Wolf’s eyes snapped open. The Demonic Converter wilted not ten meters away from him. With its soul destroyed, the tree experienced decades of wilting and decay with each passing second.

This was a Demonic Beast. Did it have a Monster Core? Wolf rubbed his chin, creating an Internal Energy shield to ward off falling flakes of filth.

Moments later, the tree crumbled in a torrential deluge of ash and rot. Following the violent rushing sound and thuds of larger chunks of rotten wood falling, a cloud of black dust rose into the unobstructed sky.

Taking in the sight of destruction, Wolf’s hand froze. His jaw went slack and a stupid thought struck him. Please don’t tell me you were just an Eighth Order Demonic Beast!

After the danger had passed, Wolf’s mind turned towards more mercantile topics. The Monster Core should be near the trunk.

Wolf jumped deeper into the heap of rotten sawdust, kicking up yet another thick cloud of blackness.

The young Mage waded through filth. Stench of rot assailed his nose, making him gag, but Wolf pressed on. He’d spotted a faint green shine tumble into the sea of black, and he dove after that glint.

Half a minute later, Wolf gasped as he emerged from the pile of fine rot. He spat in disgust, but his eyes sparkled, and a green gem glimmered in his hand. This Monster Core greatly differed from the cores of monsters Wolf had slain so far. For starters, the cherry-sized sphere gave off a faint emerald light.

Judging by its size, this is a Tenth Order Core. Wolf grinned foolishly.

I could sell it for twenty thousand gold pieces, maybe more. But Wolf failed to consider that he needed thirty similar Monster Cores to advance his Sword-Sage Order.

Based on the spiritual pressure, it has a remnant soul inside. I bet Silver will be delighted. Thinking that, Wolf stored his loot.

“Time to head back.” Wolf turned around and trudged through the filth, heading towards the teleportation Spell Formation.

This excursion netted Wolf around fifty thousand gold coins worth of Monster Cores. He found his haul decent. If Wolf was more competent, he could’ve earned more by stashing his kills, instead of leaving them behind while fleeing.

However, that wasn’t important. Demon Forest’s exploration was a learning experience and Wolf’s insights about himself and new situations made it worthwhile. He wasn’t even fifteen yet. If any other fifteen-year-old was a Ninth Order Sword-Sage or a First Order True-Namer, they would’ve already fulfilled their lifetime’s fantasies. Wolf, however, found his achievements barely passable. He rationalized his delay as fulfilling Archibald’s wish and experiencing the Mage Academy’s student life.

I'll have to visit the Duke’s palace. Headmaster Smith sold Wolf a favor and made up an excuse to delay his meeting with the Duke. However, once people saw him at the Mage Academy, he would have to answer the summons of Silverhound’s ruler.

I’ve been slacking on Soul Force harvesting for a month, I’ll have to pick up the pace when I return. Then there’s Big Brother. There are also Anna and Mandy. Wolf groaned, not knowing how to handle those two.

***

With a gut-wrenching twist of space, Wolf came into existence inside Silver City’s Mage Academy. He was back in the heavily secured basement, under the main administrative building. Headmaster Smith’s office was three floors up, which didn’t seem coincidental.

On his way back, Wolf realized he had more urgent matters than refusing the Duke’s offer to be his court magician and arcane consultant and what not. He wanted to shout at Smith.

The crazy old man didn’t give Wolf any warnings. He threw him into that dangerous place unprepared. He once scried on Wolf without warning, scaring the young man to death.

Mid-rest he sensed someone’s gaze. Luckily, there was no hatred or malicious intent. Wolf almost had a heart attack. He thought those damn turtles were back to bite him.

“Good morning, Sir.” The Spell Formation operator, an Eight Order Mage from the house Alexandria greeted with a formal half-bow.

The fellow seemed familiar, but Wolf couldn’t recall where he’d met the man.

“Hello.” Wolf nodded before leaving the chamber and heading upstairs.

*Knock! Knock! Knock!* Wolf violently assailed the Headmaster’s office door.

“Who is it? It’s three in the bloody morning.” Wolf heard a groggy voice, then sensed someone scan him for an instant.

“It’s me.” His reply was as perfunctory as the question. “I’m coming in.”

“You are way too rude, young man,” Lord of Steel said as Wolf entered his office. “Whether it’s the difference in our power, seniority or social standing you should treat me with utmost respect. What if I was sleeping?”

“Devils never sleep.” Wolf didn’t care about the deference Lord of Steel believed he deserved. “And if you want me to respect you, earn it. Where’s Richard?”

Headmaster Smith frowned, his playful smile turning into a tight line. The kooky, jovial face became frosty in a heartbeat.

“Dick earned his right to joke around.” Lord of Steel’s voice became the sound of metal grating, more mechanical than a puppet’s. “I can turn a blind eye to his behavior. You? What do you count for? By Mage Academy rules, if you don’t show proper etiquette, I can expel you. According to Imperial Law, I’m a Duke without-a-land. Commoners disrespecting me are committing treason, and I can have them flogged or executed.”

Wolf held his breath after hearing those words uttered with that threatening voice. He’s right.

Headmaster Smith stood above Wolf on two social ladders. Given the Mage Academy rules, he had to bow formally and keep his head down when encountering the current headmaster. He was to stay silent and speak when spoken to. Anything else was improper and meant risking disciplinary committee’s summons.

As for the Imperial Law, Wolf didn’t know whether commoners had rights before a Duke. Probably not.

“I apologize, Sir.” Wolf bowed after a moment’s hesitation.

“Get out, close the door and knock again.” Headmaster Smith’s voice didn’t improve one bit after Wolf’s barely adequate display.

“Yes, Sir.” Wolf obediently left the room and knocked.

“Who is it? It’s three in the bloody morning.” Wolf heard the identical groggy voice, saying identical words.

“Wolf Hi—” Wolf bit his tongue in time. “Wolf without-a-surname, returning from his mission in Demon Forest, Sir.”

“Come in, young man.” Headmaster continued just as groggily. He sounded like Wolf just woke him up.

The young Mage entered the room and saw the Headmaster sitting at his desk. The cold, angry man of steel from a moment ago disappeared; replaced by a sleepy, sloppy youthful man.

Is he bipolar? Wolf couldn’t believe his eyes. Regardless, as soon as he closed the door, he assumed the deep bow imposed by the school protocol.

“Relax. Have a seat.” Headmaster Smith gestured towards the guest chairs.

Wolf obeyed. He sat and waited in silence.

“So, how was your trip to Demon Forest? Made any gains?” Headmaster Smith broke the silence.

“Yes, Sir.” Wolf’s words were respectful, but the glint in his eyes showed defiance. “My gains would’ve been greater if someone had warned me about the environmental conditions and enemies inhabiting the danger zone.”

Headmaster Smith nodded seriously. “You asked for books and information, however, Mage Academy senior staff denied access or lied to you? Please file a formal complaint. We will launch an investigation to see who ostracized you and why. I don’t know how Mage Academy officials could LIE, let alone withhold official information you OFFICIALLY asked for after I gave you the clearance.”

Hearing those words, Wolf’s face turned sour. “Sir, I never asked for such information. However—”

“However, what?” Lord of Steel interrupted Wolf. “Do you expect people busy with their everyday work to go around, asking the student body who’s lacking information on our duchy’s danger zones?”

“No—” Wolf tried to speak, but the Headmaster didn’t give him the chance.

“Ah, I see.” Headmaster Smith continued. “You expected books and reports flying off their shelves, hounding you to read them?”

He waited several seconds until sharpness disappeared and hesitation crept into Wolf’s eyes.

“Good job nearing a Demonic Converter offshoot like that. Especially considering the lack of information” Stick and carrot. The Headmaster of Silverhound’s most important institution knew how to steer a conversation. How to tame wild talent, and how to crush unwarranted arrogance.

“Thank you, Sir. What’s a Demonic Converter?” Wolf was perfectly polite, his rage verbally beaten out of him.

“That’s how we named Demon Forest’s crux,” Headmaster Smith explained. “You can visit the library to read more. In short, Monster Beasts consume its black fruit, become addicted and demonize over time, fighting others to protect their food source.”

Wolf stayed silent for a moment, considering Headmaster Smith’s words. He scried once, while I was inside a folded space, nowhere near that damn apple.

Wolf’s lips drew into a confident smile.

“In that case, I got closer to it than I am to you now, Sir.” Seeing the Headmaster ease up, Wolf relaxed and tested his boundaries. Smith didn’t seem to mind.

“So, you saw it? Extraordinary. I never expected you would reach that far on your first attempt. However, it’s not surprising, considering your talent caught my interest.” Headmaster smiled brilliantly, brimming with egoism. “Tell me… How fast did you run when the apples dropped?”

Wolf cringed at the question. “Fast. I bolted the moment I realized something was wrong.”

“Priceless!” Headmaster roared with laughter, slapping his chair’s armrest. “First Order True-Namers are powerless in front of a Demonic Converter, unless they have mastered their True Name. In fact—”

“The second time, however, I stayed longer. Almost killed myself like an idiot,” Wolf continued with a collected expression, pretending not to notice the old man’s jeer.

Headmaster snicked, shooting Wolf a look reserved for idiots. “Well, that was—”

“But, I learned. The third time I came over, I reduced it to rotten dust.” Wolf maintained a calm voice. However, after saying his piece, he cocked his eyebrow, looking at Headmaster Smith without a shred of respect, waiting to see the old man’s reaction.

The old man didn’t disappoint. Interrupted mid laugh, Smith sounded like a rooster strangled mid-crow, and Wolf couldn’t help but smirk.

Headmaster Smith’s mouth hung open, the word ‘dumb’ stuck in his throat. Unfortunately, his eyes didn’t bulge, just showed a slight inclination towards leaving their sockets. The man was a Third Order True-Namer who opened three Mind Halls. Breaking even a part of his mental fortitude was no easy feat. Wolf’s statement however…

“You—” Headmaster Smith stuttered. “You reduced it to rotten dust? As in, killed it?”

Those words hung in the air, birthing a weird silence, in which Wolf struggled not to laugh. He nodded and poured himself a cup of South’s wine. He learned the trick from Wayde.

Headmaster Smith pretended not to notice the disrespectful act. Instead, he placed a glass bottle onto his desk. The dwarf with rotten teeth gestured approvingly towards Wolf, seemingly saying ‘good job!’. The stunned Headmaster popped the bottle open, and Wolf caught the vile smell of a drink he believed could poison dragons.

Headmaster Smith poured himself a glass, then downed it in one go before pouring himself another. While whiskey sloshed into the cup, the befuddled man gazed at Wolf.

“How did you do it, you crazy son of a bitch? Look… Where do I even begin? We use Demon Forest to improve the temperament of newly ascended True-Namers. Ages ago, when I became a True-Namer I also went there and got humbled. When I reached the Third Order, I asked for special permission to leave the Mage Academy and explore that danger zone.”

Smith took another mouthful of his poison.

“Headmaster leaving the grounds is a big deal,” Headmaster Smith continued. “Highseat sent two Second Order True-Namers to stand guard in my stead for a month. Just in case… When I went to Demon Forest, I slaughtered my way to the nearest Demonic Converter. Regular beasties were nothing, I could mow them down by the thousands, but that damn tree…”

He paused for a moment, then gave Wolf a knowing look. “You’ve seen it. It doesn’t use magic to obstruct us. It releases precise surges of Soul Force, which interfere with magic, dissipating spells. I could’ve used my True Name against it, but then I would’ve had to come back. In the end, it took me three days of swinging an adamantine axe like some damn lumberjack to bring it down. Digging out the Monster Core was an even bigger pain.”

Wolf watched with wide eyes as Headmaster Smith poured himself the third glass of dwarven spirits. Fortunately for his insides, the man didn’t touch the glass. He just left it on the table, full of amber toxin.

“Richard was pulling your leg when he said I could clear Demon Forest in a jiffy.” Headmaster Smith looked Wolf straight in the eye, his fingers interlocked. “After encountering a Demonic Converter, you should know I couldn’t wrap it up that quickly. I think I’d need a year just to clear out the outer ring. Back then I killed two offshoots before I had to return. Headmasters can’t leave Mage Academies unattended for extended periods of time…”

Wolf waited for the Headmaster to finish his lengthy old man's story. “Sir, you said offshoots. Plural. How many of them are there?”

“Read reports. Scanning a sheet of paper is quicker than me talking and you listening. But, I’ll indulge you. We believe every Demonic Converter can have four progressively weaker offshoots. There are two hundred and fifty-six Tenth Order ones, Sixty-four at Eleventh Order, sixteen at Twelfth Order, four Thirteenth and one Fourteenth Order.”

Even though Smith claimed speech was inefficient, he had to stop Wolf from making obvious mistakes. “If you want to take them down, you’re only allowed to clear out Tenth and Eleventh Order Demonic Converters, they barely slow down attacking monsters. We use the rest to shield against Monster Beast migrations. Remember, Tenth Order plants regrow in ten years. Eleventh Order ones take twice as long.”

Smith paused. He gave Wolf a serious look. “That is an order. Consider what you’re doing and make sure not to endanger the duchy. Demon Forest is a strategic point for our empire and you can’t compromise it for personal gain. That directive comes from Highseat.”

Headmaster Smith handed Wolf an empty paper. “Here. Write everything you experienced in Demon Forest. No need to delve into detail, nor reveal your secrets. Mage Academy respects students’ privacy.”

What privacy? You scry on me whenever you damn feel like it. But Wolf still took the paper.

“I didn’t prepare Scribe, and I don’t own a Scribing Quill.” Wolf smiled awkwardly.

“Sir,” he added after a moment’s pause.

Smith rolled his eyes. A quill appeared in his hand, and he handed it to Wolf. “The command phrase is ‘Start dictation’.”

Wolf nodded and uttered the command. He diverted a tiny portion of his mind to direct the magical quill, while focusing on his conversation with the Headmaster.

“Sir, about my meeting with the Duke? Any advice?”

“Be polite.” Wolf’s lacking manners compelled Lord of Steel to state the obvious. “Refuse. He thinks you’re an Eighth Order Mage, so don’t get offended by his offer. If he offers his daughter’s hand, his oldest unengaged girl is six and a half. I know you’re hunting for virgins, but please have a bottom line.”

Wolf blinked when he heard ‘hunting for virgins’. “You know about that?”

“Everyone knows.” Headmaster Smith scoffed. “You’re a rising star, and the Duke will offer you the title of a Baron without-a-land even if you refuse his offer. As for your tendencies, bards have already made stories about a nameless Perverted Mage, who goes through the commoner districts, snatching and abusing women. I heard there are even pornographic graphic novels about a Mage with two wives and their erotic adventures.”

Wolf’s eye twitched. He imagined Anna sobbing in her room again.

“I’ll kill them.” His voice was like ice, and his gaze even colder.

“You can’t react, let alone kill anyone.” The Headmaster rolled his eyes. “Murdering commoners for offending your honor comes with a monetary fine, unless you’re a Viscount or have a higher title. Besides, there’s nothing linking you and the Perverted Mage. If you act, you will make matters worse.”

Wolf didn’t care about others’ opinions. However, Anna suffering for no rhyme or reason because of him was a different matter.

I can bet they sent her a copy of each of those books. Wolf grit his teeth. However, besides feeling guilty, there was little Wolf could do.

Wolf saw Headmaster Smith hesitate, but then he finished writing his report, drawing the old kook’s attention. Lord of Steel ignored Wolf’s statement about slaying the Demonic Converter with a single-use item and went straight to business.

“I would like to buy all Monster Cores of Eighth Order and above.” Headmaster Smith offered after reading the report. “I’ll pay double. And I’m willing to pay in Student Credits at the Mage Academy’s buying price. You may exchange them for goods, or go to the finance department and withdraw gold coins.”