Fanet was an ambitious man, always loyal to what was right. He was driven by the desire to be better than Konji, but no matter how hard he tried, he was always a step behind. Two years ago, Fanet left the university circuit to become a civilian, navigating the unpredictable currents of society.
As a long time passed, the Mage Hunting Group continued its operations under the leadership of Lord Kaman, a mysterious figure with an extreme ambition to eradicate mages. He was indifferent even to his own death, caring only that the mages he branded as villains were extinguished. Fanet was captured and spent several months in a cage. Her roommate was Enklas, a member of the villainous organization known as "Farare."
[ Ishiwor University ]
At Ishiwor University, many people, especially students, were beginning to return to campus after months of absence. Nevertheless, a considerable number of students already resided there, as if it were their second home. On top of a building, a young man appeared in a suit, donned with the distinctive purple student cloak. View spoke:
"It's already our third year... I can't believe how fast it went by."
She hugged her book tightly while her eyes looked at the endless stream of first-year students arriving. Suddenly, her glasses fell from her face. She quickly snatched them back with a playful, mischievous gesture. Liria chimed in:
"We still have a whole year to go."
On the other side was Lonner, a long-haired blonde young man whose personality had changed. This shift wasn't a result of rage or loss, but stemmed from seeing a past self that his present self wished to discard. Lonner tucked his hands into his trouser pockets and walked past many juniors who paused to look at him—this young man, considered a university legend, with a sword strapped to his waist.
The room door opened, revealing his friend, Raclena. Her former innocent image was gone. Now, her eyes looked composed and deeply thoughtful, and in her hand, she held an old magical artifact.
"Mr. Lonner!!"
She called out his name, even though she was quite far from her. Lonner briefly waved in greeting before slowly walking toward her.
Afterward, they walked along the building together. They passed other students going about their business, merely people on campus who met coincidentally, like temporary travel companions. Raclena noticed Lonner's drastically changed demeanor, feeling he wasn't the same person. She initiated a conversation:
"...Time passes so quickly, doesn't it? I still don't know what I'll do about the future."
"Whether to become a senior figure like Ms. Enda or a professor like Mr. Neswon."
Lonner's steps continued forward. He squinted at her briefly.
"Just try your best."
His words surprised her greatly. She had never seen her male friend display such an attitude or character before. She continued walking with her hands clasped in front of her waist, a polite and graceful posture.
"It's strange... It's been two days, and Mr. Buckwit still hasn't arrived. He's usually so punctual."
"That guy went to Vezé... If he's not traveling, he probably got himself into some crazy mission." Lonner glanced at her briefly. His demeanor remained calm, but his eyes were now ready to act.
She glanced at him too, recognizing the deep meaning communicated between them. But suddenly, her body trembled strangely. Her usually gentle eyes widened, as if she had just remembered something. She spoke with worry:
"Professor Neswon too... He's been gone for a month. I don't know anything about the situation concerning those two."
"I don't know. And we shouldn't know about it."
Lonner replied in a brave and cold tone, instantly cutting off her curiosity. Despite his mental coolness, he still smiled faintly at her before parting ways.
Raclena remained troubled by his words. Even though she was a female friend who always offered sincerity to everyone, her image had changed. From being sensitive, highly capable yet fearful in the past, she now seemed more grown-up and mature. Not only Lonner, but Raclena herself had also changed. Raclena watched Lonner's back until he was out of sight, disappearing into the crowd of students walking past each other.
[ The Other Side ]
As a third-year student who grew up with Ishiwor University, View had seen countless people. Among his apparently naive classmates, he was the only one who was reserved and paid no attention to anyone except those he trusted. View's habit was much like Professor Klas's—standing alone quietly on a rooftop or a high balcony.
His expertise covered every route within the university. This campus was vast, like a small city, complete with various elements, including a large forest park, mansions, dormitory buildings, and even areas resembling rural villages. He stood leaning against a high building's wall, his eyes staring aimlessly at the scene below: bushes, students going about their daily routines, and a cat chasing a ball.
Rilea, a student president from a different district, stood to View's left. Normally, students from other districts couldn't wander freely like this, but Rilea was a challenger of rules, aiming to bring the style of District 10 to her own district. Days ago, Liria had promised View regarding her entry into a special building restricted to certain student groups.
Lonner stood with his arms crossed, paying no attention to 'them,' merely observing. Rilea and View stood facing each other, exchanging words. View revealed:
"It's nothing special... The old professors are just looking for reasons to compete over which district is better, making the building look complicated and mysterious."
"If you decide to go in, be careful... you might run into the rule fanatics."
Her body visibly shook, and she was drenched in sweat. Rilea looked left and right suspiciously, yet a hint of mischief was hidden in her eyes.
"The scarecrow..."
He smiled gently as he slightly tilted his head in acknowledgment. His smile slowly stretched, conveying a worry-free guarantee.
"Okay... if I'm free, I'll stop by to ease it for you."
This led to the formation of their friendship—making new friends unknowingly. Currently, the district that Liria belongs to has adopted the style of District 10, thanks to the influential Professor Lovin, who was affiliated with District 1 but became the rule enforcer for District 8, deepening the friendship between the two places in a great alliance between Klas and Lovin.
[ The Library ]
..Third-year students were not required to attend classes but had to self-study to gain internal experience. Raclena was doing the same. She was transforming herself to achieve her ultimate goal. Inside the vast library, she was focused on reading something that wasn't a popular book but neglected knowledge. She was like a flower that had lost its freshness and was starting to wither.
The book, which looked like an old magical artifact, was in her hands. She was concentrating intensely on reading it, even crumpling the pages as if trying to hide what she was holding.
The record, full of mold and torn in strips, thankfully had ancient characters that were still legible in the current language, allowing the text on the paper to be translated.
What was left behind revealed...
"...Ishiwor was founded by a group of exiled mages. This place was once the center of the Camerian race and a prosperous ethnicity that is now starting to disappear. May those who find this record pass on this truth."
What she saw shocked her momentarily. The determination on her face vanished, and she quickly slammed the book shut. She stuffed the book into her bag and walked out of the library with a quick and decisive pace. Her speed made the people around her stare at her unusual demeanor. Her pace quickened as if she was heading towards an important place. In the busy corridor filled with students going about their daily lives, she pushed past the chaos, ignoring everything. Professor Lovin, who was on his way to teach junior students, paused when he saw Raclena walking hurriedly and looking uncharacteristically agitated.
At District 8, she arrived at the library door, which was guarded by two scarecrow knights. However, the two guards were completely motionless, as if spellbound to sleep. Raclena slowly approached them. Her breathing relaxed as her eyes closed tightly. She muttered a spell in her mind, her lips moving to a faint rhythm. The pair of scarecrows showed no reaction to her. They weren't raging but abnormally asleep, as if their life energy had vanished.
She exerted herself so much with the spell that her body trembled. Her eyes blurred slightly from the side effects, but finally, the scarecrows were awakened and stood up in order. The door opened in the middle of the day.
Her breathing became even more rapid, but she still stepped into the library with immense effort.
Her relief was short-lived. A shadow appeared on the ground, originating from outside the door behind her. The shadow was suspiciously twisted and distorted. Fear made her body tremble violently, her eyes wide, and every hair on her body stood up instantly. A mysterious person appeared. A cold cloak fluttered in the wind. The shadow cast over their face made it impossible to know who they were. He stood behind her for a moment, then vanished into the void.
Fear overwhelmed her, coupled with endless curiosity. What she saw made her freeze in place, unable to take another step...
Stay tuned for the next episode....