Black Dragon X [LitRPG • Dark Fantasy]-Chapter 56 - 55 : Ritual of the Forgotten Roots

Inside the inner corridors of the School of Sorcerers, .....

silence filled the place. The distant noise of the battle in the courtyard reached here only as a faint murmur, like the echo of a war taking place in another world.

The old stone walls stretched along the length of the corridor. And at the end of the corridor, Mirei appeared. Her steps were quiet. Steady. As if she knew the way well.

Her long cloak flowed behind her with each step, and the soft sound of her shoes echoed through the empty corridor.

She did not stop. She did not look back. As if the battle that had erupted outside... meant nothing to her. She finally stopped in front of a massive stone door.

An old door. Faint magical inscriptions covered it. And on the metal plate fixed at its center, a single word was written:

"Forbidden."

Mirei stared at the word for a moment. Then, the corner of her lips slowly rose. A wide smile. A smile that seemed... as if she had been waiting for this moment for a long time. She whispered in a low voice:

"So... he’s still here."

She slowly reached her hand toward the door handle. But at that moment. The air suddenly changed. A cold sensation passed behind her back. As if the shadows themselves... had moved.

Her hand stopped midway. Her eyes narrowed slightly. Then without turning she said in a calm voice:

"...How annoying."

And in the next moment, the shadow behind her exploded. A black mass shot out from the ground like a dark spear, heading straight for her back.

But Mirei moved before it reached her. Her body twisted quickly. And her hand rose at the same moment. The black mass collided with a shield of energy that formed in front of her.

Baaaaang!

The shadow rebounded with force. And scattered like smoke across the ground. Mirei stepped back only once. Her eyes turned toward the shadow gathered on the ground.

The darkness began to move slowly. It thickened. It took shape. Black lines twisted around each other. Then, a human form appeared. A tall body. A dark cloak. Red hair hanging over his eyes.

When the form was complete, he raised his head. And smiled. A cold smile. And said in a calm voice:

—"...Mirei."

He paused for a short moment. Then continued:

—"It has been a long time."

A moment of silence fell in the corridor. The torches flickered. The shadows on the walls moved slowly. As for Mirei she did not seem surprised. Instead, she let out a light exhale. Then she said in a calm tone:

"...Kaguchi."

She raised an eyebrow slightly. And looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze. Then she added coldly:

"I did not expect you to be the guardian."

Kaguchi’s smile widened slightly. He stepped forward. The shadow beneath his feet moved like water. Then he said in a low voice:

—"The guardian?"

He let out a short laugh. Then he raised his gaze toward the door behind her. Toward the word written on it.

—"Forbidden."

Then he looked back at her. His eyes grew darker. And he said slowly:

—"Rather... the warden."

Then he tilted his head slightly. And his smile widened.

—"...And I will not let you touch that mirror."

Silence prevailed in the corridor. The flames in the torches flickered. And the shadows stretched along the walls seemed to watch the confrontation silently.

Kaguchi stepped forward slowly. The shadow beneath his feet rippled like black water. His eyes fixed on Mirei. Then he smiled a faint smile... but with a hint of mockery. He said in a low voice:

—"Honestly..."

He paused for a short moment. Then continued:

—"...I was expecting another presence."

Mirei raised an eyebrow slightly. But she did not speak. As for Kaguchi, he raised his head slightly and looked down the dark corridor behind her. As if searching for someone else. Then he said slowly:

—"Where is he?"

His words paused for a moment. Then he spoke the name as if savoring it:

—"...The Black Dragon."

The air stilled. The torch flames flickered. But Mirei remained silent. Kaguchi’s smile widened slightly. And he said in a mocking tone:

—"So he’s still hiding, then."

He stepped forward once more. The sound of his steps was slow... heavy. Then he said:

—"After all these years..."

He lowered his voice further.

—"...he is still unable to show himself."

Mirei’s eyes narrowed slightly. But she did not lose her composure. Kaguchi continued speaking:

—"I thought this mirror would finally force him to come out of his lair."

He looked at the door behind her. Then returned his gaze to her. And said slowly:

—"But instead of him...he sent you."

His words paused for a moment. Then he asked her directly:

—"Why?"

He stepped forward once more. The shadow around him deepened.

—"Why did he not come himself?"

A brief silence. Then he smiled a cold smile.

—"...Or is he still afraid that buried truths will be revealed?"

At that moment, Mirei lowered her gaze slightly. But a faint smile appeared on her lips. A calm... confident smile. Then she said in a cold voice:

"Afraid?"

She raised her head slowly. And her eyes met his directly.

"You are the last person who has the right to use that word."

A short silence prevailed. But Kaguchi did not seem disturbed. Instead, he let out a short laugh.

As for Mirei, she continued in a calm voice:

"If he wanted to come..."

She paused for a moment. Then said slowly:

"...this school would not have stood until now."

The shadows in the corridor trembled. But Kaguchi did not move. He simply looked at her with focus.

As for Mirei, she continued:

"But you know that very well."

Then she tilted her head slightly. And looked at him with a cold gaze.

"Isn’t that so... Kaguchi?"

The air between them froze. The torch flames flickered once again. Then Kaguchi smiled slowly. But this time... it was not a mocking smile. But the smile of someone beginning to enjoy the confrontation. And he said in a low voice:

—"Ah..."

Then he tilted his head slightly.

—"...This is the Mirei I know."

Then he slowly raised his hand. And the shadow beneath his feet began to stretch across the ground. And he said calmly:

—"But unfortunately..."

His words paused for a moment. Then his tone grew darker.

—"...you will not pass through here."

Then he looked at the door behind her. At the word written on it. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Forbidden."

Then he looked back at her. And said slowly:

—"...Not today."

_

In the courtyard of the School of Sorcerers, ...

chaos was still raging. The remaining students had retreated to the edges of the courtyard. But the courtyard was no longer empty.

The Drakhaen soldiers were spreading in all directions. Rows advancing slowly. Their dark weapons gleaming beneath the dim sky.

And among them stood Draven. Dust swirled slowly around him. His torn coat moved with the wind. And his eyes moved calmly between the soldiers... and the dark gates that were still opening the way for more of them.

A moment of silence passed. Then he let out a short hum.

—"...Hmmm."

He raised his hand slightly, as if gesturing to the entire courtyard. And he spoke in a calm voice... but loud enough to reach those around him:

—"Smart."

The steps of some soldiers halted. As for Draven, he continued in a cold tone:

—"Today...half of the school’s teachers are absent."

Villiam’s eyes narrowed slightly. But Draven did not stop. He raised his gaze toward the sky for a moment, then continued:

—"You knew that."

A brief silence passed over the courtyard. Then he added:

"You also knew...that we anticipated your attack at night."

Some of the soldiers’ gazes shifted. As for Draven, he smiled faintly. The smile of a man... beginning to understand the board before him. Then he said:

—"Therefore...you took advantage of the opportunity."

He slowly lowered his gaze toward the Drakhaen soldiers spread across the courtyard. Then he spoke in a cold tone:

"Truly...how despicable you are."

A brief silence fell. But Draven was not angry. Instead, he seemed... to enjoy the analysis. He raised his hand slowly. And pointed toward the soldiers. Then he said:

—"But..."

His words paused for a moment. Then his smile widened slightly.

—"...the School of Sorcerers... is not as foolish as you think."

And in that moment, the air above the courtyard trembled. A faint tremor... but noticeable. The soldiers’ steps halted. The wind swept over the stone towers. Then the light began to take shape.

Huge magical lines opened in the sky above the courtyard. Intertwined circles. Ancient inscriptions. Massive magical symbols slowly began to gather in the air.

The light expanded. A gigantic magical sigil formed above the school. The air grew heavier. And the energy it emitted... was ancient. Very ancient.

The eyes of some soldiers widened. As for Villiam, he stopped in his place. his eyes rose toward the sky. Then he whispered in a low voice:

"...Impossible."

Some of the soldiers turned their heads toward him. But Villiam did not take her gaze off the massive sigil. Instead, he spoke in a clearer voice:

"Is this......is this really !!!!!!"

He paused. But Draven let out a light laugh. He raised his head toward the sky. And the glowing sigil was reflected in his eyes. Then he said calmly:

—"Yes."

He paused for a short moment. Then continued in a clear voice:

—"...It is a ritual."

He slowly lowered his gaze toward the Drakhaen soldiers. And his smile settled on his lips. Then he said:

"Roots of Memory."

The scene paused there. And in the next moment the ground of the school trembled. A faint tremor... as if something deep beneath it... was beginning to awaken.