CHAPTER 120: THE CHOICE

Byun slipped away from the group without anyone noticing. It was easy, given how everyone’s attention was fixed on Jae, Yuna, and the aftermath of the battle.

Byun kept his head low, moving with deliberate calm even as his pulse hammered beneath his skin.

The smoke rising from the courtyard still clung to his robes, but it wasn’t the charred stone or the scent of blood that unsettled him. It was something deeper, something that clung to his senses like a phantom: that shadowy aura.

He knew it too well. His time in the Shadowrift had etched it permanently into his memory, the oppressive weight of it, the way it wormed into the edges of his thoughts, trying to unmake him.

And now it was here.

He clenched his jaw as he made his way across the ruined courtyard toward the faculty wing, eyes darting over his shoulder once to ensure no one followed.

His companions trusted him as a joker, a cynic who mocked everything, but none of them would understand the depth of dread curling through him. Not yet. Not until he confirmed it.

He found the principal near the southern wing, his white-and-gold robes glowing faintly with the residual traces of light magic. The man stood tall despite the exhaustion lining his features, issuing calm orders to the older mages securing the grounds.

Even now, his presence commanded respect; when he turned, his sharp eyes found Byun immediately, as though he had sensed his approach.

"Byun," the principal said, his voice steady but edged with fatigue. "What is it? You should be with your group."

Byun hesitated only a moment before speaking in a low voice. "I needed to talk to you. Alone."

The principal studied him for a heartbeat before dismissing the nearby teachers with a subtle gesture. Once they were alone, Byun took a step closer, lowering his voice further.

"The aura of those creatures..." He swallowed, his throat dry. "It wasn’t ordinary shadow magic. I felt it before. Back in the Shadowrift. It’s the same."

The principal’s expression hardened instantly. He didn’t flinch, but his eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. For a long moment, he said nothing, simply watching Byun as if weighing the truth in his words. Then, finally, he gave a slow nod.

"You’re not mistaken. I felt it as well."

Byun’s stomach sank. "So it’s true. That was the Shadow Monarch’s power, wasn’t it?"

The principal’s gaze swept briefly over the ruined courtyard before returning to Byun, his tone grave. "Yes. The signature is unmistakable."

Byun clenched his fists. "But... how? The artifact that fed him his power was destroyed years ago. The Shadow Monarch is supposed to be crippled. Powerless."

"He should be," the principal admitted. His hand tightened around his staff, the light within it flickering faintly as if reflecting his unease. "That artifact was the core of his dominion. Without it, he had no way to manifest his shadows. Yet this aura..." He exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing. "It means he’s found a new way. A new source. And that should not be possible."

Byun’s voice dropped into a whisper. "So he’s back."

The principal didn’t answer immediately. His silence said enough. At last, he spoke, each word deliberate. "One thing is certain, this attack wasn’t random. It was a test. The Shadow Monarch is probing our strength, gauging our defenses. And if that’s true..." His gaze flicked toward the distant walls of the academy. "Then worse is coming."

Byun’s throat tightened, but he forced himself to nod. For once, his usual flippant remarks abandoned him. "What do we do?"

"We prepare," the principal said grimly. "And we watch. For now, keep this to yourself. Panic will spread too quickly if word gets out before we understand the full scope."

Byun wanted to argue, but the principal’s tone brooked no resistance. So he bowed his head slightly, then turned back toward the courtyard, his mind spinning with dread.

xxxx

Meanwhile, Jae stood apart from the others, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. Mrs. Lira’s words rang in his mind, looping with stubborn persistence: Only someone influential could have pulled this off.

The idea unsettled him. It meant the enemy wasn’t some faceless monster lurking in the dark. It meant politics, wealth, power. forces that shaped the world. And it meant someone had chosen them as the target.

He clenched his fists at his sides. He hated being kept in the dark, hated waiting for answers to fall into his lap. If someone had orchestrated this, he intended to find out who.

"Tirel," he said suddenly, turning toward her.

The fire mage looked up from where she was resting against a broken column, strands of her red hair falling loose around her sweat-slicked face. "What?"

"Come with me."

Her brow furrowed, but she straightened immediately. "Where?"

"To trace the source of this attack," Jae said simply. His crimson eyes gleamed, unwavering. "Mrs. Lira was right. This wasn’t random. If there’s a trail left behind, I’m going to find it."

Elise overheard, stepping forward quickly. "Then I’ll go with you," she said, her voice trembling with both exhaustion and urgency. Her robes were singed, her hands still faintly glowing with unused mana, but determination burned in her dark eyes. "You’ll need support."

Jae shook his head firmly. "No. Too many missing students will draw suspicion. Stay here, keep the others steady. Besides..." He glanced at Tirel, then back to Elise. "If there are more shadows out there, Tirel’s fire is better suited for dealing with them."

Elise’s lips parted, but no argument came. She looked wounded, her fists tightening at her sides, but she understood the logic. After a moment, she gave a small nod, though her gaze lingered on him as though unwilling to let go.

Jae turned away, not giving himself the chance to reconsider. Tirel fell into step beside him, silent but alert, the faint shimmer of heat already coiling around her palms.

As they left the ruined courtyard behind, Jae focused inward, using his heightened perception.

There. A faint pulse, like the echo of a heartbeat, still lingering in the air. Residual mana from the monsters’ summoning.

"This way," he muttered, veering off the main path. Tirel followed without question, her flames flickering brighter as they moved deeper into the academy’s outskirts.

The trail grew stronger as they approached the edge of the grounds. The stone walls loomed ahead, tall and foreboding, etched with faint wards that glimmered in the moonlight.

Smoke drifted along the base of the wall, and the grass there was charred, as though something had passed through violently.

Jae slowed, his hand resting instinctively near his sword hilt. Tirel scanned the shadows, her golden eyes alert, her palms already alive with flame.

"This is where it ends," Jae said quietly. He crouched, pressing his palm against the scorched earth. The mana residue was faint, fading fast, but unmistakable. "Whatever summoned those creatures... it came from beyond the wall."

Tirel’s eyes narrowed. "So do we climb it? See what’s on the other side?"

Jae looked up at the towering barrier, the wards humming faintly with protective energy. Climbing would mean exposure, if whoever orchestrated this was still out there, they’d be spotted instantly. But turning back meant abandoning the one lead they had.

He exhaled, the decision weighing heavily on him. The night wind tugged at his cloak, and for a moment, all he could hear was the faint crackle of Tirel’s fire.

"Either we risk it now," he murmured, "or we wait for them to come back to us. And I’m tired of waiting."

The two of them stood at the base of the wall, the choice hanging between them like the silence after a storm.