After freeing Hettis, Bai Shi immediately assessed his smithing abilities. The forging skills Hettis demonstrated were impressive; the weapons he crafted were of exceptional quality. According to him, he could forge all manner of weapons, having learned a great deal from Master Iji. He was particularly skilled at crafting magical implements like staves. Using the same materials, the staves he forged were twenty percent more potent than the standard-issue ones from the Academy of Raya Lucaria. If provided with higher-quality glintstone, he could achieve even greater results. However, he had little skill when it came to armor, possessing only the abilities of an ordinary blacksmith. Bai Shi could understand. This was the Academy of Raya Lucaria, after all. It was hard to imagine there would be much demand for forging armor in a place where nearly everyone wore sorcerer's robes and many didn't even bother with shoes. These were what truly caught Bai Shi's interest. No matter how skilled a smith Hettis was, he couldn't surpass masters like Hewg and Iji, but these magical items were a product of his unique expertise. Bai Shi had his eye on that glintstone shard capable of long-distance communication for a while now. Furthermore, Hettis claimed he could set up large-scale teleportation arrays. This included summoning circles like the ones the academy used to conjure iron spheres, which could also be adapted for teleporting living creatures. Although there were many restrictions that made it unsuitable for battlefield use, installing a few in various locations would make travel much more convenient. This was another skill Bai Shi desperately needed. Speaking of teleportation, Bai Shi couldn't help but think of Patches. Looked at that way, Patches was actually quite formidable. The man could gather materials in a mine and jury-rig a transportation trap to get himself out. In a way, he was a devious genius. A true avatar of Hidetaka Miyazaki, indeed. Afterward, Bai Shi captured an elite sorcerer and had him lead the way to the former meeting place of the academy's leaders. Ordinary sorcerers were forbidden from this place, but they still knew of its location. Because it had been established more recently, Sellen didn't know where it was, and the imprisoned Hettis was even more clueless. Once he had led Bai Shi to the room, the trembling sorcerer quickly retreated. Inside the room was an enormous long table, flanked by several chairs. A massive and intricately structured glintstone rested on its surface. Upon closer inspection, the huge glintstone was composed of many smaller shards, all working in unison. Through this glintstone, one could view surveillance feeds from all over the Academy of Raya Lucaria. In theory, it could also be used for reverse communication, broadcasting messages throughout the academy. Seeing the glintstone on the table, Bai Shi was at a loss as to how to operate it. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩•𝗳𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝕟𝕖𝕥 Fortunately, he had brought Hettis along this time, so he left it to him. Although Hettis hadn't invented the surveillance sorcery, the glintstone used to control it had been crafted by his hands. He was sure to understand how it worked. Bai Shi explained his requirements to Hettis, who nodded and began to manipulate the device. After a moment, Hettis looked at Bai Shi, signaling for him to step forward and speak. Bai Shi thought for a moment, suddenly realizing he didn't know what to say after conquering a new territory. Whatever. As long as the message got out. Soon, Bai Shi's voice echoed through the various classrooms of the Academy of Raya Lucaria. "To all within the Academy of Raya Lucaria, this is an announcement." "The Academy of Raya Lucaria has now been conquered by Bai Shi, the Storm King." "The former leaders of each school have been eliminated. I expect you to elect suitable new representatives as soon as possible to facilitate future administration." "Henceforth, my master, Sellen, will govern the academy in my stead." "Furthermore, from this moment on, the Academy of Raya Lucaria shall be renamed the Hogwarts Academy of Magic." Most of the sorcerers had already witnessed Bai Shi defeat their leaders, while the few who were completely unaware were quickly brought up to speed by the others. Afterward, under Sellen's guidance, Bai Shi went to another restricted area and broke the academy's seal. With the seal broken, the barrier that had covered the entire academy, isolating it from the outside and preventing entry or exit, completely vanished. Bai Shi used the mark of the dark moon on his body to contact Ranni, informing her that the academy's seal had been lifted. Ranni replied swiftly, acknowledging the news and saying she would arrive soon. Having received her reply, Bai Shi proceeded directly along the academy's main road toward the Grand Library where the queen was imprisoned. Bai Shi didn't take the route through the courtyard and across the broken bridge. There was a direct path within the academy that led to the Grand Library, which remained intact and passable. Bai Shi had wanted to bring Sellen with him. But Sellen, knowing that Ranni would be there soon, refused his offer. There was nothing for her to do there anyway, and she would have to face members of the Carian royal family, whom she detested. She would rather start managing the academy right away. As he neared the Grand Library, Bai Shi encountered a few sorcerers. The sorcerers he encountered on the path belonged to the faction that had resisted the others' assault, loyalists who had protected the Queen of the Full Moon. However, their numbers were extremely small, just a scattered few individuals huddled near the library's forecourt. For so few to have held out against the siege of the entire academy to protect their queen was truly a testament to their loyalty and dedication. Ranni had already made her preparations, sending a trace of her power through the mark. The moment the sorcerers saw Bai Shi, they also saw the cold dark moon formed of magic behind his back. Though it was only a faint projection of weak magic, it was enough for them to distinguish friend from foe. Recognizing that Bai Shi was connected to Princess Ranni, the sorcerers all made way, allowing him to pass unimpeded into the Grand Library's forecourt. Here, Bai Shi also met Carian Knight Moongrum, the one players often called the ‘richest man in Caria’. Moongrum was one of the exceedingly rare Carian Knights, and a powerful one at that. He could be considered the foremost among their ranks. Moongrum's strength was undoubtedly on par with that of a top-tier hero. With such power, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage even when facing the top sorcerers directly. Not only that, but his mastery of Carian Retaliation made him an extremely tough opponent for any sorcerer to deal with. Moreover, the other sorcerers were wary and secretive with one another, unwilling to unleash their full power. After a few failed attempts, they simply decided to leave this area alone. To them, there was no need to wipe out the sorcerers and the Carian Knight here. Even if they fought their way into the Grand Library, they weren't certain they could kill the Queen of the Full Moon. And if the queen, pushed to the brink of death, decided to retaliate, they would be the ones to suffer. As long as they kept the Queen of the Full Moon imprisoned, they could reap all the benefits without investing more energy and taking unnecessary risks. Upon seeing the dark moon behind Bai Shi, Moongrum immediately bowed. Then, without a word, he led Bai Shi to the Grand Library. Bai Shi looked at the massive doors before him and slowly pushed them open, finally seeing Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon. Rennala sat in the center of the library, cradling the Rebirth Amber, surrounded by stacks of books and candlesticks. At that moment, she was dotingly watching the young sorcerer scholars gathered around her. "Oh, my sweetings, I have a wealth of books and candlelight for you..." "Come out and play, sweetings. Or is it that you wish to be born anew?" All of the female scholars in the academy shared the same face, with only the most subtle of differences. Their intelligence did not match their age or stature; they behaved like young children. They were all scholars who had become lost in the sorcery of "rebirth." Because the "rebirth" process was incomplete, they experienced the cycle over and over again, eventually becoming addicted to it. With each rebirth, they lost more of themselves, gradually forgetting everything. Rennala looked up at Moongrum and Bai Shi as they entered. "Oh, have you come to be born anew as well?" Now that he was witnessing her state firsthand, Bai Shi couldn't help but frown. After Radagon abandoned her, Rennala had lost her heart, driven to madness by her lingering attachments. The only thing left in her heart was the final gift Radagon had given her—the Rebirth Amber containing the Great Rune of the Unborn. Everything else had ceased to exist for her. A voice sounded beside Bai Shi: "This is not the visage of the queen I remember..." Bai Shi turned his head. At some point, Ranni had appeared beside him, seated on a pile of books. Upon seeing Ranni, Moongrum was overcome with emotion and dropped to one knee, offering a knight's salute. Ranni was about to say more, but a scholar at her feet reached out and pushed over the pile of books she was sitting on. She had to use magic to float in the air before gently landing on the ground. Ranni's eye twitched as she glanced at the culprit. But the scholar on the floor had the mind of a child, so she let go of any thought of scolding her. Ranni looked over at the two men. Moongrum kept his head bowed, seeing nothing. When Bai Shi saw Ranni look his way, he averted his gaze as well. "Uh, I didn't see anything either." Ranni sighed and walked toward her mother. "Mother, it has been some time." "Your daughter has grown much and has stepped into a night of her own." "...How I wish you could see it." But the Queen of the Full Moon only repeated her words, giving no sign of whether she recognized Ranni.