After Kael handed him the sealed letter, Jace left the lab in a daze, his mind swirling with questions he didn't dare speak aloud.
He returned to his dormitory like a walking corpse, too drained to even notice the admiration from passing students.
He collapsed onto his bed without even changing clothes, his limbs heavy as stone. The weight of mana experiments, the strange discovery, and the eerie silence Kael left him with churned in his thoughts. But before he could dwell deeper on any of it.
Sleep claimed him.
The morning light crept into the dormitory through the thin curtains. Jace stirred, groaning. His muscles ached, his mana felt like it had been drained through a sieve, and his mind still buzzed with lingering remnants of Kael's probing magic.
He sat up with effort, rubbing his eyes, then quietly readied himself.
The academy halls were already bustling, but he ignored the noise and made his way straight to the classroom. He spotted Lyra first—arms crossed, leaning near the doorframe with that familiar skeptical expression—and just behind her was Professor Meralda, calmly sipping from a cup of fragrant tea.
Lyra spotted him and raised an eyebrow. "You look like death."
"I feel worse," Jace muttered, dragging his feet toward them.
Professor Meralda looked up, lowering her cup. "You went to see Kael, didn't you?"
Jace nodded. "He did… everything. Made me push my limits. Run, cast, pour mana, pull mana, reverse it, channel it again. I think I even breathed mana at one point."
Lyra snorted.
Meralda chuckled softly. "That sounds like him."
"But then" Jace hesitated. He couldn't mention the black creature. Kael didn't explain, and for some reason, he hadn't either. "He told me to go to Lipines Kingdom. That there's someone there I need to meet."
Both Lyra and Meralda exchanged a glance.
"Did he say who?" Meralda asked.
"No. Just that it's important. And that... my mana isn't normal."
Meralda nodded slowly, thoughtful. "Kael doesn't give vague advice unless something serious is involved."
Lyra tilted her head. "You gonna go?"
Jace looked at them both, then nodded.
"I think I have to."
Lyra, who had been standing nearby with a book tucked under her arm, glanced sideways at him. "Do you have a ride?"
Jace blinked, then shook his head. "Not really. I was just going to figure something out."
Lyra rolled her eyes, already expecting that answer. "Good thing I'm here, then."
"Huh?"
"I'm heading to Lipines Kingdom tomorrow," she said, tapping the cover of her book. "There's a new volume of Rose's Garden War coming out. Only sold in the Lipines capital. Also, the boutique there carries some dresses I've had my eyes on for weeks."
She paused, then smiled to herself. "Perfect excuse to go."
"You're going shopping?" Jace asked, a bit caught off guard.
"Don't act so surprised. Even sword-swinging girls have hobbies." She leaned in and lowered her voice. "Besides, I figured I'd dress down. Minimal jewelry, plain clothes, no house crest. Just a girl with a little coin trying not to cause a scene."
"You? Not causing a scene?" he teased.
She gave him a playful nudge. "Hardy-har. Anyway, I can take you with me. I'll be using the noble teleportation gate inside the academy that links to the outer district of the Lipines Kingdom. It's usually for direct travel to noble estates or major cities."
"Wait, you're offering me a free ride?"
"I'm not doing it for you," she said quickly, looking away. "I just don't want to deal with you messing around and getting stuck halfway across the kingdom."
Jace smiled faintly. "Thanks."
Lyra crossed her arms. "Just be ready tomorrow morning. We leave early. And wear something that doesn't scream 'I'm new here and probably suspicious.'"
He gave her a half-hearted salute. "Yes, ma'am."
The morning sun filtered gently through the academy's eastern towers as Jace and Lyra walked toward the teleportation hall, both dressed plainly. Gone was Lyra's usual noble attire—instead, she wore a simple tunic, leather boots, and a light cloak with no crest. Her hair was tied up neatly, and she carried only a small pouch at her waist.
"No one will think you're a duke's daughter," Jace said, eyeing her outfit.
"That's the point," she said proudly. "Now let's go before someone stops us and asks questions."
They stepped inside the academy's noble teleportation chamber. Several royal mages stood at their designated stations, channeling mana into glowing runes embedded in the polished marble floor. Nearby, fully armored royal knights stood at attention, watching every movement. The entire place pulsed with high-tier spatial magic.
A middle-aged mage with silver streaks in his beard glanced at them, scanning their tokens of noble clearance. Though Jace didn't have one, Lyra's family registry allowed him to be registered as a guest.
"Destination?" the mage asked curtly.
"Outer hall of the Lipines border capital," Lyra replied.
The mage nodded and activated the teleportation array. The floor beneath them flashed with arcs of light. A deep hum filled the chamber—then, with a shimmer, they vanished.
A heartbeat later, they reappeared in a wide teleportation chamber of smooth, ivory stone lit by hanging crystal lanterns. The Lipines Kingdom crest—a pair of wings over a tree—was engraved into the far wall. Around the room, several royal knights stood stationed, and a few robed mages were quietly maintaining the spell arrays.
The two were instantly met with the smell of roasted spices and the distant noise of a bustling city beyond the arched stone doors.
"We made it," Lyra whispered, adjusting her cloak. "Let's grab breakfast before we split up."
Jace nodded, and they walked through the checkpoint without drawing attention—just another pair of travelers.
A few blocks away, they stopped at a small tavern that was already serving hot morning meals. Steam rose from outdoor cooking pots, and several people were seated at wooden tables, enjoying grilled bread, eggs, and broth.
As they were nearing the entrance, a loud, mocking voice cut through the street.
"Well, well, it's you again. The peasant who doesn't know his place."
Jace turned his head, only to see a tall young man, maybe a few years older than him, approaching with swagger in his step. He had auburn hair, sharp eyes, and wore a cloak with the golden trim of noble rank.
Jace furrowed his brow. "Do I know you?"
"You should," the stranger sneered. "You stole something from me."
Lyra's eyes narrowed. "Who the hell are you?"
"I am Cedric, son of Duke Hendrel of the Outer Reach. And you—" he pointed a finger at Jace, "—stole my father's enchanted scroll last winter in Frostmark! You ran off before I could report it!"
Jace blinked. "What? I've never even been to Frostmark."
"Liar!" Cedric growled. Without warning, he lunged forward and yanked a rolled parchment from Jace's side bag. "This is mine!"
Lyra reached for her stuff but stopped—her instincts screamed something was off.
Then, just as Cedric held the scroll up victoriously, a flash of lightning exploded from above.
CRACK!
A bolt of light streaked from the sky—or rather, from a hovering magical crest in the air—and slammed into Cedric's shoulder. The arrogant noble dropped like a sack of flour, the scroll flying into the air and landing with a soft plop near Jace's boot.
The crowd gasped. Some ducked. Others pointed at the glowing sky rune—clearly a ward placed by local city mages to prevent theft or noble disputes in public.
"Did he just get zapped by city magic?" Jace asked, stunned.
Lyra raised a brow, then looked up at the shimmering ward crest above. "Definitely city magic. But... that strike was too focused. That scroll must be enchanted."
Jace stared at the parchment on the ground. "Moron," he muttered, looking at the unconscious noble. "Serves him right."
Lyra crouched beside the scroll and reached out.
Zzzzzzt!
A sharp spark of light arced toward her fingers. She yelped and drew back instantly, her fingertips tingling from the discharge.
"What the hell?!" she hissed, shaking her hand. "That thing attacked me!"
Jace blinked, then bent down and picked up the scroll with ease. The moment his fingers touched it, the energy around it vanished, and the parchment settled peacefully in his grasp.
"Just as I thought," Lyra said, eyeing the scroll. "That lunatic—Mana Maniac—must've put a seal on it. It's keyed to you. Only you can carry it."
Jace nodded slowly. "He gave it to me before I left the academy tower. Said not to open it—just deliver it to someone in Lipines."
"Who?"
"He didn't say exactly. Just that someone here would be expecting me. A scholar named Thamus, I think. That's why I'm even here."
Lyra frowned. "So that scroll is some kind of recommendation?"
"Feels like it." He looked at the fine red threads binding the scroll closed. No ordinary wax seal—this was a mana-sealed item. Strong enough that it retaliated on contact. "He said not to open it no matter what."
Lyra nodded slowly, eyes still on the scroll. "Makes sense. Whatever's in there... it's meant for that person alone. City wards plus mana-specific bindings? That scroll's probably carrying a secret even you aren't supposed to know."
Jace tucked it away carefully into the inner pocket of his cloak.
"I'll find this Thamus after breakfast."
They finished eating quietly inside the tavern, tucked into a corner booth with a view of the street. The food was simple but surprisingly good — roasted duck slices, baked eggs, and fresh rolls with honey. Lyra seemed to enjoy the break from academy rations, especially the spiced tea.
After the plates were cleared, Jace stretched, stood, and adjusted his cloak.
"Alright, let's find this Thamus guy."
The moment the name left his lips, it was like the air in the tavern shifted.
Utensils clinked a little too hard against plates. A server paused mid-step. Two armored men at a nearby table glanced at each other, then stood and left without a word.
Even the innkeeper's cheerful humming stopped.
Jace and Lyra shared a glance.
"What the...?" Lyra muttered under her breath. "Did you feel that?"
Jace nodded slowly. "Yeah. It's like I said a forbidden word."
More customers stood up and casually made their way outside, pretending not to have heard anything — but their eyes were tense, wary.
It was subtle, but unmistakable.
"They all reacted," Lyra said, her voice low. "They heard the name Thamus... and they got scared."
Jace frowned and lowered his voice. "Why would that happen? He's just a scholar, isn't he?"
Lyra gave him a flat look. "Yeah. A scholar who makes trained guards flinch and civilians leave their food half-eaten. If this guy's not dangerous, he's at least feared."
Jace exhaled. "Great. So I'm walking into another mess."
Lyra grinned and stood. "At least I won't be bored."