Glory Cael Magic Academy, Central Teaching Area, top-floor circular conference room.
Dozens of men and women dressed in various colored professor robes sat on either side of a long, dark conference table.
Morning light slanted in through the tall arched windows, casting geometric patches of light on the polished tabletop, yet it did little to dispel the somewhat heavy atmosphere in the room.
The air was thick with the scent of old parchment, ink, and a faint, refreshing herbal incense.
This was an emergency meeting regarding the abnormal tremors that had occurred in the dungeon earlier that morning.
The attendees were mostly the professors in charge of the first and second years, along with relevant administrators.
The third-year professors were busy preparing for the students' off-campus internships, while the fourth-year professors were buried in the final review and guidance of graduation projects, leaving them no time for other matters.
"Is there a preliminary result from the investigation into the abnormal tremors coming from the deep area of the dungeon this morning?"
A gray-haired, stern-looking male professor was the first to speak from the middle of the table, his voice carrying the steady weight of a long teaching career.
This was Professor Martin, responsible for teaching basic magic theory.
Sitting opposite him, a slightly sharp-featured female professor wearing a monocle, Professor Isabella, adjusted her glasses and responded in a businesslike tone:
"There is no definitive conclusion yet. The four students who emerged from the dungeon this morning have undergone a brief inquiry, but they all claim to be unaware of the specific cause of the tremors."
She paused before continuing:
"Therefore, I have notified the Student Council to dispatch members with reliable strength into the deep area for a survey. Given the efficiency and capability of the Student Council members, I believe news will be returned shortly."
The arrangement was reasonable, yet it also carried a hint of helplessness.
The entrance to the Glory Cael Magic Academy dungeon was protected by an ancient and powerful special barrier restriction, allowing only registered students of the academy to enter and exit freely.
While the professors present were certainly not weak, they were far from qualified to ignore or forcibly break through such a long-standing heritage restriction.
Thus, when situations required a deep investigation, they could only rely on the top tier of students—usually the elites of the Student Council.
"The efficiency must be increased."
From a seat near the head of the table, a cold and clear female voice rang out, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
The speaker was a woman.
She wore a well-tailored dark blue professor's robe, with simple silver patterns on the cuffs and collar representing her status as a Chief Professor.
Most striking were her eyes, a rare light brown color, which were currently narrowed slightly as her gaze swept over the attendees with an unquestionable authority and... an obvious sense of urgency.
Grace Quinn.
The First-year Chief Professor and head of the Practical Magic and Applied Tactics course.
She was widely recognized within the academy as a meritocrat with a forceful and decisive style.
"The Headmistress will return to the academy from the Magic Tower Annual Exchange Meeting in a week at the latest."
Grace's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, carrying a metallic quality:
"Before the Headmistress returns, we must thoroughly investigate the sequence of events and come up with a proper handling plan. Otherwise..."
She seemed to think of something, and a complex emotion, a mix of helplessness and determination, flashed through her eyes.
"...Otherwise, given that person's personality, she will absolutely seize this opportunity to incessantly emphasize that 'the academy can't function without her.' She'll then use it as a perfect excuse to cancel all external exchanges, social events, and visits for at least the next six months, contentedly becoming a shut-in at the top of the tower or in her laboratory."
Grace leaned forward slightly, her hands folded on the table, her gaze sharp:
"For the sake of the academy's reputation and normal operation, we cannot allow things to be affected by this sudden incident. More importantly, we must not provide that person with a legitimate reason to stay at home."
Several senior professors present wore subtle expressions upon hearing this, as if they were intimately familiar with the behavioral style of "that person" Grace spoke of, and they nodded silently in agreement.
"Speaking of making trouble..."
At that moment, another soft yet subtly piercing female voice cut in, shifting the topic in a different direction.
The crowd turned toward the source. It was a woman sitting diagonally across from Grace, looking to be about forty years old, with an elegant air and chestnut hair gracefully pinned up, wearing an exquisite deep green professor's robe.
Adele Kent, the Second-year Chief Professor, head of the Magic History and Noble Etiquette course, and also one of the influential faction representatives within the academy.
Adele wore a perfectly measured, gentle smile as if caring for a junior, but her gaze crossed most of the conference table to land on a petite figure in the back row who was practically trying to shrink into her chair.
"Professor Alice."
Adele's voice remained soft, but the figure who was called out clearly shuddered.
"I recall that the student you are personally tutoring... seems to have been missing for over a week? If I remember correctly, that student's name is... Greg Sass, isn't it?"
The woman addressed as Professor Alice jerked her head up, revealing a slightly naive and pale face that looked younger than even some of the upperclassmen.
She had soft, short lavender hair, and her violet eyes were wide with panic, with faint dark circles underneath, clearly showing a lack of rest.
She was petite and wore an ordinary black professor's robe that was noticeably ill-fitting and a bit too large, giving her an aura of timidity and unease.
When the name Greg Sass was clearly uttered by Adele, suppressed whispers, almost inaudible, immediately broke out around the conference table.
Several professors sitting near Alice exchanged glances, their lips moving slightly:
"How pitiful... to be assigned by Professor Adele to look after that student with connections..."
"Shh, keep it down... if Professor Adele hears you, you might be the next one to receive her special attention."
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