Five years had passed since the mission at the northern border.
The Central Academy of Étheria had changed considerably during that time.
New towers had been built.
New students had arrived.
The training grounds had expanded, and the academy had become one of the most respected magical institutions in the world.
But some things had remained the same.
Every morning, students gathered in the central courtyard to train.
And every morning, one figure could be found there before everyone else.
Raizen.
He stood alone in the middle of the training grounds.
He was twenty years old now.
His appearance had changed considerably since the days when he had first entered the academy.
His black hair had grown longer, falling around his face and neck.
His expression had become calmer, but there was something colder behind his eyes.
He wore a long black coat over dark clothing.
In his right hand was a sword made entirely from shadows.
Raizen slowly raised it.
Then he moved.
The blade cut through the air with incredible precision.
One strike.
Two.
Three.
His movements were no longer those of a beginner.
They were the movements of someone who had spent years fighting.
Raizen stopped.
The shadow sword dissolved into darkness.
He looked at his hand.
“Still not enough.” A familiar voice came from behind him.
“You’ve been saying that for five years.” Raizen turned.
Kaira stood at the entrance to the training ground, her massive axe resting over one shoulder.
Beside her stood Zayden, his sword hanging at his side.
They had changed too.
They were no longer children.
Kaira smiled.
“You know, normal people sleep at this hour.” Raizen looked toward the rising sun.
“Normal people don’t become stronger.” Zayden laughed softly.
“You’re still obsessed with strength.” Raizen didn’t answer.
Kaira walked closer.
“Come on.
The director summoned us.” Raizen looked at her.
“Why?” “We don’t know.” Zayden smiled.
“But if the director personally summoned us, it’s probably important.” Raizen nodded.
“Let’s go.” The three of them left the training ground together.
None of them knew that this day would mark the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
The Great Mages The central courtyard was already filled with students.
Teachers stood along the edges of the platform.
At the center stood the academy director.
Raizen, Kaira, and Zayden arrived and immediately noticed the unusual atmosphere.
Hundreds of students were whispering.
“What’s happening?” “Why did they call everyone here?” “Is it another ceremony?” Raizen remained silent.
Then the director raised his hand.
The courtyard became quiet.
“Today, I have an announcement concerning the strongest mages of this generation.” Raizen looked toward the platform.
The director continued.
“For many years, three students have distinguished themselves above the rest.” A murmur spread through the crowd.
The director looked toward the academy entrance.
“Kael.” A young man stepped forward.
His silver hair reflected the sunlight.
Lightning crackled faintly around his body.
The students immediately recognized him.
“The lightning mage…” “Kael!” The director continued.
“Selene.” A young woman stepped forward.
Her expression was calm, but her magical aura was powerful.
Then came the final name.
“Darian.” A tall young man stepped forward.
The atmosphere became heavier.
The three stood together.
The director looked at the students.
“These three have reached a level that very few mages can achieve.” He paused.
“From this day forward, they will officially bear the title of…” The entire courtyard became silent.
“Great Mages.” The students erupted in excitement.
Kael remained calm.
Selene simply closed her eyes.
Darian crossed his arms.
Raizen watched them from a distance.
He remembered the first time he had fought Kael.
Back then, Kael had been one of the strongest students in the academy.
Now…
He had become a Great Mage.
Kaira smiled.
“They really did it.” Zayden nodded.
“They’re incredibly strong.” Raizen said nothing.
His eyes remained fixed on Kael.
Kael noticed him.
Their eyes met.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Kael smiled.
“Looks like you’ve gotten stronger too.” Raizen answered calmly.
“So have you.” Raizen’s Promotion The director raised his hand again.
“There is another announcement.” The courtyard became quiet.
The director looked directly at Raizen.
“Raizen.” Raizen stepped forward.
The students began whispering.
The director continued.
“Over the past five years, Raizen has completed numerous missions and defeated opponents far beyond the level expected of someone his age.” Raizen remained silent.
“He has demonstrated exceptional control over his shadow magic, extraordinary combat ability, and an ability unlike anything we have previously recorded.” The director paused.
“Therefore…” Raizen looked at him.
“I officially recognize Raizen as a Great Mage.” Silence.
Then the courtyard erupted into applause.
Kaira smiled proudly.
Zayden nodded.
Kael looked at Raizen with a faint smile.
Raizen simply closed his eyes for a moment.
Great Mage.
The title meant nothing to him.
Power was what mattered.
But he accepted it.
“Thank you, Director.” The director nodded.
“Congratulations.” Raizen stepped back.
Now there were four known Great Mages of the new generation.
Kael.
Selene.
Darian.
Raizen.
But the director wasn’t finished.
Two Unknown Names “There are two more individuals who have reached this level.” The crowd immediately became silent.
Raizen narrowed his eyes.
The director turned toward the academy’s upper tower.
“However, their identities will remain confidential for now.” Kaira frowned.
“Why hide them?” Zayden looked toward the tower.
“Maybe they’re not ready to be revealed.” Raizen remained silent.
He could feel something.
Two powerful magical presences.
They were far away.
But even from this distance, their energy was impossible to ignore.
So there are two more.
The director continued.
“With these two individuals, the number of recognized Great Mages of this generation is six.” Six.
Raizen looked toward Kael, Selene, and Darian.
Then toward the distant tower.
Six Great Mages.
But only four identities were known.
The other two remained hidden.
Raizen didn’t like mysteries.
Especially when those mysteries involved power.
Five Years of Missions That evening, Raizen, Kaira, and Zayden walked through the academy.
Kaira looked at him.
“So you’re officially a Great Mage now.” Raizen nodded.
“You sound disappointed.” “Not at all.” She smiled.
“You deserve it.” Zayden looked at Raizen.
“You’ve changed a lot.” Raizen stopped.
“In what way?” Zayden thought for a moment.
“You’re stronger.” Kaira laughed.
“That’s obvious.” Zayden continued.
“But you’re also quieter.” Raizen looked away.
“I’ve learned a lot.” “From the missions?” Kaira asked.
“Yes.” During those five years, Raizen had participated in countless missions.
He had fought monsters.
He had fought criminals.
He had fought enemy mages.
And every battle had given him something.
A new technique.
A new spell.
A new way to fight.
His ability to copy powers had evolved dramatically.
He could now copy certain abilities after witnessing them only once.
He had also mastered the shadow sword he had created during the academy mission years earlier.
But there was something even more important.
Raizen had begun to understand his own darkness.
Not completely.
But enough to know that it wasn’t ordinary magic.
Sometimes, when he was alone, his shadow moved without his command.
Sometimes, he felt something watching from inside it.
And sometimes…
he saw faint red lights within the darkness.
He had never told anyone.
Not even Kaira.
Not even Zayden.
The Mission The next morning, the director summoned Raizen, Kaira, and Zayden.
The three entered his office.
The director was standing beside a large map.
“I have a mission for you.” Raizen looked at the map.
“Where?” “The eastern territories.” Kaira frowned.
“What’s happening there?” “Several villages have reported attacks by unknown creatures.” Zayden looked at the map.
“How many?” “At least seven.” Raizen studied the locations.
“Too organized to be random.” The director nodded.
“That’s what concerns me.” He pointed toward the border.
“I want you three to investigate.” Raizen nodded.
“When do we leave?” “Tomorrow.” Kaira smiled.
“Another mission.” Zayden laughed.
“We’ve barely finished the last one.” Raizen turned toward the door.
Then he stopped.
“Director.” The director looked at him.
“Yes?” “Those two unknown Great Mages.” The director’s expression became serious.
“What about them?” “Why are their identities being hidden?” The director remained silent.
Then he answered: “Because the world is not ready to know everything.” Raizen narrowed his eyes.
“That’s not an answer.” “It’s the only answer you’re getting.” Raizen stared at him for several seconds.
Then he turned away.
“Understood.” He left the room.
Kaira and Zayden followed.
The director watched them disappear.
His expression became worried.
“Raizen…” He looked toward the window.
“Something about you is changing.” The Shadow That night, Raizen stood alone in his room.
The city of Valthera stretched beneath his window.
He looked at his reflection in the glass.
Twenty years old.
A Great Mage.
Stronger than he had ever imagined becoming.
But he still felt incomplete.
Raizen raised his hand.
His shadow appeared on the floor.
He stared at it.
“Show me.” Nothing happened.
Raizen closed his eyes.
“I know you’re there.” Silence.
Then…
The shadow moved.
Raizen opened his eyes.
Two faint red lights appeared within it.
His expression became serious.
“What are you?” The red lights disappeared.
Raizen clenched his fist.
One day, he would discover the truth.
He would discover where his power came from.
He would discover what lived inside his shadow.
And most importantly…
he would become strong enough that nobody would ever control his destiny again.
Raizen looked toward the moon.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“The world is getting bigger.” His shadow stretched behind him.
“And I’m going to become strong enough to stand above it.” Far away from the academy, beyond the borders of Étheria, someone was watching the lights of Valthera.
A voice whispered through the darkness.
“So you’ve finally reached the rank of Great Mage…” A pause.
“Interesting.” The figure disappeared.
Meanwhile, Raizen remained unaware that his promotion had been noticed by forces far beyond the academy.
The peaceful years were beginning to fade.
And soon, Raizen’s path would take him somewhere from which there would be no return.
To Be Continued…