“For the emotion part,” Ludwig asked, his voice hesitant, “how do I even do that?”
“Simple,” Thomas replied, his tone unnervingly casual. “Imagine yourself obliterating me.”
Ludwig blinked. “That… sounds awful. And it also sounds like you’d die from it,” he said, his expression tightening at the suggestion.
“Not exactly,” Thomas answered with a sardonic grin. “It’s going to hurt like hell, sure, and it’ll weaken my soul’s integrity, but it won’t kill me—at least not outright. That’s the only way for you to tap into the emotions stored in a soul. You’ll get better at it once you have more souls in your lantern. For now, think of this as a test run for… extraction.”
Ludwig hesitated, his hand hovering over the lantern. The idea of deliberately inflicting pain—even on a soul he wasn’t particularly fond of—didn’t sit right with him. Yet, curiosity and necessity gnawed at him. His practical class tomorrow would demand more than his current abilities, and he couldn’t afford to fall short.
“All right,” Ludwig said finally, closing his eyes. His breath slowed as he focused, forcing himself to visualize the act.
He imagined himself gripping Thomas’s soul with an iron will, squeezing it like a vice. At first, nothing happened, but then a spark ignited within his chest. It wasn’t physical, but it felt like a seething flame, spreading from his core and roiling outward to his limbs. The sensation pressed on his mind, growing in intensity like a volcano about to erupt.
Across from him, Thomas’s ethereal form twisted in visible agony. His features contorted, and faint wisps of his essence seemed to dissipate, drawn toward Ludwig. Simultaneously, the fireball Ludwig had conjured began to swell. Its size and heat intensified, becoming an inferno that threatened to consume the entire room.
Ludwig could feel something else creeping in alongside the power—a strange, oppressive sensation. It was cold and isolating, like standing alone in a vast, barren wasteland. His limbs grew heavy as though weighed down by chains of despair.
“The first sensation was rage… and the second…that’s…” Thomas rasped, struggling to speak through clenched teeth. “That’s desperation… Keep pushing, and you’ll find fear. But don’t overdo it… I don’t think I can take much more.”
Ludwig opened his eyes, his focus wavering as he didn’t feel right about this. It wasn’t that guilt gnawed at him; it was more like futility and needless harm that served no purpose. He released the pressure, and the roaring flames sputtered out, leaving only faint embers in the air.
Thomas’s form slumped, his translucent appearance dimmed and flickering weakly. He looked more spectral than before, as if his very existence had thinned.
“Not something I can abuse,” Ludwig muttered, rubbing his temples. “You’re already fading.”
“Exactly,” Thomas replied, his voice strained but steady. “Emotions aren’t some infinite well you can draw from endlessly. Every time you use a soul this way, it takes a toll on its integrity. Push too hard, and the soul could break entirely.”
“Then it’s not worth relying on for regular use. Better to save it for emergencies,” Ludwig said, crossing his arms as he processed the revelation.
Thomas nodded weakly, his form stabilizing as the pressure on him eased. “You’re catching on. Your Nephilium circuit is already doing most of the heavy lifting. Sure, your magic’s slightly weaker than someone at your level, but that’s just because your Nephilium blood density is low. As you collect more Nephilium, that’ll balance out. Combining that with the emotions from souls will amplify your power significantly.”
Ludwig tilted his head, studying Thomas with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. “You’ve been awfully helpful for someone who’s supposed to be angry about dying.”
Thomas let out a humorless laugh. “What’s the point of being bitter? I’m dead. No amount of griping is going to change that. Besides, if I make things harder for you, you might just refuse my request. I’d rather stick around if it’s all the same to you. Just don’t forget the favor I asked for.”
Ludwig nodded, his expression softening slightly. He extinguished the remaining embers with a flick of his wrist and headed back to his room. There was much to think about and even more to prepare for.
The rest of the night passed in quiet study. Ludwig pored over the booklet Van Dijk had given him, committing its lessons on mana control to memory. The theories clicked into place one by one, and he found himself experimenting with the techniques, making subtle adjustments to his flow of mana. By the time dawn broke, he felt more confident in his abilities, particularly in his newly acquired fireball spell.
Though it isn’t officially a spell since it wasn’t added to his arsenal, he can use it, albite it will take a longer time to cast than anyone else doing the same thing.
As sunlight streamed through his window, Ludwig donned his uniform and left his room. Today’s practical class promised to test his progress, and he was determined to prove himself.
The students had gathered outside the arena where Ludwig had previously trained with Joana’s group. A golden-haired man stood at the forefront, his bright smile and animated demeanor instantly setting him apart from the academy’s usual cast of cold, calculating teachers.
“Is everyone here?” the man called out, his voice brimming with energy. He clapped his hands together, beckoning the students closer.
“Come, come!” he said, his gaze landing on Ludwig. “Ah, you’re the new guy! I’ve heard a lot about you from Joana. You aced Oda’Ruh’s test, didn’t you? Quite impressive for someone who’s only been here a few days.”
Ludwig approached, feeling slightly awkward under the teacher’s friendly scrutiny. “Thank you for the kind words,” he said politely.
The teacher chuckled, slapping Ludwig lightly on the back. “Don’t mention it. Though, if I were you, I wouldn’t get too comfortable. You’ve missed a lot of classes, and no one’s expecting you to perform miracles. Still, I’m curious to see what you can do.”
Ludwig frowned as the teacher turned. because something didn’t feel right, after all, why would the teacher slap a magic circle on Ludwig’s back?
Ludwig was the only one to notice it, and it seemed to be on every one of the students.
The teacher acted as if nothing was going on as he addressed the group, he raised his voice. “Today, we’ll be going on a small excursion into the academy’s forest. Consider this your orientation for the test path you’ll need to navigate next week.”
One of the students raised a hand, skepticism evident in their tone. “Why show us the path now? Wouldn’t it be better to keep everything secret?”
The teacher grinned. “Good question! Today isn’t just about the path—it’s a test to gauge your abilities for the future. You’ll understand once we get started. Now, follow me!”
The group of thirty students began moving, trailing behind the teacher as he led them into the dense forest. Ludwig found himself flanked by Hoyo on one side and Kassandra on the other.
“Sup,” Hoyo greeted casually, earning a nod from Ludwig.
Kassandra, as usual, remained silent, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.
“What do you think we’ll be doing in the forest?” Hoyo asked.
Ludwig shrugged. “Don’t ask me. I’m the new guy, remember?”
“Probably minor traps and tests,” Kassandra said flatly, her gaze still fixed ahead.
As they entered the forest, a sudden notification flashed in Ludwig’s vision.
[You have entered an Instanced Dungeon!]
Ludwig’s eyes widened, the implications of the message sinking in. Before he could process it, a commotion erupted at the front of the group.
“What’s going on?” Hoyo asked, craning his neck.
“The teacher disappeared!” someone exclaimed.
Ludwig turned sharply, glancing behind him. His expression hardened. “The academy… it’s gone.”
A voice echoed from the trees, light and teasing. “Good luck, students! Today isn’t an orientation—it’s test day. I decided to move it up a week.”
Gasps rippled through the group as the teacher’s voice continued, his tone maddeningly cheerful. “Life’s trials don’t wait for you to be ready, after all. Your goal is simple: find the flag hidden somewhere in the forest. But beware—this forest isn’t without its dangers. Death isn’t exactly uncommon during the academy’s tests. Toodle-oo!”
The forest fell silent, save for the nervous shuffling of the students. Ludwig tightened his grip,
‘Truly, one shouldn’t expect anything less than this level of education from the Black Tower Academy…’