A few days later, in his room, Mart decided to put into practice the knowledge he had acquired after reading the books in the restricted library.

He sat on the floor and in an instant created dozens of demonic diagrams of different colors depending on the nature of the spell, most of which belonged to the demonic diagrams he had created for his personal use.

As he accurately and carefully replaced the intermediate formulas with advanced demonic formulas, the demonic diagrams became more complex and absorbed a greater amount of demonic energy.

"Crystallization of the imagination," -Mart murmured, relying not only on his imagination but also on the knowledge he had been acquiring since he chose to become a magician, or what others called a demonic sorcerer.

After practicing the demonic diagrams, Mart took the book on advanced cursed formulas that Isirid had given him in the past out of his demonic bag, compared the formulas, and was able to perceive the slight differences that caused different results. Upon realizing this, he was glad he hadn't tried to create a cursed diagram with inadequate formulas, because even the slightest variation in a calculation creates a different result. However, now that he had been studying the advanced demonic formulas, he considered that he had a chance of applying them to the cursed diagrams if he made some variations, but he preferred to wait to increase his intelligence attribute further to avoid making mistakes in the calculations and thus avoid casting a curse on himself.

...

After a whole day practicing his demonic spells, Mart left his room, and as he walked around the Academy, he noticed that the atmosphere was even gloomier.

There were students who seemed to have been crying nonstop and others whose insomnia had reached a chronic stage.

"It seems that the war is leaning in favor of the humans," Mart deduced in his mind without needing to investigate too much, because after listening to most of the topics the students had been discussing in recent days, it was easy to deduce the cause that had further increased the students' anguish, fear, and concern.

Mart continued walking around, pretending to read a book while subtly observing the perimeter of the Academy, to make sure that no demons corroded by the Demon God's energy appeared.

"It seems they won't be too obvious," concluded Mart, who at noon headed to the S-class cafeteria.

...

A few days later.

Mart went to the Danteriar Gardens, where he was greeted by a minotaur in an elegant suit who guided him through the labyrinth until they reached the "path of solitude."

Upon arriving at the black rose garden, he built an elegant dome by shaping the roots and leaves of the surrounding area. Then he rang the bell that only Skailis, the dark fairy who protected that area of the labyrinth, could hear.

She brought the sweets that Mart tasted once a week, every time he visited the Danteriar Gardens.

Sometimes he exchanged a few words with her to obtain subtle answers about the labyrinth without being too reckless, thus avoiding creating unnecessary conflict between them.

...

The Danteriar maze was also visited a few times by Selis and Asfil, and on many fewer occasions by Selenia. They would go to other gardens in the vast maze, because Mart preferred to keep the Path of Solitude as the private and intimate place where he had shared special moments with Isirid. That did not prevent others from visiting the Path of Solitude and reaching the garden of black roses. However, as it was not the most popular area of the labyrinths, it was an excellent place to spend time alone, just as the name of the path leading to that garden indicated.

••••

A few days later.

Alexandrian Academy.

At the Alexandrian Academy, everything was proceeding normally. Since the Academy was located in the capital of the Venrac Empire, and those who lived in the capital were in privileged positions or enjoyed good opportunities, their confidence in the empire was quite high. Even so, newspapers were also scarce in the capital, as they were mostly bought by citizens who did not belong to the nobility, who thus kept themselves constantly informed about events occurring at the borders.

...

At the training grounds.

Bang!

Bang!

"Damn traitor!" muttered a student in the third Spiritual Core (low level) contemptuously.

The student was above average in appearance, with white skin, light brown hair, and gray eyes. He was annoyed because he couldn't defeat Arian without using mana, but what annoyed him most was seeing the concentration in Arian's eyes, who didn't even flinch at the provocation.

Arian didn't flinch because after his years in the orphanage, he was already used to similar comments, and also because he had sworn not to waste the opportunity to learn and improve that he had gained by passing the test and entering the Alexandrian Academy.

They continued to exchange blows as they wielded their swords. Josef Jirent, the student who was practicing with Arian, had sore hands, and his frustration continued to grow.

"His attacks are weak," Arian concluded after exchanging a few blows with his opponent.

"This bastard is underestimating me," Josef thought as he infused some mana into his sword and prepared to strike. He had already decided that he would simply say it was an accident.

On the other hand, Arian was so attentive to his opponent's movements that he noticed almost instantly when Josef began to use his mana.

Arian just ran quickly and nimbly to Josef's right side.

Bang!

When Josef swung his wooden sword, Arian had already anticipated it and with his own wooden sword he hit Josef hard on the back of his right leg with the side of the sword.

"I'll kill you!" Josef exclaimed in pain as he had to put his right knee down, but he immediately circulated mana throughout his body and lunged at Arian with his sword.

Bang!

Josef was startled when his sword struck the wooden sword held by Professor Alphens Esferest, who looked angry.

"You will run 10 laps around the outdoor training field without using mana. If you don't, don't come back to my class."

The rest of the students who were facing their respective rivals had stopped what they were doing to watch the incident.

"Don't waste your time! Keep training!" exclaimed Professor Alphens Esferest, who just continued to watch as the rest of the students practiced.

Arian, on the other hand, went to wield his sword against a new opponent who had been resting until then.

Professor Alphens had been clear: no mana, so that they could strengthen their bodies, senses, and instincts. Mana would be used during the second semester of that year. Any act of disobedience would result in punishment, and Professor Alphens did not discriminate when it came to punishment, because his goal as a professor was to create skilled swordsmen, and he would not tolerate behavior that hindered that goal.

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