67: The tree that absorbs magic- Part 1

The tree in the magic tower's plaza had become the center of attention overnight. No one knew where it had come from, nor who had planted it, but its existence was impossible to ignore.

At first, it was simply a curiosity—a strange, leafless tree with a black trunk that seemed to shimmer under the sunlight. However, as more people gathered around it, they began to notice something unsettling.

Mages who had gotten too close to study it started feeling fatigued. Their magic reserves, which should have been stable, were draining at an alarming rate. Some even collapsed, unable to cast spells as they normally would.

At first, the symptoms were brushed off as mere exhaustion from overwork, but by midday, the sickness spread. More mages fell ill, reporting dizziness, nausea, and an unusual chill that seemed to seep into their bones.

Panic surged through the magic tower.