Silas's warning
Professor Eleanor Silverstalk plunged headlong into the forbidden section of the library, like a hungry traveler devouring bread, oblivious to everything around her. Her eyes, which had always gleamed with reason and scrutiny, now held only an almost fanatical thirst for knowledge, frantically searching through dusty ancient scrolls and vague myths for any trace of "rulers and ministers" or "the order of heaven and earth." This sudden academic shift seemed more shocking to her conventional colleagues than a necromancer switching to ballet.
The instigator of all this, Ms. Ling Yao, was leisurely sitting in her increasingly prosperous little shop, picking and choosing among a new batch of magic cores, as if she had just casually tossed out an insignificant pebble, completely unaware of the huge whirlpool it had stirred up in the academy's deep pool.
Finn Liver, however, keenly sensed the subtle shift in the atmosphere. Professor Silvers's distraught departure that day had been so shocking that it had left him feeling uneasy for days, fearing that one morning he would wake up to find the inquisition's men surrounding his shop, claiming that "heretical doctrines had driven a highly respected professor mad."
However, the anticipated thunderous strike did not immediately occur. Life seemed to return to normal, but beneath this calm, there was always a sense of impending doom. The watchful eyes outside the shop, which had been barely perceptible, seemed to have become more intense and focused.
“Miss Ling,” Finn said absentmindedly, wiping the counter—which he had polished so thoroughly it was practically reflective—while speaking with concern, “I have a feeling something’s been off lately. Those guys outside are watching more and more closely, and Professor Yinrui hasn’t made a move. Could she really…”
Ling Yao was picking out a high-quality, azure-blue magic core and setting it aside when she heard this. Without even looking up, she said, "Thinking will take time."
“Thinking is a good thing, but I’m afraid she’ll overthink it and end up thinking about everyone in the Inquisition!” Finn said with a long face. “That stern-faced Silas doesn’t seem like a patient person at all…”
Before he could finish speaking, as if to confirm his jinx, a deep and solemn bell tolled from the direction of the academy's central castle. The tolling was continuous, carrying an undeniable sense of authority, and instantly spread throughout the entire academy town.
Finn's hand trembled, and the rag nearly fell to the ground. "It's over, it's over!" His face turned pale. "This is the bell that calls for an emergency meeting of the entire academy's top brass! Unless the academy faces a major crisis or has an extremely important decision to make, this bell would never ring! At this critical juncture... it's definitely coming for us!"
Ling Yao finally stopped what she was doing, tilting her ear slightly to listen to the chimes. Her face remained expressionless, but a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes. Oh? Is it finally coming?
...
Rockefeller School of Magic, Circular Council Hall.
The atmosphere in this historic hall was so heavy it seemed to drip with tension. A shimmering star magic circle adorned the enormous dome, and portraits of past deans hung on the walls; at this moment, the eyes of those figures seemed to be fixed on the people on either side of the long table.
At the head of the long table sat the elderly Dean Maurice, his hair and beard completely white. His usual gentle smile was gone, replaced by an unusual seriousness. To his left and right sat the academy's most powerful figures: department heads, senior professors, and several council members representing the academy's financial backers and aristocratic influence.
Standing at the other end of the long table, as immovable as a black reef, was Judge Silas. He was still wearing his crisp black uniform, the silver-studded insignia gleaming coldly under the magic lamp. His face was devoid of any superfluous expression, only an almost frozen coldness and resolve.
“Dean Morris, Councilors, Professors,” Silas’s voice was deep and clear, each word like an icicle striking the ground, “Today, as the Holy See’s Inquisitor at Rockefeller College, I hereby lodge a strong protest and demand that the College Council take immediate action to restrict or even prohibit all activities of the otherworldly being Ling Yao!”
He cut straight to the point without any pleasantries, his tone firm and unquestionable.
A richly dressed, portly councilor frowned and slowly began, “Judge Silas, please watch your words. Ms. Ling Yao is a guest of the academy, and to my knowledge, she has not intentionally done anything to harm the academy. On the contrary, her… well… products seem to be quite popular.” As he spoke, he subconsciously touched his cheek, which had recently become noticeably smoother—his wife was a staunch supporter of “Radiant Skin Dew.”
"Popular?" Silas sneered, his icy blue eyes sweeping over the crowd. "That's precisely its danger! Using a seemingly effective facade to mask its chaotic and evil nature—that's the most common trick heretics use to bewitch people!"
He stepped forward and placed a thick stack of reports heavily on the long table.
"These are all the unusual activity reports regarding the target recorded by the Tribunal over the past period! Including but not limited to: using unknown energy to heal severely wounded mercenaries, using discarded weeds to concoct highly effective potions, drawing undecipherable evil symbols, using bizarre methods to cause thieves to suffer mental breakdowns, and most recently—"
He paused, his voice growing even colder, "And recently, she has used some extremely subtle mental methods to severely interfere with Professor Yinrui's mind, causing an excellent scholar to behave abnormally and even begin to study those heretical doctrines that are explicitly prohibited!"
Mentioning Eleanor, the professors frowned. Professor Silver Bud's recent behavior was indeed strange; she spent all her time in the forbidden book section, muttering words they couldn't understand, which worried them greatly.
"The power she wields is completely outside of any system recorded in the Holy Scriptures!" Silas's voice suddenly rose, carrying a chilling, religiously fanatical tone. "It is undefinable, unanalyzable, and uncontrollable! Its very existence is a desecration and provocation of the Holy Light Order and the existing magical system!"
"She's like a malignant tumor, quietly spreading within the academy! Today she can bewitch a professor, tomorrow she can corrupt even more students! Today she's just selling some strangely effective potions, tomorrow she can be spreading evil doctrines that can overturn faith!"
His gaze, sharp as a knife, swept across the faces of every attendee: "I demand that the Academy immediately order the closure of that shop and the expulsion of the heretic Ling Yao from Academy Town! If the Academy refuses to comply, the Inquisition will, in accordance with the powers granted by the Sacred Code, take necessary measures to eliminate this threat!"
The ultimatum-like tone froze the air in the council hall. The faces of the council members darkened, while the professors whispered amongst themselves. Silas's unwavering stance, even his willingness to bypass the academy and take direct action, indicated a very serious situation.
The old dean, Maurice, had been listening silently until he finally spoke, his voice still gentle but carrying undeniable weight: "Inquisitor Silas, the Academy understands your concerns. It is necessary to remain vigilant about the unknown."
He then changed the subject: "However, the evidence you presented seems to be more based on speculation and inexplicable phenomena than on evidence that Ms. Ling Yao actively harmed others. As far as I know, Professor Yin Rui's case is more like a scholar's normal academic enthusiasm after encountering a completely new field of knowledge, albeit to some extent."
"As for expulsion..." Morris shook his head. "The foundation of Rockefeller Academy of Magic lies in inclusiveness and exploration. While the knowledge system brought by Ms. Ling Yao is certainly different, its effects and value cannot be ignored. Taking extreme measures rashly before fully understanding its essence is not a wise move and also goes against the spirit of openness and exploration of our academy."
He glanced at the council members, especially the plump council member whose wife had used "Radiant Skin Dew," and continued, "Moreover, Ms. Ling Yao has already established cooperative relationships with various forces in Academy Town. Rushing to expel her might cause unnecessary turmoil."
"Does the Dean mean to sit idly by and watch this heretic continue to pollute the academy until it causes a catastrophe?" Silas's voice was so cold it could freeze a flame.
“What I mean is that we need more careful observation and evaluation,” Morris responded calmly. “The Academy will increase its focus on the ‘Eastern Secret Medicine’ and attempt to engage in deeper, more formal communication with Ms. Ling Yao in order to better understand her power system. Until a clear conclusion is reached, everything will remain as it is.”
He looked at Silas, his tone gentle but his gaze unusually firm: "At the same time, I also hope that the Inquisition will exercise restraint. All actions within the Academy's territory must follow the Academy's rules and procedures. Any 'necessary measures' taken without the Academy's permission will be considered a challenge to the Academy's autonomy."
That's a pretty strong statement. It's tantamount to a clear warning to Silas: don't even think about causing trouble on my turf.
Silas's face instantly turned ashen, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the Judgment Badge tightly. He stared intently at Dean Morris, as if he wanted to burn two holes through him with his gaze.
The entire council hall was completely silent; everyone could sense the intense, unspoken exchange.
Finally, Silas squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Dean Morris, you will bear all the consequences of your choice today. I hope that you will not regret your 'tolerance' and 'prudence' today!"
After saying that, he turned around abruptly, his black robe sleeves whipping out a sharp arc, and strode away from the council hall without looking back. His icy anger was almost tangible, causing people along the way to instinctively back away.
The meeting ended unhappily.
Old Dean Maurice watched Silas's departing figure, sighed softly, and rubbed his temples. He was well aware that Ling Yao was a huge problem and a major variable, but his intuition and experience told him that simply expelling or eliminating her might bring even greater disaster. Besides, the old fogies in the academy were incredibly curious about those "different" things Ling Yao possessed...
...
Inside the "Eastern Secret Medicine" shop, Finn paced back and forth restlessly, occasionally craning his neck to look towards the main castle of the academy, though he could see nothing but rooftops.
"Oh no! The bells have stopped ringing for ages, and still no news. Something terrible must have happened! Miss Ling, should we pack our things and run? I know a small path leading to the next town..."
Ling Yao was trying to channel a wisp of immortal power, simulating lightning, into the strange ore when she heard this. She merely glanced at him indifferently and said, "Wait."
"Wait? Wait for what? Wait for the people from the court to invite us for tea? I can't afford that kind of tea!" Finn was almost in tears.
Just then, the shop door was pushed open. Entering wasn't a fierce-looking judge, but a middle-aged man with a smile, dressed in the uniform of an academic administrator.
"Mr. Liver, Ms. Ling Yao, good afternoon." The man bowed politely. "I am here on the orders of Dean Morris to inform you that the Academy Council has, after discussion, temporarily rejected Judge Silas's proposal to close your shop."
"Huh?" Finn didn't react for a moment and opened his mouth wide.
The man continued with a smile, "The Dean hopes that your store will continue to operate legally and compliantly. At the same time, the Dean sincerely invites Ms. Ling Yao to visit the college for an informal academic exchange at her convenience, in order to enhance mutual understanding."
Finn was stunned for several seconds before suddenly jumping up, his face instantly brightening into a wide smile that made his eyes disappear: "No problem! Absolutely no problem! Thank you, Dean! Dean is wise! Academic exchange is no problem at all! Miss Ling loves to exchange ideas!"
After seeing off the academy messenger, Finn was so excited he almost did a somersault on the spot: "Great! Miss Ling! The Dean is on our side! Silas has been humiliated! Hahahaha!"
Ling Yao seemed unsurprised by the result, simply giving a soft "hmm" before returning her attention to the ore that was faintly crackling with electricity. The dean's choice, in her view, was perfectly logical. Interests, curiosity, checks and balances—these are universal rules that apply in any world.
However, she also knew that Silas's warning was not unfounded. That obsessive man in black would not give up after just one failure. Temporary calm often meant that a bigger storm was brewing.
She felt the faint arc of electricity dancing on her fingertips, and a barely perceptible smile curved her lips.
When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it.
She wanted to see just how the world's "rules" could affect her, this "outlier".
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