In the waning days of winter, in the first year of the New Litrian Empire.

  The gray skies hung heavily over the royal capital of Karanos, like a melancholic painting. Wind howled through the ruins, carrying the scent of burnt timber and stone that lingered in the air.

  Though Faust and Tila's rebellion had finally been suppressed, the empire lay in ashes with no joy of victory. The once-brilliant glory of the empire was deeply buried beneath the scars of war.

  The city walls stood like the broken skeleton of a giant, with blackened flags fluttering weakly.

  More devastating than the physical destruction was the sacrifice of the mages. Their loss was not merely a reduction in numbers, but a catastrophe that shook the empire's very foundation.

  Once, the Imperial Mage Corps of Litria had been both the shield of the imperial family and the heart of the empire. Their magic was a weapon to defeat enemies, a grace that healed the wounded, and a beacon of hope for the people.

  From over a hundred mages in their prime, now barely ten remained, most exhausted by the wounds of war.

  "When magic declines, the empire crumbles."

  This ancient adage was no longer an exaggerated warning but became a reality before their eyes. Monsters devoured villages without magical barriers, and even the blue magical ward that sustained the royal capital was dispersing like thin mist.

  Seated on the golden throne, Emperor Salut William's face was deeply etched with the fatigue of war, but his eyes remained strong. His hands firmly gripped the armrests of the throne.

  He had been a warrior since his youth. As one who had shed blood on the battlefield, he knew the price of that blood.

  The war wounds hidden beneath his cloak still tormented him.

  Deep in the night, in the palace council chamber. Only a few candles pushed back the darkness, casting giant shadows on the walls.

  The emperor summoned one person with his last hope.

  Sarte, the white-haired Grand Mage who had protected the empire for many years. Dignity flowed even from his worn robe, and wisdom resided in his eyes.

  "Establish a magic school."

  The emperor's voice was low and heavy. It was both a command and a desperate plea.

  "It is absolutely necessary for the future of the empire. You can do it, Sarte."

  Sarte bowed deeply at the emperor's words. His heart was heavy. His wrinkled hands trembled slightly beneath his robe.

  This challenge was the greatest of all his achievements. Though his body was aging and weary, his spirit remained strong.

  "I will obey Your Majesty's command. I shall dedicate my life to establishing and nurturing this school."

  Thus, the seed of the Luminarian Magic School was planted. It was hope blooming from the ashes of war.

  Sarte devoted everything to the school. He taught students during the day and searched through ancient texts for the source of magic at night.

  The light of magic never dimmed in his room, and ink stains permanently marked his fingers.

  Reality was harsh.

  Despite pouring in passion, deep wounds remained throughout the empire.

  Despite imperial support, obtaining rare alchemical ingredients took months, and with the magical veins weakened, completing spells required twice the effort.

  As time passed, twenty years after the school's establishment, the Luminarian had produced only a few graduates, and the capacity for a hundred students was never even half filled.

  Sarte often climbed to the highest tower of the school to gaze into the distance. His hands caressed the cold stone of the tower.

  In his heart, the same questions echoed endlessly.

  'Is magic truly declining like this?'

  'Can the empire witness another golden age of magic?'

  These heavy questions weighed on his shoulders. His white hair and deep wrinkles resembled an ancient tree.

  But in his eyes, the spark of hope still burned. It was a promise he shared with the emperor, and an important mission for the empire's future.

  Sarte exhaled deeply, renewing his determination. A small flame of magic ignited in his chest.

  As long as he lived, the flame of Luminarian would not extinguish. He believed that someday that flame would once again illuminate the entire empire.

  ＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃

  To the southeast of Karanos, where the bustle of the city met the serenity of the forest, stood the Luminarian Magic School. With the walls of Celesta, tinted by the evening sunset, visible in the distance, this place harbored a new future despite the declining reality of magic.

  Over twenty years, the empire had gradually recovered, but Luminarian remained modest. The aged stone building, filled with the scent of old books and magical herbs, carried the traces of time.

  Centered around Headmaster Sarte's first-floor office filled with books and the second-floor practice room stained with traces of magic, the dormitories and garden built with red bricks had taken their place.

  On a morning when the warm spring sunshine made the dew in the magic garden sparkle, the scent of moist soil filled the air.

  In one corner of the garden, students simultaneously raised their wands. About twenty students stood with wands of different colors and shapes, their expressions tense.

  Faint light emanated from the tip of their wands, and a subtle warmth was felt in their hands.

  "By the power of Terra, God of Earth, I command: may roots grow deep, branches reach high, and flowers bloom fully!"

  The students' voices harmonized and resonated throughout the garden. As the spell ended, mana rippled through the air with blue wavelengths, and the tulips planted before the students began to quiver like hearts.

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  Professor Patricia, with her sharp gaze and gray hair, surveyed the students.

  "Oh... Look! Hallis's flower is blooming!"

  "Amazing! Hallis!"

  Exclamations burst out from everywhere. The students' gazes all converged on one spot.

  The first to bloom a tulip was Hallis, with her sun-like blonde hair, freckles, and overflowing confidence. Her tulip blossomed into a vivid red, capturing everyone's attention.

  "Oh, it's growing...!"

  "Mine too! Mine too!"

  As the students' cheers continued, one by one, flowers began to bloom... However, in one shadowy corner of the classroom, a tulip remained unchanged. Uniquely, Elina, with her raven-black hair and pale skin, saw no movement at the tip of her wand, and the tulip before her remained a bud.

  Beads of sweat began to form on her forehead. As the surrounding silence grew heavier, desperation deepened on Elina's face.

  Inside her, a different kind of power whispered, but she tried to ignore it.

  Her pale fingers gripped the wand tightly, and sweat seeped into her palm.

  "By the power of Terra, God of Earth, I command...!"

  No matter how much she concentrated, nothing changed. The orthodox magic did not respond to her.

  "You can do it! Elina, you can do it!"

  Despite the encouragement from her roommate Serena, with her bright smile and warm brown eyes, Elina recited the spell even more desperately.

  "Professor Patricia, if we wait for Elina, we'll miss lunch."

  From the front of the classroom, Hallis raised her chin slightly and smiled mischievously. Her voice carried the superiority of victory.

  Several students giggled at her remark.

  "Hallis."

  The classroom instantly fell silent. Professor Patricia's calm but authoritative voice echoed.

  "I decide when to end the class. Don't presume to interfere."

  Hallis's face reddened, and she shrugged her shoulders, pouting her lips.

  At that moment, the air in the classroom subtly changed, with something like static electricity beginning to swirl. Along with a sudden chill, as if the temperature had dropped, a strange sound like something burrowing into the ground was heard.

  Elina's face turned pale, and her hands began to tremble violently. Her pupils momentarily turned black before returning to normal.

  It was forbidden knowledge, a realm of darkness that no one should touch.

  Suddenly the entire classroom darkened. The leaves of surrounding plants gradually began to wither.

  At the tip of Elina's wand, dark energy—the cold and seductive dark magic she had tried to suppress—began to ripple.

  Black energy emitted from the wand writhed like a living creature, enveloping the tulip.

  The stem twisted abnormally as the flower bud swelled enormously.

  Roots burst from the soil, dancing in the air.

  The air vibrated, and in an instant, black flames rose in the form of a small dragon.

  Surrounding students screamed and stepped back.

  "Aaaaah!"

  "No! Elina, snap out of it!"

  Professor Patricia rushed forward, drawing her wand, but the already rampaging magic could not be stopped. Her blue magic was powerless against Elina's darkness.

  Sparks from the collision of the two magics singed nearby desks.

  The tulip, enveloped in black energy, writhed like a monster, engulfing and absorbing surrounding tulips.

  Everything in the classroom vibrated, and the suddenly enlarged black tulip left only ashes that scattered in the wind.

  From the aftermath of the magic, Elina collapsed weakly, staggering.

  The terrified students instinctively backed away, their eyes filled with fear and strange alienation.

  In the silence, Professor Patricia approached Elina with a worried face, gently gripping her shoulders. Her hands were warm, and that warmth transferred to Elina's cold shoulders.

  "Elina, are you alright? This again..."

  But in Elina's eyes, pale gray tears were already pooling.

  "Professor... did the flower bloom?"

  Compassion filled Patricia's eyes, and she gently stroked Elina's hair, saying:

  "Yes, Elina. The flower bloomed. But... that wasn't the magic we're learning. That was magic from a forbidden realm."

  Hope momentarily flashed in Elina's eyes, only to fade away.

  Her shoulders slumped.

  "Professor... I'm sorry... doing this again..."

  Patricia smiled warmly and gently wrapped Elina's hands in hers. She quietly but firmly patted Elina's back, leading her to the headmaster's office.

  Whispers spread among the students left in the classroom. Hallis wore a victorious smile, but concern filled Serena's eyes.

  The classroom still held the scent of black ash and burning soil, a sweet yet bitter aroma.

  ＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃

  The headmaster's office, filled with ancient magical books that seemed to span hundreds of years and mysterious magical artifacts, exuded an antique atmosphere.

  As sunlight struck the window frame and scattered into rainbow particles, only the second hand of an old clock broke the silence.

  Headmaster Sarte quietly observed Elina from across the conference table. The deep wrinkles on his face and tired eyes carried the weight of years along with concern.

  Yet his gaze remained sharp.

  "Elina, do you remember? The imperial magic school was founded on the teachings of Helios, God of Light, and the harmony of spirits."

  Sarte continued slowly. His voice resonated deeply throughout the office.

  "But you... whenever your emotions intensify, you try to awaken another power within you."

  Elina nervously fidgeted with the hem of her robe. A faint dark energy swirled beneath her pale fingernails.

  "That's... not something I want to do."

  Her voice was small, but carried frustration suppressed over a long time.

  Sarte's gaze softened. Sympathy passed across his wrinkled face.

  "I promised your father. That I would raise you to be a proud mage. And... that I would suppress the power within you."

  Elina's shoulders hunched. Momentary sadness flashed in her eyes, and memories of her father weighed heavily on her heart.

  Black hair flowed forward.

  "...I'm sorry, Headmaster."

  Yet her voice carried more resentment than genuine remorse.

  After a moment of silence, she bit her lip and raised her head. Her gaze changed dramatically.

  "But... I didn't want to lose to Hallis."

  Her voice rose, and darkness flashed across her pupils... "I just... couldn't stand it!"

  As Elina gripped the table tightly, subtle dark energy rose from her fingertips. The inkwell on the table shook, and the ink inside swirled and surged high.

  "Is that such a grave mistake?"

  Sarte sighed, lightly pressed the inkwell with his hand, and leaned deeply into his chair. Blue light from his fingers enveloped the inkwell, stopping the swirling ink.

  "I understand your emotions, Elina."

  He smiled gently. The smile was warm, but concern remained in his eyes.

  "I was once your age, after all."

  Elina's eyes widened in surprise. She seemed to view the headmaster in a new light.

  "You too, Headmaster?"

  "Of course. Every mage was once a student."

  A light of memory passed through Sarte's eyes, and a faint golden magical aura enveloped him like flames before disappearing.

  But soon his expression became serious again.

  "But magic is not about expressing emotions, but about governing them. Power is not valuable merely because it is strong."

  He looked directly into Elina's eyes as he spoke. His gaze was deep and serene, yet unfathomable.

  "The power within you is strong, but... if you cannot control it, it will consume you."

  Sarte lightly touched the crystal sphere on the desk. As his fingers made contact, blue light rippled inside the crystal, revealing an image of the universe with countless stars floating.

  The room filled with starlight before fading.

  Elina bit her lip. Her pale face reddened, and faint dark energy swirled in her tears.

  "I... I know. But..."

  Sarte gently interrupted her. His voice carried firmness.

  "...Your face still doesn't show remorse."

  He removed his glasses, cleaned them, and put them back on. A gentle moonlight-like glow spread from the glasses, illuminating Elina's face.

  Sarte watched her for a moment, then exhaled deeply and turned to Professor Patricia standing by the door.

  "Professor Patricia, Elina will be punished by watering the flowers and grass in the garden for a week."

  He thought for a moment and added. Deep intention filled his eyes.

  "And Hallis should fetch water from the lake. The two must work together."

  Elina gasped in surprise. Her eyes widened as she looked up at the headmaster. Her expression reflected confusion, questioning, and subtle fear.

  "But Headmaster! Working with Hallis? That's..."

  Sarte gently raised his hand to stop her. Warm light spread from his hand, enveloping Elina.

  "Sometimes working with the most difficult counterpart provides the greatest learning."

  "Yes, Headmaster."

  Patricia nodded gently. Understanding and agreement filled her eyes.

  She gently grasped Elina's arm.

  "Come, Elina. You need to properly learn what it means to handle magic through this opportunity."

  Elina closed her lips and followed with a dissatisfied expression.

  As the door closed, Headmaster Sarte watched her retreating figure. Slowly rising from his chair, he walked to the window.

  Outside, students were still engrossed in magic practice in the school garden. Magic wands shimmered like small stars under the sunlight.

  But where Elina had been, the ground was blackened.

  'When will she be able to accept her destiny while becoming free...'

  Sarte exhaled deeply. 'Kesillius, I promised to protect your daughter. No matter what sacrifice it entails...'

  As his words ended, the entire headmaster's office momentarily glowed blue before fading.