The next day, as soon as I entered the classroom, the teacher said:
— Today’s task is a precision control exercise. Simple… for some.
He placed a transparent cube on the desk. Inside it floated a small glass sphere.
— Your objective:
break the cube without damaging the core.
Use pinpoint magic, control, or a combination of techniques.
The class buzzed.
Elinia leaned forward, interested.
Finn was already forming a fire arrow.
Lucille was laying out runes.
I looked at the cube…
and snapped my fingers.
Click.
The cube shattered into a thousand cleanly scattered fragments.
The glass core didn’t even tremble.
The silence was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
— Teacher, — I said calmly. — May I go?
He blinked. Quickly. Several times.
— Yes… of course… you may…
I stood up and left.
Mira’s Teleport
I hadn’t even taken ten steps when the air in front of me flared with violet light.
— Oh, perfect, you’re free! — Mira said, and immediately teleported me somewhere unknown.
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We appeared in an empty upper corridor, closed off to students.
— I spoke with Elinia’s sister, — Mira began seriously.
— And here’s what matters: during the attack on the capital… the Chairman of the Academy wasn’t there at all.
— What? — I frowned. — But he was supposed to be with the royal guard…
— Supposed to. But he “left on business.”
— And what’s even more interesting: he won’t be back for another two weeks.
— Even the king doesn’t know where he is.
A cold feeling settled in my chest.
— So… he ran? Or prepared the portal?
Mira shrugged.
— Either he was involved. Or he disappeared at exactly the right time.
— Any option is bad.
I exhaled deeply.
— Alright. What’s next?
Mira looked at me like I should already know.
— Next? Now we have time.
— We need to analyze everyone who could be connected to him.
She waved her hand, and glowing illusions appeared beside me:
suspects.
— Levander Dord. The Rainford family. Several professors.
— A couple of high-ranking mages.
— And several influential students.
I clenched my fingers.
— So we start an investigation?
Mira smiled widely.
— We do.
But there’s something even more important.
The Nurino Festival
Mira snapped her fingers, and a huge glowing poster appeared before us:
“NURINO FESTIVAL AND CUP TOURNAMENT — 7 DAYS UNTIL START”
I blinked.
— Are you serious?
— Completely, — Mira nodded.
— All the noble families gather at Nurino, half the royal officials, and almost the entire Magical Council.
— If there’s a traitor among them — he’ll be there.
She tapped me on the forehead.
— And you, Zen, will unleash your minions on them.
— Minions? — I scoffed.
— Yeah. Titans, shadows, golems — whatever you’re hiding.
— Let them hide, watch, listen. You’re a master of concealed mana, so use it.
I thought it over.
Yes.
In the noise of the festival, surveillance would be easier. No one would notice an increase in mana.
— And we’ll be able to track the traitor’s movements… — I said quietly.
Mira smiled in satisfaction.
— See? You’re already thinking like me.
— In short:
in one week — Nurino. We participate. We observe. We catch the rat.
She placed her hand on my shoulder.
— And if anything happens — I’m nearby.
Don’t you dare fall apart early again.
I exhaled.
— I’ll try.
— Try properly, — she repeated, and vanished in the light of a teleport.