The night was unusually quiet.
The Central Academy of Étheria slept beneath the moonlight, unaware that one of its greatest mages was about to make a decision that would change everything.
Raizen stood alone inside the forbidden archive.
The ancient books surrounded him.
He had spent the entire night searching.
Page after page.
Record after record.
But most of the information had been destroyed or deliberately removed.
Someone had wanted these secrets to disappear.
Raizen placed an old document on the table.
His eyes moved across the remaining words.
There was only one sentence left.
“Those who possess powers beyond the laws of magic must never be allowed to reach their full potential.” Raizen stared at it.
His expression became cold.
“So that’s why…” His hand slowly closed into a fist.
The academy had known.
They had known that his power was different.
They had known that his shadow wasn’t ordinary.
And they had hidden it from him.
For years.
Raizen looked toward the darkness behind him.
His shadow moved.
Two faint red lights appeared within it.
He whispered: “You’ve been hiding the truth from me.” The red lights disappeared.
Raizen closed the document.
He had made his decision.
He would no longer wait for the academy to give him answers.
He would take them himself.
The Director Knows The next morning, Raizen walked through the academy corridors.
Everything looked normal.
Students laughed.
Teachers discussed their lessons.
The academy was peaceful.
But Raizen felt different.
He knew what he was about to do.
He entered the director’s office.
The director was standing beside the window.
He didn’t turn around.
“You’ve been accessing restricted information.” Raizen stopped.
Silence filled the room.
The director slowly turned.
“I know.” Raizen remained calm.
“I was searching for answers.” “You broke academy regulations.” “I know.” The director looked at him carefully.
“Raizen, there are things you don’t understand.” “Then explain them.” The director said nothing.
Raizen’s eyes hardened.
“That’s what I thought.” The director stepped toward him.
“Your power is dangerous.” Raizen looked directly into his eyes.
“So is the ignorance surrounding it.” “Raizen…” “You knew.” The director remained silent.
“You knew my power wasn’t normal.” “We knew something was different.” “And you still refused to tell me.” The director sighed.
“Because some knowledge can destroy the person who seeks it.” Raizen’s expression became colder.
“Then I’ll take that risk.” He turned around.
“Wait.” Raizen stopped.
The director looked at him.
“If you continue down this path, you may reach a point where you cannot return.” Raizen looked over his shoulder.
“Maybe I’ve already reached it.” Then he left.
The director remained alone.
He knew something had changed.
And he feared that it was already too late.
The Three Friends That afternoon, Raizen met Kaira and Zayden outside the academy.
Kaira immediately noticed his expression.
“What happened?” Raizen looked at both of them.
“I need to talk to you.” Zayden became serious.
“About what?” “The academy.” Kaira frowned.
Raizen took a breath.
“I found something in the forbidden archive.” He explained everything.
The hidden records.
The information about powers beyond ordinary magic.
The fact that the academy knew about his abilities.
Kaira listened silently.
Zayden’s expression became darker.
“So they’ve been hiding this from you.” “Yes.” Kaira looked away.
“Why would they do that?” “Because they’re afraid.” “Of you?” Raizen shook his head.
“Not just me.” He looked toward the academy.
“Of what people like me could become.” Zayden crossed his arms.
“And what do you intend to do?” Raizen answered immediately.
“I’m leaving.” Kaira looked at him.
“What?” “I’m leaving the academy.” Silence.
Zayden stared at him.
“You can’t be serious.” “I am.” Kaira stepped closer.
“Where will you go?” “I don’t know yet.” “Then why leave?” “Because I can’t stay somewhere that hides the truth from me.” Kaira looked at Zayden.
Then back at Raizen.
“You want us to come with you.” Raizen remained silent.
He didn’t need to answer.
Kaira understood.
She looked at him for several seconds.
“After everything we’ve been through…” Raizen lowered his eyes.
“I’m not asking you to follow me.” Kaira frowned.
“But you want us to.” Raizen said nothing.
Zayden closed his eyes.
He remembered the first day they had met.
Three children.
Three friends.
They had trained together.
Fought together.
Completed missions together.
They had grown stronger together.
And now…
Everything was changing.
Zayden opened his eyes.
“If you leave…” He paused.
“…I’ll go with you.” Raizen looked at him.
Kaira sighed.
“Then I guess I don’t have much choice.” Raizen stared at her.
“You don’t have to.” “I know.” She smiled faintly.
“But I’m not letting you walk into danger alone.” Raizen remained silent.
For the first time that day, his expression softened.
“Thank you.” The Decision That evening, the three stood on the academy rooftop.
The same place where they had once talked about their dreams.
The sun was disappearing beyond Valthera.
Kaira looked at the city.
“Do you remember when we first came here?” Raizen nodded.
“We were weak.” Zayden smiled.
“And stupid.” Kaira laughed.
“Speak for yourself.” Raizen looked at them.
“We’ve changed.” Zayden nodded.
“Yes.” Raizen looked toward the academy.
“I’ll never forget this place.” Kaira stared at him.
“Then why destroy it?” Raizen turned toward her.
“I’m not planning to destroy it.” “Then what are you planning?” Raizen looked into the distance.
“I want to discover the truth.” “And if the academy tries to stop you?” Raizen’s expression became serious.
“Then I’ll fight.” Kaira didn’t answer.
Zayden remained silent.
The three understood what that meant.
Their friendship with the academy was over.
The First Step That night, Raizen returned to his room.
He packed only what he needed.
His sword.
His clothes.
Several documents.
And a few books he had taken from the archive.
He looked around his room one last time.
There were memories everywhere.
His first days at the academy.
His first training sessions.
His first victories.
His first failures.
Kaira.
Zayden.
The people he had met.
Raizen closed his eyes.
For a moment, he wondered whether he was making a mistake.
Then his shadow moved.
The red lights appeared again.
Raizen opened his eyes.
“No.” He picked up his sword.
“I have to know.” He walked toward the door.
But before leaving, he looked back one last time.
“Goodbye.” The Academy’s Alarm A bell suddenly rang throughout the academy.
DONG!
Raizen stopped.
Another bell.
DONG!
Students began shouting outside.
“What’s happening?” “Why is the alarm ringing?” Raizen looked through the window.
The academy’s defensive system had activated.
Someone had detected unusual magical activity.
Raizen immediately understood.
“They know.” He opened the door.
Kaira and Zayden were already waiting in the corridor.
Kaira held her axe.
Zayden had his sword in hand.
“The director knows,” Zayden said.
Raizen nodded.
“Then we leave now.” They ran through the corridors.
Students moved out of their way.
Teachers rushed toward the central courtyard.
Then a voice echoed throughout the academy.
“Raizen!” The entire academy became silent.
The director’s voice.
Raizen stopped.
He looked toward the courtyard.
The director stood on the central platform.
Behind him were several powerful mages.
And among them…
Kael.
Selene.
Darian.
The three Great Mages.
Kael looked at Raizen.
His expression was filled with disappointment.
“Don’t do this.” Raizen stared at him.
“It’s already done.” Kael stepped forward.
“You can still come back.” Raizen shook his head.
“No.” “Why?” “Because I don’t belong here anymore.” Kael’s expression hardened.
“Then you’re forcing us to stop you.” Raizen summoned his Shadow Sword.
Darkness spread across his arm.
Kaira raised her axe.
Zayden drew his sword.
The atmosphere changed.
The academy had become their enemy.
Raizen looked at Kael.
“I don’t want to fight you.” Kael tightened his fist.
“Neither do I.” For several seconds, they stared at each other.
Then Raizen turned away.
“We’re leaving.” Kael stepped forward.
“Raizen!” Raizen stopped.
Kael shouted: “If you walk away now, you may never be able to return.” Raizen looked back.
His eyes were cold.
“Then I won’t return.” He released a wave of darkness.
The academy’s barrier shook.
Kaira and Zayden followed him.
The three disappeared into the night.
Kael remained standing.
Selene and Darian watched silently.
The director closed his eyes.
The betrayal had begun.
And there was no turning back.
The Road Ahead Far outside Valthera, Raizen, Kaira, and Zayden walked through the forest.
None of them spoke.
The academy was now behind them.
Their old lives were behind them.
Kaira finally broke the silence.
“So…” Raizen looked at her.
“Where are we going?” Raizen looked toward the horizon.
“I don’t know yet.” Zayden sighed.
“That’s reassuring.” Kaira laughed quietly.
Raizen almost smiled.
For a brief moment, they were still the same three friends.
But something had changed.
Raizen looked at his shadow.
It stretched across the ground beside him.
The faint red lights appeared.
Then disappeared.
Raizen whispered: “I’ll find the truth.” He continued walking.
Behind them, the lights of the academy slowly disappeared into the distance.
The boy who had once entered the academy seeking strength was gone.
In his place stood a young man who had chosen his own path.
And soon…
the world would learn his name for a very different reason.
The Mage Who Betrayed the Academy.
To Be Continued…