As the first light of day began to filter through the trees, casting a misty haze over the world, the boy found himself waking up to the familiar sound of a lone wolf's howl. "Ughhh! This is driving me mad! I always hear that damned wolf's howl every time I wake up. Someone just shut that mutt up already!" he exclaimed, irritation evident in his voice. "Shit! I didn't even get to sleep because I was nervous, and now I have to put up with a damn whining mutt on top of that?! Ugh..." Letting out a deep breath, he covered his face with a pillow. "...Must be nice to be free..." The days had stretched into weeks, and the weeks into months, and the months into years, all spent inside the confines of his room. He didn't even know the ins and outs of the place he called home. Being trapped in his room for years was taking its toll on his spirit, and the longing for freedom grew stronger with each passing day. But assuming today was the day he finally had the chance to get out of his room a

NOAH LANCE My office... It always struck me as lavish, with a careful balance of adornment. But in her words, she'd call it "unad" - her slang for a space lacking true grandeur, an unadorned setting. I caught myself getting lost in that train of thought. Focus, Noah, I chided internally. The unexpected news of the day's case weighed heavily on my mind. Leaning slightly forward, I rested my elbow on the sturdy desk, pondering the implications. The spacious office was drenched in warm, natural light, which felt at odds with the seriousness of our discussion. Bookshelves lined the walls, their spines unread but never failing to convey a sense of intellectual wealth. The large desk anchored the room, while the plush chairs we occupied were undeniably comfortable. Despite these, both Roman and I looked utterly exhausted. Our faces etched with worry and concern, the weight of the situation palpable between us. This wasn't the usual atmosphere in my "unad" but still impressive office

The GEM-sensor not only detected the presence of energy fluctuations in individuals, but also provided an estimate of their strength, albeit with a margin of error. It offered a basic measurement to work with. As the boy approached our vicinity, the intensity of the light emitted by the crystal oscillator grew brighter, and as he moved away from me towards the duke, it gradually dimmed. I considered myself fortunate, or rather, I acknowledged that it was thanks to Lord Roman's meticulous adjustments to the sensor arrays. If he had not replicated and improved upon Evandor's innovative design, I wouldn't have been able to capture the boy's energy signature so swiftly, without undoing my stealth measures and risking exposure. Carefully concealing the device back in my storage ring, I shifted my gaze towards the boy, blending in with the others. The boy exchanged greetings with his father, who avoided making eye contact throughout their conversation. What caught my attention, however,

After the short but amusing introduction with Lady Loza, the atmosphere in the room shifted to one of seriousness. Shortly after, Duke Roman introduced us to the seemingly plain middle-aged woman. However, it turned out that she was no ordinary woman but an esteemed instructor from a prestigious academy—Vagratas Academy. Vagratas Academy, an institution hailed as one of the most exalted sanctuaries for any of the would-be-mages who possessed both the necessary background and talent to enter. While there were other academies scattered throughout the Dominion of Medalia, the gap between those second-rate institutions and Vagratas Academy was insurmountable. That was the kind of titan Vagratas Academy was. Those who qualified to graduate from this academy were guaranteed a prosperous future and life. It was rumored that the top graduates could even become honored guards, instructors, or military leaders for influential families. Some choose to focus on research by joining mage guilds

As the darkness spell erupted out of my control, it spread rapidly across the courtyard. Instructor Cherin reacted instantly, dropping into a low stance and slamming her hands onto the ground. "Earthen Shield, rise!" she commanded. Stone and sediment exploded upwards all around her in concentric circles, forming a dense stone dome just as the darkness magic arrived. I began to pant heavily, struggling to contain the spell but failing. However, I remained unharmed because the spell bore my own mana signature. **** Inside the dome, Cherin grit her teeth against the oppressive force pushing against her shields. The young boy's power was apparent, but untamed. She drew more deeply on her own reservoir of mana. Cracks began to appear in the stone, the darkness seeping through like ink. Yon stared in horror, realizing too late the magnitude of his mistake. But Cherin held on strong. "By the earth that yields and the stone that stands, I command - halt-malinah!" Her voice echoed with