Extra Of The Magus Academy

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the academy grounds in hues of orange and purple as the first day of the Exchange finally concluded.

The air buzzed with the residual energy of countless spells and the collective tension of the participants. Students filtered back to their respective dorms, some chatting excitedly about the battles and strategies, others walking silently, lost in thought.

Ashfelt Zephyr lingered behind, taking a slow walk through the quieter paths of the academy grounds. The cool evening breeze brushed against his skin, and the solitude gave him the clarity he sought.

His mind replayed the events of the day—the chaotic melee of the prelims, Kellion's rage-fueled pursuit, and his own narrow escape from elimination.

"What a day," he muttered, his breath visible in the cooling air. "Still, I'll need to be even sharper for the main tournament."

The path ahead was dimly lit, the lampposts casting elongated shadows on the cobblestones. As Ash turned a corner toward the dormitory, he froze mid-step.

A figure stood a few feet away, illuminated by a faint, eerie green glow.

The presence was unmistakable.

Arius Inkwell.

Ash immediately felt a shift in the atmosphere. The air seemed heavier, and Arius's form exuded an unsettling aura. His usual scowl was replaced with an unsettling grin, his eyes gleaming with a manic intensity that hadn't been there before.

There was something off about him, something… wrong.

"Arius?" Ash called out cautiously, his body instinctively shifting into a defensive stance. "What are you doing here? You're not even supposed to be in the Expert Wing."

Arius didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took a slow step forward, the green glow pulsing faintly around him like a heartbeat.

When he spoke, his voice was low, dripping with malice.

"Ashfelt Zephyr," he drawled, his tone both mocking and ominous. "You and Seth… you'll be the last."

Ash frowned, the cryptic words setting his nerves on edge. "What are you talking about? What's going on with you?"

"Revenge," Arius whispered, his grin widening. "Oh, I'll savor it. The others will fall first, but you and Seth… you two will be my masterpiece."

Ash's mind raced.

Arius's behavior was alarming, but what stood out even more was his presence in the Expert Wing. He wasn't a participant in the Exchange. So how was he here? And why did he radiate such an unnatural aura?

"Arius, you're not making sense," Ash said, his voice firm but measured. "You need to calm down and explain what's happening."

Arius laughed, the sound hollow and chilling.

"Explain? There's nothing to explain. You wouldn't understand, anyway. But don't worry, Ash. When the time comes, you'll know. You'll understand everything. And you'll regret ever crossing me."

Ash's eyes narrowed as he observed Arius's stance, his expression, and the faint glow surrounding him.

It clicked.

'The gem,' Ash realized. His mind flashed back to the original storyline, the dark path Arius had taken after his fall from grace.

'He originally went down this route after losing embarrassingly to Seth in the Prelims after targeting him for his petty vendetta, which meant he wouldn't participate in the main Tournament.'

Ash had tried to prevent this from happening by ensuring Arius didn't even participate in the Exchange at all, but it seemed fate had a way of self-correcting.

"Arius," Ash said evenly, masking his unease. "Whatever you've gotten yourself into, it's not going to end well. You still have a choice."

"Choice?" Arius tilted his head, his grin faltering for a moment.

Then, his expression darkened, and he stepped back into the shadows.

"No, Ash. The choices have already been made. And soon, you'll see the results."

VWUSH!

Before Ash could respond, Arius vanished.

The green glow faded, and the oppressive aura lifted, leaving Ash standing alone on the path. He scanned the area, his senses heightened, but there was no trace of Arius.

Ash let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair.
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"Damn it," he muttered. "I tried to stop him, but it seems some things are just meant to be."

The encounter left him unsettled, but there was little he could do at the moment.

Pushing the thoughts of Arius to the back of his mind, Ash continued his walk back to his dorm.

When he finally arrived, he flopped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling as the events of the day swirled in his head.

"Focus," he told himself. "Arius is a problem, but I can't take on everything at once. The Exchange comes first."

The opening ceremony and the Apprentice Stage preliminaries were mandatory, but the following days would give him some breathing room. He had until Day 4 to prepare for his next fight, and he intended to make the most of it.

"Time to push myself even harder," Ash whispered, determination flickering in his eyes. He would train relentlessly, improve his Magia Pool, and refine his techniques. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he would be ready.

But as he closed his eyes, the image of Arius's unsettling grin lingered in his mind, a grim reminder that the darkness he had tried to avoid was still closing in.

***********

[Day 3 Of The Exchange]

Nightfall draped the academy in a blanket of stars, and the Training Hall was cloaked in a heavy silence.

The echoes of Ash's steps reverberated softly in the corridor as he approached his dorm, his body drenched in sweat, and exhaustion weighing down his every movement. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand, his mind swirling with calculations and plans for the days ahead.

'Just a little more training, and I'll be ready,' he thought.

But as he neared his room, the faint glow of a light from within gave him pause. Pushing the door open, he was greeted by the sight of his twin brother, Seth, leaning casually against the window frame.

Seth's posture was relaxed, but the intensity in his blue eyes was anything but.

"Finally," Seth said, his voice cutting through the quiet. "I thought you'd collapsed somewhere in that Training Hall, brother."

Ash chuckled lightly, shutting the door behind him. "Close. But not quite. What's so urgent that you're waiting here at this hour?"

Seth's lips curved into a wry smile as he held up a small slip of parchment.

"The roster for the Main Tournament is out."

Ash felt his heart skip a beat.

He dropped his training bag onto the floor and walked over, snatching the parchment from Seth's hand. His eyes scanned the names listed, and then they stopped—his own name paired with Kellion's.

"Well," Ash said after a moment, forcing a grin. "I guess I just have bad luck."

"Luck?" Seth scoffed. "Kellion's been gunning for you since the preliminaries. This isn't luck; this is karma for whatever ridiculous plans you've been cooking up."

Ash folded the parchment and slid it onto the table, masking his unease.

"I've faced worse. Besides, it's not like you have it easy. You're up against one of the Genius Twins from Orion Sage Academy in the first round."

Seth crossed his arms, his tone steady but pointed. "I've heard they're strong. But I'm not the one who's been dodging death glares for days."

Ash ignored the jab, leaning back against his chair with a casual shrug.

"Look on the bright side, Seth. We're at opposite ends of the roster. If we both win our matches, we'll get to face each other in the finals."

Seth rolled his eyes. "You're delusional, brother. With your current abilities, there's no way you'll make it past Kellion."

Ash smirked, leaning forward with an idea already forming in his mind.

"Let's make a wager, then."

Seth arched a brow. "A wager?"

"If I make it to the finals and beat you, you'll have to listen to me as an underling during the Succession Wars."

Seth's expression darkened at the mention of the wars—an unspoken reminder of their father's eventual passing.

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing, allowing Ash to continue.

"And if I lose at any point in the tournament," Ash added, his tone turning serious, "I'll step away from the Succession Wars entirely. I'll endorse you as the heir of the Zephyr Household."

Silence settled between them, broken only by the faint sounds of the night outside.

Seth's gaze bore into Ash, searching for the reasoning behind his bold wager. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his jet black hair.

"You're infuriating, you know that?" Seth muttered. "Fine. I'll accept your stupid bet. But only because I'm tired of your reckless schemes."

Ash grinned, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

"Glad to hear it."

Seth stepped closer, his expression softening slightly. "Just… be careful, Ash. It's not too late to back down."

Ash shook his head, his resolve unwavering. "I won't back down, Seth. Not now. Not ever."

Seth exhaled sharply, his frustration evident, but he didn't press further. "Suit yourself. Don't come crying to me when Kellion crushes you."

With that, the two brothers parted ways, each retreating to their rooms.

As Ash lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, the weight of the wager and the looming battle settled over him like a heavy fog.

He knew the risks, the stakes, and the odds stacked against him.

But, retreat had never been an option.

'Tomorrow, the Main Tournament will begin, and I suppose I'll have to surprise everyone in it.'