Dark Magus Returns - Chapter 1485: Summoned in the Dark

Chapter 1485: Summoned in the Dark

The Central Academy students obeyed as they always had. When the principal summoned them, they went. That had been their rhythm for years, an unspoken rule carved into their bones.

And yet tonight, as they walked under the flickering lanterns of the festival, their steps felt heavier than ever before. This wasn’t like the times before.

Three staff members flanked them, leading the group back through the academy grounds toward the main halls. Each of the students could hear it, the pounding of their own heartbeat, thudding so loud it seemed to echo in their ears.

Why am I so nervous? Kayzel thought as he kept his eyes forward, watching the backs of the escorts. Is it because of what Kelly said? That we shouldn’t trust the Grand Magus? His jaw clenched. He knew better than anyone that the Grand Magus cared for no one but themselves. He had seen their cruelty, their cold indifference. And yet… tonight, it felt worse.

It wasn’t just fear. It was doubt.

The principal had already warned them, winning was not optional. Failure meant expulsion. But now, with their mana gone, with their cores hollow and unresponsive, the fear clawing at their hearts was something deeper. What if this wasn’t temporary? What if they were broken forever? What if the Grand Magus truly had no use for them anymore?

And if he no longer had use for them…

The thought none of them dared to say out loud slithered into all their minds at once. If the Grand Magus wanted to hide what the pills had done, the simplest way would be to silence them forever.

Nannan’s voice cracked, betraying the same dread that gnawed at them all. “I was just wondering… do we have to meet tonight?” she asked, her words trembling. “The principal must be busy with the closing ceremony. We could always… meet him tomorrow, right? Besides, isn’t it a bit late?”

Her words made the others pause. She was right. It was strange. Normally, the Grand Magus would summon them immediately after a match, demanding explanations, evaluating their performance on the spot. Why wait until now, in the shadows of night, away from the noise of the festival?

George’s thoughts twisted into another direction. His gaze shifted uneasily to their escorts. Three staff members. Never before had more than one been needed to fetch them. Tonight, it felt less like an invitation and more like an arrest.

The students exchanged wary glances, but the escorts’ faces betrayed nothing.

“The Grand Magus has made a request,” one of the staff said flatly. “We are simply following his wishes. Once the meeting is over, I am sure you will be free to enjoy the rest of the evening, and tomorrow’s ceremony.”

But there was no reassurance in his voice, only tension.

The unease settled deeper into their stomachs. They had lost their magic. They couldn’t fight back even if they wanted to.

Nannan, who had been walking stiffly, suddenly stopped. Her lips trembled, her hands balled into fists. “I… I’m feeling really sick,” she stammered. “I think I need to go back to the dorm. The Grand Magus will understand, I’m sure.”

She tried to edge away from the line of students, but one of the staff members immediately stepped into her path. His arm extended like a wall.

“I’m sorry,” he said firmly. “But the Grand Magus gave a direct order. If you feel unwell, you may tell him yourself once you arrive.”

Nannan’s breath caught in her throat.

Bones stepped forward quickly, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Then… maybe the Grand Magus could come to us instead? He could meet us at the festival, or perhaps join us for a meal. A public place.”

It was obvious what he was trying to do, shift the location, drag them into the safety of crowds, into the open where no one could act against them.

The staff member’s jaw tightened. “The Grand Magus is extremely busy. Please don’t make our task harder than it already is.”

Kayzel’s eyes narrowed as he studied their escorts more closely. The staff weren’t calm. Their stiff postures, the clipped tone in their voices, it wasn’t just the students who were afraid. The escorts themselves looked nervous, as if they were carrying out an order they wanted no part of.

If they return empty-handed… will they be punished too? Kayzel realized grimly.

“Please!” Nannan’s voice cracked into a shout as she tried again, this time pushing forward with her shoulder. For an instant, hope flashed in her chest, until the staff member’s eyes hardened and his mana flared. A pulse of force shoved her backward violently.

She stumbled, her knees buckling. She would have fallen if Bones hadn’t darted forward to catch her.

The humiliation burned in her chest. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. In a burst of anger, she tried to call on her magic, to summon even the smallest spell in retaliation. Nothing. Not even a spark. Her hands trembled uselessly, her voice breaking into sobs.

Kelly’s stomach twisted. The situation had turned dire. The staff would drag them to Ibarin whether they wanted it or not, and if they resisted, it could become much worse.

She clenched her teeth, lifted her hand, and quietly cast a silence spell around herself. Her fingers brushed the small device hidden at her side, the one Raze had given her, modified so only he could hear.

Her voice was low, desperate. “Raze… we need your help.”

The words vanished into the device, carried across the silent spell’s barrier.

The group continued forward, hearts pounding, shadows stretching longer as the main academy loomed closer. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of dread pressing down on them.

And behind the silence spell, Kelly’s whispered plea still echoed in her mind.

*****

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