Chapter 15
Thud.
The door closed with a loud thud.
People stood up around the table in respect for the incoming person.
Cardinal Magnus Valior.
The Saika Empire had only two cardinals in the main Church. Unless there was a state emergency, nothing would warrant their direct involvement.
But he was here now.
The expression on Principal Theodore Ashborne's face stiffened.
So it has come to this, he thought ruefully.
Everyone sat down. Two bishops accompanied the cardinal, seated to his right and left.
Today, the cremation ceremony of a female student was held, as she had also passed away last night.
The academy had contacted the Church regarding the ceremony. The Church declared an emergency and immediately called for a meeting.
Holy fire, which was used to burn the affected bodies, wasn't something that could be used without consequences. Holy power was supposed to heal, not to burn.
The current Pope had relentlessly searched for a way to stop the contamination and had gradually improved the method of burning bodies using holy fire.
But it was a huge burden.
The priest would have to rest for days, as it completely drained their holy power.
The current state of affairs didn't allow them to use this method widely. Even allocating one person strained their resources, and also the fact that there weren't enough people capable of using this technique.
Aside from Bishops and cardinals including Pope himself only some priests could perform this without suffering damage to holy power.
But what the academy hadn't expected was the arrival of the cardinal himself.
This had become complicated.
Professor Sevile cleared his throat and started the discussion.
"Regarding today's meeting agenda—"
He was cut off immediately.
The cardinal gestured with his hand for him to stop and asked directly,
"Enough with pleasantries. I want to ask how three affected students appeared in the academy within the same day despite the protection barrier. Care to explain, Theodore?"
His voice was heavy. The pressure in the room increased severalfold.
Principal Theodore looked toward Professor Sevile and gestured for him to take his seat.
"Well, I am asking myself the same question. But soon, I will have the answer."
"When?"
"Yes?"
"Exactly how much time do you need to find the answer?"
"It will be faster if the Church helps us erect a sensitivity barrier."
Theodore said calmly and gestured to Albert. He placed a prepared sheet detailing the proposed barrier and plan in front of the cardinal.
"I was thinking of officially asking for the Church's help, but you have saved me the trouble. With your capabilities, Cardinal, I am sure we can find the root within a day."
He finished speaking and looked at the cardinal.
The bishops wore ugly expressions.
That bastard always prepares ahead. To think he was lying in wait for me. Now that I have taken the initiative, I can't walk back.
The cardinal thought this and shook his head.
Right now, the important thing was to find the source of the poison contamination rather than point fingers at each other.
He studied the proposed plan in detail.
Albert asked silently with his eyes,
Will it be alright to immediately go to the third option right away?
Theodore slightly nodded, then shook his head.
There was no other option left, and they had to act fast. Otherwise, the whole academy would descend into chaos. The atmosphere in the academy was extremely tense. It was like walking on eggshells.
Two deaths—and one possibility.
They couldn't let this continue.
The lockdown had grown strict, and professors were on patrol throughout the day and night. If another student were to get contaminated under these circumstances, the Royal Family would likely get involved.
And Theodore would do anything to avoid that outcome.
Albert understood, but a bitter sensation bubbled in his chest.
They hadn't been able to locate any anomaly.
All the professors were active on duty. They had combed through every corner but still hadn't found anything concrete.
There was only one suspicious place: where contaminated samples of border monsters were kept and researched.
But nothing had come up.
He sighed in resignation.
The principal had suspected Methilia, who was in charge of the experiments, but she too had come out clean.
Tap.
The cardinal closed the document, and Albert became alert.
"This wouldn't have been feasible if another person were here, but I will give it a try."
Theodore sighed internally in relief.
But the cardinal asked the next question without missing a beat.
"What is the condition of the third student?"
Sevile replied,
"He still hasn't woken up since falling asleep yesterday, and his body still isn't showing any signs of contamination."
"Mmm."
Magnus tapped the armrest.
"What is your decision regarding him, Theodore?"
He was still using informal speech, but nobody seemed to mind.
"We are observing him for now and keeping him in complete isolation. It is still suspected that he has entered the incubatory phase. But the Willowheart patriarch and his daughter arrived earlier this morning after receiving the news."
Silence descended upon the meeting hall.
Willowheart.
That name was deeply etched into the history of the Saika Empire. Generations of swordmasters had protected this land, and now their own son lay helpless in the hands of the very misery they had been fighting.
The matriarch and Raymond were currently at the border even now.
No one had any words to say, as the Willowhearts had silently attended the funeral rites and were currently waiting for the meeting to end.
Theodore's head ached.
Even if the incubatory phase ended without symptoms appearing, the standard procedure was to dispose of the host immediately.
Although no one had survived past three days in the records.
They would have to decide soon.