As my vision blurred, Urzan's monstrous claws tore through the summoning circle. I hit the ground hard, the cold stone biting into my side. The sound of my sword clattering beside me was drowned in the chaos.
Before everything went black, I thought I saw Isaac's gaze lock onto me—sharp, ready, as if silently telling me: I've got this. Then, silence.
The battlefield erupted into pandemonium—magic arcing through the air, steel clashing against steel, and the ground rumbling beneath the weight of unleashed power. Isaac Mavis stood in the eye of the storm, a calm presence amid the frenzy, like a conductor guiding a deadly symphony.
"Second-years, into formation! Lilith, deal with the undead! Burn them if you have to!"
Lilith von Ruriel spun her staff, embers swirling at her fingertips. She didn't just cast fire—she commanded it, her magic roaring to life as a searing cyclone ripped through the undead hordes, turning them into nothing but ash and embers. She shot a sly grin at Leon mid-cast.
"Don't blink, lightning boy, or you'll miss the fireworks."
Leon, leaning heavily against a cracked column, gave a tired chuckle. His fingers sparked weakly with electricity, the remnants of his energy flickering. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't set me on fire."
Isaac shut out their exchange, his mind already running two steps ahead. Every second mattered. His eyes locked on the summoning sigil beneath Urzan's claws, pulsing with dark energy that beat like a war drum. The barrier between this world and the abyss was razor-thin now. If they failed to disrupt the ritual, the academy would fall before sunrise.
With a flick of his wrist, jagged crystals erupted from the earth, encasing Urzan in a shimmering prison. The demon let out a guttural roar, hammering at the walls with monstrous fury. Cracks spiderwebbed across the crystal surface—it wouldn't hold for long, but it would have to do.
Then, Isaac turned his focus toward the heart of the circle. Corvin.
The rogue instructor stood there, dark mana coiling around him like tendrils, his lips moving in an unholy chant. Shadows swirled at his feet, feeding off the ambient magic in the air, growing stronger with every breath. Corvin's eyes gleamed with twisted satisfaction, as if he could already taste victory.
Isaac advanced without hesitation, every step deliberate. His sword hummed with crystalline energy, the faint sound of glass scraping against metal.
"Corvin." Isaac's voice was steady, each syllable sharp as a drawn blade. "Whatever you think you'll gain from this—it ends now."
Corvin's smirk curled at the edges. "You're too late." With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a wave of black mana, thick and poisonous.
Isaac's sword shimmered in response, the crystal energy surging as he slashed clean through the incoming spell. The dark magic dissipated into a black mist, harmless before it could touch him. Isaac surged forward, a blur of motion, and his blade found its mark.
Steel met flesh with a sickening crack as Isaac's strike tore through Corvin's hastily-formed defenses. The rogue mage staggered backward, his grin faltering as blood bloomed across his robes. He crumpled to the ground with a thud.
Isaac didn't wait for a victory cheer. His gaze snapped back to the summoning circle just in time to see the sigil pulse one final time—and collapse inward. A deafening roar echoed through the chamber as Urzan's form began to unravel, the demon howling in rage as it was dragged back into the void.
The battlefield stilled, the oppressive tension lifting as if a storm had passed. Isaac exhaled slowly, sheathing his sword with a quiet click.
"Containment successful," he muttered. But even as he said it, the words felt hollow. They'd won—barely. And there was always a cost.
Isaac scanned the field.
Leon slumped against the broken column, gasping for air as the sparks flickering at his fingertips finally fizzled out. Claire stood nearby, using her sword like a crutch, her chest rising and falling with exhaustion. Lilith, ever the show-off, brushed soot off her face with a smirk, her golden hair singed at the tips.
"Not bad for a second-year, huh?" she teased, casting a playful glance at Claire.
Claire gave her a deadpan look, raising her sword in mock warning. "Keep bragging, and I'll spar you next. No holding back."
Lilith's grin widened, as if she welcomed the challenge. "Bring it on."
Meanwhile, Dorian knelt beside Lucius's unconscious form, gently brushing debris off his friend's face. He ran a hand over Lucius's forehead, checking for injuries.
Leon staggered over, his movements sluggish. "Need a hand?"
Dorian shook his head. "I've got him. I'll carry him to the clinic." Without waiting for approval, he slid his arms under Lucius and hoisted him onto his back with surprising ease.
Leon gave a tired nod, too drained to argue. Around them, the air hung heavy with the scent of burnt ozone and lingering magic. There was a shared understanding among the group—they'd survived, but just barely.
At the edge of the battlefield, Fiona hovered nervously, her eyes darting between Lucius's limp form and the collapsed sigil. Guilt and worry swirled in her expression like a brewing storm.
"He knew the risks," Fiona whispered, almost as if trying to convince herself. "And he still went through with it."
Isaac placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his touch gentle but firm. "We'll get to the bottom of this. Corvin's motives, the demon, everything. For now, the academy will handle the aftermath."
The students slowly gathered their strength, exhaustion pressing down on them like a heavy cloak. For now, the danger had passed, but there was no mistaking the unspoken truth lingering between them—this was only the beginning.
Isaac's gaze lingered on Lucius, unconscious but breathing steadily on Dorian's back. Too close. Had he acted a second later… No sense dwelling on it now.
He inhaled deeply, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease, if only slightly. "Let's move. We'll regroup at the infirmary."
The battlefield was eerily quiet now, the only sound the faint crackling of dying embers. As they trudged away from the ruined chamber, Isaac couldn't shake the nagging thought gnawing at the edge of his mind.
This wasn't over.
Not by a long shot.
~~~
I opened my eyes to the lovely scent of antiseptic and regret. My body ached like I'd fought ten Levitas Orb racers—and lost. Seriously, was it possible to feel this bad and still be alive?
Claire's voice broke through the fog in my brain. "Took you long enough, Sleeping Beauty."
I groaned, rubbing my eyes. "So... did we win? Or am I dead, and this is the worst afterlife imaginable?"
Claire chuckled, the sound brightening the sterile room. "Instructor Mavis saved the day. Urzan's toast, and Corvin... well, no one's sure if he's dead or just missing. But the good news is—you're not dead."
Just as Claire's laughter faded, I felt a familiar tug in my mind—a pull towards my status window. It was a quick moment, almost instinctive, but I couldn't shake the curiosity.
Status Window
[Status Window]
Name: Lucius Ravenhart
Age: 17
Element: Dark
Mana: 5.2
Strength: 6.8
Agility: 7.2
Endurance: 6.3
Intelligence: 15.1
My eyes widened, the numbers flashing before me like a beacon of unexpected triumph. 5.2? I had finally crossed the threshold. I couldn't help but grin, feeling a surge of pride. I'd worked hard for this—every grueling training session, every moment spent honing my skills was paying off.
"I guess I'm not just a pretty face after all," I muttered to myself, unable to resist the urge to brag, even if only in my thoughts.
Before I could muster a clever retort, the door creaked open, and Fiona slipped inside, standing awkwardly near the threshold like she was contemplating a leap into a freezing river.
"Aw, no celebration for me not dying?" I asked, grinning weakly, hoping to lighten the atmosphere.
Her lips twitched, but the guilt in her eyes didn't fade. "We need to talk. Later."
I raised an eyebrow but let it slide for now. Something about the way she stood there, shifting her weight from foot to foot, hinted at deeper worries, but I was too exhausted to pry.
Before I could settle back into blissful unconsciousness, the door swung open again, and Isaac Mavis strode in like a storm cloud, all sharp angles and steely resolve.
"Lucius," he said, his voice crisp, "we need to discuss your use of dark magic."
I sighed, stretching my arms and wincing at the stiffness. "If this is about improvisation—"
Isaac crossed his arms, his gaze cold as winter. "Improvisation can get people killed. You were reckless."
For a fleeting second, I thought I saw a flicker of... approval? No way. It must've been the concussion playing tricks on me.
Isaac continued, "We'll investigate Corvin's ties to the Phantom Order. This isn't over."
Before I could ask for details, Selene, Leon, and Dorian barged in with all the subtlety of a hurricane, their chatter filling the room like a bright summer day.
"How's it feel to save the day, hero?" Leon teased, a wide grin plastered on his face.
Selene crossed her arms, her brow furrowing with concern. "Don't push yourself like that again."
I gave a half-hearted salute. "Yes, ma'am. I promise to let the demon-infested summoning circles handle themselves next time."
Just as they were about to leave, the door opened one last time, revealing Aldric Umbershade, one of Corvin's students. His dark eyes were serious, and his voice was quiet, but it carried weight like a stone dropped into still water.
"I saw it," Aldric said, stepping closer, his presence slicing through the lighthearted banter. "The darkness in Corvin... it's deeper than anything I've ever felt. Darker than my own magic."
The room fell silent. Even Isaac's sharp gaze softened slightly, as if Aldric's words confirmed something he'd feared. The air grew heavy, the lightheartedness evaporating like mist under the sun. Aldric's voice trembled slightly, an undercurrent of fear threading through his words. "Be careful, Lucius. This isn't over. That darkness... it lingers."
I studied Aldric's face, the intensity in his gaze striking a chord of unease deep within me. Was it just the adrenaline still racing through my veins, or was there something truly ominous lurking beneath the surface? It wasn't every day a guy with a dark past warned you about darkness.
"Thanks for the pep talk, Aldric. I'll make sure to keep my distance from the shadows," I quipped, forcing a grin, but it felt brittle against the weight of his words.
Aldric's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something unspoken passing between us. "This isn't a joke, Lucius. You don't know what you're dealing with."
I straightened, meeting his serious gaze with a flicker of defiance. "Oh, I've dealt with plenty. I have an academy of magic, a demon or two, and a student body that seems to be made of more drama than spells."
Aldric's expression remained grave, undeterred by my attempts to lighten the mood. "It's not just about you. Corvin's darkness isn't a simple shadow. It's a void, and it's hungry."
I glanced at Isaac, who stood like a granite statue, a frown deepening on his brow. The air felt charged, and the weight of Aldric's warning hung heavy in the room. For a moment, the lingering warmth of camaraderie turned frigid.
As the group began to disperse, Fiona lingered by the doorway, watching me with a distant expression.
"Thanks for everything," she murmured. "But we need to talk. Later."
I gave her a lazy grin. "Sure. But first... does anyone know if the cafeteria is still open? I'm starving."
Claire chuckled, grabbing her sword. "You're impossible."
As they left, I leaned back into the pillows, exhaustion settling in. The vibrant banter echoed faintly as I pondered Aldric's warning.
Whatever came next, I'd handle it. But deep down, I knew: this wasn't the end. It was only the eye of the storm. A calm that felt deceptive, like the moment before a lightning strike.
A glance at the clock reminded me of the time ticking away. I could feel it creeping back—an unsettling thought that something dark was still lurking. But for now, all I wanted was a nap without demons or dark magic. I would prepare myself for whatever storm was brewing beyond these walls, but first, I'd feast.
Because if there was one thing I knew, it was that even heroes needed snacks.