Chapter 5

One year later…

The city was alive with energy, its streets crowded with people whose laughter echoed in every corner. The sunlight reflected off the building surfaces as if gently caressing them, while the sounds of people blended with the rhythmic tapping of their footsteps in perfect harmony. However, amidst this cheerful noise, Brylo was lost in his silence.

At the Sorcerers' Academy, Brylo sat on a wooden chair in the quiet garden. Surrounded by trees, their leaves swayed slowly with a heavy breeze that lacked any joy. His eyes were fixed on the ground, as if searching for something that had been lost. He looked exhausted, with pale features and dark circles under his eyes—clear testimony to his fatigue.

The laughter of the people around him repeated in his mind, like a distant echo that he couldn’t quite reach. But what truly haunted him was a childish voice and familiar laughter: the laughter of Itasha.

Then, like a hidden stab, the sharp voice of Smart echoed in his mind from a year ago:

"Defeating someone from the Raimo Clan... and now his friend. And at the hands of someone like me? Someone without your vaunted techniques? Pathetic."

The words repeated like an annoying bell, pulling at his breath and weighing heavily on his chest. A feeling of helplessness and defeat began to seep deep into him.

At that moment, Sbyam approached with quiet steps, his hand in his pocket, and his eyes filled with concern as he looked at his friend. He called out with a voice mixed with curiosity and warmth:

"Brylo...?"

Brylo didn’t respond. He seemed to be lost in his own world, distant from the sounds and faces around him. Sbyam took another step closer, his voice rising slightly:

"Are you okay? You look exhausted… You’ve lost so much weight, haven’t you?"

Brylo lifted his gaze for a moment, then quickly returned it to the ground. His thoughts were clashing within him. With a voice filled with loneliness and despair, he said to himself:

"After that incident… we lost Itasha. They took the Unlimited. And Sbyam became the strongest."

His voice was barely audible as he answered:

"No, I’m fine. Don’t worry."

Sbyam smiled cheerfully, breaking the tension, then sat next to him, placing his hand on Brylo’s shoulder in a friendly gesture:

"My friend! How about we play tennis?"

Brylo didn’t move. His eyes remained fixed on the ground, as if unwilling to escape the reality he was living.

Sbyam laughed lightly, stood up suddenly, and patted Brylo on the shoulder, saying:

"I’ll be on the court. Come when you’re ready."

As his footsteps faded, silence returned to the garden. Brylo stayed in his place, sitting in a deadly calm, engulfed in his exhaustion and inner struggle.

Everything around him pulsed with life, but he felt as though the entire world had frozen at that moment a year ago… the moment he lost everything.

—

In the open courtyard of the academy,

Moryo, the child (9 years old), stood before a wooden mannequin shaped like a human figure. His eyes were cold and steady, his icy features betraying no emotion. He exhaled softly before moving with remarkable fluidity; he performed a backflip with astonishing grace, kicking the mannequin forcefully with his back. The wooden piece shattered into two halves, but before the upper part hit the ground, a pulsating green spark enveloped it.

The piece froze in mid-air, as if time had stopped, while a radiant green energy extended from Moryo’s palms, forming a field around the broken mannequin.

At the entrance of the courtyard stood Trainer Surichi, watching the scene silently. His sharp eyes followed every movement of Moryo. The trainer was as stern as ever, but a faint glimmer of pride crept into his expression.

Moryo turned his head lightly towards the trainer, his voice low, his usual coldness evident:

"I’ve mastered the Time technique."

Surichi raised his eyebrows slightly, his voice carrying the weight of experience:

"Yes, I see that. You’re developing at an incredible pace, Moryo."

The green spark disappeared, and the wooden piece fell to the ground with a muffled thud. Moryo closed his eyes for a moment, then placed his hands in his pockets and walked slowly with confidence. There was no sign of care in his expression, only a deadly calm that made it hard to know what was going on inside him.

As he passed by Surichi, the latter halted him with a firm voice:

"You’ll go with Brylo on the mission."

Moryo did not stop and responded coldly without turning his head:

"I won’t go. Mr. Brylo is strong enough to handle the mission alone."

He left the courtyard with steady steps, as if the matter didn’t concern him. In the long corridor leading inside the academy, he met the young girl, Baysal (8 years old), who was waiting for him with an energetic and mischievous face. She stuck out her tongue in mockery:

"You fool!"

She walked away laughing, deliberately sticking her tongue out again in teasing. Moryo, however, remained completely calm, as if her actions didn’t even exist.

Baysal reached Surichi and looked up at him with childlike enthusiasm:

"Master Surichi, can I go with Mr. Brylo?"

Before Surichi could answer, a familiar, calm voice interrupted:

"Oi..."

Both turned to see Brylo walking confidently toward them. His hand was in his pocket, and a serene smile graced his lips, as if his presence filled the air with warmth.

Baysal's eyes sparkled with childlike excitement:

"Mr. Brylo!"

He chuckled lightly, then bent slightly to her level, extending his hand to gently ruffle her hair:

"Little Baysal! Do you really want to accompany me on this mission?"

She responded eagerly, her eyes sparkling:

"Yes!"

Brylo laughed, then pulled out a wrapped candy from his pocket and handed it to her with a warm voice:

"This is for you."

Baysal eagerly took the candy, opening it with childlike excitement, savoring its taste with an innocent smile. Brylo, in turn, looked at her with tenderness and a faint smile tinged with sadness.

The moment was interrupted by Surichi’s firm voice:

"Clearly, you’ll be going alone, won’t you?"

Brylo stood up and turned to look at Surichi, his voice calm and steady:

"Yes, I’ll go alone."

Baysal looked up at Brylo with childlike admiration. Surichi shook his head and said in a stern tone:

"Good luck."

Brylo responded with a calm smile:

"Thank you."

He ruffled Baysal's hair one last time, then turned and left the courtyard, his steps carrying the confidence of a man who knew what he had to do, but still burdened by the weight that had settled in his heart.

---

In the tennis court,

Sbyam stood in the middle of the court, dressed in athletic wear, holding his racket. Excitement flickered in his eyes as he spoke to himself:

"I’ll finish our previous argument!"

But a soft sound came from the open door, followed by the creak of it moving, causing Sbyam to stop his practice and glance toward the entrance. A gentle breeze swept through, slowly moving the hanging tennis net. A young woman in athletic wear entered, her steps light, her face hiding a clear shyness.

"Risa?!" Sbyam exclaimed in surprise, staring at her.

Risa paused upon hearing her name, turning her head with a shy smile:

"Sbyam? I didn’t know you were here."

Sbyam smiled playfully:

"It’s been a while, hasn’t it?"

Risa began walking toward the opposite side of the court, her hands behind her back, her eyes avoiding direct contact with him.

"Sorry... What are you doing here?" she asked softly, her voice filled with bashfulness.

Sbyam replied casually:

"I came to play with my friend Brylo. What about you?"

"Brylo? Where is he now?" Risa asked eagerly, trying to hide her excitement.

Sbyam grinned:

"He hasn’t arrived yet!"

Risa’s eyes lit up as she thought to herself:

"This is an opportunity I can’t miss… I’ll take the time to play with him!"

After a moment of hesitation, she took a step forward and said shyly:

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"If that’s the case… would you play with me until he arrives?"

Sbyam laughed lightly and responded eagerly:

"Why not?!"

Both returned to their starting positions. Sbyam held his racket with skill, while Risa remained tense, her eyes glued to the ground, her thoughts scattered. Sbyam shouted with a smile:

"Are you ready?"

But Risa didn’t answer; she was lost in thought, her cheeks flushed.

Sbyam looked at her with surprise, then suddenly vanished from his spot, leaving behind a faint trail of dust, and appeared beside her in the blink of an eye. Risa placed her hand over her heart, not sensing his presence until he gently tapped her shoulder.

"Ah!" she screamed in fright, stepping back a pace.

Sbyam, startled, shouted along with her:

"What happened?!"

They both stopped shouting in an awkward moment, staring at each other. Then Risa said with mild anger, trying to hide her embarrassment:

"You scared me!"

Sbyam laughed as he nervously scratched the back of his head:

"Sorry... I didn’t mean to."

Risa spoke with a shy voice, barely audible:

"It’s okay... don’t worry about it."

Sbyam took a step back and said:

"Alright, let me call Brylo and ask him where he is."

He reached into his pocket to pull out his phone, but Risa’s voice stopped him:

"Sbyam…"

He turned to her, inquiring:

"What?"

Risa lowered her eyes and whispered softly:

"Have you noticed what happened to Brylo over the past year?"

Confusion crossed Sbyam’s face:

"What do you mean?"

Risa lifted her head slightly, concern clearly written on her face:

"I feel like he’s suffering… he’s not the same anymore. He’s changed."

Sbyam furrowed his brow, his voice hesitant:

"Suffering? What do you mean?"

Risa suddenly raised her voice, clearly agitated:

"Because you’re a fool, Sbyam! You haven’t noticed anything!"

Then she added in a calmer tone, though her eyes were filled with worry:

"He’s become less interactive, less energetic. He’s closer to a shadow now… even with you, his dear friend."

Sbyam remained silent for a moment, staring at the ground, murmuring softly:

"I’ve noticed he’s lost some weight…"

Risa spoke nervously:

"That’s not all. He seems to be suffering from mental exhaustion… you need to talk to him."

Before Sbyam could reply, his phone suddenly rang. He pulled it out and looked at the screen:

"Master Surichi?"

He answered the call loudly:

"Hello, Master Surichi. Is something wrong?"

But as Surichi spoke, Sbyam’s expression slowly changed. His eyes widened in shock, and his breath became heavy. The air around him seemed to grow denser, and his voice dropped to a whisper:

"What?..."

The call ended, but Sbyam remained frozen in place, staring at the ground, his eyes filled with shock and fear.

"Sbyam?!" Risa called out, concerned, but she received no answer.

—

In a cellar of a small village,

The lighting was dim, and the air was thick with the smell of dampness and mildew. Brylo stood frozen, his face pale, his eyes locked on the two little girls huddled in the corner of the cell.

The girls were barely five years old, trembling, their innocent eyes filled with tears and fear.

The woman standing beside Brylo screamed, waving her hand with frantic anger:

"They’re monsters! Don’t let their innocent appearance fool you, kill them before they destroy us all!"

The old man added, his voice trembling with hatred:

"Kill them! If you don’t, a curse will fall upon you forever!"

Their shouts echoed in Brylo’s head, but he kept staring at the little girls. They clung to each other, silently crying, one of them gripping the hem of the other’s dress as if begging for protection.

Brylo muttered softly to himself, his voice cracked:

"They’re just little girls… they can’t be monsters. This is impossible."

But the voices of the old man and woman became like thunder in his ears:

"Kill them! Kill them now!"

A whirlwind of inner conflict surrounded Brylo, his hands trembling, his heart pounding violently. He saw himself reflected in the eyes of the little girls—fractured images of a broken man, caught between how others saw him and what he knew of himself.

---

Outside, the village was alive.

Children ran through the streets, women laughed on the doorsteps, and men gathered at the market square. Everything seemed normal.

But suddenly... a massive earthquake shook the earth. The houses rattled, and the ground cracked beneath the villagers’ feet. A huge chasm opened up in the center of the village, as if the earth had decided to swallow everything.

Screams of panic began to rise, and people ran aimlessly. Suddenly, dark purple whirlwinds appeared, like gates to hell, from which giant creatures emerged. Dragons with glowing eyes, their black scales cracked with violet light, surged from the portals.

The first dragon lifted its head high, then roared with strength, unleashing streams of fire from its mouth, burning houses to ash in an instant.

One villager screamed, trying to flee:

"What are you doing, you sorcerer?!"

As villagers fell into the chasms and fire surrounded the area, a young girl stood amidst the destruction, her face covered in soot, tears streaming down her face:

"Mom?! Help!"

The dragon lunged at her in an instant, fear filling her eyes, before she was swallowed by the flames.

---

Amidst the devastation,

Brylo stood outside the village, his body surrounded by purple sparks, his eyes glowing with anger. The two little girls, who had been in the cellar, now stood beside him, holding his hands, their expressions a mixture of fear and awe.

Brylo shouted angrily, as if flogging the sky:

"This is what you deserve, you filthy humans!"

Blood covered the ground, and the screams of the villagers echoed everywhere. People were falling one by one, while the dragons tore through the rest.

But amid this destruction, Brylo stood still, with the little girls beside him.

He froze in place, his mind beginning to crumble as he gazed at the ruin that had befallen the village, while the girls slowly approached him.

—

At the Sorcerer's Academy

The room was thick with tension. Its towering walls seemed to tremble beneath the echo of Sbyam’s screams, his fiery eyes fixed on his instructor, Surichi. But despite the intensity of his gaze, his voice betrayed an internal turmoil:

"Why?!"

Surichi’s face was clouded with a frown, his brows furrowed as if searching for the right words to respond. He placed a hand on his face, his voice heavy and exhausted, but laced with gravity:

"Don't make me repeat myself, Sbyam..."

Sbyam yelled once more, his tone filled with panic mixed with a deep-seated rage:

"I didn’t ask what... I asked why?!"

Surichi locked eyes with him, his gaze lingering for a moment before speaking slowly, as if fearing the weight of his words:

"I don’t know… No one was left. No child, no elder, no innocent… everyone is dead. The entire village was wiped out."

Sbyam stood frozen in place, his body rigid, his eyes vacant and lost in a dark void. Each word Surichi spoke seemed to reverberate in his mind, like the pounding of a hammer on a fragile wall. The room itself seemed to darken, as if the very air had thickened with the weight of what had been revealed.

Surichi continued, his voice more resolute this time, carrying a tone of finality:

"And the elders of the organization… they didn’t hesitate. They relieved Brylo of his duties, and a death sentence was issued."

The expression on Sbyam’s face crumbled, as if every shred of hope that had once clung to him shattered in an instant. His eyes widened in a mix of shock and terror, and his trembling hands could barely clutch the fabric of his cloak.

---

In the City

The city bustled with life, the markets crowded, and the pale faces moved lightly through the tangled noise of vendors and children. But amid this chaos, Brylo walked with confident steps, not wearing the sorcerer's robes, as if attempting to hide from any eyes that might recognize him.

He moved quietly, avoiding every glance, every whisper. Suddenly, a familiar voice pierced the silence of his thoughts. The voice carried a mixture of anger and panic:

"Explain, Brylo!"

Brylo stopped slowly, no trace of surprise on his face. He turned with a calm, deliberate motion to see Sbyam standing behind him, his eyes blazing with fury, staring at him as if the entire world had come to a halt.

Brylo replied coldly:

"Haven’t you heard the news?"

Sbyam clenched his fist, as though the anger consuming him was on the verge of exploding. He shouted, his voice filled with both panic and despair:

"Is this really your goal? Do you want to kill all humans and create a world only for sorcerers?"

Brylo stood motionless, his gaze unwavering, as if reflecting nothing but emptiness. He spoke with icy sarcasm, as though mocking every word Sbyam had just spoken:

"And were you expecting anything else from me?"

The air was suffocating, the mist creeping between the narrow streets as if it wanted to choke every breath. People moved like silent shadows, their eyes lost, as though they were mere ghosts trapped in a world that no longer belonged to them.

Sbyam and Brylo stood face to face, in the middle of all this stillness.

With a voice trembling but filled with fury, Sbyam asked:

"Do you really intend to leave?! "

Brylo looked at him, his eyes betraying nothing but a chilling cold. He replied in a low voice, yet one that carried a deadly edge:

"Yes!"

Sbyam took a step back, as though the words were a slap across his face. He said in a muffled voice:

"But... you know that’s impossible."

Brylo laughed, a soft laugh filled with derision, before responding:

"Oh, your arrogance! You’re telling me that while you’re the one who can do it?!"

The words struck Sbyam like a knife to the chest. For a moment, his eyes reflected an internal struggle, torn between anger, fear, and deep disappointment.

Brylo took a step forward, his tone sharper now, but still carrying that cold, deadly calm:

"Remember my words, Sbyam… No one will love you. You will remain alone. Your power is the only thing that will accompany you. And you will become a tool… to protect them. Just a tool, defending the weak."

He took another step, breaking the silence that had nearly consumed them, his voice low yet filled with a weight that seemed to suffocate the very air around them:

"Why are you the strongest? Are you the strongest because you’ve always been Sbyam Brius? Or did you become Sbyam Brius because you could only ever be the strongest?"

Sbyam’s features froze for a moment, as though the words had pierced deep into him without warning. His eyes widened slightly, but the anger within him refused to succumb to the shock. His hands clenched, and his chest heaved with the force of his breath, as though he was trying to find a reply to erase the sting of those words.

Meanwhile, Brylo turned with quiet grace, his dark cloak fluttering lightly in the faint breeze. He walked away slowly, as though time itself had frozen around him, leaving behind a trail of coldness and silence. Sbyam stood there, staring at his back, unable to move, drowning in his conflicting thoughts.

The city around them seemed to breathe in rhythm with the tension of the moment, and the shadows in the crowd swayed as though influenced by the heaviness in the air.

Sbyam remained there, rooted in place, the echo of Brylo’s words still resonating in his chest, leaving behind a feeling of betrayal and helplessness.

—

As the Evening Fell

The night settled in, and the sky blazed in deep orange, with twilight spreading across the horizon like a bleeding canvas. Sbyam stood on the stone steps of the academy, silently gazing at the ground. Beside him, Trainer Surichi stood, his face a mixture of resolve and concealed anxiety.

Surichi's voice broke the silence, firm yet tinged with quiet tension:

"Why didn’t you kill him?"

Sbyam raised his head slightly, his eyes gleaming with the weight of heavy thought:

"Are you really asking me that question?"

Surichi swallowed his own silence before responding, his voice laced with regret:

"I’m sorry."

The silence returned, thick and suffocating, as if the world itself had grown heavier.

Suddenly, Sbyam spoke, his voice tinged with quiet sadness and his gaze distant:

"Master... am I strong?"

Surichi chuckled dryly, his voice carrying the weight of experience:

"Yes, in a disgusting way."

Sbyam’s jaw tightened, but he lifted his head with determination, though tinged with the scars of unresolved wounds:

"Master, I want to become a teacher."

Surichi looked at him in surprise, hesitation flickering across his face before he replied, almost uncertain:

"What?"

Sbyam’s response was unwavering, despite the sadness that clouded his features:

"I want to build a new generation of sorcerers. I want to protect the future with my students!"

Surichi stared at Sbyam for a long moment, as though trying to comprehend the resolve emanating from a student who had transformed into a man burdened with the weight of the world. He watched quietly as Sbyam descended the academy steps, his steps firm, and his words echoing with the resonance of a great ambition.

---

Night had fallen, and the moon hung high like a watchful eye, its pale glow casting long shadows over the land. The world seemed to pause, the quiet wrapping itself around everything like a hidden cloak. But Brylo moved through it with purpose, stepping onto the cold stone of a vast courtyard. The wind bit at him, carrying the scent of damp grass, but he did not flinch.

Brylo entered, his footsteps echoing through the abandoned halls of the castle. Suddenly, a figure appeared before him. Raizo stood there, his shadow blending with the surrounding darkness, yet his eyes burned like flames in the void.

Raizo spoke in a soft voice, but there was an undeniable power behind it:

"Brylo Kraus?"

Brylo narrowed his eyes slightly, his response tinged with suspicion:

"How do you know my name?"

Raizo chuckled lightly, his tone nonchalant:

"Don’t worry about it."

Brylo glanced around the dimly lit room before locking his gaze back onto Raizo. He asked with clear intent:

"Is this the Rizsius organization?"

Raizo raised an eyebrow in mild surprise before answering with a smirk that hinted at something more beneath the surface:

"What do you want?"

Brylo’s voice was steady, unwavering:

"I want to join it."

Raizo laughed again, his amusement clear:

"Really?"

Brylo nodded, his confidence unshaken:

"Yes."

Raizo opened his arms wide, as if welcoming him into his own home, and said with a sly smile:

"Welcome. I have no objections."

Brylo remained silent, his eyes never leaving Raizo’s, as if studying him, analyzing every word and every motion. Raizo smiled in satisfaction, as though he had just acquired something valuable.

---

In the Sorcerer's Academy...

The young child Spailo stood before the massive wooden door of the academy. His innocent features and shining eyes revealed determination. He raised his small hand and knocked on the door, then waited.

After a few moments, the door creaked open, revealing Sbyam. He smiled at first, but his expression faltered when he saw a small child standing before him.

Sbyam blinked in surprise:

"A child? What do you want? Are you lost?"

Spailo raised his head with the unwavering confidence only a child could have and uttered words that shook Sbyam to his core:

"My name is Spailo Rashid, and I am the new bearer of the Unlimited Technique."

Sbyam’s eyes widened in disbelief, and he stared at the child as if seeing something otherworldly.

---

In the Dining Room…

Moryo and Baysal sat at the dining table in the academy, eating in silence, the clinking of utensils the only sound between them.

Baysal broke the silence, her curiosity getting the best of her:

"Moryo?"

Moryo looked up at her coldly, his chewing slow and deliberate. He didn't answer right away, his gaze distant.

Baysal continued, her tone filled with intrigue:

"I heard Master Surichi say your father's name is Smart. Is that true?"

Moryo shrugged, a flicker of indifference crossing his face as he replied:

"Yes."

Baysal raised an eyebrow, surprised:

"Then why do they call you Moryo Raiso?"

Moryo paused, the words seemingly weighed down by the history they carried. Finally, he answered in a calm tone, void of emotion:

"Raiso was my mother's former husband. He was from the Raipozi clan. My real father is Smart Bessix, but he wasn’t from the clan, so they refused to recognize him. That’s why I took my stepfather’s name."

Baysal stared at him, her face a mixture of shock and curiosity, her mouth slightly agape, as she tried to process the weight of his words.

---

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Sbyam entered the room with Spailo beside him, a wide grin on his face.

"We have a new member!" he beamed, his tone filled with pride.

Moryo and Baysal both looked up at the young child standing beside Sbyam, and Sbyam continued:

"He is the third member who will be under my training!"

Spailo, full of enthusiasm, grinned brightly and introduced himself:

"My name is Spailo Rashid. What are your names?"

But Moryo and Baysal, without a word, turned back to their meal, ignoring him. Spailo’s grin faltered, and he mumbled to himself:

"They didn’t show any interest…"

Sbyam sighed, his voice dripping with sarcasm:

"Ah, the cruelty of my students!"

---

The Present... (13 Years Later)

In Sbyam’s room, the soft sound of breathing filled the air as he slept in his comfortable chair. The serenity of the moment was broken by a familiar voice calling out to him:

"Master Sbyam! Hey, wake up!"

Sbyam slowly opened his eyes, his gaze blurred by sleep. He sat up, stretching, to find his students—Suero, Moryo, Baysal, Veb, and Kamyo—standing before him.

Baysal, looking at the luxurious chair Sbyam had been lounging in, raised an eyebrow in surprise:

"That chair looks expensive."

Suero, ever the thoughtful one, nodded:

"I think so."

Sbyam smirked cynically, standing up from the chair. His eyes swept over his students, a mixture of pride and sorrow in them as he gazed at them.

As they prepared to leave for Ronda, Sbyam stood still for a moment, lost in his thoughts, reflecting on the past—on the betrayals, the dreams that had been left unfulfilled.

But now, with quiet resolve, he was ready.

Thus ended the "Clash of Sorcery" Arc.