The Great Convergence

Magic Theory Class

The class turned out to be a short introduction. Miss Eleanor Veris, the instructor, outlined the basics of the course and ended with a single assignment:

"Your task is simple," she said, her green eyes sharp and curious. "Prepare a spell to showcase in our next session. Creativity and execution will be evaluated."

As she walked through the room, her gaze paused briefly on me.

"Space-Time is a rare element," she mused, her tone laced with curiosity. "I expect something intriguing from you, Mr. Night."

I nodded stiffly, already deciding on Blink. It wasn't flashy, but it worked, and I wasn't about to take risks with anything more experimental.

The class wrapped up quickly, leaving me with a mix of relief and unease.

History of Magic Class

The History of Magic classroom smelled of old parchment and faintly of dust. Unlike the sleek and modern halls of Astrea Academy, this room felt ancient. Rows of bookshelves lined the walls, crammed with tomes that seemed ready to fall apart at a touch.

At the center stood Professor Aleric Veylan.

He was frail, his gray robes hanging loosely on a bony frame. His face was gaunt, his sunken eyes framed by deep wrinkles. If power was measured by presence, Aleric would have been the weakest professor in the academy. His mana core, weak and brittle, barely reached the lower tiers of Adept rank.

But his intellect? That was another matter.

Aleric was sharp, perhaps one of the brightest minds in the academy. Yet, his envy of those with more talent had twisted him. I could already see the faint shadows of bitterness in his expression as he glanced at the students filing into the room.

He cleared his throat, his voice raspy but commanding enough to cut through the low murmur of the class. "Today, we begin with the Great Convergence."

His words immediately silenced the room.

"As you all know, the Convergence was the event that forever altered our world," he said, gesturing to a massive map unfurled behind him. The map was chaotic, showing jagged borders and sprawling continents that looked as if they'd been hastily stitched together.

"It was the collision of our realm with others, merging realities into one. The Convergence brought with it new lands, new magic… and new dangers."

He paused, his sunken eyes scanning the room.

"This event is why humans now coexist with elves, dwarves, demons, and mythical beasts. It tore down the barriers between worlds, intertwining our fates. But it also introduced something else. Something far more insidious."

A chill seemed to settle over the room as he continued.

"Corruption."

The word hung in the air, heavy and oppressive.

"Corruption is the madness born from realms that were not meant to exist here. It is chaos made manifest, a force that twists everything it touches living or otherwise. For centuries, we have fought against its influence, but its presence remains."

He gestured toward the map again, pointing to darkened areas marked in crimson.

"Dungeons are the result of Corruption taking hold of lesser realms. These corrupted fragments connect to our world in a phenomenon not unlike the Convergence. But unlike the Convergence, which brought unity, dungeons bring destruction."

I leaned forward, my interest piqued.

"A dungeon," Aleric continued, "is a realm overtaken by Corruption. Inside, the laws of reality are warped. Time flows erratically. Space twists upon itself. And the creatures within? They are not of this world."

A sharp intake of breath from one of the students broke the silence.

"When a dungeon stabilizes and fully connects to our world, we call it a Dungeon Break," Aleric said grimly. "Corrupted monsters pour into our reality, spreading chaos and death. Cities have fallen to such events. Entire civilizations wiped out."

I felt a chill crawl down my spine as he spoke. I had read about Dungeon Breaks in the novel, but hearing it described by someone who had likely seen one firsthand was… different.

"And Corruption doesn't just affect monsters," he added, his voice dropping lower. "It affects us. Humans. It whispers to the weak-willed, driving them to madness. It festers in the soul, turning even the kindest person into a mindless, raging beast."

Aleric stepped away from the map, his bony hands gripping the edge of his lectern. "That is why strength of will is paramount. A powerful mana core is not enough. Without resolve, even the strongest mage will succumb to Corruption."

As the lecture continued, my mind drifted.

Aleric's tone carried a bitterness that was hard to miss. His words, while informative, felt tinged with an undertone of resentment.

He envied the powerful. I could see it in the way his gaze lingered on certain students those from noble houses, those with strong elements, those with bright futures.

In the novel, this envy would consume him. He would turn to forbidden practices, seeking a strength his weak mana core could never grant him. It wasn't hard to see how. Here he was, a man with an unparalleled mind, surrounded by people who would always overshadow him.

He was brilliant, but brilliance meant little in a world ruled by power.

"Mr. Night," Aleric's sharp voice snapped me from my thoughts.

I blinked, sitting up straighter. "Yes, Professor?"

"Perhaps you can enlighten us. What was the name of the treaty that ended the wars following the Convergence?"

I scrambled to recall the answer. The novel had mentioned it briefly. "The Covenant of Balance?"

Aleric nodded, though his expression betrayed no satisfaction. "Correct. The Covenant of Balance was the treaty that ended centuries of bloodshed between the races. It established the Council, our world's governing body, and set the laws that regulate the use of magic."

He continued, his tone growing heavier. "The Covenant brought peace, but it also brought control. The Council monitors the use of magic, intervening when they deem it necessary. They claim it is for the greater good, but…"

His voice trailed off, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of disdain cross his face.

The lecture dragged on, and I felt my eyelids grow heavier. Aleric's voice, though informative, carried a droning quality that made it difficult to stay focused.

A sharp knock on the lectern jolted me awake.

"Mr. Night," Aleric said, his tone clipped. "Perhaps you would like to explain the significance of mythical beasts in maintaining balance?"

I hesitated, quickly piecing together what I remembered. "Mythical beasts are… manifestations of the world's will. They emerged after the Convergence to maintain balance in a chaotic world. They aren't inherently good or evil they simply… exist."

Aleric's gaze lingered on me for a moment before he nodded. "Adequate."

When the lecture finally ended, I gathered my things, feeling a mixture of relief and exhaustion.

What worried me wasn't the lecture.

It was the professor himself.

Aleric Veylan, a man of extraordinary intellect trapped in a frail, envious shell. In the novel, his bitterness would eventually lead him down a dark path, but for now, he was just a tired old man.

For now.