Chapter 164: The Measure of Danger
Chapter 164: The Measure of Danger
Morning arrived quietly over Ambrose Academy.
Andras opened his eyes as pale sunlight entered through the large windows of Room Three. For several seconds he remained still. Then he sat up, washed, dressed, and left his residence.
The residential district was already active. Students moved along the stone paths toward the academy buildings, some discussing their upcoming lessons while others spoke about the holiday that had just ended. Andras paid little attention to them.
He entered the Class A classroom shortly before the lesson began. Saraphina was already seated.
She glanced toward him.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
Andras took his usual seat beside her.
Before either could say anything else, the classroom door opened. Professor Alaric entered. He placed several books on the desk and looked across the room.
"Good morning."
The students responded.
Alaric smiled faintly. "Today, we’ll continue with Mage Specialization."
He turned toward the blackboard. "Today, we’re going to focus on construction."
Andras immediately became attentive.
Alaric drew a magic circle on the board. "The difference between an ordinary mage and a specialized mage isn’t simply the amount of mana they possess." He added several pathways to the circle. "It’s how well they understand what they’re doing with it."
The lesson continued. Alaric explained how experienced mages could alter the structure of a spell without destroying its stability. Changing a pathway could reduce mana consumption. Adjusting the circulation could increase activation speed. Removing unnecessary connections could make a formation more efficient. But every modification carried a risk. One incorrect adjustment could cause the entire formation to collapse.
Andras listened carefully. Most of the concepts weren’t new to him anymore. But understanding something theoretically and applying it correctly were different matters. That was why he continued listening. Knowledge had value even when he already understood the basics.
Eventually, Alaric demonstrated a modified Second Circle formation. The magic circle floating before him was noticeably different from the standard version taught in Spell Casting. Several students immediately began copying it.
Andras didn’t.
He studied the structure first. He traced each pathway with his eyes. Why had Alaric removed that connection? Why had he redirected the mana here? What had been gained? And what had been sacrificed?
A few minutes later, Andras finally began reproducing the formation. His mana moved steadily. The outer structure appeared first. Then the internal pathways. He didn’t attempt to rush. When one section began becoming unstable, he adjusted the mana flow rather than forcing it into place. The formation stabilized.
Alaric noticed. His eyes remained on Andras for several seconds before moving on.
"That’s enough for today."
Students began gathering their belongings. Andras closed his notebook. His next lesson was Combat Training.
---
The combat hall was already occupied when Andras arrived. The large training area was surrounded by reinforced stone walls and several rows of spectator seats. Professor Valeria stood at the center of the arena. Her gaze swept across the students.
"Today, we’re focusing on practical combat."
She pointed toward the training weapons. "Choose a weapon."
The students moved immediately. Andras selected a wooden sword. He had little reason to use anything else.
The exercises began. Students paired off and practiced controlled exchanges under Valeria’s supervision. Andras fought several opponents. None were particularly difficult. He focused less on winning and more on correcting the hesitation he had noticed during his previous assessment. When an opening appeared, he acted immediately. No unnecessary calculation. No hesitation. Strike. Withdraw. Reposition. Again.
Valeria noticed. Her gaze followed him for several moments.
"Darkmoor."
Andras looked toward her. "Yes?"
"You’re faster when you stop thinking."
Andras raised an eyebrow.
Valeria continued. "You’re an intelligent fighter. That’s useful." She folded her arms. "But sometimes you analyze an opportunity for too long."
Andras looked at the wooden sword in his hand. "I’ve noticed."
"Good." Valeria turned away. "Then fix it."
Andras nodded. "Understood."
The lesson continued. By the time it ended, Andras had corrected the problem several times. It wasn’t gone completely. But improvement didn’t require perfection. Only progress.
---
After the lesson, Andras and Saraphina had lunch together in a quieter section of the cafeteria. Their conversation remained light. Neither brought up the previous day’s events. When they finished, they separated without further comment.
Andras returned to Room Three. He removed his coat, sat on the edge of his bed, and began meditating. Mana slowly circulated through his body. His breathing became steady. The outside world gradually disappeared.
---
Meanwhile, far away in the Imperial Capital...
Inside the Imperial Palace, King Augustus sat at the head of a long conference table. Several researchers stood before him. Documents covered the table. Magical instruments rested beside them. A large circular device occupied the center. It was constructed from dark metal, silver crystal, and several thin rings engraved with complicated runes.
Augustus looked at it. "So this is the device?"
One of the researchers bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"What does it do?"
The researcher stepped forward. "It can determine the current rank of a dungeon."
Augustus’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Current rank?"
"Yes." The researcher placed several documents before him. "We have completed our research into the dungeons discovered across the Empire. Based on the monster strength, mana density, spatial stability, environmental conditions, and the strength of the dungeon’s central structure, we’ve established a standardized classification system."
He pointed toward the documents. "E-Rank. D-Rank. C-Rank. B-Rank. A-Rank. And finally..." He paused. "S-Rank."
𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
Augustus leaned back. "Explain the purpose."
The researcher nodded. "Until now, people entering a dungeon have had almost no reliable way of knowing what they would encounter. That is why casualties have been so difficult to prevent." He gestured toward the device. "This changes that."
Augustus studied the machine. "And how accurate is it?"
The researcher answered carefully. "Under normal circumstances, Your Majesty, the device has proven completely accurate."
Augustus’s expression remained unchanged. "Under normal circumstances?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The device measures the dungeon at the moment of examination. However, there is a small possibility that the dungeon’s internal conditions may change afterward."
"Change how?"
"The mana concentration could increase. A stronger creature could awaken. A sealed area could open. The central structure could undergo an alteration." He lowered his head slightly. "In such cases, the dungeon’s rank could change after the assessment."
Augustus was silent. "How often?"
"Extremely rarely. We don’t yet have enough data to determine the exact frequency."
Augustus tapped one finger against the table. "So the machine tells us what the dungeon is when we examine it."
"Yes."
"But it cannot guarantee that the dungeon will remain the same."
"Correct."
Augustus considered that for several seconds. Then he nodded. "That’s acceptable."
The researchers looked at one another.
Augustus leaned back in his chair. "This is still a tremendous improvement." His gaze shifted toward the documents. "Until now, a dungeon was simply a threat. An unknown portal appears. People enter. And we hope they return." His voice remained calm. "Now we can measure the danger beforehand."
He placed the report back on the table. "An E-Rank dungeon can be handled by people capable of clearing E-Rank dungeons. A D-Rank dungeon can be given to people capable of handling D-Rank threats." His eyes sharpened. "And the same applies all the way to S-Rank."
The researchers nodded.
Augustus continued. "This will reduce unnecessary casualties." He paused. "But that’s not the only benefit."
The room became quiet.
"Dungeons contain monsters. They contain magical materials. Rare crystals. Artifacts. Resources we have never encountered before. And the people who clear them will be rewarded for what they bring back." His gaze moved across the researchers. "If we know the danger, we can send the appropriate people."
One researcher understood immediately. "Your Majesty..."
Augustus nodded. "Yes. Dungeons are no longer merely disasters. People will no longer see them only as threats. They will see them as opportunities."
Augustus looked toward the device. "Produce as many of these machines as possible."
The lead researcher bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Once the Empire possesses enough of them..." Augustus’s eyes narrowed. "We’ll take the next step."
---
Night had already fallen over Ambrose Academy.
Andras opened his eyes. Several hours had passed. He remained seated on his bed. The meditation had gone well. His mana felt stable. But there was still something he wanted to test.
Andras raised one hand. Mana gathered around his fingers. A magic circle appeared—a Second Circle spell. He maintained it for several seconds before dispersing it.
Then he tried another. This one required a different structure. The activation was slightly unstable at first, but Andras corrected the mana flow. The spell stabilized. He dispersed it.
A third formation appeared. This one was more complicated. Andras studied it carefully before activating it. The spell worked.
He remained silent.
Three Second Circle spells. Different structures. Different mana requirements. Different activation patterns.
He wasn’t satisfied with merely being able to reproduce the formation Elowen had taught them. He wanted to understand how far his current control could take him.
Andras leaned back slightly. His eyes drifted toward the window. The academy grounds were quiet beneath the night sky. Somewhere beyond those walls, the Empire was beginning to change its approach to dungeons.
Andras knew none of that yet.
He simply closed his eyes and lay down. Within minutes, sleep claimed him.
Outside, Ambrose Academy remained silent beneath the moonlight. And far beyond it, the first machines capable of measuring the dungeons were already being prepared.