Roswell Academy was the finest magic academy for nobles in the Kingdom of Zivilia. Children of aristocrats from all across the realm gathered here to study.
The Five Great Mages, the most talented sorcerers in Zivilia's history, had all graduated from this very academy. Because of that, Roswell became the most prestigious school among noble families gifted with magic. Even commoners with exceptional magical potential were granted entry here.
Every time Tsana gazed upon the grand main building of Roswell Academy, a wave of nostalgia washed over her. Her mind would be filled with fragmented images, a signboard engraved with "Roswell Academy," a student in uniform talking to her, or sometimes, piles of books. And each time, those images brought her a throbbing pain in her head.
That was why she never accepted the Headmaster's invitations, even when he knelt before her, and always sent Zephyr in her stead.
Tsana wasn't certain, but she felt that she might have had some connection to this place in the past.
But when? And how?
If that was true… why couldn't she remember?
"Wait!"
Just as Tsana and Zephyr passed through the academy gate, two students in Roswell uniforms blocked their path, one male, one female.
Zephyr, still in his child form, stepped in front of Tsana, pointing his half-eaten candied fruit at the two with a displeased frown.
"What kind of manners are these? Blocking a special guest right at the gate? How rude!"
The boy bowed slightly, while the girl kept a poker face.
"My apologies for our rudeness. I am Rolan Gilbert, second son of Marquis Gilbert," the boy said.
"I'm Helena, third daughter of Count Kamal," the girl added.
Then, both of them looked at Zephyr with utmost seriousness.
"Please teach us magic, O Great Watcher, Guardian of the Nightmare Forest!"
Zephyr frowned, hands on his hips. "That's sudden… Wait, why are you only looking at me? Aren't you asking the Watcher to teach you?"
Rolan shook his head. "Yes, that's right. My older brother once saw the Watcher with his own eyes when he entered the Nightmare Forest. He told me the Watcher was a small boy with golden hair, sage-green eyes, and a fondness for sweets. Everyone who's ever gone into the Nightmare Forest says the same thing. I heard the Headmaster invited the Watcher to inspect the candidates who'll enter the forest three days from now. When I saw you walk through the gate, I was certain you were the Watcher!"
Zephyr blinked several times, completely lost in Rolan's absurd explanation.
"You're a symbol of hope for us," Helena chimed in, her eyes sparkling despite her expressionless face. "When monster hunters and treasure seekers are on the brink of death, when they've lost all hope and are ready to be devoured, you always appear and lead them out of the forest. You're truly magnificent. I still get chills whenever I imagine your legendary words before opening the forest gate 'Would you like to meet all of my monsters?' Ah, it's mesmerizing!"
Zephyr nearly choked on air from the overwhelming flattery. 'Could they have mistaken him for the Watcher?'
"Pfft." Tsana stifled a laugh. Beneath her black cloak, her shoulders trembled.
Zephyr glared at her, his expression saying, 'Seriously, Master? You're laughing at this? This is your fault! You're the one who always makes me open the forest gate and save those fools, while you hide away claiming you're too lazy to go out!'
Rolan raised his voice again, brimming with determination. "That's why, Master! Please, teach us magic!"
"O–oi, isn't there some kind of misunderstanding here? The Watcher's supposed to be a woman! I'm clearly a boy," Zephyr protested.
Helena shook her head earnestly. "You don't need to be so humble, Master. You're a powerful witch, surely it's no problem for you to alter your appearance. I don't quite understand why you chose the form of a little boy… could it be that you like boys so much you turned yourself into one?"
Zephyr's jaw dropped. He had no idea how to even respond to that.
"Pfft." Tsana's laughter slipped out again.
Zephyr turned to her with pleading eyes, silently begging for rescue, but Tsana pretended not to see a thing, leaving him utterly hopeless.
Then it dawned on him, for the past eighty years, he had been the one meeting people in Tsana's place. He had been the one opening the Nightmare Forest gate for adventurers, saving dying hunters and treasure seekers, and attending Roswell's examinations whenever requested.
For eighty years, he was the only one who appeared. No wonder the younger generation believed he was the Watcher. They had never actually seen Tsana.
It made sense. Rolan and Helena were still young, even Rolan's brother was probably in his twenties. They might know that the Watcher was a woman named Tsana Norton, but not what she truly looked like.
"Ah, that explains it," Zephyr muttered.
Just then, Tsana's demeanor shifted. Her calm face turned alert.
Sensing it, Zephyr frowned. "What's wrong, Master-"
"Shh." Tsana pressed a finger to her lips, eyes lifting toward the sky.
'Such a terrifying flow of mana,' she thought.
The surroundings fell eerily silent. The wind ceased. The trees and grass stood motionless. Even the sunlight dimmed.
"W-What's happening?" Rolan asked, feeling a chill run down his spine.
It had been ages since Tsana felt mana this powerful, this alive. The last time she encountered such presence… was eight hundred years ago.
Then, a deafening roar of thunder shook the land. The ground trembled violently, forcing Helena to her knees.
A booming impact resounded from above, striking the academy's barrier as though trying to shatter it. Teachers and students poured out of the buildings, looking up at the sky in confusion.
"What's going on?"
"The ground's shaking!"
"Are we under attack?"
"An earthquake?"
The pounding continued... until... on the third strike, cracks spiderwebbed across the barrier. With a final crash, the shield shattered into countless fragments.
"What terrifying strength! Even the Five Great Mages couldn't break this barrier in less than a hundred strikes!" one of the professors cried in horror.
"Lord Zephyr! You're here! Do you know what's happening?" Headmaster Theo rushed over.
Rolan and Helena exchanged confused looks. 'Lord Zephyr?'
Zephyr clenched his teeth and glanced at Tsana, who was still staring warily at the sky.
'What is this…? A demon? No, even the strongest demons don't have mana this dreadful. What kind of being is this?'
He turned to Theo. "I'm not sure, but something extremely dangerous is approaching."
Theo followed Zephyr's gaze and noticed the woman standing behind him. "Is that-"
"Yes," Zephyr said, nodding. "That's my Master. The Watcher, Guardian of the Nightmare Forest, Tsana Norton. She finally left the forest… after all these years."
Rolan and Helena's jaws dropped in shock.
"What?!"
Zephyr sighed in relief... finally, the misunderstanding was cleared. Thank goodness Theo arrived before he had to keep explaining to those two clueless kids.
But suddenly, Tsana's face went pale. Her eyes widened.
"Zephyr, that-"
Zephyr turned toward her, startled by the expression on her face, one he had never seen before.
He followed her gaze upward, and his heart nearly stopped.
Hovering above Roswell Academy was a creature long believed to be a myth, the very being Tsana had spent centuries searching for across the continents.
Its long, sinuous body danced gracefully through the air. White scales shimmered like crystal. Four grand wings spread wide, glowing faintly with divine light. A golden aura surrounded its entire body, and its sharp golden eyes gleamed with an overwhelming, regal might.
The creature descended, landing atop the academy roof. It lifted its head high, gazing down upon the humans below, like a god surveying powerless mortals.
Its sheer presence exuded an oppressive, awe-inspiring power.
Then, it roared.
The sound shook every heart in the academy. Students, teachers, Rolan, and Helena, all fell to their knees, trembling uncontrollably. None could stand before that immense aura.
None… except one.
"T-That's…" Zephyr's throat tightened. His legs trembled as he collapsed to the ground. "The Light Dragon!"
The Light Dragon's piercing eyes turned toward the only figure still standing, the one who had yet to bow.
A fierce wind tore through the air, blowing back the hood of her black cloak, revealing a young woman with wavy green hair and gentle sage eyes.
The Sorceress of Song. Guardian of the Nightmare Forest. The Watcher.
Tsana Norton.
"How… astonishing," she whispered.
★★★
Character Introductions:
1. Rolan.
The second son of Marquis Gilbert. A young noble boy with the typical appearance of an aristocratic student, brown hair and blue eyes.
2. Helena.
The third daughter of Count Kamal. A noble girl with long, straight black hair and pale yellow eyes, carrying herself with quiet elegance.
3. Theo.
The Headmaster of Roswell Academy, approximately forty years old. He has neatly slicked-back hair and wears the distinguished robe of Roswell's headmaster.
★★★
New Organization :
1. The Five Great Mages
The five most powerful sorcerers in the Kingdom of Zivilia - legendary figures renowned for their unmatched magical prowess.