Project Mage

The surrounding energy that held Aliana and Gaiza in place only got worse for them. Suddenly, a hidden library in the Headmaster's office suddenly revealed a secret passage. Emerging from the shadows, the Headmaster herself stepped out. She was followed closely by Elena.

Her presence was commanding and her gaze bore down on Aliana and Gaiza with a cold intensity. She wasted no time in addressing Aliana's current state. “Oh dear. What is this? Aliana, you should know better than to push yourself. You should be resting after the disgraceful defeat you suffered."

Aliana's icy blue eyes met the Headmaster's gaze without fear despite the magical restraints that held her in place. "I'll rest when I've uncovered the truth, Headmaster. I won't allow the academy's actions to go unquestioned any longer."

Gaiza, though still unable to move, stood by Aliana's side, her loyalty unwavering. She said nothing but tried to look strong for Aliana’s sake.

The Headmaster's lips curled into a contemptuous smile while looking at the Academy Princess. "Arrogant as always, I see. You always carried yourself with an air of superiority and yet you allowed yourself to be defeated by those mere children and Kintovar. It's quite the embarrassment, you know?"

Aliana's jaw clenched, but she refused to let the Headmaster's taunts shake her resolve. She had come to this confrontation with a purpose. She smirked at the Headmaster ready to say something, but before she could respond, however, the Headmaster turned away dismissively.

"I don't have time to deal with you now," she declared. "I have matters to attend to. Whatever your petty inquiries are is of no concern to me. "

With a wave of her hand, the Headmaster's magic intensified. She rendered Aliana and Gaiza completely paralyzed. The magical restraints tightened leaving them unable to move even a muscle.

Aliana gritted her teeth in frustration. She felt the increased pressure of the Headmaster's magic. "Her magic has grown even stronger," she muttered while straining to speak. "In the past, I could still move, even if it was nearly impossible….urgh! Darn it!"

“Sleep, my child. Sleep in the grip of my power. When you can move, go and cool off. You’ll be fine.”

The Headmaster and Elena departed leaving Aliana and Gaiza trapped in her office.The Headmaster made her way to the battlefield. Her arrival sent shockwaves through the area. The Mages who had been caught in the midst and the sisters, Roselle and Risebelle were struggling. They all turned their attention to her.

Sylra, still on the ground could only watch in helpless frustration as the Woman approached. Arlysa now feeling her movements restricted by the lingering effects of the powerful energy, strained to get a better view of the approaching figure.

Roselle and Risebelle, their thoughts consumed by the memories of that which overpowered them right now. They felt a sense of dread wash over them once they realized who had arrived. It was the Headmaster herself, the one responsible for the academy's actions and their current predicament.

The Headmaster's yellowish aura glowed with an intimidating intensity. She waved her hand, and Arlysa was forcefully pulled towards her. Arlysa's body moved uncontrollably through the magical force, and she found herself caught by the neck in the Headmaster's firm grip.

The Headmaster's fierce glare bore into Arlysa's eyes, and she demanded, "Speak, Arlysa! What is happening here? You allowed the Magical barrier surrounding the Mana extractor to be disabled. If I hadn't come a moment sooner, it would have been destroyed. Explain yourself!"

Arlysa, caught in the unrelenting grip of the Headmaster, struggled to find her mouth that allowed her to speak which had her breath and all constrained by the Headmaster's grasp. Her eyes darted between the Headmaster's intense gaze and the mages. She watched in tense silence.

"I... I didn't... I didn't do it," Arlysa stammered."It wasn't me. Something or someone disabled the barrier! I was trying to stop it, but I couldn't."

The Headmaster remained stern. Her yellowish glow now swirling around her body intimidatingly. "Explain yourself more clearly, Arlysa," she demanded, her tone unwavering.

Arlysa struggled to find the right words before she continued, "I was fighting against Roselle, Risebelle, and Alan. The barrier... it just started weakening on its own. I didn't have control over it."

The Headmaster's grip on Arlysa's neck tightened for a moment before she released her. For a moment, it looked like she was going to crush Arlysa’ neck. This caused her to stumble backward gasping for air.

With her sharp mind processing the situation, began to piece together the puzzle before her. The sudden weakening of the magical barrier around the Mana Extractor, coupled with the sisters' presence and their abilities, raised suspicions in her calculating mind.

"So, it seems you've acquired new abilities I see," the Headmaster mused aloud, her gaze shifting from Arlysa to the people of the Academy. "And this certain ability that allows you to tamper with magical barriers. Impressive."

Her psychic power still radiated and her demeanor remained unyielding.

Before the Headmaster could delve further into her thoughts, the mages began to address her. They trembled but manage to speak up.

One of the mages, a young woman with wide eyes mustered the courage to say words. "Headmaster, we... we don't know what happened, but Alan... he turned against us. He attacked the mages who came to back up Arlysa and Sylra. It was as if he had joined forces with the sisters."

Another mage, a man with a nervous disposition, added, "Yes, Headmaster, it was chaos out there. We couldn't believe our eyes. Alan, an Elite mage, attacking his own comrades! We need your guidance on how to proceed."

The Headmaster listened to their accounts with a measured understanding. She already had many potential courses of action. Alan's unexpected betrayal was a complication she hadn't foreseen, yet it wasn’t out of the realm of her possibilities.

Just then, footsteps were heard as Alan made his appearance right infront of the Headmaster. His Appearance before the Headmaster startled those present. They all watched with curiosity as the Elite mage prepared to address the Headmaster.

With his hands in his pockets, Alan gazed steadily at the Headmaster and spoke with a measured tone, "Headmaster, you don't need to search too far for me. I'm right here."

The Headmaster regarded Alan with a calculating gaze. She was still radiating with Authority. She inclined her head slightly, signaling for him to proceed.

Alan took a deep breath and then held up a letter within his hands, "I have one question to ask you before I submit my official resignation letter."

With a mischievous look in his eye, he looked at the Headmaster and asked, "Headmaster, if a fire mage and a water mage got into a fight, who do you think would win? The one who can create fire or the one who can control water?"

The unexpected question left the area in a brief moment of confusion. Constrained mages exchanged bewildered glances. The Headmaster's stern gaze slowly transformed into one of disbelief.

She sighed heavily, her patience wearing thin. "This is no time for games, Alan," she retorted sharply. "This is a serious matter."

Alan smiled as he countered, "Headmaster, sometimes, it's the seemingly trivial questions that reveal the most about a person's perspective. So, I'll ask again, who do you think would win in a fight between a fire mage and a water mage?"

The Headmaster's wavered and for a moment, she seemed taken aback by Alan's persistence in asking such an unusual question. The immobilized mages looked towards the exchange with curiosity, unsure of where this was leading to.

With a measured tone, the Headmaster finally responded, "In a hypothetical battle between a fire mage and a water mage, the outcome would depend on various factors, including the skill and experience of the mages, the environment in which the battle takes place, and their ability to adapt to changing circumstances."

Alan nodded, seemingly satisfied with her response. "Thank you, Headmaster," he said with a hint of amusement. "I believe that answers my question."

The Headmaster's patience was clearly wearing thin, and she demanded, "Now, Alan, stop with these trivial questions and get to the point. What is the purpose of your resignation letter, and why are you standing here before me as if you want to oppose me!?"

Alan's mischievous demeanor shifted. He now spoke with a seriousness that drew everyone's attention. "Headmaster, I've chosen to resign from the academy because I can no longer support the actions and decisions that have been made. The capture and execution of scientists, the mistreatment of magicless individuals, the pursuit of gaining power at any cost... I can no longer be a part of it."

The Headmaster's response was cold and unwavering. She looked directly into Alan's eyes and then spoke with authority

"Alan, you seem to forget the gravity of your situation," she stated firmly while her face turned to a scowl. "Resignation from the academy is not a simple matter. It carries a price, a price you may not fully comprehend. To resign means to sever ties with the academy, and in doing so, you choose a path that leads to one outcome: death."

Her words hung in the air and they filled everyone with fear. Those even thinking about trying to stop her quickly lost all of their morale.

The Headmaster continued, "If you plan to go against the academy by aiding those children, then you have chosen your own fate. The academy does not tolerate betrayal, and it will not hesitate to enforce its rules."

Alan, undeterred by the Headmaster's warning, met her gaze with a smug look. "Headmaster, I've made my choice," he declared. "I’m not going to just stand by and condone the academy's actions any longer. Sorry fat lady, but Alan is out of here."

The Headmaster flared up with a dazzling display of energy. She unleashed power that seemed to engulf the entire battlefield. Her body pulsed and her aura expanded creating an otherworldly presence that made everyone who seen it quiver once with the feeling of the level she was at right now.

With a mere thought, she summoned her magical weapon—a staff with a gleaming crystal orb at its tip, which crackled with psychic energy. The staff materialized in her hand, and she held it with a firm and commanding grip.

She adjusted her robes with a graceful motion. Her attire seemed to shift which reflected the intensity she brought to the battlefield. Her garments now gained psychic patterns that glowed with an ethereal light.

The headmaster held a manifestation of her psychic power around her. It continued to expand and covered the entire battlefield like an ominous shroud. It reached the location where Roselle stood, holding the unconscious Runebelle on her back. Roselle's wide-eyed disbelief was met with the Headmaster's stern gaze.

“N-No way…!”

"You are now within my aura," The headmaster declared. "And within my aura, your actions are subject to my control."

With a commanding gesture, the Headmaster pointed her hand towards Alan. She thrusted her hand in his direction and a surge of psychic energy rippled through the air. Alan was sent flying as if struck by an invisible force, blood spewing from his mouth as he was hurled backward.

"You are all underestimating what happens to those who betray me," she admonished, her gaze shifting from one constrained mage to another. "Defiance will not be tolerated. The academy's principles are absolute, and those who oppose them will face the full extent of my wrath. You need a reminder of who rules this Island!"

"I can see why Kintovar warned us about fighting her," Risebelle said from on the side of Roselle. It was rare to see but Risebelle looked afraid. She glanced at Roselle who carried the unconscious Runebelle on her back. "No matter how strong we've become, there are forces in this world that are beyond our current abilities... I don’t think we’ve got a prayer here against that level of magic … We would be idiots to try and take that on by ourselves…"