Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy

Chapter 1217: The Headmaster's Decision

The doors of the laboratory swung open with a heavy thud, and the agents of the Arcane Bureau strode in with their cloaks marked with the Bureau's insignia.

Their sudden appearance caused some confusion as the Professor even thought of fighting it out…

Still, Naya noticed that they weren't emitting a hostile aura.

Though their presence was quite intimidating, they didn't seem to be about to attack any of them.

At this time, students froze mid-task, the bubbling of cauldrons suddenly sounded far too loud in the silence.

Professor Naya stepped forward and finally spoke.

"Agents? What is the meaning of this intrusion?"

The lead agent raised a hand, his voice calm, but it was firm,,,

"We are searching for a student. Vanessa of the Elemental Arts Department."

Gasps rippled through the classroom. Heads turned toward the corner where Vanessa sat quietly, her hands folded over her notes. She had always been unremarkable, quiet, diligent, but average in every way. To see her singled out by the Bureau was shocking.

"Vanessa?" one student whispered. "She's… she's just normal. Why would they want her?"

"Is she a criminal?" another muttered nervously.

Vanessa's face paled as the agents approached.

Still, realizing that they were here, she did not resist, only stood slowly with her eyes downcast. The agents flanked her, escorting her toward the door.

Professor Naya's voice rose with concern. "Wait! At least explain why you are taking her. She is my student."

But before the agents could respond, another figure entered. It was a woman whose presence silenced the room instantly.

Denise.

It was no wonder these agents were allowed to enter the Academy. Although Naya knew that the Bureau and the Shadow Domain were allied, she knew that their actions were a bit too much.

However, with Denise's blessing, it was certainly possible.

Denise's aura was definitely quite simple. She was unlike many other Arcanists who liked to flaunt their Arcane Energy and wear powerful Artifacts to show their status.

She was just like an average Arcanist, but her face was quite well-known since there were several monuments dedicated to her…

The students recognized her immediately. Just like that, whispers spread quickly.

The Mother of the Automatons… The Golem Alchemist… Vale's closest ally.

Those were the nicknames she had gained over the years.

Still, Professor Naya's eyes widened as she didn't expect her to come here…

She had heard rumors of Denise's connection to Vale, perhaps even as his lover aside from Lisa and Odessa, who would frequent his Tower, but what mattered now was her authority.

Denise was not someone to be questioned lightly.

Denise's gaze swept the room, lingering briefly on Vanessa before turning to the professor. "The Bureau's actions are sanctioned. Vanessa will be questioned. That is all you need to know."

Her tone left no room for argument. Professor Naya swallowed her protest, bowing her head slightly.

The agents and Vanessa departed with the tension lingering like smoke.

However, Denise did not leave immediately. Instead, she turned her eyes toward two students seated near the front, they were Rice and Ruth.

"You two," she said. "Come with me."

The students stiffened. Rice exchanged a glance with Ruth…

Ruth's heart pounded as she didn't expect her name to be called by this powerful figure that had basically helped build the Shadow Domain.

Both of them had seen Denise's automatons and knew how great she was… There was a hint of both nervousness and admiration in their faces as they stood up.

Professor Naya looked uncertain, but she did not intervene.

Denise's authority was nearly equal to Vale's, and if she called for students, it was not her place to refuse.

Denise stepped aside, gesturing for Rice and Ruth to follow.

"There are matters you must hear directly…"

The room buzzed with whispers as the two disciple candidates rose.

Some students looked envious, others fearful. To be summoned by Denise was no small thing.

Ruth clutched her notes tightly, her mind racing. 'Why us? What does she want?'

Rice's expression was calm, but his fists clenched at his sides. 'If this is about Vale, then it's serious. I wonder if we're going to be accepted now…'

Together, they followed Denise out of the laboratory.

***

In the meantime, the agents of the Arcane Bureau did not lead Vanessa to a dungeon or interrogation chamber as many students had feared. Instead, they escorted her through the long marble corridors of the Academy until they reached the grand doors of the Headmaster's Office.

Inside, Headmaster Constance awaited them.

Because of the changes in the Academy, the room had also changed, and it was now filled with ancient tomes and scrolls from all Arcane Paths. Even its walls are adorned with banners representing each path.

Constance sat behind her desk and welcomed the group.

The agents bowed slightly before stepping aside, leaving Vanessa standing alone in the center of the room.

Constance's sharp eyes studied her for a long moment.

"Vanessa," she said softly. "You are a student of the Elemental Arts. Yet I have received reports… that you have also been practicing Void Arts."

Vanessa's breath caught. Her hands trembled as she clasped them together. "Headmaster… I—"

Constance raised a hand, silencing her. "Do not deny it. I have seen traces of Void resonance in your aura. It is faint, but unmistakable. The question is not whether you have studied it… but where you learned it."

Initially, they wanted to wait until the Void Immortal or someone working for the Immortal would get in contact with her.

However, after the Lust, one of the Seven Sin Entities, disappeared with the Void Immortal's help, they had to make some changes in their plan instead!

The room fell silent.

Vanessa lowered her gaze. Realizing that there was no way out of it, she whispered. "I… I didn't mean to hide it. I only wanted to understand. The Elemental Arts felt incomplete to me. I found fragments… old notes… hidden in the archives of my family's basement... and I just started studying it."

Constance frowned as this wasn't the answer she wanted to hear.