Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1203 1203: The True Nature

The three Psychics looked at one another in silence.

"A rogue Arcanist…" Mica remarked in a low voice.

"He’s been lurking here, using spells as a deterrent to keep people away..."

Despite the situation, they could sense that the quality of the talismans being employed was mediocre at best. It was likely that the individual was a Fourth-Class Arcanist, just like them, though he appeared to be self-taught rather than formally trained…

Without further hesitation, they advanced into the townhouse. The old wooden floorboards groaned under their weight as they moved forward.

"He's here…" Zhang Wei whispered the moment the target entered the range of his Magic Zone…

They discovered him in the rear room…

Leaning against the wall was a man dressed in tattered, blood-stained robes. His shallow breaths and trembling hands, which gripped a partially scorched talisman, betrayed his weakened state.

He was conscious and fully aware of their arrival.

Liang Chen approached with caution. "He’s wounded. Look at the equipment he’s holding and the protective wards scattered around him… I suspect he arranged all this to ensure his privacy while he recovered."

The man’s eyes flickered open… Upon seeing that his intruders were merely children, a sense of relief washed over him…

"Stay back… or you'll all get hurt," the man warned.

A faint smile played on the lips of the three students, as they doubted the man possessed the strength to actually harm them.

Being Psychic Arts Practitioners, they already possessed a deep understanding of his mental state and current predicament.

Zhang Wei signaled for calm by raising his hand. He intended to manage the situation with the composure of a true Psychic.

"We aren’t here to cause you trouble. We are Arcanists from the Academy. Your presence has sparked a panic in this district. Why are you hiding here?"

The man let out a cough upon learning they were students… His voice was raspy from dehydration and hunger, yet he managed to answer...

"I… was caught in an ambush by assassins. I barely managed to flee. Now leave... I will depart once my strength returns. I have no desire to injure people like you."

Simply leaving wouldn't fulfill their mission requirements, so the three students needed to find a resolution. They could escort him to the authorities, or alternatively, assist in his recovery so he could be sent on his way.

Regardless of their choice, they noted that his wards hadn't actually claimed any lives. Their assessment suggested the man was truly just attempting to frighten people off to avoid being discovered.

Mica dropped to a kneel beside him…

"You’ve terrified this entire neighborhood. People were convinced that Evil Spirits were on the hunt. If you required assistance, you should have contacted the Authorities. Since you avoided them, you’re likely a criminal, aren’t you? You owe compensation to the merchant who lost a fortune because of your little stunt…"

He shook his head feebly. "I'm not a criminal… but if I seek help, my enemies will track me down. I cannot risk involving the authorities."

The man’s response was earnest.

In truth, he found it strange that he was speaking so candidly to these three young students.

He wasn't the sort of person to divulge secrets to strangers. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he felt a strong urge to explain his entire situation to them!

'This… what is happening?'

His intention had been to frighten the students away, but instead, he felt like a patient undergoing a counseling session with the three of them.

Liang Chen stood with his arms crossed. "So instead of seeking help, you decided to terrorize the local civilians? That was a reckless move."

Zhang Wei sighed. "In any case, we can’t leave him in this state. He requires medical attention. Furthermore, the district deserves the truth… that there were no Evil Spirits, only an injured Arcanist hiding out and scaring people."

The man looked down, appearing somewhat ashamed of his actions.

The three students soon concluded their interrogation, during which time the man had surrendered every piece of information he possessed.

The man, named Keith, hailed from the Solstice Kingdom… He had come to Clovis City within the Shadow Domain for a simple objective: to monitor the events of this small nation. He wasn't involved in high-stakes sabotage against Airships or Academy Supplies.

His role was merely to report on even the most mundane occurrences in the Shadow Domain… It was difficult to even label him a spy, considering his reports contained information that could be found in any local newspaper.

"I suppose they simply want to stay informed?"

"Hmm… That isn't very shocking. Knowledge is power, after all."

"And it’s not as if sharing local news with outsiders is a crime."

"Mhmm… That’s true."

The three students weighed their options. This was their first experience navigating such a complex situation.

"H-hey… You aren’t going to turn me over to the Authorities, are you? I meant no harm. I just needed a place to heal. I don't have much money, but I can offer you something…"

Mica stood up and glanced at her teammates.

"Perhaps we should report this to Professor Jamie. He can determine his fate… But first, we should stabilize his injuries."

Liang Chen gave a reluctant nod. "Fine. At least we’ve solved the mystery of the disturbances."

However, Zhang Wei shook his head in disagreement.

"There is no need to overcomplicate this. We should simply make use of this man. Aside from his mysterious enemies, nobody in the city is even aware he exists."

As he spoke, Mica and Liang began to smile… For months, they had been hiding their true personalities. It seemed the time had finally come to let the mask slip.

Unbeknownst to the man, the three of them had been subtly manipulating his mind throughout the entire conversation… He didn't realize it yet, but he would not be leaving this city until they permitted it.

It wasn't a specific technique of the Psychic Arts, but rather the raw influence of their Mental Energy seeping into another's consciousness.

Seeing that his companions were in agreement, Zhang Wei placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. He channeled a soft Mind Shock to dispel the lingering fog in the man's thoughts.

"Rest now. You are safe. However, you will have to answer for the chaos you’ve caused."

As Zhang Wei spoke with a sinister grin, Keith’s eyes suddenly went vacant…

He would never be seen in public again.

***

Roughly thirty minutes later, the merchant, who had been waiting outside in a state of anxiety, felt a wave of relief when the students emerged…

He hurried toward them immediately. "Well? Have the Spirits been dealt with?"