Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 186: Easter Egg - : Wine of the Moon

You crawled up from the damp ground, and although it was just a simple action of lifting your hand, when you performed it following the instincts of your body, you felt an indescribable strangeness.

"Is this what it feels like to lose flesh and blood? So strange, yet... not strange."

You had become one of the Undead.

"That Corpse Caller gentleman, he said I am now what you call a Lich..."

You habitually crossed your arms to think, but a white mask gradually took over your entire field of vision. The featureless mask, like an egg, interfered with your thoughts.

That cold voice came from behind the mask.

"Don’t hog the Magic Array, move along, newbie."

"Ah, sorry, sorry."

You left the stone slab with its strange carvings as he suggested, pinched the ring upon your slender finger bone, which bore the blue emblem of a nightshade flower, shimmering as it was, and touched the ’A’ on it, looking up at the vast castle complex right before your eyes.

"If you accidentally press that ring and increase my workload by transporting here again, I’ll take apart your ribs one by one..."

"Ah, sorry, sorry," you quickly released the ring you had been touching and bowed to the senior who was working diligently, and, feeling embarrassed, you proceeded toward the castle.

"Hold on, newbie." The senior suddenly called out to you and tossed a black object your way.

A brand-new black robe and a full-coverage mask as blank as an eggshell.

"Your bones are exposed, put this on. In Andrey, you need to protect your identity. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can come to the Magic Research Society and find me, I am Faceless."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Faceless."

——————————

You attended a rather dull welcoming ceremony, and afterward, someone named Raymond floored you with Holy Light. You weren’t embarrassed at all, as there were dozens of newcomers beside you who had suffered the same fate.

You felt a mild discomfort from the descent of Holy Light and ascended the stairs to the third floor for the recruitment meeting.

"Magic belongs to humans, and therefore to us as well, it is the right we carry with us from death."

In a crystal palace carved with ice and dazzling elements, a burly gentleman was passionately proclaiming his beliefs. His oratory skills were much stronger than those of the headmaster. More importantly, the gentleman in the huge leather hood managed to create such a magnificent spectacle in an instant.

You felt the power of miracles you had never witnessed before and found yourself gradually drawn to it.

———————————

The corridors of Andrey were interwoven and indistinct from each other. Because of your hesitation, you missed the guidance of the seniors and now had to wander aimlessly around the ancient castle with a filled-out application to join a society.

"This should be the place..."

It was a door as black as night, with stars twinkling against the dark backdrop, a set of celestial bodies rotating in a pattern. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"We are... where..." A deep voice emanated from the black door, and the design magnified to display nine orbs revolving around a fiery globe.

Was this a test? Guided by a vague sense in your consciousness, you chose the medium-sized, azure globe with a single moon.

The image of that planet suddenly enlarged, and within the blue light, you heard a voice, calm and filled with satisfaction.

"You have passed. You will come to understand the most advanced and grand magic in this world."

———————————

When you awoke, you found yourself in a wilderness, the Scarlet Moon radiating its sleek glow in the distance, while nearby, a massive electric orb with blue and purple arcs violently emitted bright light, illuminating the night like daylight.

A dense, syrupy energy was being held aloft by an invisible force controlled by someone seated in a chair.

It was more an apparatus than a chair, each crisp arc and curved spiral of the chair back meticulously adjusted; on a mirror-flat surface, chains bearing intense light were connected to the giant electric orb above.

He was clad in knightly armor, fierce to behold, sitting with the dignity of a scholar and the arrogance of a sovereign.

His arm braced his head, and within the shadow cast by his helmet, two Soul Fires observed you.

With the application form in hand, you were unsure how to proceed, as the occasional lightning escaping its bonds struck the ground, creating an oddly scented depression—certainly, such thin paper wouldn’t fare any better.

"You are the newbie who completed the simple test. Wise ones deserve respect. You and those who come seeking fame shall be treated differently, you will have the chance to choose," the armored man said, starting to introduce some options you seemed to recognize, "Electromagnetic, Gravity, Stasis, Death Star, Meme, Annihilation. Which discipline interests you most?"

Listening to the unfamiliar terms, you realized things were beyond what you had anticipated. To be safe, you chose something you could comprehend.

"Electromagnetic?"

The armored man nodded, "Good, then let you become an apprentice of Electromagnetic. Welcome to Advanced Magic Research, newbie, I am your club president, I am Apocalypse. If you run into any trouble in Andrey, you can ask the society members for help..."

Apocalypse waved his hand, and you were instantly moved out of Apocalypse’s line of sight; you didn’t catch what he said next.

"If you’re not already killed by those guys."

You found yourself at the intersection of several stretches of land.