Charmion turned, facing the steps, looking up at those above, and began to ascend.
The square was engulfed in silence. A gentle breeze sent Charmion's black robe billowing, casting shadows that shifted and moved with his stride, creeping toward the ancient halls.
Suddenly, Nia noticed two men standing near the entrance of the square, distinct from the rest. She immediately recognized Roderick and Wesley. Their pallid faces revealed their shock at Charmion's actions. Allying with him meant opposing the entire Kingdom of Marquez, which certainly didn't sit well with them.
Roderick caught sight of Nia and forced a smile, which she thought looked worse than crying.
Charmion swiftly ascended the stairs, his presence radiating an aura of menace. With every step he took forward, the crowd instinctively retreated one step back. Soon, a circular clearing had formed before the hall.
Within the clearing stood only Charmion, Nia, and Sherry.
Nia was puzzled that Ms. Sherry did not step back, yet she did not feel afraid. Somehow, she sensed that Charmion would not harm her.
Charmion glanced at Nia, his expression unreadable. Then his gaze settled on Sherry.
Nia noticed Ms. Sherry was also looking at Charmion. Her beautiful eyes showed no trace of fear but were filled with a complex mix of emotions—surprise, confusion, regret, pain, excitement, and concern, all flashing across them.
Nia sensed an unusual relationship between the two but found herself speechless. The invisible tension in the air was suffocating.
Nia did not know how much time passed before she heard Ms. Sherry's gentle but slightly trembling voice: "You've returned!"
Charmion looked at her, his eyes reflecting a mix of anguish and intense hatred as he said, "I want to see Shuken."
Sherry lowered her head, another breeze lifting her hair, brushing it across her fair face. After a long pause, she finally said, "Elder Shuken has secluded himself in the Mage's Tower for six years; he will not come to see you." Pausing, her voice suddenly turned pleading, "Charmion, let it go. Can't we just forget the past?"
The crowd shifted in surprise, and Nia stared wide-eyed at Sherry's pallid face.
Charmion replied coldly, "I cannot forget." Finishing his statement, he swept his gaze across those assembled before fixing his eyes back on Sherry. He enunciated, "If he doesn't come out, I'll start killing."
Despair flickered in Sherry's eyes, and she met Charmion's gaze, pulling Nia behind her, saying, "Then start by killing me!"
Charmion let out a chilling laugh and stepped toward Sherry, saying, "Let's see how your wind magic has improved."
Without response, Sherry raised her hands in a rounded shape before her chest, starting to chant incantations. Soon, a small whirlwind formed between her hands, tinted pale green, gradually growing larger and turning darker, taking on a bladelike form in the air.
A murmur of astonishment rose around them—it was the high-level wind magic spell "Blade of Wind," powerful and exceptionally difficult to master. No one at the Magic Academy had ever succeeded in casting it. They were all astounded by the frail-looking Sherry's formidable powers.
Charmion's lips curled in a faint smile, "You've indeed made great progress, Sherry."
Frowning, Sherry parted her hands, and the razor-sharp air blade shrieked toward Charmion. It carved shallow grooves into the stone floor as it passed, demonstrating that Sherry was exerting her full strength from the onset.
The colossal gale roared toward him, and Charmion stood as if in the eye of a storm, his clothing rippling wildly. Just as the wind blade was about to reach him, and some of the Academy's teachers and students began to cry out in excitement, Charmion raised his left hand.
It was a pale, long-fingered hand, untouched by sunlight for ages.
The storm halted at his palm, growing more violent in its fury as it met his obstruction, the noise escalating into an ear-piercing wail. With nowhere to go, the wind column thickened like a trapped summer flood against a dam.
Charmion took a step forward, and the entire storm, as if pushed by an invisible wall, receded backward. Sherry's cheeks instantly flushed red.
Undeterred, Charmion moved forward three more steps in succession. The immense magical force rebounded, causing Sherry to sway continuously, her complexion shifting between crimson and pallor with exertion.
Nia grew frightened, seeing clearly that Ms. Sherry was struggling. She wanted to cry out for Charmion to stop, but the wind swallowed her words.
By now, Charmion had advanced seven steps, mere meters away from Sherry, with the wind column roaring between them. Everyone could predict the outcome of this clash.
Charmion observed the beautiful woman before him, gritting her teeth, holding on with all her strength. Her hair flew wildly, her cheeks flushed with effort. Through the rushing wind, he saw the resolution in her eyes, yet she still appeared gentle. Those eyes, once dreamlike, still held reflections of past shadows within them.
Wh shadow was that?
Was the reflection in her eyes also etched in her heart?
Sherry's legs gave way, and after holding on for so long, her strength suddenly collapsed. She fell helplessly, the uncontrolled wind column rushing back.
She closed her eyes in despair, and just before total darkness, saw Charmion's pale face.
Some bold students charged forward, but halfway they saw Charmion's hand shift, redirecting the wind column away from Sherry and toward themselves.
"Boom, boom~~"
The first few students were immediately thrown back, some flying off the square, others slamming into the hard walls, all losing consciousness. Those behind scattered in panic, and another dozen were caught up by the wind, lifted into the air, and crashed heavily to the ground.
Gradually, the wind's force subsided, leaving the scene in disarray. Sherry lay weakened in Nia's arms, looking at the black-robed man before her.
Charmion said coldly, "I want to see Shuken."
Sherry shook her head, exhausted yet firm.
Just then, an angry student shouted, "Let's fight this guy who insults our academy!" His call rallied a group of fervent students, and dozens rushed forward.
Charmion's face darkened, ready to act, when Sherry shouted, "Stop, he's a Dark Sorcerer. You're no match…"
Her words were drowned out by the shouting students, charging with the bravery of heroes willing to die. Charmion saw their furious faces, a mocking smile playing on his lips as he brought the dark staff before him, pointing its white gem at the advancing students, and began to incant a spell.
Sherry watched in terror as the soft white light intensified, the aura of killing intent growing stronger. She cried out in despair, "Charmion, they're just children; you can't kill…"
Time seemed to pause for a moment.
A commanding voice rang out, "Stop!"
The students halted, captivated by the voice's authority and the awe it commanded through devotion.
A tall, white-haired elder appeared beside Sherry and Nia, clad in a white sorcerer's robe edged with shimmering gold.
Sherry cried out weakly, "Elder Shuken."
Shuken nodded to her, then turned to face Charmion.
Facing the black-robed man was the most powerful wizard on the continent, his name known in every corner for decades.
They locked eyes for a long moment.
Charmion's stare was bitter and seething with resentment. He gripped the dark staff tightly, unafraid even before this legendary figure.
Shuken looked back at him, his gaze calm and profound, like an elder viewing a long-lost child.
Shuken spoke, his voice gentle rather than commanding, "Have you returned, my child?"
The crowd was in uproar, Nia's mouth agape—what was Charmion's true identity?
Charmion looked at Shuken, uttering each word with disdain, "Do not call me that!"
Shuken frowned slightly, eventually asking, "What do you intend to do?"
Charmion sneered, "Don't you know?"
Shuken's expression darkened, and they stared each other down. After a while, Shuken said abruptly, "Very well, but this matter is between us. Come with me." He turned and walked away, with Charmion silently following.
Sherry called out sorrowfully, "Elder Shuken."
Shuken turned back briefly, offered Sherry a kind smile, and continued on.
As their figures disappeared down the corridor, Nia quietly asked Sherry, "Where are they going?"
Sherry gazed blankly in that direction and replied, "The Mage's Tower."
Nia was startled, "Isn't that a place only Elder Shuken can enter?"
Sherry gave a faint, bitter smile but did not answer.
Nia thought of another question and asked, "Ms. Sherry, earlier you called Charmion a Dark Sorcerer. What does that mean?"
Sherry looked at Nia and then suddenly asked, "You seem to know Charmion, don't you?"
Nia blushed, "Yes." She then briefly recounted the adventure.
Sherry murmured, "So that was the dark staff… I didn't expect he could already wield such powerful artifacts." She turned her pale face to Nia, "Nia, stay away from this man, far away, do you understand?"
Nia looked at Sherry in confusion but nodded. Sherry sighed, "I called him a Dark Sorcerer because he uses dark magic."
Nia was puzzled, "Dark magic?"
Sherry nodded, "There are six great gods, yet only five kinds of magic—doesn't that seem strange?"
Nia was taken aback, "You mean…"
Sherry interrupted, "Yes, there were originally six types of magic. Besides the known five, the sixth was a covenant with Dars, the god of the underworld, who controls death and destruction. It used dark power, called Dark Magic. This form, inherited from death and darkness, is vastly different from the other five and the most destructive."
Nia asked, "Then why does no one know about this magic in the world?"
Sherry sighed, "Because it's been extinct for a thousand years. Back then, Dark Magic flourished, wielded by cruel Dark Sorcerers committing horrific acts, bringing endless suffering to the continent. The other five sorcery schools united with the elves and wolf clans to fight them. After many sacrifices, they finally defeated the Dark Sorcerers, relentlessly hunting down every last one. Since then, this magic has disappeared."
Nia gasped, images of ancient blood-soaked battles filling her mind. Though Dark Sorcerers were culpable, she felt uneasy about their complete eradication.
Before she could ask more, noise erupted below—a contingent of soldiers had arrived. Their red armor and white helmets identified them as the Marquez royal guards. With such a disturbance, the kingdom's forces were finally intervening.
"Don't misunderstand, we're just passing by."
"Yeah, we don't know that cursed Charmion at all." Nia noticed Roderick and Wesley, now detained by the soldiers. A captain sneered, "How do you know his name is Charmion if you don't know him?"
"Uh, um, I heard… oh, I heard that woman mention it. Please, don't hit me." Roderick and Wesley cowered, surrounded by angry students ready to vent their ire. Clearly, these two were easier targets than the black-robed Charmion.
Nia moved to intervene, but the soldiers had already separated the students from the duo.
She sighed in relief, only to find a vast shadow looming over her and Sherry. Turning, she saw a tall man facing them, his back to the sun. Blinded by the glare, Nia could not clearly see his face but noted his officer's garb and the radiant gleam of his armor, like a war god standing in light.
Sherry exclaimed with joy, "You've come?"
The man responded with warmth and steadiness, "Yes, I am here!"
***
The Tower, seven stories tall, stands imposingly behind the courtyard of the Magic Academy, narrowing as it rises. A path of flagstones leads to its entrance, surrounded by verdant grass.
Shuken stood before the door, gently touching its surface and reciting an incantation. With a soft click, it opened to reveal a stone staircase spiraling around a massive central column.
He led the way, with Charmion following silently. The entrance closed behind them without a sound. Inside, the tower was devoid of windows, the dimness relieved only by a few small lamps along the walls.
In silence, they ascended to the seventh and topmost floor, where a solitary room awaited. It contained half a room's worth of books, along with simple furnishings: a table, chairs, a bed, and a small window.
Charmion approached the window, looking out to realize it was the highest point of the academy, allowing him to survey the entire grounds, noticing people still gathered at the hall entrance.
The room was brighter due to the window. Shuken stood in the center, observing the black-robed man as he turned.
He looked at Charmion earnestly and asked, "Do you intend to fight me?"
Charmion did not answer, stepping forward instead, staring intently at him.
Shuken smiled slightly, "When you engaged with Sherry, you used 'Dark Wall,' I presume. Later, you redirected the wind blade with 'Magic Manipulation,' and earlier, against the six teachers, you must have employed both 'Dark Wall' and 'Heart of Darkness,' am I correct?"
Charmion's pupils contracted as he regarded the seemingly amiable elder, "So you were there all along. Why didn't you intervene? If I'd exerted a bit more force, they'd be dead."
Shuken replied coolly, "You wouldn't harm them because you wouldn't waste your energy." He smiled at Charmion, "Dark magic is indeed more potent than others, but it exacts a far greater toll on the caster's strength. Ancient Dark Sorcerers devised soul manipulation and necromancy to conserve energy, exchanging minimal effort for maximum power."
Charmion took a deep breath, "I didn't expect you to have such a profound understanding of dark magic."
Shuken smiled, the pride evident in his demeanor, "Though I've never practiced dark magic, my knowledge rivals yours." He continued, observing Charmion, "Your use of 'Magic Manipulation' to control the opponent's magic energy is a high-level art—extremely powerful, but also extremely draining. I suspect your strength hasn't fully recovered. Such magic should not be wielded lightly; yet you used it to save Sherry, indicating lingering feelings for her!"
Charmion's expression darkened, "You talk too much. Begin."
Shuken shook his head, "Rest first, regain your strength, and then perhaps challenge me. As you are now, you're not my equal."
Anger flashed briefly in Charmion's eyes, but he quickly mastered it. He gazed at Shuken intently before silently finding a chair, sitting down, and closing his eyes to rest.
Shuken's eyes conveyed admiration.