Reinhard moved through the displays, examining each arrangement with growing unease. The craftsmanship was undeniable, but the subject matter made his skin crawl.
"This isn't experimentation." Marie observed, crouching beside one of the Werefang displays.
Reinhard looked at her in surprise while Joseph nodded in agreement. "One of the classes First Years take is Body Inspection. It helps us determine if deaths were caused by beasts or humans."
Reinhard blinked at this information, recognizing how valuable such knowledge would be for investigations and scouting potential enemies. But at the same time, he was surprised that such a class exists, making him further reevaluate the Memento Mori University.
Marie pointed at the preserved creatures around them. "There's a lack of cutting or dissecting on these Phantasm Beast bodies." She moved to examine scattered Werefang limbs, picking up severed parts and turning them in the light. "These all look like battle wounds... And then somehow these beasts were frozen in their current state. It's the first time I have ever seen something like this before... It kind of absurd yet astounding."
Joseph studied the nearest display. "They're dead, but their bodies are preserved like wax figures or statues."
Reinhard furrowed his brows. "Is that even possible?"
Marie chuckled grimly. "I'm not sure, but we're seeing it now, so I guess it must be."
Joseph turned to Reinhard. "For now, let's use the Herald Marker to contact the Information Institute. Maybe there are records of something like this in their database."
Marie nodded and moved toward Reinhard, gently taking hold of the necklace around his neck. She tapped it softly, causing blue ripples to spread outward before a beam of light pierced upward, creating a silver rectangle light projection.
The projection shimmered for three seconds before a woman with long silver hair, glasses, and silver eyes appeared on it. She wore the standard black uniform of the academy with a white cloak over her shoulder.
"Vanna!" Marie says with a grin.
"This is the Information Institution. What is the purpose of your call, Three of Swords?" The woman asked with an indifferent look and calm tone leading Maire to lightly giggled.
Marie adjusted the necklace to give Vanna a view of their surroundings. "Is there a scene like this in your database?"
The Vanna brows furrowed as she studied the scene being shown, and then her eyes began to glow. "Give me ten minutes and I will provide an answer."
"Can you also tell us about the town that Mensis was built on?" Reinhard interjected. "Such as why it was burned and why an underground tunnel system was constructed?"
The Vanna nodded with an indifferent expression. "That information will be added then and ready in ten minutes."
The projection faded away, leading Reinhard to blink.
"Can only the necklace contact the school?" Reinhard asked.
"Oh? No, the grimoire given to all students allows them to contact the University as well. It's just that the necklace was more convenient." Joseph says, leading Reinhard to nod in surprise.
Marie sighed. "So should we wait or..."
Joseph furrowed his brows thoughtfully. "It might be best to look around more. But why did you ask for information on the old town? You think this might be connected?"
Reinhard nodded slowly, then summoned Mimir. A streak of black light rushed up from the back of his palm, materializing into the familiar crow that landed on his shoulder.
"Can you tell me anything about what you see, Mimir?" Reinhard asked.
Marie and Joseph moved closer, their eyes shining with interest as they watched the wise crow examine their surroundings.
Mimir glanced around the chamber carefully. "It looks like these beasts were covered in an illusion before they died."
Reinhard furrowed his brows. "Do you mean their bodies are under illusion?"
The crow nodded. "It's like a transformation illusion. What should have been a bloody room is now masked to look clean."
Marie leaned forward with a smile. "Is there a way to break the illusion?"
"Kill the caster or destroy the room," Mimir replied swiftly before then pausing and continuing. "But this isn't something you should see, Master. Some things should be ignored."
Reinhard fell silent before asking quietly, "Can you see past the illusion?"
Mimir nodded grimly. "It's enough to make me want to vomit if I could."
Marie and Joseph grimaced at this revelation while Reinhard sighed heavily. "Let's move on from this room then."
The trio continued forward, following the tunnel as it extended deeper into the underground system. But then the passage ahead began to glow with orange light, causing all three to pause and exchange alarmed glances.
They turned and began rushing back toward the chamber as a stream of intense flames roared through the tunnel toward them. The heat was overwhelming, turning the cool underground air into a furnace.
Reinhard, Marie, and Joseph dove to the sides, pressing themselves against the stone walls as the torrent of fire rushed past. The flames washed over one of the Werefang bodies, causing parts of it to burn and melt despite whatever process had been used to preserve it.
As the fire subsided, Reinhard pushed himself up from the ground and looked back toward the tunnel entrance.
A massive Phantasm Beast walked out of the entrance, and each step slightly shook the ground. It was an ox-like beast covered in black scales that shined.
It held a heavy axe in each of its powerful hands, while its crimson eyes locked onto them.
Mimir flapped his wings urgently. "It's a Taurus-X, a Tier E Phantasm Beast, be careful of its fire breath!"
Reinhard sighed as he recognized their deteriorating situation. "Of course."
Reinhard summoned Zenuken, the black-blue blade materializing with its familiar weight and energy patterns. Marie's crimson-gold spear appeared in her grip, while Joseph manifested his grey spiral lance.
The Taurus-X bellowed, a sound that echoed through the underground chamber and seemed to make the room tremble. Steam rose from its nostrils as it prepared another fire attack, while its massive hooves scraped against the stone floor.