281 Welcome to the Nexus

[Ren Hilton POV]

Silence enveloped the place, amplifying the scrutiny directed at me from all sides. I maintained a smile as I met Alder's gaze, the professor from the Nexus Institute of Magic.

"Why so quiet?" I addressed Alder directly.

"...Nothing," he responded, seeming to understand the situation.

"What do you mean, Ren?" However, Professor Night seemed less perceptive, stepping forward. "Have you killed? Who? Why? Where?" she pressed, her tone escalating.

"I knew it! This guy is Mayhem. We made a mistake even considering him to be a decent human being," Isolde exclaimed, exaggerating her words.

Were they not concerned about revealing our "unity" to potential enemies?

"Say something!" Professor Night demanded.

Sighing, I turned to her. "Mana beast. I meant I have killed a mana beast."

Silence descended once more.

"Eh?" Aron gasped dumbfoundedly.

"Don't act like you've never killed a mana beast in your whole life, Professor," I shrugged, my gaze shifting to Alder, who continued to stare expressionlessly.

"Oh... Oh, you meant," Professor Night stuttered.

"Don't tell me you thought I'd kill someone... Oh, don't even make me say something so inhumane and cruel. I could never," I rubbed my temples.

"Drama queen," Blaze chimed in.

"And sometimes it's better to think before opening your mouth," I turned towards Adam, who gulped before redirecting his attention to Isolde. "President, it's not a good look to act so clueless for a student who leads the whole school's student body."

"What did you say?!" Isolde snapped, clearly rattled.

"Stop!" Professor Night intervened.

"Ahem," Nari Noctre cleared her throat to redirect attention to her. "I think we should first proceed to the place where you'll be staying."

"Oh, why not. I'm sorry you had to see this... Oh..." Professor Night appeared to be on the verge of a panic attack. "I'm sorry."

"It's not a big deal," Nari shook her head.

"What about the luggage?" I inquired.

"That'll be safely taken to your room," Alder replied.

"Okay," I acknowledged.

"Did it have something you wanted to keep hidden? Don't worry; we don't go through students' bags," he chuckled, his laughter resembling that of a goat.

"I appreciate it. Wouldn't want anyone to see my underwear," I added with a smirk. "Let's go now."

Passing through a grand archway that marked the entrance to the city, we stepped into its bustling streets. The atmosphere was unlike anything I had experienced before, a strange blend of curiosity and wariness emanating from the townsfolk.

As we traversed the streets, I couldn't help but notice the stark divide between light and shadow that defined the cityscape. Half of the city lay bathed in sunlight, while the other half remained cloaked in perpetual shadow beneath the suspended landmass above.

The townsfolk observed us from a distance, their gazes ranging from cautious to openly curious. Soon, a crowd began to form behind us, trailing our group as we made our way deeper into the heart of the city.

I obviously was walking way behind everyone, alongside Aron and Erik in front of me. My eyes were mostly on Adam, walking beside Nari.

She was talking to him like normal. If I remember correctly, then I think they are talking about how long it'll be until the Mage's Gambit starts.

Anyways, other than that, I don't see-

"Huh?" I raised my brow a bit as I felt like I saw someone familiar.

'Where?' Blaze jumped from my hands to my shoulder.

I felt like I saw someone walking way behind the crowd. It...was- I don't know.

I just ignored it and went ahead, walking towards the academy. We arrived at the barren part of the city where there was about acres of land with nothing on it, not even a single house.

"Where's the academy?" Asked the smart guy, our team captain Adam Stales.

Nari didn't say anything, nor did Professor Alder. They kept walking towards the door that stood amidst the land, which was covered with cobblestone tiles all over, under the shadow of the floating land.

As we approached the unassuming door in the midst of the barren land, it became evident that this entrance was no ordinary portal. Nari and Professor Alder halted before the door, exchanging a brief glance laden with unspoken understanding.

Without a word, Nari reached out and pressed her hand against the door, causing intricate patterns to illuminate its surface. The air hummed with energy as the door slowly began to sink into the ground, revealing a hidden staircase leading downward.

"Whoa!" gasped everyone.

'You knew this shit!?' Blaze asked, '-oh, of course you did.' but realized too soon.

"That's amazing," said Erik as he adjusted his specs.

"I am sure it'll be better when we see the building," I added.

A soft glow emanated from the depths below, beckoning us forward. With a nod from Nari, we descended into the darkness, our footsteps echoing against the stone walls of the staircase.

"This is nuts," said Adam.

As we reached the bottom, the scene before us transformed into a breathtaking sight. We found ourselves standing in a vast underground cavern, its ceiling adorned with shimmering crystals that cast a gentle radiance across the space.

In the center of the cavern stood the Nexus Institute of Magic, a magnificent structure carved directly into the natural rock formations. Arcane symbols and intricate designs adorned its walls, pulsating with magical energy.

"I've heard a lot, but it's my first time coming here, though," it was Professor Night who said that.

"It's not easy to get into the academy premises without permission, and we don't allow people outside in here very often," Alder replied as he kept walking.

Nari led the way, guiding us through the labyrinthine corridors of the academy. Along the way, we passed by classrooms filled with students practicing spells, libraries brimming with ancient tomes, and laboratories buzzing with experimentation.

Finally, we arrived at our destination: the central chamber of the academy. Here, a towering statue of a bird stood at the heart of the room, its wings spread wide in a gesture of welcome.

"This is the heart of the Nexus Institute," Nari explained, her voice reverberating through the chamber. "Here, we learn the secrets of magic and unlock our true potential."