Throne of Magical Arcana

“Really?” Donnie, Sammy, and Jones stood up at the same time, with delight and disbelief beaming out of their faces.

Karl nodded heavily. “Of course. I’m too familiar with my brother’s handwriting and seal.”

“I mean, is he really confident about that? Did he specify the cause or tell you who was behind it?” Although Donnie knew that Karl’s brother was probably a strong and influential big shot, he did not know the guy in person after all. Also, it was a matter that concerned his own safety. So, he couldn’t help but ask again, refusing to believe it so easily.

Karl tossed the note in his hands to Donnie. “He couldn’t have made the statement without a 90% confidence. Well, he only said that it was not a common dream in the domain of illusion but involved something more sophisticated. He did not point out who the mastermind was. I estimate that he must be still investigating and hasn’t drawn any conclusion yet. The only thing certain is that the enemy is not as formidable as we thought. So, we’ll pretend that we have forgotten the matter while we secretly observe and wait…”

Donnie looked at the note in his hands. The content was basically what Karl said, but of course, in a much more concise way. At the end of the note was a seal in the shape of a black hat, which seemed common but carried distinctive air.

“But I really don’t think it’s very safe…” Jones muttered. However, there was nothing he could do. Reporting it to the college recklessly might put himself in danger.

Sammy took a breath in relief. He extended his right hand to his left shoulder to pat the ghost, which had been rather lethargic recently. Then, he yawned and said obscurely, “Since Karl’s brother put it that way, there is no need for us to be worried about the matter. I’m so sleepy.”

Donnie’s facial muscles twitched. “Sammy, I don’t think you are taking it seriously. So far, the real cause of the matter and the mastermind haven’t been found out. How can we not be worried?”

“So what? What else can we do except to be more careful?” Sammy was rather carefree. He took off his clothes and got on his bed.

Karl smiled, and his eyes were twinkling. “There’s really nothing to be scared of now that my brother is on it. If that nightmare happens to us again, we are going to explore it well…”

He was obviously eager again.

Donnie couldn’t help thinking to himself that the guy seemed rather confident in his brother.

……

The next day in the morning, the four people of Room 202 were busy washing up and brushing their teeth when they heard heavy door knocks.

Donnie put on his magic robe and walked over, opening the door. “Come on… Mr. Robert?”

It was the dead-looking Mr. Robert who stood outside of the door. The red needle-like brilliance in his eyes and the clear veins on his emaciated face chilled Donnie.

Why was he here in person?

Despite his horrible look, Robert had a gentle and comforting voice. “I happened to be passing the Life Tower, and I dropped by and came to ask you if you are willing to join the Heidler Branch of the Heredity Laboratory as apprentice-level assistants?”

“What Heidler Branch of the Heredity Laboratory? Is it an institution that Mr. Felipe has established in the college? Does ‘you’ include Donnie, me, Sammy, and Jones, or only some of us? Mr. Robert, I am really interested in genetic factors, and I have a reasonably good understanding of that…” Karl charged out with a toothbrush in his hands and white foams flowing from his mouth as he blurted out his questions and self-introductions.

At this moment, the apprentices who were going to the teaching tower noticed Robert who had a special appearance. They stopped and looked at Donnie and his roommates in shock.

The Heidler Branch of the Heredity Laboratory? Is it true?

Donnie, Sammy, and Jones were too shocked to speak anything. They were crammed at the door and looked at Robert earnestly, waiting for his answer.

“Because it is convenient to conduct certain experiments with high requirements in the World of Souls thanks to its special conditions, Mr. Felipe has been planning to set up a branch of the Heredity Laboratory here. A few days ago, the basic arrangements were settled, and the recruitment began. I was the first arcanist to be picked by Mr. Felipe,” Robert explained the reasons unhurriedly. “Because of your questions in the open class, you left some impression on Mr. Felipe, so he asked me about you when he decided to hire apprentice-level assistants. Since I was very satisfied with your efforts, I recommended you to him seriously.”

Pausing for a moment, he added, “It includes Karl, Donnie, and Jones.”

The apprentices around were finally back to themselves as they gasped hard. It was really the Heidler Branch of the Heredity Laboratory! They were really going to study under Mr. Felipe! Why were they chosen instead of other people?

Shocked and jealous, many apprentices couldn’t have regretted more. Had they known it in advance, they would have raced to ask questions like Karl did to leave a good impression on Mr. Felipe. Everybody in the Life Tower knew Karl’s name because of his special appearance.

“Really?” Donnie and Jones asked in disbelief again. Sammy, on the other hand, lowered his head in frustration. He was an apprentice who majored in the soul, after all, and the Heredity Laboratory certainly wouldn’t pick him.

Robert nodded. “Why would I lie to you about that? Mr. Felipe remembers you because he has always believed that the arcanists who do not ask whys are not qualified arcanists.”

It was something President Douglas said before. All the apprentices knew it very well, but now that they heard it again, they felt that their remorse was biting their hearts like rats. They shouldn’t have been restrained by shyness, fear, or other feelings! They must be bolder to ask whys in the future!

“It’s… It’s fantastic! Thank you, Mr. Robert…” Donnie expressed his gratitude excitedly. Although Mr. Felipe had asked about them, they wouldn’t have been picked without their mentor’s recommendation.

Jones was stunned. He had an ignorant smile on his face, as if he had entered his “domain”. The surprise came too unexpectedly. He wasn’t prepared at all!

Robert nodded and said expressionlessly, “It seems that you are all willing to accept the offer. Then, you can come to my office later. I’ll bring you to the branch of the laboratory to check in.”

“Mr. Robert, what will we mostly do as apprentice-level assistants? Help with experiment materials? Observe and feed the creatures we cultivate? Or will we analyze them with the knowledge in the studies of magic crystals?” Seeing that plenty of people were watching, Karl quietly put down the toothbrush and got rid of the foams in his mouth. He was a graceful gentleman who valued manners!

“Somebody will tell you what to do.” Robert’s lips twitched as he ignored Karl’s storm of questions.

“How marvelous!” Jones wasn’t back to himself until Robert was far away. He then waved his arms excitedly.

……

After the lift descended to the hall, it did not stop. Instead, it emitted a pale brightness that was connected to the mentor’s badge on Robert’s chest, before it continued descending into the darkness.

“Well, is the laboratory below the ground?” Karl looked around in excitement and curiosity.

Donnie turned around, pretending that he did not know the guy. Although his roommate looked as quiet and peaceful as a lake, the guy was actually like an energetic cat.

Robert simply turned a deaf ear to Karl’s incessant questions.

After a while, the lift stopped, and the pale curtain of light was opened. A silver metal shuttle-shaped object appeared up ahead. Robert stepped on it first.

“We need to take an underground shuttle?” Karl asked joyfully.

Neither Donnie nor Jones had seen it before, and they were rather ill at ease. They were grateful for Karl’s introduction.

“Yes.” Robert nodded.

The underground shuttle was closed and moved forward along the tunnel quickly. After three minutes, it came to a stop slowly. On its left side were two silver metal gates that were cold and splendid.

Robert waved a strange badge at it, and the gate backed off from two directions, revealing a pathway with walls that were like an orange beehive. It was shaped in such an astounding style that even Karl subconsciously stopped talking.

After they passed the channel in silence, many different roads stretched out before them. At the end of every road was a different metal gate.

“I’ll lead you to apply for the entrance badge first,” Robert said briefly.

As he spoke, the metal gate on one of the roads was opened, and Felipe walked out with his hands in the pockets of his black long coat.

“Good morning, Mr. Felipe!” Donnie and Jones greeted him in excitement. Karl was late, but he also paid his respects.

Felipe glanced at them and briefly stopped on everyone’s face. Then, he said casually, “This place is not your playground. I hope that you can remember that.”

“Of course, Mr. Felipe.” While Donnie and his roommates replied, Felipe had already moved past them and walked to the other side.

Suddenly, he stopped and said without turning around, “Do not ask Karl to run any experiment yet. Let him be familiarized with the work of the research groups first.”

Donnie was secretly amused. Had Karl’s notoriety as the “laboratory vandal” spread to the ears of Mr. Felipe too?

Karl pursed his lips and couldn’t have looked more wronged.

At this moment, Donnie’s heart suddenly raced, as if something deep inside the laboratory or further into the ground was summoning him.

What’s that? Donnie stared at the wall in a daze, uncertain whether or not it was his illusion, because the feeling of being summoned flashed fast.

He observed Karl and Jones, whom he almost ignored, only to discover that they sensed nothing. He was even more confused. Did he really have an illusion because he was too worried?

“It’s inconvenient to ask right now. We can discuss after we are back in the dormitory…” Donnie held back his anxiety.

……

At night, in Room 202 of the Life Tower…

Because Karl and Jones did not have the feeling, and neither did Sammy who was having a class, Donnie’s strange feeling did not raise much attention. After all, they believed that somebody was taking care of it for him.

In his sleepiness, Donnie’s heart raced again, and he seemed to see the color of fire in the darkness.

He opened his eyes quickly, only to find himself lying before a tombstone. Sammy, Karl, and Jones were not far away from him, and they were observing the environment with confusion.