Klyde left the Potioneering hall and stepped into a quieter section of the academy, away from the bustling noise of new students.
Reaching into his sleeve, he retrieved the summoning stone. Its surface was a little duller when compared to what it was previously.
Without much thought, Klyde tapped it against the floor.
Once again, a skeleton emerged from the ground. Its form was small, barely reaching Klyde's knees.
"Take me to the Trap Magic area," Klyde said.
The skeleton immediately got to work. With a turn, its limbs began to move, jogging at a steady pace.
Klyde followed.
The skeleton led him downward. They passed several halls, then descended a spiral staircase.
The lights here were dim. Mana lanterns hung from the walls, but many had gone dark.
The remaining few pulsed weakly, casting shadows that twisted and stretched.
As he descended, the air grew colder.
Klyde observed the surroundings with a calm expression.
Most of the academy's classes were held above ground. The deeper levels were for research, storage, or disused wings. Holding a lecture hall here served no practical purpose.
Eventually, the tiny skeleton stopped in front of a heavy door.
It stood slightly ajar.
With its job done, the skeleton quickly vanished.
Klyde stepped forward.
He entered the room without hesitation.
The hall was wide and dim. Only a few mana lanterns lit the space, casting uneven light with most of the corners remaining dark.
No one was in sight.
He stood at the edge of the hall and waited.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the shadows.
"Are you lost, boy?"
The voice belonged to a woman.
Klyde turned slightly.
"I chose Trap Magic as my field of study. The summoning guide brought me here. If this is the correct location, then... you must be the professor?" He asked.
"Correct."
The sound of footsteps followed.
From the shadows, a figure emerged.
Her long black hair flowed down her shoulders. Her eyes were violet, the pupils sharp and steady. She wore a neutral expression.
"I'm Cecilia. You chose Trap Magic willingly?"
Klyde nodded.
"I did."
Cecilia's gaze remained on him.
"This subject has only recently been formalized. It is not popular as it had formerly been a derivative of Rune Magic. You are the only student who selected it so far."
She paused.
"Why did you pick it?"
Klyde looked at her without shifting his posture.
"The idea of manipulating the environment to battle directly appealed to me. It seemed more efficient."
Cecilia's eyes flickered with a faint light.
"Not many people think that way. Most would rather learn how to wield direct and powerful magic. And even then, to choose such an obscure field of magic like this one is quite ambitious..."
Cecilia's gaze sharpened.
Klyde met her gaze and responded, "I just don't like direct confrontations. From what I've read, Trap Magic requires foresight and planning. With enough preparation, a Magus can secure their victory without having to even lift a single finger."
Cecilia smiled. "Hoh? So you are saying that you're a coward?
The corners of Klyde's lips twitched.
"If you put it that way, I guess I can't refute..."
Cecilia laughed in amusement.
"I'm only kidding~"
She smiled and then said, "You gave a satisfactory answer. That type of thinking is perfect for this kind of magic. As a professor, I just needed to make sure that you were serious about pursuing this kind of magic."
Cecilia moved past him and opened a small cabinet near the wall. She retrieved two sets of strange materials.
She placed one set of the materials on a nearby table.
"Since you're my first student, let's begin my first lecture now."
Klyde nodded.
"On the table are your starting materials. Your first task is to create a proximity trap. It should detect the magical undulations of monsters and Magi. It will act as an alarm once the target reaches a certain proximity."
Cecilia walked to the center of the room and knelt down.
"I'll demonstrate the process once. Watch carefully."
One of the materials was inside a pouch. Inside was a fine grey powder. Without a word, she dipped two fingers in and began tracing a pattern on the floor.
The lines she drew were delicate but firm. Each motion precise, as if rehearsed countless times. Klyde remained still, his eyes following each mark as it took shape.
A complex geometric formation began to emerge. At a glance, it resembled a spell diagram with a strict symmetry.
"This is arcanite powder which is used for low-grade traps. Higher level traps won't even require materials, able to be drawn anywhere and at any time. Of course, traps without materials would have less power," Cecilia said calmly. "The conductivity of arcanite powder to magical undulations makes it the base for most low-grade traps. Its effectiveness depends on stability. Even a misplaced curve will ruin the structure."
She reached for a thin vial filled with a silver-blue liquid.
"This solution will reinforce the lines. The powder alone will scatter after a few minutes."
She dripped the fluid slowly along the lines. As the liquid touched the powder, a faint glow shimmered over the entire diagram.
Professor Cecilia then uncorked a second vial, this one darker in color. She added only a few drops to the corners of the formation.
The glowing lines began to fade.
"This step conceals the formation from plain sight. A proper trap should never be obvious."
She retrieved a small magic crystal from her robe and tossed the crystal lightly into the air.
As it passed over the diagram, a sharp chime rang out.
She stood and dusted her hands, having completed the trap.
It had taken her five minutes to set the trap up, and that's taking into consideration her experience.
"The advantage of Trap Magic lies in its preparation. Its weakness is the same. This proximity trap is perfect to teach to beginners as it's the essence of all traps, which is detection," she explained.
Her violet eyes then turned toward Klyde.
"Now, your turn."
She gestured to the table of materials.
Klyde stepped forward and examined the items.
At this moment, his thoughts were churning. While Klyde had appeared calm on the surface, his thoughts had become slightly turbulent after this professor had revealed her identity.
'Cecilia... I recognize that name. In the novel, she appeared much later. She was part of the Shadow Web, a Dark Magi faction that spread its roots into the academy. But it was never mentioned she was here from the start. I overlooked this...'
His gaze remained steady as he picked up the pouch containing the arcanite powder.
'Choosing Trap Magic was a misstep. The novel never described the professor, so I assumed it was unimportant. I didn't expect her to be the one behind it.'
He knelt down and began to draw out the pattern Professor Cecilia demonstrated.
'Still, this shouldn't be a problem. At this point in the story, she likely wants to keep her identity hidden. If I act normal, she will have no reason to suspect anything. I'm just another student who had merely chosen an obscure field of magic.'
Cecilia stood to the side, arms crossed, watching Klyde with interest as he completed the trap step by step.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
She noted with some satisfaction, "This boy has some talent."
He was doing everything perfectly just from one demonstration!
While she had picked Trap Magic due to its obscurity and her expertise in it as a spy for the Shadow Webs, having a student like Klyde might make her job less boring until their plans were ready.
Unbeknownst to Klyde, Cecilia felt that taking him as a direct disciple seemed liked a fun idea.
Meanwhile, Klyde was focusing on the last few steps of creating the trap.
He had already memorized every detail from the earlier demonstration. Each angle of the lines, the symmetry of the formation, the sequence of materials, he can recall them all with absolute precision.
There was no wasted movement, not even hesitation!
The diagram came together smoothly under his hands.
He applied the reinforcing fluid, then the concealment drops.
The trap shimmered, then vanished from sight.
Klyde let out a breath and muttered, "There shouldn't be any mistakes unless I overlooked something."
Unless Professor Cecilia was also manipulating mana to make the trap, Klyde had done everything she had shown in her demonstration perfectly.
Cecilia's expression shifted slightly, her violet eyes narrowing with interest.
"Well done," she said at last. "Your first trap, and already functional. Most apprentices fail on their first few attempts. You've got a good eye for structure and possess sharp instincts."
She had already guessed that Klyde had likely chosen a constellation like the Hunter. Naturally, her guess would have been correct, if not for the fact that Klyde had received a different constellation from a goddess.
Klyde remained silent, bowing his head slightly in acknowledgment.
Cecilia moved closer, her tone growing more deliberate.
"Klyde, since you've shown this level of comprehension from the start, I'll ask directly, would you like to become my disciple?"
The words echoed in the dim hall.
She continued smoothly, "If you agree, I'll take you under my direct tutelage. You'll receive more focused instruction. Access to information about Magi. Specialized spells, and my personal guidance that is beyond what the academy offers to ordinary students."
Klyde frowned inwardly.
This was no trivial matter.
Within the academy, professors could take on disciples if a student displayed enough potential to warrant special attention.
To be chosen was rare.
Even nobles competed fiercely for such a position under well-established professors. For a commoner like Klyde, rejecting such a position wouldn't make any sense.
His thoughts raced, calm on the surface, and calculating beneath.
'What is she planning? A woman like her with an allegiance to a Dark Magi organisation has no need for a disciple.'
What's her ulterior motive?
Cecilia watched him with an unreadable smile.
Klyde's frown deepened slightly.
Inwardly, he weighed his options.
The advantages if he accepts were that he would receive direct guidance from a trap magic specialist, having early access to rare spells, and a plausible explanation for his skill and growth.
However, he also couldn't overlook the disadvantages. He would constantly have to worry about the schemes of this woman and possibly be entangled in her organisation. Moreover, if she even becomes slightly suspicious that he knows her identity, he may be immediately dealt with and silenced.
Klyde restrained the urge to massage his temples.
After a brief moment of contemplating, which was only half a second thanks to the enhanced cognition of the Scholar Constellation, Klyde made up his mind.
'Although I can't comprehend her motives, I need to play it safe and act normal. If I distance myself now, not only would this woman likely have a negative impression on me, she may even become suspicious. Walking alongside the snake... is better than being bitten by it in the dark.'
Klyde lowered his head slightly, his tone calm but steady.
"I am willing. This disciple greets Master."
Cecilia nodded, her violet eyes glinting imperceptibly.
"Good," she said simply.
As Klyde straightened, his mind sharpened once again.
'I still have some time before her organisation begins to move. I'll do my best to not raise any suspicions while increasing my strength with the help of the academy. Once I have gathered enough strength, I can leave the academy and go to those locations in the novel.'
Klyde quickly organised his thoughts.