Leo's heart swelled with gratitude at learning more about his family, but his mind remained anchored to one thought: finding them. Just then, a wisp—dark as shadow yet somehow radiant—floated beside him, brushing against his hand as if it were drawn to him. The room went silent, and both Mr. Brookfall and Ms. Raven exchanged looks of alarm, their eyes fixed on the wisp. Wisps of this nature were rare and dangerous, associated with death, yet it hovered near Leo, and he seemed entirely unbothered, even at ease.
Leo glanced at them and took a steadying breath. "I… I need to tell you both something. I think I understand now why wisps come to me," he began, his voice quiet but clear. "This one… it gave me visions—visions of an attack on the academy. The same beastmen that attacked my village were there. They… they were looking for me. I don't know why, but I think they're coming here."
Mr. Brookfall's face paled slightly. He hadn't heard of these beastmen, but Ms. Raven, recognizing the urgency, pulled up the simulated recording of Leo's village attack. As the scenes played out in grim detail, Mr. Brookfall's expression grew intense, his mind racing. This was the danger hinted at by the mysterious Wildehart of his past—a rising threat, one Leo had been sent here to face. But Leo was young, still needing years of training.
Ms. Raven broke the silence, her voice resolute. "Well, now we know more of what we're dealing with, and I'm even more certain that you, Mr. Brookfall, are the best person to guide Leo. I chose you as his mentor for a reason."
Mr. Brookfall's gaze settled on Leo, full of determination. "We'll start preparing immediately. I'll arrange for armor and enchanted weapons to be crafted for the staff. We'll strengthen the academy's wards so that when the time comes, we'll be ready. For now, Leo, we need you to keep this between us—at least until we're better prepared. We don't want anyone panicking."
Leo nodded, his mind full of the visions, but he managed a small smile of appreciation. "Thank you, Mr. Brookfall. Thank you both… for everything."
With that, he left the room, a sense of purpose surging through him despite the worry gnawing at the back of his mind. As he walked down the hall, he sent a message to Darian to meet him in the cafeteria. It was time to get back to his friends, but this time, with a burden shared among allies and the beginnings of a plan in place.
Leo arrived early at the cafeteria, picked up his meal, and took a seat at his usual table. Soon, Mira and Sera joined him, balancing trays as they slid into the seats across from him.
"Hey, Leo! How'd the tests go? Did they find out anything more about your levels or what classes you'll be in?" Sera asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.
Leo gave a small, nervous smile. "Yeah, they did. Looks like I might be able to reach Archmage level in two or three types of magic, though they're still figuring out which ones," he said, hoping his explanation sounded convincing. He didn't want to reveal everything yet—just enough to satisfy his friends' questions. "Mr. Brookfall's going to be helping me figure it out as my mentor."
As he and the girls chatted, Darian and Alaric finally entered, a bit sweaty from practice. They used a quick spell to freshen up, grabbed their food, and joined the table. Leo greeted them, noticing Darian's knowing smile.
"Hey, guys! Looks like you've been training hard," Leo said, eyeing their ruffled appearances.
Darian chuckled. "Yeah, we were dueling. Alaric wants to be in top shape for the missions we'll start soon. He's aiming to collect some good loot to sell."
Alaric glanced at Darian with a huff. "You didn't have to tell him that part," he grumbled. "But it's true. Once we start going on missions, our adventure cards get better ratings based on our achievements. I want to be ready—and, yeah, some extra money wouldn't hurt either."
Mira shot them a stern look, and they quickly stopped their playful jabs. Instead, Darian turned to Leo, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "So, how'd it really go, Leo? What did they say?"
Leo took a breath, preparing to give the same measured answer. "The results were about the same as before, but they think the unknown potential has to do with which types of magic I'll eventually master. They said it just needs more time to show clearly." He hesitated before adding, "And… I found out that Mr. Brookfall knew my father. He told me a bit about him. It felt… good to know my dad was such a skilled mage."
Alaric looked shocked. "So you're basically destined to reach Archmage level in multiple magics and you have family connections? That explains a lot…" His voice trailed off as he felt a sudden sharp kick under the table. Mira shot him a pointed glare.
Darian laughed, covering for him. "Sounds like I might've hit him a little too hard during training. I'll get him to the infirmary after we eat."
Sera smiled, reaching over to give Leo's arm a squeeze. "You're incredible, Leo. I'm really proud of you and can't wait to see just how strong you'll become."
After they finished eating, Leo waved goodbye and headed back to his room, promising to catch up with them later.
As Leo left the cafeteria, he felt a mix of relief and pride. His friends' support meant a lot, even if he couldn't share everything with them. He walked back to his room, his thoughts swirling with the new revelations and responsibilities he now carried. The memory of Mr. Brookfall's serious expression, the mention of his father, and the lingering mystery of his powers all weighed heavily on him.
Leo knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, he would have to navigate them carefully, balancing his growing powers and his friends' trust. But for now, he was grateful to have them by his side, even if they didn't yet know the full story.