Chapter 225

Chapter 225: Chapter 225

They only had to walk to the intermission room, the examiner Bertram brought out a scroll covered in sigils. The strange paper burned up easily in his hands, and on the floor the sigils on the paper was instantly replicated - a teleportation spell.

They were all transported into a foyer in a completely different building, with winding staircases leading to different levels. It was much quieter here, the hubbub of the aspiring applicants a distance away.

Dulce curiously looked out the window as they walked up to the highest level, realizing how far away the gates were. They were in the main castle, and far away on the ground, the buildings where the entrance exams were held were small dots.

Their destination was the very top of the highest tower spire. They stopped in front of double doors which had pale blue vines slowly coiling over the wood like snakes.

"Professor Bertram would like to request an audience with the Chancellor." Bertram announced to the door, standing tall.

There was silence for a spell, then the doors slowly opened of their own accord, revealing the interior of the room.

It was a magnificent office, a world of its own. A blooming tree with eerie blue fruit stood in a corner of the room, it was from this tree that the coiling vines on the door came from.

There were shelves stacked high against the stone wall, and a wide table which held a map of the west. The map seemed to be alive, water rushed into the western ocean. There were miniatures forests and mountain ranges, and even the mountain pass could be seen.

The focal point of the room was a kindly-faced old man seated behind a large desk. He wore little glasses that rested on his thin nose, a thoughtful hand on his bushy white beard as he silently watched them walk in.

"Chancellor," Bertram acknowledged, bowing his head respectfully.

Even Freya who was more lively and informal mimicked his actions, inclining her head in respectful acknowledgment of the Chancellor of the western magical institution.

"What seems to be the matter?" Chancellor Alden asked, despite his kind eyes, his lips weren’t smiling.

Freya was beside herself with excitement but she wisely didn’t speak, letting Bertram handle the explanation.

"We came across a potential prodigy during the spellcasting exams," Bertram began. He carried himself with poise but he couldn’t completely quell the curious glint in his eyes. "We agreed that this was a matter that should be brought to your desk."

The Chancellor swept his ageless eyes over the intriguing variety of guests brought to his office on such a fine morning. "I apologize, Lord Montesserat," He rose to his feet, even more composed than Bertram. "A simple letter would have spared you all the trouble."

At his words, the professors who had been in charge of the spellcasting exams whipped their heads into Dulce’s direction, gaping in sheer shock. To meet someone who even the Chancellor had to defer to was rare, especially when it was someone so young. Who exactly was this young mage?

Dulce was just as surprised as the examiners, he didn’t expect the Chancellor of the western magical institution to know him by name. His brows creased, this was a worrying outcome.

"However, the western magical institution is open to only humans, I hope Lord Montesserat will not take offense on this subject." Chancellor Alden continued, his eyes were still kind and his lips unsmiling.

Bertram and Freya had completely lost their composure at this point.

"Not human?" Freya whispered, horrified.

Dulce sighed then, "None taken," He said dismissively, turning to the Demons. "I really thought that would work."

"If I may be so presumptuous to ask," Bertram began sternly, "But what does the Chancellor mean by ’only humans’?"

Alden still didn’t take his seat, his robes were a pale blue that they were almost white, it was reminiscent of the shield protecting the academy. "Lord Montesserat is a Vampire." He reveal without inflection, saying nothing more even when the professors recoiled at the reveal.

"Chancellor," Dulce addressed the wizard, ignoring the conversation about him. "Are you perhaps adept in the summoning arts?" He asked directly. They had already travelled all this way and the other option had been nipped in the bud, so he might as well ask.

Alden swept wise eyes over the Demons in a semi-circle around the Vampire, positioned like they were anticipating an attack at every moment. "I’m afraid I can’t interfere with your magic. I’m of no help to you."

"Alright, thank you for the audience." Dulce said politely, not pushing any further.

"Let’s return to the carriage," He addressed his companions, turning his back to the Chancellor.

In milliseconds, they had all vanished without casting even a single spell.

"A Vampire, Chancellor?" Freya exploded after their departure, her skin pale from how shaken she was. "But he could withstand the sun..." She trailed off, horrified by the mere thought of it.

"Lord Montesserat is of no concern to you," Alden finally sat down, his gaze distant. "His enemies are powers beyond your comprehension, Vampires as old as time itself."

Freya was even more confused, the clumsy Vampire didn’t seem at all like a danger to anyone. If anything, his contracted Demons treated him like he was in constant danger.

She stared at the spot they had all vanished from, a Vampire immune to sunlight who fought other Vampires... the more she learned about him, the less it made sense for the almost waifish man who look more like a sickly, pampered human heir.

"The two of you should see that he leaves the academy gates, but keep your distance. Entangling yourself with Lord Montesserat would only put you in unimaginable danger." The Chancellor concluded. He kept his words vague but that made them all the more chilling.

They accepted his orders with respectful bows and then left to carry them out.

-+-

At the carriage Dulce was sheepish, they had gone through so much trouble to travel to Eynsworth but he hadn’t even managed to make it further than the entrance exams before his identity was found out.

It was still late in the morning, the warm spring sun casting golden rays down. More and more carriages waddled in, and just like when it had been Dulce’s turn, the applicants simply took the written exams and dispersed afterward.

"There is no reason to dawdle further," He murmured, his silver blue eyes fixed on the tallest tower spire of the sprawling castle. "Let’s return to the cottage."

"Finally," Kath’tan grumbled but his purple eyes were alight with happiness. He wrapped an arm around Dulce’s waist before the others could make a move, vanishing out of sight just as the professors arrived.

Bertram and Freya could only watch from a short distance as the rest of the Demons followed suit. Even though they had just arrived, the Demons had noticed them.

Although they were told to keep their distance, Freya hurried up to the carriage that was already preparing to depart. "Where did Lord Montesserat and his companions go?"

The coachman she had approached looked her over curiously, "The Lord has returned home. Would you like to leave a message for him?"

Freya took a step back now, avoiding Bertram’s dark glare. "Not at all. Journey safely."

The coachman saluted her with a smile, driving off without another word.

"Aren’t you even a little curious?" Freya sighed at Bertram’s silent reprimand. "Vampires were once humans before, after all."

Bertram stood stiffly next to her, his expression cold. He didn’t take his eyes off the carriage they were tasked to watch, "Vampires are soulless parasites. It’s unsightly for magic to be wielded by such monsters."

Freya rolled her eyes at his intensity, "I wouldn’t call Lord Montesserat a monster, he looks almost pitiful."

Bertram didn’t say any more, the pitiful Vampire wielded magic more powerful than the Chancellor and from the looks of things, he barely had any knowledge or experience. It was simply frightening.

Only when the lavish carriage disappeared out of the gates, riding off into the city did he turn around, returning to the second examination hall to resume his duties.

Freya accompanied him but she was strangely silent, and it didn’t take much to figure out why. She remained lost in thought about the strange creature they had encountered as they slowly made their way back.

Spellcasters were truly rare, and their numbers only diminished more as the years went by. So they were in no hurry to return, there was a high chance that their encounter with the Vampire Lord Montesserat would be the only applicant that would come through the doors of their exam hall.

"So didn’t Lord Montesserat know that Vampires aren’t accepted into the academy?" She blurted out as they crossed the intermission room.

Bertram was impressed by how long she had kept her thoughts to herself. He didn’t humor her with an answer, knowing that she would only keep persistently talking about the matter.

"Drummond! You won’t possibly believe what just happened!" She charged past him, waking up the third examiner who had once again dozed off.

Bertram glanced outside one of the windows in the halls, all he could see was perfect gardens and anxious applicants. Lord Montesserat had essentially cast what was now viewed as ancient magic, the Chancellor had mentioned Vampires as old as time... he wondered if Lord Montesserat was one of those.