Author: Chrono Walker 2nd Account Updated: 2026/3/5 22:11:11 Word Count: 2028
The day after the Mirror Lake Manor incident, the Royal Academy of Magic issued an official announcement.
“…The malicious attack on the Academy’s periphery has been brought under control. All kidnapped students have been rescued. Relevant departments of the Empire are fully investigating the mastermind behind this… The Academy’s magical protection system has been comprehensively upgraded…
The final exams and Winter Veil vacation will proceed as scheduled. All faculty and students are advised to remain vigilant, report any suspicious activity immediately…”
The wording of the announcement was precise and airtight, downplaying a kidnapping that could have blown the entire Academy sky-high into a “malicious attack,” and made no mention of the two White-robed Cultist leaders who were released.
But the atmosphere within the Academy couldn’t be hidden.
The number of guards patrolling the corridors had increased at least threefold, and they were all unfamiliar faces. Temporary magical inspection stations had been set up at the entrances to all major buildings, carefully checking the items and mana fluctuations of anyone entering or leaving.
The Forbidden Books Area in the library basement was completely sealed off. It was said that the Inquisition and the Royal Mage Regiment had formed a security assessment team to investigate every possible secret passage leading there.
And there was the most critical task—dismantling the Annihilation Bombs installed within the underground magical array circuits of the Academy.
Those massive arrays, which had been operating for hundreds, even thousands of years, had their power supply cut. Mages from the Academy and the royal family were divided into teams, working day and night to search for the explosives amidst endless runes and conduits.
The cultists had secretly made minor alterations to the array circuits, diverting a portion of the mana to power the bombs for instant detonation. The unstable mana field Emily had observed originated from this.
As for why they didn’t simply cut the power to disable the bombs during the hostage exchange, the reasons were simple.
First, shutting down these ancient arrays was extremely difficult and carried a high probability of causing partial circuit failure, increasing maintenance burdens. Second, some of the techniques used to construct these super-large-scale arrays had been lost; once damaged, they were almost impossible to repair.
To avoid affecting daily life above ground, the Academy activated emergency power supply lines, but these could only maintain basic lighting in teaching areas. Other places were out of luck.
Additionally, students were forbidden from discussing related information, but whispers still circulated in private. A tense, oppressive calm settled over the Academy.
The Twilight Tower stood as a relatively quiet corner amidst this storm.
Shortly after Villanelle returned to the Twilight Tower, a team of court physicians visited this long-forgotten corner.
Their examination was meticulous and swift, respectful yet carrying a hint of distance.
The wounds on Villanelle’s body were healing well, so they focused more of their attention on Ignis.
“The Suppression Collar is damaged…” The lead elderly physician frowned slightly. “Miss Adrian, can you describe the situation at the time?”
“An Arcane Missile fired by a cultist hit him, right on the collar around his neck.” Villanelle had already prepared her explanation and answered smoothly.
The physicians exchanged glances and wrote down her response in their records.
“We will report the situation. A new Suppression Collar will need to be remeasured and custom-made, which may take some additional time.” The old physician packed up his tools. “During this period, please avoid exposing your dragon to high-intensity magical environments. Monitor his emotional and physiological state closely, and report any abnormalities immediately.”
After the physicians left, the Twilight Tower returned to its usual quiet.
Butler Heinrich silently brought light meals, his gaze lingering on Villanelle’s pale face for a moment. He didn’t ask any questions, merely saying softly,
“Young lady, please take good care of yourself. The Twilight Tower is safe.”
Safe?
Holding Ignis, Villanelle looked out the window.
Within the heavily guarded Imperial Palace, the Twilight Tower was theoretically very safe.
But the kidnapping incident in Frostwhisper Forest had subtly chipped away at that certainty, making it less firm.
If the cultists could infiltrate to such an extent, how could the Imperial Palace be completely foolproof?
She was still too weak. Too weak to rely on anyone but Ignis for protection. Too weak to do anything but watch helplessly as Emily collapsed beside her.
—
After the Winter Veil celebrations ended, only about a month of preparation time remained before the final exams.
Villanelle resumed her previous routine, shuttling between the Academy’s high alert and the Twilight Tower’s silence.
She devoted most of her time to review.
Basic Magic Theory, Advanced Spell Structuring, Imperial Magical History, Practical Spell Defense… Thick textbooks and extensive incantation practice occupied almost all her waking hours.
In Villanelle’s view, only intense study could temporarily suppress the icy sense of powerlessness from that day in Frostwhisper Forest, and satisfy the increasingly clear thought deep in her heart.
She needed power. Power that didn’t rely on anyone else, power that could properly protect her companions.
At the Academy Library, Villanelle often ran into Emily, who was also preparing for exams.
The two usually sat at the same long table, sharing study materials, only occasionally shifting the topic from academics to daily life.
“My parents wrote. They’re very worried.”
Emily adjusted her newly prescribed glasses. Under the lenses, two faint dark circles were particularly noticeable.
“Dean Duncan spoke with me several more times afterwards, asking very detailed questions, especially about that data.” Her voice dropped even lower. “I heard the cleanup under the Academy isn’t going well at all. They’re very tense.
I definitely have to go home for the Winter Veil break. My parents have urged me several times… What about you, Villanelle? What are your plans?”
Villanelle was silent for a moment.
Plans… She had never seriously planned a vacation before.
“Probably staying in the Eternal City.” Villanelle sighed, her quill idly doodling on the paper. “I’m not really sure what to do myself.”
“My parents said they’d take me to the southern territories for a trip,” Emily thought for a moment. “Would you like to come with me? I’m sure I could persuade them…”
“Better not, it’s a bit far… Thank you for the invitation.” Villanelle declined.
Even though they had survived a life-and-death crisis together, she still wasn’t comfortable intruding into other people’s lives.
Moreover, her own status was rather special. Perhaps she shouldn’t get too close to Emily…
“Well, alright then. I’ll write to you. You must write back.”
“I will.”
After parting at the library, Villanelle returned to the Twilight Tower with a pile of books and notes. Pushing open her bedroom door, she went to the fireplace as usual and stroked Ignis’s head.
But her mind was already elsewhere.
The kidnapping incident in Frostwhisper Forest had, in a way, shattered the peace of her life. For the first time, she felt the urgency of time—various dangers were still lurking outside, and the time she had to improve her rank was dwindling.
She couldn’t afford to let the Winter Veil break pass idly as before. She had to find something to do.