Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1206: Passed

The patient's respiration began to stabilize for a brief interval…

"You are out of danger…" Cielo spoke softly as he observed Daren’s eyelids fluttering open. The man's gaze was lucid, showing no immediate signs of the previous madness.

Cielo was well aware, however, that this peace was fragile. His Thought Link had merely anchored the man to the present moment; the effect would dissipate if Daren lacked the internal strength to ground himself.

Even so, the caretaker let out a long breath of relief, beginning to murmur quiet prayers under his breath.

Behind Cielo’s back, Zhang Wei’s hand moved with calculated precision. He brushed against a hidden talisman tucked within his sleeve, triggering a subtle surge of Arcane Energy.

The ripple was minuscule and nearly impossible to detect, yet it was sufficient to disrupt the stability of the clarity rune Cielo had positioned on the table.

Whom~

The talisman’s radiance began to flicker.

Daren’s focus crumbled instantly as the hallucinations returned to plague him!

"Chrono… shift… the symbols… they are everywhere…" His limbs jerked with violent spasms, as if he were locked in a physical struggle with an invisible foe.

The caretaker gasped in horror. "He is losing himself again!"

Cielo’s brow furrowed as he took in the scene.

The disturbance was immediately apparent to him. The clarity rune could not have malfunctioned spontaneously; there was an undeniable outside interference at work.

'Wait…'

His potent Mental Energy was instantly activated, reinforcing the connection of his Thought Link. Though he was reluctant to force such a heavy concentration of energy into another person's psyche, the risk of total failure left him with no alternative.

Swiftly, he flooded Daren’s mind with a wave of tranquility, demanding stability from the man's fractured thoughts.

"Stay focused on me, Daren," Cielo commanded with authority, while simultaneously scanning his surroundings for the source of the trouble.

Gradually, Daren’s breathing began to slow once more…

The clarity rune flared back to life, shining with even greater intensity than before as Cielo’s Mental Energy crushed the recent interference.

Behind him, the smirk on Zhang Wei’s face twisted into a dark scowl. 'Did he sense me?'

Mica moved forward, her face a mask of false anxiety. "Cielo, perhaps you should take a break and let us assist. Your Thought Link might be reaching its limit alone."

Cielo, however, simply shook his head.

"No. I have this under control."

Liang Chen let out a quiet smirk as he finally launched his own attempt.

With a quick motion, he flicked a talisman toward the floor, one inscribed with a specialized rune of agitation.

While utilizing Rune Talismans wasn't his usual style, he had specifically acquired this one the previous night for this very purpose.

A dim wave of energy radiated through the room, aggressively prodding at Daren’s shattered mind.

In an instant, Daren began to convulse, his quiet murmurs escalating into a piercing shriek!

The situation turned dire in a heartbeat! "The shadows! They have arrived! They are watching me!"

The caretaker was gripped by panic. "What is happening?!"

Cielo’s gaze sharpened with resolve. He was committed to seeing this task through to the end.

He felt the intrusive energy pressing against Daren’s consciousness, attempting to fuel the internal chaos. In response, his own Mental Energy surged outward like a tidal wave of clarity, crashing against the malicious intrusion.

"No," Cielo whispered. "You will not destroy him."

He expanded the reach of his Metaphysical State, allowing his Thought Link to fully encase Daren’s mind. His Mental Energy engaged the agitation rune, systematically dismantling its influence piece by piece.

A moment later, the talisman hidden on the floor split apart, its light extinguished forever.

Daren’s screams subsided into soft weeping before eventually fading into silence.

Just like that, the man had been restored!

"The voices… they have finally stopped…"

The caretaker fell to his knees, tears flowing freely. "You succeeded… You actually saved him…"

With trembling hands clasped together, his eyes shone with profound appreciation.

He thought back to the time he had pleaded for help from the Priests of the Church of the Fortune Goddess. They had arrived with their golden charms and divine blessings, singing songs of destiny and wealth. Yet, their efforts had yielded nothing.

Back then, Daren’s mind had remained shattered…

Following that failure, he had sought out the Sorcerers of the Divine Sorcerer Church, another of the five great Orthodox institutions. They had come in their dark robes, wielding staffs to invoke divine sorcery meant to cleanse mental corruption. But their magic had also proven useless.

It was then they realized that Daren’s ailment was not caused by demonic possession, dark curses, or any natural disease they could purge. It was a madness generated by his own soul, a place their powers could not penetrate.

The caretaker’s voice shook as he recounted those dark days.

"Even the Orthodox failed… two of the most powerful churches were helpless. Thank you!"

The caretaker looked toward Cielo, the one person who hadn't abandoned them. The man had turned to smaller sects, desperate for anyone who might find success.

Cielo smiled, understanding the reason for the previous failures. Such a condition required the expertise of Psychic Arts Practitioners. Specifically, a Thought Link or an equivalent spell was absolutely vital…

"How curious… You sought help from other churches as well?" Cielo inquired.

The caretaker blinked in surprise before nodding his head.

It seemed two other local religious groups had also made attempts.

The Church of the Silent Moon had sent monks who offered lunar blessings and meditative chants, claiming the moon's peace would soothe him. Instead, Daren had only grown more hysterical.

Next came the Church of the Green Path, bringing nature’s blessings and herbal concoctions. They burned incense and called upon forest spirits, but their potions only numbed Daren’s body while leaving his mind in turmoil.

It was no wonder Daren’s psyche was in such a state of upheaval… he had endured a series of botched treatments.

Regardless, Cielo finally wiped the perspiration from his brow.

His formidable Mental Energy had seen him through the ordeal, but he knew the conflict was far from over.

The patient’s instability was not the only opposition he had faced today.

He turned his head slowly, his eyes locking onto Zhang Wei, Mica, and Liang.

The trio exchanged looks, struggling to hide their annoyance. They had anticipated Cielo’s failure. Instead, he had achieved a feat that the great churches could not manage.

Their friendly smiles might have fooled others, but Cielo was no fool. He had clearly felt the sabotage and the intentional interference.

"The three of you…" he said in a low tone. "Assisting me was never your intention."

A heavy, uncomfortable silence filled the room. The caretaker looked between the students, visibly confused.

Zhang Wei let out a soft laugh, trying to hide his irritation. "You’re seeing ghosts, Cielo. We were merely worried about your well-being."

Mica chimed in with a sweet tone, "Indeed, we were only there to support you. You shouldn't be so distrustful."

Liang Chen gave a smirk. "Besides, the mission was a success, right? That is all that counts."

Cielo scowled at his spineless peers.

He chose not to push the issue—at least not here, in front of the patient and the caretaker…

However, in his heart, he had already marked them. He was a man of kindness, yes. He believed in hard work, justice, and helping those in need, but he was far from naive.

He had witnessed their ill intent and felt their attempts to undermine him.

…And it was something he would never forget.

From the shadows outside, Odessa watched the scene unfold, a smile playing on her lips at the tension.

She had observed everything and was impressed by Cielo's handling of the situation.

There was no longer any doubt that Cielo would represent them in the Academy Competition in a few months as Vale’s disciple…

'Excellent… You will reach new heights once you are officially under his tutelage,' Odessa thought to herself as she watched the three troublesome students depart from the building.

Though she felt the urge to discipline them, she suspected Cielo would prefer to settle that score personally.

With that, Odessa quietly moved away from the small home.

***

Odessa’s next destination was the Academy's Transformation Arts department.

Moving quickly through the streets, she arrived at a secluded courtyard located near the southern wing of the Academy. There, she spotted the girl she was seeking: another first-year named Darlene Arkwright.

Darlene was a slender girl with porcelain skin and long, shimmering silver-white hair.

Despite her youth, she was already the subject of much jealousy.

Odessa observed from a distance as Darlene practiced her craft in isolation.

The girl had already achieved mastery over the three fundamental spells of the Transformation Arts:

Morph Flesh, which allowed for minor physical alterations like changing skin texture or hair pigment.

Bone Shift, a technique used to modify or reinforce the skeleton for added flexibility or durability.

Essence Adaptation, the most complex of the trio, allowing her to sync her body’s essence with environmental factors like toxins, extreme heat, or cold.

"Her progress is impressive…" Odessa whispered, noting how Darlene’s spells transitioned flawlessly into one another.

Then, Odessa caught sight of something strange. As Darlene stopped to recover her breath, there was a slight movement beneath her clothing.

A tiny black snake emerged just enough to peek its head out…

"Ahhh…"

Odessa’s breath hitched. She knew exactly what that was.

It was Vale’s pet snake! It was a Spirit Beast of some kind, one she had previously encountered in Vale’s Immortal Tower!

Moreover, its identity was certain because she could sense a distinct aura of divinity radiating from the creature!

'He has already placed his Spirit Beast with her?'

Darlene did not react with fear at the snake's presence.

She simply petted the creature with affection, treating it like a loyal friend.

Odessa allowed herself a small smile.

'So… Vale has made his choice. He didn't mention a word to me. I assumed he was still evaluating the candidates…'

With a shake of her head, Odessa turned to leave the courtyard.

There was no longer any need to put Darlene to the test.

Vale’s intentions were perfectly clear...

But as she began to walk away, a voice suddenly echoed inside her mind!

The snake was speaking to her!