The Nightmare Wizard
Chapter 88: Unexpected Problems

Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Unexpected Problems

After things were clarified, Neri became much more communicative with Dixon and the rest of the group. She answered every question without reservation, completely changing her previous cold and distant attitude.

"I’m a second-year student," she explained as they walked. "My performance... can be considered average, or perhaps a little below. Unfortunately, to improve, you need resources, and although I gathered some mana stones before coming, it’s useless since everything costs Black Points."

"What are Black Points?" Dixon asked, curious.

"They’re the academy’s currency; you can think of them as mana stones in the outside world," she said. "They’re used to buy any resource within the academy. The problem is, they’re hard to get. Although, if you want to buy some basic resources, there’s an exception: a small market where direct use of mana stones is allowed, but that’s more of a space for private exchanges. Everything truly worthwhile requires Black Points... and they can only be used in the official market. No one would dare sell academy potions or spells for mana stones unless they wanted to die."

Cedric raised an eyebrow.

"And how do you get those points?"

"By doing missions or exchanging them for skills and products. If you’re good at herbology, engraving, alchemy, or enchantments, you can sell what you make or your time in exchange for points. We also receive a monthly amount based on our performance in exams... but it’s very little if you don’t excel; only the best get a large amount of points."

"And how much does the best of all receive?" Dixon insisted.

"I don’t know. Nobody says. But it must be an absurd amount, because they can get anything within the academy. However...," she added bitterly, "nobles always win it. They bring resources from their homes or their families get them through... questionable means. Damn rich people, it’s impossible to compete against them!"

After an awkward silence, Neri looked at them seriously.

"This year will be especially hard for you," she said, focusing her gaze on Dixon. "Normally, commoners or false nobles who come from the Desolate Continent face off against the local nobles. Since there are about a thousand aspirants each year, and the locals barely reach 700 or 800, the confrontations are intense, but neither faction is able to dominate the other, so the tension has been maintained for generations."

"And this year?" William asked, though he already imagined the answer.

"This year, you are alone," Neri confirmed. "The nobles won’t see you like the other false nobles, and as you should know, the other nobles hate them. They’ll see you as an anomaly, as a group that needs to be crushed to restore ’order.’ They won’t respect the rules. And in the most extreme cases... their families will get involved. They’ll do whatever it takes to get rid of you. Furthermore, if what you said is correct about other nobles being degraded to slaves, they’ll seek revenge at any cost."

Neri’s warnings were not exaggerations. Her tone was laden with genuine concern. William felt it. And though he didn’t say it aloud, he already intuited that a major headache was approaching.

As they talked, they arrived at the academy gates. From a distance, they looked like a large black rock embedded in the mountain, without fissures. But upon closer inspection, they saw that the gates were made of a shiny black material like obsidian, with golden veins inside that looked like trapped liquid. They had an imposing presence, intimidating anyone who approached.

The walls were made of the same material, but completely black, sprinkled with tiny points of light as if they were a petrified starry sky.

"We have arrived. This is Black Rock Academy," Neri announced, stopping in front of the gates. "Once inside, it will be almost impossible to leave without official permission."

She approached one of the soldiers guarding the entrance, showing a collar with a dark gem. The knight examined it and nodded, raising a hand. The gate responded to the gesture with a dull roar. It opened slowly, revealing its colossal weight with a rumble that echoed throughout the hillside.

Upon crossing the threshold, the first thing they felt was the oppression of confinement. Unlike Caerlin’s fortress, the sky wasn’t visible here. Everything was covered. It was a gigantic, empty hall with smooth, cold walls. At the back, three smaller doors stood, each guarded by imposing statues of stone creatures.

A sign hung above each entrance:

"Dark Knights"

"Magic Squadron"

"Hall of Honor"

"This is the official entrance to the academy," Neri said solemnly. "Each door can only be opened by authorized members. If anyone without permission tries... those statues activate. No matter how strong you are. It has happened before. And there wasn’t much left to bury."

Without stopping, she headed to the Dark Knights’ door. There, she raised her collar again.

"I have brought the recruits."

After a few seconds, the door opened with another mechanical roar. Two knights emerged in black armor decorated with gold lines. Their movements were firm, disciplined. They inspired respect.

Neri bowed slightly.

"These are the newcomers. Can you confirm their reception?"

One of the knights nodded and extended his hand, touching his own collar with Neri’s. A blue flash erupted between them.

"Perfect. They are in your hands," she said, stepping back.

The knights removed their helmets. The first, with a long face and dark hair, examined them carefully. Then he frowned.

"You’re not from Caerlin, are you? I don’t recognize any of you." He paused, as if trying to fit a piece into place. "By any chance, did you see my brother? Larkyz, from the Rednaviz family. He was supposed to come this year. Or... perhaps my father didn’t let him?"

The atmosphere instantly became tense. William felt his back bristle. That name... Larkyz Rednaviz. They couldn’t forget it.

He had been one of the first to die during the entrance trial. Son of an emperor, arrogant, cruel... and one of William’s first victims in the battle.

They weren’t looking for trouble.

But trouble, as always, was running to find them.

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