Morning arrived differently at Edevane Academy.
Beyond the silver-framed windows, sunlight crept through the stone corridors, casting its glow upon black marble floors that had endured for centuries. The crystal lanterns suspended from the ceilings gradually dimmed, one after another, giving way to the golden rays spilling in from the central courtyard. In the distance, the academy bells rang three times, heralding the beginning of another day of lessons.
Students hurried toward their classrooms. Some were still occupied with their notes, while others walked in groups, debating the theories of magic they had studied during their previous lessons. The sound of footsteps and conversation filled the corridors, mingling with the faint hum of spell formations embedded within the walls.
Edevane Academy was more than a place for those who wished to study magic. It was where young mages were forged, ancient theories revisited, and generations of inherited knowledge put to the test through research. Not everyone was capable of gaining admission. Even among those fortunate enough to be accepted, only a select few would eventually earn the opportunity to uncover the deeper secrets of magic.
Yet that morning, the attention of several students was drawn to a man walking through the main corridor.
A long, dark violet robe draped over his figure. His hair was neatly arranged, while a pair of deep golden eyes surveyed the path ahead without the slightest interest in the bustle around him. His footsteps were calm and measured, as though the academy's commotion were nothing more than familiar background noise.
Vandal Nacht.
Following closely behind him was a silver-haired girl dressed in an academy uniform that differed slightly from those worn by the other students. She carried several books and a thin writing board. Her expression was composed, betraying little emotion, while her pace remained perfectly matched to the man ahead of her.
The two stopped before a massive door adorned with an intricate magic circle carved into its surface.
"Professor Vandal!"
A male student emerging from a classroom across the corridor hurried toward them. His breathing was slightly ragged from running. He offered a brief bow before straightening himself.
"Forgive me for interrupting, Professor. Might you have a moment?"
Vandal glanced at him.
"If your question requires more than a few minutes, you would be better off asking after class."
"Ah, no, no. There's just one thing I'd like to confirm."
The student opened his notebook and presented a diagram covered in magical symbols.
"It's about the essence conversion equation. I've followed the instructions in the reference book, but the calculations keep producing different results when I apply them to a magic circle."
Vandal accepted the notebook. His eyes traced the sequence of symbols inscribed upon the page. Within seconds, he had identified the problem.
"You're using the wrong conversion value."
"But this value comes directly from the reference book—"
"Your reference book follows a measurement standard established two centuries ago."
Vandal pointed to a small symbol in the corner of the diagram.
"Back then, mages had yet to understand the distinction between purified essence and essence that still carried elemental residue. Both were treated as a single substance. If you apply that equation without making the necessary adjustments, your results are bound to deviate."
The student examined the diagram once more. His brow furrowed before his expression gradually brightened with understanding.
"So the problem isn't with the arrangement of the circle itself?"
"Most of your mistakes actually lie in the assumptions you made before drawing the circle in the first place."
Vandal returned the notebook.
"Don't be so quick to trust a formula simply because it's printed in a book. A formula exists to explain a phenomenon, not to replace your ability to understand it."
The student immediately bowed.
"Thank you very much, Professor!"
Vandal merely nodded before continuing on his way. The silver-haired girl glanced briefly at the student, then followed after him.
The classroom doors opened as they approached. Inside, dozens of students had already taken their seats. The room was arranged in a semicircle, with tiered desks facing a small platform at the front. A blackboard bearing the remnants of magical chalk markings stood behind it, while a magic circle had been embedded directly into the floor.
As soon as Vandal entered, the students' conversations gradually died down.
"Good morning, Professor."
"Good morning."
Vandal placed a book upon the lecturer's desk. He removed his right glove and raised one hand. A crimson magic circle materialized in the air, composed of several layers of symbols rotating along different axes. A small flame formed at its center, moving along an erratic trajectory.
"Today, we shall continue our discussion on the integration of the Flame Ring Method."
Several students immediately opened their notebooks.
"During our previous lesson, we discussed how fire essence can be compelled to form a closed, cyclical circuit. However, there is one mistake that continues to appear in your exercises."
Vandal moved his finger. The magic circle split into three sections, revealing streams of energy flowing along their respective paths.
"You assume that joining the two ends of the flow is the most difficult part of this technique. In truth, the real problem lies in maintaining energy stability before the two ends are joined."
He enlarged one section of the diagram. A crimson line pulsed before gradually turning black.
"Observe."
As the two streams of energy converged, the circle began to tremble violently. Fine cracks appeared across its structure, followed by an eruption of flames that spread in every direction. Vandal halted the simulation before the explosion could reach the circle's outer boundary.
"If the heat intensity is not properly balanced beforehand, the trapped energy will seek an escape through the weakest point. Under certain circumstances, this can result in an internal explosion."
A female student raised her hand.
"Professor, could using a Salamander Stone reduce that risk?"
"It could, but that doesn't mean it would eliminate it."
Vandal altered the diagram. A red crystal appeared at the center of the circle, binding the energy streams that had previously been unstable.
"A Salamander Stone functions as a binding catalyst. It helps maintain the continuity of the flow, but it cannot correct an energy configuration that was flawed from the very beginning. Relying on a catalyst to conceal calculation errors will only make your failures more expensive."
A few students chuckled.
Vandal did not join them. He merely shifted his hand, revealing the corrected magic circle in its completed form.
"Your exercise today is to construct a Flame Ring using an essence simulation. There is no need to use actual materials. I want to see whether you can maintain the circle's stability for thirty seconds."
A student in the back row hesitantly raised his hand.
"Professor, would we be allowed to use phoenix blood as a substitute for a Salamander Stone?"
"If you have enough phoenix blood to waste on a basic exercise, by all means."
Laughter echoed through the classroom once more.
"But if you don't, use the standard catalysts provided by the academy."
Vandal concluded his explanation with a single gesture. The crimson diagram dissolved into countless specks of light, vanishing before they could touch the floor.
"Begin."
The classroom was soon filled with activity. Students moved their hands above their respective desks, forming small circles of light in a variety of colors. Some succeeded in producing stable flames, while others continued to struggle with controlling the flow of energy.
Vandal walked between the rows of desks. From time to time, he stopped to examine a student's spell formation, offer a brief correction, or erase portions of a diagram he deemed unnecessary.
Near the window, a female student was so engrossed in her work that she failed to notice her magic circle beginning to tremble.
"Stop."
Vandal's voice startled her. Before she could pull her hand away, he had already raised a finger. The magic circle froze in place, then slowly faded.
The student swallowed nervously.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I thought I could still maintain it."
"That very assumption nearly cost you your hand."
Vandal pointed toward the center of the diagram.
"You're forcing the energy flow beyond the limits your circle can withstand. Reduce its intensity. Don't attempt to overcome instability by adding even more energy."
"Understood, Professor."
Vandal continued his inspection without prolonging the reprimand.
From the corner of the room, the silver-haired girl who had remained near the lecturer's desk observed the proceedings. She did not interfere, though she occasionally made notes on the small board she carried. When a student dropped a book, she quietly picked it up and placed it back on the desk without uttering a word.
Time passed until the bell signaling the end of the lesson rang.
"That will be enough. Discontinue your simulations."
One by one, the magic circles faded. The students began gathering their books and equipment. Some appeared satisfied with their results, while others continued to complain about exercises that had not gone as expected.
"Keep your notes. Next week, we will discuss the application of the Flame Ring in multilayered spell construction."
Vandal closed the book on his desk.
"And one more thing. Do not attempt to practice this technique in your dormitories."
Several students who had been preparing to leave exchanged glances.
"Professor, what if it's just a small experiment?"
"Especially those of you who believe a small experiment couldn't possibly burn down an entire room."
Laughter rippled through the students. This time, Vandal let it pass without comment.
Once the lesson had ended, most of the students left the classroom. A few remained behind to ask about matters they had yet to understand. Vandal answered their questions as necessary, while the silver-haired girl helped gather the abandoned exercise sheets.
When the room had finally grown quiet, the girl approached the lecturer's desk and placed her writing board upon it.
"Thank you, Rosalia."
The girl gave a small nod.
Vandal picked up the board. Several appointments had been neatly arranged upon it, accompanied by notes concerning research and academy affairs that still required his attention. He glanced over them before returning it to Rosalia.
"It seems today won't be particularly busy."
Rosalia regarded him for a moment before writing something with the tip of her finger. A faint light appeared across the board's surface.
Doesn't the Professor still have three reports left unfinished?
Vandal read the message.
"That's not something we need to worry about this morning."
Rosalia stared at him without blinking.
Vandal let out a quiet sigh.
"All right. Two reports."
The girl slowly shook her head, seemingly unwilling to accept his offer.
For a moment, Vandal's expression softened. He retrieved his outer robe from the chair and headed toward the door. Rosalia followed, carrying the books that had previously been left on the desk.
Outside, life at the academy continued as usual. Students filled the courtyard, several groups practiced with their magic wands, and the occasional crackle of magical energy could be heard from the training grounds in the distance.
Vandal paused briefly beside a window overlooking the central courtyard.
"Rosalia."
The girl turned toward him.
"After this, we need to inspect the research library. There are a few records I'd like to examine."
Rosalia nodded.
They resumed walking along the corridor. Several students passing by greeted Vandal respectfully. Others simply stepped aside to make way for him. To most of Edevane Academy's inhabitants, he was no stranger. He was a professor renowned for his extensive knowledge, despite rarely speaking about anything unrelated to academic matters.
Yet his reputation did not always make people feel comfortable in his presence.
There was something about his gaze that often caused conversations to falter before they even began. Not because he deliberately sought to intimidate others, but because Vandal had a habit of observing far more than he ever felt compelled to explain.
"Professor Vandal!"
Two female students from the alchemy class approached him before he could reach the corridor intersection.
"Sorry to bother you. We still haven't quite understood the part about joining the endpoints of the Flame Ring."
Vandal stopped.
"Which part?"
One of the students opened the notebook she was carrying. "We can form the circle, but whenever the two ends of the flow meet, the energy inside always reverses direction."
Vandal examined the diagram.
"You're joining the two ends too quickly. Balance the heat intensity first. After that, allow the energy to find its own path."
"So we don't need to force it?"
"Correct. A stable spell doesn't always require greater control. Sometimes, all you need to do is stop interfering with a process that's already working as it should."
The two students exchanged glances. One of them immediately began writing down his explanation.
"Thank you, Professor!"
Vandal nodded before continuing on his way.
Behind them, the students' conversations resumed. Some discussed the upcoming examinations, while others complained about their alchemy assignments. Everything appeared ordinary, scarcely different from any other day.
At least, that was how things seemed.
Vandal had no idea that his routine would soon be disrupted by a summons bearing the name of someone from his past.
Someone who had been gone for a very long time.
Someone who, even after eight years had passed, could still shake the balance of the world simply by existing.
But for now, that name had yet to cross his mind.
Morning continued on.
And within Edevane Academy, a professor named Vandal Nacht still had work to attend to.