The academy grounds had returned to normalcy, almost as if nothing had happened.
The towering buildings stood tall, the damage from the attack seamlessly repaired.
The nearby village that had once been ravaged now bustled again with life—its wounds patched and scars hidden beneath the surface.
Everything seemed fine... at least on the outside.
The students resumed their academic duties with renewed focus, as though no shadows of the past lingered. But for Grey, the unease hadn't passed.
He still couldn't shake the ominous aura he had sensed—not once, but thrice. Each time, it felt distinct... powerful... and dangerously unfamiliar. What exactly were they?
Training resumed with full intensity. Each student poured their heart and might into it, pushing their limits daily.
Von occasionally paired them up in sparring matches—not just to test their raw strength, but to evaluate how well they could complement one another in real combat scenarios.
Raze was evolving at a remarkable pace. His mastery of various magics—copied from his comrades—had grown into a dazzling arsenal.
His adaptability made him a valuable asset on the field. The only limitation that held him back was the fact that he could copy and wield only one magic at a time, and the effect lasted just 24 hours.
Even so, with his quick thinking and versatility, he was a powerhouse in his own right.
Still, Grey remained a step ahead.
Despite struggling with progress in his own magic, he pushed forward relentlessly.
Fusion Magic was proving elusive—he had studied it endlessly, devoured every page he could find—but apart from the three spells he had already managed to learn, the rest were still far beyond his reach.
As for Creation Magic, there was stagnation. He had grown familiar with his usual constructs, and innovation had slowed.
Apart from the instructors and a few upper-year students, no one truly knew just how many types of magic Grey possessed.
Their team was steadily clearing missions, rising through the ranks. But today felt... different.
A certain stillness hung in the air as they gathered in Von's class, where a change in rhythm was about to take shape.
"Welp! I've taught you all what I can teach," Von sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Didn't realize I was dealing with a class full of geniuses. Everything I was meant to teach across the entire first year, you all somehow managed to grasp in just half the time."
Grey blinked, briefly pulled from his thoughts.
'Seven months... It's already been seven months since we started at the academy,' he mused, eyes glazing over slightly.
I wonder how Mum and Jesse are doing. I've been writing every month...
The academy's policy restricted incoming letters, but once a month, exceptions were made.
His mother's replies had always been warm and comforting, full of reassurance. Lord Cedric was apparently still caring for them.
Still, the ache in his chest remained.
'When will we be allowed to return home? I miss it. Elara, Randin, the elven town—Licht... I miss everyone.'
"What's wrong, Grey? What are you thinking about?" Von asked, catching sight of the distant look on his face.
"Nothing. Just homesick," Grey muttered.
"Aww! Mama's boy," Scarlet teased with a mischievous giggle.
"Whatever." He barely looked at her.
"I know most of you want to return home soon," Von said, his voice taking on a softer tone. "And you will. I promise."
"How soon?" Raze asked eagerly. "I miss my dad."
"After the academy's Inter-Tournament," Von replied.
"Inter-Tournament?" Greg echoed, raising a brow.
"Yes," Von nodded. "Every year, Lunaria Academy holds an inter-academy tournament for its second- and third-year students.
The winners go on to face champions from other academies across the continent."
"So you mean we all get to head home after the second years are done with their tournament?" Grey asked, a flicker of hope in his voice.
"Nope. After you complete the tournament—in your second year," Von smirked, clearly amused.
"I should've known," Grey grumbled under his breath.
"Over the past few months, you've all ranked up impressively," Von continued. "All that stands between you and the next year is one more successful mission and two more months."
"That's right! In just two months, our first year will be done. We're only one mission away," Arthur said, visibly excited.
'I can't wait for second year, Grey thought. That breakthrough technique... It looked insanely powerful. If I can learn that, I might finally start catching up to those third years.'
"Let's just hope a mission comes in soon," Vince yawned, stretching when—
The classroom door slammed open with force. Captain Amir strode in, hands folded behind his back, boots echoing across the floor with authority.
"Listen up, weaklings!" Amir barked.
"Captain?!" the students exclaimed in unison, quickly jumping to their feet and saluting.
"A mission just came in. One I think you lot can handle. Do it right, and you'll finally earn the stars that'll bump you up a year.
Fail..." he shrugged, "...and you'll be stuck waiting indefinitely. Who knows—maybe the academy won't wait. They do expel stagnant students."
"What's the mission about?" Grey asked, stepping forward.
"A beast portal break. A dangerous one," Amir said, tone grim.
"Pfft! We've gone on countless portal break missions. What makes this one different?" Greg scoffed.
"Because unlike those," Amir replied, eyes narrowing, "this time, our scans picked up something new—a boss."
"What level?" Scarlet asked instantly, her voice sharp.
"Level seven, we think."
"Where?" Vanica piped up, eyes gleaming despite her inexperience in combat.
"You'll be updated now," Amir said, snapping his fingers.
Right on cue, a holographic projection shimmered into existence before them, displaying coordinates and mission specifics.
"Good luck. Don't mess this up," Amir warned.
"We don't really need luck," Grey said as his wind bird spiraled into the room, wings flaring with energy.
"Oh, come on! Not again..." Von groaned as the students climbed aboard.
With a single powerful flap, the majestic creature launched forward, slamming through the window and soaring into the sky with unrelenting speed—heading straight for the portal site.
"Do they always do that?" Amir asked, staring at the gaping hole now letting the wind whistle through the room.
"Every time I brief them here," Von muttered.
"This is going to cost a fortune in silver coins," Amir sighed. "Let's just hope they don't level half the town in the process."
Hi guys! Just wanted to inform you all that Magus Supremacy is participating in the Webnovel b-day event thingy so instead of the normal two chapters, I will be uploading three instead. Enjoy ✌️😊