VOLUME 6: CHAPTER 14

VOLUME 6: CHAPTER 14

“What do you mean she’s not coming back?” said Lark.

“It happened after we entered Lion City,” Anandra handed Lark a sealed letter. “She asked me to give this to you, My Lord.”

After Lark received the letter, Anandra added, “Lady Chryselle, she spoke to me before she left.” 

“What did she say?” 

“It was… strange. She told me was that our lives will be in danger if she stayed with us any longer,” Anandra said unhappily. “She said that an organization called the Grand Order of Alaester is currently looking for her.”

It was the first time Lark heard of this organization. 

“Grand Order of Alaester,” repeated Lark. 

“It’s a group of magicians under the direct command of the Magic Academy,” said Tomas, the most proficient in magic among the knights. “Basically, they’re the magicians tasked to protect the academy. Although they also reside in Wizzert, they’re an entirely different organization from the Tower. But I wonder… Why are they’re looking for Lady Chryselle?”

Tomas mumbled the last part of his statement. The Princess and her knights weren’t aware of Chryselle’s true identity even now. 

“Then the Headmaster of the Magic Academy is probably involved in this incident,” said Lark. 

“I think so too, Lord Lark.” Tomas nodded. “He should be the only one with enough power to mobilize that elite group of magicians.” 

Several questions started popping up one after another. Lark remembered that Chryselle mentioned before that her great-great-grandfather was the founder of the Academy. Lark surmised that it must have something to do with this. 

Lark opened the letter left by Chryselle and read it.

The handwriting was beautiful, and the way it was written made it apparent that she had already thought of everything she would say before writing this letter. 

I’m sorry for leaving without telling you first, master. A messenger from my grandfather spoke to me in the capital after you’ve left. It seems that my brother finally found out the real identity of the person who attacked the Tower that night. He had been pressuring the Grand Order to mobilize their magicians. I’ll personally talk to my grandfather, the current Headmaster, regarding this. Please don’t look for me. I’ll take care of things on this side and make sure this doesn’t inconvenience master in the slightest. There’s no need to involve Blackstone Town in this mess. Please trust me. I’ll be sure to return soon, master Evander.

Lark stared at the last part of the letter for a long time. 

How did she realize his real identity? Although he’d performed magic far beyond the capabilities of the original owner of his body, it shouldn’t be enough for her to suspect her as the late Evander Alaester. 

Various thoughts ran through Lark’s mind. 

His blatant interest in the history of the Magic Empire. His deep understanding of magic. The way he rejected the teaching of the Grand Magician – Algrove Aria. His knowledge regarding magic towers, demons, and curses. Knowledge that should have been lost along with the fall of the Magic Empire. 

Although all of these pointed to the fact that he was a far greater magician than he made himself out to be, it shouldn’t have been enough for her to arrive at the absurd conclusion that he was Evander Alaester. There was no definitive evidence for her to single out a magician who died over a millennium ago.

And realization struck him.

The book he’d written back then. 

Principles of a Just Sovereign.

Chryselle was incredibly smart for her age. No wonder she became the youngest Elder of the Tower. She must have connected the pieces of the puzzle after reading it. 

“The pen name,” Lark clicked his tongue and said in a low voice, “I shouldn’t have used it after all.”

Lark found it amusing to use his previous name as the pen name for the books he’d written and distributed in Blackstone Town. But he realized that he had been too naïve. He should have accounted for situations like these. 

Lark sighed, folded the letter, and tucked it in his pocket. 

“What did she say, master?” said George. 

“She’s coming back, don’t worry.” Lark patted the kid’s head. “She has something to take care of at home. That’s all.” 

“Really?” said George. 

“Of course,” Lark smiled. 

George nodded in satisfaction after hearing this reply. 

***

Time quickly passed by. 

Winter had ended and spring finally arrived, but Chryselle still hadn’t returned to Blackstone Town.

A small feast, sponsored by the Lord, was held in Blackstone Town. This was to celebrate the opening of the Town Hall – a massive building that towered over all other structures. At the same time, the school was also opened. And as though the Gods were smiling upon Lark, the teachers Big Mona recruited in Lion City and Mavas City finally arrived at Blackstone Town. 

Lark expected for two or three of them to answer the recruitment, but surprisingly, there was a large number of them. Five men and two women. 

“Ah, welcome,” said Lark. “Pardon me for asking the servants to lead you here and not in the mansion. It’s the opening ceremony for the Town Hall, you see.” 

The teachers looked at the flowers currently adorning the entrance to the massive structure in front of them. Next to the entrance was a four-meter long bronze placard. The words ‘Town Hall’ was carved on it. 

Not far from them, several servants were handing out free food sponsored by the Lord. People were excitedly chatting with each other as they ate, all the while casting admiring glances at the Town Hall every now and then. 

Although it looked plain at first glance, it was the largest building in Blackstone Town. Moreover, rumors that this building would one day become the core of this territory had already spread far and wide. Several people had been showing interest in working together with the ministers Lark had appointed. 

“You must have been tired from your journey,” Lark said to the teachers. “We’ve prepared a small feast for the ceremony. Please eat to your heart’s content.” 

Some of the teachers looked at each other. More than half of them went here out of curiosity and not because they had been swayed by money. After hearing that they were going to be teaching commoners instead of nobles, most of the teachers here decided to see the Lord of Blackstone Town himself. They wanted to know what he was like, and what was his aim for offering an exorbitant amount just to let his commoner subjects obtain an education in Blackstone Town. 

He’s a lot more… polite and refined than the rumors, the teachers thought. 

The teachers took Lark’s offer and partook in the feast. Meanwhile, Lark started introducing the officers in charge for the ministries. Oliver, Pico, Silverclaw, Clarkson, Melody, and the rest of the officers delivered a short speech one after another. 

Since most of the officers here belonged to the original residents of Blackstone Town, most of them were familiar faces. The residents would cheer whenever these men came to the rostrum and delivered their stutter-filled speeches. Only Silverclaw remained unperturbed when speaking in front of so many people. 

After the introductions were finished, one of the teachers said to Lark, “These officers of yours. It seems to me that they are quite… loved by your people.”

Lark smiled. “Of course. They’d been working so hard to improve this town, after all. Without them, it would have been impossible for me to make all of these developments happen. They’re the treasures of Blackstone Town.” 

The teachers were surprised that such humble words came out of Lark’s mouth. He had a terrible reputation, after all. Although nowadays, after the war with the Empire, some people started praising him as a hero. 

“Lord, please forgive my impertinence, but I believe that all of us had been meaning to ask you this question,” said one of the teachers. “I heard that the reason you are recruiting these many teachers is for the sake of the commoners.”

The other teachers attentively listened to the conversation. They were also eager to find out the answer to the upcoming question. 

“I wonder,” said the teacher. “What is the reason behind this, Lord Lark? I would have understood it if it was for the sake of some nobles. But the commoners… They have no way of paying you back. To them, the cost of education is simply too astronomical.”

In the entire Kingdom, only nobles were capable of availing the service of educators like them. Only nobles and the children of wealthy merchants had enough money to enter academies. This was the reason why a common soldier did not even know how to read or write. The only exceptions were those who served the Royal Family, since all of those soldiers came from exemptional backgrounds before enlisting as guards and knights. 

Even Melody, the so-called Scholar, was simply lucky to have learned her knowledge from the noble she served back when she was still living in Lion City. The rest of what she currently knew was taught to her by Lark. 

“There are no expectations. They don’t have to pay me back,” said Lark, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Education is free in my Blackstone Town.”

The eyes of the teachers widened upon hearing this. Free education for commoners? How absurd. It must have taken the Lord a fortune to hire all of these teachers, but he was going to let his subjects study for free? It was akin to throwing money on the streets. 

“As much as I like King Alvis, I believe that he’s at fault in our Kingdom’s current predicament,” said Lark. “He focuses too much on diplomatic relationship and the nobles. He had forgotten to focus on fundamental things. He should have abolished slavery long ago and gave the commoners free education. Even a simple merit system for non-noble students should have been enough if there aren’t enough funds.”

The teachers looked around, worried that someone had heard Lark badmouthing His Majesty. Had the royal guards heard this, Lark would have been forcefully dragged into the dungeons for slandering the Royal Family. Thankfully, everyone around them was currently enjoying the feast and it seemed that none, except the teachers, heard it. 

“Well, he loves his subjects, I’m sure.” Lark shrugged. “And I heard that he’s a lot better than our previous ruler. That tyrant King who even waged war with the Great Empire and the United Grakas Alliance.”

“L-Lord, please stop. You might get dragged to the chopping block if someone heard these things and reported it,” said one of the teachers. 

Lark grinned. He playfully said, “Not if every one of you remains silent about this.”

Lark looked at the teachers gathered around him. His voice turned serious as he said to them, “The farmers, the soldiers, even the paupers living in this town. I consider all of them as my children. The children of Blackstone Town.” 

It felt incongruous hearing these words from a young man like Lark, someone young enough to be their son. But for some strange reason, the teachers felt that all of what he had just said wasn’t a lie. 

“Blackstone Town will always treat its children equally. No matter the race, gender, status, no matter the age. I see no reason why the commoners shouldn’t be given an opportunity to obtain even the most basic of education.”

“Money will never be an issue. You will be given the promised salary each month. You have my word for it. My only wish is that you treat each of my subjects equally. Please teach them well so that they would someday become the pillars of Blackstone Town.”