The door opened and Ames entered inside the lab. He moved toward his table and sat down, opening the notebook that had his research notes on.
As he skimmed through the pages, his eyes fell on his research on the spells from the book.
A sigh escaped him. He felt that he was very near to cracking the code to the spell. If given some time, he would have revolutionized the magic spell system.
But he respected the headmaster far more than his own desires, he had to listen and so he discarded the book.
Just then he remembered that he had burnt the book in the drum and had still not cleared it.
He got up and moved towards the corner where the drum was.
He waved his hand and mana flowed out of his hand towards the mana stone connected to the chimney. It then lit up and the ashes started being sucked up.
After just a few seconds, the drum started producing sounds as something was striking it at the bottom continuously.
Curious, Ames stopped supplying mana and the chimney stopped. He moved towards the drum and peeked inside.
The sight inside shocked him. The book of spells he had left burning was alright. not a single corner or part had any sign of being burnt.
He crouched down and picked the book up. The book was fine just as it was before being dumped in the fire pit.
He started checking the book around. He flipped it and checked the back, the sides and everything.
Just when he was checking the condition of the book, the [V] engraved on the cover started glowing up, his vision was being sucked towards the symbol and he started hearing indistinct whispering voices inside his mind.
Slowly the voices started getting loud and it became unbearable with time.
Unable to hold anymore, he dropped the book and it fell on the floor with a thud.
The voices stopped and everything came back to normal. He was shocked and afraid at the events that had just transpired.
He couldn't move his eyes away from the book. Although it was filled with uncertainty and mystic, and also maybe a darker side, it still made the researcher inside Ames curious and obsessed.
"Are you alright!?"
Ames was brought back to his senses when he felt a hand on his shoulders.
"Huh! When did you arrive John?" Ames asked.
"I've been calling you since a long time! Everything good? You are sweating a lot!"
"I'm…Ok! What's the matter? Did you need me something?"
"Yes! The headmaster has called for you in his office!"
"Oh! I'll go then!" Ames picked the book from the floor and tucked it inside his blazer and moved out of the room.
John got a bit skeptical seeing him like that. He immediately moved out and walked through the corridor towards the teaching department offices.
After walking for some time, he stopped in front of a door, where the plate on the door read 'Boris Greghorn. Head professor, spell foundation'.
****
"Are you sure about this?" Headmaster Blaze asked Ames as both of them were sitting opposite each other on the sofas at his office.
"Yes, headmaster!" Ames replied. "I want some inspiration and also I wish to test the practicality of my spell."
"There are the dummies to test your spell and firepower in the training rooms. Why venture outside and risk danger? You know every wizard of the institute is an asset and also the target of the evil forces!"
"I believe the lab and these closed doors will not let me achieve the true potential that I am thriving for. I want to test it in real circumstances and hit the potential that it deserves."
"Where are you thinking of going then?"
"The forest of corruption!" Ames replied.
The headmaster was surprised as a silence stretched between them. He started contemplating with a serious look on his face.
He didn't expect Ames to have asked for going to such a dangerous place.
"Are you thinking of going alone?" the headmaster asked.
"Yes!"
"Hmm…alright! I don't want to hinder your research. Since I know how the mind of a wizard works. You won't back out even if I refuse. But, take this with you." He passed a ring with a red mana stone on top to Ames.
"The ring has a teleportation spell imbued on it. No matter where you are, you will be teleported to my side. Use it in when you are in danger!"
"Thank you, headmaster!" Ames received the ring from him and wore it on his right index finger.
"Do you need anything else?"
"Just a few gold coins for the travel. I used up my funds during the research work." Ames said embarrassedly.
"Haha! Go to the finance department and use this to take out the coins!" the headmaster said as he passed his wooden name plaque.
"Thank you, headmaster!" Ames received with a smile and after bowing walked out of the room.
After he left, the Blaze's face got serious as his smiling face vanished. He went into thought, worry visible on his face.
*****
"Are you certain?" Boris asked.
"Yes elder! I told you yesterday that I saw him putting the book inside his blazer and then rushing off. No matter how much I called him, he didn't hear and was lost in thought! That book is definitely of dark magic!" John said.
"Where is he going then?"
"To the forest of corruption. He was even allowed to take out funds and I saw the 'ring of displacement' on his fingers. It was definitely given to him by the headmaster!"
Boris went into thought. Silence spread in the room. John got nervous as Boris went silent, not speaking a word.
"Hahahahaha!!" Boris laughed out loud, surprising John.
"Good! you have made my job easier Ames! You dared to put your eyes on the headmaster seat! I'll wipe you out completely. Let's see if Blaze put's a corpse on the seat."
"Put the team after him. Keep following him and keep me updated on his movements. Don't take action without my orders!"
"Yes, elder!" John bowed and moved out of the room.
A wicked smile spread on Boris's face as he felt ecstatic on getting such an opportunity to wipe out his competition.