Her raised hand trembled slightly as the wings reached their full span, nearly blotting out the sky.
The multicolored feathers glowed with a brilliance that made every eye in the academy turn upward in awe and disbelief.
"Look at the size of it!" a third year student whispered while holding his friend’s arm.
"It’s like... like a guardian angel," another breathed.
"No... it’s beyond that," an upperclassman corrected. "We are witnessing a miracle."
Cecelia began to focus.
"By the Ancients..." whispered a second-year. "That’s Cecelia’s power? At her age?"
Inside the staff building, professors pressed against the windows. One of the senior instructors said, "If this is just a first-year’s ability... the academy may have found the next generation’s strongest healer."
But despite all their marveling, the giant wing revealed nothing. Cecelia’s light swept across the southern forest, washing over treetops and rocky ridges and yet no sign of Kael appeared.
"Kael... where are you?" Cecelia whispered to herself. Sweat beaded on her brow as she strained to hold the spell steady.
"Please... answer me..."
Below her, the eight other healers wavered. One by one, their mana began to burn out.
"My... mana..." gasped a boy as his beam flickered and died. He dropped to his knees with a thud.
Another healer, a girl, collapsed moments later.
"I—I can’t hold it any longer..."
The others followed in quick succession, each beam of light dimmed like fading light until only Cecelia remained. Newest update provıded by 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⚫𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⚫𝘯𝘦𝘵
Still she pushed on. "Common," she whispered.
"Just a little longer... he needs me..."
But even her mana reserves had limits. Her knees buckled midair, and with a soft gasp she descended, landing unsteadily on the ground.
A single tear slid from the corner of her left eye as the massive feather of light finally shattered into fading sparks.
"Cecelia!" Veyla shouted. She rushed to catch her before she fell completely.
"You’ve overexerted yourself!"
"I... I can’t find him," Cecelia murmured.
"It’s like he’s... gone."
At that moment, there was the sound of footsteps from behind. Professor Slyvia had come to the scene. Behind her was professor Orwen.
"What in the world happened here?" Slyvia said.
Several students immediately turned and pointed at Elysia, who stood amid the chaos while her Oath Blade rested lightly against her shoulder.
"It was during the duel!" one of them said.
"Elysia... she—she unleashed some kind of... giant strike. Kael tried to block, but he was sent flying! Straight over the south forest!"
Professor Orwen’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Into the forest?"
Another student nodded. "Yes, sir! He disappeared completely!"
Slyvia looked at Elysia. "Is this true?"
"It was a duel," she said. "He accepted the challenge. I didn’t intend for my skill to carry him that far."
"You expect me to believe that?" Slyvia replied.
"You are ranked one among the first years. With your strength, you must show restraint. The academy forbids lethal force during friendly duels. You nearly killed a classmate!"
(He should be dead by now. If not, he’s far more dangerous than I imagined.)
Instead, she lowered her gaze slightly, masking her true feelings behind a thin veil of calm.
"It was an accident," she said evenly. "I misjudged the force. I will accept any punishment you give me."
"Respect the weak, Elysia. Power is no excuse for recklessness. Remember that you carry the responsibility of your rank."
(Weak?) Elysia’s thoughts hissed.
(He’s not weak. He’s pretending... hiding. But I will uncover the truth.)
"Professor... please," said Cecelia in an urgent voice.
"Kael... we need to find him. Right now."
Slyvia immediately turned to the gathered students.
"First-years, listen carefully. Form search parties and comb the southern forest. Move in groups of three and stay within sight of each other. Anyone with tracking skills, step forward. If you find him, heal him immediately"
"Yes, Professor!" several students shouted.
Professor Orwen added, "Take an emergency enchanted talisman. If you find any sign of Kael for an emergency beyond your cure."
Cecelia’s knees buckled again, but Veyla caught her arm and steadied her. "I’m coming with you," Veyla said firmly.
"No..." Cecelia shook her head weakly. "You need to... conserve mana. We can’t... all collapse..."
"You’re in no condition to argue," Veyla said.
"I’m not letting you go alone."
Around them, the remaining healers exchanged worried glances. One of the boys whispered to another, "I’ve never seen Cecelia cry before. She must really care about Kael."
Another student murmured, "To push her magic that far... she could have injured herself permanently."
Overhead, the academy bells tolled.
Edwin crossed his arms and looked at Jin.
"I don’t care about the weak ones," Edwin said.
"If you want to go, then you go. Don’t expect me to follow."
Jin blinked, a little surprised by Edwin’s tone, but he quickly shrugged it off.
Unlike Edwin, Jin wasn’t the type to get worked up over such things. He gave a small, lazy stretch and let out a sigh that almost sounded like a yawn.
"Well," Jin said casually, "I’m hungry anyway. While you stand here acting all serious, I’ll just head to the kitchen. Might as well grab some food during our free time."
He patted his stomach for emphasis, making his intentions clear.
"A warm meal sounds way better than standing around arguing."
The group of twenty first-year students moved cautiously into the forest.
The air carried a faint fragrance of healing energy, remnants of Cecelia’s immense power. Some of the trees glowed faintly.
Patches of grass, previously dry and lifeless, were now lush and vibrant. A few students gasped as they saw delicate white flowers blooming on small graves hidden beneath moss-covered stones.
It was a surreal, almost sacred sight, and many instinctively slowed their pace.
"This... this is incredible," one student whispered.
"Is this really the effect of Cecelia’s skill?"
"Yes," another replied.
"Her healing is so strong it brings life back to dead plants. Maybe... maybe even more than that."
Before anyone could speak further, a sharp and panicked voice cut through the group.