Chapter 24 – The Lightning That Strikes Twice

Chapter 24 – The Lightning That Strikes Twice

The path to the surge site bore the scars of the battle that had taken place days prior. The ground was uneven, torn apart by bursts of unstable magic. Scorched remains of monsters, fractured stones, and lingering traces of mana disturbance spread across the area like echoes of the past. The deeper they moved into the field, the heavier the air became—not with magic, but with the unnatural stillness of something unfinished.

Jessica had been the first to notice something was wrong. Now, as they walked, Lucien found himself irritated by the nagging thought that she had sensed something none of them had.

Ahead, knights stood watch, overseeing the perimeter. Unlike the academy's elite class, these weren't trainees—they were warriors. They carried themselves with purpose, not arrogance, and their armor wasn't just ceremonial. These were men and women who had seen real battles, who knew how to fight without relying on magic to save them.

The academy had sent knights who wouldn't collapse if a second mana suppression event occurred.

As they neared the center of the battlefield, Hannelore spoke without looking at either of them.

"What do we do if monsters attack?"

Her tone was cold, analytical—as if she were discussing an inevitable inconvenience rather than a real concern.

Lucien smirked, glancing at her. "Optimistic, aren't you?"

Edgar, however, answered without hesitation. "It wouldn't be like last time."

Lucien followed his gaze toward the knights stationed at the front. "Obviously. These aren't students. They're real knights."

The ones sent to investigate weren't here to learn. They were here to handle whatever came next.

Hannelore didn't seem reassured. "So... strong like Tobias?"

Lucien immediately scoffed. "Oh, gods."

Edgar, on the other hand, actually thought about it. He looked toward the knights, considering, before he nodded. "If that's the standard, then yes."

Lucien let out an exaggerated sigh. "One mention of Moran's brute of a brother and suddenly we're all sentimental."

"I've always paid attention to Tobias," Hannelore said evenly.

Lucien blinked, stopping mid-step. "Excuse me?"

Hannelore didn't elaborate. She kept walking, not even sparing him a glance.

Edgar side-eyed her briefly but said nothing.

Lucien narrowed his eyes slightly, studying her as if seeing something new. Then he shook his head, scoffing to himself. "Well, that's unsettling."

If she heard, she didn't acknowledge it.

Lucien clicked his tongue, choosing to focus back on the actual discussion. "So, the Moran family is historically under-recognized. What a tragedy. Should we take up a petition?"

Hannelore didn't dignify that with a response.

Edgar, however, muttered. "...It does make you wonder why."

Lucien shook his head, choosing not to engage further. They were close enough to the surge site now. The knights ahead straightened as they approached, their sharp gazes flicking over them, assessing.

Lucien barely acknowledged them. His focus was on the ruined battlefield ahead.

It was time to see if there was anything left to find.

They stopped near the remains of a shattered rock formation, remnants of the explosion still marking the earth. Lucien crossed his arms, watching as Edgar stepped forward, stretching his fingers, preparing to release a controlled pulse of lightning.

Hannelore exhaled sharply, her usual impassive tone carrying a note of preemptive disappointment.

"Aetheric electromagnetic fields can be difficult to conceptualize."

Lucien smirked, already anticipating what was coming next.

"I will simplify."

There was no actual simplification.

"Magical residual energy, when left uncontained, disperses into environmental mana as latent potentiality. However, certain materials can retain an unstable state of ionization, which, when subjected to external frequency variations—such as elemental lightning—can trigger unintended resonance feedback."

Edgar looked like he wanted to leave.

Hannelore continued without pause.

"In theory, if the device is still storing mana, then an electric field—especially one designed to probe frequency anomalies—could penetrate the material composition and disrupt its equilibrium. This disruption would either produce no effect or, in a worst-case scenario, generate a chain reaction by interfering with the secondary chamber's containment structure."

Lucien, casually resting his elbow against a broken stone, looked at Edgar. "You get all that?"

Edgar blinked. "So... I just need to send out the lightning and see what bounces back?"

Hannelore stopped walking. Turned her head. Stared at him for exactly three seconds.

Then: "Yes."

Lucien exhaled dramatically. "Oh, my gods, just open your mouth and blast the waves. Try to catch the difference in your throat."

Edgar frowned. "...What?"

Lucien gestured vaguely. "You know, like a bat. Just feel the energy with your body, maybe let out a hum—"

Edgar, wisely, ignored him and did it anyway.

A pulse of lightning shot outward—crackling faintly, probing through the disturbed soil.

A sudden, violent blast of force erupted from beneath the earth, kicking up a cloud of dust and sending a short-range mana shockwave outward.

Some of the knights muttered curses as their own mana surged unnaturally.

"Oh, for fuck's sake."

"Again? Really?"

Unlike the students who had fallen apart under magic suppression, these knights weren't shaken—they were just irritated.

One of them clicked their tongue, flexing a gloved hand as their mana channels struggled to regulate. "Damn recoil. Hope you magic lot are happy."

Lucien, without missing a beat, grinned. "I'm always happy."

Lucien's flames sputtered, unable to hold form. Edgar's lightning barely reacted.

Hannelore's magic remained untouched.

Water gathered to her fingertips, spiraling into shape as if completely unaffected by the mana instability. Unlike fire or wind, her magic wasn't about raw force—it was about control.

The first monster lunged from the treeline.

She moved her hand smoothly, precisely. A whip of pressurized water shot forward, cutting through the air like a blade and slamming directly into its head with crushing force.

Lucien clicked his tongue, watching. "Oh, sure. Your magic works fine."

Hannelore blinked once, then answered without any satisfaction.

"It takes a lot of control to make ice." She flicked her fingers, another pressurized wave lashing forward, sending another monster sprawling. "But in the end, it's just water."

Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly.

Even with unstable mana, Hannelore hadn't faltered.

Unlike his magic, which relied on manipulating raw elemental energy, hers was purely about refinement, technique, and will.

She had lost precision, but not function.

Lucien scowled, rolling his shoulders. "Annoying."

Hannelore's tone remained flat. "Expected."