66 Chapter 66
"The Top Floor is said to contain missions like investigating the places where the Dark Mages were seen recently, or killing Bandits, or investigating some murder or disappearance. They are the missions that can get dangerous." Riya stared at the Mission Hall, watching people going in and out of it.
"That's why they are only given to Fourth Year Students who are the strongest at the Academy," she stared before she started moving. "Anyway, I'm sure you'll learn about the missions on the Fourth Floors with time. Let me show you the last place worth mentioning."
Gabriel didn't even need to guess what the last place was. He could already see a glimpse of the Museum of Elements. That place was like a beautiful castle.
Throughout the place, Gabriel had noticed many guards. But as he got closer to the Museum, he realized just the extent of the security of this place. It was like a Fortress.
Even Riya wasn't allowed to take him within fifty meters range of the Museum of Elements.
"And that's the last place on our itinerary... The Museum of Elements. This is as far as I'm allowed to take you here. You can't go farther without a teacher accompanying you," Riya explained before glancing in the direction of Gabriel.
She noticed him looking at all the guards. Gabriel was taking stock of the guards, but Riya misunderstood him, thinking he was just surprised to see so many guards here.
"You might be wondering why there are so many guards here. Actually, there have been some attempts in the past. The Museum of Elements contains some really powerful items that the Academy doesn't want to lose. That's why this place is made so secure."
"What kind of items?" Gabriel asked, despite already knowing the answer to the question.
"I'm sure you'll see when you are taken inside. I think the teachers will be able to describe those things better. Just know, those things are a part of history... A much darker history. It's better if they teach you about it."
"Anyway, that's enough for the day."
Riya refused to explain anything about the items inside, leaving those things for the later. She had fulfilled her part.
The sun had already started setting by the time they were done exploring the Academy. Riya took Gabriel back to his room.
"Best of luck for the future, kiddo." After wishing Gabriel luck, Riya left.
Gabriel also closed the door after she left.
He removed his illusion, dropping to the bed. The day had been tiring, but it was also very productive. Now he understood the academy better, especially the Museum of Elements.
Now he knew what kind of security that place had on the outside. Moreover, Riya also told him that within the next few days, they were probably going to be taken inside the Museum as their first lesson became they were to be taught magic. It was so they understood why it was important for them to learn.
That was the best piece of information for Gabriel. If he was taken there, he could also see what kind of security that place had on the inside. Moreover, if there was an opportunity, he could take the items right there.
Gabriel laid on the bed, looking at the roof.
There was a room right under his room where Lelin was staying. The two prodigies of the Academy were given rooms on different floors, yet their rooms were so close to each other.
Unlike Gabriel, Lelin didn't leave his room. He was also assigned a second-year student to show him around, but he just refused, saying he didn't need any help. He spent his entire day inside his room.
Just like Gabriel, Lelin was also lying on the bed. His eyes were closed, yet his mind was as active as it had ever been. The old-looking scroll laid right beside him.
"Six Days..." Gabriel muttered. "Only six more days..."
"I'm close. I can't fail after coming this far," he said. However, at the same time, there was another person who spoke the exact same words.
"Failure is not an option." Lelin slowly opened his eyes, glancing toward the window. "It's time we end it once and for all."
"Six days... I wonder if the kid can really succeed." In another place, a young man was gazing at the moon, sitting on his balcony. "If anyone can succeed, it is him. The one with the Origin Element."
Lira also waited in a forest near the Royal City. She hadn't left the place, even after sending Gabriel. She was ready to come to his rescue if there was a need, not caring about the outside. In any case, it was better to die fighting than to lose her best fighting chance.
She sat near a pond, gazing at the reflection of the moon in the pond.
*****
Gabriel sat up after resting for half an hour. He picked up the bag that was given to him by Lira.
He opened the bag, finding the small bag filled with Soul Crystals. There were supposed to be around fifty Soul Crystals, which was like a considerable amount of wealth in the academy since an ordinary Mage could only use one of them in a day.
Amidst the Soul Crystals, there was also a small gem that was given to him for emergencies. It was an orb that could alert Lira when he was in danger.
He pulled out one of the Soul Crystals and closed it in his fist.
Moreover, he didn't want to waste an opportunity. He was technically in the backyard of the enemy. He needed more strength. Only by strengthening his Soul with the Soul Crystal could he unlock more Spells from his Grimoire of Darkness.
Also, a stronger soul allowed him to use more powerful spells of Light.
Gabriel closed his eyes and started absorbing the soul energy from the Soul Crystal, as he was taught by Lira.
Surprisingly, it was even easier than he had assumed. It was no different than just letting the energy freely flow inside his body. There was no obstruction.
Within twenty minutes, he had absorbed the first Soul Crystal.
He slowly opened his eyes. "This takes an entire day?"
It was so hard to believe that he absorbed something in twenty minutes that other mages took an entire day to absorb. Then again, he also knew that it was easier for him because he was a prodigy with a Soul Strength of over a hundred.
Surprisingly, he could also feel some changes in his body as soon as he absorbed the first Soul Crystal. His vision was even clearer. And his mind appeared to be able to focus more.
He didn't stop right there and pulled out another crystal. He started absorbing the Soul Crystals one after another. The fifty Soul Crystals were given to him for an entire week, but before he even realized it, he had already absorbed half those Crystals.
If anyone knew that a man had absorbed twenty-five Soul Crystals in a night, it could easily create a commotion. Even Lira hadn't expected that range after all. Lira thought that Gabriel could only absorb five or six crystals in a day, not twenty-five... And even then, Gabriel didn't feel tired.
His Soul Strength had jumped by leaps and bounds within a few hours. However, he also felt a bit drunk by that sudden increase in Soul Strength. He felt tired. If he wanted, he could absorb more, but he decided to stop for the day since his head had started getting dizzy.
He closed the small bag, keeping it on the table before dropped on the bed. He didn't even realize when he fell asleep. It was just so fast.
As Gabriel slept, he didn't realize that his ring was shining slightly.
****
"Karyk... Come on. Where are you hiding? Don't trouble your mother like that!"
It was unclear how long it had been since he fell asleep, but Gabriel found himself in the middle of a dream.
He could see his reflection in the mirror, near which he was hiding. He looked like he was only seven years old. The face was completely identical to how he looked when he was young.
"There you are!" A woman came up to him and picked him up in his arms. "Little boy, why do you trouble your mother like that? You know good Princes don't trouble their mothers?"
The woman hugged him. Strangely enough, her face was different from the mother he knew. He didn't understand why this woman was calling him her son.