Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 615: Mysterious Language

Lira stopped before the barrier that ringed the villa and gestured toward Michael’s Edgeband.

She turned to him with a knowing smile. ”The Edgebands also work like access cards,” she explained. ”They’re keyed to each student’s identification and clearance level. If I’m not mistaken, yours should already be registered—try holding it up to the post.”

As he raised his hand toward the pillar beside the gate, the air in front of him gave a barely visible ripple. A thin, luminous line traced itself across the barrier like a hairline seam, before slowly parting down the center.

The edges peeled back in silence, widening until the opening was just large enough for a person to pass through.

They passed through. The seam closed behind them without a sound.

Inside, the villa grounds stretched farther than he expected. A straight path, paved in pale stone, led to a residence that could have been sketched from an old painting.

It had clean walls the color of cream, high rectangular windows with dark trim, and a roof of muted slate that looked heavy but immaculate.

A wide set of steps climbed to a shallow porch with square pillars, thick and simple, holding a modest balcony above.

”The core campus is older than people think,” Lira said, noticing where he was looking. ”Veraunt’s Edge has been around for about a century. These villas weren’t the first set, but they’ve stood a long time.”

”It shows,” he said.

The grounds were quiet. The only movement came from the breeze through trees that lined the sides of the property. There were no one in sight yet nothing looked neglected. Grass was trimmed. Paths were clear. The windows had the faint polish of recent cleaning.

”We have people who maintain the academy daily,” Lira explained as they walked toward the door.

Michael raised an eyebrow. ”People? You mean there are normal staff working here?”

Lira glanced at him over her shoulder, an amused smile tugging at her lips. ”Not exactly normal,” she said. ”Awakeners wouldn’t do menial work like this but that doesn’t mean these things don’t get done.”

Michael frowned slightly, his curiosity piqued. ”Then who handles it?”

Lira’s grin widened, a faint spark of mischief flickering in her eyes. ”Haven’t you met them already?”

Michael fell silent. His gaze drifted across the courtyard again. Though there was no one visible, the atmosphere wasn’t lifeless. He could feel movement — faint, flickering presences brushing against his senses like ripples in still water. They weren’t human, yet they carried life. The odd part was the texture of their existence. It didn’t align with any living pattern he knew.

He resisted the urge to activate [Eye of Truth]. As tempting as it was to find out what these things were, he had just arrived at the academy. Discovering something he shouldn’t on his first day didn’t sound wise.

Fortunately, Lira spoke up again, breaking his train of thought. ”Don’t worry. I’ll show you the residents assigned to this villa. Simcd they exist outside the core areas of the academy, it only makes sense to have them here too..”

”Residents?” Michael repeated under his breath, his confusion deepening.

Before he could ask more, Lira stepped forward and spoke in a strange, fluid language. The syllables were soft and melodic, carrying an almost musical rhythm that made the air vibrate faintly.

A few seconds later, light began to gather.

Tiny orbs flickered into existence—first one, then several more, until dozens floated around them like glowing motes of dust. They pulsed gently, and as Michael’s eyes adjusted, he noticed that they weren’t all the same. Each emitted a distinct hue: green, brown, or gray.

The air shimmered faintly as Lira smiled and gestured toward them. ”They’re called Wisp Elves,” she explained, ”Spirit-like entities that formed from fragments of natural mana. The academy’s barrier system sustains them.”

She pointed to the softly glowing orbs one by one. ”The green ones handle the vegetation and purification systems. The Grey ones take care of the physical structures, repairs, maintenance, that sort of thing. And the brown ones handle cleaning. These ones are called dust elves too.”

Michael watched in silence as a few of the gray wisps drifted toward the villa’s doorway before vanishing through the walls.

”They’re harmless,” Lira added. ”And loyal. The academy treats them as part of its foundation.”

Michael’s eyes lingered on one of the green orbs hovering near his hand. Its light flickered softly, almost like it was... curious. ”Wisp Elves,” he murmured.

”What language was that?” Michael asked after a moment, his gaze still fixed on the glowing orbs drifting lazily through the air.

Lira turned to him, her smile faint but proud. ”It’s the Old Spirit Tongue,” she said. ”One of the many languages we’re required to learn here. It’s not just for communicating with Wisp Elves, though—it’s the root of most ancient command spells and summoning incantations.”

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her tone turning slightly instructive. ”In fact, languages are one of the academy’s core subjects. Everyone studies at least three of the major ones: the Universal Language, Dragonic, and Elven. To graduate from Veraunt’s Edge, you need to be proficient in all three.”

Michael’s eyes glimmered faintly, a quiet interest surfacing beneath his calm expression.

Inwardly, Michael couldn’t help but feel pleased that if anything, it seems that somethings could at least be learnt here

”That’s quite a standard.”

”More than a standard,” Lira said lightly. ”It’s a necessity. The Universal Language for example, lets us communicate across races.”

Before Michael could reply, Lira suddenly blinked, her expression shifting from casual explanation to visible surprise. ”Wait—” she murmured, her eyes widening slightly. ”Michael... are you seeing this?”

Michael raised a brow. ”Seeing what?”

Lira took a half-step back, her gaze sweeping around him. ”The Wisp Elves,” she said slowly, her tone carrying a mix of awe and disbelief. ”They’re... gathering around you.”

Michael glanced down. She wasn’t exaggerating.

The once-sparse motes of light were now multiplying, swarming softly around his body like stars orbiting a distant sun. Greens, browns, and grays intermingled, forming faint spirals of glowing color that painted the air in a gentle radiance.

The glow was subtle but steady — as though the entire courtyard had turned into a pool of light centered on him.

Even the trees nearby seemed to react.

Lira exhaled softly, still watching in astonishment. ”That’s... unbelievable. They never approach people like this. You must have an insane affinity with them.”

Michael didn’t answer. His expression remained calm, but his eyes flickered slightly in thought.

The Wisp Elves pulsed faintly, orbiting him in slow, deliberate motions, as though drawn by instinct.

”They say the Wisp Elves are fragments of pure nature mana,” Lira murmured quietly, almost reverently. ”Even high-ranking mages struggle to earn their trust. For them to respond like this... you’re practically glowing, Michael.”

He lifted his hand, watching as a cluster of green and gray wisps circled his wrist before dissolving into faint trails of light. ”So it seems,” he said simply.

Though his tone was calm, inwardly, he was just as surprised as Lira. Thanks to his race, his affinity toward natural forces had always been strong — but this was the first time it had ever manifested so openly.

It also seemed to be beyond just attraction.

Michael could feel their faint emotions — curiosity, warmth, and something like acknowledgment.

Lira laughed softly, still shaking her head. ”Looks like the Wisp Elves have already chosen their favorite student.”

Michael let out a quiet breath and turned toward the villa’s front door, the faint lights still circling him. ”Maybe,” he said.

”Let’s continue,” Michael said as he subtly sent the elves away.

Lira nodes and followed him.

Along the way he also noticed something else.

”The mama density,” he said.

Lira nodded, pleased. ”About half again higher than outside the barrier.”

”And we haven’t even gotten to the training room yet. The density in training rooms climbs when you activate it.”

Lira looked at Michael in envy while he dodged her gaze.

The villa door opened smoothly, and cool air brushed against them as they stepped inside. For both Michael and Lira, it was their first time entering one of the academy’s one-sitter villas, and curiosity guided their steps more than anything else. The interior was surprisingly vast.

They explored the ground floor first. A lounge occupied the center, furnished simply but tastefully with dark couches, pale stone tables, and shelves lined with glowing crystals. Lira explained that the crystals contained materials—lecture recordings, mana manipulation diagrams, and archives that updated monthly for students.

To one side, a transparent wall revealed the training chamber, where a rune array pulsed steadily on the floor.

”It adjusts to your needs,” Lira said, her tone half excited, half envious. ”Gravity, mana flow, even elemental simulation—all based on your Edgeband clearance. Top-rankers like you get full access.”

Michael nodded, inspecting the structure briefly before they moved on. Near the stairs, Lira showed him a small meditation chamber designed around the leyline running beneath the villa.

The two ascended to the second floor next. It was quieter and more personal—bedroom, study, and a private bath arranged seamlessly. Lira mentioned that once his Edgeband synchronized, the villa would adjust itself to his mana pattern, even rearranging furniture and temperature according to his preference.