As Darian walked behind Claire towards the dean's office, his mind filled with thoughts of the academy's dean, and he was flooded with many questions. What would be the reason for asking him to suddenly call me for this visit? Perhaps a warning or something else. Darian looked at Claire, judging by her posture and everything, he concluded that the reason was something, maybe Claire doesn't know either.
As he marched towards a room filled with thought, he thought about the man he was about to meet, Adrian Cross; even in the novel, which was always vague about many of its characters, Adrian always stood out. However, being the dean of the academy, he is one of the highest-ranking mages, an archmage. He was a political powerhouse as well as the godfather of the protagonists, especially for Elaine, who was constantly harassed by nobles. His reason for that was simple: he was friends with the Empress and Elaine's mother. They had been close companions in their youth; I guess their friendship was so thick that he actually readmitted Darian because of Mireal's request. thinking about it, does Darian's mother have any friends? Well, whatever.
Claire opened the door, inviting Darian to enter the room with her arms and elegant posture.
"You may enter, Your Highness," she said with elegant posture. Darian entered, and she closed the door, leaving Darian in the room. He fixed his eyes on the man sitting in front of him, his long pale hair matching the description in the novel, his hands clasped, his palms pressed against his mouth, as he was eternally waiting for him.
Darian used his mana gaze on him, evaluating his power. No way! The seventh circle, that's the highest level of mage circles. Archmages aren't called the strongest mages in this world for nothing.
Adrian looked at Darian closely and opened his mouth, breaking the silence, "Your Highness, do you know the reason for the unexpected meeting?"
Darian sat on the chair. "I don't know, you tell me!"
"Fine, let's get to the point. How did you know about flame dragon's breath?"
"Ah, I see. It seems Professor Truefold has already explained why his lecture was cut short."
"No, I have my ways of knowing what happens at the academy. I asked him about it, but he was reluctant at first. Eventually, he told me."
"Even though he told you or you found out about it, it doesn't matter to me. Why should I tell someone I don't trust, or who is an ally of the empress faction?"
He took a deep breath as his expression turned from serious to desperate. "Your highness, do you know anything about Dominus Arcanorum?"
"Why should I care about something like that? It's none of the things I am concerned about," Darian replied.
"We mages are of different ranks, your highness, from a one-circled novice to a grand seven-circled mage like me, as you have seen."
Damn it! , he noticed I used my mana gaze on him, Darian murmured.
"What do mages have to do with the blue flame and dragons?"
"When the flame dragon Draganoier went rogue about 21 years ago," he continued, "I was only about a third-circle mage at that time, and my master was called the Dominus Arcanorum, the only eighth-circled transcendent mage."
Darian is shocked at what he heard, even though he, who knows pretty much about the novel as well as how strong an arch mage is, couldn't imagine what kind of monster would be someone who broke through the barrier of strong.
Adrian continued, "he went to stop the flame dragon with the saintess Maria and your grandfather, the late emperor Doberian. They were able to seal it successfully, but after that, he vanished without a trace."
"I did search for him, but I couldn't find or track him down. I was wondering if you could tell me more about who taught you about the dragon flame, perhaps I could...."
"Sorry to say this, Headmaster, my knowledge about flame is from a book without ties to anyone." Also, it's just random physics I used learn in school, nothing more than that, Darian thought in his mind.
"I could go for an oath of truth if you don't believe me."
"That won't be necessary, your highness. I trust your words, and you could leave."
Darian left the office; his mind was filled with more thoughts than ever before. It seems there is more to this world than I read from Lady Lyra's works, eight-circled mage, huh! I wonder if I could meet him.
Darian walked toward his dormitory. The constant events of the day had exhausted him, and the only thing on his mind was getting some proper rest and waiting to see what would happen next.