Inside the Academy

  Though slightly weathered, the academy's architecture and style were quite impressive. Following Arlin's memories, he found the meeting room. Upon entering, a medium-sized chamber unveiled itself before his eyes, noticeably larger than the others.

  The décor resembled that of a library, with numerous bookshelves lining the walls. A large circular table dominated the center of the room, and behind the director's chair stood an expansive window that flooded the space with natural light.

  Arlin surveyed the room before settling into the director's chair, momentarily savoring the fleeting sense of authority that washed over him before he regained his composure.

  He placed his bag of magical crystals on the table and summoned all his clones. The gradual influx of knowledge ceased, and shortly afterward, shadowy figures materialized in the room.

  Following his command, they seated themselves around the circular table. Three chairs remained empty. Grasping the bag, he emptied the magical crystals onto the table and counted them.

  There were seventeen crystals remaining.

  "Hmm, I could summon seventeen more clones, but should I?" he mused, turning his attention to the existing clones.

  "Master, perhaps we should first fill the empty seats at this table, unless you have other thoughts," suggested the first clone.

  Arlin contemplated the suggestion. During his journey to this room, he had already begun considering how to utilize his clones and plan his first steps in this new world.

  The conversation between him and his clone resembled the intertwining of various thoughts in his mind. The only difference was that even without his deliberate guidance, they would still think from his perspective and follow his plans.

  Without hesitation, he used the interface to summon three more clones, who promptly took their seats at the table.

  "The meeting now begins," he declared, leaning back in his chair and issuing a command to analyze their current situation.

  "Master, our primary objective is clearly magical crystals, as they allow us to increase our numbers and operate more efficiently," one clone stated.

  "This will generate numerous benefits across all our endeavors. Based on Kaldrin's suggestions, we could potentially utilize all options, especially in the long term."

  One clone articulated his thoughts clearly while the others nodded in agreement.

  "Furthermore, we must thoroughly experiment with our abilities to fully understand our capabilities."

  "We could dispatch several clones for reconnaissance."

  "We should focus on improving the academy—through study, we can earn magical crystals."

  "We need to carefully examine this world's magical system. If possible, we could integrate new elements using knowledge from Earth..."

  A continuous stream of diverse thoughts began to surface.

  Although Arlin had contemplated all these ideas himself, discussing them alleviated his sense of isolation in this unfamiliar world. Even though these beings were merely his clones, they provided valuable psychological support.

  "Those are future goals. What we need first and foremost is an understanding of our abilities, along with reconnaissance."

  After consideration, he summoned five more clones and commanded:

  "Begin reconnaissance, but wait until nightfall. Your shadowy forms will be harder to detect in darkness."

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  Several clones vanished into the ground. They would first survey the academy grounds before venturing directly into the city.

  After surveying the others, one of the clones began to speak.

  "Magic in this world is remarkably diverse, but beyond magical arts, many other disciplines exist. There are knights, alchemists, blacksmiths, and several secretive practices typically passed down through certain families or organizations.

  What's particularly intriguing is the history of this continent. In certain places, historical records abruptly end, as though someone deliberately erased them.

  The first question one might ask is why the calendar began with the discovery of the 'Stone of Truth' by the 'Church of Truth.' Some 1,600 years have passed since then, yet we haven't found any records documenting events before this discovery in any of the books we've examined.

  The second question concerns the so-called 'Word of God,' which triggers serious consequences each time it manifests. These occurrences coincide with global changes, environmental contamination, and the appearance of strange creatures.

  For now, however, we must focus on more specific objectives."

  As that clone finished speaking, another continued.

  "Several centuries ago, knights were the direct rivals of mages. Both disciplines dominated the world.

  One focuses on strengthening the body, while the other emphasizes enhancing magical energy and accumulating knowledge.

  Physical enhancement is relatively straightforward compared to magical enhancement. Knights followed a well-established path, using the bloodlines of various powerful creatures to strengthen their bodies. This method, however, doesn't work for mages. Mages require precise control over their magical energy, and energy obtained from different creatures has the side effect of causing them to lose control over it.

  Although knights can harness this energy, they can only perform specialized skills within the limitations of their bloodline. Upon receiving a bloodline, the magical energy in their bodies increases, strengthening them physically, but this energy becomes extremely difficult to control.

  Knights possess special combat skills based on their acquired bloodline. These skills allow them to manage the energy, but never beyond its inherent constraints.

  A knight's power is evaluated based on their bloodline and acquired skills.

  Both disciplines have titles that reflect their strength levels.

  Mages progress through six levels: Novice Mage, Intermediate Mage, Senior Mage, and beyond.

  Compared to knights, mages build power more slowly, but they're more versatile. Various magical spells provide multiple paths to escape challenging situations.

  In the early stages, a single knight can eliminate numerous mages simultaneously. Later, however, one mage becomes formidable against many knights.

  As technology advanced, knights and mages at their beginning stages grew weaker, as gunpowder weapons could easily destroy them.

  Though these two disciplines maintain their standing even now, various factors have made it increasingly difficult to achieve the highest levels. New subcategories have emerged.

  Rather than seeking the most powerful creatures for bloodlines, knights now pursue those who are faster, more agile, or possess special abilities.

  In our time, numerous different professions exist."

  The clone continued discussing ordinary aspects of this world, or alternatively, one could imagine Arlin analyzing the information received.

  "Regarding other disciplines such as alchemy and potion-making—these remain even more mysterious. They're transmitted through specialized channels unknown to common people."

  "Mages are divided into 6 levels, unlike knights who are divided into 8 levels.

  Master, you currently stand only at the first level of mages—an apprentice mage.

  On this continent, 6 levels of mages are recognized: Apprentice Mage, Novice Mage, Intermediate Mage, Senior Mage, High Mage, and Grand Mage.

  Knights, in turn, have the following ranks:

  Novice Knight, Junior Knight, Senior Knight, Bronze Knight, Silver Knight, Gold Knight, Legendary Knight, and Heroic Knight.

  For both classes, magical and physical strength increases several—sometimes tenfold—between levels, but advancement becomes increasingly difficult with each progression. What lies beyond these ranks remains unknown, as the only mention of a Heroic-level knight appears in historical texts describing how the True Church discovered the True Stone."

  The more Arlin learned and analyzed this information, the more his curiosity deepened.

  "Our priority now is to locate the source of magical stones. To accomplish this, we must understand the city's circumstances and identify the powers at play. In an era where magic intertwines with technology, danger lurks everywhere. We must operate covertly and build our strength.

  If possible, we should avoid revealing ourselves unless absolutely necessary. Now, all of you return and continue studying the books."

  The clones began to vanish one by one as Arlin shifted his attention to the other clones heading directly toward the city beneath the setting sun.

  ---

  The Academy perched on a mountainside, with a long, winding road gradually descending through a small forest on one side, connecting to the main road leading to the nearby city.

  On the other side lay only a sheer drop into the abyss. Below stretched an empty valley inhabited by scattered wildlife.

  The setting sun transformed this vista into something truly breathtaking. Yet beyond this natural beauty, the land—purchased by Arlin's father fourteen years ago at a modest price—offered few other advantages.

  As twilight enveloped the Academy in shadow, several silhouettes suddenly materialized and darted toward the city.

  These were Arlin's shadows.

  Due to their unique properties, they didn't need to dodge or circumvent obstacles—they surged forward directly, ignoring everything in their path.

  This ability allowed them to swiftly approach the city, approximately one kilometer from the Academy.

  As they drew nearer, an intriguing panorama gradually unfolded before their eyes.

  From their vantage point on the hill, the shadows could observe much of the city. Tall walls encircled and protected it, while the city itself was captivating.

  In one area stood a lofty tower with a massive clock hovering above its dome.

  Elsewhere, massive smokestacks rose from vast factories.

  The city blended elements from various epochs with a fantasy world. This realm had entered the early stages of industrialization, yet magic coexisted with reality, making the era even more chaotic.

  First, the shadows surveyed the city's outskirts. They noticed various people patrolling every corner of the city.

  The gates ahead were guarded with exceptional vigilance.

  However, this didn't concern the shadows. As they approached the wall, concealing themselves in nearby bushes, they waited for an opportunity to infiltrate the city.

  Soon their moment arrived—perhaps because intrusions were rare, or because the guards weren't particularly attentive, or possibly because the shadows blended seamlessly with their surroundings. No one noticed several dark silhouettes rapidly approaching the wall.

  A second later, all shadows swiftly penetrated the barrier, utilizing their intangible form.

  ---

  In a dark, filthy alley, silence and gloom prevailed. A rat that had emerged from the sewer, searching for food with its keen sense of smell, suddenly grew alert. A moment later, a leg emerged directly from the wall, followed by a human silhouette.

  The rat squealed and scurried away, while the shadows had already reached the alley entrance.

  "Entry into the city was successful, and it seems no one noticed us."

  "So what now?"

  "Don't know—we need to hear from the master."