DRAGONBORN SORCERER-Chapter 47: Arnol Viser— The Crazy Professor

The smoke cleared out. Skyler who was entirely cover in the smoke, coughed repeatedly, his eyes watering from the lingering effect of the explosion.

The explosion caught the attention of someone who was inside. He came in Skyler’s vision— gradually becoming more visible as the smoke completely faded.

He emerged, clad in an attire resembling that of the academy students— blue and white, adorned with intricate embroidery. A long blue robe billowed behind him.

The rob was similar to what Skyler had been wearing. However it was slightly different as though infused with mana— possibly a magical item.

He had jade green hair, long till his back, and tied with a waving black ribbon at the end. And behind the round glasses, his emerald eyes shone deeply, carrying an impression of analytical sharpness.

He exuded an air of intelligence, yet his expression held a trace of suspicion as he regarded Skyler with keen curiosity.

"And who might you be?" He inquired. His voice was as sweet as honey as though overlaying his actual intention beneath it. "Do you have any business with me?"

"Are you Arnol Viser?" Skyler said, still coughing from the effects of the smoke.

"Yes, that I am." He confirmed, "But who are you? And didn’t you notice the doorbell before knocking."

’Huh?’ Skyler thought in irritation as he saw a small bell near the door, ’Damn those brats! They didn’t informed me about that.’

He swallowed his anger. Keeping his mind calm and collective, he told him,

"I’m Skyler, sent here on a request by the queen of Rosevill." He showed him the letter containing the emblem of Rosevill Royal Family, "She has a favour to ask of you."

Arnol’s impression changed. His eyes sparkled as though he had witnessed a miracle. He was overjoyed; rather childishly enthusiastic.

"Yes, yes. I see now." He exclaimed in delight, "Please come on in. I’ll be happy to hear everything about it."

Arnol showed him the inside which seemed and abbeys howling for human souls to enter. It reminded Skyler about the Geno Abbeys where he met with Azrathos. He hesitated for a moment, but entered anyway.

The dimly lit room was filled with floating magical spheres, casting a faint glow over the towering bookshelves, alchemical tools, and intricate magic circles etched onto the floor.

The overwhelming presence of mystic artifacts. This sent a chill down Skyler’s spine, and evoked the sensation of standing on forbidden ritual grounds.

It seemed as though the person, Arnol, had been conducting rituals upon sacrificing humans. It made Skyler a little uneasy.

"Don’t worry." Arnol said, noticing his uneasiness, "I hardly get any time for cleanings. I always remain busy with my works."

"Works? What kind of works?" Skyler repeated.

"Various types of works." He replied with a proud tone, "Research, magical analysis, mage crafting, discovering new magical theories, their applications, overall mastery and stuffs."

’Whoa!’ Skyler praised in his mind, ’No wonder why Maya and the others addressed him as ’Crazy Professor’.’

They reached the center of the room, where two couches faced each other with a low tea table between them. Arnol seated himself, motioning for Skyler to do the same. He complied.

"So what favour you were speaking of." He said, asking Skyler for the letter.

He gave him the letter. Arnol opened the envelop and started reading it. At some points he seemed curious, while at few he looked surprise. After a brief moment, he finished reading it. He sighed.

"I see," he murmured. "You wish to travel to the nation of Zelpher, and Her Majesty requests that I use my spatial magic to teleport you there."

"Yes." Skyler nodded, "I need to reach there as soon as possible. Can you do it."

"Of course," Arnol replied with a reassuring smile. "However, I can only send you as far as Valtania, which is a few weeks’ journey from Zelpher."

Skyler considered it. Teleporting to Valtania would still save him months of travel. It was a reasonable compromise.

"That works. At least it’ll cut down my journey by nearly a year."

"But there’s just one problem." Arnol’s unexpected words made Skyler tense, "Which is why I cannot fulfill your request. Even if her majesty strongly advised me not to offend you, I can’t, at least not now."

"What’s the problem?" Skyler nearly shouted. "If you can teleport me, why are you refusing?"

"The thing is I lack the necessary equipment," Arnol admitted. "Despite calling it my spatial magic, its function relies on Light Element principles. Since I wield only Thunder and Earth Graces, I was dependent on an old friend of mine."

"Can’t you contact him?" Skyler asked as he grew impatient.

"That’s not possible." Arnol shook his head. "My friend—the Light Sorcerer, one of the Seven Sovereigns—passed away. His Sorcery Staff which is crucial for the ritual, has been seized."

"Is there a way to retrieve it?" Skyler pressed.

"There is." Arnol smirked. "You must claim the position of Light Sorcerer yourself."

Skyler froze as he was stunned by the revelation. He stared at Arnol, unable to immediately process the absurdity of the statement.

************ 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Arnol led Skyler on a tour of Niondra Mystic Academy while elaborating on the situation. The corridors bustled with students honing their magical abilities. Their lessons echoed through the halls.

Beyond the main building, they came onto a vast field segmented into distinct training areas, marked by various landmarks. Dormitories lined the far end of the academy grounds, while classrooms occupied the outer perimeters.

Among the groups of students, Skyler recognised few. It was Maya and her classmates, clad in distinct uniform while taking lessons from a lady professor. Her dress radiated a proper elegance just like Arnol’s.

"That class is known as the ’Honoured Ones,’" Arnol explained. "It’s reserved for students ranked between Stage-5 and Stage-7. Currently we have seven of them."

’Seven?’ Skyler thought as he looked at them, ’I didn’t see that girl in the group.’

His eyes fell on an innocent looking girl, with whit hair and green eyes. She was quite even during her training. Skyler ignored her as he listened to Arnol’s explanation.

Apparently, the students below Stage-5, known as ’Arcane Aspirants,’. They took their lessons indoors. Those who were above Stage-5, got to train outdoors, and were divided into three elite groups.

"The ’Mystic Scholars’ consist of eight Stage-8 and Stage-9 mages," Arnol continued. "And the ’Aspiring Sovereigns’ containing only four students at this moment. They are Stage-10 mages poised to become the next Sovereigns."

He turned to Skyler. "With the Light Sorcerer seat still vacant, a tournament will be held in a month. It will determine the next successor. Those who prove themselves will ascend to the rank of Sorcerer."

Skyler listened intently but withheld the fact that he already possessed mastery over all elements— to a certain degree.

"Wait," he hesitated. "What if a Flame Grace wielder wins?"

"His grace will be overwritten with the Grace Light," Arnol stated as though it had been obvious.

’Vitra did mention something like that before,’ Skyler recalled. Then he asked, "So, what exactly do you want me to do?"

"Oh, nothing much," Arnol said, his smile laced with mischief. "Simply enrol in the academy, challenge one of the Mystic Scholars who intends to compete against the Aspiring Sovereigns, claim their rank, battle the Aspiring Sovereigns, and become a Sorcerer yourself. Simple, isn’t it?"

"Right!" Skyler scoffed. "You say that as if defeating them is child’s play."

"Why not?" Arnol continued, "For the first half the Mystic Scholar will be battling among the. Only four of them will be qualified for battling against the four Aspiring Sovereigns. It may make you standing before some obstacles. But you’re a stage-5 mage! You’ll be fine. Moreover the sooner you let me have the ’Staff’ the sooner I’ll fulfill your request."

He fell into thought. ’Winning would take a month, but it would save me eleven. Might as well give it a shot.’

"But how will I enrol? I’m no student of Niondra Mystic Academy."

"Oh, don’t worry about that." Arnol grinned, rubbing his hands together. "I have the perfect plan. Just follow me."

His laugh carried a sinister edge, sending a shiver down Skyler’s spine.

They went straight towards the ’Honoured Ones’ where Maya and her friends were training under the lady professor.

Up close, she was even more beautiful than she looked from distance. Her long majestic scarlet hair radiated brightly. Her scarlet eyes— beautiful and calm, held an enigma as though capable of exploring any hidden mysteries.

She was focused on training her students. And a sudden call from Arnol interrupted her focus.

"Professor Misha." He called out.

She turned and saw the smiling face of Arnol. She expressed an annoying gesture as though for some reason she couldn’t stand to see his face. His very presence irritated her.

"What do you want now?" She shouted, "You better not be asking something crazy as before."

"No I’m not." He replied, showing Skyler who stood next to him "Meet this person...."

"Hay it’s Skyler." Maya said, stopping her rehearsal.

"Oh it’s you guys." Skyler replied, making a smug face as though ’it’s payback time’, "The group of miserable students whom I saved from the bandits."

Maya and the rest of the group felt a terror as Professor’s Misha’s face darkened. She looked at them with piercing gaze as she told them, "So it was you who got saved by him instead of completing your assignment? You dare to trick me like that, huh?" She cracked against her teeth with anger.

"Professor,..." They stammered in unison, "You see...I see...We see."

But words never came out of their mouths. They fell shut as though they had witnessed a monsterous presence.

"I’ll decide your punishment later." He eyes shifted on Skyler, "So, what’s the matter with him."

"As of today he’ll be our new transferred student, and will be taking lessons from you."

"Huh?"

It wasn’t only Maya and her friends, even Skyler was surprised to see his bluntness. Professor Misha Grand was no exception. Only the seventh student of the group— the girl with white hair, paid to no mind.