The Academy was in chaos. As the corruption in the magic spread, the once-safe halls of the school became a battleground. Students fought against those who had been transformed into monstrous versions of themselves by the dark magic, their spells and attacks echoing off the stone walls.
Alexander and Lira were in the thick of it. They had just escaped a fierce battle with several corrupted students, their bodies still humming with the adrenaline of combat. The two of them moved quickly through the twisted corridors of the Academy, keeping low and avoiding the worst of the fighting. They knew that the only place they could find partners was the main library, also where the oldest and most powerful tomes were kept.
"Keep moving," Alexander urged, his eyes sharp as he scanned the corridor ahead. "The library's just around the corner. We need to find Elara and the others as soon as possible"
They reached the large, imposing doors of the main library, pushing them open and slipping inside. The library was a vast, cavernous space, its high ceilings and towering bookshelves filled with the knowledge of centuries. But today, it was empty and dark, the usual comforting silence replaced by an eerie stillness.
As they moved deeper into the library, they spotted a familiar figure huddled over a table, a stack of books and scrolls spread out before her.
"Elara!" Alexander called out, relief flooding his voice.
Elara looked up, her face pale and her eyes wide. "Alexander! Lira! Thank goodness you're okay."
Lira quickly moved to her side. "We've been fighting our way through the chaos. The Academy's falling apart, and the magic is completely out of control. We're almost out of time."
Alexander nodded grimly. "It's worse than we thought. We just saw that two more of Lucian Draven's followers have been forced to quit due to their magic rage. They were overwhelmed by their own spells and had to be pulled out of the challenge."
Elara clenched her fists. "Damn it. This is all connected to the corruption in the magic. It's spreading faster than we can handle."
Before they could say more, the door to the library burst open, and Selene rushed in, her face flushed and her eyes wide with urgency.
"Alexander, Elara, Lira!" she called out, hurrying over to them. "We found the black-robed man! Tomas is tracking him right now—he's trying to keep him in sight while I came back to get you."
Alexander's heart leapt at the news. "Where? Where did they go?"
Selene gestured toward the door, her voice breathless. "They were heading toward the west wing. Tomas thought it might be a trap, but he's following at a distance. We need to hurry and catch up before they get too far."
The group didn't waste a moment. They raced out of the library and toward the west wing, their footsteps echoing off the stone floors.
....
Meanwhile, Tomas had been trailing the black-robed man for several minutes, keeping to the shadows as he followed him through the darkened halls of the Academy. The man moved swiftly, his robes flowing behind him like a dark tide, seemingly unaware that he was being followed.
Tomas kept a careful distance, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew he was taking a huge risk, but he also knew that this was their best chance to find out who the black-robed man really was and what he wanted. Every step was calculated, every breath quiet as he kept his eyes locked on his target.
The man led Tomas through a series of narrow corridors and twisting passageways, moving deeper into the west wing of the Academy. The shadows grew darker here, the air colder, as if the very walls were closing in around them. Tomas felt a shiver run down his spine, but he forced himself to stay focused.
After several more minutes of tense pursuit, the man in black suddenly stopped in a small, shadowed alcove. Tomas pressed himself against the wall, holding his breath as he watched the man closely.
"Come out," the black-robed man said suddenly, his voice echoing softly in the confined space. "You've been following me for so long."
Before Tomas could react, the man released a burst of dark magic in his direction. The energy crackled through the air, striking the wall beside Tomas and forcing him out of hiding. Tomas stumbled forward, his eyes wide with shock as he realized he had been caught.
"So, finally shown yourself," the black-robed man sneered, his hood still obscuring his face. "I was wondering how long you planned to keep up this little game."
Tomas quickly regained his footing, raising his hands defensively as he prepared to cast a spell. "Who are you really?" he demanded, his voice steady. "Why are you doing this?"
The man laughed, a cold, hollow sound that sent chills down Tomas's spine. "You'll find out soon enough."
Without warning, the black-robed man lunged forward, releasing a barrage of dark energy bolts that streaked toward Tomas with blinding speed. Tomas reacted instinctively, summoning a torrent of water to intercept the attacks. The water and dark energy collided in mid-air, creating a shower of steam and sparks.
Tomas was forced on the defensive, his water magic swirling around him in fluid, protective barriers. He countered the black-robed man's relentless assault with streams of water, trying to keep him at bay. But it was clear Tomas was at a disadvantage. His water magic, while effective defensively, lacked the offensive power needed to turn the tide of battle. He was constantly on the back foot, retreating step by step as the black-robed man pressed his advantage.
"You're no match for me, boy," the man taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. "You should have stayed hidden. Now, you'll pay the price."
Tomas gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing with focus. He knew he couldn't keep up the defensive for much longer. He needed to create an opening—something that would give him a chance to strike back.
Drawing in a deep breath, Tomas summoned a wave of water from the air, shaping it into a massive, swirling vortex. He thrust his hands forward, sending the vortex crashing toward the black-robed man with the force of a tidal wave.
The black-robed man reacted quickly, raising a hand and casting a dark barrier that absorbed the impact of the water, dissipating it into a fine mist. He then countered with a powerful blast of dark magic that cut through the mist like a blade, aiming straight for Tomas.
Tomas barely managed to dodge the attack, the dark energy grazing his side and leaving a searing pain in its wake. He stumbled, his water shield faltering as he struggled to regain his footing.
As he regained his balance, Tomas saw the black-robed man's face for the first time. The hood slipped back, revealing a familiar visage—a face he knew well. Tomas gasped, his eyes wide with shock and recognition.
Taking advantage of Tomas's momentary distraction, the black-robed man unleashed a wave of dark magic, the energy coiling around Tomas like black serpents. Tomas struggled, his movements frantic as he tried to break free. But the dark magic was too strong, and it quickly overwhelmed him, crushing the life out of him with a single, brutal squeeze. Tomas's the light fading from his eyes as he slumped to the ground, his body went limp and then disappeared as light.
Alexander and the others arrived moments later, skidding to a halt as they saw the aftermath of the battle. The walls were scorched with dark magic, the floor littered with puddles of water and scorch marks. But there is nothing in the center of the hall. Alexander had already guessed the outcome, and a sense of dread weighed heavily on their hearts.
Selene's gaze fell to the ground, her expression darkening as she spotted something etched into the floor. "Look. He left us a message." Alexander followed her gaze, his heart clenching as he saw the faint, glowing symbol Tomas had drawn with the last of his strength. It was a simple shape, but it carried a message— therapeutic symbol.
Lira leaned in, her eyes scanning the symbol. "What does it mean, Alexander?"
Alexander took a deep breath, "The Infirmary. That must be the clue he was trying to tell us. The black-robed man is connected to the infirmary."
Lira's expression darkened as she thought the three Lucian Draven's followers. "And my three partners had been to the infirmary before their magic out of control. "
Selene's expression hardened." And today, Tomas just said the advanced Water Magic Practice class of House Aqua has been suspended for the past two days because the professor Thorne is on leave. It all fits."
Alexander nodded, as he put the pieces together. "It all fits. Then the black-robed man must be Professor Thorne. He's the one behind all of this!"