Just as Farolynch had suspected, something major had happened. But his limited perspective and lack of information meant he had no idea just how major it was. All he wanted now was to take his people into hiding.
Twelve more days had passed since Mulan had used the Black Castle's highest-level Ritual Array without authorization, nearly exhausting the magical energy stored in its core crystal.
During those twelve days, Mulan had submitted no report or explanation. Instead, he had gone back and forth between his office and the library, used the Golden Magic Hall's Ritual Array several more times, and gone almost two weeks without teaching his students.
It was easy to assume that Mulan had entered some special phase of research, and that using the Black Castle's Ritual Array had also been necessary for that research.
Walton had not sought Mulan out immediately. He had expected the Queen to summon him for questioning soon, at which point he would bring Mulan along to explain. Yet the incident had caused not so much as a ripple, as though it had simply passed without consequence.
Walton understood that the Queen had suppressed the matter herself. Did that mean Mulan was conducting some extremely important research for her?
After almost two weeks, Walton finally began to lose patience. He went to the Magic Department, intending to ask Mulan directly.
But Mulan was taking some time to teach a student in his office, and Walton could hardly barge in. Still, he found it strange. Mulan was not even holding public lectures, yet he was teaching one student privately? Puzzled, he could only return to his own office and wait.
Walton could count on one hand the number of times he had entered the Magic Department's first office. Still, he had to admit that