It was three in the morning and the city was still under the quiet shroud of January's cold. Leo's body begged for rest, but his mind was restless, overflowing with unanswered questions.
It was the first time Leo had heard anything directly from Mr. Sage. There were still three meetings scheduled for the rest of the month—now all of them canceled? Had something happened to Mr. Sage? Should he try to respond?
After tossing and turning, he decided to act for at least one of the questions in his mind. Slipping into his clothes quietly to avoid disturbing his family, he ventured out into the freezing night.
The streets were deserted, the only light coming from the faint glow of streetlamps and the moon overhead. He stopped in front of a closed coffee shop, his breath visible in the cold air. Activating his telepathy ring, he focused on reaching Ryan. After what felt like an eternity, the connection established.
'You know it's three in the middle of the night, right?' Ryan's voice came through, heavy with annoyance.
'I have some questions and my work starts in four hours,' Leo replied, his tone resolute.
'Fine, I'll be there.'
The telepathic link broke, and Leo exhaled slowly, trying to organize his thoughts. As he did, a firm hand landed on his shoulder.
"Hello," came Ryan's voice from behind.
Leo jumped, spinning around to find Ryan standing there with a smirk.
"How the hell did you get here so fast?" Leo asked, his heart still racing.
"I moved in the shadows," Ryan replied nonchalantly.
Leo blinked, remembering that Ryan's second magical path involved shadow manipulation.
"What's your question?" Ryan prompted, crossing his arms.
Leo shook off his surprise. "I couldn't learn both spells yet, but I've learned Veil of Deception. The problem is the amount of mana it requires. Even though you told me I have enough to activate it, sustaining it... that's another matter."
"The crystal I gave you should sustain it for a long time," Ryan said, tilting his head slightly.
"I know, but I have other questions." Leo shoved his hands deeper into his coat pockets, bracing against the biting cold. "First, can anyone sense it when I activate the spell or use the crystal? Second, when exactly should I activate it?"
Ryan nodded thoughtfully. "Sensing the mana inside your body is difficult, even for high-ranking magic users. The issue lies in the mana that leaks when you cast a spell. That's where Veil of Deception shines—it can fool almost anyone. However, there's one exception."
"Who?"
"Edgarth."
"You know my teacher?" Leo asked, surprised.
Ryan smirked. "He was my classmate."
Leo raised his eyebrows, his mind racing. 'Of course. One monster was classmates with another. Makes sense.'
"He's an illusionist," Ryan explained, "and he might sense the spell if you're not careful."
Leo's concern deepened. "What should I do?"
"Don't worry too much," Ryan said reassuringly. "Mana fluctuations only happen when you're actively using a high-ranking spell, like Veil of Deception, or if you're discussing topics you shouldn't—even thinking about them can have an effect. So, you only need to activate it during those situations. Also, when you're in the church or the Grand Cathedral, you're protected, you don't need to use any spells. Creatures that are attracted to you won't be able to see or harm you there."
"Then why did you teach me this spell?"
"For the useful things I wanted to teach you, remember?" Ryan replied, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. "Do your job today. Learn the second spell as quickly as you can. After that, we'll move to the next phase and you'll be one step closer to saving that woman."
Leo nodded resolutely. "Thank you. I'll let you know when I've learned the other spell."
"You're welcome."
Leo turned to leave, but curiosity tugged at him. After a few steps, he glanced back—Ryan was gone.
'Was he really using shadows, or was it just an illusion?' Leo wondered.
Back home, Leo skipped his usual morning exercise, prioritizing rest and magical practice. When he woke later in the morning, still dressed from the night before, he ate a quick breakfast and hurried to the association. Unsure of any changes in his schedule, he sought out Peter.
"Good morning, Mr. Peter. Do you know what class I have today?"
Peter glanced at his notes. "Good morning, Leo. Yes, you have an illusion class."
Leo checked his watch: 8:30.
"Then it starts in half an hour. I'd better get moving if I don't want to be late. Thank you, Mr. Peter."
"Sure, no problem," Peter replied with a smile.
Leo exited through the back door and broke into a run. The cold air stung his lungs, but he reached the Grand Cathedral in 15 minutes. Inside the classroom, Ray, Jerald, and Elna were already seated.
"Oh look, it's Leo," Ray teased, grinning.
Leo waved at them before settling into his usual seat.
A moment later, the twins switched seats and sat behind him.
"Do you know two sessions were canceled because of you?" Ray asked with mock irritation.
"I had a mission," Leo replied calmly, already aware of the disruption his absence had caused.
"What mission?"
"Sorry, that's classified."
"Okay, Mr. Big Shot," Ray teased, rolling his eyes.
Before he could continue, Edgarth entered the room. His sharp gaze swept across the students, pausing momentarily on Leo. The brief scrutiny made Leo's stomach twist, but Edgarth moved on without comment, taking his place behind the desk.
Leo exhaled quietly, grateful for the reprieve—for now.
Edgarth adjusted his glasses and spoke firmly. "Because we've lost two sessions, we need to catch up. Your task is to combine all the illusion spells you've learned so far with the Word of Whole. This includes Illusion, False Power, False Aura, Calm, Fear, Courage, and False Image."
"What about Blur?" Ray asked.
"You can't combine Blur with the Word Whole," Edgarth replied flatly. "Focus on the others. When you're done, you'll cast the combined spells on me."
The group stared at him, startled. Casting on Edgarth himself? The idea felt absurd, but his serious expression left no room for debate.
Edgarth methodically drew each spell on the board. The students started with the first spell, slowly working their way through. Despite their efforts, none could master all the spells by the end of the class. Edgarth observed their struggles with his usual unflinching calm, the silence in the room thick with unspoken determination.
After class, Leo braced himself for some kind of remark or warning from Edgarth, but the teacher said nothing. Relieved, he headed straight to the kitchen for a quick bite before moving on to his Enchantment class.
As he sat down, a thought struck him—he'd completely forgotten about the Advanced Enchantments and Power Words Cristina and Liamond had mentioned in the last few days.
"Mr. Mantine, where were you? You weren't here for the last couple of sessions," a voice called out.
Leo turned and noticed Jimmie Hurst watching him with curiosity. From what he said, Leo realized that unlike the illusion class, his enchanting class hadn't been canceled.
"Mr. Hurst," Leo responded, "I was on a mission."
Jimmie's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise, but he chose not to ask further.
Five minutes later, Cristina, their enchanting teacher, entered the room with her usual composed demeanor, a cigarette already in hand. Lighting it she exhaled a thin stream of smoke before addressing the class.
"Take out your crystals and continue the last practice to bind them to the object."
The students quickly complied, retrieving their materials. Everyone except Leo, who had missed the last couple of sessions, began working. Cristina walked toward him.
"I heard everything from Captain Edmond. Don't worry, we didn't go too far ahead," she said, handing him a prepared disc with a calm enchantment affixed to it and a crystal.
Pulling out a piece of paper, she placed it on Leo's desk and began to sketch.
"You already know the bind spell. Next, we draw a line from the circle on the disc and connect it to another. Inside the second one, sketch an inverted triangle with lines extending from each corner back to its edge—similar to a standard enchantment design. However, omit the inner circle and hexagon. We call this a 'half enchantment circle.' "
As she spoke, she sketched the design with precision.
"Inside the triangle, write 'Bind,' and above it, add a new word of power: 'Seal.' Then, replicate the same circle on the crystal. Activate it and simultaneously channel your mana into the circles on the disc," she said, pausing to take a long drag of her cigarette.
"This is where it gets tricky," she continued, exhaling smoke. "You need to control your mana, feel the crystal's current and establish a connection between the two circles. Once connected, they'll be sealed. You can unseal it later using the same method to recharge the crystal."
Leo nodded, his mind working to absorb the detailed instructions despite his tiredness.
It took Leo about fifteen minutes to carefully draw the new circles on both the disc and the crystal. He intentionally took his time, meticulously sketching every line and symbol with precision. The delay wasn't just about accuracy; he wanted to conserve his mana for the more demanding spell.
When the circles were ready, he activated the crystal, watching as it pulsed faintly with energy. He began channeling his mana into the circle on the disc, feeling the familiar surge of energy as it flowed into the patterns. This part came easily to him, thanks to his past experience working with crystals and currents.
The real challenge emerged with the final step—estimating the crystal's mana flow and synchronizing it with his own. It required intense focus, almost like listening to two different rhythms and finding a way to harmonize them. He made steady progress but found the process slower than usual. To conserve mana, he deliberately limited his attempts, observing the others as much as he practiced himself.
By the end of class, he still hadn't mastered the technique, but he had made enough progress to feel confident about continuing on his own. After bidding farewell to Jimmie, Leo headed toward the association, ready to begin his patrol with his mind still buzzing from the lesson.
…
During the patrol, it didn't take long for Aldred, Edric, and Walden to notice the signs—Leo's slightly sluggish movements and the dark shadows under his eyes gave him away. They'd seen it before, as this wasn't the first time he'd shown up for duty after a sleepless night.
"You didn't sleep again last night, did you, Captain?" Walden asked, his tone a mix of concern and mild amusement.
Leo glanced at him, his expression calm but tired. "I had an important mission."
Walden nodded knowingly and didn't press further, understanding that any details were likely classified. Still, he exchanged a look with the others, silently agreeing to keep an eye on their captain throughout the day.
Despite Leo's fatigue, the patrol went smoothly. By the end of it, Edric and Aldred suggested heading out for some lighthearted fun to help Leo shake off the tiredness.
"You've been pushing yourself to the edge all day," Aldred said. "Come on, we'll hit the tavern or maybe play a game or two."
Leo smiled faintly but shook his head. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass. I've got something important to work on tonight."
They didn't argue, knowing how dedicated Leo could be. With a wave, they parted ways, and Leo headed home.
Once he arrived home, Leo joined his family for dinner, savoring the warmth and familiarity of the meal. The comforting aroma of the food mingled with the soft glow of the lanterns, creating a tranquil atmosphere. He noticed how Eliza seemed to relax slightly in his presence, though her worry still lingered just beneath the surface.
After dinner, Leo lingered in the hall with them longer than usual. He sat across from Eliza, sharing lighthearted stories, skillfully omitting anything that might add to her unease. He made an extra effort to inject humor into his tales, drawing soft smiles and the occasional laugh from her, his mother and Rosie. The room felt cozier, the tension lifting bit by bit, as the night wore on.
Later, in the quiet of his room, Leo took a deep breath and prepared himself for another long night. After double-checking that his Veil of Deception spell was functioning flawlessly, he began working on the Spiritbound Shield.
The progress was slow at first, but his training with the previous spell had sharpened his control over mana. With the aid of his ring, he gradually pieced together the intricate workings of the shield spell. Hours slipped by as he focused intently.
Finally, just after 1 AM, he felt the spell settle into place, the shield forming perfectly in his mind and mana responding effortlessly to his command. A wave of satisfaction washed over him.
Leo smiled to himself, his tiredness temporarily forgotten in the glow of success. He allowed himself a brief moment of pride before collapsing onto his bed, the sense of accomplishment following him into a well-deserved sleep.