Chapter 267: The Elegant Headmistress Has an Online Meltdown

Holy Studies Branch, Dean’s Office.

Unlike the Starry Dome over at the Magic Tower, the decor here was filled with an aura of holiness and solemnity. The air carried a faint scent of Sacred Light and the fragrance of books.

Aurelia Cathy, head of the Holy Studies Branch and also a Cardinal of the Church, was sitting upright behind a large desk, reviewing educational documents.

Her demeanor was dignified. Her gray-white hair was combed immaculately, her face kind, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes bearing the weight of years and wisdom.

On the corner of the desk, a freshly brewed cup of Black Tea was releasing wisps of steam.

Suddenly.

The surface of the tea in the cup rippled in a dense circle without warning.

Aurelia’s pen paused slightly as she was correcting documents.

She lifted her eyelids, her gaze landing on the slightly trembling teacup. A knowing smile curled at the corners of her lips, tinged with a hint of teasing, and she muttered to herself:

“Hehe, that crazy woman Layana… Looks like she’s blowing up her lab again with some earth-shattering experiment?”

Saying this, she elegantly picked up the teacup, gently blew on the foam, and took a sip.

Mm, fine Elven Black Tea, mellow and sweet.

However, as soon as the tea went down her throat, an inexplicable feeling of palpitations seized her heart without warning.

Thump. Thump-thump-thump.

Her heart pounded fiercely, faster and faster, completely losing its usual steadiness.

The ease and smile on her face slowly faded.

Aurelia’s action of setting down the teacup abruptly stopped midair.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

As a high-ranking clergy member who had long been accompanied by Sacred Light, with mental power and perception far beyond ordinary people, this sudden intense unease was definitely not baseless.

Could it be that something really happened to Layana?

Clink!

The white porcelain teacup was heavily placed back on the desk, producing a crisp sound.

Aurelia furrowed her delicate brows, staring at the still-slightly-swirling tea, her expression turning grave.

Her instincts, cultivated over many years, were sending her the most piercing alarm.

After a moment’s hesitation, she ultimately chose to trust her judgment.

Aurelia stood up, adjusted her Red Cardinal Robe, and quickly walked out of the office.

After all, in so many years, this was the first time she had felt this way.

The path from the Holy Studies Branch to the Magic Tower was not exactly close.

Along the way, students and instructors continuously paid respectful bows to Aurelia.

“Dean, may you be well.”

“Your Eminence.”

Aurelia wore a gentle and kindly smile, nodding in return to each, but her steps did not pause at all—in fact, they grew faster.

She maintained her demeanor as an elder, but the ominous premonition inside her grew like a snowball, rolling larger and larger.

Finally, the iconic Starry Dome of the Magic Tower came into view in the distance.

When she stepped into the private corridor, her pupils sharply contracted.

Layana’s office door… was actually ajar!

The door was unlocked.

Aurelia’s heart skipped a beat.

With Layana’s personality, which was meticulous to the point of paranoia, even if she only went to the restroom, she would absolutely cast seven or eight of the highest-level Defense Arrays on her private laboratory.

For the door to be wide open like this was absolutely unheard of!

Aurelia no longer cared about cardinal dignity. Lifting her robe hem, she dashed over in one stride.

“Oh no!”

She pushed open the heavy wooden door.

The sight before her made even this Cardinal of the Church, who had seen much turmoil, gasp sharply on the spot.

Utter mess.

Completely and utterly in disarray.

The originally tidy and orderly office now looked as if it had been plowed through by a dozen Dragons.

Bookshelves had collapsed, precious Magic Tomes were scattered all over the floor, and pages flew through the air.

The priceless Precision Instruments on the Alchemist’s table were shattered into gleaming magical glass shards all over the ground.

The air was thick with a pungent burnt smell, along with two completely opposite residual energies—one was pure Sanctity, and the other… was an extremely uncomfortable, cold, and evil Abyssal Aura!

And in the center of this ruin, her old friend, the continent’s top magical scholar Layana Klein, was lying motionless on the cold floor, unconscious.

“Layana!”

Aurelia cried out in alarm, rushed to Layana’s side, bent down, gently placed her hand on Layana’s forehead, and quickly chanted the Holy Prayer.

A soft milky white Sacred Light surged from her palm, like warm tidal water, slowly enveloping Layana’s body.

Under the nourishment of the High-level Healing Divine Spell, Layana’s pale face finally regained a bit of color. Her long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes.

“Cough… cough, cough…”

She coughed violently, her consciousness still hazy.

“Layana! How are you? What happened here?”

Aurelia supported her and asked anxiously.

However, Layana did not answer her question.

The moment she regained consciousness, the last memories before the explosion flooded into her mind like a burst dam!

Her daughter’s manic roar!

That towering evil Black Qi!

And that eerie Black Notebook!

“Laxana…”

Layana’s lips trembled.

She suddenly pushed Aurelia away, struggled to get up from the ground, and looked around the ruins like a madwoman.

Nothing.

In the office, aside from Wendy who was still asleep on the corner couch, there was no trace of Laxana or Astreia at all.

Even the other couch where they had been lying was completely empty!

Layana’s heart instantly sank to the bottom.

It’s over. Everything is over.

She had originally held onto a sliver of hope, not wanting to publicize this scandal involving her own daughter.

But now, looking at the empty room and at the still-unconscious Wendy, Layana knew that matters had completely exceeded what she could handle on her own.

This was no longer a family scandal.

This was a catastrophe involving the Demon Race and the heirs of two kingdoms!

She must stop her in the shortest possible time, at all costs!

Layana whirled around, grabbing Aurelia’s arm tightly, the force so great that her nails almost dug into the other’s flesh.

“Aurelia! Hurry! Let’s go find Laxana!”

Her voice became sharp and hoarse from extreme terror, without a trace of her usual composure as a magical scholar.

“She… she has likely been controlled by the Demon Race!”

“She also took Astreia and Prince Wendy! I don’t know what she intends to do, but we must stop her!”

In Layana’s eyes, which usually saw through the mysteries of magic, there was now only shock and despair.

She stared fixedly at her old friend, almost begging.

“Aurelia, please, help me…”

“If we’re even one step too late… she really… will never be able to turn back!”