Ancient Madmen of an Old Inheritance

"Good evening, Mr. Hamilton. There's no need to trouble yourself with tea. First, congratulations on joining the History College of Saint Byrens Comprehensive College, but tonight is for two other matters."

Professor Garcia, vice dean of the History College, spoke. After lightly clapping in congratulations, he held up two fingers and gave Shade no chance to speak. The professor was quite decisive:

"First, regarding you. Please display your Core Ling Rune."

A heavy hammer fell, and amid scorching steam mist, the Destiny Ring appeared. Brass-colored Spacetime stood before the three translucent figures.

Every time Shade summoned his Destiny Ring, he felt that this power system was exceptionally stylish.

Professor Garcia nodded in satisfaction and spoke in unskilled Delarion Language:

"Very good, Mr. Hamilton. This is indeed Spacetime. You have now been placed on the History College's list for priority training. Aside from the relic already given to you, I will personally guide your 'Time Travel Practical Training.' Academy regulations state that this course may only begin after you inscribe your first Spirit Rune. But as a priority trainee, the time of your Time Travel can be moved forward."

"Moved forward?"

Shade blinked.

"Yes, tonight. More precisely, after we have finished discussing everything tonight."

Professor Garcia's voice carried little emotion, giving Shade the impression that he was serious and rigid. But Shade quite appreciated professors with that sort of personality.

"Most Correspondence Ring Arcanists do not truly understand priority trainees.

"You differ from ordinary Correspondence Students. Although the rules prevent us from directly admitting you into the Academy, Saint Byron's will provide you with many educational conveniences and more training resources. But it will also place greater demands on you. Mr. Hamilton, the History College looks forward to the day you formally enter the Academy. I rarely take the initiative to praise students, but please do not waste your talent. Generally speaking, the History College's 'Time Travel Practical Training' is handled by ordinary instructors."

After saying that, Professor Garcia even forced out a somewhat strange smile at Shade. This professor probably did not smile often. Shade kept a straight face and nodded. Of course he was delighted by this, but he was also uneasy about the Time Travel that would take place shortly.

"Before the course begins, there is a second matter. It has nothing to do with our History College, but concerns the group you belong to."

Professor Garcia pointed at Professor Sanchez, who sat opposite Shade. Though both men were professors of Saint Byron's, the latter was clearly of a higher status:

"Mr. Shade Hamilton, I hope you can guarantee that you will not tell anyone else what we are about to discuss."

Professor Sanchez, whose chest bore a pocket watch chain, spoke.

So the preferential treatment for priority trainees can be mentioned? Shade thought. He did not say anything like, "The following must not violate morality," but simply nodded. His ears seemed to catch the sound of cat claws scratching at the door, and he was deeply worried that Little Mia was damaging household property.

"I swear to keep it secret."

"Very well. We need to discuss your group of five. Your group has serious problems."

Miss Jones lowered her head to take notes, while Professor Garcia sat upright and listened. Professor Sanchez, who appeared to be over fifty, had a stern look in his eyes.

He opened his mouth to continue, but suddenly froze. Almost simultaneously with Professor Garcia, he looked toward the window of the Living Room.

At their request, Shade had closed the curtains. The thick fabric curtains completely blocked the warm yellow glow of the Gas Street Lamps in Ring Square. But now, pale silver steam mist had appeared beneath the curtains at some unknown time and was slowly spreading throughout the room.

"Mercury mist?"

Even though their Main Bodies were not in the Living Room of this Detective Agency, the two tenured professors still recognized what it was.

"Mr. Hamilton, someone is attempting to invade this place."

Professor Sanchez spoke, yet remained seated. Frowning, he looked at Shade.

"Have you done anything in the past two days?"

The Detective, covering his mouth and nose out of fear of mercury poisoning, immediately nodded. The moment he heard "mercury," he understood. Knowing this was not the time to conceal anything, he told them everything about the Old God statue. However, he did not mention when or where he had met That Lady, merely saying that he had found a reliable buyer.

The professors did not care that he had sold the Old God statue rather than handing it over to the Academy. The two exchanged glances, and Professor Garcia of the History College spoke in his less-than-standard Delarion Language:

"Then the matter is roughly clear. The buyer you found helped you eliminate Blood of Mercury's tracking of those who discovered the statue, but faint traces still remained. They had originally only intended to probe, but they did not expect you to happen to activate the ritual, confirming that you were a Ring Arcanist."

Shade did not know how the professors had reached that conclusion, much less how to describe this sort of Bad Luck.

"But there is no need to worry. I was the one who chose tonight as the meeting time, Mr. Hamilton. I will handle this."

Professor Sanchez said, looking at the secretary. She replied clearly:

"This complies with Academy regulations, but I must remind you, Professor, that during ritual projection, even a High-Ring Arcanist's own power will be weakened."

"It does not matter. Though Blood of Mercury is an ancient organization, its strongest contemporary member is merely the Nine-Ring Arcanist, the 'Silver-Eyed One.'"

Professor Sanchez spoke, taking the opportunity to explain some common knowledge to Shade:

"Ring Arcanists have thirteen rings, but Thirteenth Ring Warlocks are exceedingly rare in this era, and each has a title. Saint Byron's Thirteenth Ring Warlocks are our headmaster, Professor Pigman, the 'Silver Warden,' and Miss Danist, administrator of Saint Byron's Grand Library, the 'Red Moon Witch.' Below them, Ring Arcanists above the Tenth Ring are qualified to serve as Watchers of the Great Parishes of the Orthodox Church, or as tenured professors of the Academy. Outside the Church and the Academy, however, Arcanists above the Tenth Ring are rarely seen.

"Blood of Mercury has an ancient Inheritance and is said to have originated in the late Fourth Epoch, but it has now declined. Its main body is attached to the Blood Spirit School, which is hunted by the Five Gods Church. The inheritors of Blood of Mercury are far too obsessed with the angelic relic—Blood of Mercury."

The professor did not rise. As he spoke, the mercury mist had nearly reached everyone's feet from the window. Shade wondered whether he should remind the professors that their projections need not fear poisoning, but he himself was quite solid.

"But what is the Blood Spirit School?"

He trusted that Saint Byron's professors would not simply watch him die.

"Will you deal with these even older and more powerful madmen, or shall I?"

The vice dean of Saint Byron's asked the vice dean of the History College. After thinking for a moment, the latter spoke in calm but unskilled Delarion Language:

"Let me begin. At the very least, we need to know who they are and how much they know about Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton, watch carefully. This is the power of space."

PS: The original title for this chapter was going to be "Lighting a Gas Lamp in the Toilet," but it did not seem very elegant.