The academy was quiet at night.
Most students were asleep.
The halls were empty.
The lights dim.
But—
Leo was awake.
Sitting by the window in his room.
A book open in front of him.
"…Still incomplete," he muttered.
Even after everything—
Magic still had gaps.
Still had flaws.
He closed the book.
Looked outside.
The sky was dark.
Calm.
---
Then—
A sudden shift.
---
Leo's eyes narrowed.
"…Again."
---
That same feeling.
From the forest.
---
Distorted mana.
Unnatural.
---
He stood up immediately.
No hesitation.
---
At the same time—
In another room—
Rin opened her eyes.
"…What is this?"
---
She felt it too.
---
Not normal.
---
Ray sat up suddenly. "Yeah… this is bad."
---
Outside—
A faint glow appeared near the academy grounds.
Far—
But clear.
---
Leo moved.
Silent.
Fast.
---
He reached the edge of the academy.
Stopped.
---
The ground ahead—
Was cracked.
---
And standing there—
A figure.
---
The same cloak.
---
Rin arrived seconds later.
"…You felt it too."
---
Leo nodded.
---
Ray came last.
"…Why is it always us?"
---
The figure didn't move.
---
Then—
Slowly—
It turned.
---
"…You came faster this time," the voice said.
---
Leo stepped forward slightly.
"…What do you want?"
---
A short silence.
---
"…To see," the figure replied.
---
Rin frowned.
"…You attacked us before."
---
"…No," the figure said calmly. "I observed."
---
Ray muttered, "Yeah, that felt like an attack."
---
The figure ignored him.
Its gaze stayed on Leo.
---
"…Show me again."
---
Without warning—
It raised its hand.
---
A spell formed.
Faster than before.
More complex.
More dangerous.
---
Leo reacted instantly.
"…Back."
---
Rin and Ray moved aside.
---
The attack came.
---
Leo raised his hand.
But this time—
He didn't block.
---
He stepped forward.
---
"…Structure…"
"…Flow…"
"…Break."
---
The spell—
Collapsed.
Mid-air.
---
Gone.
---
Silence.
---
Rin's eyes widened.
"…You destroyed it."
---
Leo didn't reply.
---
The figure tilted its head.
---
"…Good."
---
Another spell formed.
Stronger.
Sharper.
---
Leo moved again.
Faster.
Cleaner.
---
Disrupted it.
Before it even completed.
---
The second spell vanished.
---
Ray stared. "…Okay, that's actually insane."
---
Rin didn't speak.
Her eyes followed every movement.
---
The figure lowered its hand.
---
"…You're progressing."
---
A pause.
---
"…Faster than expected."
---
Leo stepped forward.
"…Who are you?"
---
Silence.
---
Then—
"…Someone ahead of you."
---
The air grew heavier.
---
"…If you want answers," the figure continued, "get stronger."
---
Rin clenched her fist.
"…Stop speaking in riddles."
---
The figure ignored her.
---
Its gaze stayed on Leo.
---
"…We'll meet again."
---
And just like before—
It disappeared.
---
The pressure vanished.
---
Silence returned.
---
Ray exhaled. "…I hate that guy."
---
Rin looked at where the figure stood.
---
"…He's dangerous."
---
Leo nodded.
---
"…But not unbeatable."
---
A short pause.
---
Then—
Leo turned back toward the academy.
---
"…We train tomorrow."
---
Rin followed.
"…No. We train now."
---
Leo glanced at her.
---
Then nodded.
---
Ray sighed. "…I guess sleep is canceled."
---
Under the dark sky—
The three of them returned.
---
Because now—
This wasn't just training anymore.
---
It was preparation.