Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1183: The Fire

A wave of nervousness washed over Galatea as her fingers brushed against the necklace tucked beneath her uniform's collar.

The faint heat radiating from the jewelry served as a constant reminder of the gift her sister, Saintess Claire, had given her—a Sovereign-Grade detection artifact.

Sitting next to her, Irene carried a matching necklace. Naturally, both sisters had also received a second gift from Saintess Teresa. Hidden away beneath their sleeves, wrapped around their arms, was their second artifact.

This Sovereign-Grade defensive armband remained in a state of constant readiness, prepared to trigger the moment a lethal threat was detected.

These items were not designed for offensive combat. The Academy strictly prohibited high-intensity offensive relics on campus, such as those capable of releasing toxic vapors or explosive fire, among many others.

In contrast, tools meant for heightened awareness and protection were permitted, as were artifacts intended to shield the soul or sharpen the user's senses.

The sisters only sensed it because of these very artifacts... a delicate, probing gaze was fixed upon them. Someone was observing them. However, the detection necklace was unable to pinpoint the exact location of the source. The observer was either perfectly concealed or possessed power that rivaled or surpassed the Sovereign artifacts themselves.

Exchanging a quick, knowing look, Galatea and Irene understood the situation perfectly.

'If our Sovereign artifacts are unable to see through their concealment... then whoever is watching must also possess a Sovereign relic. Or perhaps something even more terrifying...'

Irene let out a helpless smile, though a hint of pride swelled within her.

'A Half-Immortal... or maybe even a true Immortal.'

The realization that such a high-level being was currently watching her caused a spark of excitement to flicker in her heart.

Both girls knew better than to show any reaction.

Revealing that they were aware of the surveillance would be a dangerous mistake. Instead, they maintained their neutral expressions, straightened their backs, and kept their focus on Professor Yena's lecture as if they noticed nothing at all.

***

Outside the classroom, a lone figure came to a halt.

Immortal Magnus had been strolling through the Academy corridors when his refined senses brushed against the Holy Arts classroom.

A faint smile played on his lips as he directed his attention toward those two exceptional students.

"So... these are the sisters who were recommended to become Vale's disciples," he whispered. His eyes lingered on Irene and Galatea, sensing the subtle resonance of their Sovereign-Grade artifacts.

"Sovereign relics gifted to mere children... Claire and Teresa certainly spoil them."

Magnus had no desire to interfere.

Driven by simple curiosity, he was merely evaluating the talents gathered within the school. Indeed, he found the sisters impressive. Their composure remained steady even under his hidden scrutiny, and their Spirit Strands were remarkably robust.

However, his gaze eventually shifted. Another presence among the rows of seated students suddenly caught his interest.

To a casual observer, the child appeared perfectly normal. But to the senses of an Immortal, something felt... unnatural. The resonance she gave off was not entirely human.

"How intriguing..." Magnus muttered, focusing his vision on her.

Her aura felt slightly artificial, as if it had been stitched together using alchemical essence and specialized arcane threads. She was almost certainly a Homunculus.

His lips curled into a thin, knowing smile.

"The Church of the Fortune Goddess... and their forbidden project. Vale was supposed to have eradicated it years ago. And yet..."

Intrigue gleamed in Magnus's eyes. "Did a survivor remain? Why would she come here to study Holy Arts? Have they continued the project in the shadows?"

He was uncertain if Vale was aware of the girl's nature. Regardless, he didn't particularly mind a Homunculus being present, provided she adhered to the Academy's regulations.

It provided a unique opportunity to study their behavior in a controlled environment.

With those thoughts, Magnus turned to leave, making a mental note of her existence. He would eventually have to alert the Professors to her status.

For the time being, he chose not to confront the Homunculus, simply adding her to his list of subjects to observe.

'It seems the Academy is attracting more than just standard geniuses...' Magnus mused.

***

As the days flew by, the student body gradually adjusted to the rhythm of Academy life.

During this time, Vale received word that the first-year Alchemy students were scheduled to visit the Three Fire Stones. These were new sacred relics that housed the essence of the Academy's most esteemed flames.

"That sounds interesting... I should go see for myself."

His curiosity piqued, Vale decided to watch the proceedings from the shadows.

These three Flames were no longer ordinary; they had received the blessing of Dragons!

Actual Dragons!

Their quality had improved drastically. Vale was convinced that any student bold enough to replace their current fire with one of these three would find success, regardless of where their path led after graduation.

Achieving this would significantly boost the prestige of his Academy, which was exactly what he wanted.

Professor Zeno, a man who commanded great respect in the fields of Dark Arts and Alchemy, stood before sixty expectant students.

He smiled inwardly at the sight of their eager faces. As practitioners of the Alchemy Art, they all possessed internal Fire that they utilized for their crafts.

However, that didn't mean they were stuck with their current flames forever. The Academy was offering them a rare chance to upgrade their fire, provided they were compatible with the new source.

"Are they actually legendary flames?"

"I'm dying to know what kind of fire they are..."

"Imagine getting one of those sentient flames; that would be incredible!"

"Don't be a fool... a sentient flame would just kill you."

"Hahaha..."

The students chatted excitedly as they marched toward the storage vault.

Every student there had fire infused into their Spirit Strands. Naturally, they would seize any opportunity to obtain a superior flame.

The real challenge, however, was the fire itself.

If a student lacked compatibility, they would be forced to give up the flame or undergo rigorous training until their body was capable of the infusion.

Out of the sixty students present, twenty-two possessed the exact same flame: the Orange Foxfire.

The Foxfire was a distinct orange flame that was safe, reliable, and moderately easy to infuse. It was also quite affordable compared to more exotic options.

It possessed enough power to push any alchemist into the First-Class tier with enough training. While there was nothing wrong with it, it was a common and predictable choice used by many Alchemists.

Upon entering the chamber, Professor Zeno pointed toward three stones, each the size of a human head, resting in the center of the room.

They were colored white, azure, and crimson.