Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy

Denise was just joking around when she talked to the Immortal Puppets. She believed that they would just ignore her or react similarly to how golems acknowledge the presence of others.

They would only look at her and perhaps give a gentle nod.

However, after she spoke, the Immortals looked at her at the same time, which surprised her for a moment. Then, one of them responded.

"Denise White… The Dark Alchemist who created those Androids. You have an amazing talent. It was no wonder Immortal Vale trusted you with such heavy responsibilities." One of the Immortals said, which stunned Denise for a while.

She didn't react and simply looked at the Immortals with her eyes widened.

The three other Immortals behind simply nodded, their acknowledgment was silent but profound.

"T-thank you, Immortals."

With a respectful bow, she left them to their silent vigil. Her mind was a bit of a mess as she realized that they were not puppets! They were probably Vale's Immortal Friends!

She immediately confirmed this from Chad, who had told her that the Immortals were indeed Vale's companions who were tasked to protect the castle while he was away.

Apparently, Vale was considering whether to ask the Pontiff and Sage Merlin to halt their mission and return to the castle while he was away. However, instead of doing that, Vale somehow managed to wake up the sleeping Immortals beneath the castle and became his friend.

Well, Chad was also unsure of the details of how Vale befriended those, but nonetheless, they were here to ensure their safety while Vale was away.

'I guess that previous surprise attack from the Demon Saints weighed heavily in his mind.' Denise mused as she recalled what happened several months ago.

Anyway, their presence was certainly reassuring.

This castle was probably the safest place on the continent right now. So she still liked them having her here.

"Now… Where did Vale go?" Denise asked.

***

Meanwhile, faraway from the Eastern Region of the Ruri Kingdom, a huge Airship disguised as a Merchant Ship passed through the skies with a humming sound coming from its engine.

Of course, this Airship was secretly owned by the Arcane Bureau.

'Whom~'

The sound of the Airship's engine didn't bother Vale as he stood on the deck.

Vale was currently on a mission.

He even had to postpone marking the Demon Saints since he would need the help of the four immortals to do that. After all, the Demon Saints had strange physique that had resistance against mind-controlling Spells.

However, that wasn't perfect immunity, and as long as he got the assistance of the four Immortals, he would surely have captured the Demon Saints.

Unfortunately, the Immortals weren't in their best condition after Vale marked them. They required some time to recover, and Vale couldn't wait for that to happen. The Dungeon he had to enter had some time limit, so he had to leave after he had some rest back in the castle.

As he had boarded the Airship of the Arcane Bureau and travelled for about six hours, a Branch Director of the Bureau boarded the Airship from the Capital of the Ruri Kingdom.

It was Director Lark and of course, Vale had already confirmed that the Director was not a Demon Saint.

Anyway, the Director gave him more details about the expedition to the Remnant of the Celestial Realm, a hidden dungeon that was rumored to contain the secrets of the ancient Immortals but was only treated now as a dangerous place.

"Mhmm… I feel like this Airship is quite different." Vale commented after learning everything about the work dungeon.

The Airship that they were using doesn't have the balance of Magic and Technology that he had seen to many other Airships.

To his surprise, he could barely feel the presence of Magic in this Airship!

Nonetheless, this sleek vessel soared through the skies with ease and speed, better than the ones that were mostly relying on the Magic.

"Kehehe… Isn't it amazing? Sir Immortal? This is only one of the technologies that the Arcane Bureau is proud of. As you know, the Bureau isn't just for protecting the world of arcanists, it's also meant to protect the world of men."

Director Lark then paused for a moment before he continued.

"Ahem… This Airship is also equipped with various devices and instruments that monitor the weather, the terrain, and the magical fluctuations. It is also armed with powerful weapons and shields that could fend off any threats. This is really different from normal Airship."

Vale could only nod as he already noticed this.

Then, the Director continued with his speech by talking about the greatness of the Bureau.

He mentioned that the Airship was also filled with agents of the Bureau, men and women who had dedicated their lives to the pursuit of knowledge and adventure.

He explained that they were experts in various fields, such as combat, research, exploration, and diplomacy.

'What is he trying to do? Does he want me to be part of Bureau? Aren't we done with this?' Vale mused but he decided to just let the Director speak.

"Sir Immortal, I would like to arrange a few things for our dinner later. I really wish I can see your face… Ahem, if you need anything, just let me know." Director Lark said before leaving.

Well, Vale was actually wearing his white mask, a simple yet elegant Magic Artifact that concealed his identity.

Though it was a bit uncomfortable, he wanted to keep some mystery about himself and also avoid any unwanted attention once he removed the mask and decided to just roam around.

"The journey will still take more than twelve hours… I should just enjoy myself here." Vale mused.

Luckily, as an Immortal, he was treated with utmost courtesy and hospitality by the agents, who offered him anything he might need or want.

They provided him with the best or most comfortable cabin, a variety of food and drinks, and access to their library and archives.

They also engaged him in polite and stimulating conversations, asking him about his experiences, his opinions, and his insights.

Currently, Vale has decided to visit the library on the Airship. He found it quite an interesting place since he didn't expect a library in such a place.

"Sir, may I ask you a question?" one of the agents approached him, holding a book in his hand. He was a young man, with blond hair and glasses. He had introduced himself as Agent Reed, a researcher of the Bureau.

"Of course, Agent Reed. What is it?" Vale replied, his voice calm and friendly.

"I was reading this book about the history of the Immortals, and I was wondering if you could confirm some of the facts. For example, is it true that the Immortals were once human, but they transcended their mortality through a ritual of ascension?" Agent Reed asked, his eyes shining with curiosity.

Vale smiled, amused by the agent's enthusiasm.

Luckily, he already chatted with four other Immortals before he left, so he was no longer an ignorant Immortal!

He decided to answer his question, without revealing too much.

"That is partially true, Agent Reed. The Immortals were once human, but they did not all ascend through the same ritual. There were different paths to immortality, and each one had its own benefits and drawbacks."

"Really? What were the different paths?" Agent Reed pressed, eager to learn more.

"I can answer you if you give me something…" Vale replied.

"Hmm? What can I give you, Sir Immortal?"

"How about 10 years of your life?" Vale joked.

However, the answer he received was unexpected.

"Alright, 10 years it is!" Agent Reed said without hesitation.

This answer stunned Vale as he didn't expect him to be an idiot.

"Are you sure? I can tell you, but you have to ensure that no one will know or you will die." Vale said as he couldn't help but frown while looking at the Agent.

'How did this guy become part of the Bureau?'

Vale could only shake his head at this thought.

"Understood!" Agent Reed replied, filled with excitement.

Vale considered his answer, weighing the pros and cons of sharing his knowledge. He decided to give a brief overview without going into details.

Of course, he first cast a spell to block anyone who was trying to secretly listen to their conversation.

"There were four main paths: the path of the elements, the path of the soul, the path of the mind, and the path of the body. Each path focused on a different aspect of the human being, and enhanced it to the point of transcendence…"

Vale said as he looked at the young man to confirm that he was listening before he continued.

"The path of the elements granted mastery over the forces of nature, the path of the soul granted insight into the mysteries of the spirit, the path of the mind granted wisdom and intelligence beyond measure, and the path of the body granted strength and vitality that defied aging and disease."