Twelve years ago, an unexpected phenomenon struck Archkam City. A peaceful night was shattered when countless monsters descended upon the city, all because of a massive crack that appeared in the sky.
No one could explain the cause of this disaster. The police and military did everything in their power to protect the people, but their efforts fell short. Some of the creatures were nearly immune to even the strongest of weapons of mankind.
Then, something strange happened—a mysterious being appeared, offering help to the city's desperate defenders. This mysterious figure presented a book, a book filled with spells that could either kill or seal the monsters. It also contained instructions on forming contracts to summon core beasts, powerful creatures that could aid those who summoned them.
One of the first users of this knowledge was Vamos Dingergan, who later founded the organization known as the Supreme Sorcerer Detective Court (SSDC). The SSDC came into existence just a month after the monsters first appeared.
Years passed, and a group of sorcerers, calling themselves the "Geniuses"—also assembled by Vamos—discovered something even more alarming. The crack in the sky wasn't just a fracture in reality; it was a gateway to another world, allowing the creatures from that realm to enter theirs.
*
At the Sorcerer Academy, a place where students learn the art of spellcasting and magic, one professor stands out—not for his diligence but for his laziness and cunning. Despite his laid-back attitude, no one can deny his talent for magic. His name is Victor Noir, a renowned professor in the field.
It was afternoon, the sun high but not too harsh. The entire academy grounds were quiet, and outside, Victor sat peacefully, reading a book with a cup of coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He didn't seem to mind the heat, completely absorbed in his book. A few minutes later, another professor approached him.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Noir. Coffee at noon?" she remarked with a smile, pointing at his cup. "You don't seem bothered by the heat, even with the sun directly above."
This was Professor Ayana William, one of the academy's most respected instructors. She had won several awards over her seven years of teaching and was known for her expertise in various spells.
Victor glanced up, taking a slow sip of his coffee. "Ah, Ms. William. What brings you here?" His voice was calm, and he offered her a brief smile. "Care to sit and enjoy the silence before the monsters come to wreak havoc?"
She chuckled but shook her head. "No need. I'm a bit busy myself; just happened to see you here." With a wave, Ayana began walking away. "Good afternoon, Mr. Noir."
"Good afternoon, Ms. William," he replied, turning back to his book and crossing his legs, the cigarette now in his right hand as he lazily smoked.
After a few more hours of reading, Victor eventually made his way to his next class. He carried the same book, tucked under his arm, his shoulders leaned, and his expression bored. By the time he arrived at the classroom, the students were in a commotion, but he paid no attention, walking straight to the front of the room.
"Good afternoon, class. Quiet down and return to your seats," he said, his voice carrying the same hint of indifference as his posture.
"Sir, you don't seem to be in the mood today," one of the students remarked, returning to their seat. "Something happen?"
Victor let out a soft sigh. "Thanks for your concern, but no, nothing happened. I'll be honest with all of you—teaching really isn't my thing." His tone was as flat as ever, and his leaned figure did nothing to go against his words.
"That's coming from a professor who's been here for five years," one student joked, rolling their eyes.
The class erupted in laughter, but Victor only responded with a deep sigh.
"Let's just get on with the lesson, shall we?" he muttered, turning his back to the class and starting to write on the board.
Despite his attitude, the students listened closely. Victor might not seem like the most enthusiastic professor, but everyone in his classes respected him deeply. Today, though, there was something different about him. The way he spoke, the way he carried himself—it all felt more distant than usual. The students couldn't quite put their finger on it, but they could sense that something had changed in their professor.
"Hey!, Jerard... Psst!" One of the students leaned closer to their seatmate. "Come here, I've got something to tell you."
"What is it, Angela?" Jerard replied, leaning in with a curious look. "Got something interesting?"
"Well, I don't know if it's interesting, but... Have you noticed anything different about Professor Noir today?" she whispered. "I think he's heartbroken."
"Heartbroken?!" Jerard was visibly surprised. "Do you really think anyone would fall for him?"
"What are you two talking about?" a familiar voice suddenly interrupted from behind them. Victor stood there with a curious look on his face. "Sounds like an interesting topic."
"Ah! Sir! Heh... We were just..." Angela stammered, a nervous sweat forming as she tried to avoid Victor's gaze. "It's nothing, sir. Really."
"Love life, huh?" Victor mused aloud as he walked back to the front of the classroom, glancing at the ceiling. "I don't have time for things like that. And besides, Jerard's right—who would fall for someone like me? Marriage isn't in the cards for someone like me, if you ask."
"Oh, I see, Sir. Heh... We just thought something felt different about you today," Angela replied, scratching the back of her head, still a bit anxious.
"Don't think too much about it. It's not what you're imagining." Victor gave them a small smile, hoping to ease their concern. "Now, let's get back to where we left off."
*
After the class, Victor headed back outside to the bench where he had been earlier. To his surprise, Ayana was sitting there, reading a book, deeply engaged in its pages. She didn't even notice when Victor sat down beside her.
"Valentine love, huh... Seems like you're into romance," he remarked, glancing up at the sky, his arms casually draped over the back of the bench.
"Not really. The story just happens to be interesting," she replied without looking up from her book.
"Mind if I smoke?" he asked, reaching into his coat for a cigarette.
"Not at all, go ahead," she answered, still absorbed in her reading. "Stressful day?"
"Nah... I'm not sure," he muttered, lighting his cigarette with a slightly weary expression. "Is it really that big of a deal?"
"Of course it is. Do you even know your students have been following you around all day, worried about you?" she said, finally looking up at him.
"Yeah, I noticed them," he admitted, taking a long drag on the cigarette, his eyes distant as he stared into the distance.
"That's probably why you're feeling stressed. Am I right?" Ayana asked, closing her book slowly and turning her gaze toward him. "Can you admit it?"
"I don't know... It's hard to decide," Victor confessed, sounding more uncertain than usual.
"As surprising as it is, your students are going to miss you. Maybe that's why you're struggling—you don't want to leave them," Ayana said softly, a small smile playing on her lips as she looked down at the ground. "You're not exactly the type of professor they'd call a favorite, so this is a bit unexpected."
"Are you mocking me? I'm not that bad," he replied, rolling his eyes.
She chuckled lightly. "Hmm, do you think so?"
Victor sighed. "Do I really come across as an unlikable professor? All I've ever done is teach them everything I know, even if teaching isn't exactly my passion."
"Spoken like someone who's been doing it for five years," she teased, letting out another quiet laugh.
"Are you messing with me?"
"Oh, no, Mr. Noir," she said with a grin. "I'm just saying, You can leave them now. I'll take care of them."
"Easier said than done. It's not that simple to just walk away whenever I feel like it," he replied, a hint of frustration in his voice.
"Well," she stood up, giving him one last look before turning to leave. "It's up to you. Just a suggestion—don't show your face when you decide to leave. You'll only make it harder on yourself."
Victor didn't respond, watching as she walked away. He thought about everything Ayana had said, exhaling a deep breath and taking another drag from his cigarette. Victor had received a job proposal from the SSDC, inviting him to join their organization.
The decision wasn't an easy one, and it left Victor feeling conflicted and unable to think clearly. The students eventually learned about the offer, thanks to Ayana.
*
As the sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows over the academy, students were heading home for the day. Standing by the gate, Victor prepared to leave, but he noticed a man waiting just outside.
"Good evening, Mr. Noir," the man said, approaching him with a steady pace.
"Mr. Grimstone," Victor responded, mildly surprised. "I didn't expect the head of the SSDC to come here in person. What brings you by?"
"Could we talk for a bit?"
Victor agreed, and they made their way to a nearby café, not far from the academy. Once seated, they discussed the offer that had been extended to Victor.
"So, Mr. Noir," Grimstone began, sipping his coffee, "have you given it any thought? I'm sure you can sense how eager we are to have you on board."
Victor sighed, clearly frustrated. "What exactly do you see in me that makes you so desperate to recruit me? The SSDC already has plenty of strong members—many of them more powerful than me. Why do you need someone new?"
Grimstone's expression grew serious. "Unfortunately, the current leader of Squad 7 passed away recently. We need someone talented in magic to fill that role."
"Seems like you're giving me a bit too much credit," Victor replied, shaking his head.
"I'm only telling the truth. If you want, we could even place you in a higher rank or let you choose which group you'd like to lead."
"Can you give me more time to think about it? There's no need to rush a decision like this," Victor said, his tone firm.
"The longer you delay, the harder it will be for you to leave that academy," Grimstone warned, leaning forward slightly.
"Just one more day," Victor insisted. "Tomorrow, same time, same place—I'll give you my answer."
"Deal." Grimstone stood up and extended his hand. "I hope we can welcome you to our organization, Mr. Noir."
Victor stood as well, shaking his hand firmly. "Don't get your hopes up too much. We'll see what I decide tomorrow."
Grimstone smiled confidently as he made his way toward the café's glass door. "I'm sure you'll join us, Mr. Noir. See you tomorrow."
Victor watched him leave, then glanced out the window at the sky beyond, lost in thought.
After leaving the café, Victor headed home, only to run into Ayana again.
"Oh, Mr. Noir. Good evening. Heading home already?"
"Yeah. And you? It looks like you still have somewhere to be."
"I'm off to visit my mother. It's been a while since I last saw her."
"Is that so?"
"By the way, how did it go? Have you accepted Mr. Grimstone's offer yet?"
"Huh? How did you—?"
She chuckled softly. "Goodnight, Mr. Noir." With a small wave, she turned down another street.
*
As Victor walked toward his house, he spotted a familiar figure—a young girl he recognized.
"Oh, Maeyley!"
"Mr. Noir! It's been so long! How have you been?"
"I'm doing well. And you? You seem to have grown since I last saw you."
She grinned and scratched the back of her head. "I'm good too, Mr. Noir. We just got back from abroad."
"Ah, that's great. You're lucky you get to travel the world at such a young age."
She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Hmm, something bothering you, Mr. Noir?"
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Even you can tell, huh?"
"You just seem... different. Is everything alright?"
"I'll be honest, Maeyley. I'm having a hard time making a decision."
"Do you want to talk about it, Mr. Noir?"
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "The SSDC gave me an offer. They want me to lead one of their squads."
Her eyes widened. "W-what?! The SSDC? That's huge! Why are you even hesitating, Mr. Noir? You should take it!"
"It's not as simple as you think, Maeyley. I'm also thinking about my students."
"Huh? Mr. Noir, with all due respect, your students are training at the Sorcerer Academy so they can eventually join the SSDC themselves. For them, having their professor join the organization would be a great honor."
Victor remained silent, absorbing her words.
"And besides," Maeyley continued, "I'm sure they'll understand your decision. You won't be their professor forever, and they won't be students forever. One day, they'll graduate and become SSDC members too. So, please, Mr. Noir, think it over carefully."
"Alright, if you said so. Maybe I'll think about it."
"That's good to hear Mr. Noir!"
As they continued walking, their conversation flowed naturally.
It had been a long time since they last saw each other, so Maeyley took the chance to tell Victor everything about her trip abroad. She animatedly shared stories, her eyes lighting up as she spoke about new places, experiences, and adventures.
Victor listened attentively, occasionally nodding and offering small comments. Despite his earlier concerns, Maeyley's carefree energy was a welcome distraction. For a moment, he could set aside the weight of his decision.
"Sounds like you had a great time," Victor said with a faint smile.
"Oh, it was amazing!" she replied, her excitement evident. "I saw so many things I never thought I'd see in my life. Different cultures, food, and the people were so kind. You should travel more, Mr. Noir. It really opens up your perspective."
Victor chuckled lightly. "Maybe one day. For now, I have a lot on my plate."
Maeyley shot him a knowing look, her expression softening. "I hope whatever you're deciding on turns out for the best, Mr. Noir. You deserve to be happy too, you know."
Victor paused for a second as her comments strike an emotional response. "I appreciate that, Maeyley. I really do."