Maurice's eyes, wide with disbelief, echoed the silence that followed Dominic's grave revelation. "What?" he whispered, as if the word itself could undo the truth before him.
Dominic nodded, his face a mask of solemnity. "I've pieced together the evidence, examined the broken seal myself. It's been compromised."
"How? That area was under maximum security." Maurice's voice was a mixture of confusion and concern.
"I wish I knew," Dominic sighed, a shadow of dismay crossing his features. "Upon my arrival, a chilling scene greeted me—countless fallen, their lives extinguished prematurely."
He paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "The surveillance captured two figures shrouded in mystery, one wielding Ice Magic with lethal precision while the other shattered Erebos' seal."
"Can you describe them?" Maurice inquired, leaning in, eager for any detail that might lead to their identification.
"Concealed beneath hoods, their true faces remained hidden from view." Dominic's frustration was palpable.
Maurice stroked his chin thoughtfully, his mind racing. In Sylvestria, no one with a shred of sanity would dare to unleash Erebos, unless driven by dark ambitions. A single entity loomed large in his suspicions—Umbrascourge.
"It seems likely they're behind this, given their history," Maurice murmured, his voice tinged with a mix of certainty and dread.
Dominic's agreement was quiet but firm. "That was my thought as well, Professor."
Umbrascourge's infamy for sinister endeavors aimed at Sylvestria's downfall was well-known, their motives as shadowy as their membership.
"Did a demon emerge after the seal's breach?" Maurice's query was hopeful, seeking a sliver of good news amidst the darkness.
Shaking his head, Dominic replied, "No. Surprisingly, the seal's breaker appeared as surprised as any, with no demon in sight."
This unexpected turn puzzled Maurice deeply. History painted Erebos as a fearsome demon of unparalleled power, its containment critical to Sylvestria's past and present peace. That the seal could be broken, yet not release its captive, suggested an enigma of significant magnitude.
"The seal's destruction alone is alarming," Maurice finally said, his voice heavy with implication. "Unless…Reality Warping Magic was involved."
Dominic's eyebrow lifted in query, prompting Maurice to elaborate on a possibility both fascinating and frightening. "Such magic is rare, wielded only by Camille Rousseau in recorded history. Her use of it to seal Erebos was legendary."
As they reflected on Camille's heroism and the transformative power she harnessed, the gravity of the situation settled in. If Umbrascourge had someone capable of Reality Warping Magic, the threat they posed was unprecedented.
Dominic, however, looked to Maurice with an unwavering belief in his mentor's ability to confront any challenge. "We have you, Professor. With you, we stand a chance."
Maurice's response was a soft, sorrowful exhale. "I'm sorry, Dominic, but I…I can no longer bear the mantle of a fighter." His words were a mournful acceptance of a new reality, casting a pall over their exchange.
"Why, Professor?" Dominic's confusion was clear; the Maurice he knew was a bastion of strength and resolve.
Maurice's gaze met Dominic's, laden with a sorrow too profound to articulate fully.
"Since Isabelle's passing…since Aubert was born, the fear of leaving him alone, orphaned by war, has paralyzed me." His admission was a window into a soul tormented by loss and haunted by the specter of further tragedy.
Dominic's eyes widened in realization, a pang of guilt piercing through him as he understood the depth of the wound he had inadvertently touched within Maurice's heart.
"I'm sorry, Professor," he murmured, the words heavy with genuine regret.
"It's okay," Maurice replied, his voice soft, yet carrying a weight of unspoken sorrow.
In the brief silence that followed, a bond of mutual respect and understanding deepened between them.
"Besides, you and your colleagues are more than capable of handling this, right? After all, you've ascended to the prestigious role of Magus Supreme," Maurice ventured, his tone imbued with a mix of hope and encouragement.
Dominic exhaled, feeling the immense weight of his new title press down upon him. "Indeed, I've stepped into the role, but it feels as though I'm wearing a cloak too grand for my shoulders. My youth and inexperience loom large in my mind."
Maurice reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Dominic's shoulder, grounding him. "Dominic, your rise to Magus Supreme was no accident. Your victory over the former Magus Supreme was a testament to your strength and potential. You must believe in yourself more."
A smile tugged at Dominic's lips, a mix of amusement and inspiration lighting up his eyes. "There you go again with your 'believe in yourself' mantra. I've heard it countless times, yet it never fails to inspire."
"Hahaha!" Maurice's laughter was warm, a sound that echoed the many moments of encouragement he had shared with Dominic over the years.
"Repetition has its virtues, my boy. It serves as a reminder, a beacon to guide you back to your inner strength. And never doubt that I believe in you, Dominic."
With a playful gesture, Maurice ruffled Dominic's hair, a momentary flash of nostalgia passing between them. In Dominic's youthful defiance and spirited eyes, Maurice saw the echoes of a younger, more carefree version of his student.
"Professor, I'm twenty-four; you should stop treating me like a child," Dominic protested with a mock frown, gently batting Maurice's hand away.
Maurice's chuckle was a sound of affectionate remembrance. "Apologies, but to me, you'll always be that spirited youngster, always ready to leap into the fray with your peers."
A flush of embarrassment colored Dominic's cheeks. "I'd rather not talk about those memories. They're hardly my finest moments."
CRASH!
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from upstairs, the sound of shattering glass cutting through their lighthearted exchange.
Maurice's expression shifted instantly to one of alarm. "Aubert!" he exclaimed, a note of panic in his voice as he darted towards the stairs.
Without hesitation, Dominic was at his heels, his concern for Maurice's son mirroring the gravity of the situation that had so abruptly interrupted their moment of reflection.
***
Aubert was deeply immersed in his imaginative world, meticulously stacking colorful building blocks with the intent to craft a pyramid. His focus was unwavering until the final piece was set atop the structure, and a peculiar sensation suddenly enveloped him.
With a mix of curiosity and wonder, he scanned his bedroom, his attention caught by the lamp beside his bed behaving erratically. It flickered and warped as though ensnared in a digital anomaly, casting a dance of unpredictable shadows around the room.
Drawn by this unusual spectacle, Aubert approached the lamp, his steps hesitant yet filled with intrigue. As he reached it, an astonishing sight unfolded before him—a cascade of butterflies burst forth from the lamp, swirling around him in a mesmerizing display.
"Woah!" Aubert couldn't contain his astonishment as he observed the spectacle.
The butterflies, as if guided by an unseen force, began to converge, their forms blending and shifting until they coalesced into the figure of a man.
This man was adorned in a striking ensemble: a black top hat accented with a red ribbon, vibrant red hair that seemed to capture the essence of a sunset, skin as fair as porcelain, and a physique that was both lean and defined.
He was dressed in a sharp red tuxedo, complemented by black trousers and red shoes, presenting an image of otherworldly charm. Initially facing away, the man casually dusted off his attire, remarking with a touch of amusement.
"It seems traveling across realities tends to tarnish one's appearance."
Aubert, intrigued by the man's familiar red hair, reminiscent of his father's, whispered, "Papa?"
As the stranger turned, revealing eyes of a piercing green, he smiled warmly at Aubert. "Yes! It's me, your papa!"
But as Aubert studied him more closely, he noticed differences that belied the man's claim, particularly the youthful appearance that distinguished him from his father.
Approaching Aubert, the man exuded a palpable sense of warmth and familiarity, kneeling to meet Aubert's gaze directly.
With a gentle touch to Aubert's forehead, he softly spoke, "It seems your magic remains dormant, young one."
Aubert, puzzled yet entranced, looked up at him with wide, questioning eyes.
The man chuckled softly at Aubert's innocence, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Just remain still, Little One, alright?"
Aubert, sensing an inexplicable trust in this mysterious figure, nodded.
The man, smiling, concentrated a radiant red aura around his finger and tapped Aubert's forehead lightly.
CRASH!
This simple action unleashed a shockwave that shattered the window, the force of which knocked Aubert into a deep slumber.
With quick reflexes, the man caught Aubert, cradling him to the bed with a tenderness that belied his extraordinary entrance.
"Aubert!" The sound of footsteps hurrying towards the room prompted the man to act swiftly.
Bending down, he kissed Aubert's forehead, whispering a promise, "I bestow upon you my power, for you are the chosen one."
With a flick of his fingers, he dissolved into red energy particles, disappearing just as Maurice and Dominic burst into the room.
Their entrance was marked by concern; Maurice's gaze immediately swept to the shattered window, then to Aubert, lying peacefully in bed. A sigh of relief escaped him as he approached to check Aubert for any injuries.
Dominic, meanwhile, picked up a shard of glass, his eyes alight with purpose.
"Trace," he whispered, invoking one of Sylvestria's common spells designed to uncover magical residues.
As Dominic analyzed the shard, his eyes illuminated by the spell's glow, he uncovered potent magical signatures, a revelation that piqued his curiosity and concern.
The magic residue hinted at a power extraordinary and unfamiliar, stirring questions about the events that had transpired in Aubert's room.
Turning to Maurice, Dominic shared his findings. "Professor, these shards are imbued with a potent magic."
Maurice, joining Dominic, cast the Trace spell himself and was equally taken aback. The implications of such magic led him to a startling conclusion, one that he dared not voice fully.
Dominic, sensing the significance of their discovery, ventured, "Professor, it's possible that Aubert has awakened to his magic."
His voice was a blend of excitement and wonder, reflecting the magnitude of their realization.
Maurice, absorbing the implications, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it seems likely." His voice was a mix of pride and astonishment, contemplating the newfound path that lay before Aubert.