Chapter 107: Severus's Gift
(Rodova Military Academy – Professor Severus's Holding Cell, Basement D-1)
A few minutes after class, Leo arrived at the entrance of Basement Block D1, which was the restricted section of the academy where its 'less reputable' faculty members were housed.
Currently, only one such 'Less Reputable' faculty member was on-campus, his chamber protected by a single holding guard clad in full body armor.
As Leo approached, the guard lifted his visor to confirm his identity, before letting out a deep sigh.
"You must be Skyshard," the guard muttered, arms crossed as he spoke with a tired voice.
Leo nodded, as the guard exhaled again, rubbing his temple before speaking in a low, firm voice.
"Listen carefully, kid. Whatever that lunatic in there tells you, don't do him any favors. Don't pass him notes, don't fetch him supplies, and most importantly—don't trust any stories that he tells you–"
The guard warned, as Leo raised a brow, clearly unimpressed by the warning.
"I think I can hold my own—" Leo replied, as the guard immediately scoffed.
"Hold your own? Against that Lunatic? No chance–" He said, as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper.
"I've been stationed outside this cell for 3 weeks now, Skyshard. I've heard the things he mumbles in his sleep, the theories he scratches onto those walls. Severus isn't interested in being a professor."
Leo remained silent.
"He's planning something. It's not a matter of if—it's a matter of when," the guard continued. "The moment he finds an opening, he's going to try and escape, and mark my words, that bastard will take someone down with him in the process."
The guard stepped back, returning to his usual stiff posture as he swiped his badge over the mana-sealed lock, as the door hissed open.
*HISSS—*
"If you're smart," the guard muttered, "you'll keep your distance."
He warned, as Leo said nothing as he stepped inside.
—------------
The moment Leo entered Severus's cell, the scent of old parchment and ink overwhelmed him.
The entire space was covered in lecture papers—scattered across the floor, pinned to the walls, stacked into precarious towers on every available surface.
The ink stains on the desk had bled through the wood over time, leaving deep, blackened scars.
Several ink pots, both filled and emptied, were lined up in strange patterns, almost as if Severus had been using them for some kind of experiment rather than actual writing.
And amidst the controlled chaos, at the center of the room, sat Severus himself.
He lounged comfortably on the academy-issued cot, arms folded behind his head as if he were a king resting on his throne.
"Ahhh, Skyshard, right on time," he mused, not even looking up. "Did my little guardian outside warn you about me?"
"He did." Leo replied, as Severus grinned, finally sitting up.
"Good. That means I'm doing my job right." Severus said, as he rubbed his hands in excitement before standing up, as he began pacing around the room.
Leo's eyes drifted over the room, as he noticed how apart from ink and paper necessary to plan the next lecture, the academy did not let Severus own anything else.
And as if following his gaze, Severus immediately began his theatrics.
"Oh, the oppression! The suffering! A brilliant mind like mine, reduced to nothing but paper and ink!" He gestured grandly to the mess around him before giving Leo a mock-sympathetic look.
"I'd cry if I still had tears left in me, but unfortunately all of my tears dried up years ago" he added as he acted as if he was wiping tears, but there was nothing there.
*Chuckle*
Leo chuckled, finding his antics funny, as Severus grinned back, finding his unbothered attitude amusing.
"But not everything here is ink and paper—" Severus said, his gaze turning sharp, as he slowly retrieved a bottle of poison hidden within his robes, which Leo immediately identified as the vial of diluted Ancient Swamp Frog poison that was given to all students for practice in class today.
Watching the bottle, Leo narrowed his eyes; however, Severus simply winked in his direction as he grabbed one of the ink pots from his desk, before tilting it upside down, as he drained its contents onto the floor.
Drip… drip… drip…
Once the last drop of ink was gone, he carefully uncorked the vial and poured the poison inside instead.
Then, without a single word, he lifted a finger to his lips.
"Shhh…" he whispered as Leo rolled his eyes, which made Severus chuckle darkly, as he set the ink pot back in place before finally turning his attention back to Leo.
"Now then," he said, grinning like a man who had just gotten away with murder. "Let's talk about why you're here."
He reached under his mattress, retrieving a worn, yellowed document—one that looked aged, yet meticulously preserved.
He held it out for Leo to grab, as Leo suspiciously took it.
And at the very top, written in Severus's distinct sharp handwriting, was the title:
[The Unseen Shackles]
As Leo felt confused reading it.
"What is this?" he asked, as Severus leaned in slightly, his grin never wavering.
"The most dangerous poison I've ever created, it's something the world doesn't know about yet, something I want to pass onto you who are the closest individual that I have to my own genius disciple" he whispered, as Leo's grip on the paper tightened.
"You see, most poisons kill. That's their purpose, their one function. But this?" He tapped the paper. "This doesn't kill. It doesn't leave a trace. There are no symptoms, no physical aftereffects." Severus explained, his voice silky smooth.
"What it does do," he continued, "is weaken."
His fingers drummed against the desk rhythmically.
"It latches onto the very essence of the body—the muscles, the brain, the mana circuits—and reduces their efficiency by a staggering fifty percent." Severus explained, as Leo said nothing, but could imagine the notorious use of such a poison.
"Imagine," Severus mused, "a warrior stepping into battle, only to find their reflexes slower, their attacks weaker, their mana reserves halved."
He chuckled.
"And the best part…. They'd never even realize it happened." Severus said, as he chuckled like a maniac, before resting his chin on his hand.
"You're gonna compete in the Circuits someday aren't you?" he murmured knowingly. "If there ever was a tool to ensure victory… this is it."
Severus offered, as Leo remained silent, simply staring at the formula.
A poison that could cripple an opponent without detection.
A poison that could turn any battle into a one-sided slaughter.
If it was really untraceable and left no side-effects to detect its presence, then it was definitely the perfect tool to cheat, however, the question was why was Severus giving him such a poison?
"If you're wondering why I'm giving you such a poison? It's worthless to even wonder about it.
I'm a maniac Skyshard, and you will never figure out what's going on inside my head—
Ahahahaha.
What you should know is that you've earnt this through your good work in my class!" Severus said, as he began tapping on the door violently.
*Knock*
*Knock*
*Knock*
"Open you bastard, we are done here—" Severus said, as the door opened once again, allowing Leo to step out with the yellow sheet folded tightly within his hands.