Chapter 81: Departure for Ambrose Academy
Chapter 81: Departure for Ambrose Academy
The peaceful atmosphere of the library lingered in Andras’s mind long after he left Lyra behind among the towering shelves of books.
Without another word, he returned to his room.
Not long after, a gentle knock echoed through the chamber.
"Young Master... may I come in?"
It was Margaret’s voice.
"You may."
The door opened, and the head maid stepped inside with her usual graceful composure. In her hands rested a neatly sealed envelope bearing an elegant silver crest.
She approached and bowed respectfully.
"Young Master, a letter has arrived in your name."
Andras extended his hand.
"Give it to me."
"Yes, Young Master."
Margaret carefully placed the letter into his hand.
After a brief pause, Andras nodded.
"You may leave."
She bowed once more before quietly withdrawing, closing the door behind her.
Silence returned to the room.
Andras examined the wax seal for a moment before breaking it open.
Inside was a formal letter.
The emblem at the top immediately caught his attention.
Ambrose Academy.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So it’s finally here."
He unfolded the letter and calmly began reading.
---
To Lord Andras Darkmoor,
We are pleased to inform you that your admission to Ambrose Academy has been officially approved.
Enclosed with this letter is your Admission Token. Present it upon your arrival at the Academy gates to verify your identity and complete your enrollment.
The Academy will officially open in two weeks.
We look forward to welcoming you as one of our students.
—Admissions Office, Ambrose Academy
Beneath the letter rested a beautifully crafted silver token engraved with the crest of Ambrose Academy.
Andras picked it up and briefly examined the intricate inscription before placing it carefully upon the table beside his bed.
"So..."
"The Academy Arc begins."
Without another thought, he sat cross-legged upon his bed and closed his eyes.
Mana flowed steadily through his body as he entered meditation.
---
Nearly two weeks passed in the blink of an eye.
During that time, Andras devoted himself entirely to cultivation, training, and research.
His mana reserve expanded steadily until he successfully completed his Third Mana Ring.
Not long afterward...
A Fourth Mana Ring slowly formed around his core.
His cultivation officially advanced.
Low Fourth Circle Mage.
However, that wasn’t his only achievement.
While refining Echo Resonance, Andras created an entirely new application of the talent.
He named it—
Resonance Lock.
Rather than sensing mana...
It disrupted it.
By striking an opponent at the precise moment their mana circulated, Resonance Lock could interrupt spellcasting before completion, briefly weaken mana reinforcement throughout the body or weapons, destabilize unfinished spells, and even disrupt an opponent’s movements by throwing their mana flow out of harmony.
Naturally, the technique possessed several limitations.
It required direct physical contact.
Without sufficient time to analyze an opponent’s mana circulation, its effectiveness dropped dramatically.
Maintaining Resonance Lock demanded exceptional concentration, and against opponents possessing overwhelming mana reserves—or chaotic mana flows—it became significantly less effective.
Even so...
The technique exceeded Andras’s expectations.
He tested it repeatedly while sparring against the manor’s knights.
The results were remarkable.
Even Selene had been genuinely impressed.
Meanwhile, Andras also completed the fusion of several talents acquired through the Devouring System.
The fusion of Primal Tyrant Physique, Steel Body, and Silent Fang gave birth to a brand-new [A-Rank Talent - Sovereign Predator Physique.]
A body perfectly crafted for close-quarters combat.
It granted overwhelming physical strength, explosive speed, extraordinary durability, silent movement, adaptive combat instincts, devastating striking power, and enhanced regeneration.
However, it came at a cost.
Its mana consumption was immense.
Prolonged use placed tremendous strain upon the body, and despite its regeneration, overusing the talent left muscles exhausted for a considerable time. Furthermore, the talent offered no protection against mental or soul-based attacks.
At the same time...
The fusion of Shadow Predator and Shadow Veil created a new [B+ Rank Talent - Abyssal Shadow Dominion.]
Within darkness, Andras could establish a Shadow Domain, conceal his presence almost completely, travel between connected shadows over short distances, shape shadows into deadly weapons, and greatly enhance his perception while surrounded by darkness.
Yet it, too, possessed weaknesses.
Brightly illuminated environments greatly reduced its effectiveness.
Maintaining the Shadow Domain steadily consumed mana, and light-attribute magic naturally weakened its techniques.
As the days quietly passed, the opening of Ambrose Academy drew ever closer.
Only two days remained.
Rather than immersing himself entirely in training, Andras chose to spend most of his remaining free time with Evelyne.
The two enjoyed peaceful breakfasts, afternoon tea, quiet conversations, and evening walks throughout the estate.
For once...
Neither spoke about politics.
Nor assassination.
Nor noble affairs.
They simply cherished the time they still had together.
Meanwhile, Lyra remained devoted to her studies within the library.
After nearly two weeks of relentless reading, she had finally built a solid theoretical foundation regarding mana meditation, talent development, combat principles, and magical fundamentals.
She was finally ready to begin cultivating in earnest.
---
Two days later...
Morning arrived.
Golden sunlight spilled across Darkmoor Manor as servants busily prepared for the journey ahead.
Outside the main entrance, a luxurious black carriage bearing the silver wolf crest of House Darkmoor stood waiting.
Its horses pawed impatiently at the stone road.
Several knights had already assembled to serve as escorts.
Lyra stood quietly beside the carriage, dressed in her maid uniform, while Evelyne and Selene waited nearby.
Moments later...
Andras emerged from the manor.
Dressed in an elegant black coat embroidered with silver threads, he walked toward them with his usual composed expression.
The time had finally come.
He stopped before Evelyne.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Well..."
"I’m leaving for the Academy."
"I’ll return once vacation begins."
He looked at her with amused eyes.
"So..."
"Make sure you miss me."
Evelyne, who had been trying to hide the sadness of seeing her son leave for several months, couldn’t help but laugh.
"I certainly will."
"But shouldn’t you be saying..."
"’Don’t miss me. I’ll be back before you know it’?"
Andras shook his head without hesitation.
"No."
"I know you’ll miss me."
"And I’m a very honest man."
"So naturally..."
"I only speak the truth."
Evelyne laughed even harder.
"You really are impossible."
Then Andras turned toward Selene.
"So..."
"I’m leaving, General."
"I’ll continue training exactly as you’ve taught me."
He smiled faintly.
"When I graduate..."
"I hope people will say..."
"’So you’re General Selene..."
"’The woman who trained the great Andras Darkmoor.’"
Selene folded her arms before laughing.
"I’ll be satisfied if you simply survive the Academy without causing too much trouble."
She smiled teasingly.
"And no..."
"I won’t miss you."
"The manor will finally become peaceful."
Andras chuckled.
"I’m afraid you’ll discover the opposite."
Finally...
He looked toward Lyra.
"Let’s go."
"Yes, Young Master."
She immediately stepped forward and entered the carriage behind him.
The carriage door closed.
The coachman cracked the reins.
The horses began moving.
As Darkmoor Manor slowly disappeared behind them, Andras opened the carriage window one last time.
He raised a hand.
Evelyne and Selene returned the gesture with warm smiles.
The distance between them steadily grew.
Until the manor finally vanished beyond the horizon.
Andras closed the window and leaned back against his seat.
His violet eyes quietly gazed ahead.
Ambrose Academy.
The stage where countless geniuses gathered.
The place where the original story truly began.
A faint smile slowly appeared upon his lips.
"So..."
"Let’s see what awaits me."
The carriage rolled onward beneath the clear blue sky, carrying Andras and Lyra toward the next Chapter of their journey.