Lucian slammed the invisible entity into the ground. The impact tore through the dirt as shattered rocks burst into the air.

  Although if he were honest, Lucian believed he’d gotten at least a little lucky. He saw Leon get dragged into the air, but until the instant his fist connected, he wasn't able to properly sense the attacker at all. His attack landed only because his timing, angle, and rough estimation happened to be good enough this time.

  For now though, he pulled his arm back, lightning still crackling around his hand as he stepped away. The instant the blow connected, he’d teleported both himself and the attacker far from the academy, placing them both on an uninhabited island.

  The island was mostly barren, with only a few trees and patches of vegetation scattered across. Fighting something this dangerous in the middle of the academy would have been careless, and Lucian had no intention of putting students or staff at risk.

  As he steadied himself, the air around the once invisible entity began to distort. The invisibility fell apart, and a shape slowly emerged where nothing had been before.

  Lucian narrowed his eyes as the figure fully appeared. It was a man, though his face was completely hidden behind a golden mask. A black hooded cloak covered him from head to toe, the hood pulled low so that even the edges of the mask were partly covered.

  Black gloves covered his hands, and a pair of plain black boots completed the outfit. There wasn't a single piece of exposed skin anywhere on him, making the man look strangely uncanny.

  When Lucian glanced at the man’s stomach, he saw the wound already closing, and then healing completely. That alone was unsettling, but his focus soon returned to the mask. Its design stirred an old, unwelcome unease. One look was enough to be sure, the mask was Arcadian in design.

  The Arcadian Empire was once the greatest human civilization to ever exist, perhaps the greatest of any kind, before it fell. For someone to possess, or worse, recreate a relic from that era meant a new threat now existed, one that held knowledge that should have been lost eons ago.

  The masked man’s presence carried troubling implications. Either the mask was real and had been restored, or it was a recreation made by someone who deeply understood Arcadian craftsmanship. Both possibilities were disturbing, and neither pointed to an amateur.

  Even so, Lucian showed none of that concern as he met the masked man's gaze. There was no place for weakness when dealing with a potentially dangerous foe. “Care to explain why a grown man is sneaking around and going after little boys?”

  The masked man gave no response. Instead, magic flared around his body as he flew into the air in an attempt to escape. Lucian sighed. “Ah. Running already.”

  Lucian used telekinesis, stopping the masked man in midair before yanking him back down. He slammed into the ground with enough force to leave a deep mark in the soil. Lucian kept the masked man pinned there, holding him in place as he walked closer.

  Up close, the first thing that stood out about the masked man was how quiet he was. Despite getting slammed into the ground and the telekinetic pressure holding him down, the masked man did not make any kind of grunt or any kind of acknowledgement of pain. And it wasn't like Lucian was trying to be gentle.

  Lucian forced the man onto his knees and stood directly in front of him. “Let’s start with something simple. Who are you really?”

  There was still no answer. If the masked man planned to stay silent, Lucian decided he could at least learn who he really was. He reached out again with telekinesis and tried to rip the golden mask away.

  The spell met unexpected resistance, almost as if the mask was somehow glued to the man's face. When that failed, Lucian clicked his tongue in mild annoyance and reached forward with his own hand. If magic would not do the job, then it was time to handle things with some good old fashioned elbow grease.

  Lucian grabbed the mask and pulled, but the moment his fingers tightened around it, the mask erupted with a sudden burst of light. The glow flared so intensely it was almost blinding, and a violent wave of force exploded outward from the mask like a shockwave. The blast struck Lucian in the chest and hurled him backward through the air.

  His body flew several feet before he landed flat on his back, his head snapping slightly against the dirt while dust and loose soil scattered outward from the point of impact. At the same moment, the masked man rose to his feet.

  Then, the masked man suddenly flew toward Lucian. Before Lucian could even sit up, the man’s fist came crashing down onto his face.

  The first punch slammed his head straight into the ground. The masked man then dropped another punch, then another, each hit driving Lucian’s head deeper into the dirt.

  Most people would’ve had their skull crushed very quickly under this kind of assault. Lucian, however, felt little more than a dull ache across his face. Despite the relentless punches, he was fine.

  As he was being pummeled into the ground, Lucian found himself thinking. This kind of strength was absurd for someone of this era, certainly far too much for a common assassin. The masked man didn't seem to use the System at all, and he fought like someone who belonged to a much older age, someone Lucian might have crossed paths with during his adventuring days.

  If the masked man was human, then he had to be extremely old by now. Even so, something about him felt wrong. Lucian was certain he had seen blood spill from a wound earlier, only for it to heal moments later. That at least ruled out the possibility that this masked man might have been a golem or some other construct.

  Not all villains liked to talk, and Lucian knew that well. Still, he had never fought someone who made no sound at all. Stranger still, the masked man kept attacking, even though it should have been clear by now that Lucian was not being hurt.

  Lucian smiled faintly as another blow struck the ground beside his head. This was already turning out to be far more interesting than he had expected.

  After a while, Lucian had finally had enough of being punched. He drew in a deep breath, and then unleashed Morion’s Howl, an eighth-tier spell.

  A ruinous roar of wind tore from his mouth, shredding the air as it surged outward. The blast ripped sand and soil from the island’s surface, bending palm trees until they snapped and tearing loose chunks of rock.

  The masked man was hurled skyward, spinning helplessly. Lucian flew up after him at once, crackling energy gathering around his hand. He formed chains of lightning in his hands and threw them like a lasso. They wrapped tight around the man’s body and snapped shut in a flash of light, and Lucian swung him back down toward the ground.

  While the masked man was falling to the ground, Lucian formed a sword of pure light in his grasp. The blade shone with blinding light as Lucian dove after the man.

  He drove the glowing weapon straight through the man’s chest at the exact moment the body smashed into the ground below. The impact rocked the island, throwing up a wave of dust and debris as the ground trembled.

  Using Morion’s Howl and the Sword of Light back to back, both eighth-tier spells, was not something Lucian thought he'd ever have to do in the current era, but caution seemed reasonable in this case. Even after all of that, the masked man was still moving somehow.

  The sword of light flared brighter as the man struggled, its glow growing stronger as the magic tightened its hold. Lucian tilted his head slightly, watching with mild interest. “Stop struggling, you’re only making it worse for yourself.”

  Lucian’s sword of light was far from an ordinary magical weapon. Anything it pierced would be locked in place by magic, unable to move. Breaking free would require an absurd amount of strength and mana. By any reasonable standard, the fight should have been over.

  And yet, the man was still moving, however weakly, and that small detail left a faint but unwelcome sense of concern in the back of Lucian’s mind. However, with the threat mostly dealt with, Lucian turned his attention to the mask.

  He bent down, and grabbed it firmly with both hands. When Lucian pulled the mask, it glowed once more, as another explosive wave of force burst outward. Lucian had been expecting it this time around though, and he braced himself, digging into the ground with his feet as the blast rolled over him without knocking him back. When the wave of force faded, the mask finally came free.

  Almost instantly, the golden mask dulled. Cracks spread rapidly across it as it turned to stone, crumbling apart before Lucian’s eyes. A chill ran through him as he realized something was very wrong.

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  Lucian turned the man over to look at his face, and his eyes widened slightly. The figure beneath the mask was pale and withered.

  At first, Lucian thought the man was simply old, but that wasn't quite right. The body was still changing, aging rapidly now that the mask was gone. Flesh shriveled, skin tightened, and the man collapsed inward on himself. Within moments, there was nothing left of the man behind the mask except for dust.

  Soon after, the rest of the man’s equipment began to vanish. Each piece faded in turn, armor dissolving into motes of light, cloth unraveling into thin mist. Nothing remained, except for the mask.

  Lucian reached down and picked it up, turning it slowly in his hand. Then, the mask glowed as a voice came from it. “You are a powerful one, just who are you?”

  “That is none of your concern, but tell me this, who are you meant to be, and how did you get your hands on an Arcadian mask?”

  The voice chuckled. “Straight to the point already? How dull. Where is the banter, the courtesy?"

  “I have no interest in indulging you,” Lucian said coldly. “But sooner or later, I will figure out who you are. And when I do, I will come for you.”

  "Then I look forward to it. We will meet again, in time.”

  Lucian opened his mouth to respond, but the mask’s glow vanished before he could speak. Cracks spread across its surface, racing outward until the entire thing crumbled in his hand, breaking apart into fine dust that scattered into the wind.

  After that, Lucian stood up and stayed silent for a moment, trying to understand what had just happened. An Arcadian gold mask wasn’t supposed to turn to dust after being removed, nor was it meant to control someone’s mind, which he suspected had been done to the man he had just fought.

  It seemed feasible enough that the man Lucian had fought was nothing more than a puppet. A poor soul forced to wear the mask and controlled through it. That would explain the lack of pain, and the man's relatively rigid movements.

  But as far as Lucian remembered, Arcadian Gold Masks weren’t made for combat during the days of the Empire. They were usually used in ceremonies or rituals to channel large amounts of magic to create wide scale effects such as rain or boosting the growth of crops. Although, he had to admit that in the hands of someone skilled enough, such a relic could be turned into something far more sinister.

  In the end, he had to admit that he only had assumptions, and no solid leads. For now, all he was sure of was that someone dangerous was moving from the shadows, and that this encounter had to be the start of something far greater.

  “Belle, please show yourself.”

  Belle appeared in front of him almost instantly, bowing her head. “Master.”

  “Did you see everything?”

  “I may have missed a few moments at the start of the fight, but otherwise, I believe I saw everything."

  “Then please make a memory crystal of the fight for me, now."

  Belle raised her hand, gathering magic before condensing into a small black crystal, then placed it into Lucian’s palm. “Here it is, Master.”

  Lucian closed his fingers around the gem. “Thank you. We’re going to see Elysia immediately. She needs to see this.”

  ***

  Lucian and Belle arrived in front of Elysia’s office. He lifted his hand and knocked on the door, then waited. He could’ve teleported inside, of course and it would’ve been faster. But that would’ve been rude, and Lucian wasn’t the type to ignore basic courtesy, even when pressed for time.

  “You two can come in,” Elysia called from inside.

  Lucian opened the door and stepped in, seeing how Elysia sat behind her desk, still wearing her usual attire. Several ledgers lay open before her, and her pen moved swiftly as she finished a few final notes. She did not look up right away, though after a moment, she closed the ledgers, set the pen aside, and finally met his gaze.

  Elysia looked behind him. “Belle, would you prepare some tea for us?”

  “Warm water will do for me,” Lucian said as he stepped further into the room.

  “Understood,” Belle said.

  Lucian took a seat across from Elysia and placed the memory crystal on the desk between them. “You’re going to want to see this."

  Before Elysia could respond, Lucian activated the crystal. A clear projection made from light formed in the air above the desk, showcasing the entirety of Lucian's fight with the man in the golden mask.

  Elysia watched the fight in silence. Her face stayed calm, but her eyes narrowed when the masked man kept moving after Lucian’s Sword of Light struck him.

  The projection faded after the mask spoke to Lucian, and Elysia looked back at him. “I do wonder, who or what is capable of turning a man into… whatever that masked figure was.”

  “That mask was Arcadian in design.” Lucian said bluntly.

  Elysia looked up at him, surprised. "Are you sure?”

  “I’d recognize that craftsmanship anywhere. That said, this is the first time I’ve ever seen an Arcadian gold mask used like this. It’s usually meant for rituals, not for enhancing masked child kidnappers.”

  “Then do you think someone is restoring Arcadian technology in this era?”

  Lucian exhaled slowly. “Well, either the mask survived for centuries and was only recently rediscovered somehow, or someone has learned how to recreate it. Either possibility isn't great."

  Elysia shook her head. “I don’t have any clear leads on either of those fronts unfortunately."

  “And I don't blame you, because any remnants from the empire should have long been destroyed. Currently, my guess is that some kind of hidden ruins that are still left undiscovered, and there are some bloodlines that might have preserved—”

  Elysia met his eyes. “You know, maybe we should slow down."

  Lucian was about to reply when Belle set a cup of tea down in front of Elysia and placed a glass of warm water near his hand. Then she retreated a few steps and returned to the back of the room.

  Elysia wrapped her hands around the tea cup, not drinking yet. Lucian watched her over the rim of the glass, studying the calm in her posture, the measured way she breathed. She looked composed, as always, but he had known her long enough to recognize that stillness did not mean certainty.

  “You should drink,” she said gently, nodding toward his glass.

  Lucian hesitated for just a moment before reaching for it. He took a sip, letting the warmth settle in his chest more than he cared to admit. The water did make him feel a little better, though when he set the glass down, the weight in his thoughts remained.

  Elysia took a small sip of her tea before looking back at him. “I know that look, what do you intend to do?”

  "Would it be fine if I conducted some investigation of my own alongside my responsibilities at the academy? I just think there's a lot I need to look into."

  “That is completely fine, provided that your responsibilities here continue to be fulfilled.”

  “Oh, that will not be an issue. I'm starting to get used to this whole professor thing anyway."

  Elysia smiled as she eased back into her seat, though the expression didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Good. That just leaves one problem.”

  Lucian tilted his head. “Let me guess, Leon?"

  “Exactly, we still need a cover story for what happened to him.”

  “Can’t we just make up something simple?”

  “Well, the way his windows burst open wasn't exactly subtle, and some people probably saw him dragged into the air.”

  “Well, a great deal can go wrong when magic is involved. Since Leon is alive and well, I doubt anyone will look too closely, so long as our explanation is sensible. I’ll speak with the boy myself to make sure we’re aligned, assuming we settle on a cover story that actually makes enough sense."

  “Then perhaps we keep it mundane and blame a structural failure in the mana conduit servicing his dorm. The same system that powers the lights, climate wards, and basic utility enchantments.”

  “While that makes sense, wouldn’t that reflect poorly on the academy? Leon’s family likely paid a considerable sum for his accommodations.”

  Elysia waved a hand dismissively. “Then we compensate him, and knowing Leon, I doubt he’ll make a fuss over it.”

  “That much is true, and Belle can assist in… smoothing things over with anyone who feels overly curious.”

  Belle inclined her head slightly at the mention, remaining silent as the implication of Lucian’s words was clear enough. Elysia let out a soft breath soon after.

  “I’ll make sure the rest of the staff are properly briefed, and it would be best if everyone presents the same explanation. Though, before I forget, there is something else I wanted to discuss with you.”

  “Yes?”

  “Have you chosen an apprentice yet? You’ll need to select one before the end of the first month.”

  “No, and I don't think that I'll be taking any apprentices.”

  “Unfortunately for you, that won’t be possible. Academy policy requires each professor to take at least one apprentice. You’re allowed up to three, should you wish.”

  “And what, exactly, is this apprentice arrangement meant to accomplish?”

  “It’s a system the academy uses to strengthen bonds between professors and exceptional students. The idea is that focused mentorship helps them develop faster and more safely.”

  “I see the benefit for the student, but why do I have to pick up some brat to be an apprentice?"

  “Part of your evaluation as a professor will be tied to your apprentices’ performance. So you should choose students you believe show real promise.”

  Lucian sighed, then nodded. “In that case, I’ll take Leon. The boy is talented and has a good head on his shoulders."

  Elysia smiled. “A sensible choice, though I should mention that your assessment will be weighted more favorably if you take on more than one apprentice.”

  Lucian gave her a long, unimpressed look. “If you already have specific students in mind, you might as well tell me directly instead of dressing it up as a suggestion.”

  “Well, since you so kindly offered.”

  Elysia reached to the side and opened a drawer, taking out a thin folder. After flipping through a few pages to confirm its contents, she closed it and slid it across the desk toward Lucian. "Give this a read."

  Lucian picked up the file and scanned the first page. “Octavia?” he said, glancing up.

  “Princess Octavia,” Elysia corrected.

  "Right, right."

  Lucian continued reading, checking out each section of the file. “She has strong fundamentals, clear ambition, and a talent for presenting herself well. I suppose I wouldn’t mind teaching her.”

  “Keep reading,” Elysia said.

  Lucian kept reading, turning page after page. Most of it was routine and painfully dull, the kind of administrative writing that existed only to justify its own weight in ink. Budget allocations, minor disputes, procedural updates, and other topics that the word "boring" could never do justice to.

  His eyes skimmed faster until a heading stood out from the rest. RESTRICTED: Access to this section is limited to authorized individuals. Unauthorized review of this material constitutes treason against the Crown and against the Kingdom of Celgrad.

  He paused, then glanced up at Elysia. “Hmm, and you're giving this to me because…?"

  “Because I trust you can keep a secret.”