305 Scapegoat
The only thing Arthur could do was pretend to reach the seventh circle and go with the others to the battle. He thought about staying below that rank, and then fleeing the school to help his friends, but that would not work.
Sure, he could use the anchor to quickly disappear from the school, but the rank 3 mage would notice he was gone after a few days, and then his disguise would be over.
Still, getting into the seventh circle that fast would shock even the rank 3 mage, but there was nothing else he could do. Arthur was hoping everything would work out, and the rank 3 mage would not kill him on the spot.
Then, he pretended to enter a secluded training for the entire month, increasing his power gradually. He remembered there was a person who kept a close watch on him from time to time.
“What? He is already reaching the sixth circle? This is beyond precedents. Is he trying to reach the seventh circle to fight for his school? What a good lad!”
Everything the mysterious person saw it would share it with the school leader, who was getting more and more excited to meet such incredible youth. So much he was even thinking of getting him as his disciple in the future!
“I believe he will reach the seventh circle before one month passes, which is insane. I will let him go to the battles, as the schools we will invade aren’t that strong, and some of you will be there in case something happens.”
The rank 3 mage sat around a long table with lots of other mages from the Blood Council. Arthur had turned into someone important for them after seeing how much progress he made within a short period.
They were discussing how to proceed, and all of them wanted to protect and nurture such youth. Although their school was one of the dark arts, and usually their students lived in a harsh environment, they were not willing to put Arthur in danger.
The ongoing war was harsh for everyone, and having someone who could change the battle to their side was huge! If Arthur kept progressing at the same speed, then he would soon turn into a rank 1 mage, and that would increase their power by a lot!
“What about the inheritance? Does anyone know who got it?”
“You mean the inheritance from the legendary Blood Lord? No, we still don’t have a clue about it, but that’s the reason we started the war, right? To get our hands on it!”
“You are right. We will get it eventually.”
Arthur was ignorant about what the Blood Council was talking about, as he was more concerned about getting stronger before they left for the battles.
The shadow essence conversion was improving at a slow pace, but that was not something which concerned Arthur. Also, he had sent a message to his wives about everything. Sybille going and their contract, the battles which would occur against the schools Kai and Theo were in, and so on.
After one month passed, Arthur was ready to leave the school with the others. Lucas and Liz improved a lot as well, reaching the fourth circle! They weren’t bad, and the school wished to nurture them as well. So much they could train in a special area within the school where the shadow element was more present.
Arthur was improving so fast in a normal area that the Blood Council could not wait to send him to the special area after the battle.
“Now I am leaving for a battle that will not happen!” Arthur thought.
He sent a message to Theo and Kai about the attack, saying the exact time they would leave. Arthur did that a month ago, before he even started his training.
And just three days before their departure, both Theo and Kai sent a message to Arthur, saying their schools had abandoned their grounds and would not mix with the other stronger schools.
Not only them, but most of the weaker schools did the same, merging with the top schools who had the same element as them. It was a way to prevent a high number of casualties, and it was working well so far.
The Blood Spear did not know they would send their troops to an empty area, and Arthur was concerned about what would happen next, and that is why he already made his move!
During the past month, Arthur not only trained, but studied everyone from the Blood Spear Academy, and found someone to put the blame on!
It was the same person who was following Liz, and Liz agreed to help Arthur put the blame on that person.
“Was he following me? Anyway, I will help you, and I liked the fact you did not resort to killing everyone from our school in the battle. But what do you want me to do?”
“It is very simple. You have noticed how the Blood Council is impressed with my talent, right? They are also taking care of you and Lucas as well!”
“So, after we leave for the battle, you wait around three days, and then report to the Blood Council about this man who is following you.”
“They will surely send a rank 1 mage to check, and will see that he is truly following you.”
“So what? How can this help us?”
“I forged some documents and placed inside his house. They will search his house after seeing him following you for no reason, and will see the documents there, so he will get the blame.”
“Okay, I will trust you with this.”
~~~~
The day of the departure. Lots of students were leaving the Blood Spear Academy, as well as some members of the Blood Council. Obviously, they would not let the school unprotected, so the leader and some of the rank 1 mages were there to make sure everything would be alright.
Arthur believed nothing would happen to the school at all because of the rank 3 mage they had. The only way for them to deal with him was with the help of Nefion after he reached the rank 3 too, and Arthur hoped it would not take that long.
“You are Arthur, right? You can stay close to me during the journey. That way, nothing will happen to you.” One of the rank 1 mages said.
The students who were around were jealous of the special treatment Arthur was receiving.
“Is he so weak that he needs someone to protect him?” One of them mocked. Arthur was ready to speak for himself, but the rank 1 mage who was near him did for him.
“No, actually. We are protecting him because he is important to the future of our school, different from you who I don’t even know the name. Speak again and you will die before the battle even begins.”
Even Arthur was shocked after hearing that. He understood his talent and importance to the school, but wasn’t that too much?
Anyway, they kept moving, until reaching a point where the students were divided into two small armies. They needed to attack two different schools who were far from each other.
Arthur was on the team who would attack the Scorching Sun school, which was in the west part of the continent, near a dangerous volcano.
They marched for a few days, but when they finally reached the place where the school was, there was no one there! The students were relieved, as no one wanted to die, but mages from the Blood Council were enraged!
“How? Is there a traitor among us? We must return to the school now!”
The same thing happened to the others who went to attack the other school. There was no one there, and they also returned to the Blood Spear Academy.
“Who do you think the traitor is?”
“I don’t know, but I am sure the school leader will find out who it is!”
Everyone was talking about the spy on their way back, and when they finally returned to the school, the Blood Council and the school leader were already waiting for them.
“You did not find anyone there, right?” The school leader said.
The rank 1 mages who were with the students were surprised. They did not send him a message about it beforehand, so how did the school leader know?
“All the members of the Blood Council, come with me! Also, Arthur, you can come too!”
“Is Arthur a part of the spy group?”
“No, I don’t think so. I think they see him as a new member of the Blood Council in the future.”
“What? Why do you say that?”
“Well, he went from zero knowledge about magic to the seventh circle in just two months. Can you do that?”
“What the fuck? I thought it was just a rumor. Is it true?”
“Yes. That is why the rank 1 mages treat him so well!”
“No wonders. He is worlds apart from us.”
The students whispered these things while all the members of the Blood Council and Arthur made their way to one peak.