Reborn with a Necromancer System - Chapter 74

Chapter 74: The Headmaster
Kai entered the academy’s grand halls, his gaze scanning the intricate architecture and enchanted torches that flickered with an ethereal glow. The marble floors gleamed beneath his boots, and statues and paintings of past scholars and powerful mages stood proudly in certain areas, their carved and painted faces frozen in expressions of wisdom and authority.

As he wandered through the corridors, uncertain of his destination, he approached a group of students chatting near an ornate fountain. “Excuse me,” he said. “Could you point me in the direction to the headmaster’s office?”

A group of girls turned to him, their eyes assessing him with curiosity. One of them, a blonde with bright blue eyes, tilted her head. “Oh? Are you new here?”

Kai gave a small nod. “Something like that.”

The girls exchanged amused glances before chatting amongst themselves, giggling, and then nodding in agreement. “In that case, we’d be more than happy to guide you,” another girl, a brunette with a playful smirk, said. “It can be a little tricky to find on your first day.”

‘Surely they won’t try and trick me, right? They won’t lead me to the tough kids’ area and I’ll get into a fight that results in a duel for the love of the most popular girl in school?’

Kai hesitated for a moment before sighing inwardly. It was better than wandering aimlessly. “Alright. Lead the way.”

They eagerly took the lead, chatting among themselves as they walked. Occasionally, one of them would glance back at Kai, whispering something to the others before giggling again. He pretended not to notice.

Eventually, they stopped before a pair of grand oak doors, an ornate golden plaque marking it as the headmaster’s office.

‘I guess there’s no duel today. Maybe I can trust the students here. Emille gave the academy a poor first impression.’

The girls walked off, giggling and chatting away again, leaving Kai to face the headmaster alone.

A faint hum of arcane energy lingered in the air around them. He pressed his fingers against the polished wood, pushing them open with a slow, deliberate motion. The doors creaked loudly.

Inside, the office was as imposing as the woman who occupied it.

The headmaster sat at an ancient wooden desk in a large wooden chair lined with stuffed red leather. Her beady eyes peered over a pair of delicate, gold-rimmed spectacles. She looked ancient, with deeply wrinkled skin and silvered hair bound tightly in a bun.

As he stepped inside, he noticed faint runes etched into the walls and floor, glowing softly in response to his presence. Magical defenses. He was certain they could turn lethal if triggered. A sentient quill floated beside the headmaster, jotting down notes on a parchment, as if recording everything that took place in the room.

The sheer amount of mana swirling around her made Kai uneasy. Even worse than when Orlin’s curse unfolded.

Shelves lined with thick, leather-bound tomes filled the walls, and a grand magical globe hovered in the air behind her, shifting and changing with swirling lights.

Kai instinctively reached out with his life essence to gauge her power, but the moment his energy touched hers, it was like being struck by a tidal wave of sheer force. His stomach twisted violently, and for a brief moment, he thought he might actually vomit. He quickly withdrew his energy, fighting to keep his expression neutral.

The old woman’s gaze flickered with amusement as she tapped a finger against her desk. “Brave of you to try that, boy. You’ve got some nerve.”

Kai steadied himself, swallowing his nausea. “I had to know what I was dealing with.”

“What? You think I’m a what? I’m a who, you brat. You’re dealing with a woman who doesn’t have time for interruptions,” she said curtly. “The academy is currently at full capacity for the year. If you wish to enroll, return in eleven months when the next intake exams are held.” She was already shifting her focus back to a parchment on her desk when Kai reached into his cloak and pulled out Orlin’s letter.

He placed it in front of her without a word.

She stared at the parchment for a moment, her fingers hovering over it before finally picking it up. As she unfolded it, her sharp eyes flicked across the contents, her expression unreadable.

“So,” she murmured, tapping the letter against her palm, “the man who taught a thousand students finally sends one my way?” Her gaze lifted to Kai’s. “And you didn’t die? So, can I assume…”

Kai’s breath hitched. ‘She knew Orlin? A thousand students? So, those corpses beneath the manor were…’

He nodded. “My master has left this world.”

A slow sigh left her lips. “Finally. That old bastard deserved to rest.” She leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temple. “So, I take it you wish to be a late enrollment into my academy?”

“I do.”

“You don’t seem sure.” Her voice was sharp, testing. “I can’t have uncertain students in my academy.”

“It’s not that I’m unsure,” Kai clarified. “I just… How did you know my master?”

Her eyes darkened slightly, a flicker of nostalgia passing over her expression. “Orlin? In my travels about sixty years ago, I broke through the magic in that cursed city and met him. We nearly killed each other, but the curse placed on him obviously kept him from dying. I’d ask how you removed it, but I think I’d best be kept in the dark.”

Kai offered a faint smirk. “Probably for the best.”

The headmaster leaned forward, steepling her fingers. “So, your name is Mirlin Orth. A clever play on words. ‘Orth’ isn’t a known family name, though, so you may have trouble explaining your lineage. Is that acceptable?”

“My family line?’ Kai hesitated before answering, choosing his words carefully. “I was born in a small country village outside of the eight provinces. My mother was a healer, my sister a divine cleric, and my father a tender. Would that work well enough?”

The headmaster studied him closely, as if trying to catch a lie. Then, with a slight nod, she said, “Hmm… That’s the truth, isn’t it? Being related to a divine cleric would provide enough credibility to your bloodline to keep some people off your case, but…”

“I will still be seen as low-born?” Kai finished for her. He squared his shoulders. “I’m proud of the family I grew up with. I can show everyone my skills and shut them up myself. A person’s value isn’t determined by their family or friends.”

For the first time since he entered the room, the headmaster’s expression softened slightly. It was fleeting, but Kai caught it.

The headmaster kept looking through Orlin’s letter of recommendation.

“You’re an elementalist?” she asked. “Rank nine? What magic can you use?”

“Ice, Lightning, Fire, and Strengthening.”

The headmaster raised an eyebrow. “Lightning?” A knowing look crossed her face. “You also seem to have a few talents you’re not mentioning. Do try to keep those to yourself during your time here, or I won’t be able to protect you.”

Kai nodded. He had already planned on keeping his more unique abilities under wraps.

“Your dorm room will be number one-hundred-and-seventeen in the male dorms on the eastern side of the academy.”

“And my classes?” Kai asked.

“You will be given a magical piece of parchment that displays your timetable,” she explained. “It will update daily with your scheduled classes, locations, and times. Amongst other things.”

“Anything else I should know?”

“For first-years, Juno should be the student advisor. I’ll make sure he visits your room before the end of the day.”

With that, she lifted her hand, and in an instant, a perfectly tailored uniform materialised out of thin air. The deep blue and gold-trimmed fabric hovered for a moment before settling onto the desk in front of Kai.

Kai’s eyes flicked to the pristine uniform and then down at his own clothes. ‘So, I didn’t even need to waste money on this outfit after all?’

He sighed inwardly, though he quickly consoled himself with the thought that his reinforced attire would still serve him better outside of school. The protective sigils and reinforced armour pieces would provide security that a simple uniform couldn’t.

He reached forward, taking the uniform with a small nod. “Thank you.”

“Don’t make me regret admitting you, Mirlin Orth.”

Kai smirked as he turned to leave. “I won’t, headmaster.”

“You can call me Lilith when we’re alone. Most students call me Mrs. Cordell or Headmaster Cordell.”

Kai nodded, and with that, he stepped out of the headmaster’s office, his newly acquired uniform draped over his arm.

As Kai exited the office, he bumped into an older girl with red hair. He immediately recognised her and felt for the Mirage’s Veil. The magic was still in effect.

“Watch yourself!”

“I’m sorry. Have a good day.”

“Wait!” the girl called out again, more insistently, but Kai already sped off.

He glanced back briefly, catching a glimpse of the mana surrounding her. It had grown stronger, far stronger than when he had last seen her. It made him curious about her progress.

‘It’s been a few years for me, but it hasn’t been that long for her since I saved her from those arcane panthers. I wonder if her guard is on the school grounds somewhere.’