Chapter 1: The Bead and the Decision

  On the rooftop of a three-story stone building sat a young man with slightly curly, gray-white hair and a rugged face.

  He lounged on a wooden chair, turning a glass bead over and over in his hand. “What’s this thing for?” he muttered to himself, his brows furrowed in confusion.

  This was Karian, twenty years old, a junior teacher at Palos Magic School. A week ago, he'd woken up in the Enze Continent, inhabiting the body of the original Karian. At first, he'd been thrilled at the idea of mastering magic and becoming a grand mage—of marrying a beautiful, rich girl and living a life of luxury. But reality hit hard. Karian wasn’t magical. Not even a little.

  His so-called magical "talent" was just a thick stack of theoretical knowledge. He’d been hired as a teacher because of his understanding of magic theory, not because he could actually cast spells.

  The true Karian had collapsed under the pressure of the school's failing branch, Red Leaf Academy, before Shi Lu, the original owner of this body, had taken over. Though the two consciousnesses had merged, Shi Lu now carried Karian’s identity, and the idea of crossing over—no matter how strange—had slowly become his new reality.

  But there was one thing he couldn’t ignore: the glass bead in his hand. He suspected it was the cause of his strange journey to the Enze Continent. The "golden finger" of crossing, perhaps? Yet after a week of contemplation, he still had no idea what it actually did.

  Just as he lost himself in thought, a hoarse voice called out from the courtyard below, “Karian!”

  Peering over the edge of the roof, Karian saw the familiar figure of Elder Ellison, the headmaster of Palos Magic School, standing at the gate. With a quick movement, he rushed downstairs, his messy gray-white curls tumbling about as he hurried to meet the elder.

  Upon reaching the gate, he opened it wide. “Elder Ellison, please, come in!”

  Ellison, leaning on his staff, shook his head. “I won’t. But what have you decided about the Red Leaf Academy issue?”

  Karian’s face fell, a sorrowful expression overtaking him. “Elder, closing Red Leaf Academy... It’s too hard to accept. It’s worse than Grandma Susan’s pies!”

  Ellison shot him an irritated glance. “Speak plainly!”

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  “No!” Karian answered firmly. “I would rather die than let you close Red Leaf Academy.”

  Red Leaf Academy was a branch of Palos Magic School, but its decline had been steep. Talent was scarce, students were dwindling, and three months ago, the academy’s headmaster had gone missing during a dangerous mission. The school's higher-ups were certain he was dead, and they had decided to shut the academy down.

  But the original Karian had grown up there. It was his home. And now, it was Shi Lu, carrying the torch, unwilling to let it die.

  Ellison scowled. “You’re the only teacher left. What do you think you can still teach? This estate belongs to the school, not you. We can’t waste it on a dying academy.”

  Karian clenched his fists, his voice steady. “Elder, this is unreasonable. The headmaster is only missing! You can’t just erase what he’s built.”

  Ellison’s expression hardened. “How many times do I have to tell you? The headmaster’s chances of survival are near zero. And even if Feins were alive, it doesn’t matter. Red Leaf Academy has been failing for years. Don’t forget, if a branch academy ranks last for five consecutive assessments, it’s deemed beyond saving.”

  Karian’s voice grew sharper. “We still have one chance! Don’t close it yet.”

  Ellison was furious now. “What good is waiting? Do you really think you, a junior teacher, with only a handful of students, can turn things around? Stop dreaming!”

  He paused, taking a deep breath. “The only student of note is Mia. She has talent. With three months left before the graduation assessment, closing the academy would give her a better chance at passing if she transferred.”

  At the mention of Mia, Karian hesitated. Mia was one of Red Leaf’s brightest students, but with no resources, her talent was wasted. A transfer might offer her a real shot at becoming a formal mage.

  But before Karian could respond, a voice cut through the tension. “I’m not going anywhere!”

  Mia, a determined fifteen-year-old with blonde hair and lake-blue eyes, stood in the courtyard, out of breath from her jog. She had overheard everything.

  Karian understood her feelings. Red Leaf was her home, the only family she had, and she wasn’t about to leave.

  Ellison, however, was unmoved. “You’re 15, Mia. If you don’t pass the assessment, you’ll never become a mage!”

  “I can pass at Red Leaf!” Mia shot back, running off again.

  Ellison’s fury flared. “Stop!” he ordered, raising his staff.

  Karian, fearing a confrontation, quickly intervened. “Elder, please, let me talk to her.”

  Ellison, seething, pointed a finger at him. “Talking won’t help. Mia refuses to accept reality. You have to close the academy to save her future.”

  Karian felt the weight of the decision. He knew Ellison was right—Mia’s talent would be wasted if she stayed at Red Leaf. But he couldn’t bear the thought of closing the academy. It was the only home the students had.

  As Ellison left, disappointed, he handed Karian a magical crystal. “Give this to Mia. It might help her.”

  Karian watched the elder walk away, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. The academy’s fate was hanging by a thread, and he was the only one left to decide.

  He glanced at the crystal in his hand. Ellison wasn’t trying to destroy Red Leaf. He was doing this for Mia’s sake—she deserved better than what Red Leaf could offer.

  But Karian couldn’t help but wonder... What would he do?