Chapter 215: The two hundred and fifty eyes of sorrow.
Outside, in Eboncrypt, everything was still and silent. The moon fought with the clouds to shine its gentle light down on them, partially illuminating the grounds and the occasional Magus that moved now and then.
But suddenly, a new group of Magus came forward. Their faces were covered in hoods and they moved quickly as they walked towards the tallest tower, a long wooden chest carried between them.
They placed it down and opened it, whispering among each other as, one after the other, the five of them dipped their hands into the chest and straightened with some strange instruments in their hands.
It looked like a tablet made of metal, flat and shiny, the surface covered in glowing symbols.
They raised it above their heads and shouted out a spell.
For an instant nothing happened. That single moment of calm before the storm hung for what felt like hours even as it was just a second.
Then everything exploded.
A howling wind sprang into existence, sweeping across the courtyard like a tide.
Then the tablets turned into pure beams of silver light that flew up into the air, condensed, and turned into a small glowing orb like a seed of a mystical plant.
Already the Magus with the hoods had turned to run. And the seed they created slammed into the ground the next moment with a cracking force that shattered the magic-reinforced ground, sending blasting shockwaves rippling through the air.
The very foundation of Eboncrypt shook as something erupted from the ground. It was a tree and in an instant it had risen up to half the size of the tower.
The tree trunk and branches were made of black and oily material. The leaves resembled normal broad greens of common trees but they rattled and created a vibration akin to metals slapping together.
And the fruits, hundreds of them, not bigger than a fist, glowed silver. But the strange thing about the fruits was that they were shaped like eyes, closed eyes that were trembling open.
The tree emitted an intense feeling of malice, and each fruit seemed like a condensation of anger and hatred.
From the beginning to the end, it did not take more than four seconds for the tree to appear fully grown. And in those moments, a ripple had passed through the whole of Eboncrypt, alerting any and all Magus.
Everyone was shocked.
Just who could be brave and stupid enough to attack the Eboncrypt Academy even if its Lord was not in attendance? Did they not fear their dream monster?
Besides, there was still a fifth circle Magus in charge!
But strangely enough there was not a mass panic. In this age and time that was chaotic, anyone could get attacked and so there was always a procedure to follow.
First, the towers in the Academy all automatically shut down and all important doors locked. Only people with special authority could enter and exit at will. Then different domes covered the towers, shielding them.
Those outside would immediately head towards the different shelter rooms that would also become inaccessible in minutes.
And then at last, Magus that could fight had the authority to come out or enter the tower at will.
All this too did not take more than a few seconds.
Magus poured out from different towers. They wore enchanted clothes that fitted them tightly and all carried weapons. Most held different magical instruments and very few held the common weapons of swords and such.
They immediately zeroed in on the tree.
The tree was growing even bigger although its progress had slowed considerably.
"Who dares do something like this?" An irritated voice lashed out.
A Magus floated above the others, his face filled with irritation. "I am studying an important book and you dare disturb me? I am going to bind your soul to the sole of my feet when I catch you!"
All the Magus that surrounded the tree bowed to the man floating above. The Magus was in the fifth circle and at the moment he was the only one of such rank in the Academy and so he was in charge.
Although even among his peers he was not that impressive, now that everyone had followed the Lord to Umbracrypt, he was currently the strongest in Eboncrypt.
Besides, compared to all others below them, a fifth circle Magus was an ultimate power.
As if sensing the power of the fifth circle Magus, the fruits on the tree began struggling. The eyes flickered as if wanting to open.
And then they did open. The eyes were a combination of red and black and they were filled with malice. Looking at them, one would get the feeling that every single eye was the same and they were all filled with their own vice.
Some stared in curiosity, some with anger, and some with sorrow. Some eyes were filled with helplessness and some with hope. But they were all malicious.
Immediately they opened, a feeling of doom and terror was emitted by the tree as a shockwave, instantly shattering the mental shields of the Magus below the fourth circle.
The fifth circle Magus looked down at the tree and his face turned grim. He quickly issued an order. "All those below the fourth circle should leave. Go and begin investigating how this thing appeared here. Who brought it!"
They did not wait as almost all the gathered Magus turned and left, leaving only about twelve Magus below.
The tree had the power comparable to a fourth circle and it could use mental attacks. It was only better that those in the same circle handle it.
At the moment, all of the fruit eyes were focused on the fifth circle Magus as the greatest source of threat.
The fifth circle Magus’s mouth twisted. "This is definitely from Umbracrypt. It is called the two hundred and fifty eyes of sorrow. They are always difficult to kill. There are actually two trees in one, the roots and the upper. Two lives.
"Form into a group of defense and offense. This thing can attack from the ground as well and that will be your job to handle. I will fight it from up here."