Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1201 1201: Bats

'Is this still insufficient?' Aurion mused, his eyes scanning the crowd that remained.

Although a large portion of the protesters had begun to retreat from the gates following the Celestial's declaration, one mother stepped forward. She appeared gripped by a lingering hesitation.

"But… what if the Evil Spirit returns? What if another attack happens?"

The surrounding crowd sensed that her anxiety was authentic; unlike many others, she likely hadn't been bribed to participate. Her boldness inspired a few others to stay. Deep down, those paid agitators feared they wouldn't receive their full compensation if they abandoned the protest too early.

Aurion remained indifferent to their motives as he focused his attention on the woman.

"If they return, they will find guardians waiting. Vale himself has sworn to protect this city, and I stand here as proof of that promise. No harm will come to your children while the Academy is under our protection."

A man nearby grumbled, "Words are easy. How do we know you speak the truth?"

His voice was faint, betraying his fear of challenging the Celestial directly.

In response, Aurion lifted his hand, releasing a gentle radiance that bathed the courtyard.

The parents felt their internal tension dissolve, their suspicions soothed by the comforting heat of his aura. This wasn't a spell of mental slavery, but a delicate assurance of safety—it felt like a divine reassurance.

"You know the truth in your hearts…" Aurion said gently.

"Vale saved this city from the Chaos Immortals. He has faced threats greater than these Spirits. Do not let fear blind you to what has already been proven. Trust in the Academy, trust in Vale, and trust in the strength of your children."

Silence fell over the area as the remaining parents traded looks.

Ultimately, the genuine concerns of the parents transformed into a sense of peace. A few even lowered their heads, feeling a twinge of regret for their previous hostility.

Seeing the situation resolved, Aurion lowered his arm and retreated a few steps.

"Return to your homes. Let your children continue their training. The Academy will stand even if it's attacked by Evil immortals. And when the time comes, you will see with your own eyes that this place has gathered all the strongest on the continent."

The pacified parents finally began to walk away.

The crowd evaporated in moments, leaving behind only a handful of confused journalists who were unsure how to frame the story in their reports.

The chaos had been quelled—not through violence, but through the sheer weight of Aurion's presence and rhetoric.

From the balcony of the Headmaster's office, Vale's Avatar observed the scene. A thin smile touched his lips, pleased with Aurion's efficiency.

"Aurion… you've done well…"

Nevertheless, Vale understood that this was merely the opening act.

The adversaries seemed to be acting out of desperation, rushing their attempts to plant seeds of uncertainty.

Regardless, he was confident that such petty schemes could not topple his Academy.

***

A quiet week passed by. The tension surrounding the Academy vanished, and a sense of calm returned to the residents of Clovis City. Lisa remained isolated within the still-sealed Dark Arts Tower. Despite her absence, the Marshall Academy proceeded with its daily operations without interruption.

By this stage, the majority of elite students had achieved mastery over the three Foundational Spells of their respective Arcane Branch. This breakthrough signaled their evolution from novices to practitioners ready for real-world application.

Within the first-year Psychic Arts Branch, three individuals rose above their peers.

They were Zhang Wei, Mica Sato, and Liang Chen. All three originated from the east and had been scouted by Lisa's Vampire Knights.

The Psychic Arts curriculum began with Mind Shock, a fundamental offensive spell that emits a surge of mental energy to shatter an opponent's focus. It was primarily utilized to disorient enemies or interrupt their concentration during a fight.

The second was Thought Link, a practical utility spell enabling short-range telepathy between comrades. This was a vital tool for maintaining coordination during combat and missions.

The final spell was Mental Barrier. This defensive technique constructs a psychic wall around the user's consciousness, providing a safeguard against illusions, mental tampering, or magical fear.

"I heard that we can finally accept missions…" Zhang Wei, whose family was famous for the Mind Pierce Spell, whispered to his team.

Mica Sato, a specialist in Clairvoyant Echo—a technique allowing her to detect hidden threats and anticipate enemy movement—nodded in agreement.

"Well… We learned the three Foundational Spells already. That should give us the privilege." She said.

Liang Chen, who could pin targets down using the psychic weight of Mental Bind, also concurred.

"We need to earn money too… This path, too expensive! I thought that the Alchemy Path was the most expensive. I didn't expect that the Psychic Arts, which only uses the mind, would be this humbling…"

Despite their financial struggles, the trio was widely regarded as the top three students in their year.

Their teachers frequently praised their perfect synergy: Wei provided control within his Magic Zone, Mica offered defensive intuition, and Liang supplied the raw mental power needed to finish fights.

They soon received confirmation that they were eligible to take missions from a professor!

As they had anticipated, mastering the three Foundational Spells of the Psychic Arts granted them the right to take their talents outside the Academy walls.

Professor Jamie of the Psychic Arts Department called them to the mission hall to address their request.

"You three have reached the threshold. The Academy trusts you to apply your skills beyond these walls. Your first mission will be in Clovis City itself. A merchant has reported disturbances near the eastern district… There were confirmed reports from the police about the shadows that unsettle the mind. The city guards suspect remnants of Evil Spirits or Rogue Arcanists, but they cannot confirm. This is where your Psychic Arts will be tested."

Liang Chen’s eyes brightened with excitement. "Finally, a chance to prove ourselves."

Mica Sato looked concerned. "If it's remnants of Evil Spirits, then it may not be simple. Their influence lingers even after defeat."

Zhang Wei remained composed as he nodded. "That's why we're being sent. Our spells are designed to detect and suppress mental disturbances. If we succeed, it will show the Academy that the Psychic Arts Branch is ready."

Professor Jamie handed over their mission scrolls. "Remember, this is not just about you guys using brute force… It is about discipline. You must work together and do not underestimate the task."

Jamie kept the fact to himself that an assistant professor would be shadowing them throughout the task. This guardian would only intervene if the situation turned life-threatening.

The three students bowed in unison. "Yes, Professor."

As they exited the hall, they were met with the envious and admiring stares of their classmates. Being assigned a mission so early in their first year was a rare honor.

Typically, first-year students were never granted such opportunities.

"Let's do this!"

"I'm excited… We're finally out of the Academy!"

"Just make sure not to visit the night market! We need to save money!"

For Zhang Wei, Mica Sato, and Liang Chen, this was more than a mere assignment. It was their first step toward honoring the Academy's reputation and potentially representing Marshall Academy in the continental tournaments.

But to reach that level, they needed to manage their finances!

While the Academy provided for their tuition, board, and basic supplies, the Psychic Arts Branch was notoriously expensive in ways the school didn't fully cover.

For the trio, the financial reality of their path was a heavy burden.

Refining mental energy required incredibly rare and costly materials.

Since they relied on Mental Energy, total exhaustion could lead to permanent neurological damage.

They required specialized incense, focus crystals, and meditation rooms saturated with draconic essence to maintain their growth speed. These were luxury tools that even the main Psychic Arts Faction or Farrel Academy struggled to supply.

The Academy only granted access to such resources for high-ranking students or those who proved their worth through successful missions.

Liang Chen often lamented the prices. "Do you know how much a single vial of Mind Essence Extract costs in the city? Enough to buy a week's worth of food! And we burn through it in one night of training."

Mica Sato sighed, feeling the weight of his words. She had saved a significant sum before coming here, but she hadn't expected the costs to be so staggering.

"The Academy gives us the basics, but if we want to push further, to strengthen our Magic Zones, to extend the duration of our Mental Barriers, we need supplements. Meditation alone isn't enough. Without those resources, our progress will stall."

Zhang Wei understood this better than anyone, given his family's long history with the Psychic Arts.

"Psychic Arts cultivation is different from the other branches. Holy Arts practitioners can rely on divine prayers and rituals. Mystic Arts students can use common reagents and even elemental stones. But for us, everything revolves around the mind..."

As he spoke, the group suddenly stopped, noticing hundreds of bats swarming toward the Dark Arts Tower!