Chapter II: Murder (I)
The Dark One
Author: Broken Army Wang Jing
Cenia City is a first-class metropolis located in the central region of the continent. It is the capital of the magical kingdom of Frensberg and home to the most renowned magic academy on the mainland.
In the dark night sky, five pillars of fire stand in the city center and at its four corners. They are one of Cenia's most iconic sights, symbolizing the passage of time. At this moment, the flames atop them had nearly burned out. Then, almost simultaneously, new flames ignited, blazing brightly once more and illuminating the entire city.
The exchange of old and new flames signified the end of one day and the beginning of another.
It was midnight.
Under the wise rule of Queen Kalena, Cenia—named after her family—had always enjoyed excellent public order. Patrol teams could be seen moving methodically through the streets, carefully watching anyone still active at night.
Of course, there were exceptions.
In a dark alley outside the high walls of the Frensberg School of Magic, a cloaked man paced back and forth anxiously.
If someone observant looked closely at the mage robe hidden beneath his cloak, they would recognize it as the symbol of Frensberg—a magician. The embroidery on the collar indicated that he was an intermediate mage, between the sixth and tenth levels. Someone of that rank held a certain status.
Just as the mage was growing impatient, he suddenly sensed someone approaching.
A man dressed in black appeared beside him without a sound, like a ghost.
The mage was startled, but quickly forced himself to calm down.
"How is the scenery of this city?" he asked steadily.
"Only at night can one truly appreciate the magical light of Frensberg," the man replied smoothly.
The code phrase matched.
"Greetings, Master Ando," the man in black said softly. However, his tone carried little respect.
"You should have come earlier," Ando wiped the sweat from his forehead, trying to appear composed. "I was about to leave. If anyone discovers this, everything will be finished."
"It took longer than expected to bypass the patrols," the man in black replied calmly. "But rest assured, I've confirmed that no one is following you."
A chill ran through Ando.
Clearly, the other party had been observing him for a long time without his awareness. This man was likely an assassin—perhaps even stronger than himself. Otherwise, how could he move with such stealth?
"Did you bring it?" Ando asked eagerly. "As agreed."
"Of course." The man in black took out a pouch unhurriedly, though he did not hand it over immediately. Instead, he turned slightly. "We have kept our promise. I trust you are equally prepared?"
Under the man's sharp gaze, Ando unconsciously stepped back.
Since becoming involved in this plot, he had been plagued by anxiety. But he had no choice.
The offer had been too tempting to refuse. Worse still, there had been a threat.
While serving as a professor at the Frensberg School of Magic, Ando had embezzled a considerable amount of academy property. He had always believed his actions were well concealed—until the mysterious man appeared one day with a detailed list of evidence. In that instant, Ando's hands and feet had gone cold.
To this day, he did not know the man's true identity. But he understood one thing clearly: the man could ruin him completely—perhaps even destroy him.
There was no turning back.
Besides, if the risks were ignored, the task itself did not seem so troublesome.
Grinding his teeth, Ando said, "There will be no problem. Everything is ready."
"Good." The man in black nodded slightly and tossed the pouch to Ando.
"You will receive the remaining payment as promised," he said coldly, watching Ando greedily count the gems inside. "After Rezard Carles is dead."
Rezard was surprised when Ando summoned him in the middle of the night.
It was completely unlike him.
As far as Rezard knew, Ando was usually occupied with his own affairs at night and paid little attention to students—especially one who had long been at odds with him.
Ando had once been Rezard's earliest mentor. Later, the two had quarreled. It was no secret in the academy. Especially after Rezard advanced to become a ninth-level mage—only one level below Ando—their relationship had deteriorated further. Since then, Rezard had maintained nothing more than superficial politeness.
"I've come at your invitation, Tutor Ando."
With that, Rezard stepped into Ando's laboratory and glanced around.
This was his first time here. A magician's laboratory often contained confidential materials, so people who were not close rarely entered. Given the strained relationship between Rezard and Ando, they had previously met only in classrooms or offices.
The scale of the laboratory surprised Rezard.
Some of the materials and equipment were extremely rare. He couldn't help but wonder. Although professors at the academy were well paid, magical materials were among the most expensive items on the continent. Maintaining a laboratory of this scale would not be easy on a normal salary.
Did Ando have another source of income?
Since Rezard entered, Ando had not spoken again. He kept his back turned, pretending to busy himself with an experiment.
He reminded himself repeatedly: murdering a student within the magic academy carried enormous risks. It had to be done cleanly.
He was confident.
The spell he had prepared would completely erase Rezard—this arrogant prodigy—before he realized what was happening, leaving no trace behind.
Still, the spell required that Rezard remain unaware.
Ando needed a little more time.
"Stand there and wait," Ando said after clearing his throat. "I have something very important to discuss with you."
Rezard frowned.
A strange feeling rose in his heart.
Everything about this situation felt wrong.