Lucian activated the Site of Grace and teleported to the underground cellar beneath Waypoint Ruins, where Sorceress Sellen resided.
The moment he arrived, he felt an overwhelming pulling force seize his body.
Lucian steadied himself and turned his gaze to the side.
Within the dim underground chamber, a dense mass of black void was continuously drawing in everything around it, devouring all matter pulled toward its center.
Sellen stood before the black void, staring at it in silent contemplation, as though lost in thought.
This black void was precisely the spell Lucian had previously given to Sellen—the sorcery he intended her to teach him: Eternal Darkness.
He had not expected that Sellen would already have fully mastered it.
Moreover, the scale and power of her casting far surpassed even what Stella had demonstrated.
Sensing Lucian's arrival, Sellen maintained the Eternal Darkness while slowly walking toward him.
"My apprentice, you've come."
"The sorcery you brought me… truly exceeded my expectations."
Lucian didn't quite understand what she meant and asked,
"What's wrong? Is there something special about this spell?"
In his eyes, although the spell looked impressive, it was still merely a sorcery that required a little over thirty Intelligence to use.
Spells within the same tier rarely differed drastically in power—mere points of Intelligence couldn't create an overwhelming gap.
Those spells with terrifying Intelligence requirements, or the legendary sorceries spoken of in myths, were clearly on a completely different level.
Sellen seemed to anticipate Lucian's thoughts and gently shook her head.
"This spell is not special because it is profound, nor because it is overwhelmingly powerful."
"Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is… a key."
She turned her gaze back toward the black void that continued to radiate gravitational pull.
"Sorcery originates from the mysteries of the cosmos—its purpose is to explore the stars, and the lives that dwell among them."
"In the Lands Between, astrologers gaze upon the night sky and, through it, discover glintstone sorcery."
"Long ago, I often wondered how the Nox Dynasty beneath the earth conducted their own study of the stars."
"After all, they too were a civilization that achieved remarkable accomplishments on the path of magic…"
"For a long time, I believed they relied on that artificial night sky."
"But now I finally understand."
"Their true method of observing the cosmos was this very spell—Eternal Darkness."
Sellen raised her hand and pointed toward the black void, letting its gravitational pull tug at her sleeve.
"What kind of darkness can truly be called 'eternal'?"
"Only the profound darkness between the stars themselves qualifies."
"This spell is a manifestation of the darkness that exists among the stars—it is directly connected to the cosmos."
"In every sense, it is deeply intertwined with primeval sorcery."
"Through it, one may be able to glimpse… something."
"Though even I have yet to unravel what that something is."
Lucian did not fully understand primeval sorcery, but he grasped the essence of what Sellen was saying.
Eternal Darkness could replace the real night sky, allowing one to directly explore the darkness between the stars.
He recalled the description associated with this spell, the despair that brought destruction upon the Eternal City.
The Nox Dynasty had been annihilated by Astels summoned by the false Greater Will.
Did that mean the Nox had discovered traces of the false Greater Will within the depths of the cosmos?
Did the false Greater Will itself originate from the stars?
Sellen turned back around and finally dispelled the Eternal Darkness.
"My apprentice, have you finished handling your affairs?"
"Then it's time to resume your lessons~"
Lucian gently shook his head.
"Teacher, I'm afraid I don't have time to study for now."
"There are important matters I must attend to next, and I may need your help."
Sellen chuckled softly.
"Oh my, I never thought the day would come when you'd take the initiative to ask for my help."
"Yes, that's more like a proper relationship between teacher and student."
"Very well—tell me."
"What is it that requires my assistance?"
"Your teacher will do everything she can to help."
Lucian nodded and explained his plan.
"Teacher, I'm planning to head to the Academy of Raya Lucaria next."
"So I wanted to ask if you have a map of the academy. With one, my actions would be much more convenient."
Sellen looked surprised.
"You're going to the academy?"
"The Academy of Raya Lucaria has been completely sealed."
"I searched for a long time, but I was never able to find the key to enter it again."
Lucian smiled confidently.
"I already know the location of an Academy Glintstone Key."
Under the shadow of her witch's hat, Sellen's pupils trembled slightly.
If that was true, then Lucian really could enter the academy.
She pondered for a moment before speaking again.
"I see… so you've found a clue regarding the key."
"My apprentice, there's something I wish to ask you."
"You must answer me honestly, alright?"
Lucian watched as Sellen stepped closer, puzzled, but still nodded.
"Of course, teacher. Please ask."
Sellen stopped just one step away from him and looked up into his eyes.
"I once mentioned that I was expelled from the Academy of Raya Lucaria, do you remember?"
"The reason was my desire to revive the origins of glintstone sorcery."
"Not the hollow, performative magic manipulated by the Carian Royal Family."
"What I seek is glintstone sorcery without taboos—pure, unrestrained, driven solely by the spirit of exploration."
"…To realize that wish, I am willing to sacrifice everything."
"My apprentice, I will not force you."
"Even parting ways is a common outcome between master and student."
"But under that premise, I wish to ask you one thing—"
Her voice softened slightly.
"—will you help me?"
"Reviving the origin of glintstone sorcery, are you willing to contribute your strength to this matter?"
"…Are you willing to strive together with me?"
Lucian did not have any objections toward primeval sorcery itself.
It was only the methods used in pursuing it that he believed could still be improved.
Most importantly, he did not want Sellen to end up becoming a sorcerer ball.
Lucian nodded seriously and gave his answer.
"I wish to understand the stars and magic, and to investigate what kind of existence they truly are."
"I am willing to explore the truth of the origin together with you."
Sellen let out a soft laugh. This time, it was genuine joy from the bottom of her heart.
"…I see. Thank you, Lucian."
"It has been a long time since I met someone who shared the same aspirations. I am very happy."
"…It must be because this teacher taught you well."
"Hehehe… since that's the case, then this teacher shall personally accompany you on this journey~"
Now it was Lucian's turn to be surprised.
He had originally only intended to ask for a map, but from the looks of it, Sellen also planned to go to the Academy of Raya Lucaria with him?
This wasn't a bad thing—on the contrary, it was actually a good thing.
But how exactly was Sellen supposed to enter the academy?
The Academy Glintstone Key memorized its user—simply put, it was an identity-bound item.
Lucian only knew of one Academy Glintstone Key, the one held by the Glintstone Dragon Smarag.
As for the other key he knew about, it was located inside the academy itself, and could not be obtained yet.
"Teacher, how are you planning to get in? I only know the location of one key."
Sellen raised a finger and waved it lightly from side to side in front of Lucian.
"The Academy Glintstone Key can only be used by one person, and their number is extremely limited. I once even doubted whether any had been lost outside."
"You likely don't know the whereabouts of a second key either."
"But as long as you have a way to enter, I can use other methods to get inside."
Lucian immediately understood.
Sellen indeed possessed methods to transfer her consciousness and soul.
"…Don't tell me, teacher—you plan to transfer your consciousness and soul again, like before?"
Sellen nodded and patted Lucian's arm.
"As expected of my apprentice. Very clever."
"As long as there is a way in, I can bypass the academy's sealing barriers."
Lucian asked,
"Then after transferring your consciousness, what about this body?"
Sellen looked at him strangely and asked in return,
"Of course I keep it. Why would I throw it away?"
"Even with transfer techniques, the soul and body must be highly compatible."
"That's why every body capable of bearing my soul is extremely rare—and precious."
"As long as it isn't overly damaged, it can be reused."
"I see."
Lucian nodded in understanding.
"Then should I help you temporarily safeguard this body?"
Sellen shot him a strange glance, though with the witch's hat in between, Lucian couldn't see her expression at all.
"What? Could it be that during your time wandering outside, you've also picked up some… special preferences?"
Lucian roughly understood that the person Sellen was referring to was Seluvis. In the Lands Between, it was hard to find a second person with such a unique set of proclivities.
But he didn't understand why Sellen suddenly brought that up in reference to him.
Lucian explained his reasoning.
"Hm? Didn't you say suitable bodies are hard to come by?"
"If we bring this body into the academy as well, wouldn't that save you the trouble of having to find another one?"
Sellen placed a finger against the chin of her witch's hat.
Alright, it seemed she had misunderstood him.
She had assumed that a young man of his age might harbor some strange thoughts about her body, after all, it was the age of abundant vigor.
Originally, her plan had been to let Lucian carry her Primeval Glintstone, while she guided him directly in soul form.
That way, she wouldn't need to find a new body either.
After all, even among the female instructors of the Academy of Raya Lucaria, there were very few bodies suitable for her.
But now that Lucian put it that way… it didn't seem impossible either.
"Hm, when you put it like that, you're not wrong."
"In that case, retrieve the Academy Glintstone Key first."
Seeing that Sellen had agreed, Lucian left with a relieved heart.
Once Sellen entered the Academy of Raya Lucaria, it would be no different from a wolf entering a flock of sheep.
With Sellen guiding the way, wouldn't the academy be easily dealt with?
After Lucian left, Sellen's expression grew slightly complicated.
The Academy of Raya Lucaria…
What a nostalgic name.
Even after so many long years, her memories of that place had not faded in the slightest.
It was the starting point of her magical journey—the place where she had spent her happiest days.
Pampered by her teacher, wandering freely through various research halls as an apprentice, learning magic from different classrooms at will…
It was also the end of her childhood.
All the beauty of the past had vanished without a trace.
Her teacher, Master Azur, had been taken away and imprisoned, and from that day on, she became a restless soul yearning for the revival of primeval sorcery.
No matter how cruel the methods, as long as it allowed her to explore the origin, she would do it.
Originally, Sellen had planned to further perfect her own unique primeval sorcery before enacting her revenge upon the academy.
But now, it seemed that goal could be accomplished much sooner.
She turned and walked deeper into the underground cellar.
This apprentice of hers…
He truly was capable of bringing her unexpected surprises.
Perhaps this was the most correct decision she had ever made—
even as a cruel witch.