Chapter 1407: A Record Set
The rules had been made crystal clear to everyone, and the students were practically buzzing with excitement, eager to step into the portal. Their teachers stood close by, offering last-minute advice and reminders. Some instructors reassured them, saying it would feel similar to the training they’d already been through, challenging but familiar.
Others warned that this might be slightly different from the portal expeditions they were used to. The structure, the pacing, even the energy of the dimensions could shift depending on how the trials were constructed. And then, there were teachers who focused on only one thing, safety.
“Don’t take unnecessary risks,” they said. “Keep your wits about you.”
Still, no one seemed overly concerned, not for students of this caliber. These were the elite, the best each academy had to offer. And besides, the competition wasn’t about surviving the hardest dimension. It was about speed. About who could clear their challenge faster.
It was a friendly competition, after all… or at least that was how it had been advertised.
Though rare, there were stories, students who pushed too hard, made one wrong move, took it too far… and never came back.
“Still,” Panla said with a confident smile, addressing the group one last time, “what can we really say to you guys at this point?”
The transfer students stood before her, calm and collected, prepared for what was to come.
“We’ve talked about this already, haven’t we?” she continued. “I don’t think you really need any luck. Not after everything you’ve been through.”
She paused, her gaze drifting across their faces, each one hardened by trials they had already endured.
“And besides,” she added with a grin, “we already decided what’s going to happen, right? All I can say is, go out there and crush it.”
The minute had finally passed. All the portals began to shimmer, glowing with swirling energy before stabilizing into solid gateways. One by one, the students walked through, confident in their abilities and committed to their strategies. They stepped through with purpose, heads high, ready to make their mark.
Meanwhile, the students from the Central Academy wore smug smiles.
“We’re not going to take this lightly,” Kayzel said, his voice calm but sharp. “Let’s show them the difference between the Central Academy and everyone else.”
His fellow students nodded, their eyes gleaming with fierce determination.
Then, in the blink of an eye, all of them were gone.
Each and every one had disappeared into the dimensions beyond. And now… the waiting began.
Currently, there was no technology advanced enough to live-stream what occurred inside the portals. There were no drones, no magical surveillance. Nothing could broadcast from within a dimension. All they could do was record what happened and play it back later for review.
That was part of the design.
This event had been scheduled early in the competition for a reason, it was meant to build suspense. To create anticipation. To make the crowd lean forward in their seats, desperate to see what had taken place inside.
It was the perfect introduction.
By watching the results from these dimension challenges, the guests, judges, and spectators would get their first real glimpse into the strength of each academy. And from there, they would begin to anticipate the matchups and outcomes of future events.
To build even more excitement, there was a special segment prepared just for the audience.
A presentation showcasing each of the students who had entered the portals, highlighting their names, faces, backgrounds, and notable accomplishments.
Each image was paired with a short summary, a voiceover listing their achievements and potential. It was a spotlight, a celebration, and a subtle warning to their rivals.
The principals of each academy had submitted their notes in advance, highlighting their expectations for the upcoming event. While the students entered the portals and their challenges began, another system had quietly gone live, one designed to involve everyone present.
A voting platform had been set up, allowing attendees to cast predictions for the final rankings of the academies. Each person could select which academy they believed would place first, second, third… all the way down to last.
It wasn’t just for fun, either.
The more accurate someone’s predictions were, the greater the reward. Power stones, precious, tradable resources, were granted in higher numbers based on how close one’s rankings were to the final results.
It turned the competition into a full-fledged event, not just for the students, but for the crowd as well.
The entire venue buzzed with energy as people eagerly submitted their choices, whispering, debating, and second-guessing themselves.
Even the principals themselves were getting in on it.
“I see everyone went for the safe bets,” Ibarin remarked, glancing over the votes with a smirk. “They’ve all placed our Central Academy in first, followed by their own respective academies in second.”
A few of the other principals chuckled at that.
“We all know the Central Academy is a level above the rest,” one of them admitted with a shrug. “It’s no shame in acknowledging it. Our students need someone to chase after, something to reach for.”
But then one voice cut through with something unexpected.
“Hold on a second,” Principal Wilton spoke up. “Before you lump us all together, I’ll have you know that I voted for Wilton Academy to take first place this year.”
Several heads turned, eyebrows raised. And then… laughter.
“Ah, we’ve all done that before,” one principal said, shaking his head. “Back in our first year here, we all had a bit of academy pride. But year after year, the results haven’t changed. And from what I hear, the Central Academy has some of the strongest students it’s ever seen this time around. Betting against them is just…”
“…foolish,” another principal finished. “We’re educators. Dreaming is for students. We deal in facts.”
Ibarin gave a small shrug and a smile. “Still, I don’t mind. It makes things more exciting when there’s a bit of boldness in the mix. But I must ask, Wilton, what’s changed so drastically this year that you’re willing to go all in?”
“There have been some… rather interesting developments,” Wilton replied, eyes gleaming with quiet confidence. “I believe all of us are in for a surprise.”
The other principals chuckled politely, but none of them took him seriously. In fact, more than a few believed he was being reckless. Going against the Central Academy’s dominance, and worse, not voting for them, could very well sour things with Ibarin.
And no one wanted to get on his bad side.
On the other side of the portals, in the heart of the newly accessed dimension, Raze stepped through along with the others.
The transition was smooth, and the world around them was vastly different, foreign terrain stretched out in every direction. Time seemed to pause as they adjusted to the new space, but the team didn’t waste long.
All eyes quickly turned to one person.
“So… what’s the plan?” Chiba asked, her tone direct but curious.
Raze tilted his head slightly. “You wanted me to clear this place as fast as possible, right?”
“Yeah,” Piba answered, nodding. “That’s what we agreed.”
“No doubt,” Chiba added. “We’re not going back on our word.”
“Very well,” Raze replied calmly. “All of you, kill as many beasts as quickly as you can. Don’t waste time collecting power stones.”
He turned, eyes sharp.
“We’re going straight for the Dimensional Boss. That’s the fastest way to finish this.”
The group tensed slightly at the command, but no one questioned it.
Chiba, however, frowned. The strategy seemed reckless, even naive. There had only been a handful of times in past assessments where taking out the Dimensional Boss was even considered a viable tactic. And in those instances, the event had allowed for a longer time limit.
Since then, the organizers had shortened the event duration significantly to prevent exactly this kind of shortcut. The rule allowing teams to clear a dimension by defeating the boss was still technically in place, but only as a formality, a relic of the old structure. No one had pulled it off in years.
It wasn’t impossible.
But it was considered impractical. Unrealistic.
“Question!” Liam said suddenly, raising his hand like they were back in class. “Since no one’s watching us in here and the dimension isn’t being broadcast live… does that mean we can use everything?”
“Yes,” Raze answered simply.
And that one word changed everything.
In an instant, the Wilton students bore witness to something unbelievable.
Dame, Beatrix, Liam, and Safa unleashed their full strength. No restraints. No limits. No holding back.
They poured out all of their Qi, channeled every ounce of power they had at their disposal, and tore through the beasts swarming the dimension.
Enemy after enemy fell.
Their speed, coordination, and raw force were unlike anything the others had seen.
Moze could hardly believe his eyes. “Is it just me, or… when we saw them use their powers in the last dimension… they weren’t going all out?”
“I think you’re right,” Chiba said, equally stunned. “This… this is them going all in.”
Beasts were shredded. Explosions of Qi echoed through the landscape. Energy whipped through the air, shaking the very dimension they were in.
And while all of this was happening, Raze stood still, his body radiating pressure, his Qi rising with each breath. He was building it all up, gathering strength for the final strike.
He knew what was coming.
Any moment now, the Dimensional Boss would appear.
I’ll take it out in one shot, Raze thought, narrowing his eyes. And we’ll clear this place faster than anyone’s ever seen.
Back outside, in the main arena, the audience remained unaware of what was unfolding.
The student introductions were still playing on screen, glowing profiles, fun facts, and past accomplishments being recited with dramatic flair.
Ten minutes had passed since the portals had opened, and everyone was relaxing, casually enjoying food and drinks while waiting for the first updates to roll in.
That’s when someone noticed something strange.
“Hey… hey, look at that! Isn’t the portal… shimmering a bit? The color, it’s changed slightly, hasn’t it?”
People leaned forward.
They were right.
Once a Dimensional Boss was defeated, no new participants could enter that particular dimension. While it took a bit of time for the portal to close entirely, its glow began to shift, a subtle signal that the challenge had ended.
“No way,” someone said, blinking in disbelief. “That can’t be right. That’s way too fast. Something must be wrong with the display, ”
But then gasps rippled through the crowd.
All ten Wilton Academy students emerged from the portal, one after another, their expressions calm, unbothered. The entire stadium went silent.
The portal’s energy continued to flicker behind them, its shimmer slowly fading.
“The portal’s been cleared,” Raze said plainly, stepping forward and tossing a glowing crystal toward the stunned assessor.
“And here’s the proof.”
It was the boss crystal.
Ten minutes.
That’s all it had taken.
Ten minutes to clear an entire dimension, a feat no academy had ever accomplished at one of these events.
History had just been rewritten.
****
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Chapter 1408: Crushing Expectations
When the guests saw the Wilton Academy students emerge from the portal, a wave of confusion rippled through the crowd.
The time since the event had begun was relatively short, far too short for anyone to believe they had completed the task. A single thought began spreading among the observers like wildfire:
Did they just enter and immediately search for the exit portal?
That couldn’t be right.
Everyone knew that the entrance and the exit were placed in completely different locations. The event’s nature had been carefully explained, and the Central Academy had issued specific instructions to every participating school about where the exit portal would be located.
This event was timed.
Only the powerstones submitted before the official end of the event would be counted toward the final score.
Of course, there was an option to “bank” powerstones halfway through the event, teams could leave early, submit what they had, and avoid the risk of being too late. But while this was a safer strategy, it was almost never used. After all, even if they submitted early, they’d lose precious time that could’ve been used to gather more stones.
Besides, if their total wasn’t counted due to being late, the spectators could still judge a team’s strength by the number of powerstones they handed in. Playing it safe was seen as weak. Most schools avoided that route entirely.
Still, rules existed to cover edge cases, and this was quickly shaping up to be one of them.
“They exited that early? Are they really trying to play it safe?” one guest scoffed. “They’ll never win that way.”
“No, look at the screen!” another pointed, eyes wide.
On the large monitor above the arena, text began to scroll. The official record had been updated. A time stamp appeared, clear, undeniable proof that the portal had closed. The system, connected directly to the event’s monitoring equipment, confirmed the result.
The dimensional boss had been defeated.
Silence gripped the room for a beat.
“Wait… what?” someone finally whispered. “Does that mean the Central Academy didn’t win?”
“This has to be rigged,” a noble scoffed, slamming his fist on the railing. “There’s no way Wilton beat them fairly! They must’ve been handed an easy dungeon, or someone inside’s already a high-star mage who took out the boss instantly!”
“You fool,” another growled. “This entire event was organized by the Central Academy themselves. Why would they rig it for another school? And to say someone cheated while the Central Academy was monitoring the whole thing? That’s an insult.”
“But if what you’re saying is true,” someone else said, voice shaky, “and they didn’t cheat… then Wilton just shattered all the records. What kind of students do they even have?”
In truth, Raze hadn’t bothered collecting crystals or powerstones at all. To get the fastest time, they had gone directly for the dimensional boss.
Even if someone questioned their methods, the proof was undeniable. The boss’s crystal was their evidence. And since the Central Academy had verified that all dimensions were equal in difficulty, they could cross-reference the crystal to confirm it.
Besides, the dimension assigned to Wilton was relatively low-level. The powerstones were essentially worthless.
“Are we free to go?” Raze asked flatly, standing at the edge of the platform.
The event assessor was stunned. He didn’t know how to respond.
The plan had always been simple: let all students exit the portals before declaring the winner. But now, only one group had returned, and the others wouldn’t be done for quite a while. What were they supposed to do?
Before the assessor could even form a reply, Raze turned on his heel and began walking away, back toward the portal from which they had originally entered.
“It’s better this way,” Raze said quietly, though the others, teachers included, heard him clearly. “We don’t want them asking too many questions. We’ll come and go, destroy every expectation they have of us… before they can even respond.”
With a subtle tap of his foot, a hidden magic circle beneath the floor activated. Invisible to the eye, but not to Raze, who had noted it earlier, it began to glow faintly. The ground opened up beneath them, revealing a passage that led back to their preparation room.
And just like that, they were gone.
The guests remained seated, stunned, unsure of how to react. In the end, the hosts had no choice but to continue the event as originally planned. They resumed coverage of the other students still trapped within the dimensions.
But something had shifted.
The crowd wasn’t cheering anymore. The buzz was gone. Excitement had drained from the room like blood from a wound.
Almost everyone had bet on the Central Academy to come out on top.
And now, all those bets had already been lost.
Worse still, when people asked for details on the Wilton students, trying to learn who they were, their ranks, achievements, anything, there was next to nothing available.
Not just for the transfer students. Even the ranked Wilton students had blank profiles. No affiliations, no notable records, no public accomplishments.
Nothing.
The Central Academy, the proud organizers of the event, had been blindsided. An academy they hadn’t even bothered to research had shown up and utterly humiliated them.
Eventually, forty-five minutes passed.
There was a shimmer in one of the remaining portals, and the Central Academy students stepped out, Kayzel leading them at the front.
“Haha! I can’t wait to see their faces!” Bones cheered. “Since the new rules were introduced, no one’s ever managed to defeat the dimensional boss in time. Not a single group, until now.”
“And for the first time ever, the Central Academy pulls it off!” another student added, grinning wide.
They all wore victorious smiles, standing tall and proud… until they noticed something strange.
The crowd wasn’t cheering.
There were no thunderous claps. No excited whispers. Just silence, confusion, and the occasional sideways glance.
“Wait… why isn’t anyone reacting?” one student muttered.
They looked left. They looked right.
None of the other teams had emerged yet.
Which meant they had no idea…
They weren’t first.
****
****
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Chapter 1409: “Unmatched”
For a brief moment, the scoreboard displaying Wilton Academy’s score had vanished.
Everyone in the arena had seen the result, if only for a short time. But as the event assessors worked to confirm the data, they had taken it down, sparking a wave of uncertainty among the crowd.
There had been no official statement yet, no word on whether the results were genuine, or if there had been foul play involved. No confirmation, no denial. Just silence.
Which was exactly why the Central Academy students were so confused.
They had accomplished a historic first. They expected a thunderous reaction, applause, at the very least some respect. Instead, they were met with awkward glances and murmurings.
“Did something happen?” Nannan asked, turning to the Central Academy professor who stood beside them. Like Panla and the others, he was serving as their representative for the event.
“I think it’s best we wait until the official announcement is made,” the professor replied, though his voice lacked conviction.
The students exchanged uncertain looks. Nothing made sense. Had they missed something?
As the final ten minutes of the event ticked down, students from the other academies began emerging from their portals. Unlike the Central Academy group, these teams were handing in their collected powerstones to their teachers, who in turn passed them to the event assessor.
The assessor dropped each set of stones into a transparent container by his side, an enchanted one that automatically counted and logged the stones by group.
Time passed. Then, the last few seconds vanished from the clock. The first event had officially come to an end.
“Haha! Would you look at that?” Ponzo laughed from the Central Academy’s side. “Wilton’s students didn’t even make it out in time! I guess losing their best performers broke them. Looks like they couldn’t handle even a low-tier dimension.”
The others around him nodded in agreement, smug and satisfied.
“I suppose we’ll just have to wait for them to finally show up before the results can be announced,” Nannan commented, arms crossed. “I wonder how long they’re going to take.”
But then, something unexpected happened.
The assessor lifted his hand, magic swirling around him as it amplified his voice across the arena.
“We will now announce the full results of the first event of the Magical Exchange!” he called out clearly.
The crowd blinked in surprise.
What about Wilton? They hadn’t come out yet. Why was the announcement being made?
Before anyone could ask, the assessor raised both hands, casting another spell. A large magical display flared to life behind him and across the arena’s many viewing screens.
The results were in.
And just like that, the murmurs stopped. The crowd stared.
The scoreboard was crystal clear.
Wilton Academy sat at the top.
Their completion time was listed beside their name, undeniable, unchallenged, and… real.
It confirmed what many had suspected: there was no foul play. Nothing suspicious. The results were legitimate. The Wilton students had completed the task in record time and walked away before anyone else had even come close.
The reaction from the other academies was a mix of shock and disbelief.
Mouths hung open.
Some couldn’t blink.
Others covered their mouths, unable to hide their expressions of pure astonishment.
“That… that can’t be right,” Bones stammered. “How is that even possible? No one can finish a dungeon event in ten minutes!”
“They must have defeated the dimensional boss,” Rupert said, his tone serious. “That’s the only way. And they must have done it early, finished the whole thing and left before the rest of us were even halfway through.”
The truth was sinking in fast.
The incredible feat the Central Academy thought they had accomplished, it was already outshined. Their triumph paled in comparison to what Wilton Academy had achieved.
Kayzel, eyes narrowed, turned to Ponzo.
“That’s gotta be fake, right?” Ponzo asked. “They had to use some kind of trick. There’s no way that’s real.”
“It might be,” Rupert said. “But if that’s the case, then they’ve had over an hour to find something, and they haven’t. Which means nothing’s been proven. No evidence. No violations. The result stands.”
All they could do now… was stare at the screen.
The first event of the Magical Exchange was over, and the unexpected victor had rewritten every expectation.
In the guest viewing booth, the academy principals were rising to leave. The event was done, but none of them could walk away without commenting on what they had just witnessed.
“I told you all you’d be surprised by the results,” Wilton Junior said, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’ll admit, even I didn’t expect things to go this
well.”
He paused for a moment before continuing, his tone turning thoughtful.
“I think it’s time we start seeing things a little differently. The Central Academy may still lead in many areas, but just like in the past, when some nations began to surpass others in various fields, the same is happening now with academies.
“After all, wasn’t that the point of the Magical Exchange? To learn from each other. To grow together as equals?”
Wilton’s words held truth. That had been the spirit of the Exchange when it was first proposed.
But over time, the event had evolved, twisted into a showcase for the Central Academy. It had become a stage to prove why they were the best, why all families should send their children there, why their prestige was unmatched.
But now?
That illusion had been cracked.
“Well,” Ibarin, the Central Academy Headmaster, said as he stood up, “it certainly was a surprise. It’ll be interesting to see how the next few days play out.”
One by one, the other principals followed suit and began filing out of the booth.
But as Ibarin stepped past the others and moved toward the exit, the smile on his face disappeared.
’What trick did they use…?’ he thought, his fists clenched tightly behind his back. ’How were they able to do something like that? I’ll get to the bottom of this. No one gets away with stealing the spotlight from my academy.’
’The Central Academy is mine. And an attack on it… is an attack on me.’
****
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Chapter 1410: Beneath the Fireworks
Even though the main event had come to an end for the day, the festival itself hadn’t stopped. The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, and the atmosphere around the academy grounds began to shift. The bustling competitions and magical displays were replaced with a more cheerful and relaxed energy.
The activity stalls that once tested magical skills had been transformed into something else entirely, lively food stands and playful game booths, where magic was forbidden. Balloon-popping, ring-tossing, and other classic games took center stage. It finally felt like a true celebration, like everyone was simply there to enjoy a joyous evening.
The students and guests alike welcomed the change. It was a moment to breathe, to unwind, and to forget the pressure of rankings and performance.
For the students from Wilton Academy, most of them grabbed some food from the nearby stalls and then made their way straight back to their dorms. Even during the brief walk through the evening crowd, they were constantly being approached by guests, representatives from different factions, organizations, and academies all trying to speak with them.
Fortunately, the Wilton teachers stepped in, doing their best to shield the students from being overwhelmed. After all, they had felt a little useless during much of the main event, and now this was something they could do, something that gave them a sense of control. They were firm, dismissing anyone who tried to get close, and insisted the students be left alone.
Wilton Academy had made quite the impression that day. And while the students were calm on the surface, they knew the attention they had drawn might come with a cost. Other academies would take notice, maybe even target them. To avoid unnecessary trouble and maintain the mystery surrounding what had happened during the event, returning to the dorms was the safest move.
As for the students of Central Academy, they were nowhere to be seen during the evening festivities. Most people assumed it was due to their loss. After all, no one wanted to be surrounded by questions after such a defeat, questions about how it happened, how they felt, what went wrong.
Students were still students. Sometimes, when cornered, they lashed out emotionally. It was why the event organizers always tried not to place too much emphasis on the importance of winning.
But even then, competition was natural. Rivalry between academies ran deep, and pride was always on the line.
Still, the real reason for Central Academy’s absence was something else entirely, they had been summoned to a meeting by the Grand Magus himself.
Inside one of the large chambers, the Central students stood stiffly, nervously waiting as the Grand Magus, Ibarin, observed them.
Were they about to be scolded for their performance? For what had happened earlier?
It didn’t feel fair. They had achieved something historic, something no previous Central Academy student had ever done. They had defeated the Dimension Boss. The only problem was… someone else had done it faster.
“Don’t look so afraid,” Ibarin said at last, his tone calm yet unsettling. “You did what you could. It seems Wilton Academy has somehow bested us… with some kind of trick. But I haven’t yet figured out what that trick was.”
He paused, then added darkly, “When I do, the academy will be punished accordingly.”
There was more Ibarin wanted to say, but he held back. Because what if there was no trick? What if Wilton simply had talented students this year? He didn’t want to say it out loud, but it was a possibility.
Still, he wanted to prepare for every outcome.
“In your opinion,” he began, addressing the group, “to prove that Central Academy is the best, what are the two most important events during the cultural exchange?”
“I guess… the group battling event, and maybe the… one-on-one event,” Bones replied, his voice a bit shaky.
Originally, he had considered answering the Dimension-clearing event. After all, that event and the group battle both required teamwork, a true test of the academy’s overall strength.
But he hesitated. If he answered honestly, would it seem like he was making excuses? Would it highlight their failure? In the end, he gave the answer he thought was safer.
“The special skills event only shows off individual talent,” Ibarin said with a dismissive wave. “There’s no winner even declared from it. As for the teachers’ event… that’s just for display. Everyone already knows the best teachers are at Central Academy. But that doesn’t prove we have the best students.”
His gaze shifted.
“Which is why, Kayzel, I’m pulling you out of tomorrow’s showcase.”
Kayzel nodded slightly, trying to hide his disappointment. He had been looking forward to it. With his unique magical trait, he was confident he would have wowed the audience, left a lasting impression.
It was a rare opportunity. One where the eyes of the world could have been on him. A moment to shine. Now, that chance was gone.
But what could he say? There was no room to protest. Not under Ibarin.
“Don’t be upset,” Ibarin continued. “This is part of the strategy. When the one-on-one and group events arrive, your abilities will be unknown. You’ll be a hidden weapon. They won’t know what’s coming.”
Kayzel stayed silent. But deep down, it didn’t sit right with him. Not just him, the others felt it too. Was winning really all that mattered?
Wouldn’t it be better to win while showing the world who they were, what they could do?
It felt like Ibarin valued victory above all else. More than truth. More than talent. More than the spirit of the exchange itself.
With that, the Grand Magus waved his hand.
“Go. Rest. Prepare for what’s to come. And don’t forget to use what’s been given to you.”
The students left with mixed emotions. But if there was one thing they were all certain of, it was that they didn’t want to lose to Wilton Academy.
Not now. Not after everything.
They would give it their all in the battles ahead.
*****
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Chapter 1411: The Day After the Storm
The next day arrived with a calm breeze brushing across the academy grounds. But for the students of Wilton Academy, the day ahead wasn’t going to be so calm.
This time, when the Wilton students stepped out into the public areas, they weren’t alone. Their professors walked alongside them. Given everything that had happened the day before, the instructors had decided it was best to personally escort the students around the event grounds.
“Should we stick together for today?” Panla asked, turning to Raze as they strolled past the re-opened stalls.
She knew Raze had other important matters to tend to, duties that extended beyond the event itself, ones that couldn’t afford to be delayed.
“I suppose we still have several more days,” Raze replied with a small shrug. “Besides… maybe we overdid it a bit yesterday.”
The morning had just begun, and the smaller activities and performances had returned. Colorful stalls lined the walkways once again, and students from various academies wandered between them, enjoying the lighthearted festivities.
But this time, Wilton Academy had become something of a performance themselves.
Wherever they went, eyes followed.
The attention was relentless. Teachers, students, and representatives from countless organizations were looking their way. They had become the stars of the exchange, whether they wanted to or not.
People approached them constantly, offering compliments, asking questions, and in some cases, just trailing behind to see what they would do next. Even when Wilton students weren’t doing anything special, people were still watching, hoping to catch a glimpse of their next move.
For Raze, it was exactly the kind of attention he didn’t want, especially considering he had things to investigate, things that required stealth. But in this environment, sneaking around would be impossible.
And then, from across the plaza, another group spotted them.
Kayzel, flanked by his usual pair of followers, caught sight of the Wilton students and paused. Curiosity sparked in his eyes as he stepped forward to get a closer look.
That’s when he saw them, Moze and Piba.
The expressions on the faces of the Central Academy students said everything. Confusion. Disbelief. Maybe even concern. They had clearly expected something else.
“What’s wrong?” Moze asked, catching the looks. “Did you expect us to be limping around or something?”
“Don’t worry,” Piba added casually. “We already heard that the Central Academy mages didn’t manage to do much. But like you saw the other day, Wilton Academy just has a little more than Central Academy when it comes to resources.”
Kayzel clenched his jaw slightly, but didn’t respond.
Neither did his companions.
They simply turned and walked away, not wanting to draw any more attention than they already had.
The Wilton students watched them leave, unsure of what to say or do. The truth was, they didn’t feel entirely comfortable either.
They couldn’t take part in any of the performances or enjoy the stalls, not without immediately being swarmed. If they even so much as glanced at a booth, a crowd would gather within moments, eager to see what they would do, how they would perform, what new spectacle they might create.
Even though they had won the spotlight, it had come with a price, freedom.
And today, that spotlight was shining hotter than ever.
Just as the Wilton students were about to head back to the dorms, hoping to rest before the next major event began, a familiar voice called out to them from nearby.
“Oh, it’s you!” a cheerful tone rang through the crowd.
They turned to see an older man approaching, one they recognized almost instantly.
“Yes, I’m Professor Tink,” the man said with a warm smile, stroking his long, slightly unkempt beard. “I was the one in charge of the puzzle event you managed to complete yesterday. I’m not running any puzzles today, but I did catch the rest of the event, and I must say, I was quite surprised by what I saw.”
He paused and chuckled to himself. “But at the same time, perhaps not so surprised after all. If you truly had a student guiding you, someone as skilled as you claimed… then it makes sense that one among you would be exceptionally talented. I have to ask, is that student here with you now?”
Yolden and her friend immediately froze.
They remembered the conversation from yesterday, how, after finishing the puzzle challenge, they’d casually mentioned that a fellow student had taught them the techniques they used. At the time, it didn’t seem like a big deal. But now, looking back, they both realized the mistake.
They had accidentally outed Raze.
Neither of them knew what to say. Their eyes darted between each other, unsure of whether to lie or play dumb.
But before they could make a decision, Raze stepped forward.
“It was me,” he said calmly. “I was the one who guided them, Professor.”
He offered a respectful bow.
Professor Tink blinked in surprise, then let out a small laugh.
The two had crossed paths briefly in the past, back when Raze worked at Central Academy. Tink had been a fairly new professor at the time. They had spoken a few times, mostly casual conversations about formations and theoretical magic.
There were no bad memories between them. No rivalry. No hard feelings.
So Raze saw no reason to hide or act distant. He was willing to show him the respect he deserved.
“Well then,” Professor Tink said, folding his hands behind his back. “It seems you have a bit of time before the next event. Would you mind if the two of us had a little chat? I’d love to explore your mind a bit more, and I imagine you wouldn’t mind getting away from this crowd.”
The idea of talking magic with a professor again… it stirred something in Raze.
He hadn’t had a conversation like that in a long time, not since arriving in Pagna. Here, people spoke more about raw power than the beauty of magical theory. The thought of engaging in an intelligent discussion actually sounded pleasant.
“I think just the two of us would be best,” Raze replied. “Any more, and we might draw too much attention.”
He turned and glanced over at Liam and the others, making sure the rest of the Wilton students were safe and settled. Satisfied, he nodded.
“Would it be alright if we headed into the main academy building?” he asked. “It’s not often I get a chance to visit a place like this. I’d love a little tour while we talk.”
Professor Tink smiled brightly.
“Of course. The main building should be nearly empty at this time of day. Everyone’s outside enjoying the festivities. It’ll be quiet. Perfect for conversation.”
For Raze, this wasn’t just an opportunity to enjoy a nostalgic talk. This might also be one of the rare chances he needed, to pursue one of the three major goals he had set for himself during the exchange.
And now, one step toward that goal was opening right in front of him.
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