Ludwig had no idea what was going on after all, and couldn’t help but wonder what the hell was she even talking about.
Hoyo looked at Ludwig and pitied his confusion, “You really met the Dean?” he asked.
“I mean, yeah, that’s what he called himself, unless I’m wrong…” Ludwig said.
“There is no one crazy enough to call themselves the Dean, and from the looks of it you’re not lying, but tell me what happened,” The woman said.
“I just got here, on my first day and was led by his crow here, to this very office, like I said before…” He stalled as he was waiting for their reactions.
“Spatial Magic. I should have known! Ahh!” the woman was groaning. “Now this just makes thing even more annoying, he could literally be anywhere…” she said contemplating the information, the gears in her brain seemed to be spinning in overdrive.
“What’s going on?” Ludwig asked in a hushed tone.
“The Dean isn’t someone you can simply meet, he’s both the administrator and at the same time a teacher, but he doesn’t teach students only, even the academy staff and teachers. Among all the people of the Dark Tower academy, he’s probably the highest circle mage, and there is a rumor going around that if you find the Dean, he can take you in as a student and teach you his own magic. But, he hasn’t been seen or heard of inside the academy for like eighty years or something now… but he does exist as he still, through his crow Bulgasal who attends major events…” Hoyo explained.
The woman sighed, “Regardless, a promise is a promise, but tell me your name first,” she said.
“Ludwig Heart,” he said.
“Ludwig heart…” she began repeating the name as she scrolled down a list in front of her.
“Here, it says that you received your allowance four days ago… Well, technically it was Sebas Morgan who claimed it as your delegate. You’re telling me you never received it?” she asked, the frown on her face was apparent. Something didn’t seem right.
Ludwig shook his head. After all, he knew only one person that had Sebas in their name, and it was one of the two asshole necromancers that made him this way.
“Give me a second,” she said, immediately pulling out a communication jewel.
After several rings, the jewel didn’t respond. Frustration grew on her face, and then she switched to a different ID. There was hesitation before she called, but she steeled herself and dialed it.
The reply was almost instant.
“Ruby, quite a rare call, did something happen?” she heard through the communication jewel.
The voice was obvious to Ludwig, it was Van Dijk’s
“Tower Master, there seems to be some missing funds which were supposed to go to a student in this academy.”
“And how is that related to me?” Van Dijk replied.
“The man who received the funds was supposed to hand them over to a boy called Ludwig Heart.”
“I see… Ludwig is indeed my personal Student, are you saying he never received them?” Van Dijk seemed surprised.
“He is right here with me, he told me so himself,” she said as she was looking at Ludwig.
“He wouldn’t lie about something that simple, get me on video call,” Van Dijk said.
Hoyo immediately took a couple of steps back. Seeing how terrified he looked, Ludwig understood that Master Van Dijk wasn’t a simple persona in this academy, besides all his weird antics, he was still someone who commanded fear and respect in equal doses.
“Ludwig,” Van Dijk said.
From Ludwig’s point of view, Van Dijk’s hands were gloved up and bloodied, as he wore a formerly white apron that turned almost half red. Probably one of his experiments going wrong… or worse, went right.
Ludwig gave a small pray for whatever unfortunate soul had to stain Van Dijk’s drabs with that much red.
Van Dijk’s spoke as he continued working on whatever was in front of him “As you can see I’m quite busy right now, But shouldn’t Sebas have handed you your allowance the first day you left for the academy?”
“I didn’t receive such,” Ludwig said shaking his head.
Van Dijk sighed, “Annoying… regardless what are you planning on doing with said allowance? I doubt that it’s simple food that you’re lacking.” Van Dijk said hitting the nail on the head.
“I was leaving for Rima with a few academy mates.”
Van Dijk tapped his chin a couple of times with his finger bloodying it a bit but he didn’t seem to care. “I see, it’s the Mage Masquerade in Rima this time. Sure, go on, I also need you to bring me something from there. Ruby be a doll and give him next month’s allowance in advance, I’m not currently available I would have solved this myself. As for Sebas, I did send him on a mission yesterday. I’ll… deal with his lack of attention to such delicate details later.”
“As you wish Tower Master… but is this amount correct?” She asked.
“What is it?” Van Dijk asked.
“This is a thousand golden Krona, that’s a third of my salary,” She frowned.
Van Dijk could only smile as he cut off the call.
“You really have a good master, not to mention this is just your expense as a freshman, next year starts you’d probably be paid the same as I do,” she sighed as she signed some papers and pulled a small pouch from under the drawer, she did a quick count and handed the pouch to Ludwig.
“This should take care of the expenses of this month, and I also added something there for the hint about the Dean. Regardless don’t waste it all on random things you won’t be getting anything from me next month,” she said as she dismissed the two.
Hoyo’s grin was wide enough that it reached his ears.
“We’re rich!” He said.
“I’m rich,” Ludwig replied. Once he saw Hoyo’s expression sour, he added after a laugh, “But I’ll never let the homies suffer, let’s see what this Mage Masquerade event is all about.