Academic gathering with a lich

After the "ghost" interlude, Lyle's wariness of the tomb had lessened considerably, and his exploring pace quickened. The pebble path underfoot seemed endless, the surrounding tombstones gradually grew sparser as he ventured deeper, and the vegetation, untended, had run wild, with trees on either side beginning to converge, slowly obscuring the view ahead.

Lyle saw it—a mausoleum.

An ancient family mausoleum, with clusters of nightshade dotting its exterior. The facade appeared somewhat dilapidated, the stone doors wide open as if often visited by grave robbers.

Lyle stepped inside.

It was not just like it. The neatly arranged coffins had been opened one by one, the jars and vessels meant for burial accompaniments smashed, and even some poor soul's shattered bones were discarded on the ground.

In the great tomb chamber stood a stone stele, seemingly describing the deeds of the mausoleum's owner. Sadly, it was in ancient script, unreadable to him.

"You should take a look at the back."

A deep voice emerged from behind Lyle, and a black figure leaned against a sarcophagus.

Lyle lifted his oil lamp in that direction, yet the figure remained shrouded in shadows, unaffected by the change in light.

Following his suggestion, Lyle looked at the back of the stele.

There was a line of small print.

Andrei————for those who cannot read Emo script.

This was the destination.

Only then did Lyle turn his attention to the figure. The man displayed no hostility and had even guided him, so, he must be someone from Andrei Academy.

"Isn't it a bit improper to carve words on someone else's grave?"

"He won't mind."

How do you know, did he get up and tell you?

Lyle ceased his silent scoffing and pulled out a letter, "I am here to seek knowledge, applying to Andrei Academy."

"You do look the part of a scholar," the shadowy figure stroked his own chin in a thoughtful pose, "Don't be too nervous, you've already qualified. I'm not an examiner, just someone who's been through it, here to talk about some non-essential tips and to open the door for you all."

Seemed more approachable than he had imagined.

"Andrei Academy might differ from the kind of academy you're picturing. It's more akin to a large study group, where each member specializes in their own field. The people around you could simultaneously be your tutors and students. I personally suggest that you don't adhere strictly to appearances, don't be arrogant or overly humble. We have ample time to discover brilliance in ourselves and in others."

"Okay." That sounded promising.

"Another important point, keep your identity well hidden," the shadowy figure glanced at Lyle's attire and nodded, "Disguises are necessary, and you should be mindful of your actions and words. It's best not to mention things from the outside world. Even if there's a real need, you should try to keep your identity separate through deception and misdirection."

"Like, if I had a friend..."

"Who wouldn't guess it's you."

"So, can I bluff and shoot the breeze?"

"Yes, being convincingly deceptive is a skill. If others believe it, that's their foolishness. Don't worry about it."

Thinking about the learning atmosphere at Andrei Academy, Lyle felt it resembled the water groups of old, where casual chat was friendly, and each claimed grand backgrounds—he let out a nostalgic smile.

"That's enough introduction, let's get you through the door quickly. The headmaster's lecture is about to start."

"Oh."

The shadowy figure tossed a small object to Lyle, who caught it and examined it carefully in the lamplight.

It was a signet ring, but the crest section was empty, the place where a gemstone should have been was hollow.

Lyle felt it, something crawling up his arm - the wax seal that had turned into a little snake, which saved his life. He had thought it gone after that.

A snake coiled up around its own finger, settled on the ring's crest, spiraling round and round, before finally transforming into the crest of Andrei's signet. Andrei's Ring.

"You can only use the ring after ten o'clock at night, the method is to press the stamp, remember to use it when no one is around, someone from the academy will teleport you over."

"Teleportation magic?"

"Call it what you will, the academy maintains a tolerant stance towards all powers. The transmission and continuation of forbidden knowledge is our sole duty. When teleporting, remember to choose your location well. Where you came from is where you'll return; don't end up reporting to the stake by the church the next day."

"Hmm."

"If you have no further questions, then go ahead."

"I do have one question, why does the letter repeatedly mention, 'forbidding the holy light'? Although I can understand it, after all, having been oppressed, it's inevitable to bear some resentment, but isn't this contradictory to the principle of tolerating everything?"

The shadow covered his face, which was the only time Lyle had seen him show emotion. "This is because of a special case, I won't explain it to you, you'll understand when you go over there, that holy light brain."

The shadow had no intention of explaining, and Lyle didn't ask further. He signaled farewell to him, pressed the emblem on the ring with his left index finger, and there was no sensation of it sinking. Just when Lyle doubted its effectiveness, the sensation of weightlessness suddenly took hold of him.

He was sprawled out on a circle inscribed with fluorescent patterns, above him was a blood moon.

In the blink of an eye, he was no longer at Andrei's Mausoleum, and could see the spires of the tall castle nearby, even from his supine position.

Lyle looked around; cloaked figures were moving about, slowly advancing toward the castle. A mask slowly enlarged in Lyle's field of vision, it was a white, featureless mask without eyes or nostrils, covering the whole head, and Lyle didn't know how it was put on or how one would breathe with it on. The mask kept approaching until it pressed against the beak of Lyle's own mask.

"How much longer do you plan to lie there?"

The sentence was a question, but the tone was declarative, a kindly reminder to Lyle's ears.

He rolled to the side onto a clearing.

The Faceless One held a book in his hands, on which were written various locations, dimming one after the other with each teleportation.

"It's the peak time now, the Faceless might be a tad impatient, which is a good sign. Did he scare you?"

The voice came from a gentleman beside him, dressed in a light grey suit, a withered rose pinned to his chest, his face hidden behind a masquerade mask, the shadow concealing the other features, but Lyle could sense his amusement.

Seemingly a gentleman.

"He didn't scare me, it's just my first time teleporting, and I'm a bit dazed," Lyle said, not wanting to lose face.

"That's most unfortunate."

...Retracting the earlier statement.

"Allow me to introduce myself, you can call me Gentleman."

Shameless.

"Hello, Gentleman. You may call me, Plague Doctor."

"Alright, Mr. Plague Doctor, is this your first time at Andrei?"

"Yes."

"Would you need an experienced guide?" The Gentleman struck a modest and polite pose as if to shout "Me me me!"

"If Gentleman would accompany me, I would be most grateful."

"The pleasure is mine."

Although the Gentleman spoke without thinking, he was generally an interesting person. Even though the conversations with him would steer into bizarre contexts, as if acting out a drama, socializing is, after all, a human instinct.

The two walked side by side, conversing occasionally, and followed the stream of black-clad compatriots toward the hall.