was clearly standing.’ The elf turned away and walked over to the window. ‘The face is also missing; someone left it blank.’
‘Yes, you're right.’ Darius looked at the fragments again. ‘But I'm more intrigued by these runes. On the one hand, the old dialect indicates that the statue itself is ancient, but the syntax of the incantation does not come from the same period. Someone wanted it to look old.’
‘Maybe someone convinced the boy that it was an ancient artefact and sold him a real black magic bomb?’ All emotion disappeared from Gizel's voice. She closed herself off.
‘But why?’ The rector shook his head. ‘The exam wasn't conducted with a large number of people present.’
‘Maybe it was about the family of one of the students? Or the instructors?’ Darius decided he had seen enough of the black magic object, so he gently closed the lid. Touching the box, he determined that it was made of lead. ‘We saw the coats of arms on the carriages in front of the entrance.’
‘I doubt anyone would go to such lengths to carry out such an ineffective attack.’ The headmaster shook his head. ‘I personally checked the list of examinees. There is no one on it who could get under the black magicians’ skin.’
‘If it becomes known that Inferni has appeared in Solvein, it will be a blow to the Academy’s image.’ Gizel stared into the distance the whole time. ‘Perhaps the reason is more prosaic than it seems.’
‘A crack in the Academy's reputation doesn't change anything.’ The rector waved his hand. ‘It wouldn't be enough to harm us anyway.’
‘What about the Arcana Convocation?’ Darius moved away from the dangerous box with undisguised relief. ‘The tournament takes place at the end of this academic year.’
‘I thought about that too, but there's no indication of that.’ Von Konlah shook his head. ‘If one of the prospects had helped with the exam, the matter would have taken a different turn long ago.’
‘Did you change anything at the last minute?’ The elf looked at them over her
