Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1433: The First Target

As Raze walked side by side with Safa, his thoughts began to drift, to a face from his past.

Ibarin.

Of all the atrocities the Grand Magi had committed, of all the destruction and pain they had brought to Alterian, some might have said Ibarin was the least guilty. The one with the smallest stain.

But Raze knew better.

Ibarin wore his inferiority complex like a crown. He didn’t rise by climbing, he rose by dragging others down, grinding them beneath his feet to feel taller. And to Raze, this wasn’t just about Alterian’s suffering. This was personal.

Deeply personal.

Because Ibarin hadn’t just played a part in the Grand Magus Council, the same council that had put a target on Raze’s back, that continued to hunt him, to bury the truth about what really happened.

No, Ibarin had been the start of it all.

The beginning of Raze’s downfall. The one who forced him out of his job.

A chain reaction followed: the loss of his position, his identity… and eventually, Sabrina.

Everything.

Raze’s fists clenched at his sides, even as he kept his pace steady beside Safa. His eyes stayed forward, but his thoughts burned with quiet fury.

It started with you, he thought. So it’s only right that my first target in Alterian… is you.

Back at ground level, the false Redrick, Raze in disguise, and Safa stood side by side once more.

“Please follow me to the central building of the academy,” the staff member instructed with a practiced smile.

As they walked behind him, Raze instantly recognized the direction they were heading. He had been here before.

And the realization hit him with an ironic twist, he found it almost amusing. The very place they were being led to… was Ibarin’s personal office.

A place Raze had already visited not too long ago.

The world, it seemed, was finally aligning with his plans. If this meeting had been scheduled just one day earlier, things might not have worked out. But today? Today, the path was wide open.

They passed through the halls of the academy, their footsteps echoing against polished floors. Up the winding stairs they went, until finally, they stood before a set of large double doors.

The staff member gave a polite knock. A moment later, he pushed the doors open, revealing the room beyond.

Raze felt it immediately.

The magic circle enchantment, it’s been deactivated.

That meant Ibarin was inside.

Which meant this was real.

In just a few seconds, Raze would be standing within arm’s reach of the man who started it all.

He let Safa step in first, staying composed and calm as she entered with practiced posture. Raze followed right behind her, his heart steady, but his senses sharp.

Inside the office, the air was thick, not with tension, but with power and presence.

Two others were already in the room. Raze’s eyes, hidden beneath his disguise, scanned the space carefully. He didn’t look directly, he let his gaze drift casually from the side.

The first person he spotted was Nannan.

Then, his eyes moved slowly across the room… and he saw them.

Old, frail hands resting on the polished wooden desk. A presence, quiet but commanding. His eyes followed the trail up those aged fingers, up the sleeves of regal robes…

And there he was.

Ibarin.

The Grand Magus.

The man who tore Raze’s world apart.

“The Offer”

Raze could feel his fingers twitching, constantly, uncontrollably. His muscles pulsed with tension, and every time, he forced himself to push them back into stillness.

He had to remain composed.

He had to focus.

Every thought needed to be calculated, managed, and controlled.

Just like he did with his body, he tried to block out every stray emotion, every memory screaming for attention.

Then, Ibarin’s voice broke the silence.

“It’s a great honor to welcome Wilton Academy, an academy that has continued to surprise us, again and again,” Ibarin said, his tone loud and warm, his eyes open wide as he walked across the room like a gracious host.

Safa stepped forward gracefully, bowing low, just as Raze had taught her.

“It’s a great honor to meet you, Grand Magus and Principal of Central Academy,” she said politely, her voice steady, respectful.

Ibarin didn’t return the bow.

He simply stood tall, his posture strong and unmoving. But his gaze shifted, settling on the one standing just beside Safa.

His eyes locked onto Redrick.

Slowly, the two stared at each other across the space. A tense silence began to build. Raze could see it, a faint vein pulsing at the side of Ibarin’s head. A subtle sign. A crack in his composure.

“Sorry!” Raze said quickly, giving an awkward laugh and a slight bow. “I was just… starstruck. I can’t believe I’m standing so close to one of the Grand Magus. It’s an absolute honor to meet you.”

That seemed to do the trick.

Flattered by the compliment, Ibarin chose to overlook the fact that Redrick hadn’t bowed right away. After all, even if this was a competition, his position as one of the Grand Magi, one of the ruling powers of the entire world, meant that small gestures of disrespect could be forgiven, if only temporarily.

“I asked you here today,” Ibarin said, turning to Safa, “because Nannan wishes to offer you a personal apology.”

He gestured toward the young mage beside him.

“There’s no excuse for what happened during the event,” he continued. “But of course, she is still a child. Children tend to get swept up in the excitement of battle. I hope you can forgive her.”

Nannan stepped forward, visibly nervous. She wrung her hands together, then bowed her head deeply.

“I apologize for attacking you and losing control at the event,” she said sincerely. “Your skills were incredible, absolutely immaculate. I just got caught up in the intensity of the moment. You don’t have to forgive me, but I want you to know… I’m truly sorry.”

She lifted her head, eyes still wide and unsure. It was clear she meant every word.

But before anyone else could speak, Ibarin took a step forward.

He moved slowly, confidently, until he was only about a meter away from Safa. His presence seemed to weigh down the air in the room.

“Safa of Wilton Academy,” he said, his tone shifting to something far more serious, “the one blessed with the God Eyes…”

He paused for a moment.

“I have a proposal I’d like to make.”

The room grew silent.

“Would you consider joining Central Academy?”

****

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