Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1471: The Test of Doubt

The words struck like a thunderclap in Alen’s mind.

Raze’s warning , that the Grand Magus himself was coming for his life , was so sudden, so unbelievable, that for a moment Alen thought he had misheard. The idea was absurd. Why now, in the middle of the night? Why would someone of Ibarin’s rank and stature personally come to kill him?

His brow furrowed as he tried to process it. If this were any other moment, if the warning had been delivered under calmer circumstances, Alen would have brushed it aside as manipulation. It could have been nothing more than another attempt from Raze to convince him that the Grand Magus were all corrupt, all dangerous. After all, so far, Alen had only glimpsed pieces of proof of the Council’s darker deeds , enough to plant suspicion, but not enough to condemn them entirely.

Yet the words had been the very first thing out of Raze’s mouth. There had been no build-up, no persuasion, just an urgent statement of danger. That sincerity , that sharp urgency , made it far harder to dismiss.

Alen swallowed hard. “If what you’re saying is true,” he replied carefully, “then wouldn’t I see the Grand Magus’s actions with my own eyes? If he were to burst through that door, right now, and target me, then that alone would be all the confirmation I would need.”

Raze’s eyes narrowed. He could tell Alen’s mind was still trying to rationalize, still reaching for a way to dismiss the threat.

“Don’t be a fool,” Raze said flatly, his voice cutting through the tension. “You think too highly of them. The Grand Magus are not as kindhearted as you imagine. I wouldn’t have come here, risked exposing myself and ruining everything I’ve been planning, just to spook you. He is on his way. He will kill you, Alen , not out of necessity, but out of frustration. He wants answers. He wants to know why you recommended us to the academy. And when he doesn’t get the answers he likes, he’ll silence you.”

Raze’s words pressed down with weight, and then he leaned in closer. His next words came lower, more personal, with an edge of memory behind them.

“And it won’t stop at you. The Grand Magus never stop at just one person. Think about your sister. And think about our deal. I need someone who can witness what I’m going through. I need someone to confirm it all when the time comes.”

For the first time, Alen’s confident front wavered. Raze saw it , the flicker in his eyes, the subtle tightening of his jaw. His sister. The one thing that tethered Alen firmly to this world, the one vulnerability he could not dismiss.

Raze remembered Jake Dove , his closest friend, the one who had borne witness to so much before losing everything. He would not let Alen suffer the same fate, not if he could help it.

“If you want proof,” Raze said, lowering his tone, “then there’s a way to get it. But you need to trust me now.”

Elsewhere in the dormitory, Ibarin was moving with calculated precision.

The Grand Magus did not care for the lives of those around him. He thought himself above them , above the teachers, above the staff, above the rules. In his twisted mind, the fact that someone of his level even deigned to use magic in their presence should have been considered an honor.

And yet, even arrogance had its limits. He could not simply slaughter indiscriminately. Too many corpses, too many questions, would leave a trail. Trails invited investigation. And Ibarin was careful enough not to give his enemies something tangible to chase.

So, instead, he worked methodically. Using enchanted tools and a layered array of spells, he hunted for his target. He had confirmed the room. He had traced the wards and dispelled the protections woven into the door.

Now, as he entered the hallway, the Grand Magus whispered a series of incantations. Sound dulled instantly. A silence spell settled over the corridor like a blanket, ensuring that no matter what happened next, not a single scream or clash of power would leak out to curious ears.

With his hand alight in fire, he pressed his palm to the doorframe. Flames hissed, searing a deep burn along the wood until the lock weakened. With a flick of his wind magic, the door swung wide open , and just as quickly was halted, caught in a controlled current of air before it could slam against the wall. Even in his fury, Ibarin was precise.

He stepped into the room, confident, fire magic swirling hungrily around his hand. His steps carried him straight toward the bed. His intention was clear. His victim would not even have time to scream.

But when he reached the bedside, he froze.

The sheets were empty. The bed unoccupied.

“There’s no one here?” Ibarin muttered, confusion flashing across his face. “Impossible. This is the right room. Did he leave early? Did he somehow know I was coming?”

His eyes darted around the room, searching. His mind scrambled for explanations. Even if he sensed my mana… who would ever suspect the Grand Magus would come for them personally?

In the end, frustration gnawed at him. He could spend the night tearing the dorm apart, but what would that gain him? Too much noise. Too much risk. It would be easier to wait , to confront Alen later, in a setting where suspicion would not hang so heavily.

With a final scowl, Ibarin withdrew. He closed the door behind him with careful precision, using wind magic again to mimic a natural break, leaving it just damaged enough to be explained away.

And then, of course, fate forced him into an encounter.

A staff member rounded the corner of the hallway, their uniform marking them as dormitory maintenance. They froze upon seeing the imposing figure.

“Oh! Grand Magus Ibarin!” the man exclaimed, bowing quickly. “I never expected to see you here. Is there anything I can help you with? Were you looking for a guest?”

Ibarin straightened, his mask of civility snapping back into place. “No. I was simply taking a stroll, checking the grounds. If anyone was still awake, I thought I might ask whether their accommodations were satisfactory.”

The excuse came smoothly, as though rehearsed.

The staffer bowed again, still visibly nervous. Ibarin moved to leave, but as he passed he gave a parting command. “By the way, the door down the hall seems to be damaged. Get it repaired as soon as possible.”

With that, he walked away, his back straight, his presence lingering like the hiss of lightning in the air.

Only after the Grand Magus was gone did the staff member straighten fully. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked after the man.

“It looks like he was right…” Alen’s voice came quietly, the staff member’s form flickering as he dropped the disguise. “…The Grand Magus really was trying to kill me.”

****

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