The words "vacuum void cracks" and "dimensional seals" spoken by Grand Magister Valen hung in the air, making the atmosphere in the main courtyard of the Royal Astra Magic Academy feel even more frozen.
Even the boisterous merchant chats and guest visitors in the distance seemed swallowed by gripping silence.
For experienced wizards, the term dimensional crack is not just an ancient myth written in dusty history books; it is the worst nightmare ever recorded in magic civilization history.
The phenomenon occurs when the mana flow balance in the earth's core experiences extreme saturation, tearing the partition wall between the real world and outer void filled with shapeless dimensional monsters and destructive energy capable of wiping out a city in seconds.
"Dimensional cracks..." whispered Professor Selene with a trembling voice, her hand holding the herbal tea cup almost dropping out of shock.
Academy Principal Amelia clenched her right hand on the silver command staff.
Although her face maintained a cold, firm expression, a flash of deep worry was clearly visible behind her gaze.
Amelia knew full well the Central High Magic Council would never raise an issue this big unless they held valid mana reading data from high-level observation crystal instruments.
"Grand Magister Valen," Amelia's voice broke the silence with a tone maintaining authority, though implied tension lingered within.
"If indeed there is a threat of dimensional seal weakening in the northern border region, it is a shared responsibility between the academy and the central council to review it rationally through legitimate investigation procedures, not by accusing a young professor in public."
Valen snorted softly, a faint cynical smile carved again on his lip corner.
He turned his face momentarily to look at the capital's late afternoon sky starting to emit reddish-orange gradations before redirecting his cold gaze to Erin.
"Formal procedures take too long, Academy Principal," Valen answered sharply.
"When seals begin to vibrate and mana core resonance from another dimension starts merging with humans in this world, time is a luxury we no longer possess."
Valen stepped forward another step, staring intently into Erin's yellow eyes still radiating absolute calmness.
"You feel it too, don't you, Professor Erin?" Valen continued in a voice purposely lowered to be heard only by those around him.
"Every time night falls or when your mana concentration reaches its peak, there is a strange pulse inside your chest—a calling from the origin dimension where your mother disappeared two decades ago. Isn't that right?"
Erin's heart pounded briefly, not out of fear, but because what Valen said held truth.
Ever since she first inhabited Erin's body in this world, she had indeed felt a strange pulse inside her mana core, especially when using *Spell Transfer* technique or staying near the training forest border area.
However, she assumed it was a side effect of her soul's transfer process from the modern world to this magic world.
Turns out, the body and soul she inhabited held a far more complex attachment to the dark history of the kingdom's magic ancestors.
Before Erin could respond to Valen's words, Leon Arven stepped forward again, no longer able to hold back anger and worry seeing his professor treated this way.
"Stop talking nonsense!" Leon shouted loudly, ignoring academy ethics warnings.
"Professor Erin saved us from *Forest Lizard* and *Giant Spiders*! She taught us how to protect each other, not bring destruction as you accuse!"
Serena Rose and Kai Renford immediately followed standing beside Leon, showing full solidarity from class 101.
Followed by dozens of other students rushing forward forming a protective line around Erin.
Seeing the students' spontaneous action, Valen narrowed his eyes with an unpleasant look.
For a council higher-up accustomed to absolute obedience and rigid bureaucracy, the young students' action was judged as uncivilized defiance.
However, before council guards could react to the students' action, Erin raised her right hand signaling Leon and her disciples to calm down.
The courtyard atmosphere suddenly grew quiet again.
Erin took a deep breath, tidying her dark blue robe, then stepped forward past the student line until she stood right before Grand Magister Valen without meaningful distance.
Her yellow eyes stared straight, radiating firmness matching the grand magister's authority.
"You are right, Grand Magister," Erin's voice sounded calm, clear, and echoed across the courtyard without the slightest doubt.
"I do feel uniqueness inside my mana flow. And I also know my mother's past holds a major unsolved secret."
Valen raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the honesty shown by the young girl before him.
"However," Erin continued with sharpening voice emphasis, "accusing me as the cause or trigger of dimensional cracks solely based on assumptions and past prejudice is unprofessional and foolish."
Some visitors hearing that sentence held their breath.
Daring to call a Grand Magister from the central council "foolish" in public is extraordinary social suicide.
Valen's face turned pitch black, the anger he held back finally nearly overflowing from behind his expensive robes.
However, before Valen could cast a curse or forced arrest order, Erin continued her sentence with a calmer yet challenging tone.
"If the central council truly fears dimensional cracks at the northern border, and if you suspect my mana core is the key... then let's prove it together," Erin said, spreading both hands slowly.
"Send an official investigation team to the northern border zone under the direct supervision of Academy Principal Amelia and academy professors. I will go there as part of the investigation team."
That sentence shocked everyone in the courtyard immensely.
Even Academy Principal Amelia immediately turned in shock toward Erin, wanting to forbid the girl from taking such a big risk.
The northern border region is the most dangerous place in the entire kingdom—a dead zone where ancient seals weaken and dimensional monsters roam limitlessly.
Valen stared closely at Erin for several full seconds of silence.
He assessed the seriousness behind the girl's yellow eyes, searching for lies or fear, but finding only unshakeable determination.
A cold smile curved again on Valen's lips.
"A very bold offer, Professor Erin," Valen spoke with a dismissive tone mixed with curiosity.
"Let's see if your courage remains when we step foot on the northern border frozen ground tomorrow morning."
Valen turned his body with a flick of his black robe, signaling all council guard entourages to retreat and leave the festival area.
"Prepare yourself, Professor. The council will not grant a second tolerance if that seal truly collapses because of you."
With firm footsteps and dark aura still enveloping their entourage, Grand Magister Valen and his guards walked away from the academy gate, leaving a courtyard atmosphere now wrapped in new anxiety.
The academy festival supposed to be a day of joy now officially ended earlier, replaced by the shadows of a dangerous journey toward the kingdom's northern tip.
Leon, Serena, Kai, and all class 101 students immediately approached Erin with extraordinary anxiety.
"Professor! Why did you accept that crazy challenge?!" Leon shouted breathlessly.
"The northern border is a death zone! The central council only wants to trap you!"
Erin turned to her students standing with eyes full of worry and loyalty.
He raised her right hand, then gently patted the top of Leon's head with a soft smile—the sincerest smile she had ever shown since her first day teaching at this academy.
"Precisely because that place is dangerous, I must go, Leon," Erin whispered softly, staring at the night sky starting to descend wrapping the academy.
"My past, my mother, and the mystery behind this world... all those answers wait there. And as a professor, I will never run away from a real trial."
Under the shelter of night stars beginning to shine coldly above the capital sky, a new chapter in Erin's second life officially began—a journey toward the furthest border of the magic world, where destiny and universe secrets prepare to unfold.