Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy-Chapter 1239: The Headlines

The media company, Crimson Gazette, had sent one of its sharpest minds to Dravemont, Selric Dorn.

He was a veteran journalist whose reputation was built on scandal and revelation. Where others sought headlines, Selric sought truths buried beneath rumor and secrecy.

He had exposed corrupt dukes, uncovered forbidden experiments, and toppled guilds with nothing more than ink and paper. Now, his eyes were fixed on Vale’s Marshall Academy.

To Selric, Vale was not just another competitor. It was a threat. A country known to harbor Immortals, dragons, vampires, angels, and beings that bent the laws of nature was always the main topic of discussion.

If their academy truly produced prodigies beyond mortal reach, then every other nation’s prestige would crumble. Selric knew the world needed answers, and he intended to be the one to provide them.

Thankfully, several nations had already sent people to investigate the Marshall Academy. As a matter of fact, he confirmed that many students who had entered the Academy more than six months ago only had one purpose, it was to gather information about their method of teaching, the resources, the immortals, and their mysterious Arcane Towers.

Now, he went to the tavern filled with people like him... Information gatherers.

Selric knew very well that the information about the Shadow Country was not his forte... Because of that, he had to rely on others to feed him the latest information.

In exchange, he would also provide them with insider information that he was only aware of.

"Have you heard of Sora?" one informant muttered in a tavern.

"Apparently, the Combat Arts boy has dragon blood. They say his fists carry the strength of a young dragon. Steel bends like clay before him... or maybe it’s just an exaggeration."

Selric scribbled the name down, his quill scratching furiously.

Dragon blood, if true, it was a headline that could shake kingdoms.

The existence of Dragons are basically mythical... However, for Vale the Shadow Immortal, it was just a guardian beast of their country! 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Then came darker rumors.

"Amaya, Vin, and Brannic," another source whispered over a mug of ale.

"Those three transformation students of Marshall Academy... are not ordinary ones. Demon blood runs in their veins. I heard they can summon shadows that devour aura itself. Well, since Forbidden Spells are allowed in the competition, I’m not really surprised if they summoned real demons and all."

Selric narrowed his eyes. Demon blood was forbidden in most kingdoms, a stain upon lineage.

However, since this competition doesn’t ban such things, it wouldn’t be a problem at all.

Perhaps, if it were before, if Vale truly harbored such students, it would be scandalous. However, it was different now.

Still, Selric wrote it all down.

Other names surfaced with more certainty.

Cielo, a Psychic Arts prodigy, said to manipulate dreams with terrifying precision.

Mathias, Mariel, and Ruth, confirmed Rune Arts participants, each rumored to wield sequences that could amplify spells beyond known limits. Furthermore, it was said that they have Original Rune Arts!

Of course, being original didn’t mean powerful. However, the fact that these Orginal Rune Arts were made by dragons wasn’t something they could ignore!

There was even a tale that the Rune Arts themselves were made by Dragons!

Without a doubt, those three would be terrifying opponents!

Still, beyond these names, the rest of Vale’s team remained shrouded in mystery. Professors refused to speak. Students from other academies claimed ignorance. Even the registration officials offered little more than vague descriptions.

Selric’s frustration grew.

"Why is it," he muttered to himself, "that every other academy parades its prodigies before the world, yet Vale hides theirs in shadow?"

He suspected deliberate obfuscation.

Vale may have wanted the world to underestimate them, to dismiss them as rumors and legends, until the competition revealed the truth.

Well, he wasn’t exactly sure but even if it was, Selric would not allow that.

He bribed tavern keepers, questioned dockworkers, and even slipped coins to guards at the registration hall. Each fragment of information painted a picture more unsettling than the last.

Vale’s students were not merely prodigies... they were enigmas, they seemed to carry bloodlines of dragons, demons, angels, asura, and had even been blessed by spirits as if the Spirit King himself bestowed power on them!

And yet, no one could confirm it.

Selric’s quill hovered over the page, his notes were a mix of fact and speculation.

He knew the risk of publishing unverified claims, but he also knew the hunger of his readers. Scandal sold. Mystery sold. And Vale was the greatest mystery of them all...

The day that Marshall Academy’s students started exploring the city, Selric positioned himself among the crowd.

Reporters from rival newspapers jostled for space, everyone wanted to take a photo or have a glimpse of them. Cici and her team from the New Era Chronicle stood nearby, their enchanted lens ready to capture the moment.

Selric ignored them. His eyes were fixed on their group...

Soon, he caught glimpses of the students that matches the descriptions of certain prodigies he had heard about.

A tall boy with a warrior’s stance, perhaps Sora was there... S silver‑eyed figure, maybe Cielo... Three robed students marked with rune sigils, likely Mathias, Mariel, and Ruth. But the rest remained obscured, their features hidden by their cloaks.

He clenched his jaw. "This won’t be easy, but if Vale truly harbors dragon-blooded warriors and demon-blooded prodigies, the world deserves to know."

That evening, Selric retreated to a dimly lit tavern, he considered his options. He could confront Cici’s team, perhaps trade information, though he doubted they would cooperate.

He could infiltrate the registration hall, though the risk of arrest was high. Or he could seek out Vale’s students directly, but the thought sent a thrill through him.

Still, their newspaper for tomorrow must be the bestseller, and he would do his best to accomplish this!

"Yes," he murmured. "I’ll uncover the truth myself."

He would not stop until he got the article that he wanted to write!

On the next day, Dravemont woke to a storm of headlines...

Each company decided to take different paths to catch attention...

Crimson Gazette: "Immortal Vale’s Marshall Academy - Dragon Blood or Demon Spawn?"

Azure Herald: "The Original Spells of Azure Sky Students!"

New Era Chronicle: "The Grand Arrival! The Immortal’s Marshall Academy Steps Into the Spotlight."

Lovell Daily: "Forbidden Spells is here! Can Griffins Outshine Dragons?"

Millton Times: "Queen Sabrina’s Miracles!"