The Director watched them from above, floating with an almost mocking calm while the sea and sky still trembled from the echo of the battle. The enemy mages, desperate, began opening portals in the void to flee, murmuring incantations softly as if that could hide their fear.
A barely perceptible smile appeared on the elder’s lips. Then, he raised his right hand and, with a simple clench of his fist, all the portals slamd shut, exploding in violet sparks that evaporated the air around.
Next, he extended his other hand and traced patterns impossible to follow with the eye.
"Dinsional Seal."
The words fell like lead. For the enemy mages, it was like hearing their death sentence. They knew well what that ant. The difference between an official mage and a Titled Mage was as vast as the distance between the ground and the sky. They weren’t facing a rival... they were facing a force of nature.
The twelve imdiately grouped together, forming a defensive circle as they looked at the Director and the four mages who still floated behind them, battered and bloody.
"Are you all right?" the Director asked with a paternal tone, looking at Agis.
"Yes, Director. We’re in one piece. Here is the Kraken’s Jewel," Agis responded, extending his hand. He handed over the object with respect and relief. In doing so, he seed to release the entire weight of the mission from his shoulders; a wide smile ford on his lips, as this mission was the requirent given to him to beco the new director of Black Rock Academy.
The Director nodded, put away the jewel with a gesture of his robe, and then walked through the air toward his enemies as if descending the steps of an invisible temple.
"This is what you ca for, isn’t it?" He raised the jewel with his fingers. "Co and get it. If you manage to take it from my hand... it’s all yours."
His smile was cruel, almost sadistic, as if he were enjoying every second of that theater of fear.
One of the enemy mages stepped forward.
"We know you’re stronger... but if we all attack, your precious academy won’t survive. Are you really willing to sacrifice it? Let us go, and we’ll forget this matter. Your mages are still alive and the jewel is in your hands; you haven’t lost anything."
The Director’s face changed. His expression hardened. And with it, the sky darkened as if an ancient storm were awakening. Clouds gathered in black spirals, the wind whipped violently. Nature responded to his power.
"You destroyed my warship? Murdered my students? Wounded my mages? And you have the audacity to tell nothing has happened?"
The elder’s voice was so heavy that it made the air tremble.
"Your students are worthless," the sa mage retorted. "Your ship can be repaired. How about we give you a hundred thousand mana stones? You take it, and we forget this."
It was too much.
"Do you think you’re dealing with a beggar?" The Director raised his hand again, and with a grave, ritualistic voice, he pronounced:
"Let chaos arise... tear from the void!"
Imdiately, black lines appeared among the enemies, as if the world itself were breaking into fragnts. The fissures attacked the mages, giving them no ti to react; their necklaces, rings, and any defensive asures they had were destroyed in an instant. The chaos was absolute. Even after their artifacts exploded, two mages lost an arm, another a leg, and the rest barely managed to conjure an ergency shield, saving themselves.
Seeing the true difference between them, they scread in desperation. Several pulled dinsional scrolls from their pouches and tore them. A new portal, enormous and violent, opened like the mouth of a wild beast.
But the Director did not move... he only murmured in a voice more terrifying than any scream:
"You co to my academy... and think you can leave whenever you wish?"
He raised his arm one last ti.
"Descent of the Tyrannical Bolt!"
A colossal bolt of lightning, white with a blue core, descended from the sky like divine punishnt. The portal was the target. Five of the mages, desperate, tried to intercept it and exploded on contact, reduced to ashes by the pure energy. The other seven crossed the portal before it completely collapsed.
Silence returned for an instant.
"It seems there was soone very important among them, important enough for five of his guards to commit suicide," the Director murmured as he put away the jewel, searching his thoughts for who could be so important.
"Director, we couldn’t protect the ship... or most of the aspirants. The other academies will complain," Agis said with a somber face.
"Everyone knew the risks. This outco was possible from the beginning," he replied without hesitation. "Regardless, I will speak with the other Directors. I must find out who dared to attack us. Agis, you’re in charge. When I return, we’ll discuss the rewards. From today... you are the new Director of Black Rock. You can make your own decisions; from now on, I will officially be the Leader of the alliance."
Agis nodded, overwheld by the trust placed in him.
"I appreciate your trust, Master. I will not disappoint you."
The two rcenary mages, Thalor and rion, bid farewell with a bow.
"Our contract is settled. If you need a similar mission, you know where to find us."
With a flash of light, they disappeared.
anwhile, Agis and Aurus descended to the ruined port. The bodies of sailors, aspirants, and soldiers floated or were dragged by the waves. Screams, healing spells, crying... the chaos was absolute.
Aurus headed to the shore and found William, still alive, soaked, bleeding, but standing. The young man had lost so color in his face, had several broken bones, but he remained standing with a fixed and determined gaze.
"You’re quite hard to kill, kid," he said with a twisted smile.
The apprentice who was healing William cried out upon seeing such an important mage speaking with her patient and ran off, visibly nervous.
"Hello, Master... it seems you also got roughed up," William joked with a broken but firm voice.
Seeing an official Level 2 mage joke with a wounded student was an uncommon sight. But Aurus rely smiled.
"Twelve Level 2 mages ambushed us. If I could co out without a scratch... I wouldn wouldn’t be a Level 2, but the Director. Anyway, I just ca to say goodbye. I owe you sothing, but I’ll give it to you when you reach the threshold of being an official mage. It will be your celebration gift. I don’t know how long I’ll be staying at this academy... I have things to attend to. I’ll be back soon to see your progress."
William stood up, gritting his teeth in pain, and bowed ninety degrees.
"Thank you for everything, Master. Without you... I wouldn’t have co this far. I won’t disappoint you."
When he straightened, Aurus was gone. He had vanished without a trace, as if he had never been there.
Among n, no tears or empty words are needed.
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