Ludwig’s steps were hesitant, plagued with doubt as he moved toward the academy. Several times, he considered turning back and abandoning this strange mission. The thought of simply escaping flickered in his mind like a candle, tempting him to run far away from Van Dijk and the dark, looming threat of the Black Tower Academy.
But every time he entertained the idea, a system notification would appear before him, cold and unrelenting.
[You will be punished by Death if you abandon the current quest!]
“I know,” Ludwig muttered, his frustration bubbling over as he swatted at the ethereal window. But, of course, there was no response—there never was. The system wasn’t something he could argue with or convince otherwise. It simply was.
As he passed by the houses and smaller buildings scattered around the tower’s perimeter, he couldn’t help but marvel at the architecture. Blackened stone, ominous spires, and ancient runes seemed to breathe an eerie life into the surroundings. He stole a final glance at Van Dijk’s tower as he walked, still finding it strange how empty the interior felt, given the vastness of its exterior.
The space he had explored felt far too small for a structure that large.
“What a strange place,” Ludwig muttered to himself as he continued toward the academy. Little did he know, the tower wasn’t as empty as it had seemed. Hidden chambers, secret experiments, and countless mages dwelled within, conducting rituals, studying forbidden arts, and pushing the boundaries of magical knowledge in ways that Ludwig had yet to understand.
The academy came into view in the distance, growing larger and grander with each step he took. The closer he got, the more the sheer magnitude of the place struck him. It was far beyond anything he had ever seen—even as someone who had lived in opulent palaces, this academy dwarfed them all.
“God damn, this thing is huge,” Ludwig said aloud, craning his neck to take in the towering spires and massive walls. The stone was as dark as night, absorbing the light rather than reflecting it. It stood in stark contrast to the sunlit sky, casting an almost sinister shadow over the surrounding landscape.
The walls that surrounded the academy were colossal, towering at least twenty meters high, and the buildings behind them reached even further into the sky, their peaks barely visible from the ground. The gate was formidable, a massive steel barrier that seemed more suited to a fortress than a place of learning.
Standing before it, draped in black robes with a cowl obscuring his face, was a man—clearly a gatekeeper of sorts. His presence was both mysterious and foreboding, fitting perfectly into the dark aura of the academy. Ludwig felt the man’s eyes on him, though he couldn’t see them.
Ludwig considered using [Inspect] on the robed figure but thought better of it. He remembered Van Dijk’s warning. “They’ll feel it.”
The gatekeeper’s voice was low, almost a growl. “You there.” He gestured toward Ludwig. “What are you doing outside the academy?”
Ludwig blinked, realizing for the first time that he was already wearing the academy’s robes. “I’m here by recommendation,” Ludwig replied, fishing the letter out of his pocket and handing it over.
The gatekeeper didn’t even bother to open the letter. He simply held it in his palm for a moment before it ignited, burning to ash in seconds.
Ludwig’s eyes widened in shock. “What the hell are you doing?!” he exclaimed. That was his only recommendation letter! Was he going to have to go all the way back to Van Dijk for another one?
The man let out a grunt, clearly unimpressed by Ludwig’s outburst. “The letter seems legit,” he muttered. “Get in.” Without another word, the steel gates creaked open, granting Ludwig entrance.
Confused but relieved, Ludwig walked through the open gates, shaking his head. “What the hell was that about?” he muttered under his breath. This place was already strange, and he had barely set foot inside.
Just as Ludwig crossed the threshold, the sound of a body being flung through the air caught his attention. He looked up just in time to see a young man, barely his age, come crashing to the ground in front of him. The student’s clothes were singed with fire, smoke rising from his burnt robes, and his eyes had rolled back into his skull. He was unconscious, utterly defeated.
Two more students approached the unconscious boy, their faces twisted into smug, bullying grins. They looked down on the fallen student with disdain, as though his mere existence was an inconvenience to them.
“What are you looking at?” one of the bullies sneered at Ludwig, his voice dripping with contempt.
Ludwig chose not to respond, his mind racing. Bullies. The academy was filled with them, just like in all the stories he had read. He kept his gaze forward and walked past them, unwilling to get involved in a fight he had no hope of winning.
“Thought as much,” the leader of the two bullies snorted, watching Ludwig retreat. “This place is full of spineless commoners.”
Ludwig’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t engage. What was the point? He was at level one, barely able to defend himself. Fighting now would only ensure his death—or worse, his exposure.
As Ludwig made his way deeper into the academy grounds, he realized that chaos was the norm here. All around him, explosions of fire, lightning, and wind tore through the air as students dueled each other without a care. Destruction reigned, with debris littering the cobbled pathways.
It was as though the academy existed in a state of perpetual combat, where the strong preyed upon the weak at every turn.
Focus, Ludwig. He reminded himself to keep a low profile. He had no interest in these students or their petty battles. His goal was simple—get in, learn, and stay under the radar. Van Dijk had warned him: no dark magic, no necromancy, and no drawing attention.
Ludwig finally reached the largest building at the center of the academy, its towering spires and dark architecture looming over him. As he approached the entrance, unsure of where to go, a raven landed on his shoulder with a caw.
“The Headmaster wishes to speak with you,” the raven croaked, its beady eyes glinting in the dim light. It gave Ludwig a sharp peck, urging him forward.
The bird guided Ludwig through winding corridors and staircases until they arrived at the top floor of the building. In front of him stood a large, locked wooden door. The raven cawed once more and flew away, leaving Ludwig standing alone.
With a hesitant hand, Ludwig reached for the door, only for it to creak open on its own, revealing a darkened office. Behind a massive desk stacked high with papers, an old man in black robes sat, his face obscured by the towering stacks of parchment. Despite the clutter, the man’s eyes, piercing and cold, stared at Ludwig for but a second, then back at the papers as he continued speaking.
His voice was calm, yet the words he spoke were lethal.
“So,” he began, his tone laced with quiet authority, “as an academy that prides itself in working against the Dark Arts, and teaches defenses against Dark Magic, I must ask—what is a skeleton doing in my domain?”
Ludwig froze.
Well…shit.