In the midst of the wind howling around, Xandriel kept calling Caelum desperately. The student hugged Caelum, trying to warm him and make him feel loved.
Inside his mind, Caelum was lost, unable to find a way out. A faint voice kept calling to him, and he tried to follow it, but the wind always held him back. Then he began to feel warmth—coming from his real body. A surge of courage filled him, and he pushed forward, determined to break through the storm to reach the voice.
As he fought his way through the wind, he heard a whisper and looked back. There, he saw a figure smiling at him, as if cheering him on. Moments later, Caelum opened his eyes. He saw all the students hugging him, surrounding him with warmth. Next to them lay the monk. A black tornado swirled around them, protecting them, preventing anything from coming through.
Caelum looked around for Xandriel and grew anxious—he was nowhere to be seen. "You said you'd never leave me…" he whispered, his heart heavy. Just then, a faint voice echoed within the tornado. He looked around and called out, "Xandriel?"
One student replied, "Xandriel told us to hug you tightly. After that, we haven't heard anything from him."
Caelum's worry grew. He shouted his name at the top of his lungs. Something moved within the storm. A voice, carried by the wind, reached him—and he recognized it. It was Xandriel's voice.
Caelum tried to go to him, but the wind held him back. Then he heard a message in his mind—Xandriel was speaking to him telepathically.
"I'm so glad you woke up, Caelum," Xandriel's weak voice said. "But I'm afraid I won't be able to keep my promise. Don't worry about me… you have many friends now who care about you."
The voice began to fade.
With unwavering resolve, Caelum shouted, "I won't let this happen again. Not this time."
He clenched his fist. "It's my magic… Obey my command!" He placed a hand over his heart, then swung his arms to his sides. In a single, powerful motion, the tornado was torn apart.
The black wind vanished. The students sighed in relief, tension melting from their faces.
Standing in the clearing mist, Caelum saw Xandriel—barely standing, covered in cuts and bruises, but smiling. Caelum ran to him and embraced him with tears streaming down his face. He summoned the wind and lifted everyone, taking them to the healer.
Meanwhile, Victor was still pursuing the shadow figures that Xandriel had seen. He finally caught up, and a fierce battle broke out.
Victor and the shadowy enemy were evenly matched—clashing sword to sword, blow for blow. Their duel took to the skies, neither one gaining an edge. But Victor faltered first. As he fell toward the rooftop, the enemy slashed it, causing tiles to collapse and pin Victor beneath their weight.
He struggled to break free, but magic immobilized him. The enemy stepped closer and spoke in a low, ominous voice.
"Victor Black."
Victor's eyes widened in shock. "How do you know my name? Who are you?!"
The enemy paused, then answered, "I am the Balance. The Judgment. Hugerd Chaine, Commander of the Celestial Warden."
His eyes glowed faintly. "Victor Black… sleep, for now." With a wave of magic, Victor was knocked unconscious.
"It is too early for you to awaken. Rest," Hugerd said softly, and vanished.
From above, Caelum and the others spotted Victor. They descended and took him to the healer.
Hugerd reappeared at the temple, searching through the collapsed building until he found Vale, barely breathing. Hugerd stared at him with disappointment.
"I told you… dark mana is not for everyone. It consumes those who lose control."
Vale tried to speak, but no sound came. Hugerd held out a scale, placing Vale's soul on one side, dark mana on the other. The soul outweighed the darkness. The debt had come due.
Vale's soul was taken.
Two weeks later, the city had been rebuilt. Life had returned to normal. Xandriel and Victor had recovered from their injuries. Xandriel woke up and saw Victor sitting on the bed next to his, deep in thought.
"I thought you didn't have a brain," Xandriel teased. "Didn't think anything could bother you."
Victor shot back, "Of course I have a brain. I'm just trying to figure out what that guy meant. How did he know my name?"
Xandriel's smile faded. "What did he say?" Victor told him everything. A serious look crossed Xandriel's face.
"We need to be careful from now on. Watch our surroundings."
Victor nodded silently.
They heard noise outside and looked through the window. Caelum was playing with his new friends, showing off his magic.
Victor's jaw dropped. "Wait... he can use magic?! Was he the one who made that giant tornado at Sky Pillar Temple?"
Xandriel replied with a smile, "He's not ordinary. He's much more than that."
Victor, still stunned, muttered awkwardly, "Okkk…"
The monk entered quietly, standing behind them. "You know… he was able to control his magic because of you," he said, his voice breaking. "I never thought I'd see him smile like that. So thank you."
Victor leapt from his bed. "What's wrong with you, monk?! Are you crazy?! Knock next time—you almost gave me a heart attack!"
His voice was so loud that Caelum and his friends outside heard it and burst into laughter. Caelum flew up toward the window.
"Musclebrain, it's okay, I won't tell anyone," he said with a teasing grin.
Victor smacked Caelum on the head, leaving a large bump. The two began to fight like brothers.
"You two really are like brothers," Xandriel said with a chuckle.
"We aren't!" they both shouted in unison.
Xandriel smiled. "Looks like we're all healed up and ready to begin our journey again. Let's pack up. We leave before dawn."
Elsewhere, Hugerd stood with Vale's soul sealed in the scale. A portal appeared, and he stepped through, entering an underground base. Two figures were waiting.
"Welcome back, Brother Hugerd," one said. "It seems your plan didn't go as expected. If you'd just let me assist—"
With a single glance, Hugerd silenced him.
"You assist me? Don't make me laugh, Wairo," he said coldly.
Wairo immediately knelt. "Forgive me, Commander…"
Hugerd, Wairo, and the other entered a long, dark cave and arrived at a meeting chamber. Twelve chairs circled a round table. Most were filled.
"Where is Seven?" Hugerd asked.
No one responded.
"You know Seven never comes to meetings," one member finally said. "It's best to start without him."
Hugerd nodded. "The time has come. The candidate has been chosen. The subject needs more time. Begin your missions—we've waited long enough."
The members vanished.
Alone, Hugerd entered another room, changed into white priest robes, and gazed out a window overlooking a peaceful village. People waved and smiled at him.
A young man entered. "Father Hugerd, the church is ready for the baptism."
"Thank you, Ewan Eldamar," Hugerd said kindly.
Ewan beamed. "Thank you, Father."
"Have you seen Father Lyion?" Hugerd asked.
"He's holding a service in the village."
Hugerd chuckled. "He really does love the villagers."
Far to the south, two hooded figures emerged from a deep cave.
"It's been so long since I went outside! I'm so excited! What about you, Miss Varia?" said Torock.
"Shut up, Torock. Don't get distracted. Stick to the mission," Varia replied coldly.
Before she finished, Torock had already disappeared.
"Torock!!" she screamed in frustration.
Xandriel's group began their journey south as well.
Caelum floated around, teasing Victor with his magic. Annoyed, Victor smacked him again. They began to squabble.
"Stop acting like children!" Xandriel scolded. "Victor, what do you even see in all this?"
"He started it!" Victor protested. "I don't even know why you trust him. He's just a kid showing off."
"What was that, Musclebrain? Do you even have mana?" Caelum fired back.
"Ah, right," Xandriel interrupted. "You still don't know what we can do, huh?"
"I'm a spell caster. I don't have a specific element. The more magic I learn, the more I can use—but there's a limit. I can't cast more than three SS-tier or four S-tier spells in a day."
"Wow!" Caelum gasped, clearly impressed.
Caelum turned to Victor. "What about you, Musclebrain? I've never seen you use magic. Is your muscle your magic?"
Victor replied with a straight face, "Yes."
Xandriel and Caelum both froze. "What?"
"I have no magic. But my strength is abnormal. I can even cut through magic sometimes."
Caelum gaped. "Wait… your magic is your muscles?"
"Yes," Victor answered.
Caelum burst into laughter. "You really are Musclebrain!"
A fist flew toward him once more.
Xandriel just laughed, watching the chaos unfold.