Chapter 1399: A Hidden Lesson
Embedding magic into one’s core was no simple task. It required the caster to overwhelm the natural mana flowing within their own body, condense it to a single, volatile point, and then use it to disturb the flow of mana in another.
To perform such an advanced feat, a mage needed more than just talent. They needed raw power, control, and above all, proximity to their target. And Kayzel was already close.
The other Central Academy students had done their part. They cast spells designed not to injure, but to suppress, barriers, bindings, illusions, all to keep Moze and Piba locked in place and helpless while Kayzel went to work.
Maybe, for a brief second, the Central students felt a pang of guilt. Perhaps they even questioned the brutality of what they were doing.
But that feeling didn’t last long.
They had been raised in a world where strength dictated everything. The strong made the rules. And the strong didn’t apologize.
They had seen it firsthand throughout the Academy halls: the more talented you were, the more respect, and leeway, you were given. Even if they didn’t want to act entitled, the system eventually changed them. It shaped their thinking. Gradually, and without even realizing it, they began to accept it. To believe it.
This wasn’t their fault.
At least, that’s what they told themselves.
It wasn’t their actions that caused this. It was the fault of the ones in front of them. Moze and Piba simply weren’t strong enough to stop what was happening. And because of that, they should never have tried to stand in their way.
After some time, the four boys finally exited the bathroom. One of them had cast a special mirage spell. It was a subtle water-based illusion, ideal when moving slowly, it bent the light just enough to make them invisible as they slipped out.
No one saw them leave.
Meanwhile, just outside the bathroom, Chiba glanced around impatiently.
“Man, those two are taking forever,” she muttered. “You don’t think they’ve ditched us, do you? Or… maybe they’re doing something dirty in there.”
“Dirty?” Yolden repeated, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. “What do you mean by dirty?”
“Oh come on, Yolden. Don’t pretend you’re that innocent,” Chiba teased, grinning. “I’ve seen you reading those BL stories.”
“NO, NO, NO!” Yolden screeched, frantically waving her hands in embarrassment. “That’s not, ! You’re making it sound weird!”
Chiba was mid-laugh when her expression suddenly changed. Her eyes locked onto something, or someone, just ahead.
One of the male students had exited the bathroom. He looked pale, shaken, eyes scanning the crowd with desperation, as if searching for someone specific.
Something wasn’t right.
Without hesitation, Chiba rushed over.
“Is something wrong?” she asked urgently.
The student blinked, startled, then noticed the uniforms the girls were wearing.
“Oh… You’re from the same academy,” he said, exhaling. “I was looking for a teacher, but… there’s been an incident in the boys’ toilets. It looks like two students from your academy were attacked.”
Chiba didn’t wait to hear more. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the bathroom, pushing past shocked onlookers. It didn’t matter that it was the boys’ restroom. Yolden followed close behind, her heart pounding in her chest.
The moment they stepped inside, they froze.
Both Moze and Piba were slumped against the cold tiled wall.
Their limbs were twisted at unnatural angles, broken in several places. Their arms bore deep scorch marks, likely from concentrated lightning spells, and their torsos had been seared and blackened, as if burned from the inside out.
And that… that was just what they could see on the surface.
Neither of them had any idea what kind of internal damage had been done.
“Yolden, go,” Chiba said sharply, dropping to her knees. “Find the teachers and bring them here. Now.”
Yolden nodded and ran.
Chiba stayed behind. She didn’t know what else to do except kneel beside them. Her hands trembled as she checked their pulses.
They were alive.
Breathing. Barely. But they were alive.
’These two are strong,’ Chiba thought. ’Strong enough to go toe-to-toe with top students from any academy… The only way this could’ve happened, was if they were ambushed. A surprise attack.’
Her stomach sank as the realization hit.
’Students aren’t allowed to fight outside of events. Maybe that’s why they didn’t fight back right away. And if they were outnumbered… caught off guard in a place like this, away from witnesses…’
She clenched her fists.
’This wasn’t random. This was done on purpose.’
Not long after, three Wilton Academy teachers arrived, Redrick, Luka, and Panla, each accompanied by staff members from the Central Academy. After a quick explanation of what had occurred, the teachers moved fast, taking control of the scene.
Moze and Piba were carefully transported to the dormitory complex, a massive building attached to the eastern side of the academy. Though technically a dorm, it resembled a luxurious hotel, balconies with shimmering waterside views, magical projections in the sky, and comfortable accommodations for rest and healing.
Inside, everything was provided for the guests, including a state-of-the-art medical wing staffed with both Light mages and experienced physicians.
Combining magic and science wasn’t uncommon, especially for serious cases. There were injuries magic couldn’t heal alone, and wounds that medicine struggled with unless aided by spells.
The two students were rushed into the ward, while the others, Chiba, Yolden, and the teachers, were escorted to a quiet waiting room overlooking the lake. It was peaceful, filled with refreshments and books meant to soothe nerves. But no one was relaxed.
They were waiting. Praying.
“So… you have no idea who did this?” Panla asked, folding her arms.
“Not exactly,” Chiba replied. “I have guesses… but without proof, they’d just be guesses. All we can really do now is wait for them to wake up… and go from there.”
As if on cue, the door opened.
One of the medical staff from Wilton stepped in, a serious expression on her face.
“They’ve both regained consciousness,” she said. “But unfortunately… I have some bad news.”
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Chapter 1400: Scars That Don’t Heal
The teachers had expected the injuries to be bad. Moze and Piba were both clearly battered, burnt skin, broken limbs, magic wounds scorched deep into their bodies. But it wasn’t the physical damage that shocked them. It was something far worse.
These injuries went beyond a simple defeat in a fight. They looked intentional. Cruel.
Still, the healing staff had remained calm. Confident, even. After all, external wounds could be repaired. Bones could be reset. Burns healed. Magic could do wonders.
Which is why, when the healer entered the room with a heavy expression and uttered those words, it stunned everyone.
“What do you mean?” Panla asked, standing straighter, dread seeping into her voice.
“They’re awake,” the healer said. “We’ve managed to heal all of their external injuries. They’ll live… but they won’t be the same.”
A chill swept through the room.
“We did everything we could,” the healer continued. “But someone has infused magic directly into their mana cores. It’s not something Light Magic can remove.”
The room went silent.
Everyone there understood the severity of what was just said. They’d read about it in textbooks. Studied the rare case reports in classes. But to actually witness it… was something else entirely.
“We tried to cast out the magic,” the healer said, his tone turning clinical. “But Light Magic only heals what it interprets as a wound. This isn’t classified as damage, it’s interference. And that’s something Light Magic can’t touch.”
The explanation landed like a blade through the heart.
“With their cores disrupted, the mana doesn’t circulate properly. They’ll still be able to use spells… but nowhere near the level they once could. And any attempt to do so will cause them immense pain.”
It was as close to a death sentence as a mage could receive without dying.
After finishing his explanation, the healer politely bowed and excused himself. Before leaving, he added, “They’ve asked to speak with you. We’ll bring them here shortly.”
As the door clicked shut, silence gripped the room once again.
“Does that mean…” Yolden whispered, her voice shaking, “their life as mages… is over?”
“Why would someone do something so cruel?” she continued. “And during an official event? It had to be someone from the Central Academy. Someone must’ve seen something. They need to be punished!”
Panla turned to Luka, searching his face for answers. “Is there really nothing that can be done?”
Luka exhaled through his nose, crossing his arms.
“It depends,” he admitted. “On how severe the interference is, and on the strength of the individual mage. There are rare cases, very rare, where mages have managed to push out the invasive magic through sheer will and meditation. But it takes years. Decades sometimes.”
He shook his head. “And let’s be honest… The healers at the Central Academy are far more trained than we are. If even they couldn’t reverse this…”
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Moze and Piba entered.
No one said anything at first. The air felt heavy. No one had expected to see them like this.
Moze offered a half-hearted smile. “Guess you’ve already heard the news, huh?” he said. “But don’t worry. We’ll be okay. We’ll find someone… someone out there who can help us. Things’ll get better, right?”
A moment passed.
And then, without warning, Chiba stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
“What are you doing?” Moze asked, surprised.
“You idiot,” she said, her voice cracking. “Don’t pretend. If you were really okay with this… then why are you crying?”
Moze opened his mouth, but no words came out. Instead, tears flowed freely down his cheeks. His body trembled in her arms.
He had worked so hard, spent years training, dreaming, pushing himself, and now, just like that, it was all in jeopardy.
After giving him time to let it out, Chiba gently pulled away. Moze and Piba took seats while the others stood silently, giving them space.
They needed to hear the full story.
“Who did this?” Panla asked at last. “Why? And how?”
“You might not believe it,” Moze said, his voice low, “but every word I say is true.”
He looked around the room, meeting each gaze.
“It was four students from the Central Academy. We don’t know their exact reason, but… our guess is that it had something to do with Piba and Yolden beating them in the earlier event. Maybe they felt humiliated. Maybe they just wanted revenge.”
Chiba’s whole body trembled. Even Redrick looked ready to explode. Before anyone could stop her, Chiba turned sharply and made for the door.
“Where are you going?” Yolden asked, grabbing her wrist.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Chiba snapped. “I’m going to report this to the Central Academy. This wasn’t just a fight outside of an event. They crippled two students. There has to be consequences.”
She wasn’t naïve. She knew she couldn’t go storming in and fight them herself, not on Central Academy grounds. But surely, someone would care. The academy, at least, would have to take action.
“I don’t think that will help,” Piba said softly, stopping her in her tracks.
“It was Kayzel and his group that did this. They were confident they’d get away with it. They said as much.”
Everyone turned to him.
“If we report it… if we point fingers at Central Academy students, they’ll deny everything. There’s no proof. And they’ll claim it’s just a tactic from Wilton Academy to get Central’s top students disqualified.”
He looked down at his hands, clenching his fists.
“And everyone will believe them. Because they think the Central Academy is untouchable.”
There was a darker truth hanging in the air. Piba didn’t say it aloud, but he was beginning to doubt whether Central Academy even wanted to punish their students for these things.
Given everything that had happened so far… the image they all held of Central Academy was beginning to crack.
“No… that can’t be true…” Chiba said. Her voice was shaking. “You’re saying not only can’t they heal your cores… they won’t even be punished for destroying them?”
The silence in the room answered for her.
It was a devastating truth, and one they were all going to have to live with.
Then, another knock echoed from the door.
It creaked open.
Raze stepped in, followed by the others.
“Is something going on?” he asked, sensing the tension. “We were told to come here…”
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Chapter 1401: Destruction Over Healing
Raze and the others had been called in by the academy’s teachers. Given the recent events, the sudden and violent attacks, they were worried. Not just about what had happened, but about what could still happen. There was a looming sense that more danger might be on the horizon, and the faculty wanted to ensure that all students were informed and prepared.
Not that the teachers were particularly worried about Raze and his group being easy targets. If anything, the group had already proven themselves more than capable. But it was still important to keep everyone on the same page. And besides, with only a few hours left before the main event at the coliseum, it was better to regroup and align now.
Raze and the others sat in scattered seats around the briefing room, settling into a hushed silence. Then, from the front of the room, they began hearing the full story from the instructors.
It turned out the students from the Central Academy had been behind the attack.
“They really are scum,” Liam muttered, his arms crossed in frustration. “I mean, I can’t believe they went that far. If they had done it during the event, at least then they could claim they were proving something.”
“Well,” Dame replied with a sigh, “there are always people like this. In a world that’s so intricately built, you’d think things would be different. But people are the same no matter what world they come from.”
“You guys don’t need to worry about us,” Piba said, offering a small smile despite the injuries. “We were naive. We trusted too much in the rules. Thought no one would attack us before the competition. This is the result of our foolishness. You all were busy chasing your own goals, and that’s how it should be. Stay focused, we’ll see each other at the coliseum.”
“At the coliseum?” Yolden repeated, concern filling her voice. “Wait… in the condition you two are in, you’re not actually planning to still participate, are you?”
Though they could still perform basic magic, the strain would be immense. The damage they had sustained wasn’t minor, it was enough to weaken their casting ability significantly. From the severity of their injuries, it was obvious they shouldn’t be anywhere near the battlefield.
“I’m not sure they even can,” Panla chimed in. “We haven’t had a situation exactly like this before, but there have been times when students were too injured to participate. If it’s a group-based competition, they have to fight with whatever members are available, even if it’s fewer than the opposing team.”
She continued, her voice steady but laced with concern. “This is a magical exchange event, not an official tournament. Sure, winners will be named, and it can influence sponsorships or academy rankings, but in the end, it isn’t something that changes the official record books.”
“If it’s a solo event, they’ll ask us to find a substitute from the available students,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, Raze hadn’t been moving aimlessly around the event grounds. Everything he’d done had a purpose. He’d been assessing, observing not just the students but the layers of security around them. He was taking stock of how many professors were present, how many guards were stationed throughout the area, and who among them actually posed a threat.
From what he’d gathered, the Central Academy had hired a guild specifically for security during the event. They were there to protect the students and keep the atmosphere calm. Since these events were invite-only, trouble rarely surfaced. But clearly, that wasn’t always the case.
Still, for Raze, this wasn’t just about safety. He was planning something more.
He noted that the academy buildings themselves, the places where teachers usually held private resources, were less monitored than usual. Because of the event, key personnel, including the principal, would be out for large portions of the day.
Which meant… it was the perfect time to act.
What Raze truly wanted was to gather everything he needed before confronting Ibarin. He didn’t know how much of the academy would remain after that fight, or if there would be anything to return to at all. He had no guarantees.
So, before even thinking about fighting Ibarin, and before seeking answers about time magic, Raze had another priority: retrieving the special item that Alen had mentioned. That, too, was hidden somewhere inside the academy.
Still, he had a few days left to complete his objectives. For now, something else was tugging at his focus.
Helping the students right in front of him.
“Can Safa’s magic heal them?” Chiba asked, her eyes hopeful. “I mean… she’s got really powerful Light magic, right? Better than most mages. And she has the God Eyes. Couldn’t she use her Light magic to pinpoint exactly where the injury is, in the core, and just… fix it?”
“It won’t work,” Luka said, shaking his head solemnly. “Even with the God Eyes. Safa might be able to see where the disturbance is. But Light magic’s purpose is to heal. Like someone said earlier, it’s not meant to identify or reverse the nature of foreign magic disrupting the core.”
A heavy silence settled over the room.
The students looked defeated. The teachers, too. They were up against a magical problem that couldn’t simply be solved with kindness or power. It was a cruel reminder of how unforgiving the world of magic could be.
But then Raze stood.
“You two,” he said firmly, pointing at Piba and Yolden. “Stand up. Turn around. Back facing me.”
“What…?” Chiba blinked in confusion. “Why are you saying this? You’re not going to do something to them, are you? You don’t even have Light magic. How are you going to solve this?”
Raze didn’t flinch.
“Did none of you learn anything from the lessons I’ve given?” he asked, voice sharp with authority. “I told you, think outside the box.”
He stared at them, eyes intense.
“What needs to happen right now… isn’t healing.”
He paused.
“What needs to happen is destruction.”
In that moment, the realization hit Londo like a bolt of lightning. His eyes widened. The answer had been right in front of them, and yet no one had thought of it. Of course they hadn’t, no mage would ever consider something like this. It sounded ridiculous. Absurd. Almost dangerous. But now, with Raze putting it into words, it finally made sense.
“Magic that causes destruction…” Londo said quietly. “That’s what we need.”
He looked up.
“Dark Magic.”
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Chapter 1402: Shadows of Restoration
When the others heard Raze utter the words Dark Magic, something immediately clicked in their minds. It seemed so obvious now. Light magic had always been known for its ability to heal, and Dark Magic, its opposite, had always been associated with destruction. If something needed to be destroyed, like the corrupted magic interfering with someone’s mana core, then of course Dark Magic would be the tool for the job.
And not only that, Raze wasn’t an ordinary mage. Just like Kayzel, he had access to advanced knowledge, the kind only a Nine-Star Mage could possess. That knowledge allowed him to channel his magic deep into the body, even into the very core of another person’s being. For Raze, this was something he could actually do.
But not everyone in the room was convinced.
“Wait…” Redrick stepped forward, concern etched into his voice. “I get the concept. And sure, it might work. But this is still dangerous, seriously dangerous. If you infuse your Dark Magic into their cores… it might not just destroy the foreign magic. It could disrupt their mana core even more. Worst case? It could obliterate the whole thing. They might never be able to use magic again… or worse, it could kill them.”
The others turned to Redrick, their expressions falling, the hope that had just been lit suddenly dimmed again.
“You fool!” Londo snapped, voice sharp with frustration. “Do you honestly believe Raze would suggest something like this without knowing exactly what he’s doing? You’ve seen what he’s capable of. Even now, after everything, you still doubt him?”
“It’s fine,” Raze said calmly, raising a hand to silence Londo. “Redrick’s concerns are valid. He’s right. This kind of thing isn’t without risk, and if something goes wrong, it could be catastrophic. That’s why I need to be upfront with you.”
He turned toward Piba and Moze, his voice steady.
“You both deserve to know exactly what I’m about to do. And if, after hearing everything, you still agree… then we’ll go forward.”
The two students exchanged a glance. Once upon a time, they would’ve agreed without hesitation. They would have trusted Raze with their lives. But things were different now.
They knew the truth.
Raze was a member of the Dark Guild.
Even though he hadn’t harmed them, even though he’d helped them time and again, that truth lingered like a shadow. It made complete trust difficult, almost impossible. The question gnawed at them quietly: If something went wrong… would Raze even care?
Raze didn’t flinch.
“What Redrick said is correct,” he admitted. “And there’s another problem. I don’t know exactly where in your mana cores the interference is. If I were to go in blind, I’d have to cast Dark Magic over a wide area. That would destroy most of your mana core, along with the corrupted magic.”
He paused, letting that settle.
“You’d then have to rebuild your cores and recover. But you’d survive. Eventually, you’d be whole again.”
There was a beat of silence before Raze continued.
“However… this situation is different. We have Safa.”
He looked toward the girl standing quietly nearby.
“Her God Eyes will be the key. With them, she can see where the corrupted magic is inside your cores. She’ll be able to guide me precisely to those points.”
Raze’s eyes sharpened.
“With her guidance, I’ll use a smaller, more focused spell. That way, the Dark Magic will only hit what needs to be destroyed, minimizing damage to your cores. Then, right after that, Safa will use her Light Magic to heal the affected areas.”
He turned back to the others.
“In theory, that should restore both of you. Completely.”
“In theory?” Moze echoed, not liking how that part sounded.
“I’ve never done this before,” Raze admitted. “Not like this. I’ve never had someone by my side with God Eyes and high-level healing magic. But in the magical world, most of what we do is based on theory, on knowledge passed down, patterns we’ve observed. I’m confident. But as I said… I want you to hear everything first.”
“I agree with Raze,” Luka added, stepping forward. “What he said makes sense. And from my experience, he has the knowledge and control to pull it off safely. For what it’s worth… I believe you’ll come out of this without any issues.”
Luka said it to give the students peace of mind. Just moments ago, they’d heard Redrick talk about death. Luka needed to restore some faith in Raze’s plan.
“Raze, Safa…” Piba said softly. “You’ve both helped us before, saved our lives. I’ll trust you again. This time, too.”
“I agree with Piba,” Moze added, his voice steady. “Honestly, if I can’t use magic the way I used to… what kind of life would I even return to? I wouldn’t be able to face my family like that. So for me, this is the only choice.”
Raze nodded firmly. With their consent, he turned around and prepared to begin.
He brought both hands behind his back, focusing.
“Safa, I need you to stand in front of them,” Raze instructed. “You’ll be using your God Eyes to observe the flow of magic, specifically, the three different types that should be visible. I’m sure you understand what we’re aiming for.”
She nodded silently, her expression focused.
“Once I destroy the interfering magic,” Raze continued, “you’ll use your Light Magic to heal the damage, and restore their cores to what they were.”
Safa took a deep breath and moved into position. The pressure was heavy on her shoulders, but she trusted Raze more than anyone. If anyone could do this, it was him. Together, they got to work.
Through her God Eyes, Safa could see it all, the three types of magic weaving through the students’ bodies. She could see Raze’s magic, already in position, carefully hovering near their mana cores.
“Shift slightly upward,” she said. “Top right corner for Piba. Moze’s is in the bottom left.”
Raze adjusted his position as instructed, moving his magic gently into place. Safa guided him with precision, ensuring his energy aligned exactly with the disrupted sections of the core.
Next came the sizing. Raze had told her earlier that the Dark Magic would need to be cast slightly larger than the infected area, just to ensure it caught every single trace of corrupted magic.
And then, it began.
The entire process took no more than two minutes.
But during those two minutes, both Piba and Moze felt something strange, a warm, comforting sensation flowing through them. It wasn’t painful. It wasn’t terrifying. It was… peaceful.
That was because Safa knew exactly when to act. She timed her healing perfectly, as Raze cast the destruction spell. Like gears in a clock, the two worked in unison, seamlessly.
At last, Raze pulled his hands away.
“It’s done,” he said.
Piba and Moze opened their eyes slowly. Their bodies trembled slightly. And then, without a word, tears began streaming down their faces.
They knew it had worked.
They could feel it. Their mana cores were whole again.
“Raze…” Piba said quietly, his voice shaking as he wiped away the tears. Raze wasn’t used to seeing Piba like this. The always-smiling, always-laughing Piba… was crying.
“I… I have a favor to ask you.”
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