Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1306: The Cursed Chamber

There were very few cursed items that naturally appeared in the world. Most artifacts labeled as cursed were discovered in strange dimensions or hidden relic vaults, buried away for good reason.

But one thing was clear the moment Raze laid eyes on the object in front of him, this particular pair of gloves were enchanted. And the only way a curse could appear on an enchanted item… was through Dark Magic.

If these were created using Dark Magic, then how did they even end up here? Raze wondered, eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the gloves more closely. Because of my affinity with Dark Magic, I can sense the curse immediately…

He knew that wouldn't be the case for the others, not even for the teachers. They wouldn't have the slightest clue these gloves were cursed. Which led to a darker thought swirling in his mind.

Does that mean someone in the academy actually knows Dark Magic? And not only that… did they enchant this item on purpose?

If they did, why? What would anyone gain from setting a cursed item out in the open like this?

The more he thought about it, the more a chilling possibility started to form in his head.

Could someone in the academy be secretly part of the Dark Guild? Maybe this whole setup was a trap, meant to weaken or sabotage the academy from the inside.

But even then, it didn't quite add up. As far as he knew, while Harvey had taught the Dark Guild some forbidden techniques, very few actually knew how to enchant items with Dark Magic. That kind of skill wasn't just rare, it was elite.

Only someone who's already highly knowledgeable in enchantments could even begin to attempt something like this.

And I just can't see someone in a high-ranking academy position being a part of the Dark Guild.

From what Raze had seen so far, most of the people who chose to join the Dark Guild were those who had lost everything. Individuals scraping the bottom of society, filled with resentment, looking for someone, or something, to blame. The Dark Guild gave them a cause, a purpose, and a twisted sense of belonging. A place to direct their pain and anger toward the world that wronged them.

Then again… there was Harvey. A talented mage, respected and powerful, who had joined the Dark Guild despite everything he had.

The memory made something else stir in Raze's thoughts.

This reminds me of the Central Academy. My secret room had been sealed with powerful Dark Magic… yet somehow, it was opened. The items inside, taken.

And that happened even before the Dark Guild officially formed. Which means… it couldn't have been any of them. At least, I don't think so.

"There's another issue, Raze," Safa spoke up beside him, her voice calm but concerned. "That item, if one of the students had touched it, it would have accepted them. Actually… its energy is currently reaching out to every student in the room."

That revelation hit Raze like a hammer. The cursed gloves weren't picky, they weren't waiting for a specific person.

Anyone who had touched them would have been accepted.

Which also meant anyone could have fallen victim to the curse.

That makes things even worse, Raze thought grimly. If this wasn't random… if someone deliberately planted this item here, then the most likely suspect has to be someone inside the academy itself. Maybe even one of the teachers.

Raze's eyes scanned the room as he slowly walked forward. He could feel the eyes of the top students watching him carefully, Moze, Yolden, Chiba, and Piba, all their gazes locked on him, waiting to see what he would do.

"That item doesn't have nearly any magical power," Piba muttered under his breath, loud enough for those around him to hear. "Honestly… if he picks that, I'm going to be disappointed."

But Raze didn't stop. He reached out and grabbed the gloves.

The moment he did, everyone could tell, the item had accepted him. There was no rejection, no pushback.

These cursed items… I can't let anyone else get their hands on them, Raze thought, tightening his grip on the gloves. I don't even need to use them. I'll just pretend I made a mistake and picked something weak.

If one of the others had used these gloves… the curse would've hit them immediately. And the person behind it? They're probably watching right now, waiting to see what effect it has on me.

They'll think I've fallen into their trap. But they're wrong. I'll figure out who did this. Especially if they're targeting people who have nothing to do with this entire mess.

From across the room, Redrick shook his head with a smirk.

"Panla's going to be disappointed when I tell her about her favorite transfer student's choice," he muttered.

The selection in the chamber continued as more of the top students stepped forward to claim their weapons. Gradually, one by one, they began making their choices.

High-enchanted weapons were picked up, and the students were accepted.

What shocked the observers the most was Moze. He just wouldn't give up. He went for several powerful wands, one after the other. Each time they rejected him, lashing out and injuring him, sending him crashing backward.

But he got up. Again and again.

Most students would have given up after the first hit. Fear, pain, or embarrassment would've kept them back. But not Moze.

Eventually, one of the high-enchanted wands accepted him.

Then there was Piba, the academy's number one ranked student. Out of the entire room, he was the only other person to successfully claim an artifact. That made two total, Raze and Piba.

Two more than any of the teachers had expected.

"Alright everyone, that's the end of the lesson for today!" Redrick's voice rang out, cutting through the buzz of excitement and disappointment. "You all should start getting used to your weapons during your free time. We'll be using them again during practical classes."

"Get as familiar as you can with them. Use them however you like. But the weapons you hold now, those are your weapons. You are not permitted to trade with other students or make any deals for them."

"There's a reason you picked those weapons, and a reason they picked you."

Some of the students looked deflated upon hearing that. A few had been hoping to use family connections to trade up, maybe convince others to give away their picks. But it wasn't going to happen.

"Alright!" Redrick clapped his hands. "Check your schedules for the rest of today's lessons and don't be late!"

*****

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