The Dark Plains.
This place, once crowded with Academy researchers and students, had changed.
After Mahoraga's arrival, the researchers had returned to the Academy, leaving the area all but deserted.
When they later tried to return and resume their unfinished work, they were ordered to stay at the Academy and forbidden from leaving.
Further research into the deepest underground space beneath Lahai Luo would likely have to wait until the Academy had resolved all its internal troubles.
When would those troubles be fully resolved? When could the researchers return?
No one knew.
Since the Tunneler had closed the Tunneler Gate, the Academy had shown noticeably less interest in discussing or funding the development of this underground space.
Even Star Torch Academy's overall operations had slowed considerably.
But that was not what the people within the Academy wanted.
The Academy was full of differing voices and opinions.
Yet those voices belonged to talented people from across Solaris, people with knowledge, curiosity, and a drive to explore.
Naturally, none of them wanted to abandon the work halfway through.
But the Academy's mission to study the Tunneler and Void Matter involved too many competing interests. In the end, they had been left with little choice.
With the Tunneler having closed the Tunneler Gate and taken up residence outside Solaris, the Academy had lost a vital research subject. Its backers had begun to walk away.
As a result, the Academy now faced a serious funding crisis.
Those were the problems giving Losera a headache as she tried to find a solution.
As for the threat posed by the Void Matter and Tacet Discords still in the Dark Plains?
The Academy had a "blade" that was not subject to strict oversight, and she was clearing them out.
Shing! Slash!
Feixue drew her sword, froze