Bai Shi teleported via a Site of Grace to the cellar in the Waypoint Ruins where Sorceress Sellen was.
As soon as he arrived, he felt an incredibly powerful suction force.
Bai Shi steadied himself and looked to the side.
There, in the dark cellar, a dense, dark void was constantly pulling objects toward its center, devouring them.
Sorceress Sellen was staring at this dark void, lost in thought, contemplating something.
This dark void was the sorcery Bai Shi had previously given Sellen to teach him—Eternal Darkness.
It seemed his teacher had already completely mastered it.
Moreover, the scale and power she wielded were far greater than when Stella had used it.
Seeing Bai Shi arrive, Sellen slowly walked over while maintaining Eternal Darkness.
"This sorcery you brought me is truly beyond my expectations."
Bai Shi didn't know why Sellen would say that and asked:
"What is it? Is there something special about this sorcery?"
In his eyes, although this sorcery looked impressive, it was just a spell that could be mastered with an Intelligence of just over thirty.
Spells of the same level had similar power; a few points of Intelligence requirement didn't make a huge difference.
The spells with extremely high Intelligence requirements, as well as the legendary sorceries, were definitely much stronger than these ordinary ones.
Sellen guessed Bai Shi's thoughts and shook her head.
"This sorcery isn't exceptionally profound or powerful."
"Its specialty lies in the fact that it is a key."
Sellen looked at the dark void from which the gravitational pull emanated.
"Sorcery is the mystery of the cosmos, aiming to explore the stars and the life upon them."
"In the Lands Between, the stargazers looked to the sky and, from it, learned to explore and discover glintstone sorcery."
"A long time ago, I was curious about how the subterranean Nox Dynasty observed the stars. You must understand, they were a dynasty that had achieved great things on the path of sorcery..."
"All this time, I thought they relied on that false night sky."
"Now I finally understand. What they truly relied on to explore the cosmos was this very sorcery—Eternal Darkness."
Sellen pointed a hand toward the dark void, letting the gravitational force whip her sleeve about.
"What kind of darkness can be called eternal? Perhaps only the profound darkness between the stars is worthy of such a title."
"This sorcery is the manifestation of the darkness between the stars, and it is also connected to the cosmos."
"In many ways, it has a deep connection to Primeval Sorcery." Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⟡𝕗𝗂𝗋𝖾⟡𝕟𝕖𝕥
"Perhaps something can be seen through it, but I haven't figured that out yet..."
Bai Shi didn't know much about Primeval Sorcery yet, but he generally understood the purpose of Eternal Darkness.
It could replace the real night sky, allowing one to directly explore the darkness between the stars.
Bai Shi recalled the description of this sorcery—it was the despair that brought ruin to the Eternal City.
The Nox Dynasty was destroyed by the Astels summoned by the imposter Greater Will.
So, did the Nox find a clue about the imposter Greater Will in the cosmos?
The imposter Greater Will also came from the cosmos?
Sellen turned her head and dispelled the Eternal Darkness she had been maintaining.
"My student, are you done with your tasks?"
"Then it's time for lessons again~"
Bai Shi shook his head slightly.
"Teacher, I'm afraid I don't have time for lessons at the moment."
"I have something important to do next, and I might need your help."
Sellen chuckled lightly.
"Oh my, I never thought there'd come a time when you'd actively ask for my help."
"Mm, this is how it should be. This feels more like a teacher-student relationship."
"Well then, tell me. What is it that requires my assistance?"
"I will do my best to help you."
Bai Shi nodded and stated his next course of action.
"Teacher, I plan to head to the Academy of Magic next."
"So I wanted to ask if you have a map of the academy. A map would make my movements much more convenient."
Sellen was rather surprised.
"You're going to the Academy?"
"The Academy has been completely locked down by a seal."
She had also searched for a long time but had never found the key to re-enter.
Bai Shi smiled confidently.
"I already know the location of an Academy Glintstone Key."
Sellen's pupils, hidden beneath her witch's glintstone crown, quivered slightly.
If that was true, then Bai Shi really could enter the Academy.
Sellen pondered for a moment before speaking again:
"I see, so you've found a clue to a key..."
"My student, I want to ask you a question. You must answer me truthfully."
Bai Shi looked at Sellen as she drew closer, feeling a little puzzled, but he still agreed.
"Please, ask away, Teacher."
Sellen walked until she was only a step away from Bai Shi and looked up at him.
"I mentioned before that I was expelled from the Academy of Raya Lucaria, remember?"
"The reason behind it was my desire to restore the Primeval Current of glintstone sorcery."
"Not the sorcery controlled by the Carian Royal Family—that soulless, ostentatious magic."
"What I seek is glintstone sorcery without taboos, with a pure spirit of exploration."
"...And to achieve my dream, I would sacrifice anything."
"My student, I will not force you."
"It's normal for a student and teacher to part ways."
"With that in mind, I want to ask for your help: restoring the Primeval Current of glintstone sorcery—are you willing to lend a hand?"
"...Are you willing to strive together with me?"
Bai Shi had no issue with Primeval Sorcery itself.
It was just their methods that Bai Shi felt could be improved.
Mainly, he didn't want his teacher, Sellen, to become a sorcerer-ball.
Bai Shi nodded seriously and agreed.
"I wish to understand the stars and sorcery, to investigate what they truly are."
"I am willing to explore the truth of the Primeval Current with you."
Sellen let out a soft laugh. This time, she was genuinely happy.
"...Is that so? Thank you, Bai Shi."
"It's been a long time since I've met a kindred spirit. I'm very pleased."
"...It must be due to my excellent teaching."
"Hehehe, in that case, I'll go with you personally~"
Now it was Bai Shi's turn to be surprised.
He had only wanted a map, but it seemed Teacher Sellen wanted to go to the Academy with him as well.
This wasn't a bad thing; in fact, it was a good thing.
But how would Teacher Sellen get in?
The Academy Glintstone Key remembers its user; simply put, it was an item that would bind to one's identity.
Bai Shi only knew about the one near the Glintstone Dragon Smarag.
The other Academy key Bai Shi knew of was inside the Academy itself and currently unobtainable.
"Teacher, how will you get there? I only know the whereabouts of one key."
Sellen wagged a finger in front of Bai Shi.
"An Academy Glintstone Key can only be used by one person, and they are exceedingly rare. I once even doubted if any still existed outside the academy."
"You are unlikely to know the location of a second key."
"But as long as you have a key, I can get in by another method."
Bai Shi immediately realized what she meant. Teacher Sellen did indeed have a way to transfer her consciousness and soul.
"Don't tell me... Teacher, are you planning to transfer your consciousness and soul like before?"
Sellen nodded and patted Bai Shi's arm.
"As expected of my student. So clever."
"As long as there's a way in, I can bypass the Academy's seal."
Bai Shi asked Sellen:
"Then after you transfer your consciousness, what about your current body?"
Sellen found this strange and asked in return:
"Of course I'll keep it. Should I just throw it away?"
"Even with a transfer, the soul and body must have good compatibility."
"So, every body that can house my soul is extremely rare and precious."
"As long as it isn't too damaged, it can still be used."
"I see," Bai Shi nodded.
"Then do you need me to temporarily look after this body for you?"
Sellen glanced at Bai Shi strangely, though he couldn't see it through her glintstone crown.
"What? Have you picked up some... special hobbies during your time out there?"
Bai Shi knew Sellen was referring to Seluvis. His fetishes were probably one-of-a-kind in the Lands Between.
But Bai Shi didn't know why Sellen was suddenly saying this to him.
Bai Shi stated his thoughts:
"Hmm? Didn't you say bodies are hard to find?"
"If we bring this body into the Academy, won't that save you the trouble of finding a new one?"
Sellen tapped a finger on the chin of her glintstone crown.
Alright, she had misjudged Bai Shi.
She had thought a young man his age might have some strange ideas about her body, since he was at an age of vigor, after all.
Actually, she was originally planning to have Bai Shi carry her Primal Glintstone and then guide him in her spirit form.
That way, she wouldn't need a new body either.
After all, even among the female sorcerers at the academy, there were few suitable bodies for her.
However, since Bai Shi had suggested it, it didn't seem like a bad idea.
"Mm, now that you mention it, that's true."
"In that case, wait until you've retrieved the Academy Glintstone Key."
Seeing that Sellen had agreed, Bai Shi left, reassured.
With Teacher Sellen in the Academy, it would be like a wolf among sheep.
With Teacher Sellen leading the way, wouldn't the Academy be a piece of cake?
After Bai Shi left, Sellen's expression grew a little complicated.
The Academy of Raya Lucaria—what a nostalgic name.
Even after all this time, her memories of that place had not faded in the slightest.
It was the starting point of her path in sorcery, where she had spent her happiest times.
Doted on by her master, she had wandered the various study halls as a mere apprentice, freely learning the sorceries of every class...
It was also the end of her childhood. All the wonderful things of the past were gone.
Her master, Azur, was taken and imprisoned, and she became a wraith, thirsting for the revival of the Primeval Current.
No matter how cruel the method, as long as it furthered the exploration of the Primeval Current, she would do it.
Sellen had originally planned to further explore her own unique Primeval Sorcery before seeking revenge on the Academy.
But now, it seemed that goal could be achieved much earlier.
Sellen turned and walked back into the cellar.
This student of hers... he truly brought her unexpected surprises.
This was perhaps the most correct thing she, the cruel witch, had ever done.