The village feast at Beia Village was quite sumptuous for the villagers, with both vegetarian and meat dishes. However, compared to the cafeteria at Divine Magic Academy, it fell a bit short.
Hilia wasn't picky about food, so the meal was pleasant for everyone. After dinner, Hilia entered the room Marina had arranged for her.
A room much like a student dormitory.
"I'm truly sorry, this is the best room we have here. Forgive us, Hilia. This is an empty room left behind after the last batch of students graduated. Please don't mind."
Hilia caught a key word: "Student? This place is a school?"
The village wasn't exactly large or small. If it were a town, it would be suitable for a school, but towns had a flow of people, whereas here was a remote mountain village.
Marina nodded a bit awkwardly, "Yes, this is a school I built for everyone. The students are local kids who are old enough but don't have the means to leave the mountains. I'm the only teacher here."
This surprised Hilia. She hadn't expected this modest Mage Miss to actually be the village teacher.
"This is shocking. I never thought a remote village would have a school and a teacher. Even in a town, only families with good means can afford school."
Hilia was deeply impressed.
"It's just a matter of personal interest." Marina smiled. "I won't disturb your rest any longer, Miss Hilia. I wish you sweet dreams."
"..."
Marina hadn't been gone long. Just as Hilia was preparing to meditate, Rose's voice came.
"Heh, heh—this isn't just a regular school, it's actually a Magic School."
Hilia's eyes snapped open.
"What? Magic School?"
A school in a small village was enough to surprise her.
But if this school was a Magic School, that was not just surprising—it was frightening.
Magic isn't something just anyone can learn. You need talent, otherwise all your effort would be wasted.
If a small town could support a small magic school, it wouldn't be long before it turned into a medium-sized town, attracting countless people, and the Holy Court would build a Divine Hall here to assist.
Moreover, Magic Schools weren't just something anyone could open up. There are complicated audits required to get support from the Mage Guild and Royal Court before opening a school.
Besides, schools must also have teachers, comprehensive teaching materials, and plenty of magical supplies to support them.
In short, when Hilia heard that Beia Village had a Magic School, her first reaction was absurdity, followed by fear.
"To open a Magic School in a remote area unknown to the Holy Court, there's only one explanation—it's opened by a Sect."
Like seeing through fog to sunlight, Hilia suddenly made all the connections in her mind.
The strange water source beside the village, the villagers' refusal to move, and the presence of a Magic School in the village—only a Sect would open a magic school in secret.
Doesn't this mean the village is a gathering place for heretics, the root cause of the anomaly?!
Hilia's mind raced, her reasoning wide open, letting Rose see everything with ease.
Rose couldn't help but laugh: "Your deduction skills are really… impressive."
But the process was all correct, and the conclusion was entirely wrong.
"So, Lord Rose, you're sure this village is a heretic gathering place?" Hilia asked urgently.
"If it were, what would you do?" Rose didn't confirm, but instead asked her.
Hilia said firmly, "I'd gather evidence that they're heretics, then go to the Divine Hall and call for the High Priest!"
"And if you don't find any evidence?"
"If I don't find evidence…" Hilia thought for a moment. "If they're heretics, no matter how well they hide, my senses won't miss them. If there's no evidence, it means my suspicion was wrong."
The moment she thought she might have stumbled into a nest of heretics, Hilia lost all mood for meditation.
She jumped off the bed.
"I'm going out into the village now to see if I spot anything odd."
Rose didn't stop her.
He wanted to see if, having already jumped to a conclusion, Hilia would work backwards from the result, or ignore her deduction and simply check for anything suspicious.
There are heretics in Beia Village. That's a definite fact.
No one escapes Rose's eyes.
So, Rose was waiting for one thing—would Hilia, upon spotting evidence of hidden heretics, immediately conclude the entire village was a heretic nest?
He thought it would be interesting.
Rose decided that as Hilia approached the heretic, if she failed to spot anything strange, he'd give her a hint.
"It really is a school." Leaving the dormitory and heading downstairs, Hilia sensed something happening on the other side of the wall next door. She quietly flew over for a look, and found around ten boys and girls there.
Some were learning Fireball… Fire Flame Skill; some were swinging wooden swords; others were sparring, fists landing hard.
In the crowd, Hilia spotted someone familiar: Marina.
She was standing right beside two students who were sparring, keeping her eyes fixed on them.
"Remember, when sparring, you need to fill your whole body with Magic Power. The areas hit by attacks should be adjusted with Magic Power, so you can strengthen your body."
"Fight if you must, but don't let anger take over. If you do, I won't be so nice."
"..."
Hilia watched from the shadows, carefully observing the students' training and Marina's teaching.
"Is Marina really the only mage mentor? The way she teaches… doesn't seem like anything a Sect would do."
The girl furrowed her brow, confused.
"No matter if it's daytime or right now, Miss Marina has no trace of heretical taint in my senses."
Muttering, Hilia explained to Rose: "I'm a candidate to be the Holy Daughter, so I'm naturally opposed to heretics. No matter how well a heretic hides, I can sense their traces. But Miss Marina has no signs at all."
"I see." Rose didn't say much, thinking maybe Hilia would spot traces of heretical activity without his hint.
After a while, Hilia quietly left and wandered around the village.
Night had fallen. Apart from the school where lights burned until late, only a few households were lit; the rest were deep in darkness.
Hilia walked around those houses with lights still on. Apart from a few homes where she heard… blush-inducing noises, she didn't spot anything unusual.
Until she came to a dilapidated wooden house.
Hilia remembered this house—it belonged to Mr. Jack, the man she'd seen during the day.
During the day, she hadn't specifically checked the villagers as she passed for anomalies, but she definitely wouldn't miss anyone daring to meet her gaze.
Mr. Jack wasn't a heretic.
Hilia glanced at the wooden house, about to move on, when suddenly, a strange sensation touched her senses.
She instantly stopped, turned back to look at Mr. Jack's house.
"There's evidence of pollution… Is Mr. Jack a heretic?"