Tarthocas: Chronicles of the Transmigrating Scribe Chapter 65: Caecitas Mortis [2]

Read chapter 65 of Tarthocas: Chronicles of the Transmigrating Scribe by Bigmachine on NovelPedia.

"If they were going to send me somewhere else, why not do it the first time?" Wilhelm grumbled inwardly. He now found himself alone in an infinite, white space. Directly in front of him stood a mirror with a brief message etched on its surface: [Touch the mirror to awaken the attribute.] Since there was nothing else in sight, Wilhelm slowly approached the mirror. But instead of his own reflection, he saw something deeply unsettling—a distorted circle. Wilhelm's eyes widened in shock as he stumbled back, horror coursing through him. It was the same circle from his dreams. Yet now it appeared even clearer. What he'd once thought of as a distorted circle was actually cracked, with intricate inscriptions lining its edges. The symbols seemed to pulse, making him feel nauseous just looking at them. Covering his mouth, Wilhelm stretched out his hand and touched the mirror. SHOON! A strange hum reverberated as the mirror glowed with a bluish hue. BOOM! An explosion sounded in Wilhelm's mind, but rather than disorient him, his awareness sharpened, heightening his senses. New words materialized on the mirror: [Attribute detected. Entrance Examination Status - Pass Assessing Talent Talent - 1 Assigning Class… Class - Siegfried] At that moment, a voice echoed from within him. "Release me." It felt as though his brain had been plunged into ice, pain flooding his mind. "What… what is this?" Wilhelm's voice trembled with fear. The mirror distorted again, revealing a pair of glaring eyes. "Who are you?" Wilhelm asked, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Who are you?" the figure in the mirror echoed back. They both stared, locked in mutual shock and curiosity. Wilhelm couldn't look away from the figure's cyan eyes, feeling an unsettling chill. He sensed that this being could see more than his physical appearance—it seemed as if those eyes looked directly into his soul. Before any more words could be exchanged, the figure vanished, leaving Wilhelm feeling an intense pull. Just before he was entirely sucked back, a flash of light leapt from the mirror and attached itself to his chest. [Alignment Achieved. Siegfried System Binding Complete.] More words appeared in front of Wilhelm, deepening his confusion. And then, once again, he was transported. The constant teleportation left Wilhelm feeling like he might actually throw up this time. But just as the nausea surged, a cool sensation from within him calmed the urge, allowing him to regain his focus. He was now in a grand hall filled with others his age. Judging by the fact that more than half of them were covering their mouths, they seemed just as disoriented from being transported so many times. In front of the crowd stood a raised wooden platform that made the speaker clearly visible to all. [Now, I understand you're all confused, and that's natural. So, in accordance with protocol, everything will be explained.] A figure dressed entirely in white materialized on the platform, taking a seat in an elegantly summoned chair. [This appearance was chosen based on several factors for your comfort, so set that aside and focus on my explanations.] The figure looked across the crowd, pausing as they observed the students' expressions. With a resigned sigh, they snapped their fingers. Immediately, Wilhelm felt the nausea dissipate, his body feeling much better. [Apologies. We're still working out the kinks in our entrance process,] the figure said plainly before continuing. [Now, Attributes—what are they? Consider them unique abilities that qualify you for selection into this branch of the Academy. Many of you, particularly those from the Three Noble Houses, may assume this Academy is similar to others. It's not. This Academy is reserved for the most gifted among the gifted—those whose futures hold the potential to reach sainthood.] The mention of sainthood didn't shock Wilhelm, as he was neither from a noble house nor entirely unfamiliar with the idea of special abilities, especially after his recent