked on, smiling at the newcomers.

Servants who had been waiting at the sides of the hall stepped forward and began distributing something to the new students. The freshmen, still confused, each received an item. As soon as Adrian got his, he closely examined what was now in his palm.

It was an unimpressive stone. Its surface was rough and lacked any shine, like the kind you’d find rolling around on the street. He tried channeling mana into the stone, but it caused no change. There was no trace of magic.

“You’re all probably thinking it’s just an ordinary stone, right?” Declaire plucked a feather from the ornament in her hair. The single feather fluttered as she held it between her thumb and index finger.

“Watch this.”

She carefully placed the feather on one side of the scale. As expected, the scale didn’t move at all, as the feather was so light it could be blown away by the slightest breeze. Declaire then asked the freshman standing in the front for permission. The student hesitantly handed over the stone they’d received.

Declaire brought the stone close to her lips and blew softly. As the air touched the stone, it began to faintly vibrate, emitting a soft glow before the light slowly faded away.

She showed the stone, now dimmed, to the freshmen. Where the light had passed, the elegant script of “Declaire Fauster” had been engraved and shimmered faintly.

She placed the stone on the opposite side of the scale where the feather had been. Naturally, the stone was heavier than the feather.

However, the side with the stone gradually began to rise.

It was a movement that defied the laws of nature, and all the freshmen were shocked. The senior students, who had experienced this before, stifled their laughter, knowing this was coming.

“You will be judged here at Vasamiel for all your past good and bad deeds. Since this scale weighs a person’s entire life, ordinary acts of kindness or wrongdoing won’t cause any change.

You are the ones who will live and serve in the Kingdom of Rustabaran. Given the academy’s high entrance standards, you will eventually play important roles in the kingdom. Vasamiel Academy values not only the transmission of knowledge but also the virtuous character of its students.”

Declaire lifted the stone from the scale.

“This is an ore called ‘The All-Seeing Eye,’ discovered by scholars hundreds of years ago in a mine within the Kingdom of Rustabaran. Despite the efforts of professors from the Magic, Spirit, and Alchemy faculties, no one has been able to uncover the principle behind how its weight changes.

But the truth it reveals is undeniable. Those whose stones were heavier than the feather all caused great harm to the Kingdom of Rustabaran. Vasamiel Academy does not teach those who would abuse the precious knowledge we’ve accumulated over the centuries. Such students, regardless of their status, will not advance to the next year and will be sent home.”

The freshmen began murmuring among themselves at the headmaster’s words. Declaire raised her hand to quiet them.

“But don’t worry, everyone. In the hundreds of years since Vasamiel Academy was founded, only a few freshmen have ever had a stone heavier than the feather. And those are now the stuff of legend.”

The freshmen looked down at their “All-Seeing Eye” stones with pale faces.

Adrian was no exception.

This is insane, he thought. It’d be pretty hilarious if I got expelled on the first day. He started reflecting on his past, wondering about all the “bad deeds” he might have committed.

As the freshmen murmured in shock, Declaire Fauster smiled. The man who had just used magic to create the fountain spoke up.

“Uh, Headmaster… shouldn’t you mention that part as well?”

Declaire Fauster, looking a bit deflated, opened her mouth to speak again.

“Right. Well, we don’t judge you immediately. Vasamiel Academy gives a one-year grace period to avoid any unfair judgments. During this year, we expect you to reflect and curb any wrongdoings you may have accumulated unknowingly.”

She smirked, raising the corner of her mouth.

“Not that people can change all that much in a year, don’t you agree?”

Her wrinkled eyes crinkled with her smile as she handed the stone back to the freshman who had lent it to her. Soon after, all the freshmen blew air onto their stones.

Adrian held his breath as he watched the name appear on his stone. The name he used was an alias. He wasn’t sure how far this so-called “All-Seeing Eye” could see, but he hoped it wouldn’t reveal his real name.

Adrian slowly opened one eye.

‘Adrian Heather.’

His alias shone brightly on the stone. Thankfully.

But just then—

“Ugh.”

Adrian Heather, who usually never felt any heaviness, frowned. The stone in his hand felt impossibly heavy. Even with his dragon-enhanced body far surpassing human strength, it weighed him down. If it was this heavy for him, it must be unimaginably heavy. The stone felt like it could outweigh the entire fountain itself, let alone a feather.

“Each of you will now come forward and place your ‘All-Seeing Eye’ into the fountain. Over the next year, keep this stone in mind as you live at Vasamiel Academy. One year from today, when the weight of your life is measured, I hope it won’t be heavier than a feather.”

Declaire Fauster lifted a glass of water that had been handed to her by someone. Her enigmatic smile made Adrian Heather break into a cold sweat as the stone in his hand grew even heavier.

The freshmen lined up one by one, walking toward Vasamiel’s fountain to drop their “All-Seeing Eye” into the clear water. As soon as the unimpressive stones touched the water, they transformed into gleaming gems, creating graceful arcs as they sank to the bottom.

It was finally Mikhail and Adrian’s turn, standing at the back of the line. Adrian glanced at what Mikhail was holding. His stone didn’t seem heavy at all. Mikhail, looking entirely confident, tossed his stone lightly into the fountain. Just like the others, Mikhail’s “All-Seeing Eye” glowed as it touched the water and slowly sank to the bottom.

Now it was Adrian’s turn.

Swallowing the weight of his stone, Adrian extended both hands over the fountain. He tried to release the stone as close to the water’s surface as possible. The sound of the stone hitting the water rang loudly in his ears, though it might have been his imagination. Unlike the others, his stone plunged straight down, rapidly sinking to the bottom. Adrian followed it closely with his eyes. But once it reached the bottom, it blended in with the other stones, and he couldn’t tell which one was his anymore.

Reluctantly, Adrian moved his feet to make way for the next student, though each step felt heavier than before.

Once all the freshmen had dropped their stones into the fountain, the wizard who had created the magical structure exchanged a glance with Declaire before waving his hand in the air. Following the exact reverse order of how it had been conjured, the fountain slowly disassembled in front of the freshmen. As the fountain disappeared from the banquet hall, Adrian closed his eyes, focusing on the flow of mana to remember which direction it was heading.

After the magical display ended, Declaire redirected the attention of the freshmen, who were still fixated on the magic.

“As you all know, Vasamiel Academy has a total of six faculties. While some of you may already have a faculty in mind, first-year students are encouraged to explore and find the faculty that best suits them over the course of the year. You are all already excellent knights.”

At the mention of the word “knight,” students who appeared to be from the Knight Faculty stomped their feet in unison. The thunderous sound reverberated throughout the hall, and their faces were filled with confidence.

“And excellent mages.”

When Declaire said the word “mage,” students from the Magic Faculty raised their index fingers high, shooting small sparks of light into the air. The freshmen turned their heads side to side, taking in the dazzling sight from their seniors.

“Or perhaps, brilliant artists.”

The students seated with the orchestra, along with those standing nearby, played a harmonious melody at a specific pitch. The beautiful chords made the freshmen close their eyes in appreciation of the enchanting sound.

“Excellent diplomats.”

When Declaire mentioned “diplomats,” a loud cheer erupted throughout the hall. Some students stomped their feet energetically, boldly displaying their outgoing and enthusiastic personalities.

“…And of course, many of you have the potential to become outstanding alchemists and spirit scholars.”

Considering the smaller number of students in the remaining two faculties, Declaire grouped them together in her explanation. In response, seniors from the Alchemy and Spirit Faculties simultaneously put their fingers to their lips and whistled. A refreshing breeze, synchronized with the whistles, swept through the overheated banquet hall.

“Now, go and make this the most rewarding year of your life,” Declaire concluded, signaling the end of the entrance ceremony.

The entire hall erupted with thunderous applause and cheers as the students encouraged the freshmen. Standing at the center of the hall, the freshmen were moved by the passionate support from their seniors. Amidst the cheers, Adrian, one of the freshmen who carried the so-called “heavy stone,” found himself deep in thought.

However, he wasn’t reflecting on or regretting his past life.

Instead, he was thinking, “This is crazy. What kind of good deeds am I supposed to do in such a small school?”