Magister Insanity

Simply drawing the runes wasn't enough. They required an energy source to activate the desired effect and that source was Void Essence.

Everything in the Soul Realm contained Void Essence, from Eldritch Creatures to Blasphemers. In fact, the primary method for Blasphemers to ascend was to hunt Eldritch Creatures, extract their Essence Cores, and absorb the void essence contained within.

But Sleepless lacked the ability to directly use Void Essence. At this stage of their Sequence, they couldn't perceive or interact with the Void Essence stored within their Origin Sea. Considering that I didn't even possess one, the concern for the future was well-founded.

Without access to Void Essence, one couldn't wield the power of Mysteries!

To bypass this limitation, the rune had to be inscribed to draw upon the Void Essence flowing freely through the air. Unlike the essence sealed within a Blasphemer's Origin Sea, the atmospheric Void Essence was not finite; its concentration fluctuated depending on the location. For instance, the middle and inner sectors of the Eldergrove Forest brimmed with far more essence than the outer sector or the outskirts.

Thus, while the ambient essence could not be considered limitless, it was undeniably abundant.

Tap! Tap!

Sensing my intent, the Mirror Bond drifted toward the arcane circle, halting at a cautious distance. With deliberate care, he produced the designated "test subject" he had been instructed to carry.

It was a lesser fiend known as the Mutant Rat.

Close up, the creature was only slightly larger than an ordinary rat, but far more grotesque. The rat writhed in his grasp, patchy fur clumped with grime, its eyes bulging with hatred and malice. A rank odor seeped from its body, like mold left to rot in stagnant water.

Desperate to escape, the bizarre Eldritch Creature sank its rows of sharp teeth into the Mirror Bond's hand.

It might have torn off a finger or two, had misfortune not intervened. The leather glove Starfallen had worn was far too tough for its tiny maws, leaving the rat chomping on the protected finger helplessly, unable to resist the inevitable.

What resulted was not pain but an awkward scene.

Glancing at the ugly overgrown rat for a moment, I smiled wryly then gestured for the Mirror Bond to set it down.

With a nod, Starfallen tossed the rat towards the circle without regard for its landing. The creature squealed as it hit the ground, scraping against the inscribed lines of the rune.

Instantly, the faint etchings flared, as if recognizing prey had entered their domain. The patterns I had drawn glimmered with faint, shifting light, the strokes of chalk vibrating like a plucked string. The rat froze, quivering its malformed body and darted its wildly as if it, too, felt the pull.

Driven by primal instinct, the creature thrashed desperately to escape. But by then, it was already too late.

Its body went rigid, utterly bound and unable to move.

Watching the fiend fall still, my lips curved into a feral smile.

"Hahaha! Yes! The experiment was a success!"

How could I not be thrilled? I had just wielded sorcery!

Sorcery was the art of imitating Mysteries, and a Mystery was true magic. In essence, I had practically touched something close to magic! This was the very thing countless obsessed occult fanatics had spent their lives chasing in vain.

On Earth, it was common knowledge that humans could not wield magic.

No matter how one tried, the conclusion was always the same. Humanity's boundless curiosity had driven many to attempt harnessing the power of Mysteries, yet all had failed.

Still, rumors circulated online that certain people in Africa could indeed practice sorcery, individuals known as "Shamans." Many dismissed them as charlatans who took advantage of the desperate with herbs, chants, and sleight of hand. But some remained convinced that black magic was real.

Fact or fiction, who could say? The Internet was hardly a reliable source; in the end, it too was nothing more than a creation of human hands.

I studied the trapped creature, rubbing my chin with curiosity.

"As expected of the rune Binding, the target is completely immobilized. It must forcibly strip away motor functions. Interestingly, this mutant rat can still move its eyes. Could it also retain the ability to speak? And more importantly… how long will the rune's effect last?"

There were many kinds of Eldritch Creatures with their different abilities. I was certain some possessed powers never witnessed before. It was entirely possible that a monster existed with a "voice" capable of stunning its prey. Worst case scenario, such a voice might paralyze the body or even shatter the mind.

If the Binding rune could only restrain movement, then wouldn't it be completely useless against such effects?

Perhaps this was one of the many reasons Instructor Irene had warned us never to use it against higher-sequence profane creatures. Even more troubling, however, was the uncertain duration of the rune's effect.

How long could it last?

Lost in thought, a sudden crackle burst from the communicator, snapping me out of my reverie.

[This is an emergency communiqué! All Sleepless in the vicinity assemble at the Induction Hall!]

I blinked in confusion. An emergency communiqué? What was going on?

Then realization struck.

Was the academy about to make an announcement regarding that incident?

It made sense. Two students had vanished under suspicious circumstances. One was torn apart by Scavengers, the other devoured by the shadow. The latter was far more alarming since it happened within the Imperium Academy itself.

No small matter at all.

The instructors had most likely already discussed it among themselves and now intended to question the Sleepless for any information about Kael's disappearance.

How troublesome.

What to do?

If the instructors suddenly started questioning the Sleepless, the chances that I would be exposed would increase, especially if they have some lie-detecting Echo or Ability.

I clicked my tongue.

Curses! Was it possible for me to run away? No. I couldn't afford to panic. Calm down. Take a deep breath and think carefully.

My mind sifted through the possibilities of this scenario. There was no certainty that the Instructors would press the Sleepless too harshly. They only knew Kael had gone missing, not that he was dead. Zephyr's death in the Eldergrove could easily be blamed on the monsters. At most, the Instructors would likely ask the Sleepless if they had seen Zephyr on the night of his disappearance.

Then again, the timing itself could raise suspicion. Two Sleepless vanishing one after another was certain to draw unwanted attention.

Now the question was how I could avoid any possible lie detection.

After turning it over inside my head, a conclusion was reached and my eyes lit up like a torch. Then I shifted my eyes towards Starfallen.

Of course! Why didn't I come to this conclusion sooner? I can simply make use of him!

Suddenly, my situation no longer felt uncertain. Just as a smile was about to surface...

Squeak! Squeee!

The Mutant Rat let out a noise from within the runic circle. The Binding rune's power appeared to be fading, granting the creature a fleeting moment of freedom.

I regarded it with a blank expression. Starfallen did the same.

What should I do with this creature?

The little terror had no real value beyond its intended purpose. It was the kind of thing easily captured, experimented on, or studied.

In other words, keeping it would only cause trouble, especially since "pets" weren't allowed in the dormitory.

Killing it seemed like the most sensible option. But for some reason, it suddenly looked… cute.

Surely, it wouldn't hurt to keep it as a pet. Right?

In the blink of an eye, before I could even react, Starfallen summoned the Executioner's Blade and lunged forward. The longsword came crashing down…

Steel split through air and flesh alike.

Squelch!

The Mutant Rat let out one last shriek before its body split in two. The stench of rotting mold spilled from its guts, a foul vapor rising as its remains twitched in the fading glow of the rune circle.

The runes, sensing the subject's demise, flickered once… then dimmed into nothingness.

[You have slain a lesser fiend, Mutant Rat.]

I blinked. My hand had been halfway raised, as though I might have stopped him, but it was already too late.

The creature was dead.

Starfallen stood motionless, blade dripping with the fiend's black ichor, his expression as empty as ever. His eyes, identical to mine, remained utterly blank.

"Ugggggggghhhhhhhh! Why did you do that?! Don't you realize I could have used it for something else?!"

The Mutant Rat might not have had much value beyond being a lab rat, but still, it could have been a decent companion, maybe even a talking buddy!

Of course, the Mirror Bond didn't share my sentiment.

Catching the glare I shot his way, he only shrugged his shoulders, as if the matter was trivial.

This guy… what are you now, trying to act like some edgy character?!

I wanted to scold him even more. However, in the next moment, my eyes widened instead.

[You have obtained the Echo: Spring Winter Sparrow.]