The overwhelming curiosity finally overcame the doubts in the hearts of the hundreds of people still standing outside. The board of teachers and all the students hurried forward, flocking into the ice house.
As soon as they crossed the threshold, expressions of awe and jaws that seemed ready to drop to the floor became a uniform sight. They were all welcomed by the building's interior, which spread out vastly like a palace hall.
No one ever expected that Arvin could create a house that not only manipulated dimensions to accommodate hundreds of people in an instant but was also designed in such great detail. The spacious ground floor was equipped with dozens of sets of long tables and chairs made of hardened earth elements, rows of neatly arranged beds, and a wide corridor that connected directly to the horse carriage parking area.
Even Allen, Alrain, Ordion, and Alvein, who were tailing behind their husband, couldn't hide their amazement. They kept looking around, tracing every corner of the room created solely from the mind of the head of the family.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of admiration, Victor walked up to him with eyes still sparkling with awe.
"Hey Arvin, you are truly amazing!" Victor exclaimed full of admiration. He rubbed one of the walls that looked like transparent ice, then turned his head with a confused look. "But... why doesn't it feel cold in here at all? Even though most of the building's structure is made of solid ice."
Arvin, who was stretching his neck muscles, glanced over briefly, then answered in an ordinary tone. "I manipulated the ice temperature at its base structure. Besides that, I inserted a little magic from the fire element to warm the foundation, and the wind element in the ventilation so the air circulation in here feels warm but remains cool when night falls."
That highly complex-sounding technical explanation was caught by the ears of several other students standing near them. A third-year student who happened to be eavesdropping immediately widened his eyes.
"Wait a minute... the ice element, earth element, transparent element, fire element, and wind element?" the third-year student muttered in disbelief, then stared at Arvin with a pale face. "Exactly how many magic elements can you use simultaneously?"
"Nine!" Arvin answered casually, staring back at the senior student without any burden. "Why?"
That short, innocent answer was like a bolt of lightning in broad daylight. The third-year student along with dozens of other students who didn't know the fact were instantly left gaping. Their breath hitched.
In this world, a mage who could master just three or four elements was already considered a rare genius. The number nine was something they didn't even dare to imagine. They all fell silent in a daze, trying to process the crazy fact they had just heard.
"Haven't you all heard the rumors from when he destroyed the academy library door back then?" said a second-year student standing not far from there, trying to break the silence. "He can use all elements, and even practiced them freely inside the library area. You shouldn't be surprised anymore by a genius monster like him!"
Instantly, the warm atmosphere inside the house hall turned into a gripping silence. The air felt frozen not because of ice magic, but due to panic.
The moniker 'monster' that had just been bluntly uttered by the second-year student sounded very clear. Everyone held their breath, staring in horror at Arvin, the King of Terror who would not hesitate to act ruthlessly if he felt offended.
"You fool!" hissed a female second-year student, frantically hitting the arm of her classmate who had just spoken so presumptuously. "Watch your mouth! Do you want to be beaten and killed by him for daring to call him a monster right to his face?!"
The male student, who just realized his audacity, immediately trembled, his face pale as he stared at Arvin, bracing himself to receive the most horrific punishment.
However, instead of getting angry or releasing a murderous aura, the blue-haired youth simply let out a long sigh and rubbed his tired-looking face.
"Call me whatever you want." Arvin interrupted casually, paying no mind to the tension at all. "I'm tired and I want to rest right now. Go tell the coachmen outside to immediately bring their horses and carriages into the double doors next to the house."
Without waiting for further response from the crowd that was still frozen stiff, Arvin started walking. Accompanied by his four spouses who had been standing loyally by his side, he walked toward a large bed in the corner of that first-floor room.
Upon arriving there, Arvin wasted no time. He immediately laid his body on the bed and closed his eyes, intending to go straight to sleep.
"Honey, don't you want to take a bath first before sleeping?" Alvein asked suddenly. The silver-haired youth stood at the edge of the bed, tugging at the collar of his own uniform because he felt hot and sticky from the travel dust.
That simple question from his fourth spouse made Arvin's eyes instantly snap wide open. He got up and sat on the edge of the bed with a slightly annoyed and embarrassed look on his face.
Good heavens, how could I make such a fatal mistake? Arvin cursed inwardly, smacking his own forehead. I designed the hall, the beds, even the horse carriage garage... but I completely forgot to make a bathroom and toilets for them!
Arvin quickly stood up. He walked back toward one of the empty corners on the ground floor, which was still filled with students busy looking for a place to rest.
Upon arriving there, Arvin squatted down and touched the surface of the ice floor coated in clay, then concentrated his mana to use his alchemy magic.
Rumble!
The earth and ice in the corner of the room moved and formed two new, fairly spacious hallways. The sound of clear, splashing water began to be heard flowing through artificial earthen pipes, creating a perfect water and drainage system in just a few seconds. At the end of the process, two thick wooden doors were formed to close off each room.
"Everyone, listen!" Arvin called out with his baritone voice, drawing the attention of all the occupants of the house. He brushed the remaining dust off his hands as he stepped back from the two doors he had just created. "I just made two fairly spacious public bathroom areas along with their toilets."
Arvin pointed at the doors alternately. "This door on the left is strictly for women, and this door on the right is strictly for men."
The atmosphere that had begun to get rowdy fell silent again upon hearing Arvin's tone of voice suddenly drop an octave. That calm yet deadly blue gaze swept across the faces of all the male students in the room.
"Remember this well!" Arvin continued in a very serious and icy tone. "Anyone who dares to enter the wrong place, their body will instantly freeze into an eternal ice statue. Don't blame me if your vile intentions to try and peek at the opposite sex turn into a path of death for yourselves."