Chapter 357: The Muffled Thunder
Oscar announced the news, and naturally, the apprentices refused to accept it.
They once again crowded before Oscar’s office, but this time, instead of protesting, they came to weep and plead.
Melia said discontentedly, “Can’t you just block out their voices?”
She was holding a quill pen, checking through the assets of the monastery’s scholars.
Melia continued, “They’ve been wailing for an entire day already. When I came over today, I even saw someone kneeling outside. His knees were broken and bleeding.”
Oscar leaned against the back of his chair, his face filled with intoxicated satisfaction. “Don’t you think their cries sound beautiful? Yesterday they were still protesting, thinking that would let them stay in the monastery. But today, they’re kneeling outside, begging me not to expel them.”
“I only need to say one word, and they’ll regret their actions.”
Melia replied, “They’re not regretting their actions; they’re regretting because they know they’ll be beaten to death once they return home.”
Oscar said, “The honorable priests wouldn’t let them be beaten to death.”
“You’ve become more and more boring lately,” Melia said, frowning. “You actually find joy in bullying these children.”
Oscar replied, “I can’t even leave the Church’s grounds, and I’m no longer the dean of the new academy. After that, I don’t even know what they’ll be teaching here, nor what kind of background the new apprentices will have. So, since I’m this bored, I can only play little games with these kids.”
Then he couldn’t help but add, “I learned it from that one. After leaving the Clock Tower and entering the New Testament, he got so bored that he dragged Olivia to play ‘princess games’ with him. With his status, shouldn’t he be thinking about hunting gods instead of playing with children?”
As soon as his voice fell, a flash of white light flared inside the office, followed by a loud explosion. The shock made Melia shut her eyes tightly and cover her ears.
When it finally calmed down, Melia shook her head and looked at Oscar, whose body was charred black.
“But I must say, Olivia dressed like that truly suits her identity,” Melia flattered lightly. “Otherwise, would you really have such a beautiful young girl like Olivia fight like a knight?”
Then she added, “Next time you’re about to do something suicidal, give me a warning first so I can get out of the way. I don’t want your blood splattering on me. Even though it’s just a black robe, it was a gift from Priest Agamemnon. Anything he’d give out wouldn’t be cheap, and if it gets stained with your filthy blood, it’ll lose its value.”
Oscar’s body trembled, and soon, as if shedding his skin, the charred layer flaked off, revealing fresh new skin beneath.
Blinking, Oscar said, “Oh, my dearest Melia, ever since Mr. Nyx passed away, you’re the only one close to me now. You say such hurtful things—it truly breaks my heart.”
He waved his hand, blocking out the wailing from outside.
The sound of that muffled thunder did not escape the office.
Melia said, “Perhaps you’re closer to those bards of yours.”
Her tone carried thorns.
Then she pushed a small stack of parchment toward Oscar. “Take a look. These are the scholars’ assets—their inventions, their ongoing projects, and the remaining resources. If you find no problem, stamp it. I’ll go confirm these one by one with them. We’ll need to decide whether to convert them into gold coins or help them move them elsewhere.”
“I wonder how many scholars will go to the new academy—or accept employment from another one.”
Oscar said, snapping his fingers, “That’s up to them. It’s already the New Testament Era. They can study knowledge in peace anywhere they wish.”
Though wax seals and official stamps existed, Oscar found his magical seal far more convenient.
Melia frowned. “You should consider those who can’t use magic.”
“They’re scholars,” Oscar said. “Even in the Old Testament Era, they could sense magic.”
“Oh, right,” he added, “why don’t you consider studying magic yourself? Your magical affinity is quite high. If you were willing, in just three years, you could accumulate enough to reach the Tier Three—Initiate level.”
Melia shook her head. “Forget it. I’ve never had much fondness for mages.”
Oscar sighed. “Fine. I think it’s a waste, but since you say so…”
Melia said nothing more, picked up the parchments, and turned to leave.
As she stepped out, she was met by a dozen startled, terrified eyes.
When they saw it was Melia emerging, their expressions softened into those of wounded little animals, hoping for pity from this woman who held power.
But Melia didn’t spare them a glance and walked straight away.
Of course, not all apprentices could crowd before Oscar’s door. These were the leaders—the ones among the troublemakers with noble blood.
The others were kneeling and begging in the courtyard.
Melia, who resided permanently at the monastery, had seen batches of apprentices come and go. The most outstanding ones always had noble lineage.
However, when she was bored, she had done some statistics of her own—and discovered that the difference in intellect between nobles and commoners was shrinking.
But curiously, as that intellectual gap shrank, the class divide grew even larger.
It was only after consulting scholars who taught history that she understood why. Precisely because the common-born students had grown cleverer, they learned to cling to nobles—thus recreating the class divide anew.
Melia thought of the first batch of apprentices at the monastery—those who had dared to defy the senators. Even though the senators could sell them off with a flick of the wrist, at least they had the courage to stand against the nobility.
Crossing the courtyard, Melia noticed the eyes of the common-born children fixed on her. Unlike those putting on pitiful faces at Oscar’s office, these eyes carried a look she despised even more.
For a moment, Melia understood Oscar. She too almost wanted to hear the cries of these children being whipped by their parents once they were taken home.
These children might cause trouble out of ignorance—but their parents would not.
Last night, Oscar had already sent word to the parents and relatives of these apprentices in York City, summoning them to take their children back.
By the afternoon, after those parents and elders figured out what had happened, they arrived in fury and dragged their children away.
Before leaving, they all bowed low in humility, apologizing to Oscar and presenting him with prepared gifts.
These were people from the Old Testament Era. When they heard their children had blocked Oscar’s office, they were so terrified their legs gave out. Some noble families in York even considered dispersing their entire household.
After the children were taken away, Oscar had thought of having the bards “add some fuel to the fire,” perhaps pushing those parents to kill their own children.
However, his pen refused to write on the magic manuscript.
It didn’t matter, though—its refusal to write was, in itself, an answer.
The day after the apprentices were taken away, the monastery was unusually quiet. Jeffrey came to visit.
“I hope my arrival hasn’t disturbed Dean Oscar’s peace,” Jeffrey said with a slight bow.
“Oh no, not at all,” Oscar replied. “I rather hope your visit brings me something interesting.”
The teapot on his desk floated into the air and poured a cup of hot tea for Jeffrey.
Jeffrey’s eyes followed it until it finished pouring and returned to the table. Then he sighed in admiration. “No matter how many times I see it, magic is always so wondrous.”
Oscar smiled. “At Adrian Academy of Magic, there are more than two hundred magic apprentices. If the honorable Councilor Jeffrey requires anything, I’m sure the mages would be happy to serve you—perhaps even craft you a few magical tools.”
Jeffrey looked at Oscar and said, “If magic’s wonders are so easily accessible, then once the Mage Guild is established, I’ll certainly see if I can acquire some magical items.”
“However, the Chancellor has yet to tell us who will serve as the Guild’s president, nor when the matter will be decided.”
Oscar said, “Why not choose someone from among the senators to become the Guild President? After all, who in Greenwood could be more qualified than those of the Senate?”
“That’s the thing,” Jeffrey agreed with a nod. “But Councilor Puniel said during the meeting that only those with true combat ability can lead the Warriors’ Guild. The Chancellor agreed—and thus decided the Mage Guild’s president must naturally be a mage as well.”
After a pause, Jeffrey looked meaningfully at Oscar. “But then I remembered—Dean Oscar, you are yourself a mage, and moreover, the head of the magical discipline here at the monastery. The Chancellor knows you well and trusts you. I can’t think of anyone more suited to the role of Guild President than you.”
Oscar understood the test behind Jeffrey’s words. Smiling, he shook his head. “Unfortunately, the Chancellor didn’t choose me.”
“Indeed, what a pity,” Jeffrey replied, before continuing, “Still, Dean Oscar, besides being a mage, you are also a scholar. Though I serve as president of the Scholars’ Guild, in truth, I’ve only managed academic affairs for a few years. To say I truly understand scholars would be arrogant.”
“That’s why I wish to ask for your assistance—to help me refine the Guild’s systems. At the same time, I also hope you’ll accept the position of Vice President.”
“If possible, I believe you’d be even more fitting as President. But I must apologize—since that post was determined by the Senate, I cannot give it away of my own accord.”
Jeffrey’s face carried a look of sincere regret.