That cold evening, Miss Dalia called for an urgent meeting with the school's elders and teachers to share the incredible news about Theodore. The hall was grand, with flags representing the four elemental houses hanging behind the elders, each seated in their respective positions.
• The First Elder, Tara: A striking woman in her forties, her house represented wind magic.
• The Second Elder, West: A man in his thirties with jet-black hair and dark glasses, his house symbolized fire magic.
• The Third Elder, Miss Neal: An elderly, seemingly blind woman, she presided over water magic.
• The Fourth Elder, Mr. White: A grumpy old man with a sharp tongue, his house was earth magic.
• The Principal, Mr. Roman: The only archmage in the kingdom, he had achieved the eighth circle of magic. Rumors claimed he was over 500 years old, his strength unparalleled.
The professors gathered as well, all turning their attention to Miss Dalia, who stood at the center of the room.
Miss Dalia explained with a serious tone, "A ten-year-old student has successfully harnessed both mana and aura. He has even reached the fourth mana circle."
Mr. White slammed the table, his voice booming. "Impossible!" he barked. "The youth of this generation are tricksters. Do not be deceived!"
The other elders rolled their eyes, already exhausted by Mr. White's antics. Tara, the First Elder, snapped back, "Don't call her woman, Mr. White! How many times must we tell you to stop being a sexist old fool?"
Mr. White scoffed. "Provoke me all you want, Tara, but I stand by my point!"
Tensions escalated as Tara summoned wind magic, and Mr. White retaliated by preparing to hurl a boulder at her. Before the situation could spiral further, Principal Roman struck the floor with his staff. A powerful wave of mana silenced their spells, and the room fell quiet.
With a calm smile, Roman turned to Miss Dalia. "If your claim is true, this is indeed extraordinary. Tell me more."
Miss Dalia bowed slightly. "It is true, Principal. The boy's name is Theodore, the former cursed prince. He possesses both mana and aura, and his mana circle is already at the fourth level."
The room buzzed with murmurs of disbelief. Even Roman, intrigued, stroked his long beard. "Theodore… the shy prince? I've known him since his birth. He couldn't hurt a fly."
Miss Dalia hesitated but pressed on. "Principal, Theodore has changed. He is no longer the timid boy we once knew. Yesterday, he defeated the Second Prince, Caden, along with three bullies in my class. He didn't just humiliate them—he overpowered them."
The elders were stunned, their disbelief growing. "How is this possible?" Tara whispered, echoing the sentiment in the room.
Roman, however, seemed deep in thought. Finally, he spoke, "I will investigate this myself. Perhaps I will take the boy as my disciple."
This declaration sparked an uproar. "You? The greatest magician in the kingdom?" Mr. White exclaimed. "That would only make him arrogant and dangerous!"
The other elders nodded in agreement, but Roman silenced them with a spell that shook the hall. "The matter is settled," he said firmly. "I will assess the boy personally."
The meeting concluded, the room heavy with anticipation.
Theodore's Room
Meanwhile, Theodore was in his dorm room, laughing as he enjoyed snacks prepared by Belial.
"May I ask, my lord," Belial began, "what has caused you to laugh so heartily?"
Theodore smirked. "Miss Dalia informed the principal about my abilities. I'm sure they're all scrambling to figure out how to teach me magic."
Belial chuckled. "Will you let them?"
"Of course not," Theodore replied with a sly grin. "The God of Shadows has already granted me mastery over all forms of magic. But they don't need to know that."
Belial's laughter grew louder, his praises echoing in the room. Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. Belial opened it to reveal Principal Roman, his presence radiating immense mana. The old man's long white beard and warm smile gave him an air of wisdom, but his overwhelming power was undeniable.
Belial nearly glared at him before composing himself. Roman, rubbing his beard, chuckled. "Ho ho ho! What a remarkable young man."
To Theodore, the principal resembled Father Christmas, a thought that made him chuckle. Standing, Theodore greeted Roman politely, though he was wary of the man's power.
Roman's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Let's see just how remarkable you are." Placing a hand on Theodore's shoulder, Roman sent a wave of powerful mana into him.
Theodore remained calm, quickly circulating the energy through his mana system. It was a struggle, but after a few tense moments, he succeeded. Roman's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"I see…" Roman murmured, impressed.
Theodore yanked Roman's hand away, glaring at him. "I've lost respect for you, Principal. If I didn't know how to handle mana, that wave could have crippled or killed me."
Roman chuckled, his excitement undeterred. "You are extraordinary, Theodore. Become my disciple."
Theodore's expression darkened. "No. And don't ever touch me again, old man." Without another word, he slammed the door in Roman's face.
A Week Later
For the next week, Theodore attended classes, noting that Roman was stalking him like a shadow. This constant presence infuriated Theodore, who swore to deal with the man one day.
Meanwhile, at the boys' dormitory, three students—Kai, Lain, and Marcus—were plotting their revenge. Caden, however, had isolated himself, haunted by thoughts of Theodore. He couldn't shake the memory of the cold, dead look in his brother's eyes.
Finally, one evening, Caden stepped out, determined to confront Theodore. He found him walking outside, deep in conversation with Belial.
"Theodore," Caden began, coughing awkwardly to get his attention. Theodore ignored him.
"Brother," Caden called again, his voice shaky. "I… I will surpass you. One day, I'll be king."
Theodore stopped, smirking as he turned to face him. "King? You think that matters to me? Your ambitions are nothing compared to mine."
Belial chuckled darkly beside him as Theodore leaned closer, his gaze chilling. "You're not my rival, Caden. You're just an insect I'll crush if you get in my way."
Caden froze, the weight of Theodore's words sinking in. As Theodore walked away, Belial's mocking laughter echoed behind him. Despite the fear coursing through him, Caden felt a strange exhilaration. For the first time, he saw his brother as a rival worthy of his ambition.
"I'll prove myself," Caden whispered to himself, a determined smile breaking across his face.