“Hmm. Does this mean our troubles weren’t for nothing?”
“What magnificent amplification. This staff is comparable to a powerful Relic.”
Both fear and excitement mingled in her assistant Anna’s voice. Seyge Claster tapped a finger against her temples as she began to understand that those stories she heard of Lucia’s brother were no joke.
The most important professors of the Zebrudia Academy of Magic were all gathered in the lecture hall. Though the repairs on the building and the barriers were still underway, they had all come together to hear of a new discovery.
In the center of the hall was a strange staff of pure black. This, however, was no ordinary staff. Just about anyone remotely versed in magic could probably see the whirlpool that formed as it drew mana in from the surrounding air. This was a rare trait found only in the very best staves. A superior staff would, of course, channel the mana of its wielder, but also that in the air around them, converting it into spells with extreme efficiency.
This particular staff had been made from the ashes of that Black World Tree, which had wrought so much destruction. They had been surprised to learn that the ashes would make a superb catalyst, and all the more so to learn that they could be used to make a top-tier staff. At this point, the professors didn’t even appear to be angry over the damage done to the academy.
“The Black World Tree. Is it fair to assume there’s truth to the notion that it was made to mimic the World Tree?”
“Could the mana absorption perhaps be a secondary effect? Considering what we saw, it makes far more sense that the absorption is there to aid its growth. The World Tree is said to have drawn in immense amounts of mana through roots that have spent years upon years in the ground. This staff’s absorption is meant to fill that same role.”
A Magus would do just about anything to get their hands on a staff that significantly enhanced their abilities. High-grade staves were incredibly rare. Materials, maker’s techniques, and the time of production could drastically alter a staff’s capabilities, and no two were identical. Even for craftsmen capable of producing first-rate staves, only one out of ten produced could withstand actual use.
Most importantly, though, the staves produced in the modern era were overwhelmingly inferior to their Relic counterparts. Even the staves of famous Magi rarely manifested more than once, and any modern staves that could compete with Relics were inordinately expensive.
At an institution like the Zebrudia Academy of Magic, distinguished staves weren’t quite so rare, but when the possibility of making a powerful one arose, it was all but inevitable that everyone cast aside their work on restoring the barriers to come together. Seyge, who had been a Magus much longer than her appearance suggested, had hardly seen anything like it.
“If what we know is true, the previous staff had never gone rampant while being used by the Magus that befriended the Sword Saint. Perhaps it turned aggressive because it suffered mana deficiency after spending all those years in storage without being used?”
“Which would mean the attacks from Rosemary and our Magi satiated it? The reasoning is sound...”
“In other words, the Thousand Tricks sent us this staff anticipating this outcome?”
That couldn’t be. Their eyes were being clouded by the discovery of a lifetime. If Seyge stayed silent, this conversation would veer off into bizarre territory.
“Wait,” she said. “No matter his reasons, we shouldn’t forgive the fact that he damaged the academy and endangered the city.”
“Yes, but Professor Seyge, not even the empire has said anything. After all, the Thousand Tricks just recently saved the emperor’s life and hindered the plans of Nine-Tailed Shadow Fox at the Supreme Warrior Festival. Criticizing him now would put us in an awkward position.”
They had a point. Seyge had personally looked into the Thousand Tricks, and despite her low opinion of the young man, she was forced to admit his accomplishments were astounding.
One of the professors scowled as they looked at Lucia standing despondently next to Seyge. “Not only that, he’s Lucia’s brother,” they said.
“We’re adoptive siblings, Professor,” Lucia corrected. “And I’m also of the opinion that my brother went too far in this instance.”
Why was his little sister taking Seyge’s side when all the other professors were siding with the Thousand Tricks? If her daily conversations were anything to go off, it was because he was always creating extra work for her. Though strangely enough, if you listened long enough to those conversations, you could hear an affectionate tone in her voice.
“Adoptive or not, that’s beside the point!” the professor objected. “The problem is that the costs of a conflict with him would vastly outweigh the benefits. Our time would be better put to use exploring the new possibilities of this mock-World Tree, or whatever it is. If it expands by absorbing mana, then under the right circumstances, can’t we reproduce it infinitely?”
“The ability to infinitely reproduce a material on par with the World Tree would be a historic discovery.”
They had entirely gotten over the immense damage the tree had done to the academy. Of course, with Seyge and the other professors around, they would be able to manage the situation should another rampage occur. Still, that was no reason for the professors to be so casual about the possibility. But such a statement would only fall on deaf ears, a fact Seyge was more or less resigned to.
“Now then,” one of the professors said, “we should discuss which laboratory will be in charge of researching this staff, however—”
The room froze. The staff’s properties alone made it a fascinating subject. Anyone involved in magic research would be willing to pay an arm and a leg for it. Normally, the rights would go to whoever had made the staff, but these were unique circumstances. Stopping the staff’s rampage had required the efforts of everyone in the faculty. Seyge let out another sigh at the prospect of another long argument. But then the professor from earlier said something unexpected.
“I’m sure you all have your own propositions, but Lucia Rogier is the Thousand Tricks’s younger sister, and she works for Professor Seyge. As I’m sure you’re all aware, he made a spellbook for Lucia, and it’s very likely that he similarly brought us the staff with her in mind. I believe it is only sensible that we entrust the staff with Professor Seyge’s laboratory. Does anyone object?”
At once, the other professors all looked at Seyge. What could all these renowned Magi be thinking, ceding such precious materials to another? Seyge looked around at her colleagues. Nobody appeared to have any objections. No, there was something. Their gazes were so heavy they weighed her down.
“Understood,” she said with a grimace. “However, this staff is undeniably the product of everyone’s efforts, so you will all be kept up-to-date regarding everything we uncover.”
“This is sure to go down in history. We look forward to following your progress, Professor Seyge.”
This was a collar. It was a form of bait meant to entice Seyge, the one person still opposed to their current stance, not to step out of line. Of course, it was also done out of respect for the Thousand Tricks; there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that he treasured his sister. The common sentiment at the academy was to forgive him. If all the victims were leaning in that direction, then Seyge was in no position to say otherwise.
It seemed this matter was solved. But that didn’t mean she had forgiven him. He had already twisted Lucia’s talents by giving her that deranged spellbook.
“Be sure to pass on our regards, Thousand Tricks’s sister,” one of the professors called.
Still peeved as she was at the start, she clenched a fist and shouted back at the professor, who was a good few decades older than her. “We’re adoptive siblings!”