The dark magic at the top of the Institute of Ascension had grown stronger since the last time he was here.
Levi stood outside the main tower for several moments, gazing up with his True Sight. A vile, unholy light blazed at the summit of the tower from beyond the clouds, sending his instincts into disarray. The sensation felt wrong in a way that Levi couldn’t quite describe, like biting into an apple and tasting the screech of a disjointed symphony.
Was this connected to whatever entity had possessed Montague? Or was it completely unrelated? Whatever the case, Levi had to investigate. That was the whole reason why he’d accepted Professor Heimler’s offer of becoming his research assistant: to gain access to the Restricted Sanctum where the dark magic resided.
The entrance hall was virtually empty when Levi arrived. Class had already been let out for summertime, though there were still a few professors and researchers milling around. Contrary to popular belief, the Institute primarily functioned as a research institute, not an academy. However, only official members were allowed access to the Restricted Sanctum. Mythmaker Aldric Heimler had become a professor at the Institute for this very purpose.
As Levi stepped into the entrance hall, he idly wondered just what the professor’s research entailed. He knew that Heimler had spent the past year or so obsessed with the Subaru Paradox, a long-considered unsolvable conundrum regarding the balancing of rotational magical matrices. The same paradox that Levi had accidentally solved about a month ago, thinking it was just a homework problem.
In his defense, the Subaru Paradox hadn’t even been that difficult of a problem. Perplexing, for sure, but in terms of difficulty, the average mage back in Levi’s old world probably could’ve solved it in a fraction of the time it had taken him. For all his power and practical knowledge, Levi’s academics were woefully deficient in comparison. One of the results of never having had a formal mage education.
The only reason why the problem had been considered unsolvable in this world was due to the difference in fundamental paradigms. Namely, the magical paradigm of this world stemmed from the System, which automated and facilitated all magic. Mana was quantified into discrete, positive whole numbers; every person grew up with a mana bar displayed in their [Status] screen. Thus, the people of this world had never devised the theoretical concept of ‘imaginary mana’, a necessary prerequisite to solve the paradox.
However, imaginary mana itself didn’t do anything. It existed only in realities that couldn’t be considered ‘real’; uncertainty clouds filled with numerous probability branches of space and time that contained magic. Manipulating the mana within those branches was virtually impossible, as those branches technically weren’t real; to do so would be a feat surpassing the divine.
That said, just the theoretical knowledge of imaginary mana alone was enough to unlock countless possibilities. The real-world applications were immense. Was Professor Heimler attempting to create a self-perpetuating mana vortex? A Clock (not to be confused with a clock)? A long-range intercontinental portal?
Well. There was no point in guessing. Levi would find out soon enough. He stepped up to the receptionist’s desk.
“Good evening,” the receptionist said. “Please state your name and business.”
“Levi Ironwood, here for Professor Heimler.”
The receptionist paused, glancing up at him sharply. “Welcome, Lord Ironwood. I’ll let Professor Heimler know; he’ll be right down.” She gestured. “Please take a seat.”
Levi sat down on the proffered bench and watched curiously as she turned to the side and pressed one of the crystals embedded in the wall. It briefly glowed a soft blue. That must be one of the receptors for the Central Nexus System, the automated magical system that regulated the Institute tower.
Precisely thirty seconds later, Professor Heimler arrived, stepping through the obsidian warpgates located at the end of the hall. His appearance was immaculate as always: coiffed short blonde hair and regal burgundy robes. His gaze zeroed in on Levi instantly from across the hall, though he didn’t move from where he stood. He simply clasped his hands behind his back, his meaning clear.
Dutifully, Levi stood and made his way over to him.
“Ironwood,” Professor Heimler greeted with the barest incline of his head. “I’ve been expecting you. You’re tardy.”
“I wasn’t aware I was supposed to be here,” Levi said. “Did you send a notice?”
Professor Heimler frowned. “I did. I sent a letter to Ironwood Manor several days ago requesting your presence. Did you not receive it?”
“No…”
“Huh. That’s rather odd.”
Lord Ironwood hadn’t mentioned a letter from Professor Heimler either. It was probably just a delivery mixup. Levi might have suspected external foul play, but there was literally no reason for anyone to intercept the communication.
“My apologies, then,” Professor Heimler said. “I was mistaken.”
“No worries.” Just the fact that Professor Heimler had apologized already placed him leagues above most people Levi had met in this new world. “Shall we head on up?”
Professor Heimler nodded. “Here.” He handed Levi a circular mithril bracelet inscribed with dense, minuscule runic script. Levi examined it curiously, turning it over in his hands.
“The bracelet will grant you temporary authorization to use the warpgates and enter the Restricted Sanctum,” Professor Heimler said. “Make sure you are wearing it at all times. The Restricted Sanctum’s defensive countermeasures against intruders are… irrevocable. I would hate to have to explain to your father why I’m delivering your remains back to him in liquid form.”
Levi’s eyebrows rose slightly as he nodded. “Noted.”
“The bracelet is bound to your unique System identifier,” Professor Heimler continued. “It will only work for the individual known as [Levi Ironwood]. If anyone else attempts to put it on, then they’ll never be able to take it off. A fact I’m certain they’ll come to regret once the bracelet begins raising their internal blood temperature to boiling point. ”
Levi paused from where he was slipping the bracelet onto his wrist. “What?”
“As I’m sure you can tell by now, the Institute of Ascension holds the security of the Restricted Sanctum in the utmost importance,” Professor Heimler continued, ignoring him. “For good reason. Within the sanctum lies some of the most forbidden and dangerous research in the entire world. All of which are highly classified and confidential. Needless to say, your cerebellum will be extracted via your nasal passage if you ever decide to make the foolish decision of telling anyone what you see. Now, shall we go?”
He didn’t wait for Levi to respond, instead turning around and stepping into the shimmering azure warpgate. Levi stared at the warpgate, glanced down at his bracelet, then looked back at the warpgate.
Huh. Interesting.
Without further ado, he stepped into the warpgate as well. An icy sensation washed over him, like he’d just stepped beneath a freezing waterfall, before he emerged on the other side of the warpgate on the 80th floor. Professor Heimler was already ahead of him, striding to the familiar sealed door that lay at the end of the hallway.
Levi and Heimler had fought in this very hallway just a month before. Levi didn’t know if it was weird for him to feel a strange sense of nostalgia as he followed behind Professor Heimler. The adamantine sealed door shone with a faint glow, so dense were the defensive enchantments that covered it. This was where Levi had decided against blasting through the door and instead committed to living his new life as an adventure.
As he had suspected a month ago, the sealed door’s locking mechanism was tied to the System. Levi was certain that given enough time, he could find a way to bypass it, though it might make him hate life in the process. Fortunately, he no longer had to. Professor Heimler merely waved his hand and the door disassembled into glimmering motes of light that hung suspended in the air. The professor stepped through the light like it wasn’t there, and after only a moment’s hesitation, Levi followed him.
Unlike the warpgates, the light felt warm as Levi passed through them. He noted how his bracelet momentarily pulsed with magic; some sort of authentication function. With his True Sight, he could tell that the light would vaporize any unauthorized intruders.
And then they were in the Restricted Sanctum. Levi glanced around, intrigued. He’d expected the Restricted Sanctum to be dark and gloomy, perhaps constructed of pure obsidian. Instead, it looked like the interior of an expensive manor. The marble-and-quartz decor of the lower floors had given way to a luxurious, timeless design, all dark cherry wood and full-grain leather. Heavy doors lined the walls, each likely leading into a different lab or vault. Though there was no visible source of light, the hallways were warmly lit, completely devoid of people.
With a start, Levi realized that there was a good chance he and Heimler were the only people in the Restricted Sanctum at the moment.
“My laboratory is on the 83rd floor,” Professor Heimler said. They made their way to the spiral staircase at the end of the hall – this one had no traps or obstacles – and began ascending. “How was your mission with Qorbin? I presume he brought you along to investigate the village massacres?”
Levi blinked. “He told you?”
“No. However, my contacts had spoken of mysterious massacres along the southern region of Luminarche. Combined with your and Ms Volkov’s untimely absence at the graduation ceremony, and the conclusion was elementary. Are the vampires making a move again?”
Levi blinked again, then shook his head. “No, it was a Hollow cultist.”
Professor Heimler’s next step was delayed by a fraction of a second, which for him was probably the equivalent of swearing in shock. “I see. That is impressive luck. Though, considering it’s Qorbin, I can’t say I am surprised.”
Levi snorted as they reached the 83rd floor. He cast a glance around the corridor; it was identical to the previous floor.
“Has he been a good mentor so far?”
Levi nodded. “I greatly enjoyed the apprenticeship, for however long it lasted.”
“What do you mean?”
Levi paused. “You know. He’s on the run right now…”
Professor Heimler’s head whipped over. “Pardon me?”
“Yeah…” Levi stared at him. “Didn’t you know? The Royal Sentinels are blaming him for Montague’s death.”
Heimler stared back at him blankly. “Montague’s dead? The Duke or the Royal Sentinel?”
“Both…”
Something that resembled concern flashed across Heimler’s eyes. “What?”
“You didn’t know?”
Professor Heimler held his gaze for several long moments. When he judged that Levi was telling the truth, his brows creased in consternation. “I did not,” he admitted. “I’ve been preoccupied the past several weeks.”
Levi hesitated. “What exactly do you mean by preoccupied–?”
He abruptly cut off as they finally reached Heimler’s lab. Heimler unlocked the door with an absent wave of his hand, the door disassembling into glimmering light. They stepped in to reveal a massive room, far larger on the inside than the outside – damnable space expansion enchantments, they always messed Levi’s internal compass up – filled with magical devices scattered all throughout.
Not just magical devices. There was a bed in the corner, expertly made with not a single visible crease in the sheets, a kitchenette, and an entire wall of meal rations, stacked from floor to ceiling. Half of the wall was already gone. The air didn’t have the same sterile scent as the rest of the Restricted Sanctum; instead, it smelled of something faintly floral.
“I’ve been in my lab for the past several weeks,” Professor Heimler said, ignoring Levi’s incredulous look. “I’ve been completely cut off from the outside world; the only time I ventured out was to send the letter requesting you to come.”
“... huh,” Levi said. “Professor Heimler, if you don’t mind me asking, what exactly is your research?”
Professor Heimler smiled. It was one of the few times Levi had ever seen him smile.
“Portals, of course.”