Professor Darius Vale stood at the front of the Advanced Magical Theory classroom, his piercing gaze sweeping across the students like a predator scanning prey. He was tall, dressed in an obsidian robe lined with silver runes, and carried an air of quiet intensity that made even Riven sit up straighter.
Kael slouched lower in his seat.
"Welcome," Vale said, voice smooth yet sharp. "My name is Professor Vale. I specialize in rare and forgotten forms of magic."
Luna leaned toward Kael. "He looks like he could rip a dragon apart with his bare hands."
"I bet he could," Kael muttered.
Vale's eyes locked onto Kael as if he'd heard.
For a brief moment, Kael felt a flicker of recognition in the professor's gaze.
Then Vale turned away.
"Today, we'll discuss anomalies—forms of magic that defy conventional classification."
A projector stone lit up behind him, displaying ancient texts and diagrams of what looked suspiciously like Null-Class Apex Magic .
Kael's heart skipped a beat.
Luna noticed. "You okay?"
"Fine," Kael said quickly.
Mirai, sitting on the other side of the room, watched him closely.
Later that day, chaos erupted in the Hall of Wonders , a museum-like wing filled with magical artifacts used for study.
One of the oldest relics—the Orb of Eternal Flame —had begun emitting unstable bursts of energy, melting nearby shelves and sending students scrambling.
Security wards failed. Enchanted barriers shattered. Even Professor Orin's emergency containment spell fizzled out mid-cast.
"SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING!" Orin shouted, ducking behind a statue.
Riven charged forward, summoning a shield of fire to block the orb's blasts. "STAY BACK—I'LL HANDLE IT!"
His flames barely held against the raw chaotic energy spewing from the orb.
Luna rushed in beside him, reinforcing the barrier with ice. "We need help!"
"NOBODY PANIC!" someone yelled.
Everyone panicked.
Then, from the back of the crowd, a calm voice cut through the noise.
"Step aside."
Kael pushed through the throng of students, holding a textbook like it was some kind of weapon.
"Kael?!" Luna blinked.
"What are you doing?!" Riven snapped.
Kael ignored them. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a single feather from a phoenix (he wasn't sure where he got it), and gently dropped it onto the orb's surface.
The orb stopped glowing instantly .
The energy dissipated. The room stabilized. The melting artifacts cooled.
Silence fell.
"…That's impossible," Luna whispered.
"WHAT KIND OF MAGIC WAS THAT?!" Riven roared.
Kael shrugged. "It just needed to rest."
Professor Vale appeared behind him, eyes narrowed. "Where did you get that feather?"
"Found it," Kael said bluntly.
Vale studied him for a long moment. Then he nodded. "Impressive improvisation."
Before anyone could question him further, the ceiling groaned—again—and a loose chandelier crashed down—again—but this time, it landed neatly on top of Riven's head.
"NOT AGAIN!" Riven groaned, collapsing under its weight.
Luna facepalmed. "Why do I feel like this happens every week?"
That evening, Kael sat alone in the library, flipping through an old tome titled "The Forgotten Heirs of Null-Class Magic."
He didn't notice Mirai until she sat across from him.
"You know, most people wouldn't recognize that book," she said softly.
Kael kept reading. "Coincidence."
Mirai placed a notebook on the table. Inside were pages of notes, sketches, and theories—all pointing to Kael .
She flipped through them casually. "Magic that nullifies spells without incantation… reality-warping effects… untraceable by detection magic… sound familiar?"
Kael sipped his tea. "Sounds like fiction."
Mirai smiled. "Maybe. But I've seen it happen. Repeatedly."
She leaned in slightly. "You're not Tier 3, are you?"
Kael finally looked up. His expression remained neutral.
"No," he admitted. "But everyone thinks I am."
Mirai tilted her head. "And you don't correct them?"
"Wouldn't matter. They wouldn't believe me."
Mirai chuckled. "True. Most people only see what they expect to see."
She closed the notebook. "Just know… I'm watching you."
With that, she stood and walked away, leaving Kael staring after her.
Ink fluttered in through the window, muttering, "So… how many people know your secret now?"
Kael sighed. "Three."
"Including you?"
"Four."
"…Great. We're doomed."
That night, Kael sat on the roof again, watching the stars.
Luna joined him, arms crossed.
"Alright," she said. "Tell me the truth."
"About what?"
"About you."
Kael glanced at her.
She stared back, serious now. "You're not weak. You never were. I've seen you stop curses, nullify spells, and fix magic like it's nothing. So why pretend?"
Kael exhaled slowly. "Because people treat you differently when they think you're strong."
Luna frowned. "You mean they respect you."
"Not always," Kael murmured. "Sometimes they fear you. Sometimes they try to use you. Sometimes they just want to fight you."
Luna looked away. "I guess that makes sense."
After a pause, she added, "But you still helped us today. You didn't have to."
"Sure I did."
"Why?"
Kael smiled faintly. "Because you're my friends."
Luna blushed slightly. "Don't go getting sentimental on me now, Lysander."
They sat in silence for a while.
Below them, somewhere in the forest, the demon chicken crowed once more.
Still ignored.