Dark Magus Returns

The dark magic spilling out of Raze swirled across the ground, curling like smoke around those who had chosen to stand at his side. To the crowd watching from the stands, it was difficult to tell what was happening within that dense wave of shadows. Some of them shifted uncomfortably, hearts pounding as they feared the darkness would continue to spread and eventually engulf them as well.

Who truly knew the full capabilities of Dark Magic? It was taboo for a reason, spoken of in hushed whispers as power not meant to be wielded, and perhaps there was more than one reason for that.

But the magic never reached the edge of the crowd. Instead, it stopped short, then slowly began to fade away, dissolving into glittering particles that scattered harmlessly into the air. As the haze vanished, the spectators gasped, blinking in disbelief at the sight revealed before them.

Where the warriors had once stood, they now remained in the same positions, yet all of them were clad in identical black robes. Each robe was enchanted, the hood drawn low to conceal the features of the one who wore it, masking every identity. Their silhouettes alone revealed who was tall, who was broad, but little else. The transformation was chilling, it truly looked as though they were all witnessing the Dark Guild assembled in its full force.

One figure stepped forward, raising a hand high into the air. "Dark Guild," the figure declared, his voice steady and commanding, "our mission has been completed. We shall meet each other again!" Though no one could see his face beneath the enchanted hood, the voice belonged to Londo, one of the higher-ranking individuals in the Dark Guild.

Few outside the group knew of his status, but within their circle, his authority was unquestioned. Outside of Kelly and the Dark Magus himself, Londo was one of the most trusted leaders among them.

"Everyone disperse!" Londo ordered, swinging his arm outward.

At once, the group obeyed. The robed figures scattered in every direction like shadows breaking apart. Some dashed into the tunnels beneath the coliseum. Others leapt onto the ledges of the arena, bounding upwards with inhuman agility.

A few cast spells to propel themselves into the air, disappearing into the distance as they flew high above the chaos. No matter their method, they each had their escape, and not a single person among the onlookers even attempted to stop them. The thought of standing in the way of the Dark Guild didn't cross their minds, it was simply unthinkable.

Meanwhile, Raze and his companions exited the coliseum. Together, they sprinted across the grounds of the Central Academy, their footsteps echoing as they left behind the shattered arena. Kelly kept close by his side, just as he had instructed her.

While the darkness had cloaked them earlier, he had whispered his orders to her with wind magic, making sure she would remain near when they withdrew. One by one, the warriors from Pagna converged on him, drawn by the pulse of his Qi energy that he deliberately refrained from concealing. By the time they reached the outer edges of the Academy, the six of them had regrouped, moving as a unit as they fled.

"Where are we going now?" Liam asked breathlessly.

"We've done everything we needed to at the Central Academy," Raze answered, his voice firm despite the exhaustion weighing on his body. "We are not here to govern the world of Alterian. They will figure out how to handle the Academy themselves. In time, as the truth spreads, they will establish guardrails to prevent something like this from happening again. But as long as those in charge are the Grand Magus, real change is unlikely."

His words lingered in the air. All the students and mages would feel the weight of what had occurred today, not just at the Central Academy, but across the entire world. The ripples of this single event would spread outward, touching every corner of Alterian, reshaping its future in ways none of them could yet predict.

"We'll head to Alen's estate first," Raze continued. "The manor where we gathered before. We'll stay there for a while and wait to see how things unfold. Then, when the time is right, we'll make our next move."

The others nodded silently, following without question. Even Kelly kept step with them, her hood casting her face in shadow, her presence a quiet reminder of the order Raze had given. He had a reason for bringing her along. Now there was no doubt the Grand Magus knew he was coming for them. Gizin commanded the Cerberus Guild, one of the strongest in all of Alterian.

Idore, on the other hand, held the Noble Guild in his iron grasp. To face them, Raze would need more than just his strength, he would need the full force of the Dark Guild at his back. But that raised another question, one that weighed on him as they ran: how would Harvey, the man who stood as the leader of the Dark Guild, react to everything that had transpired today?

Back in the coliseum, the silence of shock began to break into whispers. The audience turned to one another, their voices hushed yet urgent.

The event had ended, yet no one seemed to know what came next. The announcer, who normally filled the air with confident commentary, was at a loss for words. The principal, no, the Grand Magus, was dead. How could they possibly resume as though this were just another Academy event?

"We have to report this!" one voice cried out. "We must tell everyone what happened today!"

At that, people began to move. Some rushed to pull out their communication devices, which had begun working again now that the disruption was gone.

Others scrambled to leave the arena entirely, desperate to carry word of the Dark Magus and the fall of the Grand Magus to their homes, their guilds, their families. The students of Wilton Academy, however, remained where they were, caught in a haze of disbelief.

"I can't believe they're gone," Yolden whispered. She wore a faint, bittersweet smile as she clutched her arm tightly. Her emotions were tangled, a storm of relief, grief, and confusion she couldn't untangle.

"It's okay," Chiba said softly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "With who he was, with what he's done… it's important that he left. Seeing what kind of person he truly was, there was no way he would have wanted us to get hurt."

"Oh, so you think the Dark Magus is actually a good person now, is that it?" Moze asked, his tone laced with doubt.

"And do you not?" Piba countered, raising an eyebrow as she looked him straight in the eye.

Moze faltered. His lips pressed together, but no words came out. Finally, he exhaled. "I don't know what to think. But I know this much, the Raze I met… he was a good person."

The discussion among the students was cut short as the reality of what had happened began to sweep outward.

Word spread fast, moving beyond the Academy, beyond the coliseum, flowing into the world like wildfire. By the end of the day, every corner of Alterian would know the truth: the Dark Magus had slain the Grand Magus, and nothing would ever be the same again.

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