Chapter 348: A Sinister Aura!

Words : 1423 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 348: A Sinister Aura!Chapter 348 It was finally the next day—the day all the second-year students would be returning to their respective homes for a one-month vacation. And today, literally everyone woke up early to get ready. Grey could be seen meditating as usual, seated cross-legged on the floor, while Raze slowly tossed and turned in his bed before waking up with a loud, exaggerated yawn that instantly shattered Grey’s concentration. "One year... one freaking year and a half of staying together in a room, and you still haven’t gotten rid of this annoying habit of yawning like a lion when you wake up," Grey muttered with low frustration as he stood and shot a glare toward Raze, who was now lazily rubbing his eyes like a sleepy child. "It’s not my fault I had a sound sleep," Raze mumbled groggily, yawning once again as he shuffled over to the mirror to admire his bed-rumpled reflection. "You’re not that handsome, you know," Grey chuckled, grabbing his towel and heading toward the bathroom. "Tell that to the countless girls who follow me around like moths to a flame," Raze shouted, smirking. "Yeah, you wish," Grey called back from the bathroom, the sound of running water soon muffling his voice. In about ten minutes, Grey stepped out of the bathroom, his crimson-red hair dripping wet. After revealing his affinities to the world, he figured there was no point in hiding his natural hair color anymore. So now, he wore it proudly—free and untamed. "The bath’s all yours," Grey said, toweling off his hair as he made his way to the mirror while Raze grabbed his own towel and headed into the bathroom. Soon, whistling could be heard from inside as Raze sang a tuneless melody. A few minutes later, he emerged to find Grey already dressed. Since they weren’t going to be in the academy for an entire month, there was no need to wear the academy’s uniform. Grey was dressed casually in a sleek, milky-white shirt, paired with jet-black pants and a set of sturdy brown boots that clicked softly as he moved. "If it weren’t for the fact that I miss my dad like crazy, I would have followed you back to your town—just so I could lay eyes on your beautiful mum again," Raze teased with a laugh. Immediately, the air crackled, and a soft surge of lightning sizzled into existence, causing Raze to bite his tongue mid-joke. ’Raze, you really need to learn how to shut your damn mouth!’ "I was just kidding, bro! Chill out!" he said quickly, spinning around with both hands raised in defense. "Good," Grey replied with a small smirk as he grabbed his backpack. He walked past Raze and patted him lightly on the shoulder. "You’re lucky. You almost lost your tongue." With that, he stepped out of the room, leaving Raze rooted to the same spot, his heart pounding. Shaking his head, Raze muttered a curse under his breath and hurried to get dressed. Ten minutes later, after styling his blonde hair to perfection, he stepped out of the room, looking as sharp as ever. About twenty minutes later, the squad could be seen standing outside the academy gates, bags slung over their shoulders, bright smiles lighting up their faces. Excitement buzzed in the air. Amir and Magnus stood atop the building’s stone stairs, watching the students below with thoughtful expressions. "I didn’t think I’d say this," Magnus began, folding his arms across his chest, "but I’m going to miss you all." A rare, genuine smile tugged at the corners of his lips—a sight that made more than a few jaws drop. The strict, no-nonsense Magnus actually had a heart. "We’ll miss your drills too," Vanica said with a cheeky smile on her face. "Just hurry and get back soon so I can continue overworking you all," Magnus replied, spinning around dramatically before heading back inside. "I don’t have much to say," Amir added, his tone warm but brief. "Just make sure you all take care of yourselves." Everyone nodded solemnly, a quiet moment settling between them as they glanced around at each other. And then... "I’ll really miss you!" Vince suddenly shouted. He spun around and grabbed Raze into a tight hug. One by one, the students followed suit, hugging and bidding their goodbyes—everyone except Grey, who stood quietly, hands tucked into his pockets, his expression unreadable. "I’ll miss you too, Grey," Vince said as he walked up to him, stretching out his arms for a hug. But just as he approached, Grey took a subtle step back. "Right... not the hugging type," Vince said with a disappointed click of his tongue and turned to walk away. But before he could take another step, Grey reached out, grabbed Vince’s arm, and pulled him into a firm hug. "What?!" Raze shouted, completely stunned. And he wasn’t alone—everyone froze, eyes wide in disbelief. Grey. Hugging. Voluntarily. They all knew he wasn’t the affectionate type, not even remotely. Yet here he was, embracing Vince as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "What are you all staring at? Bring it in," Grey muttered, gesturing toward the rest of the group. Without a moment’s hesitation, they rushed into a group hug, arms wrapping around one another tightly. The moment lasted only a few seconds before Grey awkwardly slipped out of the embrace, clearly uncomfortable with the prolonged contact. "How do you all plan on getting back, though?" Amir asked as he watched the group slowly break apart. "I’ve got my own ride, and I know the way," Grey said with a small shrug. "I’ll be off now. Just wanted to say—you all should take care of yourselves." "Relax. It’s just a month. What could possibly happen in a span of a month?" Raze replied with a grin. Grey didn’t respond. He simply gave a small nod, held his bag tighter, and leapt into the air. "Kaiser!" he called. Instantly, the wind howled, swirling violently beneath him as a massive wind bird—sleek, fierce, and radiant—materialized beneath his feet. With perfect timing, he landed atop it. Like a rocket, the wind bird blasted forward, releasing a powerful gust that kicked up dirt and leaves as the others shielded their faces from the force. They watched silently, waving as Grey disappeared into the sky. As the wind whipped against his face and tugged at his crimson hair, Grey smiled to himself. ’Can’t wait to get back home.’ He leaned forward, urging Kaiser to go faster. The wind bird answered, doubling its speed, zipping over towns, villages, and forests like a streak of light. "At this rate, I should be home in an hour," Grey muttered with a grin as the scenery blurred beneath him. Soon enough, he reached the outskirts of the forest that led into Kiten Town—his home. From here, it would take no more than twenty minutes. ’I wonder how Mum and Jesse are. I know I saw them a few months ago, but... those few months felt like years. I’ll help Mum in the kitchen, play with Jesse, maybe even try to teach her a little magic—even though her core isn’t strong yet. No, wait! Maybe I should take them out to explore a nearby city. Or better—what if I brought them to the Elven town? Let them see the vibrant forests and the beautiful people there. Yes... that sounds perfect.’ As Grey’s thoughts wandered, Kaiser began to slow down as they approached Kiten Town. To avoid drawing too much attention or being stopped at the gates, Grey guided the bird to descend near the wealthier district. Once grounded, he dismounted and dismissed the bird with a wave of his hand. "This is going to be such a pleasant surprise," he said, grinning so wide it looked like his face might split in half. After about five minutes of brisk walking through the cobbled streets, Grey finally arrived at his front door. Without even knocking, he pushed it open. "Mum, I’m ho—" He froze. A wave of sinister energy crashed over him like a tidal wave. His instincts kicked in. In the blink of an eye, he dashed into the house at blinding speed, eyes scanning every corner—until they landed on the source of the aura. An individual stood calmly in the middle of the room, cloaked in shadows, a strange mask covering his face. "Welcome, Grey," the man said, his voice unnervingly calm. "I’ve been waiting for you."

Chapter 348: A Sinister Aura!

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