When the secret meeting at the Hermitage concluded, Rorschach returned to the Tower of Stars. He dropped off his luggage and headed straight for the research building.

"Master Kano, long time no see!" Rorschach knocked and opened the door to the Master’s office, only to see Kano look at him in surprise. "Rorschach? Why are you back?"

’Is he not happy to see me?’ Rorschach raised an eyebrow. "It seems I shouldn’t have come back."

"No, no, no, that’s not what I meant. I just thought you’d stay in the Empire a while longer, maybe visit your hometown or something. You don’t have much to do right now, Rorschach, so what’s the rush to come back?" The old Valuvanan didn’t quite understand Rorschach’s haste. If it were him, Kano would have definitely chosen to wander around for another month or two before returning.

"Can’t I be in a rush to get back to my studies?" Rorschach took out the gifts he had prepared, pulling out a dozen bottles of apple-flavored soda and a dozen of orange from his ring.

Kano watched as Rorschach took them out one by one, covering his desk. And then... "That’s it? Just drinks?"

The master and apprentice were both quite blunt with each other. "You can get anything you want in the Holy Kingdom. The only real local specialty I could bring back was this soda. Oh, and this white wine from Wertzburg." The grand finale came last. He handed over the beautiful glass bottle of fine wine. Its small packaging was a result of improved bottle-making techniques. Combined with sterilization, a cork, and a wax seal, its shelf life was a massive improvement over traditional barrel transport.

"Now this is nice." Kano took the white wine, examining the label and the pale golden liquid over and over before placing it in his personal wine cabinet. He then kept one bottle of green soda and waved his hand. "Take the rest of this away. Share it with the others in the group."

Rorschach recounted what he had been doing in the Bayern Kingdom, causing his master to muse aloud. He picked up the glass bottle. "Even a small glass bottle like this isn’t simple to make. But I still think you should have stayed in Bayern, maybe even taken the opportunity to build your own Magic Tower."

Rorschach still felt it was necessary to return to the Holy Kingdom. He didn’t have the funds for construction, and his magic studies weren’t finished. At the Tower of Secret Techniques, he was ultimately just a visitor, and he was met with all sorts of obstacles whenever he wanted to view their book collection. Studying here, where he rightfully belonged, would allow his Magic to progress much faster.

He had also subtly fished for information while chatting with Bart and learned that the officers and formations of the Empire’s Southern Front Army were being redeployed. They had no combat capability for the time being, which meant the Holy Kingdom would be safe for a while longer.

"Right, there’s one more thing I need to tell you. In fact, I would have had to call you back for this even if you had stayed in Bayern."

Seeing Kano’s sudden seriousness, Rorschach felt a bad premonition rising within him. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

As expected, the Great Mage folded his hands and informed Rorschach that the Valuva High Master had suspended all teaching activities.

"Suspended?" Rorschach asked in disbelief. ’I was planning to come back and write a final exam!’

It turned out that in the time since he’d been gone, several more students had spontaneously awakened minor Tricks. Some could summon a small flame, others could make objects float slightly. The most serious incident happened during an activity in the schoolyard when a student tried to accelerate himself, lost control, and crashed into a wall.

This outcome greatly shocked the Guild. It was obvious that other schools wouldn’t have so many children with Magic Talent figuring out Casting Techniques on their own, even if they were just Tricks.

Thus, the investigation into this "Magic Awakening" school was reopened. The Guild still couldn’t figure out whether a Mage had unintentionally passed on Magic-related concepts during teaching activities, or if a Mage had deliberately taught Casting Techniques to talented children.

After some discussion, it was certain that the involvement of Mages in teaching had caused the current situation. Halfway through the investigation, many teachers from the Tower of Stars resigned in anger. Then, for reasons unknown and instigated by some unknown party, His Majesty the King issued a royal edict to shut down the school.

And so, all activities came to a halt.

The investigation, however, continued. Rorschach and Pascal, having been teachers there, would likely face another round of questioning. If there really was a teacher who had taught Magic at the High Master school, the Guild had not yet stated how they would be dealt with. There was only investigation, and more investigation.

"Then what about the students? And what about all the blood, sweat, and tears invested by the patrons and teachers—the time, energy, and resources?" This was the school Rorschach himself had suggested the King establish. And although he had some disdain for the school board, and although he had only been a temporary, minor teacher after it opened, an ending this unceremonious was unacceptable to him.

’I haven’t even gotten to torture those little rascals with my final exam yet!’

Kano shook his head. "I understand how you feel, and I also oppose wasting the initial investment from the Guild and its affiliated merchant associations. But this is the outcome. It’s clear that quite a few people are making trouble behind the scenes."

"If you oppose it, then why don’t you have the Guild handle it differently? Why did the Guild have to pull out of running the school?" Rorschach recalled that humiliating inquiry and still felt utterly disgusted. To think he’d have to go through it again.

"I admit, as the head of the Tower of Stars, I have considerable influence over the Magic Guild’s activities in the Holy Kingdom. But I’m not the Charles XVI of the Magic Realm, and the Tower of Stars isn’t the only Great Magic Tower in the Holy Kingdom. Right now, the investigation is following procedure, so I can only maintain a neutral stance."

Fortunately, Kano wasn’t finished. "At least, neutral on the surface. It’s still not clear who is pulling the strings behind this. The rational approach is certainly not for me to rush out and state my position now. Even my word alone isn’t enough to stop the investigation so easily."

"As long as it continues, I’ll have time to figure out who the mastermind is that instigated the Aurora Elder Council." Kano’s expression was grim as he said this; he was likely fuming at the Elder Council as well.

"I was originally thinking that if you stayed in Bayern, I could fend off the inquiry on your behalf. But since neither you nor Pascal wants to see the High Master school shut down, you might as well try to do something about it. I will support you."

"...Thank you."

But how was he supposed to "do something"? He’d probably have to start by preparing for the inquiry. Rorschach was adamant about not changing his lecture notes, and his senior brother had also promised to stick to them in his own lessons. Rorschach couldn’t find Pascal, and as if guided by a strange impulse, he found himself outside the campus of the Valuva Higher Normal School.

The wrought-iron gate was loosely locked. Rorschach peered inside. It was silent and deserted. Even though it was late spring bordering on early summer, the grounds had a desolate air. The grass on the schoolyard was overgrown and untrimmed.

He glanced both ways. No pedestrians were paying any attention to the closed school. He extended a fingertip, and with a flash of red light, the iron chain broke apart from a First-Ring Decompose spell. Rorschach pushed open the creaking iron gate and went inside.

He walked through the empty schoolyard courtyard, hallways, and offices. It wasn’t until he reached a classroom that Rorschach unexpectedly ran into someone else. A young boy was sitting at a desk, continuously copying from a set of tattered lecture notes onto a piece of paper.

"Andre?"

The boy jumped, startled. He looked up and saw a familiar face, his shock turning to delight. "Teacher! You remember my name!"

’So I get your name wrong one time, and you’re going to remember it for the rest of your life, huh?’

"When did classes stop?"

"After spring break, we were just told not to come back..." Andre’s head drooped again. "My father lost his job again. Luckily, I know how to read, so I’m working as a clerk for a merchant association. When I’m not working, I climb over the wall to get in. It feels good just to sit at my desk..."

Andre had been recommended by a Church Grammar School. Students like him often came from ordinary families. Rorschach now noticed his clothes were dirtier and more worn than when he was attending school.

"Are you still in touch with the other students?"

"Yes, yes." Andre listed a few names, and Rorschach pictured each of their faces in his mind. Andre’s eyes grew red, and he choked back sobs as he poured his heart out to Rorschach, who wasn’t much older than him. "We all really want to keep going to school. Teacher, if I didn’t know Magic, would the school still be open?"

Rorschach let out a long, heavy breath. "Andre, you’re not the one at fault."