Night settled deep over the forest.
The camp of the young knights had finally grown quiet.
Most trainees were exhausted after a full day of survival training. Some slept inside poorly built shelters, while others sat miserably beside weak fires, swatting insects and complaining under their breath.
But Con's group was comfortable.
Their shelter stood firm.
Their fire burned evenly.
The smell of roasted fish still lingered in the air.
Daren leaned back against a tree trunk, stretching.
"Honestly, this expedition is easier than academy training."
Tomas nodded with a mouth full of leftover fish.
"Way easier."
Mikel snorted.
"That's because Con does half the work."
Jorin sat quietly nearby, staring into the dark forest.
Listening.
Like Con.
The forest had its own rhythm at night.
Crickets.
Leaves shifting gently.
Distant owls.
But suddenly—
Con's head tilted slightly.
Something new had entered the rhythm.
Heavy footsteps.
Very far away.
Slow.
Massive.
Branches cracking under weight.
Con listened carefully.
The creature was still distant, moving through dense trees.
But it was large.
Very large.
His brow furrowed faintly.
A bear.
A big one.
Still far enough away that none of the trainees noticed.
Even the instructors placed around the forest perimeter had not reacted.
But Con's hearing caught everything.
The creature's breathing.
The slow weight of its steps.
Its direction.
It was wandering.
And if it continued that direction—
Eventually it would reach the campsite.
Con quietly stood up.
Daren glanced at him lazily.
"Going somewhere?"
"Just a walk," Con replied calmly.
Tomas grinned.
"Night walk again?"
Con nodded slightly.
"Yeah."
His friends didn't question it.
Con had always done this.
Ever since they were children, he sometimes wandered alone at night. Said it helped him think.
So Daren waved him off casually.
"Don't fall into a river."
"I'll try."
Con smiled faintly and walked deeper into the forest.
Several minutes later, another figure moved quietly among the trees.
An instructor.
He had watched Con leave the camp.
At first, it was simple duty.
Trainees wandering alone at night were always monitored from a distance.
But there was another reason too.
Curiosity.
The blind boy had caught the instructors' attention many times during the expedition.
His survival skills were too perfect.
Too efficient.
The instructor wanted to observe him more closely.
So he followed.
Carefully.
Silently.
And most importantly—
He remained absolutely still whenever Con paused.
Because by now the instructor had realized something frightening.
The boy's hearing was extraordinary.
Almost unnatural.
If he made even the smallest noise—
Con would notice.
So the instructor moved like a shadow.
Breathing slowly.
Stepping only when wind rustled the leaves.
Never letting a branch snap.
Eventually—
Con stopped.
The instructor froze behind a thick tree.
Not moving.
Not breathing loudly.
Con stood in a small clearing.
His head tilted slightly.
Listening.
Ahead of him, something massive moved through the trees.
The instructor heard it too now.
A bear.
Huge.
Still approaching slowly.
The instructor's heart tightened.
If that creature reached the trainee camps—
It could injure several students before anyone reacted.
He considered stepping forward.
But before he could—
Con raised his hand.
The instructor froze again.
The blind boy stood calmly in the clearing.
Facing the direction of the approaching bear.
His voice whispered softly.
A strange language.
One the instructor had never heard before.
"Mana… Void."
For a brief second—
The world seemed to hold its breath.
Then the bear vanished.
Completely.
No sound.
No roar.
No body falling.
No blood.
No struggle.
The creature simply ceased to exist.
The forest returned instantly to silence.
The instructor's mind shattered.
He pressed his back against the tree, his entire body trembling violently.
His breathing nearly betrayed him, but he forced it quiet.
His eyes stared at Con in absolute horror.
Mana Void.
He knew that spell.
Every mage knew the name.
It was written in ancient texts.
A mythical spell.
One said to erase matter from existence itself.
A god-tier spell.
Not something humans could use.
Not even archmages.
Not even royal court magicians.
Only legends.
Only beings called Great Mages.
Or gods.
The instructor's hands shook uncontrollably.
His thoughts spiraled into panic.
That boy…
That blind boy just used Mana Void.
Without effort.
Without preparation.
Without even chanting properly.
The instructor stared at Con again.
The boy stood calmly in the clearing, lowering his hand.
Then he scratched the back of his head casually.
"…that felt easy."
His voice sounded almost puzzled.
Like he had expected more effort.
The instructor's stomach twisted with fear.
He doesn't even realize what he did.
Or maybe…
Maybe this level of magic is normal to him.
The instructor slowly stepped backward.
Carefully.
Slowly.
Making absolutely no sound.
If Con heard him—
He didn't want to imagine what might happen.
One step.
Then another.
He moved deeper behind the trees.
Still silent.
Still watching the terrifying young knight.
The instructor's mind repeated the same thought over and over.
That boy…
That boy is the Great Mage.
Finally, once he was far enough away—
He turned and hurried back toward the camp.
Still trying to keep quiet.
Still shaking.
Because he knew one thing for certain.
What he had just witnessed—
Was something the world was not ready to see.