NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36
A week had passed since the lecture ended.
I stared at the tower before me.
The tower radiated an inky blackness. That pitch-black shape, devoid of any light, loomed as if it would pierce the sky. Shadows streaming from it cascaded down the mountaintops, soaking the land like a river.
The dark current coiled around the mountain, spreading outwards, overflowing with writhing greed as it engulfed all surrounding light and color. The places the current passed through turned pale as if all color had been stripped away, and the magical energy emanating from there was so intense that approaching it felt impossible.
However, the power that bled out from the tower and whitened the mountain was merely the shadow of the tower itself. If that’s the case, how powerful could the tower, at its source, be? It was beyond my imagination.
I cautiously avoided the creeping shadows at my feet and swallowed hard. If I got dragged into that, I’d surely melt away. I had seen a few birds fall prey to it while climbing this mountain.
I was here to attend Professor Heisen’s lecture. My heart fluttered with excitement about what sort of class would unfold, but I never imagined the tower would have such a personality right from the get-go.
Many others like me were nervously hovering around. They were surely here for the same reason as me.
But something felt off.
The level of each person here was alarmingly high. They all radiated thick magical energy. Even someone like Hongryeong or Goro would seem cute compared to these folks.
It felt different from the kind of lecture I had envisioned. I started to think I might have stumbled into the wrong place.
Now that I think about it, Hwa-ryeong had mentioned when I signed up that Professor Heisen’s lectures are so top-notch that not many apply. It didn’t mean the lectures were tough but that the students were high-caliber. A cold sweat trickled down my face.
Just as I was trying to gauge the vibe around, it hit 10 o’clock—time for the lecture to start. At that moment, the massive door of the tower creaked open.
From within, a thick darkness spread out like mist. Others stepped inside without hesitation, and I hesitated for just a moment before slowly immersing myself in the fog.
As I wandered through the mist, I soon found myself inside the tower. A strange, heavy darkness and a cold air enveloped me.
I looked around. Contrary to what I had imagined from outside, the interior was surprisingly neat and tidy. I slowly followed the others. Smooth black walls seamlessly continued, shadowy figures flickering along the walls, imbued with the tower’s magic, danced around.
The lights arranged along the walls emitted a dim glow that added depth to those shadows. The entire tower pulsed with an odd, living magical energy.
As I moved inward, the shadows grew thicker, and the light gradually faded. Upon reaching the central hall, I laid my eyes on a massive orb.
The orb constantly changed shape, undulating like a liquid. Our reflections could be seen faintly on its smooth surface.
Shadows extending from that orb flowed along the ceiling and floor, filling the space like the roots of a gigantic tree. This was the source of all the shadows we had seen before. It felt as if all the tower’s magic was contained within this orb.
And before it stood a weary-looking woman. She hung her body limply, wearing an expression of utter exhaustion that reminded me of Professor Heisen.
She slowly surveyed us, as if counting heads. I couldn’t move an inch. Others seemed to be the same. It was the terrible aura she emanated that froze us in place. I felt like I was facing something that shouldn’t exist in this world.
Her magical energy was overwhelmingly strong, comparable even to the professor for a brief moment.
“Ah… it looks like you’re all gathered… I am Maira, studying under Professor Heisen in a specialized research program…”
She murmured, her voice barely audible unless you were focused. She seemed awkward simply speaking.
A specialized research program, huh? She must be someone from a very high echelon. I had heard that those who aspired to become professors usually aimed that high, but this was my first time seeing one in person.
“So… close your eyes… and please entrust your body to this orb…”
She pointed at the black orb, which seemed to open slightly, revealing its dark insides. Out slithered a long, forked tongue, flicking around.
It swiftly snatched the nearest person and swallowed them whole. A few people flinched and stepped back, and I was one of them.
“The path is… quite proper, so… don’t worry… Just be careful, as you might get caught if you keep your eyes open…”
She said slowly. By the time her words ended, over half the crowd had already been devoured. Those taken first probably didn’t hear a thing.
One by one, those in front were eaten and vanished. It felt like sacrificial offerings to a mountain god.
But I had to get through it. I squeezed my eyes shut and moved forward. Something smooth wrapped around my waist, navigating through the strange magic and leading me somewhere.
Before long, the movement ceased, and I was released from the tongue. When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a typical classroom, reminiscent of our tower’s format.
Many were already shuffling to find their seats. I stood at the back, waiting for others to settle in first. I felt like the weakest link here. No, not even weak—more like dust.
What if I accidentally sat down first and provoked dissatisfaction among the seniors? With that mindset, I quietly tried to remain inconspicuous.
Soon, everyone found their places. I cautiously settled into a seat that appeared to have fewer people around.
I glanced around the classroom. It was filled with silence. No one dared to speak. It felt like everyone viewed each other as competitors. What kind of lectures were held here that created such a suffocating atmosphere even before we began?
As I sat there, breath held in anticipation, Professor Heisen emerged from the shadows. I was oblivious to his arrival until he started speaking.
“Hmm, I see a few familiar faces.”
He stood at the podium, surveying the crowd. A few individuals bowed their heads—a cluster of people closer to the podium. Having a prior acquaintance with the professor must mean they had attended his lectures before. They were probably reapplying students.
Professor Heisen scanned them indifferently before shifting his gaze.
“My lectures always proceed in the same manner. Maira, please distribute them.”
He instructed. At that, Maira emerged from his shadow, carrying an armful of papers. She raised her magical energy, levitating the papers into the air.
The papers flew to land before the students. When I glanced at one, I saw it was densely populated with text. It was some sort of questionnaire.
“This is a 2000-item questionnaire to assess you. You have one hour to complete it and submit it.”
Professor Heisen said this and closed his eyes. Quickly, he pulled out a pen and enveloped it with magical energy. I didn’t quite understand the situation, but I had to give it my all, no matter what. I swiftly skimmed the questionnaire.
1. Can your most hated color deceive you?
2. If something other than you controls you, how will you react?
3. If your fifth finger becomes a sixth finger, what might be the reason?
4. When light fades and darkness approaches, which will you recognize first?
1) Color 2) Sound 3) Flow 4) Presence
5. When do you think death will come for you?
The questions continued in a similar vein—quite abstract and bizarre. But there was no time for deep thought. I needed to answer 2000 questions in an hour, so I had to keep moving. I scribbled whatever came to mind.
How many people have I killed? About a hundred. When did I first cast a spell? Thirteen. Questions that felt deeply meaningful yet entirely meaningless rushed past.
In the end, I barely managed to answer all 2000 questions. I completed it just in time. I looked around at the others. Most had already finished and were waiting. Professor Heisen stood there, unmoving, with his eyes closed.
Time ticked by, and when the hour finally ended, Maira checked the clock and lightly tapped the professor’s shoulder. At that, she gathered all the questionnaires from before and they flowed into her shadow.
Professor Heisen slowly opened his eyes. After checking the time with a glance at Maira, he spoke.
“The orb you passed through to arrive here is a place where the shadows of the dead gather. It’s a pocket realm I’ve been crafting over many years, and what lies within it always hopes to have a form. That’s why they often parasitize the shadows of the living.”
He then pulled a shadow from beneath his feet. What can I describe it as? A very faint flicker—so delicate it seemed it would dissolve into nothing at any moment.
“You will nurture this from now on for five years. The questionnaire was conducted to find the one most compatible with you. Based on your answers, the shadow that suits you best shall follow you.”
He tossed the shadow directly at a student seated right in front. It delved into that student’s shadow and vanished.
“These shadows will grow by feeding on your own shadows. You need only to nurture it. No matter what you do, the shadow will gradually grow stronger. The stronger the master, the more it will thrive. You will be tested every three months with these grown shadows.”
Ah, this is why the lower-tier students rarely appear. I realized this as I scanned the surroundings. Everyone was radiating heavy magical energy. In this lecture, the stronger you were, the better it seemed. No wonder I felt something was off. I had a bitter taste in my mouth. No matter what I did, I clearly wouldn’t be able to defeat those present here.
“After five years, a total of 19 will be selected. They will pass. Additionally, I will choose 11 others, and they too will be accepted. Only those who pass will have the right to keep their shadows after this lecture. The rest will be reclaimed and disposed of, so keep that in mind.”
He stated. Now I understood why so many were retaking the course. It was to obtain those shadows. My chances had diminished to nothing.
Professor Ilian came to mind. The reason I signed up for this lecture was due to her orders. Did she know about this situation when she sent me? I had no idea what her intentions could be.
“Now, I will distribute the shadows. Those who possess one will be able to traverse anywhere in this tower, so feel free to explore. That’s all.”
With that, shadows surged forth from his feet, engulfing the entire classroom. In an instant, the surroundings turned dark. In that darkness, I sensed a very weak connection linking me to something. It smoothly seeped into my own shadow.
As the darkness receded, the classroom brightened once more. I looked down at my feet. There it was—a dark shadow. Outwardly, it appeared no different than before.
But I could tell there was something contained within, felt through the faint flow intertwined with me. It was a strange sensation. It reminded me slightly of when I had controlled the turtle sapling.
“That will be all for today. And you, come with me for a moment.”
Professor Heisen declared. I thought, there’s no way it could be me. Just as that notion crossed my mind, the air around changed and grew tense. As I glanced sideways, I saw others were looking at me. Professor Heisen was looking at me too.
“Yes!”
I shouted as I stood up with all my might.
At that instant, my shadow suddenly expanded and enveloped me. It was the blink of an eye. When I regained my senses, I found myself in a room filled with papers.
It seemed to be Professor Heisen’s office. He emerged naturally from the shadows, offering me a chair with that wearied expression. Papers were piled even on the chair.
I cautiously set the papers down on the floor and quietly took a seat. I didn’t even want to explore my surroundings. What was the reason he sought me out? I was on edge, guessing many possibilities.
Professor Heisen sat down and began to sift through the stacks of papers before him. I was, for all intents and purposes, invisible to him.
He finally spoke when nearly half the paperwork had been dealt with.
“Ebron, was it?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
I replied carefully. He glanced at me and continued.
“Bringing you into my class was a promise made with Professor Ilian. She mentioned to grant you a shadow. Since I owe her a debt from the past, I gladly accepted.”
He pointed his pen at my face while gripping it in his hand. The pen tip emanated an intimidating magical energy.
“I already discerned that you aren’t at the level to keep up with my lecture. So, just do your best. I’ll guarantee your acceptance.”
In that instant, I couldn’t help but grin widely. I had already half-given up, but to know I had a place set aside from the start? I never expected Professor Ilian to care for me this much.
I wasn’t sure what that shadow was, but seeing how others were even retaking courses to obtain it, it was clearly something extraordinary.
Little did I know, I had pigeonholed the professor as a narrow-minded little brat. I etched a deeper sense of reflection into my heart.
How can a candle understand the workings of the sun? I merely need to trust and follow. Each of the professor’s actions surely held profound meaning. Somehow, the image of him lounging on the bed seemed different now.
Professor Heisen observed me for a moment before speaking again.
“The reason I’m telling you this is simple. To engrave the benefit she bestowed upon you into your very soul. Thoroughly, with all sincerity.”
With that, he poked my forehead with his pen.
“You may return now.”
Before I could respond, the swirling magical energy enveloped me. It was just like before. In the blink of an eye, I found myself back in the classroom.
Stunned, I rubbed my forehead.
To engrave the professor’s kindness into my soul. I let out a bitter laugh. I was already doing just that. I gazed at the contract etched into my wrist. The contract written in a flowing script caught my eye.
More than that, I grew curious about the relationship between the two. What had transpired between them to provoke such rigorous formality on his part? It was an enigma.