062 The Forbidden Forest

A path near the Forbidden Forest on the edge of the Alexandra Black Abyss Arcane Academy.

Back in the era of the old Black Abyss Academy, this forest was not called the Forbidden Forest, but the Dark Forest. However, after the White Chess Wizards took over the academy, they renamed it the "Forbidden Forest."

Near every academy, there is a strange forest, and the Black Abyss Academy was no exception. However, while the forests of ordinary academies were mainly inhabited by various wondrous creatures, here in the Black Abyss Academy, dangerous dark creatures were everywhere.

The White Chess Wizards were unable to completely clear it out, so they could only issue school rules prohibiting students from entering the Forbidden Forest.

Of course, when students were executing tasks or required to attend Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, they were allowed to enter. Naturally, although school rules explicitly forbade students from entering the Forbidden Forest, curiosity is the nature of wizards, so there were always a few students who wanted to go in and explore.

On the path close to the Forbidden Forest, a young girl covered in blood was lying by the roadside, screaming loudly. Seven or eight "blood rays," attracted by the smell of blood, slowly drifted from the midair of the woodland toward her body.

Blood rays are close relatives of the abyss blood moths, but they lack the ability to shuttle through shadows. Because they are relatively common and possess a lower level of magic, their research value is far lower than that of blood moths.

These creatures look somewhat similar to bats, about the size of a small forearm, with numerous feathers on their bodies. They do not rely on wings to fly, but float in midair like manta rays in the ocean.

In the mortal world, a considerable portion of the rumors about vampires actually originated from blood rays. They liked to quietly sneak into people's homes and feed on human blood.

Their tongues, like leeches, leave behind a unique wound, which is distinctly different from the bite marks of vampires.

Just as the blood rays landed on the girl's body, a large net filled with metal barbs fell from the tall tree overhead.

Under the control of magic, the net spun and swept over the bodies of the blood rays. The girl was overjoyed: "Well done, Adam!"

Earlier on the road, they had accidentally encountered these blood rays and wanted to catch them on a whim. After drawing lots, Helena, the girl, won the grand prize, pouting as she poured a bunch of sheep's blood over herself to act as bait.

At that moment, the blood rays emitted a series of infant-like cries, and then floated up, carrying the large net as they flew toward the dark forest.

Seeing this scene, the "injured" Helena on the ground was so anxious she almost cried. She lunged forward and grabbed the large net in midair, but she ended up ripping a corner of the net and crashing heavily onto the ground.

"Wuwuwu~~~ It hurts so much!! My magic stones!~~"

Amidst the girl's loud crying, several spell rays flew toward the net in the sky. The net was reined in by an invisible force, but it showed signs of snapping.

"Damn it! If we can't catch them alive, we'll just take them dead," someone shouted from the woods.

Just then, three electric arcs flashed consecutively, striking the net with pinpoint accuracy. Immediately afterward, a series of crackling sounds erupted from the metal net as it dropped to the ground.

The crying girl was instantly overjoyed. She scrambled frantically onto the net and shouted, "Hurry up and come over! Come and hold them down! One magic stone is in the bag!!"

Three teenage boys ran out from the woods, with Roland trailing behind them, his expression exceedingly bizarre.

Wallace had told Roland that Helena was quite extraordinary. Yet, watching her all the way here, Roland felt that this girl was simply dirt poor, utterly inept, yet overly enthusiastic about playing dangerous games.

Was she truly incompetent, or was she putting on an act with him?

Lawrence raised his wand, chanted a spell at the net before them, and *whoosh, whoosh, whoosh*, bound up all seven or eight blood rays. "They're all caught alive! We can split one magic stone each!"

Roland thought to himself inwardly: *These fellows use trick spells remarkably well. With just this single trick alone, seven or eight soldiers wouldn't even be able to get close to them. It's just that the spell's range is limited, making it unsuitable for dealing with flying creatures... From this glimpse, there must be many formidable individuals among my fellow disciples.*

After inspecting the blood rays, the group wore expressions of delight. Adam glanced at Roland, nodded, and said, "That trick you used was pretty good."

Roland said nothing more.

He looked up into the distance at the Thread of Sky pass and thought to himself: *One magic stone each is certainly quite a lot. We're almost at our destination, too.*

Passing through the Thread of Sky leads right to the trolls' territory. After dealing with the trolls and walking a bit further, they would circle around to the back door of the academy.

"Senior, that magic you used just now was amazing. C-could I trade a model of that spell with you?"

The young girl, Helena, walked over, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Roland. "I know 'Slime Spray'!"

Looking at the girl before him, Roland's gaze grew increasingly bizarre.

Lawrence, standing not far away, said, "Helena. Mr. Roland's 'Electric Arc' is likely a trick spell, not a formal magic... Besides, as formal magic, Slime Spray is utter trash. It's not worthy of being traded for this trick."

Helena blushed and asked, "What about Acid Splash, then?"

She seemed dead serious.

"Apologies, but I actually would love to trade with you. Because I don't have the model for 'Acid Splash' on hand," Roland said.

"However, this magic of mine is a family-improved spell. Unless I obtain permission from my family, I dare not transmit it to outsiders."

Disappointment washed over Helena's face.

After packing up their spoils of war, the group soon set off again.

Following this brief interlude, Roland grew much more familiar with the rest of the group. Everyone noticed that unlike them, who understood dozens of spells, Roland seemed to know only a single Electric Arc. However, he wielded that Electric Arc exceptionally well.

The group concluded that Roland must still possess a hidden formal magic as his trump card. Thus, Roland was able to rank fourth in the group—with Helena fifth.

Consequently, everyone essentially regarded Roland as a true teammate.

Helena asked Roland many curious questions, one of which went like this:

"Senior Roland, what is your full name, really?"

Roland: "Huh?"

"Ahem, My Lord," Adam interjected from the side, "that idiot is asking for your full name."

Only then did Roland suddenly remember that he had never stated his full name.

Roland had no idea what his full name actually was; he only knew that his surname contained "Aley."

However, when Wallace was discussing Roland's background and identity earlier, he had concocted a full name for him.

Roland said, "Roland von der Leyen Tasto Alexandra-Aley. I am a member of the Aley family, and also a member of the Alexandra family."

Upon hearing a surname format like "Alexandra-Aley," the group understood instantly.

Everyone thought to themselves: *So he really is a kept man marrying into the family! Besides, judging by the name, the Senior's own family background doesn't seem inferior to the Alexandras... Yet I've never heard of the Aley family. But no matter what, he definitely married into it... Among the Alexandra family, the only witch of marriageable age who remains unmarried seems to be that eldest young lady... Tsk tsk tsk, this is incredible!*

Just look at the mess Wallace had caused. Catherine's original intention was to use the past agreement between the Aley family and her own family as an excuse and a bargaining chip to negotiate with the elders. Once the negotiation concluded and both sides reached a unified opinion, the matter would be swept under the rug, bringing the whole affair to an end.

Therefore, at its core, this matter was a fake blind date destined to fail.

As a result, big-mouthed Wallace not only spilled the secret to Roland, but also arbitrarily told Roland that his surname would henceforth be "Alexandra-Aley."

And as for Roland, unaware of what this surname format signified and thinking there was no harm in sharing a name, he simply told it to them.

Without a doubt, when entering the academy, he would definitely write his full name down like that. When the people of the academy read it, they would undoubtedly be utterly shocked.

If this makes the news in a couple of days, it's going to be hilarious!

The Senior Sister will be back in a month; I wonder what expression she'll wear when that happens.

Before long, the group arrived at the Thread of Sky pass, but they were astonished to find that the obstructions blocking the pass yesterday had all been cleared away by someone.

"It must have been cleared out by other instructors, I suppose," Adam said, scratching his head.

Seeing that the way was completely unobstructed, Roland didn't ask any further questions.

Who on earth would casually ask whether the things blocking the road were rocks or not?

...

...

Deep in the woods, a female demon sat in a tree, holding a crystal ball. Inside the crystal ball was the exact image of Roland and his party.

"Traitors of the Alexandra family... Scum of the White Chess Academy... Heh-heh. Leona, the intruders of our academy have arrived. Put on a good performance later on~"

At her feet stood a quietly posed ballet doll.

Frozen in an elegant dance posture, it remained completely motionless.

The doll's fingertips pointed toward a clearing in the woods, and in that clearing sat mountains of "strange wooden carvings."