We exhaled softly, our eyes riveted on our objective, as a cold sensation washed over our bodies. The moment had finally arrived. Only a few more steps before the door opened in this new environment. Actually, "new" wasn't quite the right word, as we'd already had a look around.

 

Although we'd headed straight back to the Refuge, once we'd surreptitiously confirmed the nature of this place. We had indeed found the Academy. But that was no reason to be ecstatic, for the moment we approached some humans to assess them, we felt ourselves being watched. Had the group of people noticed our presence?

 

In any case, this fact prompted us to be cautious and continue increasing the effectiveness of our spells. Unfortunately, I still needed to be more confident in my abilities, even when my sister invited me to reconsider our exploration. She was afraid we weren't prepared enough. In retrospect, I could only agree with her.

 

At that moment, my mind was too busy trying to understand the reason for our enemies' interest in us. Not to mention my growing exasperation with our adversaries, who kept finding us wherever we were. In fact, no matter which exit into the Eleventh Kingdom I took, the mysterious organization always managed to find me.

 

Of course, the reunions were always at a different pace. Often, we had to be there for a few days. However, sometimes, a few hours or even less was enough to be spotted. On the contrary, once we'd gone over two weeks without confronting the organization. The worst thing was that, in the long run, the organization found us faster and more efficiently.

 

We were never approached by members of the organization but only by groups of hired mercenaries. Of course, we tried to extract useful information from these enemies, but they remained mute despite our special sessions. In the end, they always preferred to die as a result of the wounds we inflicted on them, only giving us some general information we already knew.

 

I confess I exaggerated my last words a little. In fact, there were two notable and disturbing exceptions, where the mercenaries had been willing to give us information about the enemy organization. They were also the two humans who had remained sane the longest when standing next to them. Even if their last moments were similar to those of all their predecessors.

 

It was as if we represented the goddess of madness, given the madness that seeped into our victims, even when we weren't forcing them to contemplate the true beauty of my Void. Or our madness was contagious. Or rather, mine, given that Systalia appeared less abnormal than me to this World, even now I'm no longer sure of this assertion.

 

In any case, I wondered why Systalia had never gone mad after being around me all that time. Either the bond I'd established with her since I'd met and cared for her was to blame, or she'd already been suffering from madness before she met me. But if it was the latter, did that mean I was such an aberration that ordinary madness seemed like healthy behavior to me?

 

Suddenly, I shook my head and interrupted my thoughts, for I was too cowardly to delve deeper into this subject. I convinced myself I'd look for the answer again before quickly forgetting that I'd even had those thoughts. To return to the two exceptions I had mentioned earlier, they had died the second they were about to give me confidential information.

 

We could only be shocked and worried by this unexpected turn of events. Nevertheless, it made sense of our previous interrogations. In some enigmatic way, the enemy organization had managed to remotely silence the mercenaries they were using to capture us. My lack of knowledge of the process required to achieve this end sent shivers down my spine.

 

After all, I had learned many spells and significantly increased my understanding of how runic magic worked. Of course, the magic could have been different. I knew that runic magic was just one of the many forms of magic that existed, just as there were countless programming languages for the algorithms of the Status.

 

Runic magic was just a language. Or rather, it was more accurate to say that it was a group of languages whose similarities I still couldn't understand. Why were languages that, on the face of it, had nothing to do with each other grouped together? All the more so, the radically different way each language functioned made them even more challenging to learn and use within spells.

 

If we sometimes took years to create a spell, it was because several program languages were used to write the algorithms contained in the spells. Added to this was the complexity of the spells' other internal features. But we'll discuss this more during my first official years at the Academy.

 

It's only relevant to understand that nothing was evident about creating spells. I perfectly understood why specific individuals might fail to gain admission to the Academy if spell-crafting exercises were part of the entrance exam subjects. On the other hand, it intrigued me a little that so many people could create spells, especially with their limited age.

 

Since we couldn't read the spells on the scrolls we sometimes stole, the Academicians had to learn another type of magic. What kind of magic? I couldn't wait to find out. Especially as this type of magic could prove simpler and quicker for constructing spells. Unless runic magic had other strengths to compensate, I'd give up teaching Grimoires for the Academy.

 

Knowing that the enemy was using elusive magic was a worry. That said, I could always take comfort in the fact that the spells on the scrolls were reproducible with runic magic. At least the spells they could use against us weren't entirely inaccessible.

 

So, I reaffirmed my desire to absorb all the teachings the Grimoires contained within, confident that a vital Truth lay hidden within them. Or that, at the very least, the Grimoires' knowledge would make it easier for me to seek out the World's Truths. Although I had no basis for claiming this, I was firmly convinced.

 

A feeling that seemed to come from an ancient past guided me toward this conviction. I could only listen to this pervasive intuition, despite the fragility of the evidence for this theory. Even though my reason urged me to step back from this sensation, I remained firmly attached to it. The Void joined in as if I hadn't been foggy enough with these confusing feelings.

 

My emotions mingled with it, forming a more complete entity than we could ever be. Or so we wished. To our dismay, we couldn't unite our lives, being too far apart. It wasn't a spatial distance but rather the difference between the apparent incompatibility of our lives.

 

Something in our beings was absolutely contradictory. Fortunately, as the years passed, we moved closer to unity and equalization. A part of me could only rejoice at this inevitable event. While another part of me, or of the Void, or even of us, watched in bewilderment.

 

Other parts of Us scrutinized the reactions of the other parts with appeasement, sadness, curiosity, and even the odd nostalgia. Finally, there's Me... Who didn't even know who she was or what she represented concerning the other parts? Didn't even know who she embodied? The Void? The individual called Æther? A being outside all this? None of the above? A Void's enemy?

 

My only certainty was that I was self-aware enough to think of myself as "I" at the time. Even if my past actions made my Identity all the more uncertain. I had also considered the possibility that I was overthinking it and that all this complexity of my being was fake. In fact, I was like everyone else, whatever that meant, and I was inviting all the dislocation of my being, including the Void.

 

I then thoroughly scanned the Void, as it pulsed as if daring me to repeat what I'd thought. A nervous laugh escaped my mouth as I realized that my suspicion was misdirected. If there was anyone to doubt, it was me. Yes, the Void's reality could not be called into question. It was the only conclusion I reached every time I met with the Void.

 

I apologized to the Void for even daring to raise such suspicions. However, I couldn't promise this thought wouldn't happen again, as I couldn't make my mind aware of it. After all, it was impossible to control the thoughts it sent my way. I could only endure the torments of my mind, hoping each time that I would no longer be haunted by the debilitating thoughts.

 

However, I'd be lying if I hated my anxieties. Although I couldn't explain it, a part of me loved to see these obsessive thoughts gnawing at my insides, like my love for my gradual absorption into the Void. Perhaps I even took an unhealthy pleasure in it? In any case, no part of me was unhappy about the situation.

 

At most, boredom could be a reaction to these intrusive thoughts. Besides, how was I to know that the thought condemning these "intrusive thoughts" wasn't the real "intrusive thought"? A light laugh escaped my lips and broke the silence of etheric space. To my horror, I couldn't stop the insane laughter. I could only watch the sobs accompanying it and wisely wait for this pitiful spectacle to end.

 

Seeing it again now is quite distressing, as it was horrifying to realize that I still had no answers to all those questions. Since by now, I've already reached a conclusion that seems obvious to me, I can't help but feel profoundly out of step with the state of mind in which me of the past found herself. Taking a step back from one's past actions is not necessarily positive.

 

Painfully true... Nothing can be gained without something being lost. Moreover, it assumes that loss will always turn into gain. But such a balance is nothing but a chimera that we'd do better to forget so as not to raise any more false hopes. Even though I can only feel sorry for some of my most valiant enemies...

 

Ah, I forgot! It always transcribes... I'm rambling without extinguishing the spell... I'm used to it by now... Well, this situation is starting to get awkward... So forget this uncomfortable moment, and let's get on with it! My sister's words brought me back to reality and the goal I'd set myself. I knew venturing into the Academy could kill us, but the organization was getting in the way of our preparations.

 

In any case, we needed to face humans more powerful than in our previous battles if we wanted to raise our Class level. However, even though I was facing much stronger mercenaries than on my first expedition to the city of this Kingdom, I could hardly raise my Class.

 

Of course, it was entirely conceivable that challenging absurdly strong opponents would not lead to an Apprentice Class. Nevertheless, it was the only possibility we could foresee that seemed feasible. By comparison, getting a Level 3 Authorization seemed too risky.

 

After all, finding another mysterious book would take forever, given that we had no clues as to the whereabouts of such books. As for skills, I'd already created two and raised the level of the existing ones. However, this didn't result in a level increase. The same applied to spells, the number of which I had increased.

 

Nevertheless, I considered this research time well-spent. After all, we'd never been more powerful than we were today, and my sister had strengthened considerably too. What's more, we could now combine the effects of the scrolls with disconcerting ease, as we had once done on our first eventful trip to the mercenary city.

 

Finally, my Level 2 Authorization allowed me to use a bag we'd previously stolen from one of the scroll warehouses on one of our expeditions into the city. A storage medium that could hold more scrolls than its size and weight suggested. After some research, the geometric shapes engraved on the bag suggested some space magic, although I couldn't find out more.

 

Indeed, my knowledge of runic magic was too pitiful to reveal this bag's secrets. Why runic magic? It was because I'd had the good fortune to notice that the beautiful geometric shapes on magical objects like the bag or the revolver seemed similar to runes. In fact, the latter had been added to our arsenal after we'd practiced handling it a few times.

 

So, we were ready to set foot on Academy soil. So, having been roused from my reflections by my apostle, I urged her to approach the imposing port that was the last obstacle to the view of the Academy's charming landscape. With a silent nod of assent, after swallowing one previous time with trembling legs, she slowly closed the distance to the door, which gradually opened. We watched the first glimpses of the Academy through the doorway with determined, confident eyes.

 

Even after seeing it, the landscape was still magnificent and exciting. I was convinced I would always enjoy such a rich and complex environment. Much to my delight, I felt as if I were rediscovering the Academy with all its details. Moreover, I wasn't the only one to feel these emotions, given my sister's wide-open mouth and eyes.

 

Once the door opened fully, my apostle took one last breath before taking her first steps into the Academy. The only noises that could be heard were the sound of footsteps, the creaking that accompanied the closing of the door, and the drops of water falling on the floor. The water flowed from cracks in the rusty pipes that snaked around the walls, whose purpose was unknown.

 

A fleeting thought crossed my mind. The presence of pipes in this place had no purpose but to create a particular atmosphere. I immediately dismissed this delirious thought from my mind. Even though part of me couldn't ignore the thought, feeling uncomfortable at the mere mention of it. A feeling of nostalgia came over me as if to urge me to dwell on these reflections.

 

I knew, however, that they would never come to fruition, as my memory of bygone days stubbornly refused access. So, I shook my head and focused my attention on my surroundings. I didn't even know why I was vigorously scanning the surroundings. After all, this habit made no sense here since we were in the area around the Refuge where we seemed to be able to enter. We could walk serenely in the middle of this room, our only company being the few objects on the floor and the massive columns near the walls.

 

The sight of these small and large columns, which seemed to support the ceiling we inadvertently avoided contemplating, instilled in us an unwavering respect for the place. As I gazed at the time-scarred columns, I could only wonder at the number of historical events they had witnessed. Born before me and dead after me, that was my sad thought about these eroded columns.

 

Near the columns were piles of objects and tools, each more unusual than the last. We avoided getting too close to them, for although they looked in good condition, they gave off an unhealthy vibe. All our senses were screaming to us to escape these eye-catching objects... Yes, that's it! Suddenly, I had an epiphany. "That's what's been bothering me all this time!" I exclaimed, a broad smile spreading across my face.

 

These tools hypnotize us with a simple glance in their direction. Once I'd informed my sister, we could only stare in horror at our surroundings. A pile of objects lay just a few meters away from us. My sister's face turned livid, and it took me a moment to recover from the shock.

 

My sister turned her head toward our previous location just before the hypnosis and the pile in front of us, which appeared even more intriguing than before... No! It can't be! No!!! We'd been hypnotized by the pile again, so much so that we were only a few centimeters away from it. A strange sensation came over us. We weren't dreaming; Systalia's body was attracted to the mound.

 

We clung to the ground with all our might as the suction became more and more intense. However, to our dismay, we were inexorably closing in on the mound, which suddenly seemed alive with a gaping hole in its center. It looked like the mouth of a creature whose sole purpose was to devour the poor, stupid souls who dared to look at it.

 

The wind blew so intensely that my sister's body lifted off the ground and into a four-meter-high mound of all kinds of objects. Just after entering its belly, we saw the hole close in the corner of our eyes, trapping us forever in the creature's depths. At least, that's what we thought at first.

 

Indeed, although we considered using one of our scrolls to destroy the pile from the inside, there was hardly time. The surrounding area began to pulsate, and a lousy foreboding fell over me. The pulsation rate increased frantically, while the surroundings seemed hazy and unreal.

 

The memory of when the Academician used a mysterious object while holding my apostle in his arms came to mind. I couldn't help but feel intensely nauseated as space became increasingly illusory and ghostly, as if we'd been detached from it. We'd been torn from the space we'd positioned ourselves moments before.

 

We were still in another space but in the interstice between the two. We were slipping from one space to another, from one location to another, whatever plane we were attached to. A mechanism that affected all planes. I could only smile at the limitless usefulness of such a mechanism.

 

These were my last moments before my awareness of the environment disappeared, and my thoughts became jumbled. Burning... Choking... Heat... Cracking... Tearing... Hurt... Crying surfaced on my legs... No, my arms... Or was it my back? I was so disoriented that I couldn't pinpoint where the tears were coming from...

 

My mind's only concern materialized in incoherent sensations inviting pain. This uncomfortable feeling grew as time seemed to pass and stretch into infinity. Pain... Destruction... Infinity... Time was infinite. Space was a pure illusion. The Void was omnipresent. The Void was comfortable. The Void was my last hope. The Void was Everything.

 

But even this, Everything shattered... A sensation of actual death seeped through me. My existence shattered into multiple fragments, themselves reduced to nothing. In the end, only Nothingness existed. Nothing else existed. Even Time and Space knelt before it. Thus, only Death, symbolized by Nothingness, remained in this place. No, it was almost alone, for the Void also persisted here.

 

In the Void's comforting depths, my essence, the last fragment of my existence, survived. Imprisoned in the most impregnable of bastions, it was safe from any interference from Death and Nothingness. The Void had won and Nothingness had lost, such was the conclusion of this confrontation between Void and Nothingness, between Life and Death. No, this was incorrect, for the Void was not Life. It was the bridge between Life and Death.

 

The Void was only appeasement, which could not subsist in Life and Death. As serenity surrounded my essence on all sides, everything was reversed. Nothingness gave way to Time and Space. Death gave way to Life. Non-existence gave way to existence. Pain abruptly returned to full strength before the tears in my being subsided, and the burning fire that consumed me vanished as if it had never been there in the first place.

 

At last, the pain subsided as consciousness returned and thoughts became coherent and orderly. Calm had returned for a brief moment before a pain, more acute this time, of laceration and tearing showed itself. Unlike before, this pain was more palpable, as if my sister's own body had borne witness to it.

 

However, the pain disappeared again, giving way to a quiet, nonchalant opening of my apostle's eyes. But suddenly, a stabbing pain reminded us of our current condition. Suddenly, Systalia's eyes widened as a desperate shriek erupted from her dry throat, and tears rushed to the floor.

 

In the brief moment that my mind was back to normal, I saw, out of the corner of my eye, a pool of blood mixed with scraps of skin and cables from which ominous arcs of electricity were emanating. My sister tried unsuccessfully to raise her body, even though her muscular strength was non-existent. Her whole body was far too lacerated to be functional.

 

Fortunately, this spectacle ended soon enough, as my sister and I were invited to join the land of dreams. For me, it was instead the Void's land since I could never sleep. Nonetheless, it suited me since the Void seemed far more interesting than a vulgar, unimportant dream. This was my last thought before sinking into unconsciousness when the last sound I heard was a trickle of liquid.

 

And so began my excursion into the Academy. As far as you can see, it was already looking promising. Well, promising in death, but promising nonetheless. At the time, I had no idea how much suffering I would have to endure on this day.

 

Today was my first encounter with an organization far more deeply rooted in the World's depths than I had ever imagined. From now on, I could no longer be so nonchalant about my journey into this World. As my last traces of innocence toward the World vanished.

 

But that didn't concern me just yet. For the time being, I could enjoy my last moments of respite before plunging into the most horrible darkness imaginable.