The intruder remained silent, unfazed by Jaegar's question.
At that moment, he locked eyes with the figure, a mixture of fear and confusion in his gaze. But before he could react further, the figure swiftly withdrew a gleaming dagger from their attire and hurled it toward Jaegar.
Instinctively, Jaegar's hands moved, and in an astonishing display of power, a brilliant surge of lightning sparked to life around his hand. The lightning shot forth and struck the intruder, sending them crashing into the wall with a resounding thud.
In the blink of an eye, Jaegar was on his feet, his heart pounding in his chest. The figure slowly rose from the floor, seemingly unfazed by the electrifying blow. They advanced toward Jaegar once more, clearly intent on carrying out their dark mission.
Unleashing his newfound strength, Jaegar acted swiftly. He seized the intruder's arm in a vice-like grip, their struggle intensifying for a fleeting moment before he delivered a forceful kick to their abdomen.
As the clash continued, Jaegar's mind raced with the realization that the intruder was no ordinary foe.
The lifting of the curse unlocked not only his magical potential but also granted him enhanced physical abilities. He felt more powerful and in tune with the magic coursing through him.
However, as he attempted to summon the lightning again, it seemed to elude him momentarily, leaving him to face the figure once more. The intruder closed in, and Jaegar frantically tried various hand gestures, willing the lightning to respond.
In a heart-stopping moment, just as the figure's dagger neared Jaegar's body, the lightning he sought surged forth, enveloping the intruder in a dazzling display of power. Jaegar felt a newfound connection with the element, a sense of control that had eluded him before.
The figure collapsed to the ground, numbed by the force of the lightning. Jaegar wasted no time, swiftly approaching the fallen intruder. With a determined glint in his eyes, he removed the figure's mask, revealing a man whose identity remained unknown to him.
Struck by curiosity and urgency, Jaegar demanded answers, "Who are you, and who sent you?"
The man managed to lift his head slightly, his gaze meeting Jaegar's. He smirked, a hint of defiance in his eyes, but he knew he was at a disadvantage. "You won't get anything from me," he spat, his voice strained.
He bit something in his mouth, and then foam started coming out of his mouth.
Intrigue and uncertainty swirled in Jaegar's mind as he stared at the lifeless body before him. He had never encountered such a deadly situation before, and the rush of adrenaline that had fueled his actions now left him feeling slightly shaken. His hands trembled ever so slightly, betraying the lingering unease within.
Not knowing what to do, he made his way to Jeanine's quarters, he thought she might help. Knocking on the door, he waited anxiously for her to answer.
When Jeanine opened the door, surprise flickered across her face at the sight of Jaegar standing there at such a late hour. She was wearing a robe over a nightgown. Her hair was tied up in swirls of curls.
"Jaegar? What are you doing here at this time of night?" Jeanine inquired, her voice tinged with concern.
Jaegar's voice wavered, but he mustered the courage to explain, "Ms. Jeanine, can you come with me for a second?"
Perplexed by his urgency, Jeanine's brows furrowed. "Why? What's going on?"
"I'll show you," Jaegar replied, as he was still shaking from the confrontation. "Please, just come with me."
Intrigued and concerned by Jaegar's unusual behavior, Jeanine agreed to accompany him back to his room. The corridors were silent, as there was no one except for the sounds of owls. The dimly lit hallways added an eerie atmosphere to their journey, heightening Jeanine's curiosity and making her wonder what could possibly be so important that Jaegar needed to bring her here at this hour.
As they entered, a sudden and eerie mist filled the air, sending shivers down their spines. Jeanine acted swiftly, dispelling the smoke with her magic, only to find the body of the intruder missing from where it had previously lain. Jeanine only got a glimpse of the body lying on the floor before the smoke appeared.
The room returned to its normal state, leaving Jaegar and Jeanine utterly bewildered by what had transpired.
Jaegar recounted the entire incident to Jeanine, describing how he had fought off the attacker and how the man had seemingly taken his own life with a deadly substance.
After carefully considering the situation, Jeanine suggested, "Let's go to my room for now. We can talk there, away from prying eyes." On his first time here, his curse revealed itself, and on his first night here, someone tried to kill him. She couldn't leave him alone for the rest of the night.
Inside Jeanine's room, Jaegar found himself sitting on the couch, his mind still reeling from the recent events. Absentmindedly staring ahead, he tried to process everything that had transpired.
Jeanine sat beside him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, assuring him not to worry.
Jeanine listened attentively to Jaegar's account, her face a mix of concern and contemplation. She was deeply troubled by the gravity of the situation and the unknown motives behind the attack.
"It's clear that you're in grave danger, Jaegar," Jeanine said softly, her eyes fixed on him. "This was no ordinary assailant. There's something sinister at play here."
Jaegar nodded, his mind racing with thoughts of who could have sent the attacker and why. "But why would anyone want to harm me?" he wondered aloud.
Jeanine placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and said, "I don't have all the answers, but we need to be cautious. I'll report this to the headmaster, Ashfield, first thing in the morning. He needs to know what happened."
But Jaegar's thoughts were elsewhere, and her touch brought him back to the present. He looked at her, and in that moment, everything else seemed to fade away. Her presence, her fragrance, and her proximity were all-encompassing. Though Jeanine was offering reassurance, Jaegar couldn't help but be drawn to her.
His face contorted with a pretense of worry, and he voiced his concerns, "What if they come back?"
Jeanine, trying to be strong for him, thought for a moment before firmly responding, "You can stay here for the night, and we'll decide on our next steps in the morning."
A mischievous smile flashed across Jaegar's face, well hidden behind his pretense of fear. He saw an opportunity and decided to take a chance. Seizing the moment, he hugged Jeanine tightly, pressing himself close to her.
"Ms. Jeanine," Jaegar said, feigning a tremor in his voice, "it was so terrifying. I thought I was going to die."
Taken aback by his sudden display of vulnerability, Jeanine simply patted his back, believing that he was genuinely afraid. Unaware of Jaegar's true intentions, she sought to offer comfort, hoping to alleviate his fear.
But for Jaegar, the hug served a dual purpose.