My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 148: First Act 19: Into the Climax

"What are you doing, Victoria?"

Siena questioned, her suspicion deepening with every step Victoria took towards her.

The air crackled with tension as the two women faced each other, the unsettling scene of the demonic cocoon providing a macabre backdrop to their encounter.

Despite Victoria's telekinetic magic binding Siena's hands, the skilled sword master could easily break through the restraints if she chose to.

The decision to hold back reflected a cautious uncertainty; disrupting the mana in the area could have unforeseen consequences, especially considering the dense energy behind Victoria's binding magic.

The suspiciously demonic cocoon loomed in the background, adding an extra layer of complexity to the situation.

As such Siena can't act recklessly at then moment.

"Calm down, Siena," urged Victoria, her calm demeanor standing in stark contrast to the disturbing scene unfolding before them.

"Huh? Can't you see the demonic-looking thing in front of you, or did your old age get to you?"

Siena retorted, her words carrying a hint of skepticism.

The mention of age was a deliberate choice, a subtle jab at Victoria's known sensitivity about the passing of time.

"...."

Victoria remained silent, her expression unreadable. Instead of engaging in a verbal exchange, she continued to approach Siena and Mila with an air of indifference.

Their bewildered looks, especially Siena's, painted a picture of confusion.

Siena, well aware of Victoria's sensitivity regarding her age, was surprised by her old friend's seemingly nonchalant reaction to the ominous presence in the dungeon as well as her joke.

'She would usually scream at me right now'

Siena thought, reflecting on the usual dynamics of her interactions with Victoria.

While not particularly close, the two had a shared history from their adventuring days, having once formed a small party together.

Those memories felt distant now, buried beneath the weight of time and changing circumstances.

"It looks like you haven't harmed it yet," observed Victoria, her gaze focused on the grotesque cocoon.

"Well, you stopped me"

Siena retorted, a hint of irritation in her voice. The interruption had left her in a state of uncertain readiness, caught between the desire to investigate and the caution urged by the principal's presence.

"I know... it's just, considering your reckless personality, who knows if you've already cut through it. After all, nobody in this academy can probably see your sword," Victoria remarked, acknowledging Siena's unparalleled mastery of sword skills. The compliment, though true, was met with Siena's characteristic defiance.

"What do you mean by reckless? Don't you mean daring? And stop it with the weird compliments; you're not normally one to give me a moment of your appreciation. So, hurry up and tell us what this is?" Siena demanded; her impatience evident.

"Oh, and remove your magic, or I'll break it."

Victoria responded by opening her arms, dispelling the strong bind that had prevented Siena's movements.

The sudden freedom of her arms allowed Siena to regain control, her fingers instinctively reaching for the hilt of her sword.

Behind the two perplexed women, Victoria approached the edge of the cliff, gazing down at the unfolding scene below.

The cocoon, pulsating with dark energy, seemed to be fulfilling its sinister purpose, and the feeder demons carried out their tasks dutifully.

Internally relieved that the reckless woman behind her hadn't damaged it yet, Victoria maintained her composed exterior.

"So, she's that Victoria? One of the only legendary mages who has achieved the rank of Archmage? The one who is considered to reach the top of magic and even rival the Dragon Lord with time?"

Mila's voice grew more excited and louder with each word, revealing a deep admiration for the renowned principal.

"The one and only... Though something seems off about her," Siena remarked, her gaze fixed on Victoria.

The Victoria she knew was known for cracking jokes, exuding an easygoing air, and often attempting to insult Siena or revisit old wounds.

However, the current Victoria seemed unusually quiet, out of focus, and lacking her usual flair.

"Malevolent womb," Victoria's words resonated, casting an unsettling shadow over the minds of Siena and Mila. The name itself carried an air of darkness, hinting at the ominous nature of the cocoon.

"That is its name. It might seem dangerous and rather demonic, which it is, but please don't kill it, as it's rather important for the upcoming dungeon exams," Victoria explained, her voice calm and measured.

"Yes, it's an artificial one," Siena affirmed, smiling as she looked at Mila, appreciating her quick mind.

"So, it was actually possible? How? If you knew of this, why didn't you report it to the Magic Tower? This is a discovery that will be talked about for centuries..." Mila expressed her surprise and curiosity.

Mila's reaction mirrored the profound implications of their discovery.

The creation of an artificial demon was a groundbreaking revelation, a discovery that could reshape the understanding of demons, magical beasts, and mythical creatures.

Demons, in particular, were elusive and perilous beings, making them challenging to study.

The knowledge of how to artificially create them represented a significant advancement, surpassing the value of any material wealth.

Mila's inquiry raised valid questions.

The Magic Tower, an institution dedicated to the study and regulation of magic, would undoubtedly be interested in such a monumental breakthrough.

However, Victoria's decision to keep this information within the confines of Estelle Academy hinted at a complex motive.

'If she truly follows the code of mages, she should've had shared her knowledge right away'

"Serioulsy, you filthy mages just casually accepting things that would destroy the environment all for just a speck of knowledge!" screamed Siena in frustration. "And you, Mila, stop admiring what this woman has done. She's basically admitting to demonic summoning. If you get involved with her, the church would come after you like me."

"You don't understand, boss. This is a discovery of the century. With this, we can have deeper knowledge about demons in general—" Mila attempted to explain.

"Oh, shut it, Mila. I don't want to hear anymore. Demons are demons, artificial or not. This one is still dangerous. Can't you feel the amount of demonic energy coming off of that thing? The moment that thing comes out, this dungeon is screwed," Siena retorted in annoyance as she proceeded to grab the handle of her sword.

The tension in the air escalated as conflicting perspectives collided.

Siena's frustration stemmed from her inherent mistrust of anything related to demons especially after what happened back at the forest as she also encountered an unknown demon there that gave her the chills, her natural hatred towards demons was a sentiment shared by many due to their malevolent nature.

Mila, on the other hand, saw the potential for knowledge and advancement in the discovery, blurring the lines between the pursuit of understanding and the potential risks involved.

"Wait, like I said, calm down, Siena," Victoria urged, attempting to diffuse the escalating tension.

"I am calm, BITCH!!!" Siena retorted, her frustration boiling over.

"Sure... But even if you destroy it here, it would cause more problems than solve it. The moment you destroy this at its infant stage, the bundle of demonic energy inside it would spread everywhere, corrupting this very dungeon. It could produce an abundance of demonic creatures that would be much more dangerous and troublesome to deal with than one demon, especially for the students."

"Are you saying we should just let it be?" Siena questioned; her skepticism evident.

"Yes, like I told you, this thing is quite important, Siena. Aren't you curious as to why the church isn't chasing you around as usual, Siena? Normally, you would get a visit from one or two templar assassins every week, but now you're relatively peaceful," Victoria explained.

"What does the church have to do with your shady activities?" Siena retorted; suspicion etched on her face.

Suddenly, Victoria threw a letter at Siena. "Read that, and I'm sure you would understand the whole situation. It's a letter the Pope personally gave me. I wasn't supposed to show it to anybody else, but considering how suspicious I look right now, I'll give it to you."

Siena stared at the letter, recognizing that its length hinted at the gravity of its contents. Whatever was inside was significant enough for Victoria to break protocol.

"Trust me, Siena. Do you think I would put anything here randomly that could personally endanger the lives of the students? And besides, I'm quite sure whatever the result of this experiment is, it would help out the students in the long run. So just trust me, okay?" Victoria implored, smiling gently at Siena.

"S-she's right, boss. I didn't notice it at first, but there's an abundance of hidden magical defenses here and there surrounding this whole dungeon. I can even see some celestial magic circles in the mix," Mila exclaimed, in awe of the intricate magical defenses scattered throughout the area.

Siena surveyed the surroundings, acknowledging the presence of the concealed magical safeguards.

After a moment of contemplation, she sighed, releasing her grip on her sword's handle. Glancing at the letter once more, she decided to postpone reading it for now.

Instead, she directed her gaze back at Victoria, reassessing the situation. Siena knew Victoria well enough to trust that there was more to the story than met the eye.

"I'll leave it alone for now, but... I have a condition," Siena declared.

"Sure" Victoria replied, willingly accepting whatever conditions Siena might propose.

With that, the nightly visit of the two unexpected variables came to an end.

Siena watched the two-disappearing figures in the distance and sighed in relief.

...

"Good job, my disciple. Your ways of speaking lies are truly becoming better and better with each day," praised a boy floating above Victoria, gently patting her head.

"Yes... thank you, Master Loki," replied Victoria, a hint of obedience in her voice.

Loki, grinned down at Victoria, his eyes filled with a playful glint.

"With this, the players are set. I can't wait for this initial play's climax next week. Hehehe."