《Chronicles of the Archmage》


 Chapter 1

    The alarm of my magical ward buzzed crazily, waking me up in the middle of the night again. Another intruder, they never learn, do they? I though, massaging my aching temples.


    For the hundredth time this month, someone broke into my humble abode, and like the previous ninety-nine, this one would end up as fertilizer for my precious begonias.


    I only hoped the spectacle wouldn¡¯t be as boring as the last.


    ¡°Should I go brew myself a Latte or an Americano?¡± I pondered, stopping the annoying buzzing noise of the alarm with slight nudge at the mana web of the ward.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go with a Latte, it has just enough caffeine to keep me awake.¡± I decided on a whim, taping into my mana reserves to light up the room with fist-sized spheres of white light.


    I groggily put my bunny¡¯s slippers on, and walked toward the kitchen like a zombie, lack of sleep really sucked.


    Eliminating the real source of the problem has become inevitable, I though, irked by the unholy hours most of my intruders chose to commit suicide.


    When I arrived in the kitchen, I started the coffee machine. It hummed softly, and the delicious aroma of brewing coffee filled the air. I could already feel my sleepiness go away. Good. This is better.


    I sat down, laying comfortably in my chair, cup of coffee in hand, and summoned a screen to watch the show. I began sipping my latte, savoring the creamy texture and the slight bitterness.


    The giant screen appeared, displaying a live feed of the intruder. This one seemed stronger than the oth ¨C shit, I choked on my coffee.


    Spluttering, I quickly cleared my throat and refocused on the screen.


    No. No. No.


    This wasn¡¯t just any intruder. This was her.


    ¡°DAAAAAAAD! I¡¯m HERE!¡± came a voice that could shatter glass.


    Before I could react¡ªor flee¡ªa sharp magical fluctuation crackled through the air, and she teleported directly in my kitchen.


    I am done for. I shouldn¡¯t have put so much effort into her training back then.


    ¡°Hello, sweetie,¡± I greeted with a strained smile. ¡°Would you like some coffee?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to butter me up, Dad,¡± she said, her eyes narrowing. ¡°You know why I¡¯m here.¡±


    I groaned inwardly. Of course, I knew. ¡°Sherry, please. You know I¡¯ve retired. I¡¯m too old for¡ª¡±


    ¡°Cut the excuses,¡± she snapped, arms crossed. ¡°We are working our butt off to prepare for the upcoming tournament. The academy need you back for two months.¡±


    ¡°Two months? I¡¯m over sixty! Don¡¯t you have pity for this old sack of bones?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re sixty, not six hundred,¡± she said flatly. ¡°And don¡¯t act like you¡¯ve been spending your retirement knitting sweaters. I¡¯ve seen your magical projects.¡±


    I pinched the bridge of my nose. Why did I train her so well?


    ¡°Sherry, hear me out please. I just made a major discovery ¨C¡±


    ¡°Oh, silly me, I almost forgot!¡± she interrupted with a big grin, ¡°you¡¯ll be giving an introductory lecture to the new teachers, on the ¡®art of teaching¡¯.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    I stared at her, slack-jawed. ¡°Newbies are a nightmare, Sherry. Why me?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re the best, and because you owe me for dumping the headmaster position on me when I was twenty.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    I couldn¡¯t argue with that.


    ¡°Are you still holding that over me?¡±


    She crossed her arms, glaring. ¡°Obviously. You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m not demanding more.¡±


    I sighed. Throwing a tantrum wasn¡¯t my style anyway.


    ¡°All right, all right. I¡¯ll help,¡± I muttered begrudgingly.


    ¡°Good! I knew you¡¯d accept.¡± A satisfied grin spread across her face as she grabbed my arm.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get going, Dad. Who knows? You might even enjoy it. After all, the Academy is your legacy, built with your blood, sweat, and tears.¡±


    She was pulling the sentiment card now? Cheeky thing.


    ¡°Fine,¡± I relented. ¡°But only this once. After this, I¡¯m done for good.¡±


    She smirked. ¡°Sure you are.¡±


    We teleported straight into the Academy¡¯s dean¡¯s office. It was like stepping into the past. The grand ebony desk, shelves packed with magical books, the faint scent of parchment and incense. It was all exactly as I¡¯d left it. Well, almost. Sherry had added her touch: a magical clock, fresh lilies on the desk, and a ward stone.


    ¡°Still the same old place,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°Of course, it is,¡± Sherry said, plopping into the chair behind the desk like she owned it¡ªwhich, to be fair, she did. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get down to business.¡±


    I sank into one of the plush chairs facing her. ¡°You¡¯re not even giving me a moment to reminisce? Brutal.¡±


    Sherry rolled her eyes. ¡°Sentimentality won¡¯t get you out of this. I¡¯ve already prepared a schedule for you. You¡¯ll start tomorrow with an introductory lecture for the first-years. And after that you¡¯ll be overseeing advanced combat magic for third-years and an elective on magical ethics. I figured it¡¯d suit your... ¡®particular¡¯ teaching style.¡±


    ¡°Magical ethics?¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you trying to turn me into a philosopher?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been grouching about the younger generation¡¯s recklessness for decades. Put your words into action.¡±


    I groaned again, rubbing my temples. ¡°And the new teacher lecture?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s the day after tomorrow. Should be a breeze for you, old man,¡± she teased with a smirk.


    I sighed dramatically. ¡°You¡¯re merciless.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re soft,¡± she shot back, but her smirk faded into something gentler. ¡°Seriously though, Dad. Thanks for doing this.¡±


    Her genuine gratitude caught me off guard, and for a moment, I could see the little girl who used to cling to my robes, asking a million questions about magic. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± I said gruffly, waving her off. ¡°Don¡¯t get all mushy on me now. I¡¯ve got a reputation to maintain.¡±


    She chuckled, standing up and stretching. ¡°I need to get back to preparations. Guest room¡¯s down the hall if you need it. And here¡ª¡± She tossed me a faculty badge. ¡°Don¡¯t get lost like last time.¡±


    ¡°That was decades ago, and this place was still under construction!¡± I protested as I grabbed the badge.


    ¡°Excuses, excuses.¡±


    ¡°Fine. Anything else, Headmistress Sherry?¡±


    She hesitated, then smiled. ¡°Nope. Good night, Dad. And... welcome back.¡±


    With a flash, she was gone, leaving me alone in the office. I looked around and let out a long breath.


    ¡°Welcome back, huh?¡± I repeated her words softly.


    I¡¯d spent years building this Academy, pouring everything I had into its foundation. Leaving it had felt like tearing out a piece of my soul. Coming back felt like someone had shoved that piece back in¡ªbut it didn¡¯t quite fit the way it used to.


    My thoughts drifted to the faces that had once filled these halls¡ªstudents, colleagues, friends. Some were long gone, others had left.


    I wondered how many of them would still recognize me. How many would even care?


    A soft chuckle escaped me. ¡°Sherry isn¡¯t wrong, I have gone soft,¡± I muttered to myself.


    The me of twenty years ago would have cherished this opportunity to teach again. I would have been eager to plan lessons and imagine the looks on students¡¯ faces as they experienced their first breakthroughs in magic.


    Now, I was just¡­ tired.


    I could already feel the headache coming on. Yet for some reasons, something else stirred. Anticipation? No, not quite. Maybe curiosity.


    I shook my head, trying to banish those useless thoughts. I would do my part and go back home. Nothing less, nothing more. My research came first.


    With a groan, I stood and stretched, feeling the satisfying pop of joints that didn¡¯t quite move as smoothly as they used to. ¡°All right, let¡¯s see if the guest rooms are as comfortable as I remember,¡± I muttered.


    I teleported directly in front of the guest quarters.


    The room was simple but comfortable, with a neatly made bed, a desk, and a window that overlooked the campus grounds. Moonlight bathed the courtyard in silver.


    I sank onto the bed, my gaze drifting to the window.


    ¡°Just two months,¡± I whispered. ¡°What¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡±


    But deep down, I knew better. Nothing here had ever been simple.

 Chapter 2

    The next morning came far too quickly. I groaned as the sunlight poured through the magically enchanted windows of the guest room, dispersing the comfortable darkness. Apparently, Sherry hadn¡¯t adjusted the room¡¯s settings to accommodate guests who preferred a slow, natural wake-up¡ªlikely on purpose.


    Dragging myself out of bed, I quickly freshened up. My reflection in the enchanted mirror scowled back at me. Despite Sherry¡¯s insistence that sixty wasn¡¯t ¡°old,¡± I felt every year of it today. There were faint crow¡¯s feet at the corners of my eyes, and streaks of silver in my hair that had once been jet black. I ran my fingers through the disheveled mess and muttered a quick grooming spell. Instantly, my hair smoothed itself into its usual neat style. Magic had its perks.


    Dressed in my old teaching robes¡ªones Sherry had thoughtfully (or perhaps deviously) placed in the wardrobe¡ªI made my way to the main hall. The robes felt oddly comforting, like an old friend wrapping around me. But the patch on the left breast, embroidered with the academy¡¯s insignia, felt heavy. It was a reminder of the responsibility I¡¯d willingly left behind years ago.


    The hallways were bustling with students, all chattering excitedly about the tournament and, no doubt, speculating about their new teacher. I caught a few whispers as I passed by.


    ¡°Is that the new professor?¡±


    ¡°He looks... old.¡±


    ¡°Idiot, that¡¯s THE Archmage! He¡¯s a legend!¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t he retire ages ago? Why¡¯s he back now?¡±


    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s bored.¡±


    I smirked but didn¡¯t bother correcting them. Let them think what they wanted. I had bigger concerns, like the lecture I was expected to give to the first-years.


    When I entered the lecture hall, the chatter died down almost immediately. Hundreds of young faces stared at me¡ªsome curious, some nervous, and a few downright skeptical.


    I walked up to the podium, letting the silence stretch a little longer than necessary. It was an old trick I¡¯d learned during my teaching days: silence was often more commanding than any flashy spell. Finally, I spoke.


    ¡°Good morning, class,¡± I began, watching a few students lean forward expectantly. ¡°My name is... irrelevant. ¡®Professor,¡¯ ¡®Sir,¡¯ even ¡®Old Man¡¯ will do.¡±


    The ripple of laughter broke the ice, easing the tension. Good. Fear was a poor foundation for learning.


    ¡°But in all seriousness,¡± I continued, ¡°you¡¯re here for one reason: to learn magic. And I¡¯m here to make sure you survive long enough to do it.¡±


    A few students exchanged nervous glances, but most were focused on me now. Perfect.


    ¡°Magic is power,¡± I said, my voice echoing through the hall. ¡°What you¡¯ll learn in my class is: control. Without it, you¡¯re just a danger to yourselves and everyone around you.¡±


    I paused, letting the words sink in. Then, I conjured a blazing orb of fire in one hand and a swirling vortex of water in the other. Double casting should get their attention.


    Without letting them catch their breath, I transformed the orbs of fire and water into a fire and a water dragon, making the flashy magical-born creature travel across the lecture hall above the student¡¯s heads.


    The room was silent again, but this time it was the good kind of silence¡ªthe kind where you could feel the wheels turning in their heads and the amazement showing on their faces.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    I suppressed a smile. They were hooked.


    ¡°Any questions?¡± I asked.


    Hands shot up across the room, and I could already tell this was going to be interesting.


    ¡°You,¡± I said, pointing to a boy with messy brown hair and a slightly nervous expression.


    ¡°Um... can you teach us how to do that?¡± he asked, gesturing at where the mana dragons had been.


    I chuckled. ¡°Eventually. But you¡¯ll need to learn the basics first.¡±


    The boy nodded, though he looked slightly disappointed.


    Another hand waved eagerly from the back. I pointed to a girl with fiery red hair and a bright expression.


    ¡°How long did it take you to master that level of control?¡± she asked, her voice full of curiosity.


    ¡°Years,¡± I replied honestly. ¡°Mastery doesn¡¯t happen overnight. I started with the same exercises you¡¯ll begin today. The key is consistent practice¡ªand a lot of trial and error.¡±


    ¡°Did you ever... mess up?¡± a voice piped up from the side, where a timid-looking student was half-hiding behind her desk.


    I gave her a small smile. ¡°More times than I can count. I once tried to summon a light orb and accidentally set my professor¡¯s robes on fire. Mistakes are part of learning. What matters is how you recover from them.¡±


    That earned a few chuckles, and the tension in the room eased further.


    I clapped my hands together. "All right, let''s begin the actual lesson. Everyone, stand up," I commanded.


    Chairs scraped the floor as the students rose. I used a telekinesis spell to rearrange the desks and chairs along the walls, leaving an open space in the middle of the room.


    ¡°For our first exercise, you¡¯ll create a mana orb like this one.¡± I summoned a glowing sphere of energy in my palm. ¡°Your goal: hold it steady for thirty seconds. Focus too hard, it will destabilize. Lose focus, it will explode.¡±


    Sounds of excitement and nervous chatter filled the room. A few students looked eager to show off; others looked like they wanted to vanish into thin air.


    "Now, form a line. I''ll observe and give feedback."


    As the students lined up, I spotted a few confident ones. I smirked inwardly.


    The first student stepped forward. A tall boy with a cocky grin. "This will be easy," he declared.


    "Show me," I replied simply.


    He closed his eyes, and after a few seconds a faint ball of red light formed above his palm, but it flickered and exploded.


    "Too much pressure," I said. "Next."


    One by one, the students attempted the exercise. Most struggled, their orbs either exploding or destabilizing within seconds. Only a few managed to hold their orbs steady for twenty seconds before losing control. Good. Some of them seems to already have a basic understanding of mana control.


    I clapped my hands again, drawing their attention back.


    ¡°Seems like none of you managed to accomplish my task.¡± I paused, letting their disappointment settle in for a moment.


    ¡°And that, is perfectly fine. If you already knew how to do this, you wouldn¡¯t need to be here. The purpose of this exercise wasn¡¯t to succeed. It was to show you where you stand.¡±


    The tension in the room eased slightly.


    I conjured an orb of mana and addressed the class. ¡°Does someone know how to shape mana into a ball without making it explode or flicker?¡±


    The students glanced at one another, hesitant. It was clear that none wanted to risk being wrong in front of the others. Finally, the fiery-haired girl from earlier raised her hand again.


    ¡°It¡¯s about balance, isn¡¯t it?¡± she ventured. ¡°You have to make sure you¡¯re feeding just the right amount of mana into the shape¡ªnot too much, not too little.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± I said with a nod, pleased by her intuition. ¡°Mana shaping is a delicate art. You need both focus and balance. The trick is to maintain a steady flow. Too rigid, and it resists you. Too lax, and it escapes.¡±


    The improvement was immediate. The students mana orbs grew more stable. By the end of the session, about half the class had successfully created a stable orb, and the rest had made significant progress.


    I clapped my hands once more. ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. Well done, all of you. Remember, mastery isn¡¯t achieved overnight. Keep practicing what you have learned today for our next lesson. We will continue from there.¡±


    The students dispersed, chattering excitedly about their progress. As the last of them left, I lingered at the podium for a moment, watching them go, and let out a long sigh.


    It had gone well¡ªbetter than expected, really¡ªbut the sheer enthusiasm of these kids was exhausting. I wasn¡¯t sure how I¡¯d managed this for decades before retiring.

 Chapter 3

    By the time I arrived at the advanced combat magic classroom, it was already noon.


    The combat class was in a spacious training hall, surrounded by enchanted barriers to contain stray spells. A group of third-years was already assembled, each looking more confident than the last.


    ¡°Good afternoon, class,¡± I said, striding to the center of the room. ¡°I¡¯m told you¡¯re here to learn advanced combat magic. Is that right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Professor,¡± they chorused, though one or two smirked as if to say, what can you teach us that we don¡¯t already know?


    ¡°Good,¡± I said, smiling thinly. ¡°Let¡¯s begin with a demonstration. Who¡¯d like to go first?¡±


    There was a brief moment of silence before a tall, broad-shouldered boy stepped forward. His posture screamed confidence, almost to the point of arrogance.


    ¡°I¡¯ll volunteer,¡± he said, a cocky grin spreading across his face.


    ¡°Excellent,¡± I replied, motioning for him to take his place. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Jarek,¡± he said, cracking his knuckles as he took a wide stance. ¡°Top of the class.¡±


    I suppressed a smirk. Top of the class, huh? "Wonderful," I said, maintaining a calm tone. "Let¡¯s see if you can teach me a thing or two, then. Attack when ready."


    Jarek didn¡¯t hesitate. He launched a barrage of fireballs in my direction. I stood still, hands clasped behind my back, letting the flames hurtle toward me.


    At the last possible moment, I summoned a shield of ice. The fireballs sizzled against it, dissipating into steam.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± I said, letting the shield dissolve. ¡°But you¡¯re too predictable. Try again.¡±


    Jarek¡¯s smirk faltered, but he nodded. He shot a bolt of lightning toward me. I sidestepped it with ease, countering with a gust of wind that made him fall on his ass.


    The other students either gasped or smirked in schadenfreude.


    ¡°Lesson one,¡± I said, my voice sharp. ¡°Power means nothing without control. Lesson two: always anticipate your opponent¡¯s next move.¡±


    Jarek scrambled to his feet, his face red with embarrassment. ¡°Y-yes, Professor.¡±


    ¡°Good effort,¡± I said, turning to the rest of the class. ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡±


    The students hesitated. Then, from the back of the room, a soft voice spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡±


    The speaker was a small timid looking girl with long brown hair. She stepped forward hesitantly.


    ¡°And your name?¡± I asked gently.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Lily,¡± she said, her voice barely audible.


    ¡°Alright, Lily,¡± I said, giving her a reassuring nod. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.¡±


    Lily took a deep breath and sphere of electricity formed in front of her. It wasn¡¯t small, either¡ªbigger than I¡¯d seen from most students her age.


    The other students murmured in surprise.


    Lily sent the sphere flying toward me. It moved fast, arcs of lightning lashing out unpredictably. I conjured a barrier of earth to absorb the impact, but I could feel the raw force behind her spell.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± I said, dispelling the barrier. ¡°But your control needs work. That spell could have hit any number of unintended targets. Let¡¯s try again, this time with focus.¡±


    Lily nodded, her cheeks flushed. This time, the sphere formed more smoothly. She launched it again, and though it wavered slightly, it flew directly toward me, hitting my shield cleanly.


    The room was silent for a moment. Then, deafening applause broke out. Even the cockier students either nodded or whistled in approval.


    ¡°Lesson three,¡± I said, addressing the class. ¡°Don¡¯t mistake shyness for weakness. And don¡¯t let fear hold you back.¡± I turned to Lily. ¡°That was excellent. With a little more practice, you¡¯ll be a force to be reckoned with.¡±


    Lily¡¯s face lit up with a shy smile, and she stepped back into the group, her shoulders a little straighter now.


    The class continued, each student stepping forward to showcase their abilities. Most of them charged at me headfirst, throwing spells with a lot of fire power but no strategy. A few, took a more cautious approach, trying to counter my spells. But I could see they didn''t have much combat experience. Well at least none of them froze without being able to do anything.


    The day flew by in a blur of lectures, demonstrations, and slightly misguided attempts at spellcasting from overeager students. By the end of the day, I collapsed in the faculty lounge, ready to swear off teaching forever¡ªagain.


    Sherry found me there, sipping tea and looking far too smug. ¡°So,¡± she said, leaning against the doorframe. ¡°How was your first day back?¡±


    I groaned. ¡°Ask me again in two months.¡±


    She laughed, walking over to pat me on the shoulder. ¡°You did great, Dad. I heard some of the students talking about your lecture and how ''the old man'' still had it.¡± She smirked, clearly enjoying herself far too much. ¡°Seems you¡¯ve already made an impression.¡±


    I took a long sip of my tea, savoring the warmth as it spread through me. ¡°Impressions are easy. Keeping their respect is the hard part.¡±


    ¡°Pfft,¡± Sherry scoffed. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. Half of them are already in awe of you, and the other half are too busy trying to figure out how you made those mana dragons.¡±


    I chuckled despite myself. ¡°Well, at least they¡¯re curious. That¡¯s a start.¡±


    Sherry¡¯s expression softened as she studied me. ¡°You know, it¡¯s good to have you back. The Academy¡¯s been missing something... and I think you know what.¡±


    I arched a brow. ¡°A retired relic who complains about his joints and scares students with overly dramatic speeches?¡±


    She rolled her eyes. ¡°No. A teacher who remembers what this place is really about, not just to teach magic, but to shape people¡ªto make them better than they thought they could be.¡±


    I felt a pang of something I couldn¡¯t quite name. Nostalgia? Regret? Maybe both, but I quickly masked it with a chuckle. ¡°Flattery will get you nowhere, Sherry.¡±


    She laughed. ¡°Oh, please. I don¡¯t need flattery. I¡¯ve got the ¡®Headmistress¡¯ title for that.¡±


    We shared a companionable silence, the weight of the day settling into something more comfortable.


    ¡°Well,¡± I said gruffly, setting my cup down with a clink. ¡°Don¡¯t get too sentimental on me, Headmistress. I still have a long two months ahead, and I expect my share of peace and quiet when I¡¯m not herding these kids through basic spellcasting.¡±


    Sherry smirked. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that. Don¡¯t forget¡ªthere¡¯s a faculty meeting tomorrow. Bright and early.¡±


    I groaned, leaning back in my chair. ¡°Why did I agree to this again?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re a softie,¡± she teased, standing up and giving me a wink. ¡°And because deep down, you missed it.¡±


    As she left, her laughter echoing down the hallway, I stared into my empty teacup.


    Maybe she was right. Maybe a part of me had missed this. Or maybe I was just getting sentimental in my old age.

 Chapter 4

    The next morning, I found myself seated at a long table in the faculty conference room, surrounded by a dozen professors and staff members. Some faces were familiar, old colleagues from my headmaster days, but most were new¡ªyoung, eager, and radiating the kind of energy I could barely fathom anymore.


    Sherry sat at the head of the table, her presence commanding as she addressed the group. ¡°Thank you all for coming. As you know, my father¡ªArchmage Aldric¡ªis back with us. He¡¯ll be teaching a few courses and offering guidance during the tournament preparations.¡±


    All eyes turned to me, ranging from polite curiosity to outright awe. I fought the urge to squirm under their scrutiny and instead leaned back in my chair, offering a casual nod. ¡°Pleasure to be here,¡± I said dryly. ¡°Though I suspect my daughter volunteered me for more than I bargained for.¡±


    A ripple of laughter eased some of the tension in the room. Good. Humor was always a reliable defense mechanism.


    Sherry gestured to a wiry, bespectacled man seated a few chairs down. ¡°This is Professor Callen. He¡¯s been overseeing advanced combat magic since your retirement.¡±


    Callen adjusted his glasses and gave me a tight smile. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Archmage. Your techniques have entered the curriculum.¡±


    ¡°Glad to hear it,¡± I replied politely.


    ¡°And this,¡± Sherry continued, motioning to a younger woman with vibrant green hair, ¡°is Professor Elira. She specializes in mana theory and manipulation.¡±


    ¡°Pleasure,¡± Elira said, her smile sharp. ¡°I¡¯ve been dying to pick your brain about your research on mana resonance.¡±


    ¡°Careful what you wish for,¡± I said with a smirk. ¡°My research isn¡¯t exactly light reading.¡±


    A boisterous laughter filled the room, startling the new teachers.


    ¡°Hi Eldric, didn¡¯t think you would come back here,¡± said a familiar voice.


    ¡°Hello, Carl. Long time no see.¡±


    The source of the voice was a broad-shouldered man with a graying beard, sitting near the middle of the table. His eyes twinkled with mischief as he leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. Carl Blackthorn¡ªHead of Magical Artifacts and an old friend from my student and headmaster days.


    "Still as grumpy as ever, I see," Carl added, chuckling. "I half expected you to burst in here ranting about how you were dragged out of retirement."


    "Give it time," I shot back, earning a round of laughter from the room. "I¡¯m just saving my energy for when it really counts."


    Carl grinned, the years melting away in his expression. "Good to have you back, old friend. This place hasn¡¯t been the same without you."


    The introductions continued, and I made an effort to commit names and faces to memory. Most of the faculty seemed competent, though a few struck me as a bit too idealistic. Idealism was dangerous in a place like this¡ªit often led to blind spots.


    As the meeting progressed, the conversation shifted to tournament logistics. Sherry and the professors discussed everything from participant pairings to warding the dueling arenas. I listened quietly, only chiming in when someone asked for my opinion.


    When the meeting finally adjourned, Sherry pulled me aside. ¡°Not bad for your first faculty meeting in decades.¡±


    I gave her a pointed look. ¡°You owe me for this.¡±


    She grinned. ¡°Add it to the tab, and don¡¯t forget about your course for the new teachers is going to take place in the afternoon.¡±


    I groaned inwardly, already feeling the strain of a day that had barely begun. "A course for the new teachers? When did that get added to my itinerary?"


    Sherry¡¯s grin widened. "It¡¯s been on your schedule since you agreed to come back. You¡¯re the Academy¡¯s most experienced educator, and they could use some insight."


    "Insight, huh?" I muttered, rubbing my temples. "More like a crash course in survival."You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    "You¡¯ll be fine," she said, patting my arm in mock reassurance. "They¡¯re eager to learn from a legend."


    "A legend who just wants a nap," I replied, but she was already walking away, her laughter echoing down the corridor.


    ***Later that day***


    By the time I reached the designated classroom, my patience was already wearing thin. The room was filled with young and mid-career teachers, all chatting animatedly. A few glanced my way with anticipation as I entered.


    "Good afternoon," I said, closing the door behind me. The chatter died down instantly. "I understand you¡¯re here to learn how to teach more effectively. Is that right?"


    A murmur of agreement rippled through the room.


    "Good," I continued, moving to the front of the room. "Because teaching isn¡¯t about standing in front of a class and lecturing."


    I let the silence stretch for a moment, scanning their faces. Some looked intrigued, others skeptical. Perfect.


    "Let¡¯s start with a question," I said, leaning against the desk. "How many of you think teaching is just about imparting knowledge?"


    A few hands went up, though not as many as I expected. Interesting.


    "Not entirely wrong," I said, nodding. "But if that¡¯s all you¡¯re doing, you¡¯re missing the point. Magic¡ªlike teaching¡ªisn¡¯t static. It¡¯s alive. It grows, changes, and sometimes rebels against expectations. Your job isn¡¯t just to teach students spells or theories. It¡¯s to guide them as they learn to think, adapt, and grow."


    Elira, the mana theory professor, raised her hand. "How do you balance freedom and discipline?"


    "Good question," I replied. "The key is knowing your students. Your challenge is to recognize who needs what¡ªand when. For instance, unruly students who are a danger to themselves and others needs discipline first."


    As soon as my words left my lips, a boisterous laughter filled the room.


    I turned toward the source of the laughter, already recognizing the familiar timbre. Carl stood in the doorway, arms crossed, a wide grin on his face. His presence seemed to lighten the room instantly, as it always had.


    "Unruly students needing discipline, huh?" he said, stepping inside. "Is this advice based on your own rebellious streak back in the day, Aldric? Or am I the only one who remembers how many potions you set on fire during Alchemy Basics?"


    The room erupted in chuckles, and I couldn¡¯t help but smirk. "If I recall correctly, Carl, you were the one egging me on half the time. And the other half, you were the one putting out the fires."


    "Teamwork," he said with a wink, finding an empty chair near the back.


    "Glad you could join us," I said, gesturing for him to sit. "Though if you¡¯re here to critique, feel free to grab a broom and demonstrate how to clean up a classroom full of magical chaos."


    More laughter followed, and I allowed it to settle before turning back to the group. "Now, as I was saying, discipline and freedom are tools. But it¡¯s how you wield them that matters. Let¡¯s explore that idea further with an example."


    I conjured an illusion of a classroom scene. The spectral students varied wildly: one was casting a spell that made their chair float, another was doodling animated stick figures in the margins of their textbook, and a third was glaring at what was left of his botched spell as if his own magic had personally betrayed them.


    "Here¡¯s your scenario," I said, stepping aside. "This is a beginner¡¯s class on elemental magic. Your task is to maintain order while also encouraging creativity. Who wants to go first?"


    Kana, the young artefact professor, was the first to volunteer, her confidence evident as she approached the illusory classroom. She addressed the floating-chair student first, deftly redirecting their spell into a more controlled levitation exercise. The doodler she tasked with creating a magical diagram relevant to the lesson. For the sulking student, she crouched down, engaging them in a quiet, reassuring conversation.


    When she was done, I nodded in approval. "Good use of redirection and individualized attention. You kept their focus while allowing them to express themselves. What would you have done differently?"


    Kana considered for a moment. "I might have set clearer boundaries at the start to prevent the floating chair in the first place."


    "Excellent point," I said. "Anticipating chaos is just as important as managing it. Anyone else?"


    Carl, predictably, raised his hand. "Let me have a crack at it."


    As he took his turn, Carl¡¯s approach was more direct. He clapped his hands sharply, the illusionary students freezing mid-motion. "Alright, listen up!" he barked. "If you want to float chairs, do it after class. Right now, we¡¯re focusing on elemental magic. You¡ª" he pointed to the doodler, "¡ªshow me what you¡¯re drawing. Looks fun, but let¡¯s tie it to today¡¯s lesson."


    By the end of his demonstration, the classroom illusion had transformed into a cohesive, albeit still lively, group.


    "Different approach, same result," I said. "Notice how Carl¡¯s authority worked because he balanced it with engagement. Discipline doesn¡¯t mean shutting students down¡ªit means channeling their energy."


    After a few more volunteers and discussions, I dispelled the illusion and addressed the room. "Every class is different. They won''t behave the same way, and your teaching style will need to adapt constantly. Remember: your goal isn¡¯t perfection. It¡¯s progress¡ªfor your students and for yourselves."


    The room was quiet for a moment before the group erupted into applause. Even Carl joined in, nodding approvingly.


    As the teachers began leaving, Carl approached me, his grin as wide as ever. "You haven¡¯t lost your touch, Aldric. Though I do think you scared a few of the younger ones when you called them out on their ¡®idealism.¡¯"


    "They¡¯ll thank me later," I said with a shrug. "Or they¡¯ll blame me. Either way, they¡¯ll learn something."


    Carl laughed. "Good to have you back, old friend. The Academy¡¯s better with you here."


    I watched him go, his easy confidence as infectious as ever. Maybe Sherry was right¡ªmaybe I did still have something valuable to offer here. But first, I was going to need that nap.

 Chapter 5

    One morning I found myself in the Academy¡¯s arboretum, enjoying a rare moment of quiet. The vibrant greenery and beautiful flowers reminded me of how long it had been since I¡¯d simply appreciated the beauty of nature.


    My reverie was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. I turned to see Elira Veylin, one of the Academy¡¯s younger instructors, striding toward me.


    ¡°Archmage Aldric,¡± she greeted, inclining her head. Her green hair was tied in a ponytail, and her robe bore faint scorch marks. She must have just come from teaching one of her elemental mastery classes. ¡°Do you have a moment?¡±


    ¡°For you, Instructor Veylin? Always,¡± I said, gesturing for her to join me on the bench. ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    She hesitated, clearly weighing her words. ¡°I need your help with a problematic class. Many teachers have tried to make them behave but they all failed.¡±


    ¡°And you think I can succeed?¡± I said, a wry smile tugging at my lips.


    ¡°Your teaching lecture made the situation, improve a bit,¡± she said. ¡°Besides, if anyone can command their respect and show them the value of discipline, it¡¯s you.¡±


    I considered her words. It had been decades since I¡¯d dealt with a truly unruly class. But seeing how she came to me, she really seemed about to give up on the class entirely.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take them,¡± I said finally. ¡°On one condition.¡±


    Elira blinked. ¡°Condition?¡±


    ¡°You stay to observe. If I succeed, you¡¯ll see how to handle them yourself. If I fail, you can gloat and remind me why I usually avoid teaching classes like these.¡±


    A smirk played across her lips. ¡°Deal.¡±


    The next morning, I stood before the classroom, its door bearing the unmistakable scars of countless explosions and magical mishaps. Elira waited beside me, her arms crossed and an expression of dubious anticipation on her face.


    ¡°Last chance to back out,¡± she said.


    ¡°Not a chance,¡± I replied, pushing the door open.


    When I entered, the scene was exactly what I expected: chaos. A pair of students were dueling with ill-formed fire spells in the corner, their flames sputtering dangerously close to the wooden desks. Another trio was huddled together, giggling over something they were inscribing into the floor¡ªa poorly drawn summoning circle, by the looks of it. The rest of the class was either lounging or arguing over who had the ¡°coolest¡± magical focus. One student stood out from the messy surroundings, a little girl sat quietly at her desk clearly not knowing what she was doing here.


    I cleared my throat, amplifying the sound with a subtle spell. The resulting boom reverberated through the room, instantly silencing the commotion.


    ¡°Good,¡± I said, stepping to the front of the room. ¡°At least you¡¯ve mastered the art of stopping whatever nonsense you¡¯re doing when someone important walks in.¡±


    A few of them had the audacity to laugh. Others just stared at me, unimpressed.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get something straight,¡± I continued, fixing each of them with a hard stare. ¡°I¡¯m not here to babysit you. If you want to waste your potential and fail out of this academy, be my guest. But if you¡¯re in this room, you¡¯ll do things my way. Understood?¡±


    A hand shot up from the back. It belonged to a boy with unruly black hair and a smirk that practically screamed troublemaker. ¡°And what if we don¡¯t want to do things your way, Professor?¡±


    The class chuckled, clearly emboldened by his bravado. I smiled thinly. Oh, this was going to be fun.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± I asked, folding my arms.


    ¡°Jace,¡± he said, leaning back in his chair as if he owned the place.


    ¡°Well, Jace,¡± I said, walking toward him. ¡°Why don¡¯t we see just how far your way gets you? Come up here.¡±


    He hesitated, but the jeers and encouragement of his classmates goaded him into rising. He swaggered to the front, his smirk widening. ¡°What¡¯s the challenge, Professor? A duel? A test of spells? Or maybe you just want me to show off my amazing summoning skills?¡±


    The class whooped and hollered, clearly expecting me to put him in his place with some flashy display. But I had other plans.


    ¡°Summoning, you say?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Very well. Summon something. Anything. Impress me.¡±


    Jace blinked, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily. But he quickly recovered, showing exaggerated confidence. ¡°Watch and learn, everyone. I¡¯m about to show the Archmage how it¡¯s done.¡±


    He began chanting, the summoning circle at his feet glowing faintly. The mana in the room stirred, and for a brief moment, I thought he might actually manage something halfway decent. But then the circle flickered, turning an ominous shade of red.


    ¡°Uh... that¡¯s normal,¡± Jace said, his voice wavering as the air grew thick with heat. ¡°Totally under control.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t. With a deafening crack, the circle erupted in a burst of fire, and a small, shrieking imp materialized in the middle of the room. It immediately began wreaking havoc, overturning desks and snapping its sharp teeth at the nearest students.


    The class screamed, scattering in all directions. Jace stood frozen, his bravado evaporating as the imp lunged toward him.


    ¡°Enough,¡± I said, snapping my fingers.


    The imp froze mid-leap, its body encased in a sphere of light. With another spell I banished it back to whatever infernal plane it had come from. The room fell silent, all eyes on me.


    ¡°Well, Jace,¡± I said, turning to him with a pointed look. ¡°That was certainly... memorable. But I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve just demonstrated exactly why summoning is an advanced art¡ªone that requires discipline and precise knowledge. Qualities you, and the rest of this class, sorely lack.¡±


    Jace swallowed hard, his earlier confidence nowhere to be seen. ¡°I... I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t mean to?¡± I interrupted. ¡°Tell that to the students who might have been injured by your carelessness. Magic isn¡¯t a toy, Jace. It¡¯s a responsibility. A dangerous one, at that.¡±


    I let my words hang in the air, then turned to address the rest of the class. ¡°If any of you think magic is about showing off or cutting corners, you¡¯re in the wrong place. Now, take your seats. We¡¯re starting from the basics.¡±


    They obeyed, their earlier defiance replaced with quiet apprehension. Good. That was step one.


    By the end of the session, the class was exhausted but attentive. I¡¯d drilled them on mana control, dispelling any illusions they had about magic being easy. There were no flashy spells, no grand demonstrations¡ªjust hard, unrelenting practice.


    As they left, I caught Jace lingering by the door. He looked sheepish, his earlier arrogance replaced with something closer to humility.


    ¡°Professor?¡± he said hesitantly.


    ¡°Yes, Jace?¡±


    ¡°Thanks. For, you know, not letting me screw up too badly.¡±


    I smiled faintly. ¡°That¡¯s my job. Just don¡¯t make me save you from yourself again, or I might not be so forgiving next time.¡±


    He nodded, a spark of determination in his eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t. I promise.¡±


    As he left I caught Elira watching from the doorway, her arms crossed and a faint smirk on her lips.


    ¡°Well?¡± I asked, approaching her.


    ¡°They¡¯re not perfect, but they¡¯re better,¡± she admitted. ¡°You¡¯ve managed to do in one lesson what most of us couldn¡¯t in weeks. And just so you know, many teachers have tried their hands with that class.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t celebrate just yet,¡± I said. ¡°They¡¯ve got a long way to go.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± she said, her smirk widening. ¡°But I¡¯ll admit¡ªit¡¯s fun watching you work.¡±


    ¡°Enjoy it while it lasts,¡± I replied with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m handing them back to you tomorrow.¡±


    Elira laughed, shaking her head. ¡°Fair enough. But don¡¯t think you¡¯re off the hook. They¡¯ll be asking for you again soon¡ªI guarantee it.¡±

 Chapter 6

    Some days later, Sherry appeared in my office, her expression unusually troubled. I raised an eyebrow, setting aside the enchantment I was fine-tuning.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, Sherry? You look like you¡¯ve been wrestling with a particularly nasty mana knot.¡±


    She sighed, pulling out the chair across from me and sitting down heavily. ¡°It¡¯s about the first-year Problematic Class.¡±


    I leaned back, folding my arms. ¡°Ah, my favorite little disasters. What have they done now? Summoned another imp? Accidentally set the library on fire? Convinced the campus griffins to steal lunches again?¡±


    She didn¡¯t laugh. That alone told me how serious this was.


    ¡°Dad, they¡¯re... failing,¡± she said bluntly. ¡°Not just academically, but as a group. Their grades are abysmal, their teamwork is nonexistent, and their attitudes are worse than ever. The other instructors are ready to throw in the towel.¡±


    ¡°Typical,¡± I muttered, though I felt a twinge of sympathy. The faculty didn¡¯t exactly sign up to deal with unruly kids who thought rules were suggestions.


    Sherry looked me dead in the eyes. ¡°I want you to teach them.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°Sherry, I already handled one session with them. If you¡¯re asking me to take over permanently¡ª¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± she said, cutting me off. ¡°They need more than a lecture or a scolding. They need someone who knows how to push them without breaking them. Someone who can get through to even the most stubborn of students. You¡¯re the only one who can do that.¡±


    I stared at her, searching for any hint that this was some elaborate prank. But her expression remained serious.


    ¡°Sherry, they¡¯re not just a ¡®problematic class.¡¯ They¡¯re chaos incarnate. Do you know how much mana suppression I had to use to keep them from blowing up the training room last time?¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± she admitted, rubbing her temples. ¡°But that¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m asking you. They¡¯ve already started listening to you. Jace¡ªthe ringleader¡ªhas shown noticeable improvement since your session. If anyone can whip them into shape, it¡¯s you.¡±


    I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. ¡°Sherry, I retired from teaching for a reason. I don¡¯t have the patience to deal with a group of overconfident, underprepared novices.¡±


    ¡°You have the patience when it counts,¡± she countered. ¡°And let¡¯s not forget, you used to enjoy teaching. You were the one who always said that seeing a student¡¯s potential unfold was the greatest reward.¡±


    I grimaced. She wasn¡¯t wrong. But there was a difference between teaching a bright, eager pupil and managing an entire class of walking disasters.


    ¡°Fine,¡± I said at last, exhaling heavily. ¡°I¡¯ll take them on. But only until the end of the semester. After that, they¡¯re someone else¡¯s problem.¡±


    Sherry smiled, relief washing over her face. ¡°Thank you, Dad. You won¡¯t regret this.¡±


    ¡°I already regret this,¡± I muttered. ¡°But you owe me a week¡¯s worth of pastries from that caf¨¦ in town. And don¡¯t skimp on the chocolate ones.¡±


    *** The next day***


    I walked into the Problematic Class¡¯s classroom. The students looked up as I entered.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± I said, my tone brisk. ¡°As you¡¯ve likely guessed, I¡¯m your new instructor for the foreseeable future. If you¡¯re wondering why, it¡¯s because the other teachers have given up on you.¡±


    A few of them bristled at that, while others exchanged sheepish glances.


    ¡°I don¡¯t give up,¡± I continued, pacing the room. ¡°But let me make one thing clear: I will not tolerate laziness, recklessness, or any of the nonsense you¡¯ve been pulling until now. You are here to learn, and learn you will¡ªwhether you like it or not.¡±


    Jace, sitting in the back row, raised his hand with exaggerated slowness. ¡°Does that mean we¡¯re getting the ¡®Archmage Special¡¯ every day now?¡±


    The class snickered, but I silenced them with a glare. ¡°Yes, Jace. And by the time I¡¯m done with you, you¡¯ll wish you¡¯d never stepped into this academy. Now, open your books to page fifty. We¡¯re starting with advanced mana regulation.¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    One of the students groaned. ¡°Advanced? We can barely manage basic spells without¡ª¡±


    ¡°Without blowing something up?¡± I interrupted. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve noticed. That¡¯s why we¡¯re starting here. By the end of this week, you¡¯ll not only control your mana, but you¡¯ll be able to cast without embarrassing yourselves. Now, less whining, more learning.¡±


    The students groaned collectively. I ignored them, striding to the front of the room and summoning an orb of mana into my palm.


    ¡°Today¡¯s lesson is about mana shaping and control.¡±


    ¡°Mana shaping,¡± I began, ¡°is the foundation of all spellcasting. It¡¯s not enough to have power; you need precision. Imagine mana as clay. If you can¡¯t mold it properly, you¡¯re going to end up with a lopsided mess¡ªor worse, a catastrophic explosion.¡±


    I flicked my fingers, and the orb reshaped into a perfect cube, then into a series of intricate geometric patterns before finally dissolving into mist. A few students watched with wide eyes; others looked skeptical.


    Aaron one of the fire duelists, leaned back in his chair with a smirk.


    ¡°This isn''t a big deal,¡± he said, crossing his arms. ¡°We¡¯ve all seen flashy tricks before.¡±


    ¡°Have you?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Then let¡¯s see you do it.¡±


    Aaron blinked, clearly not expecting to be called out so directly. ¡°Uh, sure.¡±


    He raised his hand, conjuring a fireball that flickered uncertainly. He concentrated, his brow furrowing, but the ball wobbled and began to destabilize.


    ¡°Stop!¡± I commanded sharply, stepping forward and dispersing the mana before it could detonate. ¡°What did I just say about precision? If you¡¯d let that go for another second, we¡¯d be peeling singed students off the ceiling.¡±


    The class erupted into uneasy laughter, but Aaron¡¯s face reddened. ¡°It¡¯s harder than it looks,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Of course it is,¡± I said, my tone firm but not unkind. ¡°Magic is hard. That¡¯s why you¡¯re here. To learn how to do it right, not to half-bake your way through it and hope for the best.¡±


    I turned to the rest of the class. ¡°Mana shaping starts with focus. Close your eyes. Feel the flow of mana within you¡ªsteady, calm, like a river. If you approach it with impatience or doubt, it¡¯ll lash out like a storm.¡±


    The students hesitated but complied. I walked among the rows, watching as they struggled to summon even the simplest forms. A few managed spheres of light that crumbled quickly; others conjured flickering, unstable shapes. A small explosion took place in the corner. I quickly dispeled the energy before it could do real damage.


    To my surprise the source of the explosion was none other than the timid-looking girl I noticed on our first lesson. So that¡¯s why she ended up in this class, huh.


    The girl stuttered with an ashamed expression on her face. ¡°Sorry, I¡­ I keep messing up¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your name, little one?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ my name is Mira, sir.¡±


    I crouched slightly to meet Mira¡¯s gaze. Her hands were trembling, and a faint trace of mana still crackled at her fingertips.


    ¡°Well, Mira, let me tell you something,¡± I said, my tone softening. ¡°Messing up is part of the process. The only way to learn control is through practice¡ªand sometimes, through failure. But here¡¯s the thing: failure doesn¡¯t define you. How you respond to it does.¡±


    She looked at me with wide eyes, clearly taken aback by the lack of reprimand.


    ¡°Now,¡± I continued, straightening up. ¡°Show me what you were trying to do.¡±


    Mira hesitated, glancing at her classmates, who were either watching curiously or pretending not to listen.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them,¡± I said, motioning to the class. ¡°This is about you and your mana. Take a deep breath. Try again.¡±


    She nodded slowly, closing her eyes and extending her hands. A flicker of light began to form between her palms, wavering like a candle in the wind. Her brow furrowed with concentration, but the shape began to destabilize again.


    ¡°Stop,¡± I said gently, raising a hand to intervene before another explosion occurred. The light faded harmlessly, and Mira looked ready to shrink into herself.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said, standing beside her. ¡°Let¡¯s try something different. You¡¯re focusing too much on controlling the shape itself. Start smaller. Instead of forcing the mana, let it flow naturally. Imagine a thread of light¡ªthin, steady, unbroken.¡±


    She blinked, looking at me uncertainly, but then closed her eyes again. This time, her hands moved more delicately, and a faint thread of light appeared. It wobbled slightly but held its form.


    ¡°There it is,¡± I said, nodding in approval. ¡°Good. Now hold that. Don¡¯t rush it¡ªlet it stabilize on its own.¡±


    The thread steadied, and Mira opened her eyes to see her success. A small, hesitant smile crept onto her face.


    ¡°I did it?¡± she asked softly, as if afraid to believe it.


    ¡°You did,¡± I confirmed. ¡°Now keep practicing that. Once you can hold it steady for a full minute, we¡¯ll move on to shaping it.¡±


    The class had grown quiet, their earlier groans replaced with interest. Even Aaron, the fire duelist, looked mildly impressed.


    ¡°Alright, everyone,¡± I said, addressing the room again. ¡°Let Mira¡¯s success be an example. Small steps lead to big strides. You¡¯re not going to master mana shaping in a single lesson, but each time you practice, you get closer.¡±


    Returning to the front of the room, I clapped my hands. ¡°Now, back to work. I want to see stable shapes from all of you by the end of this session. And remember: focus, patience, and control.¡±


    The room filled with mana as the students resumed their attempts. Mira¡¯s success seemed to spark a bit more determination in the others, and for the first time since taking over this class, I felt a glimmer of hope.


    By the end of the lesson, most of them had managed to hold a stable sphere, though the effort had left them visibly drained.


    ¡°Good,¡± I said, nodding approvingly. ¡°This is just the start. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll move on to shaping those spheres into more complex forms. And remember: practice tonight. If you can¡¯t hold a sphere for a minute by morning, you¡¯ll be doing remedial drills until your arms fall off.¡±


    The class groaned again, but I caught determination on the face of some of them. Even Jace looked less smug and more thoughtful as he gathered his things.


    As they left, I couldn¡¯t help but feel satisfied. They were rough, undisciplined, and frustrating as hell¡ªbut they weren¡¯t hopeless. Not yet. And if I had to drag their potential out of them one lesson at a time, I would.

 Chapter 7

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    ***The next day***


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    ¡°Good morning,¡± I said, my tone brisk as always. ¡°I trust you¡¯ve all been practicing?¡±


    Sheepish glances and awkward silence answered me, but I noticed a few students eager to show what they¡¯d accomplished.


    ¡°Excellent,¡± I continued. ¡°Because today, we¡¯re raising the bar. If yesterday was about stability, today is about transformation. You¡¯re going to take those spheres you barely managed to form and shape them into something meaningful.¡±


    Jace leaned back in his chair, his trademark smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Meaningful, huh? Like, I don¡¯t know, a dragon? Maybe a miniature fortress?¡±


    The class chuckled, but I didn¡¯t miss the faint spark of interest behind his humor.


    ¡°Ambitious,¡± I replied dryly. ¡°But no. Let¡¯s aim for something within your grasp¡ªsimple geometric shapes, like cubes or pyramids. Start small, and we¡¯ll work our way up. If you can¡¯t handle a cube, you definitely can¡¯t handle a dragon.¡±


    That earned a round of groans, though a few chuckles slipped through. I strode to the front of the room, summoning a sphere of mana in my palm.


    ¡°Watch closely,¡± I instructed, manipulating the sphere into a cube with a subtle twist of my fingers. "Mana shaping starts with focus. Close your eyes. Feel the flow of mana within you¡ªsteady, calm, like a river. Rushing will only get you another explosion.¡±


    They got to work, their efforts ranging from commendable to outright disastrous.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Aaron and Elaine to attract attention¡ªnot for their success, but for their constant bickering.


    ¡°Elaine, seriously?¡± Aaron muttered from across the room, his fire sphere wobbling precariously. ¡°Your cube looks more like a... potato.¡±


    Elaine shot him a glare, her wind construct vibrating unevenly in her hands. ¡°At least my potato isn¡¯t about to blow up and take out half the room!¡±


    ¡°Maybe if you weren¡¯t such a perfectionist, you¡¯d actually finish something,¡± Aaron snapped back.


    ¡°Maybe if you didn¡¯t treat every spell like a race, yours wouldn¡¯t look like it could blow up anytime!¡± Elaine countered.


    I sighed and strode over to them, eyeing their work. Aaron¡¯s fire construct was jagged and unstable, pulsing like a heart under stress. Elaine¡¯s wind cube was smooth but trembling, as though it couldn¡¯t decide whether to stay together or unravel.


    ¡°Enough,¡± I said sharply. ¡°Aaron, stop flooding your spell with energy¡ªit¡¯s like overfilling a glass. And Elaine, relax. Perfection isn¡¯t your goal; control is.¡±


    They both mumbled acknowledgments, shooting each other final glares before refocusing on their spells.


    ¡°Now,¡± I added, ¡°you¡¯re working individually. That means the only person to blame for your mistakes is yourself. Get it together.¡±


    To their credit, they got back to work without another word, though I caught Aaron muttering under his breath. His fire sphere gradually compressed into a crude cube, the edges flickering but holding their shape.


    Elaine, meanwhile, adjusted her breathing, steadying her mana flow. Her wind cube solidified, its edges sharper and its vibration reduced to a faint hum.


    ¡°Better,¡± I said as I walked past them. ¡°Keep at it.¡±


    Across the room, Mira was quietly excelling. Her light thread had transformed into a delicate spiral, shimmering softly in her hands. It wasn¡¯t what I¡¯d asked for, but the control she exhibited was undeniable.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± I said, inspecting her construct. ¡°But now, let¡¯s see if you can maintain it under stress¡ª¡±


    Before I could finish, a loud crash echoed next to Aaron. His fire cube had exploded, sending a fiery burst skyward. Elaine, startled, lost control of her own spell, and the resulting wind current fanned the flames toward the ceiling.


    ¡°Everyone down!¡± I barked, raising a barrier to contain the chaotic mana. The fiery windstorm dissipated harmlessly, leaving a faint scorch mark on the enchanted ceiling.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Aaron and Elaine stared at the damage, mortified.


    ¡°We¡¯re sorry, Professor!¡± Aaron blurted.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean¡ª¡± Elaine began, but I held up a hand.


    ¡°Apologies are nice,¡± I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. ¡°But they won¡¯t fix shoddy spellwork. Aaron, you¡¯re still flooding your spells. And Elaine, you need to be prepared for unexpected changes, especially in combat.¡±


    They both nodded, their expressions serious now.


    ¡°Good. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll work on spell recovery and countering instability. Until then, I want both of you practicing with simpler constructs. No more explosions.¡±


    The class chuckled nervously, the tension easing. Even Aaron managed a sheepish grin.


    Nearby, Mira worked quietly, her spiral now turning into a solid and compact sphere. It wasn¡¯t a cube, but it was progress¡ªand progress was what I cared about.


    Hours passed, with groans, muttered curses, and the occasional burst of mana that I had to dispel before it caused chaos. By the end of the session, most students had managed to form rudimentary shapes, and while they were far from perfect, they were steps in the right direction.


    ¡°Good,¡± I said, surveying their work. ¡°You¡¯ve survived another lesson without destroying the classroom. Barely.¡±


    That earned a round of tired laughter. Even Jace looked less smug and more determined, as he examined his imperfect but stable pyramid.


    ¡°Tomorrow,¡± I continued, ¡°we¡¯ll tackle mana layering. If shaping is the skeleton, layering is the muscle. Rest up. You¡¯ll need it.¡±


    *** The following days***


    The lessons continued in much the same manner¡ªchaos, hard work, and small victories. By the end of the first week, the Problematic Class was no longer the disjointed group of misfits they had been. They were still rough, still prone to mistakes, but the spark of cohesion had begun to take root.


    Jace, the ringleader, was proving to be a double-edged sword. His charisma kept the class motivated, but his tendency to push boundaries was a constant test of my patience. During a lesson on mana layering, he attempted to combine two incompatible layers, resulting in a small implosion that left the front row coughing up soot.


    ¡°Congratulations, Jace,¡± I said, rubbing my temples. ¡°You¡¯ve invented explosive self-cleaning mana. Now, do it properly before you take someone¡¯s eyebrows off.¡±


    To my surprise, Jace didn¡¯t offer a snarky comeback. Instead, he knuckled down and got it right on his third attempt. That was the thing about Jace¡ªwhen he cared, he worked harder than anyone else. My job was to make him care consistently.


    Aaron was another story. His fire magic had raw power, but his control remained shaky. During a sparring exercise, he accidentally launched a flame arc that charred a nearby student¡¯s robe. To his credit, he apologized profusely, but I pulled him aside after class.


    ¡°Aaron,¡± I said, fixing him with a firm stare. ¡°You¡¯re holding back.¡±


    His eyes widened. ¡°Holding back? Sir, I almost burned a classmate to a crisp!¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± I said. ¡°You¡¯re afraid of your own power, and it¡¯s making you sloppy. Fire responds to your confidence in your magic, and in yourself.¡±


    He didn¡¯t respond right away, but the wheels were clearly turning. By the next lesson, his flames were smaller, steadier, and far less hazardous. Progress.


    Elaine, on the other hand, continued to focus on precision, but her perfectionism became her greatest hurdle. During an exercise on shaping mana under pressure, she spent so much time fine-tuning her cube that she barely finished before the timer went off.


    ¡°It¡¯s perfect,¡± she insisted, presenting her construct.


    I gave it a cursory glance. The cube was flawless¡ªsharp-edged and stable. ¡°It¡¯s excellent,¡± I admitted, ¡°but you¡¯re missing the point of the exercise. In real situations, you won¡¯t always have time to craft something flawless. Efficiency can trump perfection.¡±


    Elaine frowned, visibly bristling at the idea of compromising quality. "You are unreasonable, this is clearly perfect." She pouted.


    I am unreasonable huh.


    ¡°Yes it is but a perfect spell take too much concentration and time,¡± I added. ¡°The slightest distraction will make it crumble.¡±


    At these words, I sent a small mana wave toward her wind construct to make her understand my point.


    Elaine''s cube shimmered for a moment as the mana wave struck it. The sharp edges wavered, and then the construct crumbled into pieces, scattering into the air.


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t fair,¡± she muttered, crossing her arms.


    ¡°No,¡± I said, keeping my tone calm. ¡°It was necessary. In a fight, distractions are constant, and enemies don¡¯t wait for you to finish perfecting your spell. You need to build something stable and quick, not flawless.¡±


    She hesitated, the realization sinking in. ¡°So I¡¯m too slow.¡±


    ¡°Not slow,¡± I corrected, ¡°but your focus is too narrow. You¡¯re so absorbed in perfecting one thing that you miss the bigger picture. Your magic needs to work when you need it.¡±


    Elaine¡¯s frown deepened, but she nodded slowly. ¡°I¡¯ll...try to focus on speed and stability instead of just precision.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all I ask,¡± I said. Then I smiled faintly. ¡°Besides, when you master this balance, you¡¯ll find ways to make even quick constructs flawless. I don¡¯t doubt your skill¡ªjust your priorities.¡±


    Her expression softened, though she muttered, ¡°Still think you¡¯re unreasonable.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been called worse,¡± I replied, with a small grin.


    Mira, on the other hand, continued to blossom. The timid girl who had been too scared to hold her mana steady was now creating delicate constructs with surprising finesse. During a lesson on mana stabilization under stress, she was the first to complete the exercise¡ªa feat that didn¡¯t go unnoticed by her classmates.


    ¡°Impressive, Mira,¡± I said as I inspected her work. ¡°


    Over the next few sessions, I threw everything I had at them¡ªrigorous drills, practical exercises, and more than a few surprise challenges. It wasn¡¯t easy. They complained, they stumbled, and they failed repeatedly. But slowly, they began to improve.


    Jace, to my surprise, emerged as a natural leader. Once he stopped trying to show off, he started helping the others with their techniques. Elaine and Aaron stopped bickering as often as before and started to improve on their weaknesses. But the one who made the most progress was Mira. Her constructs became even more precise and complex than most of the third year students.

 Chapter 8

    *** One month later***


    The last day of the semester came with a bittersweet feeling I hadn¡¯t anticipated. The Problematic Class¡ªno longer quite as problematic¡ªstood in neat rows before me, their once-chaotic energy transformed into something more disciplined.


    ¡°Well,¡± I said, crossing my arms. ¡°You¡¯ve survived. Barely.¡±


    Chuckles erupted through the room, and I allowed myself to smile.


    ¡°Before you get too comfortable,¡± I continued, raising a hand to silence them, ¡°understand this: the lessons you¡¯ve learned here are only the foundation. The real challenges lie ahead. If you think I was hard on you, wait until the world tests you.¡±


    The room grew quiet. Jace, who had grown from a cocky troublemaker into a surprisingly capable leader, stepped forward.


    ¡°Professor,¡± he said, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, ¡°on behalf of the class... thanks. For not giving up on us. And, uh, for not vaporizing us when we messed up.¡±


    The class laughed, and I shook my head with mock exasperation. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, though I came close to vaporizing you more than once.¡±


    Another round of laughter, but this time it felt lighter, more genuine. These weren¡¯t the same students who had treated magic like a toy and me like an annoyance. They had grown. And while I¡¯d never admit it aloud, I was proud of them.


    Finally Aaron stepped forward.


    ¡°I won¡¯t lie,¡± Aaron began. ¡°I thought you were insane when I first joined this class. The way you pushed us, the way you demanded so much¡­ I hated it. I hated you.¡±


    He paused, a small smile playing at his lips. ¡°But now I get it. You weren¡¯t just being tough on us because you could. You were teaching us how to survive. How to be better. And for that, I¡¯m grateful. So, thanks teach.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow, smirking. ¡°Hated me, did you? I¡¯ll take that as a compliment.¡±


    The class laughed again, and Aaron smiled.


    Then his smile turned mischievous as he glanced sideways. Without warning, he gave Elaine a gentle push forward, much to her dismay.


    ¡°Aaron!¡± she hissed, stumbling slightly before catching herself.


    The class snickered, and Elaine shot her brother a death glare before turning to me, her expression flustered but resolute.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she muttered, brushing an imaginary speck of dust off her robe. She straightened, meeting my gaze with a surprising steadiness. ¡°What Aaron said¡­ I guess it goes for me too. You were relentless, Professor. Sometimes it felt like you expected the impossible.¡±


    Her tone softened. ¡°But you made us see that the impossible wasn¡¯t as far off as we thought. You didn¡¯t let us give up, even when we wanted to. So¡­ thank you.¡±


    I tilted my head, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. ¡°High praise from someone who spent half the semester telling me I was unreasonable.¡±


    The class erupted into laughter, and Elaine¡¯s cheeks flushed, though she managed a sheepish grin. ¡°I never said you were wrong.¡±


    Aaron chuckled from behind her. ¡°She¡¯s just mad you were right every time.¡±


    Elaine spun on her heel to glare at him. ¡°You¡¯re one to talk! I seem to remember you nearly blowing up the classroom¡ªmore than once!¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    The siblings began bickering, much to the amusement of their classmates, and I shook my head with a wry smile.


    ¡°Alright, enough,¡± I said, raising a hand to quiet them. ¡°Before this turns into another one of your infamous arguments, let me just say this: teaching this class has been¡­ an experience.¡±


    That earned another laugh, and I smiled, my tone softening. ¡°In all seriousness, it¡¯s been a privilege to watch you grow¡ªnot just as mages, but as people. You¡¯ve come a long way. And I¡¯m proud of each and every one of you.¡±


    The room fell silent, the weight of my words settling over them. For a moment, I saw emotions they didn¡¯t voice¡ªgratitude, pride, maybe even a touch of sadness.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said, clapping my hands together. ¡°Get out of here before I change my mind about your final evaluations.¡±


    They began to gather their things, chatting and laughing as they left. Jace lingered by the door again, as he often did these days.


    ¡°Professor,¡± he said, his tone more serious this time, ¡°do you think we¡¯ll ever be as good as you?¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°As good as me? No. Better? Absolutely.¡±


    He blinked, clearly not expecting that answer. ¡°Better? You really think so?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s the point of teaching, Jace. If I wasn''t aiming for that, I would''ve aimed too low. You have a solid foundation now. It''s up to you to train diligently to make it happen.¡±


    He nodded slowly, a determined look in his eyes. ¡°We won¡¯t let you down.¡±


    ¡°I know you won¡¯t. Now go, before I decide to give you one last pop quiz.¡±


    With a grin, he jogged to catch up with the rest of the class, leaving me alone in the now-empty classroom.


    ***Later that evening***


    A surprise awaited me in the faculty lounge.


    Teachers and professors from various departments had gathered together to mark the end of the semester, and despite the sense of celebration in the air, I couldn''t help but feel a bit of melancholy. I walked in, and immediately caught the eyes of a few familiar faces.


    Sherry was sitting at the far end, a glass of wine in hand. Her gaze softened as I entered, her lips curling into a smile.


    "Just in time for the final toast of the year," she called, gesturing to the empty seat beside her. "We¡¯ve been waiting for you."


    "How thoughtful," I replied, making my way over. "But don¡¯t start getting all sentimental on me."


    Sherry chuckled, her tone light but knowing. "Sentimental? Hardly, Father," she teased, raising her glass. "We¡¯re just getting started."


    Professor Carl, my old friend, raised his glass in greeting. "Still alive? I expected your resignation letter by now. Didn¡¯t think you''d make it to the last day."


    I shook my head with a dry smile. "Well, Carl, I can assure you there were moments I nearly handed in that letter. But then, I suppose I would have missed this lovely send-off you¡¯ve all been planning."


    Carl laughed, as he clinked his glass with mine. "I¡¯m sure you would have missed the free wine more than anything else, Aldric."


    I couldn''t help but chuckle. I would probably miss all of this.


    Elira entered the room, her vibrant green ponytail catching the light. She caught my eye and approached with a grin, a glass of cider in hand.


    "Aldric," she said warmly. "Good to see you¡¯re still in one piece."


    "Elira," I replied, raising my glass in greeting. "Likewise. How was your first semester?"


    "Challenging," she admitted, sliding into the seat opposite me. "But I¡¯m learning to hold my own. Thanks for the advice¡ªit¡¯s made a world of difference."


    "She¡¯s being modest," Carl chimed in with a wink. "She¡¯s already the talk of the staff. She will be running the place before you know it."


    Elira flushed at the compliment, her fingers nervously fidgeting with her glass. "Hardly," she said with a shy laugh. "But thank you."


    "Take the praise," I advised, giving her a small nod of approval. "You¡¯ve earned it."


    Sherry leaned closer, her smile sly. "So, Dad, how¡¯d it go with the Problematic Class? Or should I say, the Not-So-Problematic Class now?"


    "They¡¯re ready," I answered simply, swirling the last of the wine in my glass.


    "Is that pride I hear?" she teased.


    "Don¡¯t push it," I warned, with a slight smirk.


    She leaned back with a satisfied look. "Admit it. Teaching again wasn¡¯t so bad, was it?"


    I pretended to ponder her question, downing the rest of my drink. "It had its moments," I conceded.


    "Ha! I knew it!" she said, pointing a finger at me. "Admit it¡ªyou¡¯ve grown attached."


    "Don¡¯t get any ideas," I said, shooting her a warning look. "This was a one-time deal. My retirement resumes now."


    Carl laughed, shaking his head. "You can try, Aldric, but we all know Sherry¡¯s got you wrapped around her little finger. It¡¯s only a matter of time before she ropes you back in."


    "Don¡¯t jinx it," I muttered, glaring at him over my glass.


    The room erupted into boisterous laughter, and I sighed, leaning back in my chair.


    Seriously, those people don''t have any tact.


    Surrounded by friends and colleagues, I allowed myself a rare moment of ease. My time with the Problematic Class might have been a one-time thing, but I would miss them far more than I cared to admit.


    For now, though, I planned to enjoy a well-earned break. That is, assuming Sherry didn¡¯t rope me into yet another impossible task.


    But knowing my daughter, that was probably wishful thinking.

 Chapter 9

    ***Some weeks passed***


    True to my word, I settled back into the peaceful monotony of retirement¡ªor so I thought. Sherry had left me alone for a blessedly long stretch, and I began to believe that perhaps she really had accepted my decision.


    That illusion was shattered one sunny afternoon when she appeared at my front door with a familiar look of mischief in her eyes. She didn¡¯t even bother knocking, simply waltzed in as if she owned the place, setting off the alarms of my ward.


    ¡°Dad,¡± she began, her tone saccharine sweet, which immediately set off my internal alarms. ¡°I¡¯ve got great news!¡±


    ¡°Sherry, unless that ¡®great news¡¯ involves you finding a way to keep intruders out of my ward, I¡¯m not interested.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so grumpy,¡± she chided. ¡°You¡¯ll love this. Remember the Problematic Class?¡±


    ¡°Hard to forget,¡± I muttered. ¡°They¡¯ve only just stopped haunting my dreams.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± she continued, ignoring my sarcasm, ¡°they¡¯ve been doing spectacularly since you worked your magic on them. Their performance in practical exams has been top-tier, and their teamwork is miles ahead of what it was. Even the other instructors are impressed.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°And you¡¯re telling me this because¡­?¡±


    ¡°Because,¡± she said, drawing out the word, ¡°they¡¯ve been selected to represent the academy in the Grand Inter-Academy Tournament!¡±


    I blinked. ¡°The tournament? Sherry, that¡¯s for advanced students and top-tier mages. Those kids barely managed to stop setting themselves on fire two months ago.¡±


    ¡°And now they¡¯re contenders,¡± she said, grinning. ¡°They¡¯ve improved a lot, Dad. And they owe it all to you.¡±


    I felt a hint of pride, quickly smothered by suspicion. ¡°Alright, out with it. What do you want this time?¡±


    She pouted. ¡°Why do you always assume I want something?¡±


    ¡°Because you always do.¡±


    ¡°Fair,¡± she conceded. ¡°Okay, fine. The truth is... they need a coach.¡±


    I stared at her, my expression blank. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Dad¡ª¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Think about it¡ª¡±


    ¡°I said no.¡±


    She crossed her arms, giving me a hard look. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who knows how to handle them. The tournament is a big deal, and they¡¯re representing the academy you built. Don¡¯t you want to see them succeed?¡±


    ¡°Sherry, I¡¯m retired,¡± I said firmly. ¡°Coaching a group of overeager teenagers to survive against the best mages their age isn¡¯t exactly restful.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a few weeks,¡± she pressed. ¡°And you¡¯ll get to travel. The tournament is being held in Starhaven this year. You always said you wanted to visit.¡±


    ¡°Starhaven, huh?¡± I said, narrowing my eyes. ¡°You really came prepared for this argument, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    She grinned, knowing she¡¯d gained ground. ¡°Come on, Dad. They need you. And admit it¡ªyou miss the thrill of it all.¡±


    I sighed, running a hand through my graying hair. She wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. The thought of coaching those kids through the tournament was tempting. Still, I wasn¡¯t about to let her win that easily.


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± I said at last.


    ¡°That¡¯s all I ask,¡± she said, standing and planting a quick kiss on my cheek. ¡°You won¡¯t regret it, Dad.¡±


    She left before I could change my mind, and I found myself staring out the window, contemplating her words. The Problematic Class had come a long way, and I couldn¡¯t deny that I felt a certain responsibility for their continued growth.


    Still, the idea of getting involved in a tournament of that scale? It was madness.


    But then again, madness was a specialty of mine.


    Despite my better judgment, I found myself at the academy the very next day. Sherry greeted me with a smug smile, as if she¡¯d known all along I would come. It was infuriating how easily I let her manipulate me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look so grumpy, Dad,¡± she teased, leading me to the training grounds where the Problematic Class¡ªmy little prot¨¦g¨¦s¡ªwere already assembled. ¡°This¡¯ll be fun!¡±


    ¡°I highly doubt that,¡± I grumbled, while following her.


    The training grounds were bustling with activity. Spells zipped through the air, wards shimmered, and a few unlucky students were receiving first aid from one of the academy healer. In one corner, the No longer-Problematic Class was huddled together, looking nervous and out of place among the other classes.


    ¡°Hello everyone!¡± Sherry called as we approached. The group turned to face us, their expressions lighting up when they saw me.


    ¡°Professor Aldric!¡± Jace exclaimed, his cocky grin as familiar as ever. ¡°I knew you couldn¡¯t stay away.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m only here because your headmistress threatened me with starvation,¡± I replied dryly. ¡°Now, let¡¯s see what kind of mess you¡¯ve gotten yourselves into.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡°Mess?¡± piped up Aaron. ¡°We¡¯ve been practicing!¡±


    ¡°And how many times have you blown something up?¡± I countered.


    He blushed. ¡°...Twice. Maybe three times.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°Alright, show me what you¡¯ve got.¡±


    They began with a demonstration of their progress, which was better than I¡¯d expected. Jace led the charge with a perfectly executed lightning-bolt, followed by earthly defensive wards from Mira and coordinated elemental attacks from the others. It was rough around the edges, but there was potential.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± I said once they¡¯d finished. ¡°But not good enough to win a tournament. You¡¯re sloppy, your coordination needs work, and your mana efficiency is abysmal.¡±


    They all winced, but no one argued.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± I added. ¡°You¡¯ve got me now. I will train you thoroughly.¡±


    ***The following day***


    Training began in earnest. I quickly discovered that while they had improved, their old habits weren¡¯t entirely gone. The twins, Aaron and Elaine, couldn¡¯t stop bickering long enough to sync their fire and wind spells. Sherry really pulled a fast one on me, huh. What did she say about their teamwork again?


    ¡°Enough!¡± I barked after a particularly disastrous sparring session. ¡°If you¡¯re going to act like a group of amateurs, we might as well forfeit now.¡±


    They looked at me, chastened but determined.


    ¡°Teamwork isn¡¯t just about covering for each other¡¯s mistakes,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s about trusting each other¡¯s strengths. You¡¯re not here to show off; you¡¯re here to win. And if you don¡¯t figure that out soon, you¡¯ll embarrass yourselves¡ªand this academy.¡±


    They gave me sheepish smiles.


    ¡°Today we will learn who to combine your strengths to overwhelm your opponents. We¡¯re focusing on elemental combination.¡±


    Elaine raised a hand. ¡°You mean, like... Aaron and me combining fire and wind?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± I replied, pointing at her. ¡°But it¡¯s not just about throwing spells together and hoping for the best. Combination requires timing, precision, and¡ª¡± I shot a pointed look at Aaron and Elaine. ¡°¡ªgetting along.¡±


    Aaron scoffed, folding his arms. ¡°I can handle it if she doesn¡¯t blow my fire out like last time.¡±


    Elaine rolled her eyes. ¡°Maybe if your fire wasn¡¯t so wimpy¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± I snapped, cutting off their bickering. ¡°You¡¯re partners, not enemies. Get into position.¡±


    The twins moved to the center of the field. Aaron conjured a ball of fire, its edges crackling with untamed energy. Elaine countered with a swirl of wind, her movements graceful as she shaped the current around her.


    ¡°Now,¡± I instructed, ¡°merge them. Elaine, contain the fire. Aaron, match her rhythm.¡±


    Aaron flung the fireball into Elaine¡¯s wind. The result was an immediate disaster¡ªa sudden explosion that sent both of them on their asses. The rest of the class ducked for cover, coughing as smoke filled the air.


    ¡°Brilliant,¡± I said dryly, stepping through the haze. ¡°If the goal was to create chaos, you¡¯ve mastered it.¡±


    Aaron groaned, sitting up. ¡°It¡¯s harder than it looks.¡±


    ¡°Of course it is,¡± I said, helping him to his feet. ¡°This isn¡¯t supposed to be easy. Try again. And this time, communicate. Talk to each other before you start throwing mana around.¡±


    The twins exchanged a reluctant glance, then nodded. This time, as Aaron ignited his fire, Elaine whispered, ¡°Lower the heat a bit¡ªI need something stable.¡±


    Aaron adjusted the flame, and Elaine carefully wrapped it in her wind. Slowly, the fireball began to spin, growing into a swirling orb of fire and air.


    ¡°Good,¡± I said, nodding. ¡°Now launch it at the target.¡±


    With a combined effort, they sent the orb hurtling toward a dummy at the far end of the field. The explosion was controlled, the target reduced to ash.


    ¡°Finally,¡± Aaron muttered, wiping his brow.


    ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate yet,¡± I said. ¡°Do it ten more times without messing up.¡±


    Their groans were music to my ears.


    Meanwhile, Jace and Mira managed to combine their spells flawlessly on their second try.


    ¡°You two know the drill,¡± I said, gesturing toward a reinforced training dummy. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can coordinate without blowing yourselves up.¡±


    ¡°Piece of cake,¡± Jace said, his trademark smirk firmly in place.


    Mira glanced at him, her brow furrowing. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ What if I mess up?¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± Jace said, his tone surprisingly gentle. ¡°You¡¯ve got this, Mira. Just do your thing.¡±


    She bit her lip, nodding slowly. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll try.¡±


    I suppressed a sigh but didn¡¯t intervene. If Jace¡¯s encouragement kept her from overthinking, so be it.


    ¡°Focus,¡± I said, pulling their attention back to the task.


    Jace fired a bolt of lightning toward Mira¡¯s earth pillar. For a split second, she froze, but then she inhaled deeply, her hands moving with fluid precision. The stone reshaped itself, carving grooves to channel the electricity. The lightning raced along the pathways, charging the stone with energy before striking the dummy dead center.


    The resulting explosion was controlled but devastating, reducing the dummy to a pile of ash and debris.


    Mira blinked, surprised at the success. ¡°Did¡­ Did it work?¡±


    Jace laughed, clapping her on the back. ¡°Worked? Mira, that was perfect! You¡¯re a natural.¡±


    Her cheeks turned pink, but a small smile tugged at her lips. ¡°Thanks, Jace. But¡­ it could¡¯ve been better. The grooves weren¡¯t evenly spaced.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it,¡± Jace said, grinning. ¡°We¡¯ll get it even better next time. You¡¯ve already nailed the hard part.¡±


    I stepped in, arms crossed. ¡°It was a strong first attempt, but Mira¡¯s right¡ªthere¡¯s room for improvement. Jace, you¡¯re putting too much power into your lightning. Mira¡¯s stonework does half the job for you, so adjust your output.¡±


    Jace nodded. ¡°Got it. Mira, ready for round two?¡±


    She hesitated, glancing between him and the scorched training dummy. Then, emboldened by his enthusiasm, she gave a determined nod. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡±


    The pair repeated the maneuver, refining their technique with each attempt. By the fifth try, their combination attack was not only precise but also significantly less taxing on their mana reserves.


    ¡°Now we¡¯re talking,¡± I said, nodding in approval. ¡°You¡¯re making progress. Keep this up, and you might actually stand a chance.¡±


    Aaron, watching from the sidelines, muttered, ¡°Show-offs.¡±


    Elaine elbowed him, smirking. ¡°Maybe if you didn¡¯t argue with me so much, we could be show-offs too.¡±


    Aaron scowled but didn¡¯t respond, his competitive streak clearly ignited.


    For the next several hours, I kept them at it. Again and again, they practiced controlling their magic, combining it seamlessly, and making sure that the fire and wind were more than just raw power. They had to think strategically, anticipate the results, and adjust on the fly.


    By the end of the day, both Aaron and Elaine were exhausted. Their faces were flushed, their clothes singed from minor burns. But they had made noticeable progress.


    I walked over to them, arms crossed, studying their results. The final fireball they conjured was more controlled, precise, and powerful than the first. Their movements were synchronized¡ªno bickering, no clashing.


    ¡°Good work. This is what teamwork actually looks like,¡± I said, giving them a nod of approval.


    Elaine wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead and grinned. ¡°I guess we made some progress.¡±


    Aaron chuckled, wiping his hand over his face. ¡°Yeah, we did. High-five?¡±


    Elaine blinked in surprise, then smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck,¡± she said, but she raised her hand anyway. Their palms met in a tentative high-five.


    ¡°See?¡± I said, folding my arms. ¡°You don¡¯t always have to be at each other¡¯s throats to get results.¡±


    Aaron grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t get used to it, Professor. It¡¯s just today.¡±


    Elaine rolled her eyes but didn¡¯t argue.


    ¡°You¡¯ve learned to read each other¡¯s signals, adjust on the fly. But there¡¯s still one thing you need to work on.¡± I added.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Elaine asked, cocking her head.


    ¡°Your timing,¡± I replied. ¡°You¡¯re both strong. Very strong. But if you don¡¯t time your spells perfectly, even the most powerful combination can fall apart. You need to build a rhythm.¡±

 Chapter 10

    ***Over the next few days***


    We drilled not just on combining their magic but on perfecting timing. I had them stand at opposite ends of the training field, facing away from each other, with their eyes closed. I wanted them to feel the rhythm of each other¡¯s magic before they even saw it.


    It was a slow process, and at first, the results were shaky. But gradually, the two of them began to fall into step. Aaron would ignite his flames, and Elaine would summon the wind just the right moment to guide it. Their focus grew sharper, their movements more synchronized, until they could perform their elemental combinations without hesitation.


    One morning, after a particularly rigorous training session, I stopped them as they were finishing up.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s try something different today. I want to see you push each other up. I want you to attack and defend as if your lives depend on it.¡±


    Elaine and Aaron exchanged a glance, their expressions serious now. No more jokes, no more teasing.


    I set up an obstacle course¡ªa maze of elemental wards, targets, and moving dummies designed to challenge their newfound teamwork. They had to use their combined magic to clear the course as quickly as possible, while also adapting to unpredictable obstacles.


    ¡°Remember,¡± I warned, ¡°you can¡¯t predict what¡¯s going to happen next. You need to trust your partner to have your back, no matter what.¡±


    Aaron grinned. ¡°No problem. I¡¯ll make sure nothing gets past us.¡±


    Elaine simply nodded, her eyes focused. "Let¡¯s do it.¡±


    The course began, and they were off. Aaron fired bolts of flame at the moving targets, each blast a perfect shot. Elaine¡¯s wind manipulated the trajectory of the fire, making the flames arc around corners, hitting targets hidden behind barriers. Together, they moved as one¡ªfluid, coordinated, and ruthless.


    But then, an unexpected challenge arrived: a set of protective barriers that could only be broken down by a precise combination of elemental forces. The barriers had a quick regeneration time, meaning if they failed, they¡¯d have to start over. The clock was ticking.


    ¡°Get ready,¡± Aaron said, his voice low as he flared up a ball of fire.


    Elaine¡¯s wind whipped up around him, but she hesitated for a moment.


    ¡°Aaron,¡± she said, ¡°slow down. Don¡¯t overheat the barriers. We need to target their weak point to get it in one try.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, adjusting. He fired a smaller, controlled flame, and Elaine immediately directed the wind to focus around it, guiding the fire directly to the weakest point of the barrier. The moment it hit, the wall shimmered and then collapsed.


    ¡°Nice,¡± I called from the sidelines, pleased by their adaptability. ¡°Keep pushing!¡±


    They didn¡¯t waste a second. They worked their way through the course, each challenge more difficult than the last. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of non-stop action, they reached the final obstacle: a giant elemental construct that would fight back.


    ¡°Aaron, on my signal,¡± Elaine said, her voice steady as she conjured the wind around herself in preparation.


    Aaron¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You¡¯ve got it. Ready when you are.¡±


    Together, they charged. Aaron hurled a massive fireball straight into the construct¡¯s chest, and Elaine immediately used her wind to push it even harder. The combination of fire and wind created an explosion of heat and pressure that shattered the construct¡¯s defenses, reducing it to rubble.


    The challenge was over.


    Elaine and Aaron stood, panting, their eyes meeting with a look of triumph. They had done it. They¡¯d succeeded in working together¡ªnot just because they had to, but because they had finally figured out how to work with each other, not against.


    ¡°You¡¯ve come a long way,¡± I said, walking over to them with a slight smile. ¡°Now you¡¯re a team, not just two individuals throwing magic around.¡±


    Aaron clapped Elaine on the back. ¡°I knew we¡¯d get there.¡±


    Elaine smiled back, her eyes full of newfound respect for him. ¡°Not bad for a hotheaded pyromaniac.¡±


    ¡°A pyromaniac who saved your butt,¡± Aaron teased.


    She rolled her eyes, but her smile didn¡¯t fade. ¡°You did. I¡¯ll give you that.¡±


    I watched them, proud of what they had accomplished.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said, clapping my hands together. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the real work. The tournament¡¯s waiting.¡±


    The following week Mira, Elaine, Aaron and Jace sparred endlessly, sometimes one-on-one, sometimes as teams. I often played the role of their opponent. They learned to think, adapt to unpredictable scenarios, design strategy to use different kind of environments to their advantage, and, most importantly, trust one another implicitly. They were ready for the tournament, but the pressure was mounting. It was time to test them for real.


    Two days before the tournament, I gathered them to make them fight one of the strongest team in the academy.


    ¡°Today, you¡¯ll face a simulated tournament match,¡± I announced. ¡°You¡¯ll work as a team against one of the academy¡¯s top squads.¡±


    The class exchanged nervous glances.


    ¡°Who are we fighting?¡± Jace asked.


    ¡°Team Stalwart,¡± I replied. ¡°They¡¯ve won every internal competition for the past two years.¡±


    Aaron groaned. ¡°No pressure, then.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    ***Later that day***


    In the afternoon, the arena was set. Team Stalwart stood on one side, their leader¡ªa tall earth mage named Gareth looked annoyed.


    ¡°Seriously, why did headmistress Sherry ask us to compete against the worst team of the academy? Does she think we have too much free time?"


    Upon noticing team Stalwart attitude, the nagging feeling I kept ignoring resurfaced. Something is amiss.


    I turned to my students and asked them telepathically. ¡°If you have been selected to represent the academy, how come you never met team Starwalt before?¡±


    They looked startled for a moment, then they exchanged sheepish glances.


    Jace stepped forward with a slightly nervous expression, ¡°I will explain everything after the fight teacher.¡±


    ¡°You better not leave any detail out.¡± I sent him back telepathically with a warning look.


    The referee announced the beginning of the match.


    Gareth wasted no time, slamming his hands into the ground to summon a massive stone barrier that split the arena in half. The earth rumbled as jagged walls shot upward, effectively cutting off Jace and Aaron from the rest of the team.


    Mira reacted immediately, her own earth magic flaring to life. While Gareth¡¯s barrier was thick and brutish, hers was flawless. She targeted the weak points with uncanny accuracy, dismantling the stone wall piece by piece until it crumbled entirely.


    Meanwhile, Aaron and Elaine took advantage of the chaos to launch a combined attack. Elaine summoned a vortex of wind, funneling Aaron¡¯s flames into a blazing fire tornado that roared across the arena. The heat was intense, forcing Team Stalwart to scatter, their formation broken.


    But they weren¡¯t the best team of the academy for nothing. A water mage on their team countered the inferno with a torrent of water, extinguishing the flames in an instant. At the same time, their illusionist sprang into action, conjuring duplicates of their entire team to confuse and disorient my students.


    ¡°Focus!¡± I bellowed. ¡°Find the real ones!¡±


    Jace took the lead. He unleashed a wave of electricity that spread out like a net, dispelling the illusions in one brilliant flash. The real members of Team Stalwart were exposed, and Mira wasted no time capitalizing on their surprise. She raised twin pillars of earth beneath their feet, throwing them off balance.


    ¡°Now!¡± I yelled, seeing the opening they had created.


    Aaron and Elaine synchronized again, combining fire and wind into a searing storm that swept across the arena. Their teamwork was seamless, their magic blending together in a way that was as beautiful as it was devastating. Team Stalwart scrambled to defend themselves, but Mira and Jace were already closing in, using their respective talents to pin down their opponents.


    The final blow came when Aaron unleashed a concentrated inferno, a blast of fire so intense it left scorch marks on the arena floor. Gareth tried to summon another stone barrier, but Mira shattered it before it could fully form. With no defenses left, Team Stalwart had no choice but to concede.


    As soon as the fight ended, I took my students to a secluded place, set up an anti-peeping ward, and put my hands on my hips.


    "So? What is all of this about?"


    Jace looked at me sheepishly. "Headmistress Sherry made us swear to keep it secret."


    I crossed my arms, staring at him. ¡°Secret from me? The person responsible for preparing you for this tournament? Start talking.¡±


    Jace shifted awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. ¡°Alright, alright. Look, when the academy first picked us, it wasn¡¯t because we were the best. It was because¡­ she wanted you back.¡±


    I blinked, taken aback. ¡°Wanted me back? What are you talking about?¡±


    Jace glanced at the others, who exchanged uncertain looks before he continued. ¡°The headmistress. She didn¡¯t just pick us to compete. She wanted to bring you out of retirement, to make sure you were involved in the academy again.¡±


    Aaron stepped forward, his usual confidence muted. ¡°She said the academy needed someone who could turn a group like us into real contenders. Someone who could see potential where no one else could.¡±


    Elaine crossed her arms, frowning. ¡°We didn¡¯t know all the details at first, but the headmistress was clear about one thing: this was as much about you as it was about us.¡±


    Mira nodded hesitantly, "we didn''t want to deceive you teacher... we just wanted you back as well."


    The room fell silent. For a moment, I just stared at them. Their sincerity was undeniable, their expressions full of determination and a touch of guilt.


    I exhaled slowly, letting the tension seep out of me. ¡°You¡¯ve all been holding this back for weeks,¡± I said, my voice quieter than I intended.


    Aaron shifted uncomfortably. ¡°We didn¡¯t mean to lie. We just¡­ we thought if you knew, you might not take us seriously. That you¡¯d see us as some kind of¡­ charity case.¡±


    Elaine nodded. ¡°But then you started training us. Really training us. And we realized we wanted to prove ourselves¡ªto you, to the academy, to everyone.¡±


    Mira added softly, ¡°and because we like you, master.¡±


    Jace looked up at me, his sheepish grin now replaced with something more earnest. ¡°You didn¡¯t just teach us how to fight or use our magic better. You taught us how to believe in ourselves and each other. That¡¯s why we wanted you back, too.¡±


    I crossed my arms, taking a long look at each of them. ¡°Alright,¡± I said finally, my tone firm. ¡°Let me make one thing clear. Whatever Sherry¡¯s intentions were, whatever game she thought she was playing, that¡¯s irrelevant now. You¡¯ve earned your place on this team, and you¡¯ve proven yourselves.¡±


    Their postures straightened, relief washing over their faces.


    ¡°But,¡± I added, fixing them with a sharp look, ¡°if any of you ever keep something this important from me again, I¡¯ll personally drag you through hell training until you can¡¯t stand anymore. Understood?¡±


    ¡°Yes, teacher,¡± they answered together.


    ¡°Good.¡± I let my stern expression soften into a faint smile. "For now you can go back to your dormitory, I have to talk to your headmistress."


    Before they could react, I teleported directly in Sherry''s office.


    As soon as I arrived, I fixed her with a sharp glare. She was buried in a mountain of documents but looked up immediately.


    ¡°Hello, Dad,¡± she said, her voice calm but tinged with a hint of apprehension. ¡°I wondered when you¡¯d finally show up.¡±


    I crossed my arms. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to wonder long, did you? Care to explain why I¡¯m only now finding out that this tournament isn¡¯t just about the students, but about dragging me out of retirement? And why you put them in the middle of it without telling me?¡±


    Sherry sighed, leaning back in her chair. Her calm demeanor had always been frustratingly reminiscent of her mother¡¯s. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have come if I told you outright,¡± she said plainly. ¡°We both know that.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make it right,¡± I shot back, my voice rising slightly. ¡°You manipulated them¡ªyour students¡ªto get to me. You used them.¡±


    Her eyes narrowed, her composed exterior cracking just slightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t use them. I saw their potential¡ªpotential only you could bring out. And I knew you wouldn¡¯t be able to resist once you saw it too. Am I wrong?¡±


    Her words gave me pause, striking deeper than I wanted to admit. Still, I couldn¡¯t let her off the hook.


    "You should have told me, Sherry. Trusted me enough to make my own choice. I would have come back if you¡¯d just¡­ asked."


    Sherry folded her arms, her voice quieter but no less determined. ¡°Would you? After everything? After how you left? You¡¯ve been running from this, from who you are, for years. I couldn¡¯t take that risk¡ªnot when the academy needed you. Not when they needed you. And,¡± she hesitated, her gaze softening, ¡°not when I needed you.¡±


    I blinked, her last words catching me off guard. A pang of guilt I wasn¡¯t ready to face seized my heart.


    ¡°You should have given me the choice,¡± I said, my voice quieter now. ¡°Instead, you left me in the dark while they carried a secret they shouldn¡¯t have had to. You didn¡¯t just manipulate me, Sherry. You put a weight on them they didn¡¯t deserve.¡±


    She flinched, a rare crack in her otherwise unshakable demeanor. ¡°I know,¡± she admitted. ¡°And for that, I¡¯m sorry. But I don¡¯t regret what I did. Because now, they¡¯re ready. And you¡­ you¡¯re here. Where you belong.¡±


    I stared at her for a long moment, searching her face. Despite my frustration, I saw the sincerity in her words¡ªthe daughter I had always been proud of, even when we butted heads.


    ¡°Fine,¡± I said finally, letting out a slow breath. ¡°But don''t ever keep me in the dark like that again or I won''t let you off the hook."


    She let out a small breath and smiled at me. "Thank you Dad. I won''t do it again, I promise."

 Chapter 11

    Starhaven was a city unlike any other¡ªa floating marvel of magical engineering, with floatings bridges and buildings. The tournament grounds were an arena suspended mid-air. Transparent shields surrounded the arena, allowing spectators to watch safely.


    As our enchanted airship docked at the platforms, the students stepped off, eyes wide. Jace let out a low whistle.


    ¡°Never thought I¡¯d see anything like this,¡± he said, craning his neck to take in the towering floating buildings and bridges above.


    ¡°Focus,¡± I reminded them, though I couldn¡¯t blame them for their awe. Even I had felt the same when I entered the tournament all these years ago. But this wasn¡¯t a sightseeing trip.


    The academy quarters were modest compared to some of the extravagant accommodations the larger teams had. Still, the students settled in quickly, eager for what lay ahead.


    After settling in, we made our way to the grand opening ceremony.


    Teams from prestigious academies entered the grand hall, each dressed in their school colors and insignias. Our group, in their unassuming uniforms, drew some stares. A few older participants smirked as they noticed the youth of our team.


    ¡°Looks like the kiddie team came to play,¡± a tall boy sneered as we passed.


    Jace smirked dangerously. ¡°Say that again, pretty boy¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stand down,¡± I said sharply, stepping between them. I turned to the other boy and raised an eyebrow. ¡°If you¡¯re so confident, let¡¯s see how long that smug grin lasts when we meet in the arena.¡±


    The boy hesitated, recognizing me. ¡°You¡¯re... Aldric. The Archmage.¡± His sneer faded into a grimace, and he stepped back.


    ¡°Thought so,¡± I said, turning back to my team.


    At the far end of the hall, an elevated platform stood, adorned with banners bearing the insignias of the host academy and the Magus Council.


    A tall figure stepped forward, his deep blue robes trimmed with gold. This was High Chancellor Valen, a man renowned across the magical world for his wisdom and power. His voice, amplified by a subtle spell, resonated through the hall.


    ¡°Welcome to the Grand Inter-Academy Tournament,¡± he began. "This tournament is more than a competition. It is a proof of the unity of our magical community.¡±


    He gestured to the arena visible through the transparent shields. "Out there, you will face challenges designed to push you to your very limits. The path ahead is hard, but it is through adversity that we reveal our true potential.¡±


    His gaze swept across the gathered participants, lingering briefly on each group, his sharp eyes seeming to weigh and measure their resolve. ¡°This is your moment,¡± he said. ¡°A chance to honor not just your academy but the spirit of magic itself.¡±


    He paused and added. ¡°I declare the Grand Inter-Academy Tournament officially open!¡±


    Cheers erupted, and soon, magical fireworks lit up the sky above the arena. Streams of glowing mana formed the symbols of each competing academy, drawing gasps of admiration from the crowd.


    ***Later that day***


    The first rounds were designed to weed out weaker teams with straightforward team battles.


    Our first match was against an older, more seasoned team from the Arcanis Academy. They were confident, almost dismissive, as they stepped onto the arena.


    The starting signal boomed, and the battle started.


    Jace led the charge, sending a lightning bolt toward the opposing mage. They countered with a stone barrier, but Mira was ready. She raised her hands, and the ground beneath the barrier shifted, breaking it apart.


    ¡°Nice work!¡± Jace called, moving to cover Mira as an opponent advanced.


    Meanwhile, Aaron and Elaine worked in tandem, their fire-storm forcing the enemy team to scatter.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Stay close!¡± the opposing team¡¯s leader, barked, trying to rally his team.


    But they were already on the backfoot. Mira¡¯s precise earth spells trapped their healer, while Jace and Aaron disabled their attackers. Elaine¡¯s winds carried shards of Mira''s stone into their defenses, creating chaos.


    ¡°Finish it,¡± I called from the sidelines.


    Jace unleashed a bolt of lightning, hitting their leader square in the chest and sending him on his ass.


    The whistle blew, signaling our victory.


    ***Back in our quarters***


    ¡°We actually did it!¡± Elaine said, bouncing on her toes.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± Jace admitted, though his grin betrayed how pleased he was.


    ¡°You worked well together,¡± I said, leaning against the doorway. ¡°But don¡¯t get cocky. The real challenges are still ahead. This was one of the weakest team.¡±


    ¡°Let us have this moment, Professor,¡± Aaron said, his tone teasing.


    ¡°Fine. Celebrate tonight. Tomorrow, we prepare for the terrain matches. Those won¡¯t be as straightforward.¡±


    The team¡¯s excitement was palpable as we returned to the academy quarters. Mira had finally relaxed, her usual nervousness replaced by a rare smile. Aaron and Jace were talking animatedly about their moves during the match, reenacting their coordinated takedown of the opposing team¡¯s attackers.


    ¡°I mean, did you see the look on their leader¡¯s face when I broke through his barrier at the end?¡± Jace said, miming the motion of releasing his lightning bolt.


    ¡°And my fire-storm sent them flying!¡± Aaron added, laughing.


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    Mira, sitting cross-legged on one of the room¡¯s chairs, couldn¡¯t help but laugh softly. ¡°I think you two are giving yourselves way too much credit,¡± she said, her tone unexpectedly teasing. ¡°That firestorm wasn¡¯t all you, Aaron.¡±


    Aaron scoffed, turning to Mira with mock indignation. ¡°Are you suggesting that my masterful flames weren¡¯t the star of the show?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m suggesting,¡± Mira said with a slight smile, ¡°that without Elaine¡¯s winds, your flames would¡¯ve just been... campfire-sized.¡±


    Elaine, who had been reclining on a nearby couch, perked up at the mention of her name. ¡°Finally, someone notices. You¡¯re welcome, by the way,¡± she said, giving Aaron a pointed look.


    Aaron grinned sheepishly. ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ll admit it¡ªthe legendary firestorm wouldn¡¯t have been the same without you.¡±


    He grinned and gave Elaine a playful bow. ¡°Oh, Great Mistress of the Winds, forgive me for my arrogance.¡±


    Elaine smirked, with an exaggerated air of authority. "It''s alright. I forgive you, humble wielder of flames. Just remember next time that wind makes fire unstoppable."


    Aaron chuckled, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, you win. Next time, I¡¯ll make sure to give a speech crediting your winds for the epicness of our firestorms."


    Jace laughed. ¡°It was impressive, I¡¯ll give you that. But Mira¡¯s earth magic? That¡¯s what made the difference. That stone trap was genius.¡±


    Mira¡¯s cheeks colored faintly at the unexpected praise. ¡°I just¡­ wanted to keep their healer out of the fight. You all did the real damage.¡±


    ¡°You gave the team an opening,¡± I said, stepping closer to them. ¡°And don¡¯t sell yourself short, Mira. Without you disrupting their formation, none of their defenses would¡¯ve broken down so quickly.¡±


    Aaron nodded, gesturing at her. ¡°You heard master Aldric. You¡¯re the MVP this round.¡±


    This earned a round of laughter.


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± I interjected. ¡°Before you get too carried away, remember¡ªthis was the first round. The terrain matches tomorrow will be tougher, and the competition will only get stronger.¡±


    Aaron smirked. ¡°You mean, stronger than us? Hard to imagine.¡±


    I gave him a flat look. ¡°Confidence is good, Aaron. Overconfidence gets you killed.¡±


    He sobered up immediately. "Huh alright, master."


    ¡°Good. Now, go ahead and celebrate¡ªwithin reason. You¡¯ve earned it,¡± I said, pushing off the doorframe. ¡°I¡¯ll be in the lounge if you need me.¡±


    The students wasted no time transforming the common room into an impromptu celebration. Someone, probably Jace, had smuggled in snacks, and Mira used a simple enchantment to make the mana lamps glow in shifting colors, giving the room a festive atmosphere.


    Elaine found a deck of enchanted cards and suggested a game. It wasn¡¯t long before the group was deep in a lively competition.


    ¡°Jace, you can¡¯t just shock the deck to shuffle it!¡± Mira exclaimed as Jace¡¯s spell sent the cards scattering across the room.


    ¡°Worked, didn¡¯t it?¡± Jace replied with a grin, ducking as a pillow came flying his way.


    Aaron crossed his arms, watching the chaos unfold. ¡°This is what we¡¯ll be remembered for¡ªcard-related carnage.¡±


    Elaine smiled, shaking her head. ¡°At least we¡¯ll be remembered for something.¡±


    I stood in the doorway for a moment, watching them.


    ¡°Professor,¡± Mira said, noticing me. ¡°You¡¯re not joining us?¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll pass,¡± I said. ¡°Besides, someone has to make sure none of you blow up the quarters before tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Smart,¡± Jace quipped. ¡°Because if we blow it up, you¡¯d just make us clean it up.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re catching on,¡± I replied, my voice dry.


    They laughed, and for a while, the room was filled with nothing but lighthearted chatter and the occasional friendly argument over card rules.


    As the celebration wound down, the students began to drift off to their rooms one by one. Mira was the first to go, mumbling something about needing to be well-rested. Aaron and Jace stayed up a little longer, arguing good-naturedly about the best strategies for tomorrow.


    Elaine lingered after the others had gone, shuffling the deck of cards absently.


    ¡°You¡¯re nervous,¡± I said, taking a seat across from her.


    She looked up, startled. ¡°Is it that obvious?¡±


    ¡°To me? Yes.¡±


    Elaine sighed, setting the cards down. ¡°It¡¯s just... today went well, but what if tomorrow doesn¡¯t? What if I mess up?¡±


    I leaned forward, resting my arms on the table. ¡°Elaine, no battle is perfect. Mistakes happen. And you¡¯re more capable than you give yourself credit for.¡±


    She looked down, fidgeting with the cards. ¡°You really think so?¡±


    ¡°I know so,¡± I said firmly. ¡°You¡¯ve already proven yourself. Now, you just have to believe in yourself.¡±


    Elaine smiled, a hint of confidence returning. ¡°Thanks, Professor.¡±


    ¡°Anytime,¡± I said.

 Chapter 12

    Morning came swiftly, the golden light of Starhaven filtering through the windows of the academy quarters. The students gathered. Each of them was fully dressed in their combat uniforms.


    ¡°Today¡¯s matches are designed to push your adaptability to the limit. You¡¯ll face unpredictable environments¡ªhostile terrain, weather effects, and magical anomalies. You¡¯ll need to use your surroundings to your advantage.¡±


    Mira raised a hand hesitantly. ¡°Do we know what kind of terrains we¡¯ll be dealing with?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°They¡¯re randomized for every match. Could be anything¡ªdeserts, jungles, frozen tundras, or even underwater zones. The only constant is that each will be designed to challenge your teamwork and ingenuity.¡±


    Elaine looked nervous. ¡°And the opponents?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll face the same challenges as you,¡± I said. ¡°Use that to your advantage. If you can out-think them, you¡¯ll win.¡±


    Jace cracked his knuckles. ¡°Sounds like fun.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let''s head to the arena,¡± I said, clapping my hands together. ¡°No more talking. It''s time to show what you¡¯ve learned.¡±


    The walk to the arena was quiet, the students lost in their thoughts, some anxious, others eager. The tournament arena was just ahead¡ªa floating structure designed to simulate different environments at a moment¡¯s notice.


    As we entered the large central hall, floating platforms hovered in mid-air in front of us.


    ¡°Once inside, you¡¯ll each be assigned to a specific area of the arena,¡± I explained, as we moved toward the designated entrance. ¡°The arena will begin to change as soon as the match begins. Your first challenge is to assess your surroundings quickly and work together. No one gets left behind.¡±


    ¡°Good luck,¡± I said, giving them one final word of encouragement. ¡°And remember, adaptability is the key to victory.¡±


    The team¡¯s second trial took place in a simulated desert. The air crackled with heat, and the ground beneath their feet shifted with every step. Enormous sand dunes formed and dissolved seemingly at random, and sandstorms occasionally swept across the battlefield.


    Their opponents, a group from the Frostspire Academy, wasted no time. As the match began, they conjured a barrage of icy projectiles, aiming to take control of the battlefield early.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Defensive wards, now!¡± Jace shouted, his voice cutting through the cacophony of the battlefield.


    Mira¡¯s swiftly conjured a barrier of stone before the team, absorbing the icy projectiles. ¡°We need to close the distance!¡± she called over her shoulder.


    Jace exchanged a glance with Aaron, nodding sharply. The two of them moved as one, darting forward across the unstable dunes. But the Frostspire team anticipated their advance. Jagged walls of glacial ice erupted in their path, cutting them off.


    Jace¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°They really think that¡¯ll stop me?¡± He unleashed a bolt of lightning, shattering the barrier into a cascade of glittering shards. Aaron didn¡¯t miss a beat, following up with a wall of fire that forced their opponents to scatter.


    Behind them, Mira clenched her fists. ¡°Hold on!¡± she called. The sands beneath their feet shifted, hardening into stone pathways to steady their advance. Meanwhile, Elaine stayed at the rear, weaving currents of wind to disperse the relentless sandstorm. The battlefield began to clear¡ªbut Frostspire was already countering.


    Their leader, a tall girl with silver hair, stepped forward. She summoned a colossal wolf of ice. As soon as it appeared, it burst from the ground, its frosty jaws snapping as it lunged toward Jace and Aaron.


    ¡°Mira, now!¡± Jace barked.


    For a heartbeat, Mira hesitated. Her hands trembled as doubt clouded her thoughts. If she miscalculated, her spell could destabilize the entire field¡ªor worse, harm her teammates. But then she heard Jace¡¯s voice, calm and steady amidst the chaos: ¡°We trust you, Mira. Do it.¡±


    Her resolve solidified. With a sharp motion, she transformed the sand beneath the construct into a quagmire, dragging the wolf to a grinding halt. ¡°Your move!¡± she shouted.


    Jace and Aaron moved in unison. Lightning danced along Jace¡¯s arms as he vaulted over the creature, driving his attack into its icy skull. Aaron followed with an explosive wave of fire, shattering the construct. The Frostspire leader staggered back, momentarily stunned.


    ¡°Press the advantage!¡± Jace commanded.


    Elaine seized the opportunity. Her winds surged, with the help of her surrounding, she created a sandstorm, sending it straight into the enemy¡¯s defensive line. Mira trapped their healer in a pit of shifting sand, while Jace and Aaron took down the remaining attackers with ruthless precision. The Frostspire leader tried to rally her team, but it was too late. A final surge of lightning from Jace struck her down, and the whistle blew.


    The crowd erupted in applause as we exited the battlefield, victorious.


    The team¡¯s cheers echoed across the arena as they made their way back to the quarters. They were exhausted but happy.


    Mira dropped onto the nearest couch, a rare grin lighting up her face. ¡°We did it,¡± she said softly, more to herself than anyone else.


    I smiled looking at them with pride. ¡°Your teamwork and your use of the terrain was excellent. Good job everyone!¡±


    Jace smirked. ¡°Told you playing in the sand would be fun.¡±


    Aaron groaned while retching. ¡°Speak for yourself. I think I swallowed half the desert.¡±


    Elaine giggled. ¡°At least it wasn¡¯t quicksand, or else Mira and I would have had a lot of work to do.¡±


    Mira looked thoughtful. ¡°The Frostspire team was stronger than I expected. If the other teams are like that, we¡¯ll need to work harder.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± I said. ¡°Today was a strong start, but don¡¯t let it go to your head. The terrain trials will only get harder from here.¡±


    The group nodded, their earlier confidence tempered by the reality of the competition.

 Chapter 13

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    ***The next days***


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    I gathered the team for one last strategy session before the match, knowing we were up against a group that wouldn¡¯t hesitate to burn, strike, or shatter everything in their path.


    ¡°We¡¯re facing brute strength,¡± I said, looking over the jungle maze. ¡°But this arena is our ally. Don¡¯t fight power with power¡ªturn the terrain to your advantage.¡±


    Mira¡¯s eyes scanned the area. ¡°I can reshape parts of the maze to slow them down. Force them into tight spots where their power can¡¯t do as much damage.¡±


    Jace laughed. ¡°They won¡¯t know what hit ¡®em.¡±


    Aaron¡¯s grin was all confidence. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the heat.¡±


    Elaine smiled. ¡°I will clean the path.¡±


    I watched my team, and gave them a last piece of advice. ¡°Stay agile. Stay unpredictable. Trust each other.¡±


    Before the beginning of the match, the two teams made their way toward the floating elevator.


    The opponent leader, Ulric, was a strong-looking boy who used destructive fire magic. Beside him stood Sonia, a nimble fighter with lightning-fast reflexes to match her electric magic. Kasim, a mountain of muscle with strong earth magic, and Cara, a sharp-eyed ice marksman who could channel explosive power into her ranged attacks, completed their lineup.


    When the two teams left the elevator, the starting signal echoed through the jungle.


    The Talons wasted no time. Ulric unleashed a wave of fire, cutting through the undergrowth, while Sonia¡¯s lightning strikes shattered vines and branches, forcing our team to scatter.


    ¡°They¡¯re going for a blitz,¡± Jace said, his voice calm yet sharp. ¡°Elaine, Mira¡ªlock this down!¡±


    Elaine reacted first, her wind magic turning into a cyclone to block the advancing flames. ¡°I¡¯ll clear their line of sight,¡± she said, the storm forming a temporary buffer. Meanwhile, Mira slammed her hands into the ground, raising walls of stone to create barriers against the onslaught.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± Aaron muttered, the heat of Ulric¡¯s fire still in the air. ¡°But they¡¯ll just bulldoze through.¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t if we control the flow,¡± Jace replied. He turned to Mira. ¡°Funnel them toward the crevices. Break their formation.¡±


    Mira nodded, her confidence steadying. The terrain began to shift under her control as she redirected the jungle¡¯s natural hazards. Thorned vines shot up to block the Talons¡¯ path, forcing them into narrower routes where the unstable ground waited.


    But the Talons were relentless. Kasim smashed through the barriers, his earth magic sending shockwaves rippling through the jungle floor. Cara perched on a raised platform, her explosive ice arrows blasting away Mira¡¯s carefully laid traps.


    ¡°Elaine, keep her off us!¡± Jace called.


    Elaine shifted her focus, sending gusts of wind to destabilize Cara¡¯s perch. The sharpshooter stumbled, her next shot veering off course. ¡°That¡¯ll buy us a little time,¡± Elaine muttered, beads of sweat forming on her brow.


    Meanwhile, Aaron darted forward, flames gathering in his palms. ¡°I¡¯ll keep Kasim busy. Try not to miss me too much,¡± he said with a wink.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t get squashed,¡± Jace retorted, already moving toward Ulric and Sonia.


    Ulric¡¯s fire magic roared as he spotted Jace, sending a massive deflagration his way. ¡°You can¡¯t outrun this!¡± Ulric bellowed.


    Jace didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Don¡¯t need to.¡± He leaped onto a hanging vine, using it to swing clear of the attack. As the fire burned through the underbrush, Jace launched a bolt of lightning straight at Ulric¡¯s feet, forcing the Talon leader to stagger back.


    Sonia took advantage of the moment, summoning an electric whip. Jace twisted mid-air, narrowly dodging the strike. ¡°You¡¯re predictable,¡± he said, smirking. ¡°Mira, now!¡±


    Mira raised her arms, and the ground beneath Ulric and Sonia collapsed into a sudden pit. Thorny vines snapped upward, entangling Sonia as she tried to jump clear. Ulric roared, flames erupting around him to burn away the trap, but his movements were slower, more desperate.


    Aaron seized the opportunity. He clashed with Kasim, their elemental powers colliding. ¡°A little help here?¡± Aaron shouted, deflecting a massive slab of stone with a wall of fire.


    ¡°On it,¡± Jace called. He darted to Aaron¡¯s side, electricity surging into the ground. The combined elements destabilized Kasim¡¯s footing, sending the earth mage crashing into a crevice.


    Cara tried to regain control from above, but Elaine¡¯s winds continued to keep her off balance. ¡°You¡¯re not as scary when you¡¯re stumbling,¡± Elaine quipped, sending another gust that knocked Cara¡¯s next arrow off course.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The sharpshooter growled in frustration, but before she could recover, Mira manipulated the platform beneath her, tilting it sharply. Cara tumbled to the jungle floor, where Aaron¡¯s flames forced her to surrender.


    Ulric stood alone now. ¡°I¡¯m not done yet!¡± he shouted, his flames building into a massive vortex.


    ¡°We end this now!¡± Jace commanded, his voice cutting through the roar of the inferno.


    Elaine sent a focused wind blast to disrupt the vortex, scattering the flames just enough to create an opening. Mira stabilized the ground beneath her teammates, anchoring them against the pressure of the attack. Jace and Aaron moved as one¡ªlightning and fire converging into a devastating vortex that tore through Ulric¡¯s defenses.


    Talon leader staggered, the flames around him flickering and dying. The whistle blew to announce the end of the match.


    The crowd erupted in applause, standing up as one.


    The team regrouped, their faces flushed with victory and exhaustion. Mira sank to her knees, her breath coming in short gasps. ¡°We did it,¡± she said, happily.


    Aaron flopped onto a nearby boulder, wiping soot from his face. ¡°Someone remind me why we signed up for this again?¡±


    Elaine chuckled, though her hands were still shaking from the effort. ¡°Because we¡¯re insane, apparently.¡±


    Jace smirked, glancing at the defeated Talons. ¡°No, because we¡¯re the best.¡±


    Mira looked at him, her confidence bolstered by his steady presence. ¡°Thanks for trusting me back there.¡±


    ¡°Always,¡± Jace said simply.


    "Good job everyone! Tomorrow is the semifinal. You have earned a break." I said with a smile.


    ¡°I have a surprise for you,¡± I continued, catching their attention. The group¡¯s tired faces turned curious, their exhaustion from the battle momentarily forgotten.


    ¡°A surprise?¡± Aaron perked up immediately. ¡°Is it food? Please tell me it¡¯s food.¡±


    Jace rolled his eyes but smirked. ¡°It¡¯s probably some kind of training exercise disguised as fun.¡±


    ¡°Not this time,¡± I said, chuckling. ¡°Tonight, we¡¯re doing something different. You¡¯ve earned a break, and I want to show you one of my favorite places.¡±


    Elaine tilted her head, intrigued. ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°The Starhaven Night Market,¡± I revealed, watching their reactions. ¡°It¡¯s an incredible place, full of magical performances, amazing food, and unforgettable sights. Trust me, it¡¯s worth it.¡±


    Mira¡¯s expression turned excited. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about it, but I¡¯ve never been.¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s about time,¡± I said with a grin. ¡°Let¡¯s go. And Aaron¡ªthere¡¯s plenty of food.¡±


    We went back to the dormitory to shower and get a change of clothes. As soon as the team was ready we began our journey into the night.


    ***Starhaven night market***


    I led my students through the streets, the hum of the city buzzing around us. The air was thick with the aroma of spices and sweets.


    ¡°This,¡± I said, turning to face them, ¡°is the Starhaven Night Market. Explore, eat, and enjoy the performances. I want you to see how magical this city can truly be.¡±


    Mira glanced at the bustling crowd with hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s so... loud,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°That¡¯s the best part,¡± I said, smiling. ¡°The noise, the people, the lights. Trust me, this is an experience you don¡¯t want to miss.¡±


    The market unfolded like a dream. Lanterns floated above the streets. Each stall offered a large range of magical objects: floating carpets, books with moving pictures, telepathic earrings, mini teleporting arrays, metamorphic masks, invisibility capes, mana potions.


    I led them toward on of the booths, buying a mini teleporting array and telepathic earring for each of them.


    I turned to the group, holding out the gifts. ¡°Here. Consider these a reward for all your hard work¡ªand a reminder of this night.¡±


    Aaron accepted his teleportation array with wide eyes. ¡°This is incredible! Do we get to keep these?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± I said, smirking at his enthusiasm.


    Jace smiled. "Thank you professor. We will make good use of it."


    Mira carefully turned the telepathic earring in her hand. ¡°This must have cost a fortune. Thank you,¡± she said softly.


    ¡°Worth every coin,¡± I replied. ¡°You¡¯ve earned it. Besides, tools like these might come in handy in the future when you leave the academy.¡±


    Elaine¡¯s lips quirked into a smile as she examined the array. ¡°You¡¯re spoiling us, Professor.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get used to it,¡± I teased. ¡°Now, let¡¯s explore the market.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, check this out!¡± Jace called, holding up a spinning orb of fire encased in a glass dome. ¡°It¡¯s... dancing? How does this even work?¡±


    Aaron had already found a food stand, where a vendor was serving steaming bowls of luminous stew. ¡°They say this stuff changes flavor to match your favorite food,¡± he said, practically drooling.


    Elaine stood captivated by an artist who painted with light, her brushstrokes forming glowing images that hovered in the air before fading into soft sparks. ¡°It¡¯s so... delicate,¡± she said softly.


    I stepped beside her, nodding at the glowing masterpiece. ¡°It¡¯s lumistry¡ªan art form used to make painting with light magic.¡±


    The market¡¯s central stage burst into applause as a troupe of performers took the spotlight. I beckoned the group over, guiding them to an open space near the front. The performers act was a dazzling fusion of acrobatics and spellcraft. A magician balanced atop a conjured column of water while another juggled flames that morphed into ring of flames mid-air. Another mage flew through them, while spinning graciously.


    ¡°This is amazing!¡± Jace whispered, his jaw practically on the ground. ¡°Do they even need gravity?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not battle mages,¡± I explained. ¡°They use magic to inspire. It¡¯s not about power¡ªit¡¯s about wonder.¡±


    The climax of the performance came when the troupe summoned a massive phoenix of pure light. It soared above the market, leaving trails of golden embers that gently fell over the crowd. Mira gasped, her face illuminated by the phoenix¡¯s glow. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this,¡± she said.


    ¡°I hoped you¡¯d like it,¡± I said, watching her awed expression.


    As the performance ended, the group meandered back toward the market stalls, the vibrant energy of the night still playing in their heads. Mira nibbled on a pastry that glowed faintly, while Aaron sipped on a drink that sparked. Jace carried a glowing trinket he¡¯d bought, spinning it idly in his hands.


    Elaine walked beside me, her expression thoughtful. ¡°You seem to know this place really well,¡± she said.


    ¡°I do,¡± I admitted. ¡°When I was younger, this was one of my favorite spots. It¡¯s where I fell in love with magic¡ªnot just its power, but its ability to create, to connect people. Every time I¡¯m here, it feels like coming home.¡±


    She glanced up at the glowing lanterns, then back at me. ¡°I can see why.¡±


    As the night wound down, we found ourselves at the edge of the market near a bubbling fountain. Enchanted fish leaped from the water, glowing like tiny comets. Jace stretched out on a bench, grinning. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll admit it. This was a pretty good idea.¡±


    Aaron chuckled, balancing a stick of roasted meat. ¡°Understatement. Can we do this again if we win the next match?¡±


    Mira smiled faintly, her nerves seemingly washed away by the night¡¯s magic. ¡°It¡¯s... nice. I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d enjoy it this much.¡±


    Elaine looked at me. ¡°Thanks for bringing us here.¡±


    I nodded, leaning against the fountain. ¡°You¡¯ve all been working so hard¡ª you needed this break.¡±


    The students nodded, their faces thoughtful and at ease.


    We went back to the dormitory for the night.

 Chapter 14

    The semi-final arena was an intimidating expanse of rivers of lava and jagged platforms that seemed ready to collapse into the bubbling lava below. Geysers erupted at irregular intervals, sending sprays of fire into the sweltering air. The heat shimmered, visible to the naked eye.


    Both teams looked at the other. Today opponent was the Pyrestone Academy team. Their leader, Calder, exuded confidence. Stocky and broad-shouldered, his fiery red hair seemed to mirror the blazing rivers around us. Beside him stood three teammates: a wiry boy with sharp eyes who balanced a pair of twin fire-blades; a tall, composed girl ; and a smaller boy with a perpetual smirk, a fire-whip coiled around his wrist.


    ¡°Well, this is cozy,¡± Aaron quipped, tugging at his collar. ¡°Nothing like fighting fire maniacs in a furnace to start the day.¡±


    Jace smirked. ¡°At least it¡¯s not boring. I was worried we¡¯d get another dull arena.¡±


    Elaine complained. "Seriously, I don''t understand why they rely so much on useless weapons."


    ¡°Focus,¡± I said, cutting off their banter. ¡°This is Pyrestone¡¯s home turf, and they know it better than we do. Their strategy will revolve around using the lava flows to isolate us. Mira, you¡¯ll be key to keeping us connected. Aaron, Jace¡ªyour job is to keep their mages off balance. Elaine, I need you watching for eruptions and keeping the air clear.¡±


    Mira said. ¡°If I can stabilize the platforms, we¡¯ll have room to maneuver. Just give me a window to work.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Elaine said, tying her hair back and scanning the field. ¡°I¡¯ll prioritize keeping the battlefield manageable.¡±


    Aaron grinned, glancing at Jace. ¡°Ready to break their rhythm, Sparky?¡±


    ¡°Always,¡± Jace replied, cracking his knuckles. ¡°Let¡¯s make it loud.¡±


    On the opposite side, Calder and his team seemed equally prepared. His voice, loud and commanding, reached us even over the roar of the lava. ¡°Remember, control the field. Force them to react, and they¡¯ll fall apart.¡±


    The smaller boy with the fire-whip smirked in our direction. ¡°Think they know they¡¯re toast already?¡±


    The wiry one with the fire-blades chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s show them why they shouldn¡¯t play with fire.¡±


    The tall girl, however, was silent, her lava orbs glowing brighter as she concentrated.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The starting signal rang out, and the battle began.


    Calder slammed his hands into the ground, summoning a towering wave of lava that cut the arena into scattered platforms. His team followed immediately: the fire-blade wielder leapt onto a nearby platform, spinning his weapons in a whirlwind of flames, while the whip-wielder sent fiery tendrils slashing across the battlefield. The tall girl conjured searing fireballs, launching them with pinpoint precision.


    ¡°Here we go!¡± Jace called, diving to avoid a vortex of flames.


    ¡°Mira, we need stability!¡± I shouted.


    Mira reshaped the crumbling edges of our platform into solid stone. ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ve got it!¡± she yelled, her brow furrowed in concentration.


    Aaron countered the whip-wielder¡¯s attack with his own flames, forcing him to back off, but the clash left scorch marks on our footing. ¡°This guy¡¯s a slippery one,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Work together!¡± I reminded them. ¡°Don¡¯t get drawn into their rhythm.¡±


    Jace darted forward, sending a bolt of lightning arcing toward the fire-blade wielder. The enemy deflected it with a spinning blade, but the effort left him exposed. Aaron seized the opportunity, launching a quick fireball that sent him scrambling.


    Calder wasn¡¯t idle. With a sharp gesture, he redirected a lava flow to sever our escape route, his grin widening as it forced Elaine to leap to a smaller platform.


    Elaine sent a gust of wind to push back a sudden eruption. ¡°They¡¯re not giving us room to breathe.¡±


    ¡°Mira, adjust the flow!¡± I instructed.


    ¡°On it!¡± Mira shouted, sweat dripping down her face, redirecting the molten river back toward Pyrestone¡¯s position. The platforms rumbled as her magic reshaped the battlefield.


    Calder scowled, realizing what was happening. ¡°Focus fire on the geomancer!¡± he barked to his team.


    The tall girl hurled fireballs directly at Mira, but Elaine intercepted them with precise wind slash. ¡°You¡¯re not getting to her,¡± Elaine said.


    Jace and Aaron took advantage of the distraction. ¡°Let¡¯s take down their leader,¡± Jace suggested.


    ¡°Right behind you,¡± Aaron agreed.


    Together, they launched a combined assault¡ªlightning and fire merging into a brilliant, explosive arc. Calder barely managed to summon a barrier, his teeth gritted as it flickered under the strain.


    ¡°Mira, now¡¯s your chance!¡± I urged.


    Mira made the largest lava flow veer sharply, cutting through Pyrestone¡¯s formation and forcing them to retreat. Calder stumbled, his control faltering.


    ¡°Elaine, finish it!¡± I called.


    Elaine summoned a powerful gust of wind, sending debris flying toward their already scattered formation. Jace and Aaron followed up with another coordinated attack, the explosion lighting up the arena.


    When the dust cleared, Calder was on one knee, his protective barrier shattered. Mira¡¯s final act was to trap the remaining Pyrestone mages in solid stone pillars, immobilizing them.


    The whistle blew, signaling the end of the match.


    Aaron let out a cheer, slapping Jace on the back. ¡°Told you we¡¯d turn up the heat!¡±


    Jace smirked, sparks still crackling faintly around him. ¡°Not bad for a pyromaniac.¡±


    Mira slumped to one knee, exhausted but smiling. ¡°We did it.¡±


    Elaine extended a hand to help her up. ¡°We are qualified for the final.¡±


    I stepped forward, nodding in approval. ¡°You worked together, stayed sharp, and adapted. Well done.¡±


    The crowd erupted in applause as we exited the battlefield, victorious.


    The team returned to the quarters, their faces flushed from the heat and the thrill of victory.


    I stood in the doorway, watching them with pride. ¡°Celebrate. Rest. Tomorrow, the finals await.¡±

 Chapter 15

    The final match was upon us: our team, the underdogs, against the reigning champions from the ZenithAcademy.


    The arena shifted as the battlefield materialized¡ªa crumbling city suspended in midair. Buildings floated at odd angles, some tilted precariously, and others connected by fragile bridges. Gravity was inconsistent, shifting erratically in different sections of the arena, pulling platforms upward, downward, and sideways. One wrong move could send someone tumbling into the endless void.


    Alaric, the Zenith academy composed leader, stood at the center of his team. Beside him, his teammates¡ªCassian, the illusionist; Aris, the fire magician ; and Celeste, the barrier specialist¡ªstood like a fortress. They were seasoned, calculated, and entirely unphased.


    The crowd''s excited roar filled the air as the signal rang, marking the beginning of the final match. I gathered the team, making sure we were all on the same page.


    "Zenith¡¯s a tough team, and Alaric is their leader for a reason. They¡¯ll try to control the arena and separate you. Don¡¯t let them. Stay together, adapt to the situation, and force them to react to you instead of the other way around.¡± I said, my voice firm.


    Mina looked nervous. ¡°They¡¯ve got the advantage. This arena is perfect for them.¡±


    ¡°That just means we need to be smarter,¡± Elaine said, her voice steady despite the tension. ¡°Let¡¯s stick to the plan.¡±


    Jace looked serious. ¡°They¡¯re going to push us to the edge¡ªliterally. We need to hit back harder.¡±


    Aaron grinned faintly. ¡°We¡¯ve made it this far. No point holding back now.¡±


    The match signal blared, and the Zenith academy team struck immediately.


    The battlefield erupted in chaos as Alaric twisted the gravity across the arena. Platforms wrenched apart, and several crumbled into the void. Mira reacted quickly, stabilizing the ground beneath her team.


    ¡°Keep together!¡± she called, as the shifting gravity made her footing unsteady.


    Cassian conjured a swarm of illusions of himself sending several fire balls, toward the team, their forms indistinguishable from reality. ¡°They¡¯re everywhere!¡± Jace shouted, firing a bolt of lightning that passed harmlessly through one of the specters.


    Elaine sent several wind blades scattering the illusions, but the real Cassian was already moving, slipping through the chaos to disrupt their formation. ¡°He¡¯s behind us!¡± Aaron shouted, spinning to launch a wave of fireballs.


    Celeste¡¯s barriers blocked Aaron¡¯s flames. ¡°You¡¯ll have to do better than that,¡± she said with a smirk.


    Mira gritted her teeth, raising a stone wall to shield her teammates, but Alaric warped the gravity around it, tearing the wall into fragments. A chunk of debris flew toward Jace, forcing him to dive out of the way.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    ¡°Jace, watch it!¡± Mira yelled.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying!¡± he shot back, landing on an unsteady platform just as Aris leaped toward him, sending a wave of fireballs his way.


    Jace barely managed to block the attack with several bolt of lightening, but the force of the blow sent him skidding to the edge of the platform. ¡°Little help here!¡± he shouted.


    Elaine sent a gust of wind to push Aris back, but Celeste quickly reinforced his position with another barrier. The Zenith team coordination was flawless.


    ¡°They¡¯re damn strong!¡± Aaron growled, launching a stream of head sized fireball toward Alaric.


    Alaric redirected the flames, the fire spiraling harmlessly into the void. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± he asked coolly.


    Mira¡¯s focus faltered under the pressure. ¡°I can¡¯t keep the platforms stable with him twisting gravity like that!¡±


    ¡°We need to disrupt their formation,¡± Elaine said, deflecting a barrage of flying boulders with a powerful gust of wind. ¡°We¡¯re too scattered.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re making sure we can¡¯t regroup,¡± Jace snapped, narrowly dodging another strike from Aris.


    Aaron grimaced. ¡°So what do we do? We can¡¯t win if we¡¯re playing defense the whole time!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re using the arena better than we are,¡± Mira said through gritted teeth. ¡°We need to take control of it¡ªor at least stop Alaric from controlling everything!¡±


    Easier said than done. Alaric raised another platform into the air, creating a higher vantage point for his team. From above, Cassian rained down bolts of lightening, forcing the team to scatter again.


    ¡°Stick together!¡± Elaine shouted, her voice strained. ¡°If we split up any more, we¡¯re done!¡±


    ¡°Tell that to them!¡± Aaron retorted, gesturing to the Zenith Order¡¯s flawless positioning.


    Mira clenched her fists, her focus laser-sharp. ¡°I¡¯m going to bring that platform down. Cover me!¡±


    ¡°On it,¡± Jace said, gritting his teeth as he unleashed a flurry of lightning bolt toward Celeste, hoping to distract her from reinforcing Alaric¡¯s position.


    Aaron hurled a barrage of fireballs at Cassian, forcing him to retreat. ¡°They¡¯re moving too fast!¡± he muttered, frustration raising.


    Elaine¡¯s winds surged, slowing Celeste¡¯s counterattack. ¡°Mira, now¡¯s your chance!¡±


    Mira made the platform above them crack in half. Alaric¡¯s calm demeanor finally wavered as the structure collapsed, sending him and his teammates into the air.


    ¡°They¡¯re off balance!¡± Jace yelled, surging forward.


    But Alaric recovered quickly, twisting the falling debris into a storm of projectiles. The team ducked and dodged, barely avoiding the barrage.


    ¡°We¡¯re not done yet!¡± Mira called, reshaping the crumbled platform into a jagged rampart to protect her teammates.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s finish this,¡± Elaine said, her winds gathering in a powerful storm.


    With one last coordinated push, Jace and Aaron unleashed a combined attack¡ªlightning and fire converging in a brilliant explosion that shattered Alaric¡¯s defenses. The Zenith team cohesion crumbled as Mira¡¯s stone pillars pinned their remaining fighters in place.


    The whistle blew, signaling the end of the match.


    The team stood in silence, chests heaving, sweat dripping from their brows. Victory had never felt so difficult.


    ¡°That was¡­¡± Aaron began, trailing off as he collapsed onto the nearest platform. ¡°Insane.¡±


    ¡°No kidding,¡± Jace muttered, leaning against a stone wall. ¡°They almost had us.¡±


    Elaine managed a small, tired smile. ¡°Almost.¡±


    Mira let out a long breath. ¡°They were really strong.¡±


    For a moment, they were quiet, the weight of their victory settling in. Then, slowly, smiles began to spread across their faces.


    ¡°We actually did it,¡± Aaron said, shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°We beat them.¡±


    ¡°Barely,¡± Elaine said, though there was pride in her voice.


    ¡°Barely¡¯s enough,¡± Jace replied, his grin finally returning.


    As the crowd roared in the background, I stood at the edge of the arena, watching them proudly.

 Chapter 16

    The journey back home on the enchanted airship was nothing short of jubilant. The hum of the ship¡¯s magical core provided a comforting background melody to the team''s laughter and chatter as the vessel soared above rolling clouds in the glittering night sky.


    Aaron was sprawled across one of the cushioned benches. ¡°Did you see their faces when we pulled off that final combo? Priceless!¡± he said grinning.


    Jace, sitting nearby, gave a satisfied nod. ¡°I¡¯ve got to admit, that felt real good. All those late-night drills we hated? Totally worth it.¡±


    Mira sat by the window, her gaze fixed on the stars outside, a soft smile on her lips. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just the training,¡± she said quietly. ¡°Our teamwork made the difference.¡±


    Elaine smiled, letting the cool breeze from the enchanted ventilation charm ruffle her hair. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see everyone¡¯s faces when they hear about this. The ¡®worst class in the academy¡¯¡ªour class¡ªwins the inter-academy tournament? We are going to become legends! ?


    Aaron chuckled. ¡°They¡¯re going to faint. Or better yet, challenge us to ¡®prove¡¯ their so-called superiority!¡±


    Jace smirked as he cracked his knuckles. ¡°Let them try. Kicking some ass always feels good.¡±


    Elaine laughed, ¡°for sure.¡±


    Mira turned from the window, her voice brimming with anticipation. ¡°And the teachers¡­ do you think they¡¯ll believe it? The same ones who said we¡¯d never amount to anything?¡±


    So, their previous teachers said that¡­ Interesting. Sherry will be delighted to hear that. I though watching my students thoughtfully from the sideline.


    Aaron burst out laughing. ¡°Oh, they¡¯re going to have to swallow their words. I mean, us? The ¡®misfits¡¯ beating the elite teams? That¡¯s going down in history.¡±


    Jace smirked, arms crossed. ¡°Someone should write a ballad about it¡ªor maybe build a big statue of our team in the hall.¡±


    Elaine chuckled softly. ¡°You just know it¡¯s going to end up in the history books. ¡®Class D: From Underdogs to Champions.¡¯¡±


    Aaron grinned and waved dramatically, mimicking an imaginary crowd. ¡°And of course, I will be the hero of the story!¡±


    Jace rolled his eyes. ¡°More like the loudmouth of the team.¡±


    Mira giggled, and even Elaine couldn¡¯t hold back a smile as the playful banter continued.


    From my spot, I listened to their joy, feeling a quiet pride settle over me. They deserved this moment of celebration after all their hard work.


    As the enchanted airship began its descent toward the academy grounds, the mood shifted subtly. The team¡¯s chatter quieted as they gathered near the windows, eager to catch the first glimpse of home. But as the fog cleared and the academy came into view¡ªor what was left of it¡ªa collective gasp filled the cabin.


    The academy was in ruins.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Among the rubbles, the corpse of teachers and students littered the ground. Well what was left of their bodies did.


    As soon as the airship touched the ground, my body moved before my mind caught up. I descended the ramp in a haze, my steps heavy and unsteady. Instinct took over. I summoned tracking orbs in an instant, sending them darting across the wreckage in desperate hope. Each orb carried a spell that could detect the faintest trace of life.


    But there was nothing. The orbs returned one by one, their silence a verdict more damning than any words could convey. No survivors. Not even one.


    And then I saw her.


    Sherry.


    She laid crumbled beneath the ruins of the grand archway, her body half-buried in debris in a pool of her own blood. Her lifeless face, mangled arms and bloody robe came into view.


    I froze, staring at the vision, my hands clenching and unclenching, trying to grab her intangible form. She wasn¡¯t here¡ªat least not in a way I could touch. The orb¡¯s magic allowed me only to see her, to witness her broken form through this cruel illusion, while her actual body lay buried beneath tons of debris, unreachable.


    ¡°Sherry¡­¡± I whispered, my voice cracking, the word barely escaping my lips. I wanted to turn back time, to undo this nightmare.


    But the image remained. Still. Cold. Silent.


    My knees gave out, and I fell to the ground, my strength abandoning me. I reached for the orb, for the projection, my hand trembling as it passed through the insubstantial light. I couldn¡¯t touch her. I couldn¡¯t hold her. All I could do was watch.


    Her face¡ªthe same face that had always glowed with determination and warmth¡ªwas now expressionless. Still. Too still. My breath caught as my mind replayed her laughter, her fiery speeches, her stubborn resolve to make the academy a place for everyone, even those deemed unworthy by others. She had been a force of nature, a blazing sun, and now¡­ now she was gone.


    The orb flickered, the image beginning to fade. ¡°No!¡± I cried out, my voice raw and broken. I lunged for it, my hands grasping at the light, but it shimmered once more before vanishing completely, leaving nothing but darkness and the memory of what I had seen.


    Behind me, my students watched in stunned silence. Aaron staggered forward, gripping the edge of the airship for support, his usually boisterous voice shaking. ¡°No... no, no, no,¡± he muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°This can¡¯t be real¡­ this can¡¯t be real!¡± He fell to his knees.


    Mira let out a sob that seemed to cut through the smoke-filled air, collapsing as if her legs had given out. ¡°Everyone¡­ they¡¯re all¡­ gone,¡± she choked out, her voice cracking under the weight of this madness. Jace stood frozen, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, his breath coming in short, sharp bursts. Elaine buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as tears streamed down her face.


    The sight of my students¡ªmy other children¡ªbreaking apart only deepened my sorrow. They didn¡¯t deserve this. None of us did.


    I wanted to scream. To rage. To curse whoever had done this. But no sound came.


    How dare they kill my daughter, my colleagues and my students? I will hunt them down. None of them will escape.


    This attack had definitely been planned thoroughly over a long period of time. The teachers should have been able to send a message or teleport directly in front of me to ask for help.


    This was not normal. This shouldn¡¯t have been possible.


    Most of the teacher were proficient in teleportation under the effect of disruption wards, and I even gave Sherry an artifact to summon me in case of danger.


    When I finally stood, I turned to my students. Their tear-streaked faces stared back at me, desperate for guidance, for answers, for something to hold onto. But what could I give them when I was as lost as they were?


    Still, I forced the words out, my voice hoarse and trembling. ¡°We will find who did this. And we will make them pay.¡±


    Then, I took a deep breath, forcing myself to speak the words that would shatter their last sliver of hope. ¡°I sent tracking orbs across the entire academy. There is no survivor.¡±


    This news was met with a profound silence. Each of my students processed the reality in their own way, their expressions shifting between disbelief, despair, and muted anger. Their sobs were muffled, their words hesitant, but I could see the unspoken question burning in their eyes: Why? Why would someone do this?


    "Alright, we will talk later. For now, I am bringing all of you to a safe place."


    On those words, I teleported everyone to my home.

 Chapter 17

    The familiar warmth of my once-cozy home now felt cold and foreign, despite the protective wards humming faintly around the walls.


    Aaron collapsed into a chair the moment we arrived, his head cradled in his hands. His shoulders trembled with silent sobs, and the fiery bravado that usually defined him had burned out completely. Mira, still shivering, slumped into another seat. Her vacant stare and trembling frame betrayed her inability to process the enormity of our loss. Against the wall, Jace stood tense, his hands repeatedly clenching and unclenching as fury simmered beneath his bloodshot eyes. In the corner, Elaine hugged her knees, her muffled sobs breaking the silence.


    I stood in their midst, frozen with helplessness. A lump formed in my throat as I watched their grief. I was their mentor, their guide. I was supposed to have the answers, to shield them from horrors like this. But nothing had prepared me for this nightmare.


    My fists tightened as fragments of the attack replayed in my mind. What had gone wrong? The defenses should have held. Sherry should have summoned me with the artifact. What could have disrupted¡ª


    The realization hit like a blade through the ribs.


    ¡°Spies,¡± I whispered to myself. ¡°It had to be spies.¡±


    Turning to my students, their tear-streaked faces riddled with anguish, I forced my voice to steady. ¡°This attack wasn¡¯t random. It was planned, calculated. Someone betrayed us, exploited our defenses and trust to destroy everything.¡±


    Aaron¡¯s head snapped up, his tear-streaked face twisting with anger. ¡°Then we¡¯ll find them,¡± he hissed. His voice was raw. ¡°And we¡¯ll make them pay.¡±


    Jace nodded, his jaw tight. ¡°Whoever they are¡­ they¡¯re dead.¡±


    Mira hesitated, her voice trembling. ¡°But¡­ how do we fight people that could do this? We¡¯re just students. Our teachers were so strong ¡ªand even they¡­¡± Her voice broke, and she couldn¡¯t finish the thought.


    I stepped closer to them. ¡°We may not have all the answers yet,¡± I said firmly, ¡°but we will uncover the truth. And when we do¡­¡± My tone hardened. ¡°I swear to you, I will destroy those responsible. I am an Archmage. They¡¯ll pay for everything they¡¯ve done.¡±


    Aaron and Jace spoke in unison. ¡°We¡¯ll fight, too. Let us help you avenge them!¡±


    I placed a hand on their shoulders, softening my voice. ¡°You will. But for now, take time to grieve. What you¡¯ve endured today¡ªno one should ever have to face.¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    As they retreated to the guest rooms, I lingered in the main hall, staring into the soft glow of the fireplace. My thoughts turned to Sherry¡ªher fiery resolve, her unwavering vision for the academy and its students. The image of her warm smile pierced me, sharp and unforgiving. I will not let your sacrifice be in vain.


    Activating my magical communicator, I reached out to a trusted network. If whispers of this attack existed, these contacts would hear them. Yet one by one, my calls turned up empty. No answers, no leads¡ªonly disbelief and apologies.


    When I reached the last name on my list, I was on the verge of giving up. The communicator glowed faintly before Arthur¡¯s face appeared, his brow furrowed.


    ¡°Aldric?¡± he asked. ¡°Why the urgency?¡±


    My voice was taut with suppressed emotion. ¡°Arthur, I need your help. The academy has fallen. Our wards¡­ breached. Sherry¡­¡± My throat tightened. ¡°She didn¡¯t survive.¡±


    Arthur¡¯s face paled. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ impossible. Your academy was a fortress.¡±


    ¡°So I thought,¡± I replied bitterly. ¡°But someone found a way through. They had help¡ªinside help. I need answers.¡±


    "Aldric, I had no idea. I swear.¡±


    ¡°Can you swear upon your soul that you truly didn''t know?"


    Arthur¡¯s face darkened. The silence heavy between us before he finally spoke.


    ¡°I swear, Aldric. On my soul and on my magic. I didn¡¯t know. But this¡­ if what you¡¯re saying is true, then something far worse is at play.¡±


    His admission sent a chill through me. Arthur wasn¡¯t one to make dramatic statements lightly. ¡°What do you mean? What do you know?¡±


    He hesitated for a moment before leaning closer to the magical communicator. His voice dropped. ¡°I¡¯ve been hearing rumors of an organization working in the shadows. They call themselves the Obsidian Order. No one knows their full purpose, but they¡¯ve been targeting power centers across the continent. Strongholds, academies, fortresses¡ªall either destroyed or weakened from within.¡±


    The name sent a jolt through me. I had come across rumors of the Obsidian Order before¡ªvague reports, half-truths¡ªbut nothing concrete. ¡°And you think they¡¯re behind this?¡±


    Arthur nodded grimly. ¡°I can¡¯t be sure, but it fits their pattern. Their hallmark is precision¡ªsystematic strikes designed to dismantle defenses from within.¡±


    ¡°If they¡¯re behind this¡­¡± my voice turned cold, ¡°I¡¯ll find them. And they will pay.¡±


    Arthur expression turned grave. ¡°Be careful, Aldric. I know you¡¯re grieving, but don¡¯t rush into this. They aren¡¯t amateurs. If you wreak havoc without a plan you might fall into their traps.¡±


    ¡°Let them try,¡± I said coldly. ¡°I¡¯ll bury them.¡±


    He sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Just¡­ be careful. I¡¯ll dig around, see what else I can find. And Aldric¡­ I¡¯m sorry. Sherry didn¡¯t deserve this.¡±


    His image faded, leaving me alone once more.


    The Obsidian Order.


    At least I had a clue now.


    As I sank into my chair, I considered my options. Finding the culprits was critical, but vengeance alone wouldn¡¯t bring back the dead. My thoughts drifted to the experimental spell¡ªmy life¡¯s work.


    Reversing time wasn¡¯t just theoretical. I had tested the spell before, but never beyond a minute. Attempting a greater leap could unravel the timeline¡ªor worse, kill me. But what choice did I have?


    For my family, my students, my friends¡­ I had to try.


    But first, I needed answers. Only then would I risk the greatest gamble of my life.

 Chapter 18

    The first rays of dawn filtered through the windows. I hadn¡¯t slept, but my resolve felt sharper in the morning light. The previous night¡¯s horrors hadn¡¯t receded; they clung to me like a second skin. My chest tightened at the thought of the academy. Ashes, crumbled stone, and corpses. Sherry''s cold corpse.


    Uncountable bodies, many so disfigured that their identities were lost. The roster of survivors remained uncertain, and with it, the identity of the spies as well.


    I retrieved a fresh notebook from the shelf and set it on my desk. Vengeance demanded strategy; anger alone would not serve me here. With trembling hands, I opened the cover and began sketching lines and circles¡ªstructuring the labyrinth of questions tangled in my mind.


    At the center, I etched the academy¡¯s defenses¡ªlayers of adaptive wards meant to withstand the most dangerous of threats. Their impenetrability had been my pride, and now, their failure felt like a knife twisting in my gut. How could they fail so spectacularly unless someone had fed their secrets to our enemies? My thoughts darkened as I jotted names¡ªthose few in my inner circle who knew of the sigils, who might have been able to override them. The same people I had once trusted implicitly. Carl my old friend was among them.


    As I listed names, my stomach churned. Could some of them even be alive? The ferocity of the attack and the aftermath left survivors. Still, betrayal often nested where one least expected. My pulse quickened, anger fueling my movements.


    I conjured the communicator again, gritting my teeth as Arthur¡¯s name formed on my lips. The device flared to life, and his fatigued face emerged.


    ¡°Aldric,¡± he greeted wearily. ¡°Did you find something already?¡±


    ¡°I need to confirm something,¡± I began. ¡°Two months ago, Sherry and I integrated a new layer of defensive sigils around the academy. The encryption was unbreakable¡ªor so we thought. Beyond her and me, only a select few were privy to the details. Could the Obsidian Order have gained access through my network?¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Arthur¡¯s face hardened. ¡°You¡¯re implying someone in your inner circle gave them the key.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°What else explains it? Someone with detailed knowledge fed them what they needed. And if one of our own betrayed us¡­¡±


    Arthur'' voice dropped. ¡°Think carefully, Aldric. Could it have been desperation? Blackmail? Anyone in your ranks showing signs of¡­ struggle?¡±


    I hated the plausibility in his suggestion, my stomach churning as I replayed the faces of colleagues, friends and allies. ¡°Struggle doesn¡¯t justify the annihilation of everything we¡¯ve built, if the spy needed help he could have asked Sherry or me¡± I snapped. ¡°But I¡¯ll dig deeper. There has to be a trace. Something we¡¯ve overlooked.¡±


    Arthur nodded grimly. ¡°Be careful where you dig. Your spies may have the backing of the Obsidian Order, or they might have been left alive to lead you into a trap.¡±


    His image dissolved into the ether, leaving me alone with the lingering weight of his warning.


    I rested for a moment, closing my eyes while massaging my aching temples.


    After a few minutes, I reopened my notebook, scratching out broader possibilities and abandoning the certainty of trust. Friends, allies, students¡ªI couldn¡¯t afford to dismiss anyone. Not until I knew the extent of our losses, and not until I understood why Sherry hadn¡¯t used the artifact.


    But even my grief couldn¡¯t hold back a darker compulsion. There was a way. My eyes landed on my final page of notes¡ª my temporal magic. A spell I had created in my laboratory, a spell that had worked. For a minute.


    Stretching that to hours or even days posed risks I couldn¡¯t ignore. Chronal distortion, rupture of events. Death.


    Yet, the carnage was vivid in my memory¡ª If I could undo that horror, no cost was too high.


    No, not yet. First, I needed to know the truth behind the Obsidian Order¡¯s grip on us, and why they had chosen us as their target. Answers first. And if they refused to surface in this timeline, I would tear another into being to force them out.


    I closed the notebook and leaned back in my chair, exhaling shakily. For now, one thing alone kept me from losing my mind was their faces. Sherry, my colleagues, my students. The many who had been cut down indiscriminately. I needed to uncover the truth and go back to the past to save them.


    ¡°For you,¡± I murmured to the silent room. ¡°For all of you, I¡¯ll make this right.¡±


    I had an idea on how the find the culprits. The magical tower had an unparalleled magical surveillance, its arcane crystals recording events across the region. Despite the academy¡¯s protective wards rendering its interior undetectable, the comings and goings at its borders would still have left traces here¡ªfootprints in time that could not be erased.

 Chapter 19

    I teleported us to a small, two-story house I''d purchased years ago under an alias to live far away from the magical world.


    As soon as we arrived, Carl collapsed to his knees beside me, gasping for air like a drowning man dragged ashore.


    ¡°You should¡¯ve left me,¡± he wheezed. ¡°They won¡¯t stop hunting you now.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to let you die,¡± I replied coldly, glaring down at him. ¡°I need answers.¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer right away, nodding slowly, his gaze distant, as though the memories had dragged him somewhere I couldn¡¯t follow. ¡°They have people everywhere, Aldric,¡± he murmured. ¡°They just wanted something in the academy.¡±


    ¡°And they probably got what they wanted,¡± I growled. ¡°At the cost of my daughter¡¯s life. At the cost of all of our students. Our colleagues!¡±


    Carl flinched, his whole body trembling under the weight of his guilt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aldric. About everything. Truly.¡± His voice cracked. ¡°They are the worst kind of bastards¡ªand So am I. I couldn¡¯t forsake my son to protect the academy. Not when I saw the way they tortured him¡­ day after day¡­¡± His words trailed off, his focus slipping away.


    I stared down at him, my anger threatening to consume me entirely. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me anything then?¡± I barked. ¡°You knew I could help! We could have rescued him together!¡±


    Slowly, Carl raised his head, tears brimming in his red-rimmed eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± he whispered hoarsely. ¡°They made sure even you wouldn¡¯t be able to rescue him¡­¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, Carl? What did they do?¡±


    His breath hitched, and he fought to steady himself before speaking. ¡°Do you remember the wards from before? The ones that learn from you¡ªthe ones that adapt every time you strike them?¡±


    I nodded slowly. ¡°Yes, I do.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve perfected them,¡± Carl whispered, his voice trembling. ¡°The best wards they have don¡¯t just adapt anymore, Aldric. They anticipate you. They were built with your magic in mind.¡±


    ¡°Bastards.¡± I swore under my breath.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know the worst part yet, Aldric.¡± He murmured. ¡°They wanted me to ask you for help. To lure you into their trap and get rid of you.¡± He inhaled sharply. ¡°They promised they would send Letio back alive if I brought you to their base.¡± His face crumpled. ¡°When I refused, they started torturing him¡­ while making me watch, powerless by his side. That broke me, Aldric. I couldn¡¯t do anything but watch.¡±


    I clenched my fist, my nails biting into my palms deep enough to draw blood. A indescribable fury churned in my chest.


    ¡°You could have told me, we could have found a way out together,¡± I hissed. ¡°Instead, you let them walk all over you, and now¡­¡± I struggled to say the words. ¡°Now my daughter¡¯s gone, and Letio¡¯s¡­¡±


    Carl crumpled further, his head bowing as though the accusation crushed him. ¡°Don¡¯t you think I wanted to?!¡± he yelled suddenly, his voice raw. He looked up at me with bloodshot eyes, his face streaked with tears. ¡°Don¡¯t you think I wanted to beg you for help? But I didn¡¯t want you to die! I knew you would have done anything to save my son!¡±


    ¡°I tried to resist. I really did.¡± His body trembled violently as he gestured. ¡°But they kept showing me what they were doing to him. They¡¯d¡ª¡± His voice cracked again, and he turned his back on me as though the memory physically hurt him.


    He stopped speaking for a long minute before turning back to me. ¡°One day, when I was about to lose my sanity, they made another offer. They promised they would give my son back to me alive if I gave them access to the academy. At that time, I wasn¡¯t thinking straight anymore. I just wanted this hell to end." He locked eyes with me. "Aldric I know what I did is unforgivable. I will atone for my crime with my life.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    I watched him in silence, unable to talk. If this had happened to me, I might not have been as resilient as him. But too many people died because of his choice.


    I couldn¡¯t forgive him, but taking out my anger on Carl wouldn¡¯t solve anything.


    Breath in. Breath out.


    ¡°Your death won¡¯t bring them back, Carl. Tell me everything,¡± I demanded. ¡°Start from the beginning. I need to know exactly what they took, how they¡¯ve done this, and what defenses I¡¯ll have to face.¡±


    Carl hesitated, his mouth opening and closing.


    ¡°Everything, Carl.¡± I leaned closer. ¡°Every last detail. Because if there¡¯s even a shred of hope to make them pay, I need to know everything.¡±


    He swallowed hard, his face pale as he nodded. ¡°It wasn¡¯t random¡ªthey knew who I was, what I could give them. They asked for access to your experimental vault.¡±


    ¡°They were after something specific in my researches,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Carl¡¯s gaze dropped to the floor. ¡°But I don¡¯t know what.¡±


    I froze. Don¡¯t tell me they did everything for my time magic? This is impossible I didn¡¯t even tell Sherry about it!


    ¡°They have it now, don¡¯t they?¡± I asked, my stomach churning.


    Carl nodded. ¡°They do. Whatever it is, they found it significant enough to kill all witnesses.¡±


    I turned toward the window. Outside, the night was still ¡ªa false calm before the storm. This battle wasn¡¯t just about revenge anymore. If they had my researches, the stakes had risen far beyond our lives. But even if they had it, they wouldn¡¯t be able to use it right away. It shouldn¡¯t be too late if I turned back time now. Only, I would need to go back much further into the past.


    ¡°They wanted me distracted.¡± My voice was calm now. ¡°That¡¯s why they killed my daughter. That¡¯s why they targeted Letio. They knew I¡¯d come after them eventually¡ªand they made sure I¡¯d be too angry, to think clearly.¡± I paused, "their only mistake was to keep you alive."


    Carl looked at me. ¡°Aldric¡­ Do you need more informations?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I need to know about their defenses, the identities of all the members you know, the location of the base."


    He nodded and told me everything I needed to know about their secondary base. Codenames. Locations. Defenses. Passwords. Traps. Map of the base.


    With these, I might just be able to infiltrate them ¡ª if my time magic succeeded.


    The risks be damned. My research was solid¡ªI was certain of it. I would return to the past, no matter the dangers.


    I knew this spell would demand everything I had. There would be no artifacts, no shortcuts¡ªonly raw mana and my mastery over it as an Archmage. Manipulating time was a feat so delicate, so precise, that the slightest error could tear me apart or transport me to another century. But I had no choice.


    I teleported Carl to my main house and came back to cast the spell without being disturbed by anyone.


    I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. The ambient mana around me trembled as I drew it inward, channeling it from my core. I guided the surging energy into disciplined currents as I mentally reviewed the structure of the spell.


    The first phase of the spell involved forming the Temporal Shell, a protective barrier to shield my essence from the chaotic torrents of the timestream. I focused, to slowly shape the shell in the air before me.


    As the shell solidified, I moved on to constructing the Temporal Anchor. This anchor would bind me to a specific moment in time, ensuring I didn¡¯t drift aimlessly through history. I recalled Sherry¡¯s visit to my home and focused on it. The mana around me writhed and I forced the energy into place, holding the spell steady through sheer willpower.


    Next came the hardest part: crafting the Temporal Pathway, the thread that would pull me back to the precise moment I had chosen. Shaping it was like weaving silk threads in a hurricane. My vision blurred as I connected the pathway to the anchor, channeling mana through it while keeping the entire construct stable.


    The pull of the timestream grew stronger, relentless. Time itself seemed to resist my efforts. My body screamed in protest. I poured every last ounce of mana into the spell, the effort leaving me gasping for breath. And then, the world around me distorted, twisting into a blur as I was hurled backward through the flow of time.


    Pain ripped through me, sharper than any wound I had ever endured. Images of the past assaulted me¡ªSherry¡¯s childhood, the founding of the academy... The timestream itself seemed to push back, trying to overwhelm me, to force me to surrender.


    But I refused to falter. My anchor held firm, its memory guiding me. With one final surge of will, I teared through the resistance of the timestream.


    Then, the world around me turned silent.


    When I opened my eyes, I was in my bed at home. My body ached as if I had been torn apart and stitched back together. The alarm of my ward buzzed crazily indicating the presence of an intruder.


    The spell had worked. This was definitely the past. But something was wrong.


    My mana reserves were nearly depleted, and the spell had left me weakened. I couldn¡¯t even leave my bed or stop the alarm of my ward.


    For the first time in my life, I prayed.


    I prayed for the intruder being my daughter and not someone else.

 Chapter 20

    I waited, my heart pounding crazily in my chest. The intruder¡¯s footsteps drew closer. With my mana reserves depleted, I didn¡¯t know what to do. I was at the mercy of any mage or warrior passing by. The footsteps stopped just outside my room. Gritting my teeth, I fumbled for a solution. My eyes landed on the bedside table where I had left an illusion artifact. Trembling, I grabbed it. If the intruder¡¯s unskilled or careless, this might work.


    Knock. Knock.


    Assassins didn¡¯t knock and friends wouldn''t arrive without warning. I clenched the illusion artifact tightly in my hand, holding my breath, prepared for the worst.


    ¡°Dad?¡±


    It was Sherry. My chest tightened, hot tears welling at the corners of my eyes.


    ¡°Sherry... Sherry¡­¡± I said, trying to banish the vision of her cold body overlapping with her current self.


    She rushed to my side. ¡°Dad! What happened to you? You look terrible!¡±


    I couldn¡¯t answer right away, my throat constricted by the boundless joy and relief I was feeling. Against all odds, I had made it back. She was here¡ªalive.


    ¡°I¡­¡± My voice faltered. ¡°You¡¯re safe¡­ you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m,¡± she said gently, her brow furrowed in concern. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting strange, what¡¯s going on? You look like you¡¯ve been through hell.¡±


    I managed a weak smile. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a long story.¡±


    She frowned, a wrinkle appearing between her eyebrows. "You aren''t pretending to be unwell to avoid going back to the academy right?"


    ¡°No, Sherry,¡± I whispered hoarsely, wincing at her suggestion. ¡°I swear. I¡¯m not faking anything.¡±


    I hesitated before pleading, ¡°Can¡­ can I just hold you for a moment? I¡¯ve missed you so much¡­¡±


    Her frown deepened as her eyes swept over my battered body. ¡°Alright but why do you look like this? What are you not telling me, Dad?¡±


    Oups. I shouldn''t bring her into this mess. It was too dangerous.


    Think Aldric, think. What can you say to make the situation look trivial.


    ¡°Sherry, it¡¯s nothing I just had a very bad nightmare.¡± I began, "In my dream you died. Please, Sherry. Let me hold you for a moment, I need to make sure you are real.¡±


    She looked at me skeptically. "You expect me to believe you''re in this state over a mere nightmare? You, the Archmage?"


    Damn it. She was as perceptive as ever¡ªnever one to fall for an easy lie.


    "Yes, Sherry," I murmured, dragging out the words to buy myself a moment to think. "I missed you and your mom so much..." My voice cracked. "You know her death anniversary is coming up soon. I guess it all just... caught up with me."


    Her expression softened, and sadness filled her eyes. "I¡¯m sorry, Dad. I didn¡¯t realize it still affected you so much. I miss her as well at that time of the year," she said gently, opening her arms. "Come here. Let me hug you for a while."


    I leaned into her embrace, feeling her warmth dispel the residual chill in my body. Tears fell freely now. She was alive¡ªagainst everything I had feared, she was alive. The knot in my chest easing for the first time in days.


    I cherished every moment spent in her embrace. The minutes stretched in silence. When she pulled back, I let go reluctantly.


    ¡°Thank you, Sherry. I really needed that,¡± I said earnestly, wiping the tears off my face.


    She offered me a soft smile. ¡°You are welcome, Dad. But do you want me to bring a healer? You look terrible.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "No. It''s alright. I am fine." I replied, shaking my head lightly.


    Sherry frowned doubtfully, motioning at my pale, sweat-soaked face and dried up tears. "You sure? You look like as pale as a ghost right now¡±


    I managed a small reassuring smile. "I am sure Sherry. I promise. Sorry for worrying you."


    "Alright, alright, I¡¯ll stop meddling," she said, raising her hands in a I give up gesture. "I was going to ask you to come back to the academy, but I can¡¯t ask that of a patient. Take care of yourself. I¡¯ll come back tomorrow to see how you¡¯re doing."


    ¡°Sherry,¡± I called as she reached the door. She turned, her hand on the frame. ¡°About the academy¡­ I¡¯ve been thinking. I could come back. Teach again. Maybe even help you directly.¡±


    Her brows lifted in surprise, then she smiled, bright and genuine. ¡°Really? I¡¯d love that, Dad. But recuperate first okay?¡±


    ¡°I will. I am really sorry about, well... you know ¡ª letting you run the academy on your own. I realized I should have done more."


    "Dad.... Are you sure you are alright? I mean, I am happy you want to help, but what made you change your mind so suddenly?" she asked with creased brows. "You have been pretty adamant about making another breakthrough in your researches for the past twenty years... "


    I hesitated, feeling her gaze boring into me. How could I explain the gnawing guilt that had eaten at me after her death, or the stark realization that no magical breakthrough would ever be as important as her or our time together. Her death was like an electroshock who set my priorities right. From now on, she along with the academy came first, my researches be damned.


    I let out a soft sigh, deciding she deserved the truth¡ªor at least as much as I could manage without worrying her too much.


    ¡°Sherry, I¡¯ve spent so many years stuck up in my room to do my researches and drown my sorrow." My voice faltered, and I swallowed hard. ¡°Losing your mother, seeing you die in that nightmare made me see how fragile life really is.¡± I paused, taking a deep breath. "This won''t bring back all the time I wasted, but from now on I want to be there for you."


    Sherry stood quietly, taking it all in. "Well you should make more nightmares from now one. If they can set you priorities right." she said cheekily


    I chuckled. That was my daughter for you. She really knew how to make me laugh.


    ¡°Yeah, maybe I should,¡± I muttered with a wry smile. ¡°But really, Sherry, what I''m saying is true, from now on, you and the academy are my priority,¡± I added, my tone more earnest this time.


    ¡°That sounds like progress, Dad,¡± she said, with a hint of skepticism, probably worried I might fall back into my old habits.


    ¡°This¡ªthis might sound like a big, dramatic shift, but I finally realized how blind I have been to what truly matters, Sherry, and I¡¯ve wasted enough time.¡±


    ¡°Well, if you''re sure about this...¡± She smiled, her usual sarcastic edge creeping back, ¡°Then let¡¯s hope the next nightmare isn¡¯t too eye-opening.¡±


    ¡°I can''t promise anything, Sherry. Maybe my next nightmare will be about you getting married and have kids.¡± I answered playfully.


    ¡°Dad!¡± she gasped, as a blush crept up her neck.


    ¡°Imagine the horror!¡± I continued, feigning exaggerated dread. ¡°Kids running around, taking all your time. That would be the ultimate nightmare!¡±


    Her eyes narrowed playfully. ¡°Don¡¯t get any ideas, old man,¡± she warned. ¡°I''m too busy to be thinking about kids.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I know, I know," I said with a wry smile, "But honestly, I think it''s a good investment for my future happiness."


    ¡°Dad, really?¡± she groaned, rolling her eyes. ¡°Are you seriously trying to pressure me into having kids?¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m just thinking ahead. If you don¡¯t start having them soon, I might have to rely on your cousin to get me some cute little grandkids."


    ¡°Yeah, good luck with that,¡± Sherry muttered, but I could see the corners of her lips twitching in amusement.


    ¡°All jokes aside, Sherry, I want to be here for you. Not just on the sidelines, buried in work like I¡¯ve done before. I missed too much already."


    ¡°Okay, I get it,¡± she said. ¡°And... honestly, it¡¯s kind of nice to see you thinking this way. But you do have a lot to catch up on first. I¡¯ll make sure you''re not slipping back into your old patterns.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± I said, nodding. ¡°And no pressure on the grandkids... just know that I¡¯m looking forward to them in the future.¡±


    Her smile grew warmer. ¡°Well, as long as you''re ready to walk me down the aisle in... let''s say, about five years, then we¡¯ll talk.¡±


    I laughed. "I''ll be ready, Sherry. As long as you promise there''ll be plenty of grandkids running around by then."


    "You''re impossible, but alright... maybe," she said with a soft smile. "With you helping out, I might have more time to myself, old man."


    Was it a reproach? Well obviously it was. I earned it. I should have been here to help her out with the academy instead of escaping to do my researches.


    ¡°If you¡¯re really serious about helping me out, then you might have to deal with a whole lot of academy politics.¡± She said with a cheeky smile.


    ¡°Politics? Politics were never my strong suit, Sherry." I said, raising both hands in mock surrender. ¡°But if you need a hand, I¡¯m happy to help with recruiting some qualified staff, I have a large network.¡±


    "I will take you on your offer, Dad," she began, "but for now focus on getting better, we will talk more when you are back on your feet."


    "It''s alright Sherry, I will be back in top shape tomorrow." I said with a smile.


    She frowned. "Don''t push yourself, your health comes first. I can wait a few more days."


    "That won''t be necessary, talking to you made me feel much better." I answered with a genuine smile.


    "Okay, I will be waiting for you." she said warmly, walking to the door. "Goodbye, see you tomorrow."


    "Bye, Sherry." I said, waving my hand until she closed the door behind her.

 Chapter 21

    After Sherry left, I let the cheerful mask I¡¯d been wearing in her company slip away.


    I was thoroughly exhausted.


    Every muscle in my body ached, and my mana reserves were unbearably empty. I sat on the edge of my bed, mustering the will to move.


    Come on, Aldric. Just a few steps, you need these mana and health potions to recuperate.


    Pushing myself upright, I swayed momentarily. My legs felt like jelly. I took a shaky step forward, but nearly fell to the ground. Thank god no one was here to see me make a spectacle of myself, or I would never hear the end of it.


    This was absolutely humiliating. I couldn¡¯t even stand properly. Never in my life had I felt as wretched and weak as I did right now. I was so frail I could pass as an ordinary old man.


    This was infuriating. Normally, I would use wind magic to float above the ground, but I couldn¡¯t even do that now.


    I would never stoop so low as to crawl on the old wooden floor of my bedroom. This would leave another indelible scar in my memory. I gritted my teeth glaring at my aging legs like they had personally betrayed me. I wasn¡¯t as young as I used to be, but in all my years living the secluded life of a magical researcher, I had always exercised properly without missing a single day. It wasn¡¯t much compared to a warrior training regiment, but it was definitely enough to stay in shape.


    This kind of embarrassing helplessness was new to me, and I couldn¡¯t stand it.


    I took a deep breath, concentrating with all my might to move my legs forward without wobbling and falling on my ass. This would be even more humiliating.


    I managed to advance at snail pace, with very small and controlled steps. When I reached the door, I gripped the doorframe for support, wincing from the sharp pain shooting through my right leg.


    Don¡¯t tell me I¡¯d pulled a muscle? This was too much.


    I sat down with difficulty, pulling my pant up to look at my leg.


    The sight that greeted me was troubling. My calf was swollen, a deep, purplish discoloration blooming just beneath the skin, spreading outward like an ink spill.


    A pulled muscle? Perhaps. Or had the mana depletion caused something worse? I clenched my jaw, frustration building alongside the pain. I¡¯d read about what prolonged magical strain could do to the body, but this...


    This isn¡¯t good.


    Mana exhaustion affected more than just reserves. It could disrupt blood circulation, strain vital organs, or even weaken tissues, something no exercise regimen could truly prevent. If I didn¡¯t remedy this soon, it could leave lasting damage no healing potion or spell could remedy.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    I rolled my leg carefully, testing the extent of the injury. The ache was sharp, the kind of pain that warned against further movement. But lying helpless here wasn¡¯t an option, and the mana potion waiting on my alchemy room next door was more necessary than ever.


    Forcing myself to focus, I pressed my fingertips against the swollen area and tried to move the trace of mana left in my body to regenerate the tissues.


    The result was... pathetic to say the least.


    The small beads of mana didn¡¯t have more effect than a band aid put on an open wound.


    I couldn¡¯t even heal such a small injury¡­


    Fine. If magic doesn¡¯t cooperate, then I will rely on willpower to get that damn potion.


    Gripping the doorframe, I hoisted myself up once more, the wounded leg barely bearing weight. Each step was a torture, each movement an exercise in humiliation. I shuffled forward at a painstakingly slow pace, while cursing my body.


    Finally, I pushed the door of the alchemy room open.


    It was exactly as I had left it, an alchemist dream, filled to the brim with different kind of potions on every shelf. Any merchant worth their salt would risk life and limbs to claim even a fraction of my collection of high grades elixirs.


    Blue vials lined on the top shelf, each one with potent mana restoratives properties. Below them, the green ones rested, strong health potions who wouldn¡¯t bring back the dead but were still capable of healing grievous injuries. A shelf lower were the red vials, strength enhancers powerful enough to make even a scrawny villager wield an axe like a seasoned warrior. Bright yellow bottles rounded out the collection on another shelf, speed potions that could turn the slowest runner into a blur, leaving series of after images in his wake.


    Other shelves were filled with more exotic blends, but now wasn¡¯t the time to review my collection.


    The mana potions were just a few steps away. It was both mocking and motivating.


    Three steps¡­ two steps¡­ one.


    My fingers finally closed around the cool glass of the blue vial.


    I slowly sat on the ground, uncorking it with a trembling hand. When the lid opened, the deep familiar scent of icy mint and ozone filled my nose, sending shivers down my spine. I tilted the potion to my lips, and the liquid burned cold as it slid down my throat.


    For a moment, nothing happened. Then, like a thunderstorm breaking within me, mana surged through every fiber of my being. My limbs were still heavy, but I finally felt alive again. I tapped into my mana reserves to cast a wind spell, making an invisible hand bring back one of the green potion from the shelf.


    I held the green vial delicately, opening it carefully. The deep scent of earth of sandalwood assailed my noise.


    This potion wouldn''t heal me entirely, mana depletion had messed my natural healing ability, which would definitely impede the potion from reaching its full potential. Still, it was better than letting my injuries fester or relying solely on my stubborn resolve. I needed every advantage to recover quickly, even if it wasn¡¯t perfect.


    I brought the vial to my lips, the liquid was thick and rich, carrying a taste that was both earthy, warm and woody. It left a peculiar warmth as it slid down, spreading from my chest outward. I braced myself against the faint pressure I felt as the potion¡¯s effects began to appear.


    My injured leg tingled faintly before the dull ache began to recede. The bruised flesh felt less tight, and while the swelling wasn''t entirely gone, the worst of it had clearly subsided. Slowly, I tested bending my leg again. The motion was smoother, though far from perfect. That would do for now.


    I pushed myself off the ground with both hands. One careful step at a time, I returned to my bedroom, testing the improving strength in my legs. The humiliation I¡¯d felt earlier hadn¡¯t disappeared entirely, but it had dulled now.


    I went to sleep early, to recover all my energy for tomorrow.


    As soon as my head hit the pillow I fell asleep.

 Chapter 22

    The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed. My body had made an almost complete recovery, though a faint ache lingered in my mana circuits and right leg''s muscles.


    The aftereffects of time traveling hadn¡¯t fully worn off yet, which I supposed was normal. Then again, this was my first attempt at such a huge leap through time, so I couldn''t be sure.


    Based on the pain I¡¯d felt yesterday, I''d guessed it would take at least three days to reach this level of recovery.


    I really underestimated my resilience, huh.


    "Good morning, Dad. Did you sleep well?"


    I flinched at the sudden voice, my heart pounding as I instinctively prepared to send my enemy straight to the afterlife with my signature spell.


    I stopped myself at the very last second upon recognizing the speaker.


    "Sherry?¡± I asked incredulous. ¡°What are you doing here? And why isn¡¯t my ward working?"


    She smiled sweetly, as if sneaking past a Archmage was the most natural thing in the world. ¡°What do you think? I am here to take care of you, of course.¡±


    "And my ward?" I asked suspiciously.


    Her smile turned mischievous. "Oh, that? I added my magical signature to its code yesterday so I could visit you incognito."


    "You did what?"


    ¡°Well, since you are coming back to the academy and trying to change for the better, I figured we could start with a bit of family time.¡± She said, completely unapologetic.


    I twitched.


    Should I praise her audacity or be exasperated by her tactlessness?


    This was Sherry for you, always defying expectations and disregarding common sense. But one thing was certain, she had improved by leaps and bounds. Her current magical prowess was exceptional. She was undoubtedly one of the best among her peers.


    Well I will let it go for now. Nothing will change her anyway, she is too much like her mother.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy, though?¡± I asked skeptically.


    ¡°Well yes,¡± she admitted with a shrug, ¡°I am working my butt off to prepare for the upcoming tournament. But you looked really bad yesterday, so I delegated my duties to my second to make sure you¡¯d be okay.¡±


    ¡°Was it really that bad?¡± I asked slightly embarrassed.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t just bad, Dad,¡± she said, crossing her arms and glaring at me sternly, ¡°you looked like you were about to kick the bucket.¡±


    ¡°Oops.¡± I scratched my head awkwardly. ¡°Well, I am alright now.¡±


    ¡°I can see that.¡± She hesitated briefly before adding, ¡°actually, I have something to confess ¨C I didn¡¯t leave yesterday.¡±


    ¡°You what?¡± I exclaimed flabbergasted by her claim, my heart leaping in my chest.


    This was worrisome, I didn''t notice anything. Was it a side effect of my time travel? If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    She sighted. ¡°So, you didn¡¯t notice huh. You must have been really out of it.¡±


    ¡°If you stayed at my place, where did you sleep?"


    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t really sleep,¡± she admitted nonchalantly. ¡°I had a lot of work to do, so I used a communication artifact to handle the most urgent matters.¡±


    ¡°You are an absolute workaholic.¡± I said, shaking my head helplessly. ¡°I wonder who you take after.¡±


    She smirked. ¡°You. Obviously.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright. I lost.¡± I answered, in mock surrender. ¡°Do you want to do something together before going back to the academy?¡±


    ¡°Why not? I know a good bakery in town, do you want to come?¡±


    ¡°Definitely.¡±


    We teleported to the bakery. It was a cozy little shop with warm wooden interiors. As soon as we entered, the tempting aroma of freshly baked bread and strong coffee with whipped cream filed our nose. Sherry exchanged a few words with the owner, and soon a server guided us to a VIP salon. There, we enjoyed some wonderful father-daughter time, speaking about all sort of things while savoring a delicious latte and eating our favorite pudding, strawberry cake for Sherry, and chocolate cake for me.


    Several hours later, we reluctantly left, going straight to the academy¡¯s dean office.


    The sight who welcomed me was the same as in the past. Shelves packed with magical books, Sherry''s addition on my old ebony desk: a magical clock, fresh roses, a picture of our family, as well as the familiar scent of parchment and incense hanging in the air.


    Everything was intact. It was all exactly as it had been before the attack.


    The images of both timelines overlapped in my mind. I shouldn¡¯t have come back so soon. I should have waited, taken more time to prepare. The horrifying visions resurfaced, the mangled corpses, the blood-soaked floor, the severed limbs, and the choking smoke rising over the rubbles.


    ¡°Dad. Are you okay?¡±


    Sherry¡¯s voice pulled me out of my memories, her hand gently gripping my arm.


    Did I space-out?


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    She didn¡¯t look convinced, her brows knitting together in that way she always did when she thought I was hiding something.


    ¡°Memories?¡± she asked gently.


    I nodded, unable to find the words. The vision of destruction and all those death were burned into my soul, leaving me with an indelible scar.


    Sherry gazed at the family photo on the desk with nostalgia. ¡°Mom loved this office. She used to call it her second home, you know.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t have known my thoughts were miles away from Sofia¡¯s death, stuck on the academy''s slaughter.


    I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt from being unable to tell her the truth. ¡°She did. And she often joked that if it weren¡¯t for her duties as a magic tower master, she would¡¯ve become a full-time teacher here to spend more time with us.¡±


    A small smile appeared on her face. ¡°I remember how she¡¯d skip those boring council meetings to come here. She used that metamorphosis artifact of hers to impersonate teachers and it always ended in chaos. I think half the staff threatened to resign at least once because of her pranks. ¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°She always had a mischievous streak, didn¡¯t she? Actually, you take after her Sherry."


    ¡°Hey. It¡¯s not my fault!¡± she shot back in mock-indignation, ¡°mom always took me on her outings. Can you believe it? An adult bringing her twelve years old daughter to do bad things together.¡±


    I couldn''t help but laugh mirthfully at her scandalized expression. "Oh, I believe it, I watched your little adventures in secret. She was the most skilled prankster, and you were her partner in crime from day one.¡±


    Sherry rolled her eyes, but her smile betrayed her amusement. "It was the good old days.¡±


    "That for sure." I replied with nostalgia.


    This small interlude brought back my most cherished memories and most horrible regrets. I clenched my hands tightly, trying to fight the tears threatening to roll down my cheeks. The thought of leaping trough time in order to save my wife resurfaced. It had plagued my mind for years, to the point of obsession.


    But I knew it wouldn''t work, all my efforts over the past twenty years had been vain. I had spent decades trying to find a cure for her illness with the most brilliants researchers in the world to no avail.


    I could probably time travel again, but it wouldn''t bring her back. I though bitterly, then I looked at my daughter. At least I managed to save Sherry.


    The void Sofia left behind would never disappear, but I had a goal now. I would protect my daughter and the academy, and when everything was over, enjoy the remaining time I had with the people who counted for me.


    But I needed to advance carefully, hiding my real intentions from allies and enemies alike.


    According to Carl, the academy was bustling with spies. I couldn''t just send them on their way and alert the Obsidian Order. I had to play it wisely.


    The only thing that troubled me was the lack of information concerning their main headquarters. I knew everything about the one in this country, but from the reports I had read and my discussions with Arthur, I knew the Obsidian Order had branches all around the world.