Chapter 63
The attendants made their way through the winding forest path.
They said nothing.
Though following them wasn't difficult, I had no idea where we were going.
If we were heading to the dormitory, I should be able to memorize the entire path.
"Where are we going?"
One of those in front turned to look at me and tapped his mask.
It was a signal to put on my mask.
"..."
And they remained silent about my question.
Seeing such caution, it was clear our destination was somewhere deliberately kept secret.
I took out my mask from my chest and put it on.
After walking for a few minutes, fog began to settle in the forest.
My sense of direction was completely erased. At this point, memorizing the path became impossible. Even with a map, I'd probably wander like a blind person with open eyes.
Though there were no traces of people or landmarks visible, the attendants walked on without hesitation.
Soon after, through the hazy horizon, the silhouette of a barrier appeared. The barrier stretched endlessly to both sides.
They approached the barrier.
What blocked the entire horizon in the fog was a wall. It was as ornately decorated as a palace wall and as thick and tall as a fortress.
Then a steel gate large enough for two carriages to pass through simultaneously appeared before us.
The attendants stopped in front and turned to face me in unison.
Then the man standing in the center spoke, "This is a restricted area where absolutely no one except authorized personnel may enter. Eternia calls this entire area 'The Labyrinth’. The powerful disruption magic inside causes loss of direction, so be careful."
As he finished speaking, the iron gate opened by itself.
Inside, the fog lay even thicker, like a white silk curtain had been drawn.
Just looking at it made it hard to breathe. My dormitory was in a place whose size and route were unknown.
I carefully asked, "What's inside here?"
Surely they hadn't created this vast labyrinth just for dormitories.
"There's the Philaion Grand Library which stores ancient magic books and artifacts, the Magic Research Institute, the Forbidden Forest, and the Masters Class dormitory 'Thorn Garden’. It's protected so that no unauthorized intruders can reach any of these places."
"..."
Noticing my hesitation, he continued, "You are already in the Labyrinth. You may ask questions freely here."
I immediately asked what I'd been waiting to ask, "Who are you?"
Though they wore masks similar to the Masters Class examiners, their atmosphere and attire didn't seem like examiners.
"We are librarians of the Philaion Grand Library. We assist with Masters Class daily affairs while managing the library's books and artifacts."
They were treating me, who was a mere student, as a superior. It felt strange.
"How do I find my way around here?"
"No map of this place exists. You must be guided by magic alone."
The central man gestured to someone beside him. A masked woman next to him opened a wooden box in front of me.
Inside was a silver compass.
"Only the magic compass can guide you accurately through the Labyrinth. Hold it and state your destination, and the needle will guide you there."
When I picked up the compass, the needle suddenly began spinning like a pinwheel.
While staring blankly at the needle, a thought occurred to me and I asked, "What happens if you don't use the compass?"
"Without our intervention, you'll be lost forever, unable to reach anywhere. Be careful, as you might occasionally stumble upon skeletal remains."
They spoke of such chilling things so casually.
This place seems more dangerous than I initially thought—is there really a dormitory here...?
"If I were to look for the library, could I go there?"
"Yes. Masters Class students are granted permission to access certain books in the library. If you need help, call for us at the library."
"...I understand."
Though I didn't know what books were kept there, it clearly seemed like an incredible privilege unavailable to regular students.
"Let's move now. The destination is 'Thorn Garden’."
I whispered the destination to the compass. Soon after, the spinning needle stopped and pointed in one direction.
***
In Eternia's large VIP room, Silveryn looked down at him.
The dispatch captain swallowed nervously. This was his first time facing the Archmage directly.
She was young. She looked about ten years younger than himself, who had just entered his thirties. Her appearance didn't match the weight of her reputation as an Archmage.
Based on rumors of her living in seclusion with just one disciple in the borderlands, he had vaguely expected a pastoral woman, but the Silveryn before him was the complete opposite.
Her ornaments were uniformly magnificent and aristocratic, appearing excessively luxurious from a religious perspective.
Most startling was her beauty. She was so enchanting and alluring that even holy knights, who swore chastity and purity to God and placed no value on facial features, might momentarily harbor other thoughts.
Silveryn's expression was ice-cold. As if she knew why the holy knights had come.
The coldness penetrated through the skin.
The dispatch captain reminded himself of his mission. Whether she welcomed the dispatch team or not, he had to carry out his duties.
He cut through any unnecessary greetings or small talk and went straight to the point.
"The Archbishop requests your attendance at the Continental Union Conference in the Holy City."
"..."
It was extremely rare for the Holy City to host a union conference. The Order was an organization with financial and military power comparable to a nation. Thus, they rarely asked for help.
The fact that they were hosting a union conference and were gathering key figures from various countries meant a problem had arisen that the Order couldn't solve with their capabilities.
Silveryn asked, "Why summon me to the union conference?"
The Archmage wouldn't move even if called by the Archbishop or Emperor without good reason.
There was only one reason why the holy knights had come directly before her: to present valid reasons and persuade Silveryn.
Flimsy justifications wouldn't work. To convince her, they had to reveal confidential matters.
"Firstly, Sacred Tree Hanox has been completely destroyed. The Order is certain it was the work of a dark mage."
Silveryn's eyes remained cold and unwavering as she looked down at the holy knight.
"We can't be certain when or where the dark mega will appear or what they're targeting. However, seeing the ghoul hordes pressing against territories near the Holy City, we expect they'll ultimately target the Holy City."
"And the second reason?"
The dispatch captain took a breath before speaking, "Secondly... the heir to the Holy Sword has appeared."
Silveryn narrowed her eyes briefly in thought. Then she asked again, "Holy Sword...?"
As if she'd never heard of such a thing.
The dispatch captain was momentarily speechless at her response.
The Holy Sword “Rune Tevris” was a legendary sword kept in the Holy City's Central Grand Temple.
A sword that only God's apostle could wield. Those not chosen couldn't bear the weight of its divine power.
And the previous owner of the Holy Sword was the Sword God, Sword Master Zeldan Hart.
The appearance of a new Holy Sword owner meant the emergence of Zeldan Hart's successor.
Silveryn understood what kind of man Zeldan Hart was. They had once fought on the same battlefield.
Though it was an event that had turned the Holy City upside down, Silveryn's face remained impassive.
It was an incomprehensible reaction.
"So who is the heir?"
"A boy attending the Imperial Royal Academy... I don't have the authority to reveal his exact identity."
"..."
"And Eternia's counsel is needed regarding the handling of this 'Holy Sword Heir’."
Silveryn's brow furrowed deeply. For whatever reason, she was openly showing her unwillingness to get involved.
Silveryn turned away from the holy knights and took a few steps back.
Then, she maintained silence for a moment, as if organizing her thoughts.
Silveryn let out a small sigh and finally spoke, "Fine. Tell them I'll attend."
***
It was a terrible fog like something from a nightmare. Even the librarians walking just five or six steps ahead were barely visible.
I understood what they meant about being lost forever. Eyes couldn't be trusted here. It was such a strange space that staying here for just a few hours might cause mental illness. If my dormitory wasn't here, I would never set foot in this place again.
After following the librarians for a while, the shadow of a mansion appeared in the fog.
As we got closer, the fog gradually thinned.
Finally, a large mansion revealed itself.
Though there were no thick castle walls or iron gates, rose vines separated the mansion's territory from the labyrinth like a fence.
This was “Thorn Garden”, our destination. And this was my real dormitory.
The garden of black vines and bright red roses was quite impressive. In one corner, a Plantera was slowly trimming branches with scissors.
Except for being inside a labyrinth, it was an incredibly peaceful scene.
The librarians stopped halfway along the garden path leading to the mansion and fixed their gaze on me.
"Our role ends here."
"...Is this it?"
Just bringing me here and that's it? No procedures, no room assignments, no nothing?
The librarian who received the question nodded lightly.
"This entire place was created for the Masters Class. When the student who becomes the master of this place graduates, everything is demolished without leaving a trace. So you're free to destroy or modify this mansion. Of course, you should discuss it with others first."
"Should I discuss it with you librarians?"
They remained silent for a moment as if they hadn't heard my question. Then they suddenly gave their farewell.
"...We'll see you again at the entrance ceremony."
The librarians gave a slight bow and disappeared into the fog.
It felt a bit unsettling. It seemed like there was something they deliberately weren't telling me.
Looking at the large mansion assigned as my dormitory, I felt overwhelmed rather than excited.
The fog-blocked surroundings were suffocating enough to cause mental illness, and the mansion was overwhelmingly large.
I shook off my idle thoughts and crossed the garden toward the mansion.
I threw open the double doors and entered the mansion's hall.
The chandelier on the ceiling lit up by itself, brightly illuminating the surroundings.
Perhaps the mansion was maintained by magic.
As I stood there looking around the interior, suddenly a voice came from behind me, "Hello."
My mind snapped to attention as if doused with ice water.
I wondered if I'd heard wrong.
I hadn't expected anyone else to be in this mansion.
Though I couldn't remember exactly, it was a voice I seemed to have heard somewhere before.
Small footsteps approached me from behind.
I quickly turned around.
Somehow concealing her presence, a girl had appeared about ten steps away from me.
Our eyes met. She tilted her head slightly and said, "It was... Candy, right?"