Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1411: The Day After the Storm

The next day arrived with a calm breeze brushing across the academy grounds. But for the students of Wilton Academy, the day ahead wasn’t going to be so calm.

This time, when the Wilton students stepped out into the public areas, they weren’t alone. Their professors walked alongside them. Given everything that had happened the day before, the instructors had decided it was best to personally escort the students around the event grounds.

"Should we stick together for today?" Panla asked, turning to Raze as they strolled past the re-opened stalls.

She knew Raze had other important matters to tend to, duties that extended beyond the event itself, ones that couldn’t afford to be delayed.

"I suppose we still have several more days," Raze replied with a small shrug. "Besides... maybe we overdid it a bit yesterday."

The morning had just begun, and the smaller activities and performances had returned. Colorful stalls lined the walkways once again, and students from various academies wandered between them, enjoying the lighthearted festivities.

But this time, Wilton Academy had become something of a performance themselves.

Wherever they went, eyes followed.

The attention was relentless. Teachers, students, and representatives from countless organizations were looking their way. They had become the stars of the exchange, whether they wanted to or not.

People approached them constantly, offering compliments, asking questions, and in some cases, just trailing behind to see what they would do next. Even when Wilton students weren’t doing anything special, people were still watching, hoping to catch a glimpse of their next move.

For Raze, it was exactly the kind of attention he didn’t want, especially considering he had things to investigate, things that required stealth. But in this environment, sneaking around would be impossible.

And then, from across the plaza, another group spotted them.

Kayzel, flanked by his usual pair of followers, caught sight of the Wilton students and paused. Curiosity sparked in his eyes as he stepped forward to get a closer look.

That’s when he saw them, Moze and Piba.

The expressions on the faces of the Central Academy students said everything. Confusion. Disbelief. Maybe even concern. They had clearly expected something else.

"What’s wrong?" Moze asked, catching the looks. "Did you expect us to be limping around or something?"

"Don’t worry," Piba added casually. "We already heard that the Central Academy mages didn’t manage to do much. But like you saw the other day, Wilton Academy just has a little more than Central Academy when it comes to resources."

Kayzel clenched his jaw slightly, but didn’t respond.

Neither did his companions.

They simply turned and walked away, not wanting to draw any more attention than they already had.

The Wilton students watched them leave, unsure of what to say or do. The truth was, they didn’t feel entirely comfortable either.

They couldn’t take part in any of the performances or enjoy the stalls, not without immediately being swarmed. If they even so much as glanced at a booth, a crowd would gather within moments, eager to see what they would do, how they would perform, what new spectacle they might create.

Even though they had won the spotlight, it had come with a price, freedom.

And today, that spotlight was shining hotter than ever.

Just as the Wilton students were about to head back to the dorms, hoping to rest before the next major event began, a familiar voice called out to them from nearby.

"Oh, it’s you!" a cheerful tone rang through the crowd.

They turned to see an older man approaching, one they recognized almost instantly.

"Yes, I’m Professor Tink," the man said with a warm smile, stroking his long, slightly unkempt beard. "I was the one in charge of the puzzle event you managed to complete yesterday. I’m not running any puzzles today, but I did catch the rest of the event, and I must say, I was quite surprised by what I saw."

He paused and chuckled to himself. "But at the same time, perhaps not so surprised after all. If you truly had a student guiding you, someone as skilled as you claimed... then it makes sense that one among you would be exceptionally talented. I have to ask, is that student here with you now?"

Yolden and her friend immediately froze.

They remembered the conversation from yesterday, how, after finishing the puzzle challenge, they’d casually mentioned that a fellow student had taught them the techniques they used. At the time, it didn’t seem like a big deal. But now, looking back, they both realized the mistake.

They had accidentally outed Raze.

Neither of them knew what to say. Their eyes darted between each other, unsure of whether to lie or play dumb.

But before they could make a decision, Raze stepped forward.

"It was me," he said calmly. "I was the one who guided them, Professor."

He offered a respectful bow.

Professor Tink blinked in surprise, then let out a small laugh.

The two had crossed paths briefly in the past, back when Raze worked at Central Academy. Tink had been a fairly new professor at the time. They had spoken a few times, mostly casual conversations about formations and theoretical magic.

There were no bad memories between them. No rivalry. No hard feelings.

So Raze saw no reason to hide or act distant. He was willing to show him the respect he deserved.

"Well then," Professor Tink said, folding his hands behind his back. "It seems you have a bit of time before the next event. Would you mind if the two of us had a little chat? I’d love to explore your mind a bit more, and I imagine you wouldn’t mind getting away from this crowd."

The idea of talking magic with a professor again... it stirred something in Raze.

He hadn’t had a conversation like that in a long time, not since arriving in Pagna. Here, people spoke more about raw power than the beauty of magical theory. The thought of engaging in an intelligent discussion actually sounded pleasant.

"I think just the two of us would be best," Raze replied. "Any more, and we might draw too much attention."

He turned and glanced over at Liam and the others, making sure the rest of the Wilton students were safe and settled. Satisfied, he nodded.

"Would it be alright if we headed into the main academy building?" he asked. "It’s not often I get a chance to visit a place like this. I’d love a little tour while we talk."

Professor Tink smiled brightly.

"Of course. The main building should be nearly empty at this time of day. Everyone’s outside enjoying the festivities. It’ll be quiet. Perfect for conversation."

For Raze, this wasn’t just an opportunity to enjoy a nostalgic talk. This might also be one of the rare chances he needed, to pursue one of the three major goals he had set for himself during the exchange.

And now, one step toward that goal was opening right in front of him.

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