Doggone Academy

Chapter 75 The Blood-stained Entrance Ceremony (10)

Chapter 75 The Blood-stained Entrance Ceremony (10)

As the first part of the entrance ceremony concluded, a brief intermission occurred before the start of the second part.

The majority of male students gazes were fixed on a woman seated in the resplendent guest section.

Is that her?

I cant see very well.

It was the Duchess of Gaius.

Even as she sat with her legs crossed and her hands poised elegantly atop her thighs, her noble elegance was apparent.

She wore a black hat adorned with feathers and flowers that, due to its brim and the feathers, half-covered her already small face.

Thus, all that these onlookers could confirm was her delicate jawline and the seductively painted red lips.

Just before the start of the ceremony, a few had gathered the courage to greet the Duchess, but they only found shame, rebuffed by her entourage.

Now of marriageable age, and with attention focusing on her accordingly, information about her was sparse.

What little could be heard were but rumors swirling around the Duchess of Gaius.

Its about a marriage proposal.

Is she here looking for a potential suitor?

Students entering Eternia all grew up hearing they were geniuses, and their inflated egos led them to hope that perhaps the Duchess would take notice of their talents, even if just once.

I heard she came to see Varienne.

Hmm, I guess she wouldnt settle for anybody of mediocre status.

So only someone like Varienne could approach her The barrier is just too high.

The male students, who had been looking at the Duchess from afar and indulging in grandiose dreams and delusions, returned to reality at the mention of Variennes name.

In the shadow of Variennes name, their swollen egos deflated instantly.

He was akin to the alpha among animals.

With his family, power, talent, and overwhelming masculinity emitting from his very being.

Moreover, he had achievements they wouldnt dare contemplate, like conquering a large magical beast.

Rumors of his fierce temperament circulated so that merely standing next to him would naturally invoke a sense of intimidation.

Thus, they quickly accepted that there was no other man in the same league as Boost except Varienne.

As the group of disheartened students seemed to lose hope, a man adorned with the entourage rank insignia of the Duchy approached them.

He surveyed the students before clearing his throat and declared,

My name is Gerald, servant to the Duchess of Gaius. I am here because theres someone in urgent need that we are looking for

With the sudden appearance of the Duchesss attendant, their eyes went wide with shock.

?

Where is a student named Damian?

***

Dingy stone walls and worn-out furniture. The only windows were barred and no larger than notebook-sized gaping.

The sanctuarys reception room was rugged to an excessive degree. Rather than a place to welcome guests, it carried the strong impression of a detention center.

Given that the number of visitors to the altar was so few they could be counted on one hand, it was understandable that the reception room was in such a state.

Silveryn rested her chin on the armrest of her chair, occasionally letting out a small sigh as she glanced out of the tiny window.

She could have waited in a better space, but Silveryn rejected it because it had no window.

Without a window, Stitch couldnt fly in.

As the time for the expected reply passed without word, Silveryns mood grew somewhat gloomy.

It was unfamiliar for her to await someones letter to such a degree.

Speculating the reasons for the delay caused emotional fluctuations.

During this, Priest Price entered the reception room and informed her,

The preparations for the ritual are completed.

Okay.

Lets proceed.

In turn, like a cat of prey or a ferocious beast, Damian moved sideways slowly.

The other party mirrored his movements as if facing a reflection in a mirror.

An inhumanly eerie aura raised the hairs on the back of Damians neck.

It was as though he were confronting the Grim Reaper itself.

After a tense standoff, Damian was the first to speak.

Youre a dark mage.

In response to Damians words, the figure slowly nodded its head.

What brings you to Eternia?

To Damians surprise, the voice that answered was a gentle and calm females.

I have come to discern the will of the gods.

As Damian took a sidestep, the dark mage mimicked, shifting precisely one step to the side as well.

She was mirroring Damians movements exactly.

Why? Its not like you appear to be favored by any god.

The gods do not love all mortals, you see. As you can tell from the corpses surrounding you.

Then what is your real purpose? Are you here to bring about Eternias destruction while seeking to confirm the gods will?

I have simply come to fetch the gods most cherished child. I merely had to ensure that anyone obstructing me pays the price.

Damian, still in a confrontation with the dark mage, sensed another presence drifting through the mist.

Something was orbiting him eerily close. And occasionally, it let out a shriek that could split ones ears.

It was a wraith. Dark and amorphous forms were hovering like a flock of crows, awaiting their chance.

With every step he made, something squishy was underfoot.

Black leeches the size of finger joints erupted from the earth, clinging to his shoes and crawling up menacingly.

Death was encircling Damian little by little.

So Did you find what you were looking for?

Though the face was not visible, it seemed as though the dark mage was smiling.

Not yet.

Damians gaze locked onto the dark mage as he reached for the potion pouch at his waist.

He sensed something strange and flinched. All the potion bottles vibrated in unison.

As Damian drew out a vial of griffin potion, the wraith wails intensified.

The potion bottle, resonating with the cry, broke with a sharp pop.

Following this, the remaining potions in the pouch burst one after another, leaking their contents.

A familiar scent indeed.

Youve made this using Zverevs recipe.

Zverev?

Upon hearing that name from the dark mage, Damians pupils wavered.

It was the name of the crazed alchemist of Weisel, who had developed the formula for the griffin potion.

And Damian realized that the dark mage knew he had obtained the recipe.

The dark mage spoke as if familiar with Damian, at least enough to have been watching him from somewhere.

Since when? From the time of the social gatherings of the Weisel Knights?

When he fought ghouls in the basement of Zverevs mansion?

When he met Silveryn in the unexplored territories?

Perhaps, and perhaps, they had been observing him even longer than that.