Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1414: The Locked Mind

It was exactly as Raze had expected. Inside the main building, the entire place was practically deserted.

All the students were outside, enjoying the grand event, and it appeared the same was true for the professors and faculty as well.

In many ways, mages were more comfortable than most in leaving things unattended. With the safeguards of magic, there were countless spells, locks, or automatic triggers they could implement. Some enchantments would alert them instantly if something were tampered with. Others would activate defensive mechanisms, buying the caster time to return.

But no one would ever expect a Nine-Star Mage, especially one from a rival academy, to be strolling through their halls, walking with purpose, knowing exactly where to go.

No one could imagine that a powerful mage like him, one who had every reason to disrupt the main event, would instead slip through the shadows... and aim for the principal’s office.

From the outside, such an act didn’t make sense. Not from a strategic standpoint. Not even from a Dark Magus perspective.

If Raze had wanted to make a statement, to expose the world to the truth of the Dark Guild, he would’ve done so in the public eye, in front of the crowd gathered for the competition.

But this was no stage play. He wasn’t here for theatrics.

This was about discovery. About secrets. And as Raze approached the familiar door to the principal’s office, a small smirk curled on his lips.

Ibarin... I would’ve thought you’d have buried yourself in study by now, Raze mused. You hold the title of Grand Magus. Doesn’t that come with the pressure of staying sharp? Of defending your position? Or is there no one left to challenge you anymore?

Perhaps all those who might’ve risen to your level... you’ve already taken care of.

Raze’s thoughts lingered as he began his work. In front of him was the entrance, sealed with a magical enchantment.

He placed his palm gently against the wood and closed his eyes. Undoing magic wasn’t like casting it.

In fact, it was much harder, and it wasn’t even practical for one to use it in battle.

It was like trying to say the alphabet in reverse, unnatural for the brain. But just as you couldn’t recite it backwards without knowing the alphabet first, you couldn’t unravel a magic circle unless you fully understood how it was made.

Fortunately, Raze had mastered this art.

His deep knowledge of magical symbols and their interplay allowed him to reverse-engineer spells others would consider permanent.

That was Ibarin’s downfall, just like many of the other Grand Magus, confidence. Confidence in their own superiority, in their own barriers, never considering that someone out there might not only match them... but surpass them.

After a few more moments, a soft click echoed from the door. The enchantment released, and Raze stepped inside, quietly closing the door behind him.

The room before him was just as he remembered. It was strange. So many years had passed, and yet... very little had changed.

I half-expected Ibarin to put his own mark on this place, Raze thought. But no... even he has left it untouched.

Still, Raze knew time was against him. Breaking the barrier had taken longer than he would’ve liked, and before he left, he would have to recreate the enchantment, make it look like nothing had ever been disturbed.

He wouldn’t have the luxury of combing through every tome, every scroll, every sealed container.

But that was the beauty of magic. There was always a faster way, if you were smart enough to find it.

Drawing a quick magic circle on the ground, Raze infused it with mana. A pulse of energy ran through the room. Within seconds, five books floated gently off the shelves. From a side table, three scrolls lifted and hovered across the room, all coming to rest on the large center desk.

Only eight results? Raze thought, frowning. That’s even less than the general library. I didn’t expect much on time magic, but this is... minimal.

Then again, he reminded himself, the books in this office weren’t ones found elsewhere. These were private, off-record works, either originals or texts with unrecorded research.

Which meant even the smallest bit of information here was more valuable than anything in the common archives.

Now, it was time for the next step.

From his dimensional storage, Raze summoned a stack of scrolls and several blank books. All of them were enchanted to instantly record written information.

Taking the books directly wasn’t an option. If anyone noticed they were missing, it would raise immediate red flags.

Reading them here, line by line? Too slow. And far too dangerous.

So instead, he would copy the information, all of it.

To do so required two more magic circles: one under the original material, and one beneath the blank pages. Once linked, the words would replicate seamlessly, line for line, rune for rune.

As he carefully constructed the second set of circles, Raze kept an eye on the window, watching the light shift across the room.

The next event should be starting soon, he thought. I can afford to be a little late, since I’m not participating... but if something happens while I’m gone,

The thought trailed off. He didn’t need to finish it.

This mission was important, but so was maintaining appearances.

If someone from Wilton didn’t show up when expected, questions would follow. Suspicion would grow.

Still, Raze remained, keeping his gaze fixed as the blank pages began to fill themselves. Across the desk, words and diagrams appeared one after another. The scrolls absorbed data from their counterparts, glowing slightly as the transfer occurred.

As he watched, something on one of the pages caught his eye.

A phrase. A line of instruction. Something significant.

His brows furrowed.

So that’s how one increases affinity with time magic, he read silently. That’s... not exactly encouraging.

****

For updates for MWS and future works, please follow me on my social media below.

Instagram: Jksmanga

Patreon*: jksmanga