Everyone already knew that a new instructor was joining that day — Adrian Crowne, a government-appointed mage sent to the academy after the recent disturbances. The rumor had spread across campus: the government suspected someone inside Ebonspire had broken a forbidden seal, and they'd sent an elite mage to watch over things and keep the students safe.
the breath leave her chest. She already knew who "Adrian Crowne" really was.
He walked into the classroom as if he belonged. The room rippled with whispers and flirted excitement.
He stepped in — calm, confident, and impossibly composed. The sound of his footsteps alone silenced the room.
"Good morning," he said smoothly, voice carrying the kind of authority that made everyone instinctively straighten in their seats. "My name is Adrian Crowne. From today onward, I'll be your instructor."
He looked so different now — human, charming, perfectly disguised — walking among them as if he'd belonged here all along. Until now, she'd been the only one who could see him clearly. But now? He was just another teacher to everyone else. The thought made her chest tighten.
Girls whispered behind their hands, eyes wide and sparkling.
"Wow, he's… he's actually gorgeous."
"Do you think he's single?"
"I swear I'll never skip a single class again if he's teaching."
Even Zara, who normally would have rolled her eyes, leaned forward and whispered, "Why are you looking at him like that, Aira? Even you think he's extremly goodlooking haah?"
Aira blinked at her friend, speechless. Zara too? Of course she wouldn't recognize him — no one would. Not after the illusion he'd cast.
Adrian — Kayran — turned slightly, and their eyes met. His smirk was small, dangerous, and knowing.
"Well," he said, scanning the students, "I was told this class was… promising. Let's see if that's true."
He began his lecture, pacing the front of the room like he owned it. And maybe he did. The students hung onto every word, completely spellbound — literally, probably.
Aira tried to focus, she really did, but every word that left his mouth was like nails scratching against her nerves. He looked at her just a little too often, his gaze lingering, amused.
When he passed by her desk, he stopped briefly, leaned down slightly, and said quietly,
"Try not to glare so much, Aira. You'll make people suspicious."
Her pen nearly snapped in her hand.
"Maybe I want them to be suspicious," she hissed under her breath.
He chuckled softly, low enough that only she could hear. "Still as feisty as ever. Careful though… that temper might get you in trouble again."
Again. The word made her flinch.
"Miss Aira," he said suddenly, turning as if the idea had just occurred to him. "You seem distracted. Tell us: what happens when a sealed link is disrupted without proper containment?"
The room snapped to her like a tide. All eyes slid in her direction.
Aira's mouth went dry. She could feel every heartbeat in her face. Heat flared in her chest — anger, fear, a stupid, hot panic. He's doing this on purpose.
"I—" she started and stopped.
He smiled, the small, too-knowing smile that had become her private proof he was more than a teacher. "No answer? That's disappointing. For someone so fond of forbidden things, you're suddenly shy."
Laughter bubbled around the room — little, harmless sounds that made her want to break something. Zara hissed under her breath, "What's his problem?"
Aira muttered, "He's the problem."
A stray, furious thought flicked through her like a blade: I could just kill him. It screamed in her mind as if that line saved her from losing control. She hated herself a second later for even thinking it. God, Aira — you opened the seal. You did this. You did something so stupid.
Adrian glanced at her, that slight arch of amusement returning. "Curiosity is a dangerous thing," he said softly, loud enough for only her to feel it. "Handle it poorly, and you become the lesson."
She smelled the faintest trace of smoke when he spoke. Aira swallowed hard and slammed the rest of her thoughts down where no one could see them.
Everyone listened his lecture in awe. Even Aelric, who was usually too cool to care about any teacher, raised his hand to ask a question.
"Mr. Crowne," Aelric said, "that's actually a really smart approach to mana balance. I've never heard it explained like that."
Adrian smiled faintly. "Glad to know someone's paying attention."
Aelric looked impressed. "You're a really good teacher, sir— uh, I mean, Mr. Adrian."
Aira nearly groaned. Oh perfect. Now even Aelric's a fan.
By the end of class, the students were practically glowing. Adrian dismissed them with a charming smile that sent the girls whispering all over again.
Aira, meanwhile, sat frozen in her seat, staring at him as he gathered his notes.
Her mind screamed at her — You did this.
If she hadn't opened that damn box, he wouldn't be here. He wouldn't be walking freely among them. He wouldn't have the power to twist everyone's thoughts like this.
And when he glanced at her one last time before leaving the room — that knowing smirk tugging at his lips — she swore she could hear his voice in her head:
Now that I'm free, Aira, let's see how long you can survive watching me destroy everything around you.
Her jaw clenched.
She hated him.
But gods help her — he really was unfairly handsome.
"Ugh," she muttered, dropping her face into her hands. "I could just kill him myself."