After seeing to Andre, a weight was temporarily lifted from Rorschach’s mind. It was the best he could do under the circumstances; he didn’t know the other students who had awakened their magic, let alone their situations.

The real solution was to tackle the school itself, to make it a place that wouldn’t have an "allergic reaction" or go into "shock" just because it produced a Caster.

"Why are they so protective of this knowledge? So few people have the talent for it anyway. It’s not like a few more Casters would change anything," Rorschach grumbled. Snow listened noncommittally, instead changing the subject to Rorschach’s teachers.

He wasn’t just talking about Kano, but Caroline as well. "A long time ago, Master Kano and his star pupil, Master Caroline, had a huge argument over something very similar."

He took a sip of his Energy Potion and recalled, "Caroline once hoped to roll out the procedure for testing Magic Talent across all of Valuva, including the slums. She wanted anyone with talent to be able to receive a magical education. On that front, the Church is more open-minded than we are—at least their Grammar Schools will accept the children of farmers.

"She gathered a few colleagues who shared her ideals and formed a small group, much like the Church’s circuit preachers, to scout for talent in the city and its outskirts. She also wanted to compile a set of textbooks suitable for Casters with limited abilities.

"Kano told her it was unrealistic and ultimately stopped his own student. He was particularly critical of the textbooks. His exact words were, ’Does knowing a few Tricks and Low Tier Spells mean you can call yourself a Mage?’ He did have a point there."

Uh... Rorschach broke into a nervous sweat.

Lost in his reminiscence, Snow didn’t notice Rorschach’s unnatural expression. "And so, an enraged Caroline broke off her engagement to a prominent family, distanced herself from Kano, and left the Holy Kingdom. She didn’t return until you appeared."

’So that’s what this was all about.’ Rorschach recalled his first meeting with Kano, wondering why the man had kept harping on his background and discussing the number of Mages. Rather than just chatting with him, it was more likely that the Master had been hoping to better understand his student Caroline’s ideas.

Although he verbally dismissed the ideals of Caroline and Rorschach as naive and laughable, since becoming the head, Kano had been the most lenient one yet, working closely with merchant guilds and willingly accepting apprentices from mercantile families.

Of course, the "Noble Faction" wasn’t just madly obsessed with "pure-blood" theories like something out of a children’s book from some island nation. They were more like the great aristocratic families of his past life, who understood the immense value of knowledge—especially magical knowledge, which could be manifested through the Ether.

They wanted to control who had access to education!

Merchants brought wealth, providing material security and pleasure for the elites, which allowed them to buy a few student slots at an exorbitant price. That was why the high-born Mages could tolerate the presence of merchants’ children.

But it was merely tolerance. Just because the discrimination wasn’t overt didn’t mean it didn’t exist. Take the Alchemy Department, for instance. It was at the bottom of the pecking order, looked down on by all but the general Magic Guild. The old-timers there rarely had "de" or "von" in their names, and even those who did kept their distance from the "Noble Faction."

But the idea that those paupers and country bumpkins could now turn their fortunes around—that they might even have the chance to surpass the nobility in magical attainment—was intolerable. This discontent and unease had exploded over the incident at the Valuvanan Higher Normal College, and with some instigation, it had become this whole farce.

Fortunately, most people only knew that Rorschach came from the Empire; they had no idea that the young Middle Level Mage and recipient of the "Moon-Feeding Stork" medal was also the son of a farmer.

Snow offered a kind warning, "You, and your senior Pascal, should be careful. I’m not the only one who thinks this investigation team means trouble. They’re being very targeted. It would be best if you didn’t return to the Tower of Stars for the time being."

"What, am I supposed to set up a cot here?"

"You could. I’ll have everyone make some room for you."

"No, no, I’d better not. I can’t disturb your work. Besides, I have research that requires access to the archives in the Tower of Stars."

"All right, it was just a warning. I trust you can handle it."

Rorschach deflected with a jest, "Thanks. If I really get nabbed by the Guild, I promise I won’t rat out my good friend and accomplice, Master Snow."

"Exactly. You should rat him out before Pascal can. Otherwise, that unreliable fellow will sell you out first," Snow retorted with a laugh, playfully punching Rorschach on the shoulder.

...

Rorschach had no desire to endure another foolish interrogation, but that didn’t mean he was scared witless. As long as Kano still had his back, there was no reason for him to pack his bags and hide in the research building or flee back to the Empire.

As he returned to the Tower of Stars and made his way to his dormitory, he felt apprentices’ eyes on him. The uncomfortable feeling came out of nowhere.

When he reached the faculty dormitory area, Rorschach spotted a man standing by his door. The man held a clipboard with a stack of questionnaires and was stopping every apprentice who passed through the hallway to question them.

Rorschach spun around and made a beeline for the tower’s commissary. "One Disguise Scroll!"

"You’ll need to register your name and use it in my presence... Please understand. Around exam time, students invariably use these scrolls to disguise themselves as teachers to steal test papers, pose as proctors in the exam halls, or alter grades..."

’Why is it such a pain to buy a scroll in the Tower of Stars?’ Rorschach thought. He paid, changed his appearance in front of the clerk, borrowed an Apprentice Robe, and hurried back over to the investigator.

"Hey, Apprentice! Please cooperate with an investigation... Your year and name... Have you heard of or seen the Rorschach Mage?" he asked, holding out a sketch. The eyes and brows did bear some resemblance to Rorschach.

"Shouldn’t you introduce yourself and state your purpose before asking for my personal information?" The disguised Rorschach, a perfect embodiment of the anti-fraud education from his past life’s university days, eyed the man warily.

The investigator’s voice rose unconsciously, his eyebrows arching as he took on an aggressive air. "Fine, fine! I am Mage Gerard de Villefort, here on orders from the Aurora Elder Council to investigate the magic leak incident at the Valuvanan Higher Normal College."

"A leak? We didn’t sign any confidentiality agreements when we enrolled."

"Try not to think like a merchant!" ’This guy must be low-born,’ Gerard judged, ’incapable of understanding the spirit of the Elder Council’s decree.’ Growing impatient, he again pressed Rorschach for his name. Rorschach invented one on the spot.

"Oh, you’re an upper-year student? Then you must have taken a class with the Rorschach Mage, correct?"

"The Magic History Class?" the "Apprentice" replied, working hard to stay in character. "It was absolutely the most meaningful and inspiring class I have ever taken! He makes complex subjects easy to understand, quotes from a wide range of sources, and uses historical records to encourage us to think about the world today. I was especially impressed by his analysis of the pedantic corruption of the Old Empire’s nobility..."

"Enough, enough!" Gerard cut him off. ’Looks like another waste of my time,’ he thought.

But this "Apprentice" was proving to be more difficult than Gerard had anticipated. He glanced at the clipboard and shot back, "If this is an investigation, why aren’t you recording my statement?"

"Um... I only record valuable answers!" Gerard hastily took a step back, turning his clipboard upright to keep the pest from looking at it again. He threw out his second question:

"He is said to be from the Empire. Do you believe the Rorschach Mage has committed any suspicious acts that might harm the interests of the Holy Kingdom or the Tower of Stars?"

’Oh, now you’re getting to the good part,’ Rorschach thought. He nodded, then answered firmly, "No!"