The first lecture of the day was "History of the Apocalypse," taught by a withered wizard whose beard was literally a flowing stream of ink.
"A thousand years ago," the Professor droned, "the prophecy of the 'World-Eater' was recorded. It spoke of a beast that would not come from our forests, but from the void between stars. A beast that would find our world and swallow it."
Arthur sat in the back, scribbling in his notebook. But he wasn't taking notes on the lecture. He was drawing a map of the school's "Forbidden Zone."
In the book, Ace Maximus would break into the Forbidden Zone next week to steal the "Heart of the Aether," a high-grade mana crystal among the high level materials used to stabilize the Academy's barrier. Ace would use it to jump-start his already awesome Taming Affinity.
I need that crystal, Arthur thought.
He didn't need it to become a better wizard. He needed it because the Egg was hungry. Every hour that passed, the Egg felt heavier, its runes glowing with a faint, sickly purple light that threatened to give him a permanent migraine.
[FEED...] the voice echoed. [PUREST... SOURCE...]
"Wells! Since you find your desk more interesting than my lecture," the Professor barked, "tell the class: Why did the 9th Circle Wizard, Magnus the Great, fail to seal the Void Rift?"
Arthur stood up slowly. He remembered the scene from the book. Magnus hadn't failed because he wasn't strong enough. He failed because he used mana.
"Because mana is a derivative of the world's life force," Arthur said, his voice calm and cold. "Trying to seal a World Beast with mana is like trying to put out a fire with dry wood. You aren't stopping it; you're providing more fuel."
The room went silent. The Professor stared at him, his ink-beard stalling mid-flow.
"A... cynical view, Wells. But technically accurate," the Professor cleared his throat. "Sit down. And try to look less like you're planning a funeral."
As Arthur sat, he felt a gaze on the back of his neck. He turned slightly.
Standing in the doorway unexpectedly was Ace Maximus, the 'hero' he was not expecting to see so soon. He had likely come to the Spire to settle some old business or look for a specific book, with a special permit he got from the headmaster for being the most talented beast maker in a 100 years. His eyes met Ace's for a split second.
Ace's brow furrowed. As a regressor, Ace's instincts were honed to a razor's edge. He looked at Arthur—a boy he remembered as a cowardly nobody who died in the first monster tide, who never got passed the 1st circle as a wizard—and felt a shiver of inexplicable dread.
Arthur gave an evasive, fast and submissive nod—the "extra" role he was supposed to play—and looked back at his notebook.
Keep looking at me, Ace, Arthur thought. I'm just a loser student you'll never remember. While you're busy being the Hero, I'll be under the floorboards, eating your future.