Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1400: Scars That Don’t Heal

The teachers had expected the injuries to be bad. Moze and Piba were both clearly battered, burnt skin, broken limbs, magic wounds scorched deep into their bodies. But it wasn’t the physical damage that shocked them. It was something far worse.

These injuries went beyond a simple defeat in a fight. They looked intentional. Cruel.

Still, the healing staff had remained calm. Confident, even. After all, external wounds could be repaired. Bones could be reset. Burns healed. Magic could do wonders.

Which is why, when the healer entered the room with a heavy expression and uttered those words, it stunned everyone.

"What do you mean?" Panla asked, standing straighter, dread seeping into her voice.

"They’re awake," the healer said. "We’ve managed to heal all of their external injuries. They’ll live... but they won’t be the same."

A chill swept through the room.

"We did everything we could," the healer continued. "But someone has infused magic directly into their mana cores. It’s not something Light Magic can remove."

The room went silent.

Everyone there understood the severity of what was just said. They’d read about it in textbooks. Studied the rare case reports in classes. But to actually witness it... was something else entirely.

"We tried to cast out the magic," the healer said, his tone turning clinical. "But Light Magic only heals what it interprets as a wound. This isn’t classified as damage, it’s interference. And that’s something Light Magic can’t touch."

The explanation landed like a blade through the heart.

"With their cores disrupted, the mana doesn’t circulate properly. They’ll still be able to use spells... but nowhere near the level they once could. And any attempt to do so will cause them immense pain."

It was as close to a death sentence as a mage could receive without dying.

After finishing his explanation, the healer politely bowed and excused himself. Before leaving, he added, "They’ve asked to speak with you. We’ll bring them here shortly."

As the door clicked shut, silence gripped the room once again.

"Does that mean..." Yolden whispered, her voice shaking, "their life as mages... is over?"

"Why would someone do something so cruel?" she continued. "And during an official event? It had to be someone from the Central Academy. Someone must’ve seen something. They need to be punished!"

Panla turned to Luka, searching his face for answers. "Is there really nothing that can be done?"

Luka exhaled through his nose, crossing his arms.

"It depends," he admitted. "On how severe the interference is, and on the strength of the individual mage. There are rare cases, very rare, where mages have managed to push out the invasive magic through sheer will and meditation. But it takes years. Decades sometimes."

He shook his head. "And let’s be honest... The healers at the Central Academy are far more trained than we are. If even they couldn’t reverse this..."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Moze and Piba entered.

No one said anything at first. The air felt heavy. No one had expected to see them like this.

Moze offered a half-hearted smile. "Guess you’ve already heard the news, huh?" he said. "But don’t worry. We’ll be okay. We’ll find someone... someone out there who can help us. Things’ll get better, right?"

A moment passed.

And then, without warning, Chiba stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"What are you doing?" Moze asked, surprised.

"You idiot," she said, her voice cracking. "Don’t pretend. If you were really okay with this... then why are you crying?"

Moze opened his mouth, but no words came out. Instead, tears flowed freely down his cheeks. His body trembled in her arms.

He had worked so hard, spent years training, dreaming, pushing himself, and now, just like that, it was all in jeopardy.

After giving him time to let it out, Chiba gently pulled away. Moze and Piba took seats while the others stood silently, giving them space.

They needed to hear the full story.

"Who did this?" Panla asked at last. "Why? And how?"

"You might not believe it," Moze said, his voice low, "but every word I say is true."

He looked around the room, meeting each gaze.

"It was four students from the Central Academy. We don’t know their exact reason, but... our guess is that it had something to do with Piba and Yolden beating them in the earlier event. Maybe they felt humiliated. Maybe they just wanted revenge."

Chiba’s whole body trembled. Even Redrick looked ready to explode. Before anyone could stop her, Chiba turned sharply and made for the door.

"Where are you going?" Yolden asked, grabbing her wrist.

"Isn’t it obvious?" Chiba snapped. "I’m going to report this to the Central Academy. This wasn’t just a fight outside of an event. They crippled two students. There has to be consequences."

She wasn’t naïve. She knew she couldn’t go storming in and fight them herself, not on Central Academy grounds. But surely, someone would care. The academy, at least, would have to take action.

"I don’t think that will help," Piba said softly, stopping her in her tracks.

"It was Kayzel and his group that did this. They were confident they’d get away with it. They said as much."

Everyone turned to him.

"If we report it... if we point fingers at Central Academy students, they’ll deny everything. There’s no proof. And they’ll claim it’s just a tactic from Wilton Academy to get Central’s top students disqualified."

He looked down at his hands, clenching his fists.

"And everyone will believe them. Because they think the Central Academy is untouchable."

There was a darker truth hanging in the air. Piba didn’t say it aloud, but he was beginning to doubt whether Central Academy even wanted to punish their students for these things.

Given everything that had happened so far... the image they all held of Central Academy was beginning to crack.

"No... that can’t be true..." Chiba said. Her voice was shaking. "You’re saying not only can’t they heal your cores... they won’t even be punished for destroying them?"

The silence in the room answered for her.

It was a devastating truth, and one they were all going to have to live with.

Then, another knock echoed from the door.

It creaked open.

Raze stepped in, followed by the others.

"Is something going on?" he asked, sensing the tension. "We were told to come here..."

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