930 Trusted Ally
Vale was secretly observing their progress, his gaze sharp yet concealed. He needed to confirm that the adjustnts they had made to learn new techniques of Dark Arts were superior to those of the previous batch of students.
After all, their academy was still in its infancy, and they were pioneering new thods of teaching Dark Energy. These thods aid to help Practitioners cast Dark Arts without relying heavily on traditional Spell Models.
"They're improving faster than I expected," Vale muttered to himself, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "The Philosopher's Elixir must be working better than I anticipated. The Chaos Alchemists are proving far more useful than I thought."
He recalled how Miya had been tirelessly working to transform everyone into Arcanists as quickly as possible. Of course, her efforts were also driven by the desire to make their church wealthy and powerful. But since everyone was benefiting from the arrangent, Vale didn't mind whether they beca the richest organization in the land.
For now, Vale hadn't called for Armin. The boy needed ti to solidify his foundation, and learning their new techniques would be the best way to achieve that.
This ti, Armin was imrsed in his favorite subject: the study of Magic Language. It encompassed ancient languages, runes, and glyphs—the very backbone of all spells. For Armin, it was both fascinating and maddening.
Under the guidance of Professor Dalton, they delved into the foundations of Inscription.
Professor Dalton introduced them to Shadow Script, a specialized subset of Magic Language used exclusively in Dark Arts spells. Unlike the broader scripts of Holy or Rune Arts, Shadow Script was limited in scope but required a strong Spirit to wield effectively.
"Shadow Script isn't static," Professor Dalton explained, drawing a spiraling rune on the blackboard. Though this wasn't his primary subject, teaching an introductory level of it was effortless for him.
"What makes Shadow Script unique is its connection to your emotions and energy," he continued. "If your intent wavers, the script will falter with you. This is unlike Rune Arts, which you can simply copy from textbooks."
Dalton had only been practicing Shadow Script for about two years when Vale had contacted him again. This thod, he explained, was a legacy of a true Asura—the originator of Dark Arts. It was one of Vale's secret strategies to strengthen the academy's Dark Arts Practitioners.
Because of this, Dalton was still relatively new to the technique and practiced it nightly alongside other professors.
For now, the class focused on inscribing basic Shadow Scripts. They began with simple symbols like "Sharn" for concealnt and "Drenn" for repulsion.
"I suppose he's receiving private lessons from Vale," Dalton thought as he observed Armin's rapid progress.
Armin found the Shadow Script both entertaining and ditative, despite its challenges. He absorbed every piece of knowledge he could, and by the end of the month, he successfully inscribed "Nyran," a script for reinforcing barriers, onto a parchnt.
Unfortunately, this parchnt could only be used by its creator, unlike Rune Arts Practitioners, who could share their runes with anyone. In essence, Shadow Scripts were akin to exclusive Talismans, though their principles differed.
Still, this was rely a small branch of Dark Arts, serving primarily as a support tool.
The next class was Darkness Path, Armin's least favorite subject. It was taught by a second-year professor specializing in a different field, adding to the class's mystique. Darkness Path was both feared and revered among students, largely due to its instructor: Professor Renald Corvus, a man with sunken eyes and an aura that reeked of violence.
Armin disliked Professor Corvus. Unlike the calm, composed deanor of the other professors, Corvus exuded the aura of a killer. While Armin understood the reasoning behind it, he struggled to concentrate in the man's presence, as he was highly sensitive to such energy.
"I'll have to get used to this," Armin thought. "After all, I'm studying Dark Arts, not Holy Arts. This is part of the territory."
Over the weeks, Armin learned about Corruption, a dangerous energy unique to the Darkness Path. Practitioners could use it to empower their spells, but it was volatile. When controlled, Corruption could amplify a simple spell into sothing far more devastating.
Armin's hands trembled the first ti he tried to channel Corruption into a simple Shadow Needle spell. After several attempts, he succeeded. The resulting Shadow Needle was infused with Corruption, turning a wooden target completely black before disintegrating.
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"Corruption doesn't simply empower you—it consus," Professor Corvus warned. "Harness it without discipline, and it will tear your soul apart."
The students were understandably wary of this energy, but since it strengthened their abilities, they had no choice but to learn how to use it.
Armin's hands trembled the first ti he tried to channel Corruption into a simple Shadow Needle spell. After several attempts, he succeeded. The resulting Shadow Needle was infused with Corruption, turning a wooden target completely black before disintegrating.
"Corruption… this is terrifying," Armin thought. "I only succeeded once, and I already feel dizzy."
Still, Armin pushed himself to master the technique, determined not to disappoint his master, Vale.
Finally, there was Arcane History, taught by Professor Elias Trantor. He entertained the students with tales of past invasions, focusing on the rise of the Abyssal Demons that had once threatened their world.
Armin learned about the Abyssal Generals, powerful beings who led armies of demonic creatures. Each General had a unique affinity: fire, decay, shadow, poison, ice, blood, and storms. These stories captivated the class, leaving them both excited and awestruck by the power of the Shadow Immortal and his forces, who had protected their continent.
The tale of the Divine Vampire, who served the Shadow Immortal, was particularly morable.
According to Professor Trantor, the Divine Vampire was not rely a servant but a legendary figure in her own right. She was once a mortal, but she had transcended his humanity through a pact with the Shadow Immortal, gaining immortality and unparalleled strength.
The tales weren't too accurate but it was said that her transformation had been fueled by a thirst for vengeance against the Abyssal Demons, who had destroyed her holand.
Aside from that, the Divine Vampire's power was unmatched, even among the Shadow Immortal's most trusted allies. She could manipulate blood, using it to heal, harm, or even resurrect the fallen thralls.
"Divine Vampire… I wonder if I could ever et her." Armin muttered to himself.
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