Chapter 45: Solving the Mystery
Chapter 45: Solving the Mystery
Isolde stayed in her seat even after she opened her eyes. She didn’t move, didn’t speak. She just sat there, her hands resting calmly on her lap, her breathing steady—but inside her mind was racing.
The whispers of the spirits still echoed faintly in her memory.
The forest, the black magic, and her task.
Around her, the hall buzzed faintly with suppressed magic and determined silence. Students continued their summoning attempts one after another. The air shimmered softly with different hues—manifestations of spirits that had finally answered the calls of their candidates.
A girl to her left gave a sharp cry of delight as a small wind sprite spiraled into form above her open hands. It sparkled once, then settled onto her shoulder like a sleeping bird.
Another student further down knelt trembling as a moss-laden earth spirit emerged beside him, whispering softly in a language only he could hear.
There were spirits appearing one by one—some small, barely glowing lights. Others more defined, flickering with shapes of water, mist, or glowing embers. Whispers passed between them. Gasps echoed lightly in the chamber whenever one was successful. Most were not.
But Isolde… wasn’t watching them with awe, envy, or jealousy. She was just thinking.
She wasn’t sure what she had just agreed to. She wasn’t even sure how it happened. All she knew was that she said yes to something much bigger than herself. And now, there was no going back. But none of that mattered right now.
She took another round to look around as the other examinees continued with their summoning attempts. Some had their eyes tightly shut, sweat forming on their foreheads as they struggled to reach the spirit realm. Others already had faint glowing lights hovering near them—small spirits that answered their call.
Isolde continued to watch in silence.
Just a quiet realization: what she experienced didn’t feel like an exam. It felt like something else entirely.
She blinked slowly as another student cheered softly when a wind spirit fluttered around their hand like a leaf in the breeze. Across the room, a boy fell to his knees when a small water sprite curled beside him. The spirits shimmered gently before fading out, leaving behind traces of their mana.
Isolde didn’t clap or smile. She didn’t want to take away from what they achieved.mBut her heart wasn’t in the room anymore.
She was still thinking about the forest and what the spirits showed her.
\-
A few minutes later, Professor Virelle stood and walked toward the center of the hall. She clapped once, and the room slowly quieted down. The remaining students opened their eyes and looked up.
The subtle hum of the room died down at once. The spirits who had been officially contracted stayed, while the others went back to the realm where they belong. The candidates straightened, brushing dirt from their sleeves or pressing palms to their knees, waiting for what came next.
“Enough,” the professor said. “The summoning assessment is now concluded.”
No one moved and in a snap of the finger a screen big enough appeared in the middle and it is a screen where the names of the ones who passed and failed the assessment will be shown. Some are nervous, some are already contented. Because for some, this may be their last chance on being able to be admitted to the academy.
“As you already know, this assessment is not based on power, but on connection. We are not looking for how much mana you can pour into the ground, or how loud powerful your spirits are. With that, I hope no one will be boastful as you exit the grounds because spirits reflect their companions”
She scanned the room. “Some of you will be disappointed. That is normal. But do not be discouraged. Summoning is not a path for all mages.”
And then names appeared on the screen and she read it one by one. The list continued and just like what Isolse expected, some names earned small smiles and the others had tears on their eyes. Others triggered quiet sighs or slumped shoulders.
And then—
“Isolde Serina Ansirad.” There was a pause in the room - quite a heavy pause in fact. The air itself seemed to hold still.
“Passed.”
A wave of murmurs swept through the hall like a breeze before a storm. All of them had negative reactions and honestly speaking she too was shocked to hear that becauuse she wasn't able to do anything - she didn't summon a spirit nor formed a contract with one.
“She didn’t summon anything—”
“I didn’t see any spirit.”
“Is that allowed?”
Isolde didn’t react. She kept her eyes down, her hands folded neatly. One voice rose just a bit louder from the crowd. “That doesn’t make sense. There was no spirit with her!”
Professor Virelle calmly turned her gaze toward the speaker. “That is because Miss Isolde did not summon a spirit in the way you understand.”
She walked forward slowly, her voice clear and even. “I am the one overseeing this chamber. I have full control of its spirit-gate. The moment someone steps into the spirit realm, I am notified.”
The whispers softened.
“Miss Isolde entered that realm. She was there longer than most. I felt it,” Virelle added. “And while she may not have brought anything back, what she accomplished is something few ever do. That connection is enough. More than enough.”
A girl in the corner scoffed under her breath. Another boy whispered, “They’re just saying that because she’s the duke’s daughter.”
Isolde didn’t look at them. She didn’t explain herself. What is the use of explaining in the first place if they will no listen to her and that they will always have a prejudice that she got to havee a free pass on everything just because she is the daughter of the duke of Ansirad. When the truth it is she had is worst than all of them present in the examination hall.
Also, she don't want to publicly reveal what she encountered. What happened in the spirit realm was between her and the spirits.
They wouldn’t understand anyway even if she told them.
And right after, professor Vierelle immediately announced what will happen the next day which is the last day of the entrance assessment and instead of listeniing, Isolde's mind flew away thinking on how will she accomplish her task
\-
Later that day, after the assessments were officially dismissed, Isolde decided to return to her room at once. But just as she expected, her brothers were already waiting outside.
Ravi sat on the bench with his legs crossed, tossing a fruit into the air with a smug grin. Sedin stood next to him, speaking to one of the knights who had escorted them to the academy. It looks like the knights had just something to report to him and she came exactly on time.
“Took you long enough,” Ravi said the moment he saw her. “I was starting to think the spirits kidnapped you or the kids bullied you.”
Isolde gave him a tired smile. “No. Just… a long day.”
Sedin glanced at her, then at the others around, before motioning with his head. “Come. We’ll talk inside.”
They returned to their temporary lodging and, like the previous night, shared a meal together. The servants had already prepared a modest but warm dinner—roasted meat, vegetables, and a sweet bread pudding that Ravi immediately claimed two portions of. Well, he has always been the heavy eater which is maybe because he is still growin.
Isolde poked at her food for a while before finally speaking.
“I passed the summoning assessment.”
“We heard,” Ravi said, not even bothering to hide his smile. “Apparently, you managed to impress the professor without even summoning anything and it was quite the controversy.”
Isolde looked at him then to Sedin and said. “Did you also know that professor Virelle is one of the examiners?"
Sedin took a sip of his drink before answering. "Professor Virelle is one of the professors here in the academy and also a close aide of our family as a summoner. However, the fact that she is your tutor and that you knew each other was kept in secret because we know that there are people who will make a story about it."
"Rest assured that she didn't treat you with favoritism, Isolde. Professor Virelle had always been fair and she will not give you a grade that you don't deserve" Ravi added.
Isolde on the other hand can't help but to heave a sigh because apparently she is the only one who didn't knew about that information. Well, she is not mad nor she doesn't even feel betrayed - its just that it also worries her that maybe the decision of the professor is simply because she was her student already.
For a few minutes, they went back to eating - Isolde contemplating whether or not she will tell the truth to her bothers. But in the end she decided to do so because one, the spirit king didn't mention a single thing that she is not allowed to share what they talked about and two, so that they know that if in case she is not in the acaemy then she is most probably in that forest. In short, for safety purposes because she knows that her family tends to overreact and over-worry about her.
“I didn’t make a contract,” she admitted. “But I did go to the spirit realm.”
That made both of her brothers pause.
“They… spoke to me. Not just one. All elemental spirits. And the Spirit King.”
Sedin set his fork down. “That’s not normal, have you told anyone else other than us?”
“I know its not, and professor Virelle mentioned that she knew that I entered the realm which is the reason why I passed.”
Ravi leaned forward. “I'm curious, why would those beings who tend to not care about humans reach out to you.. What did they say?”
She hesitated. “They asked me to help them. There’s a forest—northwest of here. Something is wrong with it, in fact it was starting to be covered in black fog and they want me to go there to investigate.”
Sedin’s expression darkened. “That's dark magic and are you planning to fulfill their wish?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I want to. But I also know I’m not allowed to leave the academy grounds right now.”
When she said that, she saw how a worried experession flashed on her brothers faces. Of course, she understands why they are worried. One thing is because of the black magic involved - Lucifer is just one of the organizations that utilizes black magic and that if they are able to find a vulnerable spot, she could be in danger.
But there is nothing that she could do especially the fact that the spirit king mentioned that the lives of the young spirits are at stake.
Ravi muttered, “You won’t even officially be a student until tomorrow.”
Exactly. That was the other problem because it will take still a few days before she got to settle in her dormitory and who knows what is happening in the forest as they speak.
"We'll talk about it after your entrance examination. For now you need to focus on passing the final assessment tomorrow" Sedin said as he let out a heavy sigh and Isolde had no choice but to nod her head and continue eating.
\-
That evening, Isolde sat at the edge of her bed, staring out the open window.
The moon was bright. And far, far in the distance, beyond the academy buildings, beyond the shadows of hills and trees, lay a dark line in the horizon.
She didn’t need a map because she knew that was the forest that she needs to save.
Her eyes narrowed.
What’s really waiting there? she wondered, she knew that there is more than black magic there and she knew that her brothers are worried because of that as well.
But what bothers her right now is that the urgency and if she can get there without being noticed?
If someone saw her trying to sneak past academy grounds before even becoming a proper student, she knew the consequences would be serious. Not only would her family’s name be dragged through the mud, but the spirit realm might suffer if someone foolishly followed.
She let out a breath.
“I’ll wait,” she whispered. “Just a little longer.” Hoping that nothing becomes worse as days pass by
She rose, finally ready to put herself to bed—when something shifted outside. A movement across the far wall of the academy.
Isolde paused.
At first, she thought it was a student on patrol, maybe a teacher out for air.
But then she saw him. The owner of that golden hair that she was completely fascinated with. That same golden hair made him looked both too young and too otherworldly.
Silent steps that almost seemed too smooth—too practiced—to belong to a student. And then, without a moment’s pause, he leapt over the academy wall in a single clean arc.
Gone. She rushed to the window analyzing where he went and there Isolde realized one thing.
No way…
He was heading straight in the direction of the forest.