Grimhild stepped through the obsidian and gold arch in front of them, passing the two guardian mages at the front.
The others followed her, one by one, until the noise of Mesnil vanished behind them.
Inside, everything changed.
The air was rich with mana and the Magic Academy was drastically large.
Elizabeth clasped her hands tightly.
"It's like stepping into another world..."
"Well, you're not particularly wrong." Grimhild said, her tone quiet and firm. "Magic Academy is its own separate world that was expanded infinitely by magic. It's essentially an entirely different universe."
"What? Seriously?" Questioned Jean.
As they moved forward into the grand hall, they immediately gained stares.
Apprentices paused mid-step, staring at the strange company; the witch, the frost-giantess, the Elf King, the Ayleon and Cyrodel, the walking golem, and even the owl.
Yet, inevitably, their eyes returned to Grimhild.
A woman soon emerged down the staircase that descended from the mezzanine above.
She was tall and clothed in midnight-blue robes embroidered with the Magic Academy's sigil.
Her hair was as pale as frost, and her expression was unreadable—save for the sharpness of her eyes, which cut across the hall like a blade.
The apprentices stepped aside instantly, bowing their heads.
The woman's gaze locked on Grimhild.
"So it is true." She said calmly. "Grimhild Yorgana has returned."
Estrilda straightened as if struck by cold air.
Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat.
This woman's aura was strong. Almost too strong. And she was suppressed.
Jean frowned and muttered under his breath.
"Seems like everyone here's been waiting for you... Grimhild."
Grimhild, however, did not waver.
She lifted her chin and stepped forward.
"Arminel."
The woman descended the last of the steps and halted before them.
For a long moment, silence stretched between the two, though tension radiated like the pressure before a storm.
"You should not be here." Arminel said at last. "Not many know of you, but I do. After what you did, after what you brought to Yggdrasil, this place should have been closed to you forever."
Grimhild's lips curled into a smile.
"And yet, here I stand."
"You were only allowed because he commanded it."
Arminel frowned, though her control quickly smoothed her tone.
She soon folded her arms behind her back with her posture rigid.
"Your brother is far too generous to allow a monster like you inside the academy once again."
Elizabeth looked between them, bewildered.
"You... know her?"
Arminel's eyes turned toward the girl, then returned to Grimhild.
"All of us in the higher circle know her. She once walked these halls before most of you were born. She was not merely a student, she was..." She exhaled through her nose. "Our greatest disaster."
Jean raised a brow.
"That's comforting."
Zarutha perched on Obsidia's shoulder leaned forward.
"Disaster or not, she seems to be the only one who can put up with your king! Might want to keep the insults low, lady."
A flash of irritation crossed Arminel's face, but she ignored the delivery owl's taunt.
Instead, she turned to Grimhild.
"If you came here for sanctuary, for power, or recognition, you will find none of it. But if you came to face him..." She paused. "Then he is waiting."
Grimhild eyes narrowed.
"I did not come for sanctuary. I came to meet my brother, and I will not leave until I've seen him."
Arminel studied her for a long moment, then gave a sharp nod.
"Very well. But mark my words, Grimhild, you do not walk these halls as a guest. You walk them as trash in my eyes."
She gestured for them to follow as her robes trailed across the floor.
Apprentices scattered aside as the group was led deeper into the Academy.
Libraries stretched on forever with spirits drifting between the rows cataloging the tomes.
"Huh, is that Spirits?" Questioned Elizabeth.
"Magic Academy is the heart of magic." Said Grimhild, flatly. "Spirits even visit this place to learn of other spells. There are tomes with spirit magic, and even ancient magic forgotten across history."
"You don't say?" Said Liz in awe.
Finally, they reached a door unlike the others; an obsidian frame carved with magic runes.
The mana pressing from it was suffocating, as though it resisted being opened.
Arminel halted and inclined her head toward the door.
"He is inside. But you will enter alone."
Grimhild looked to her companions.
Estrilda's eyes softened, Elizabeth bit her lip, and Jean frowned with unease while Kyto said nothing with a sharp gaze.
Grimhild huffed a sigh and turned to face the door.
"Then alone I shall go. It's time I met my brother after so long."
And with that, she pushed the door open.
The runes blazed to life, and a flood of white light swallowed her as she stepped through.
+
The door sealed behind her, leaving the others in silence.
Grimhild blinked once as the blinding light faded.
She now stood in a chamber far larger than any architecture should allow; a sky of endless twilight stretching above, stars burning in the distance.
The floor beneath her was smooth obsidian, polished until it mirrored both her and the strange cosmos overhead.
At the center of this void-like hall stood a single desk and chaor.
A man sat upon it.
His presence was overwhelming even in stillness.
He wore robes and was adorned with silver-white hair falling loosely past his shoulders.
His eyes were golden and piercing with the look of beauty.
When he looked at her, the weight of many years pressed down.
"…Sister."
His voice was calm and resonant as Grimhild smiled.
"It has been a long time, Beatrice."
"I no longer go by that name, Grimhild, here they call me Yvarr." He said with a smile on his face.
"Ah yes." Muttered Grimhild, lowering her head. "After the Legendary Age, you ran off and changed your appearance and gender. It's a bit difficult for me to remember your current name."
Formerly known as Beatrice Vrulema. Yvarr was the Supreme Mage of the Northern Empire. The Master of the Magic Academy. Her brother.
"I made a promise that I'll visit the Magic Academy, and even rejoin its ranks. You needed me for a reason. What's troubling you?" Questioned Grimhild, stoic as ever.
"I'm glad you asked." Yvarr conjoined his hands together, lowering his head in deep thought. "It's our sister, Agnes. She's behind all of this."
Grimhild lifted her brows.
"Agnes?"
Yvarr nodded.
"I've watched over fate for so very long, my dear sister. All roads lead to Agnes. The rise of Dracula, the betrayal of Merlin, and the downfall of Vrunemir and his kingdom. It's all scripted by Agnes herself."
Grimhild lowered her brows into a subtle frown.
"So you've been watching everything up to now?"
Yvarr sighed, nodding their head.
"Yes. I've watched the script that Agnes has made for Yggdrasil to fall into chaos, but you seem to be ruining most of it. You're an anchor inside her script that's constantly changing the narrative from your passive nature as Destruction, and she's growing fed up with you, sister."
Grimhild narrowed her eyes.
"So that explains most of everything that has happened. Agnes is behind everything." Grimhild looked deep in thought. "You're the Atamon of Creation, brother, you have the ability to see all of creation and even abstract forces like fate itself. I lack that ability." Grimhild glanced at Yvarr. "So tell me, what did you see in the future?"
Yvarr looked up, widening his eyes at Grimhild's question.
He seemed hesitant to answer before averting his gaze, struggling to respond.
"Agnes… wins in the future."
Grimhild didn't seem surprised as she remained calm and collected.
"Is that so?"
"Yes." Nodded Yvarr. "I've requested you to join the Magic Academy to tell you this. Agnes will win—but you can stop it. Like I said, you're an anchor inside her script. You're constantly changing the narrative, and ruining her plans. It must be you who stops our sister, Grimhild."
Grimhild took a few steps closer.
"And what is stopping you from halting Agnes in her tracks, brother?"
Yvarr smiled at her question, gazing upon his sister.
"I'm still a pacifist."
Grimhild was still impassive until she lifted one brow.
"…Even to this day?"
"Ahaha, yes! You know me! Even during the Mystical Age, I never lifted a finger to fight. It's not in my nature, I'm afraid."
"You need to get over that habit." Proclaimed Grimhild.
"Oh, how could I? I'm the Atamon of Creation. If I'm to fight something, then I'm technically destroying it."
Grimhild lowered her brows, sighing.
"Very well, but tell me, Yvarr, if it came down to it, who would win in a battle?" Grimhild seemed to get serious. "Me, or Agnes?"
Yvarr stared at Grimhild for a long moment, now closing his eyes.
"That would be Agnes, my dear sister. You deny your nature as Destruction while she takes pride in her nature as Chaos. Agnes has grown strong after the legendary age, and has even formed a Chaos Blade that threatens both me and you."
Grimhild widened her eyes.
"A Chaos Blade?"
"Mm." Nodded Yvarr. "It goes by the name Zerathulon. It is a blade that destroys the indestructible and kills the unkillable. It was created to get rid of Excalibur, and I'm afraid with its power, it can do just that."
"Really now?" Grimhild said in a low voice.
"Yes. Agnes has grown strong enough to defeat the other Atamon with ease. We stand no chance."