Villainous Instructor at the Academy

We started the search proper the next morning. I gave them a rundown before sunrise, because if I was suffering, they were going to suffer with me.

"Here’s the plan," I said, pointing at a crudely drawn map I scraped together using a stolen tavern napkin and Felix’s ink. "We split up again, but this time we’re not wandering around like confused poultry. We’re checking the three hotspots Cassandra marked yesterday. Priority’s on the one where her mirror freaked out."

Julien yawned. "What’s the second priority?"

"Not dying. But that’s more of a personal goal."

The kids moved out with less grumbling than usual. Either they were actually focused or just too tired to protest. I walked with Cassandra and Wallace—Felix was under strict orders not to touch anything, even his own face if it looked suspicious.

The area Cassandra led us to was just outside town. A forgotten well choked with weeds. Old stones circled the base, but the thing that caught my eye was the faint, repetitive thrum of mana.

Subtle, like a heartbeat buried beneath dirt.

"Feel that?" I asked.

Cassandra nodded. "It’s constant, like a loop. Very faint."

Wallace leaned in, peering into the well. "I could drop something in."

Thɪs chapter is updated by N(o)vᴇl(F)ire.nᴇt

"You will not," I snapped. "This isn’t a wishing well. If it grants wishes, it’ll probably ask for your soul in return."