Raze had anticipated that he might run into Kelly eventually. After all, she attended the Central Academy, and this event was the kind that drew every notable student, teacher, and organization in the region. Still, he hadnât expected to see her this soon.
There were thousands of people scattered across the campus, attending countless magical demonstrations, lectures, and games. She could have been anywhere. The odds of them meeting this early in the day felt almost impossible.
The rest of Razeâs group was confused as well. A girl had just called out his name,
his real name
. None of them recognized her, and from what they knew, the only people Raze had any ties to from this world were Alen and a few staff members.
So who was this girl?
Even Safa narrowed her eyes, trying to connect the dots. If Raze had only recently arrived in Pagna in his younger form, how could another student already know him, by name?
As for Kelly, she was just as stunned as they were. In truth, she hadnât meant to call out to him. But the moment she saw him walking through the crowd, she couldnât stop herself. She had to know if it was really him, or if her mind was simply playing tricks.
She stepped forward, unable to believe what her eyes were seeing. Her gaze scanned him from head to toe, her expression shifting between awe and disbelief. She reached out with her hand to touch him, as if confirming that he wasnât an illusion.
"What exactly do you think youâre doing?" Safa interjected, stepping between them.
Her tone was stern, but not aggressive. "The rules of this event clearly state that no fighting is to occur outside of sanctioned duels. So why are you trying to lay a hand on him?"
Safa wasnât just being cautious for the sake of the event. She knew Raze. He didnât like to be touched, by anyone. And if someone got too close without warning, it could lead to an unnecessary scene. A dangerous one.
But there was something else, too.
The girl was wearing a Central Academy uniform, but it wasnât the same as those worn by the teachers or regular staff. It had slight variations, just enough to suggest that she was a student. But not just any student.
One of the top ten,
Safa guessed.
Judging by her age and the unique uniform, it was almost certain. And that meant this girl wasnât just here to observe, she was going to compete.
"Itâs okay, Safa," Raze said calmly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I know this person. You could say... we work together."
With the tension diffused, the group decided to head to one of the event zones where they could sit, eat, and relax for a while. Wandering through crowds filled with rival students and academy staff made for a tense morning. It was better to find a quieter spot.
They ended up at one of the performance areas, where a student play was being staged. But this wasnât an ordinary performance.
Spells were being cast live during the scenes, enhancing the experience for the audience. Heat rippled across the room during fire scenes, wind blew through the aisles during dramatic confrontations, and the magic gave everything a surreal, immersive quality.
The only awkward part?
Out of all the plays they could have chosen to watch, this one was about the final days of the last Emperor of Alterian, a man Raze had come to know
personally
not too long ago.
Still, he did his best to ignore the irony and kept his attention on Kelly, who was now sitting beside him. He cast a quiet spell around them, creating a silencing field so no one else could hear their conversation.
"I have to say," Kelly whispered, her eyes scanning his face, "Iâm amazed. So you really managed to get here... in the flesh."
"Yeah," Raze nodded. "It wasnât easy. Weâve gone through a lot to get this far. But itâs only the beginning."
Kelly leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "So... Iâm guessing Ibarin is your first target?"
Raze didnât answer right away, but the look in his eyes said enough.
"Well," Kelly continued, "if thereâs anything you need, anything at all, just say the word. Iâll help however I can. If you want, I can inform the Dark Guild. You can even use them."
The offer was tempting.
This time around, Raze had tools he didnât before. The Dark Guild was one of them, a shadow organization operating outside the bounds of formal magic society. A powerful, underground network that could shift the balance if used correctly.
But now wasnât the time.
The Grand Magus didnât even know Raze was back. That gave him an advantage. A card to keep close to the chest.
"Not yet," Raze said. "Donât inform them of my return. Not until I say so."
Kelly nodded, understanding the weight of his words.
"How are they doing?" he asked.
"Better than ever," Kelly said, her tone light but proud. "Honestly, I had my doubts, like I told you before, about Harveyâs methods. But heâs managed to build something... powerful. Almost like a cult, in a good way."
She smiled faintly.
"Theyâre loyal. To the cause. And theyâve spread, everywhere. Every city, every territory. When you need to make your move, theyâll be ready."
That was good to hear.
Raze knew the battles ahead werenât going to be won with just strength. The powerhouses of this world, the Cerberus Guild, the remnants of the Glory Guild left behind by Enaxx, the Noble Guild, and especially the military under leaders like Alen, wouldnât be easy to challenge.
And while he hoped that, in time, he could change public perception, make people see through the lies, it was more likely the guilds would follow only their own leaders. Convincing them would be far harder.
Still, having the Dark Guild in his corner gave him an advantage. One he hadnât had before.
"When Iâm done with things here," Raze said, his voice low, "Iâll attend a meeting with the Guild. But first, we need to see how things play out."
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