Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1493: The Eve of the Finale

While the silence spell was still active, Raze and Alen walked slowly in the direction of the dormitories. To the crowd and to any onlookers, it appeared to be nothing unusual, just one of the many guests or recruiters who had taken an interest in speaking with Raze.

During events like this, there were always guild representatives, academy scouts, and corporate recruiters hovering around. They were eager to make offers, to pitch incentives, to lure students with promises of resources and positions. No one gave the pair a second glance. Even the silence spell itself didn’t appear suspicious; in fact, it was common to use such a spell in order to ensure that other recruiters couldn’t overhear negotiations. To everyone else, it looked like business as usual.

But behind the veil of silence, Alen’s tone was heavy. His words carried a tension that betrayed how serious he truly felt.

He explained that he was deeply worried about Wilton. With everything that had happened, with him escaping from Ibarin’s grasp and now the students themselves managing to slip out, he feared that the Grand Magus might turn his attention directly toward Wilton. It was a natural connection. If Ibarin wanted to chase down information, if he wanted to close the loop, Wilton would be a clear target.

“I’ve tried,” Alen admitted, his voice low. “I’ve attempted every communication method I used before, but nothing has worked. No replies. No acknowledgment. It’s as if the line itself has gone dead.”

He had even gone so far as to ask academy staff members, those who were still inside the Central Academy, to make contact on his behalf. But their attempts had also met silence. Nothing had reached Wilton.

Raze listened carefully, his expression unreadable, before he finally responded.

“I’ll ask the other Wilton teachers if they can try to get a hold of him,” Raze said. “But I’ll be honest with you… more than likely, he may already have been reached. He may already have been taken.”

Hearing those words, Alen’s entire body stiffened. His jaw clenched tightly, and his fist curled at his side. For the first time throughout this entire ordeal, this long process of peeling back the layers of corruption surrounding the Grand Magus, it felt personal to him in a way it hadn’t before. Someone he knew directly, someone he trusted, might have already been affected.

He had already been told that his sister Aurora was in danger, that Enaxx had nearly killed her. She had survived, though he had only heard the story after the fact. That had been frightening, but it still felt distant. This was different. This was immediate.

“Remember what we talked about,” Alen said after a pause. His voice was measured, but his eyes burned. “I hope that everything the Grand Magus have done, all of it, comes to light. If the truth spreads, if people finally see them for what they are, then more and more will side with you. They’ll have no choice. But…” He exhaled slowly. “I still don’t know if it’s right. I don’t know if it’s truly the best thing for Alterian to topple the Grand Magus themselves. That choice… it can’t just be made by us. The entire world must decide what happens when the truth is revealed.”

Raze said nothing further. He let Alen’s words hang in the air as they continued toward the dorms.

When he finally returned to the teachers’ quarters, Raze went straight to work. He asked the Wilton teachers directly if they had been able to get in contact with Wilton, or if any word at all had been exchanged. Their answer was firm: no.

None of them had spoken with him. None had received any sign. Normally, it wouldn’t be strange, the teachers weren’t supposed to communicate with him during the exchange event. But the fact that Raze himself was asking pushed them to act. They had tried to reach him regardless, but even then, there had been no response. Not a word. Not even a flicker.

“That is strange,” Redrick muttered as he sat back in his room, his communication device glowing faintly on his wrist. “At this time of night, he should be in his quarters. There’s no reason he wouldn’t respond to a direct call. It doesn’t make sense.”

Panla tilted her head, suspicion in her gaze. “Is the reason you’re asking us because you already know something? Because you suspect what’s really going on?”

Raze stood with his hands folded behind his back. His answer was calm, but there was weight in his words.

“It’s just a guess,” he admitted. “And I hope I’m wrong. But if everything goes the way I intend it to, then by tomorrow… everyone will find out the truth.”

The three teachers exchanged uneasy glances. From the way Raze spoke, from the certainty in his tone, they realized something important. He had finally decided. The reason he had come here in the first place, the goal he had been holding back, was about to be revealed. Tomorrow, whatever his plan was, he intended to act.

“That does remind me,” Luka interjected, clapping a fist into his palm. “We need to discuss tomorrow’s final event. What exactly are we going to do?”

Redrick groaned, his expression sour. “Right, that,” he muttered. “One of us three teachers has to participate. Honestly, what a pain. I’ve always thought the whole thing was pointless. Not all teachers are meant for flashy displays. Some of us focus on theory, on research. What exactly do they expect us to show? To me, it’s always been a useless exercise.”

Luka crossed his arms. “It isn’t completely useless. The event has its purpose. Teachers are allowed to present however they wish. They can demonstrate a complex magical formation. They can deliver a lecture in front of the crowd, showcasing their research. They can even display high-level magic in raw form if they want to. The content doesn’t matter as much as the impression it leaves.”

He paused, his gaze flickering between the other two.

“Only one teacher can be chosen to represent us,” Luka continued. “The event is less about competition and more about demonstration. It’s meant to impress the guests, to showcase to the students, and to convince potential recruits that our academy is worth trusting. Many of the visitors are undecided. They want to know if their children, their prodigies, are worth sending here. That’s what this is really about. Year after year, it’s become less of a celebration and more of a proving ground for the academies. Which institution deserves the most attention? Which academy should be trusted with the brightest talents? That’s what we’re really displaying.”

He let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair. “I’ll admit, though… I’m getting old. My demonstrations aren’t what they used to be. So I’d prefer if one of you took the lead this year. Either of you have something in mind?”

Both Redrick and Panla hesitated. Neither spoke up. It was clear they were each waiting for the other to volunteer first. The silence stretched, the air thick with indecision, until finally a voice broke through.

“Let me take part,” Raze said.

****

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