A week flew by like a flash of lightning. Soon the official news was released to the entire public, the already growing excitement being amplified to almost exponential growth. There's not a single sentient organism in the campus that didn't know of what was occurring today. Students and professors alike strolled inside a gigantic dome like building located inside the campus. Fancy carriages parked outside only made the event look more important than it actually was.

The amphitheater held an almost grandiose aura with its pristine white walls, lofty, fancy seats and its oval shaped stadium. In the center was a clear, freshly polished stage with Professor Samuel Rook and Headmaster Milleford.

The growing tension was palpable as everyone sat in their seats. The chatter was at an all-time high. Beatrice was tempted to plug out the noise.

"It looks like a full house." James casually plopped into the open seat next to hers. Galahad sat in the opposite. The blonde man stared at the growing audience. "It looks like everyone wants to see the Hermit humiliated."

"I don't know about that. He might actually win this." Alice retorted with the same casual indifference. She sat next to Galahad as she stared at the center stage. She wasn't keen on cheering for the Hermit compared to the twins but she kept the possibility open. "The Hermit might actually do the unexpected."

"That's true." James conceded. "Unlikely but true."

"Unlikely doesn't mean impossible."

"There's a reason why it's unlikely in the first place." Diana intervened. Her noble attitude flooded the four occupants like a tsunami. She elegantly sat next to James. "No doubt that the college made this test exceedingly challenging."

"It's as expected of Fernum-Magnum." James automatically recited the saying. It wasn't false by any means. Any public event is usually over the top which is expected from the magical capital of the world.

They continued conversing, many of them questioning and deducing what the test could possibly be about. From the hints given during their stay in Professor Morrel's lab, they could conclude that it is similar to the Oedipus Challenge. A challenge that involves smarts while forcing the topic of strength to be completely and utterly useless.

Just then, a gigantic ripple appeared above the stage. Like a knife cutting through butter, a rip in the air revealed a massive floating screen. A rectangular image of a white room caught the audience's attention. It looked metallic in nature, glowing with inactive runes. The complicated wordings made it obvious to all that the markings were created by an expert of the highest caliber.

Beatrice gulped as she scanned the image before her. No doubt that the test involved that room.

"What do you think it means?" James spoke what everyone else thought.

Alice for once was left speechless as she tried to translate the rune markings. "I...do not know."

"The markings are far too advanced." Diana clenched her fists as she tried to examine the exotic written language. "Some of these runes, I have never seen before."

Whoever was the expert that crafted it obviously knew what he was doing. The perfect placements and the rare wordings only confirmed it. The magic shown before them was in a whole other league. Still while they couldn't translate the words, the base it was written on was a different story.

"The metal, however..." Beatrice's sentence faded. "Assuming that it's naturally white then there's only one obvious conclusion."

"Salemium." James nodded in confirmation. His eyes gained an interesting glint. "A lot of it too."

Beatrice almost felt bad for the Hermit.

XXX

"Is this even fair?" A mature woman watched the box with grim silence. She wore the royal blue coat of the professors. Her blonde hair and orange eyes were the most prominent trait of her astonishing beauty. She sat inside a reserved section, fitted for the professors of the college. "Even I don't think I could pass this test."

"Emilia." An orange mop of hair paired with forest green eyes turned towards her. "I believe that's the point. To get rid of the waste of space in this institution, right? I think this is a brilliant way of getting rid of the Hermit in a clean manner."

"I know, Ala but the way this is done..." She slowly waved at the image floating in the amphitheater. "That room is the ultimate trap for all Wizards. Salemium, a natural anti-magic metal along with strong anti-magic runes makes a dangerous combination. This is simply unfair. No ordinary Wizard could break through it."

"Oh well." The newly introduced professor, Ala, shrugged with indifference. "What do we care about Hermits anyways. This one's a threat to my continued research. If he can't pass this test then he shouldn't even be here."

"I'm sure none of our students could pass this test."

"Our sponsors don't know that." Ala grinned.

Emilia gave a frosty glare at the man. "You truly are a selfish bastard, huh Ala?"

"As long as it doesn't interfere with my research then I honestly don't care." He slumped lazily. "I am curious about the results here though. Have you heard, Emilia? The Hermit studies a useless branch. Biological Manipulation." The scoff soon afterwards held a disgust that surprised the female professor. "Better Wizards have failed improving that stagnant field."

Emilia couldn't help but agree, albeit reluctantly. The amount of Wizards that study the art keeps diminishing every year. When she heard about what the Hermit studied in, she was extremely surprised. The people she personally knew that practiced such a craft could be counted in two hands with a few fingers left over. No efficient practitioner would ever use a wasteful arcane field.

She glanced at Amary and Oleander a couple seats away who looked like they were in their own conversations. Amary looked like she was trying to calm the redhead down. It makes sense, she supposed. The new professor looked tense and ill as he focused on the image. He noticed what the test was too. What a shame, knowing but not being able to do anything about it.

"I feel bad for Oleander. For his friend to get kicked out in such a manner..." Emilia truly felt pity. She could feel how close the two were. Their bond felt aged and strong. Thicker than blood, a rare relationship.

Ala turned his attention towards the other two professors nearby. "It's fitting. The hanger-on Wizard finally leaves, allowing the new talent to reach his full potential." It was no secret who was who in his scenario.

Emilia felt repulsed at his description. Ala's only ambition was to his magic. When he was offered a job here with all the benefits it offered, he accepted like his life depended on it. He had a selfish desire that was nigh insatiable.

"You're sick."

"Not sick. Just realistic." Ala gave a cocky grin. "Look at that image and tell me right now that the Hermit even has a chance of beating that thing."

"..."

"Exactly."

'Bastard.' Emilia inwardly growled. Secretly, she prayed for the Hermit. Seeing Ala's arrogant smirk disappear would be a dream come true.

XXX

"Students, professors," Milleford announced, his strong voice amplified throughout the amphitheater. All chatter quieted down at his words. The man gave a nod towards a special section of the crowd. The sponsors no doubt. "Valued guests. Today I welcome you to a special event. A Wizard of our institution has accepted the Oedipus Challenge!" The crowd roared in approval. He patiently waited for the noise to calm down before continuing. "Just like Wizards of old, in this amphitheater, he will face this challenge, not by strength but by cunning."

He raised his hands, an ethereal red glow emitting with condensed power. Part of the stage lowered as a square hole appeared. Slowly but surely, a gigantic metallic white box rose, an aura of null radiating from its very walls. Its very presence awoke an animalistic fear on the young Wizards present. Milleford stared at Samuel Rook next to him. His azure eyes met his. "Professor, if you would."

The man smirked as he obliged the Headmaster. With a snap of his fingers, the runes inscribed on its walls activated, forcefully overcoming the anti-magic properties of the metal and creating a symbiotic relationship instead.

The dim glow turned into a fiery blaze of colorful light as the aura of null dramatically increased. The primal instinct present in all Wizards shifted from a subtle warning to outright screams as it flooded the entire amphitheater. Despite this, everyone stayed seated as the event motivated them to watch with dawning horror.

It was obvious to all.

The perfect anti-magic prison.

"Today, we have a unique challenge for our unique challenger. He will be transported in this box with a teleportation rune. His objective is to escape. To make this challenge fit for Fernum-Magnum we also added in this special rule. No magical items or any tools will be allowed inside. The clothes on his back will be the only things he carry with him ..."

XXX

"Nuts. Insane. Complete and utter bullshit!" Alice almost roared at the unfairness. They're practically begging for the Hermit to lose.

"I'm all for the Hermit to lose but this is not even a challenge anymore." James gaped at the rules the Headmaster was spouting. "They should just kick him out instead of wasting their resources like this."

Beatrice and Galahad glanced at each other. Disbelief was clear on their faces. Diana only looked on with indifference though even she was clearly concerned about the possibility of this challenge.

The only exit would be through the use of Teleportation. One cannot faze through the Salemium and with the runes bolstering its properties, it's impossible for one to brute force their way out.

That answer however was wiped out immediately.

"In concern of teleportation, we will activate the anti-teleportation rune after the participant is inside." Milleford chuckled heartily. "A glaring weakness such as that would have ruined the sportsmanship of the test, yes?"

No, in fact, that was the only thing that would have made it fair in the first place!

"What. The. Hell?!" James spoke what everyone thought. Various other students around the amphitheater can only resign at the indomitable prison. They all knew the fate of the future Wizard inside. Still, along with that thought grew the growing excitement. Many were still pumped up at the thought of the Hermit helpless in isolation, their natural habitat.

Muttering continued throughout the stadium as the occupants watched the impossible task become truly impossible.

Milleford continued as if the growing disbelief in the crowd didn't exist at all. "When it has been confirmed that the Wizard couldn't overcome this challenge, we will deactivate the runes and teleport him out. Afterwards, the challenger will be expelled from university grounds..."

A cheer erupted, though it wasn't as enthusiastic as before. Only those who truly and passionately opposed the Hermit applauded with genuine emotion. Yet, most of the students politely clapped at Milleford's words.

Everyone else knew that this was all a joke.

With a grandiose motion, the Headmaster declared, "Now with the speech out of the way, let us begin!" He signaled Samuel Rook who nodded. With another snap, a rune inside the white box glowed with blue energy. Like a flash of lightning, the screen was temporarily blinded. As soon as it diminished, the audience leaned forward. In front of the magical image revealed the Hermit in all his glory, a clean white lab coat, dress pants and shirt was equipped in a neat fashion. There was no emotion in the Hermit's eyes as he scanned the room he was in.

Silence reigned as everyone watched the Hermit's next action intently.