Ludwig nodded politely to Hoyo, though his mind was racing. His interactions with the academy’s students were few and far between, and while he wasn’t particularly eager to change that, he recognized that he couldn’t exist in complete isolation. The conversation drifted into a lull, but Hoyo, ever the chatterbox, seemed determined to keep things lively.
“What are you planning on doing this weekend?” Hoyo asked, his grin wide and inviting, his enthusiasm radiating like sunlight.
“I don’t really have anything planned,” Ludwig admitted, leaning against the wall of the infirmary. “Exams are right around the corner, so I figure most people are busy studying.”
Hoyo laughed, shaking his head. “Nah, this is the last weekend before the exams. Trust me, if anyone needed to cram, they’d have started already. I’m heading to Rima. There’s a festival going on—it’s not something you want to miss.”
“Rima?” Ludwig asked, frowning slightly. The name didn’t ring any bells.
“It’s the closest city to the Black Tower,” Hoyo explained, tilting his head. “You’ve been here for a bit and you don’t know Rima? How?”
“I’m not from around here,” Ludwig replied with a casual shrug. He wasn’t about to dive into the convoluted tale of his origins with someone who’d probably laugh it off as a bad joke.
Hoyo’s eyes lit up with mischief. “In that case, you have to come. Rima’s Mage Masquerade is legendary. It’s an annual event—lights, magic, performances, rare items for sale, and food that’ll ruin you for anything else. It’s everything you imagine a magical festival to be.”
Ludwig was about to dismiss the idea, the words forming on his lips, but he hesitated. He didn’t know much about this world’s culture, and there was a part of him, buried deep under layers of pragmatism, that was curious. He still hadn’t tested the limits of his eternal quest’s restrictions, but before he could spiral into worry, a familiar notification flickered into his vision.
[You are allowed to leave the academy if you are planning on returning soon. Abandoning the academy entirely will result in failing the Eternal Quest.]
“Well,” Ludwig muttered to himself, the corners of his lips twitching upward. “I guess I don’t have much of an excuse not to go.”
“What’s the festival about?” he asked, pretending his curiosity wasn’t already piqued.
“It’s the Mage Masquerade,” Hoyo repeated, his expression softening as he leaned against the infirmary wall. A hint of nostalgia flickered in his eyes. “I went there once as a kid. Back home, my family and I would…” He trailed off, the wistful look on his face speaking volumes.
“I see,” Ludwig said, his tone neutral, though he made a mental note of Hoyo’s brief melancholy.
Sensing Ludwig’s lack of enthusiasm, Hoyo straightened up, his grin returning. “They sell rare magical materials there. I mean, the kind you won’t find anywhere else unless you’re willing to spend a fortune. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.”
Ludwig reached into his pockets, he pulled their insides out showing how they were embarrassingly empty. “Yeah, about that…”
Hoyo’s eyes widened. “Wait, don’t tell me—you’re broke?”
“Broke doesn’t even begin to describe it,” Ludwig said dryly, brushing the non-existent dust from his tunic.
“Did you blow through your allowance already?”
“What allowance?”
Hoyo’s jaw dropped. “You mean to tell me you’ve been here all this time and you didn’t know about the academy stipend? They give us coins every month for food, supplies, and whatever else we need!”
“I’ve been… managing,” Ludwig said, though the truth was, he hadn’t even noticed his lack of funds. After all, he needs no food or drinks, nor does he need sleep and rest. What value does coin have for one who is dead?
Kassandra, who had been quietly listening from her bed, chimed in. “Wait, you didn’t claim your allowance? Aren’t you Van Dijk’s apprentice? You’re probably entitled to a larger stipend than the rest of us!”
“Well, I haven’t seen a single coin,” Ludwig admitted, scratching the back of his head.
Kassandra and Hoyo exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming with unspoken plans.
“What if we helped you claim it?” Hoyo offered, his grin turning mischievous.
Ludwig smirked. “I won’t say no, and I understand,”
“Then let’s go!” Hoyo said, practically bouncing out of the infirmary.
***
Hoyo led Ludwig through the labyrinthine halls of the Black Tower with practiced ease, chatting animatedly about the festival as they went. Ludwig followed, his thoughts drifting back to the first time he’d visited the dean’s office—a dark, foreboding place that had left an indelible impression on him. because this pathing was the exact same he took that time.
When they arrived, Hoyo knocked twice on the heavy oak door. It swung open, revealing an office that looked nothing like Ludwig remembered.
The room was warm and inviting, illuminated by an elaborate chandelier that cast a soft golden glow over polished floors and ornate furniture. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with tomes and artifacts that radiated faint magical energy. At the far end of the room, a young woman sat behind a grand desk, her glasses perched low on her nose as she scribbled notes with a quill that moved of its own accord.
Her sharp eyes flicked up, locking onto them like a hawk spotting prey. “What business do two freshmen have here?”
“We’re here about missing allowance funds,” Hoyo said, flashing a disarming smile.
The woman arched an eyebrow, her gaze shifting to Ludwig. “And you look like you’ve seen a ghost. What’s on your mind?”
“It’s nothing,” Ludwig said, though his confusion must have been written all over his face.
The woman narrowed her eyes. “Spill it. You’re either hiding something, or you’re terrible at pretending otherwise.”
“It’s just…” Ludwig hesitated, then gestured around the room. “This office—it wasn’t like this before. Maybe I walked into the wrong one.”
The woman’s expression froze. “What do you mean, ‘wasn’t like this’? How exactly did it look?”
“It was smaller. Darker. The dean was here with his crow, Bulgasal.”
The moment he mentioned the dean, the woman stood abruptly, her chair screeching against the floor. “What exactly did you do? How did you meet him?” Her voice was sharp, almost frantic.
“I… just walked in,” Ludwig said, taking a step back.
“Tell me everything!” she demanded, her voice cracking with urgency. “And if you do, I’ll personally double your allowance!”