Jung Seoyeon hurried as best as she could. She was not a Mage who had any means to bolster her speed with her spells, so she did the best as humanly possible.

  The lives of budding Mages were on the line—the lives of children. In the past two years since she had come to become a professor at Prestige Academy, she had never encountered such a situation as she had today. A child depending on mysterious drugs for a spike in power? That would have been absurd to her ears if only it wasn’t occurring right at the moment. What could have possibly troubled Nikolai so much that he had no choice but to lean in on such measures? And why hadn’t she noticed? Why hadn’t she?

  This was the whole reason she had become a professor at one of the most prestigious Mage Academies in the world. It was so that she could prevent Mages from rushing to their deaths—to make sure that they were strong enough to protect themselves. She never wanted to witness a death again. Never.

  So, why? Why was she staring at a student growing cold? Why was she staring at Merlin turn pale?

  “Professor?” Nora sniffled, an arm wrapped around her brother as he rested on her lap, while the other dangled at her side. Her eyes were red and tears rushed out of them; her lips quivered, and her body was dirtied beyond belief. “Please help him,” she begged. “He’s cold. He’s too cold.”

  Jung Seoyeon took a step forward. She glanced at the scene. The Open field was home to a wreckage it had never seen before. Nikolai was back to normal and lying unconscious not too far from where Chima and Hakyun flanked Nora and Merlin.

  She bit her lower lip as she arrived at Merlin’s location.

  “What happened?” she asked, knowing fully well that he had probably done something similar to what he had in his altercation against Sangook. Depending on how he used his abilities, it was detrimental to his health.

  His anti-magic was dangerous.

  “He…” Nora tried to speak, but she couldn’t seem to form the words. “He…” She croaked on her voice once again.

  “He brought Nikolai back,” Chima said on Nora’s behalf. “Is there anything we can do, professor? Unlike last time, he’s not pale because he lost his body heat. This is worse.”

  Professor Jung nodded. “It is.” She took a deep breath and calmed herself. Now was not the time to be frozen by emotions. She had to take action. She knelt down and took a hold of his hand. “His mana has been gravely hurt,” she said.

  “What do you mean by that, professor?” Hakyun asked.

  Professor Jung closed her eyes and traced her finger over Merlin’s palm. “Whatever happened with Nikolai caused his mana to suffer serious injuries. Merlin isn’t the one who’s injured, it’s his mana.”

  “Then why is he dying?!” Nora couldn’t hold herself back.

  Chima placed a hand on her shoulder. “Relax. Merlin won’t die.” He forced a smile. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

  Jung Seoyeon really didn’t know what to say to those words. She decided to answer Nora’s question instead.

  “Mana is part of a Mage’s lifeforce. They have become one with a Mage, sharing their body, energy, nutrients, and knowledge,” she said. “Just as a Mage’s mana will die if the Mage dies, so will a Mage die if their mana dies.”

  Nora bit her lower lip. Jung Seoyeon could see the countless thoughts that flashed through the young girl’s mind. She pressed her lips together.

  “Is there nothing we can do?” Hakyun asked. “If we just let him lie there, he really will end up dying.”

  Jung Seoyeon looked over her shoulder; there was no sign of the headmaster yet. Hakyun was right; if they let time keep flowing like this, Merlin will really die. She had to do something. And there was only one option.

  “There is,” she said. “Mana donation.”

  The expressions of the three conscious students froze on their faces.

  “Mana donation?” Nora asked.

  Jung Seoyeon looked once more at Merlin. “Just like blood donation, it’s transferring mana from one Mage to another.”

  Life returned to Nora’s face. “Then… I’m his twin! I can share with him my mana. How do I do it?”

  Jung Seoyeon shook her head. “I’m sorry, Nora, but that’ll be impossible. Just like blood donations rely on blood types, mana donation relies on the compatibility of Mage Classes. If you donate your mana to Merlin, his will reject yours, which will only hasten his death.”

  Nora bit her lower lip. “Then what do we do? He’s the only Deficient Mage in the Academy.”

  Jung Seoyeon glanced at Hakyun. “A D-Class Mage can work,” she said. “They’re closer to a Deficient Mage than any other Class of Mages. Their mana will not cause a whiplash.”

  Hakyun’s eyes widened. “Then, let me…”

  “But you’re exhausted, aren’t you?” Jung Seoyeon added. “If you donate your mana, you’re going to die, best case scenario. Worst case scenario, your mana isn’t enough and you both die. Our best option is to hurry back to the Academy’s main grounds and search for a D-Class Mage willing to donate.”

  “Then let’s get a move on,” Chima proposed, making a move to lift Merlin onto his back.

  “There’s no need for that,” a voice said from behind them, snapping their gazes in its direction. Nikolai was walking towards them, an arm around his stomach, exposed from his clothes having been ripped apart, and his face bearing a pained expression. “I’m a D-Class Mage as well, and it’s my fault that Merlin is that way. Let me donate my mana.”

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  Jung Seoyeon narrowed her eyes at Nikolai, studying him. “You’re almost as exhausted as Hakyun, Nikolai. You may die.”

  Nikolai knelt down before Merlin. His eyes lingered over the boy’s pale face for a moment before he sighed.

  “Please let me do this, professor. I beg you.”

  Jung Seoyeon pinched her eyes. She thought of resisting until the end, but, truthfully, Merlin wouldn’t last if they hurried towards the Academy’s main grounds to seek help. She really didn’t want any of her students to die, but at the rate things were going, there might be no escaping that.

  In that case, then she would have to make sure Nikolai didn’t live with regret. She resolved herself and nodded.

  Nikolai gave a soft smile in return. “How do I do it?” he asked.

  “Channel your mana into the pores in his fingertips,” said Jung Seoyeon. “That is all.”

  Nikolai nodded, then turned to Hakyun, Chima, and Nora. “I’m really sorry, and thankful.” He grabbed Merlin’s hand and channeled his mana as he had been instructed. “When Merlin wakes, please tell him I’m sorry and very much grateful as well.”

  Nora’s shoulders dropped slightly. She took a deep breath and slapped Nikolai, drawing gasps from everyone else.

  “Fool,” she said. “Tell him yourself.”

  Nikolai chuckled softly. “Then I’ll hope I can instead.” He turned back to Merlin, fighting back the quiver in his hands, and closed his eyes. The air bristled with life as Nikolai’s hand turned blue; his mana rushed out of his body.

  The darkness this time was different; it was cold and lonely.

  Merlin realized that he was no longer in Nikolai’s inner world. It seemed the explosion had forced him out of it and thrown him back into his body. Then the fact that he was unable to snap out of his trance meant that he was no longer in a trance. In other words, he was dying.

  Merlin wanted to chuckle, smile at the absurdity of his situation, but he couldn't feel his body or any nerves. All he could do was think. So he did just that, hoping that he had least saved Nikolai from a traumatic fate. That was the reason why he had rid himself of so much mana that he was now on the verge of death after all. It would be pointless if they both died.

  He wondered how his parents would feel when they found out that he had truly gone and killed himself. He hoped that they wouldn’t be too harsh on the headmaster. It wasn’t the man’s fault; he had walked down this path of his own accord. But that was probably wishful thinking on his part. Headmaster Im Ilseong was going to be having an earful from his mother.

  Merlin thought of himself laughing. Shortly after, his mind got heavy. He was trying to take his mind away from the fact that he really was about to give up the ghost, but it wasn’t proving effective.

  The truth was, he didn’t want to die.

  He still had so many things he wanted to do, so many things he wanted to try out. He still wanted to bicker with Nora more, talk to Chima and Hakyun more, go out on more dates with Janeth, and bother Sunny for advice. He still wanted to live longer.

  He didn’t want to die.

  A wave of warmth washed away the cold cloaking Merlin then, and with its presence, the darkness cracked and shattered as though made of glass.

  Merlin, shocked by the situation, turned over where he was, realizing that he actually still possessed a body. His mind trembled as his eyes were assaulted by a bright blue light which chased away the darkness, shattering it completely. In that blue light, he saw a familiar face and a familiar hair made of silver.

  Nikolai?

  Nikolai blessed Merlin with a smile and stretched forth a hand.

  Merlin’s brows narrowed at the sight.

  If he was dying and Nikolai suddenly appeared to offer him a hand, then that meant that they were trading places, weren’t they? Or was he being too negative? What would happen if he took that hand? Would Nikolai die in his stead? Then what would be the essence of all he’d done? It would all be pointless.

  Merlin hesitated.

  “Relax, Merlin,” Nikolai’s apparition said, his voice echoing through the space. “It’s not like I intend to die either.”

  “Then why are you here?” Merlin asked.

  “To make sure you don’t die,” he said. “To make sure we both live.”

  Merlin pursed his lips. “Make no mistake, Nikolai. I do want to live too. But if that means you’ll have to sacrifice yourself, then I’ll have to reject. I did what I did to save you. It’ll be pointless if I end up dying.”

  “I told you,” said Nikolai. “I don’t intend to die. I have something to tell you.”

  Merlin’s heart skipped a beat. “What is it?”

  “You know how a Mage’s mana shares the same consciousness as the Mage?” said Nikolai. “Take my hand and you’ll find out what I have to say.”

  Merlin glanced at Nikolai’s outstretched, hesitating briefly. He decided at the end to trust the inherent survival instinct of mankind. Hopefully, Nikolai wasn’t the same as him and he truly would survive.

  Merlin sighed. “I won’t forgive you if you die on me.”

  “Don’t worry,” Nikolai added with an even brighter smile.

  Merlin resolved himself and hovered towards Nikolai’s apparition and took the boy’s hand.

  In that instant, the first words he heard were, “I’m truly sorry, Merlin. I hope you forgive me.”

  Merlin’s brows narrowed. He tried to yank his hand free, but Nikolai grabbed onto it hard and pulled him even closer. Before Merlin could blink, the warm, blue light surrounding Nikolai engulfed him.

  Merlin gasped for air as his eyes shot open. His gaze met those of Nora’s and he frowned weakly. Her eyes were the most red he had ever seen. She must have been bawling her eyes out. He reached for her cheek as she stared at him speechless.

  “What is this?” he joked as he wiped a tear from her face. “Did you get beaten by the rain?”

  Nora’s lips quivered. “Merlin~” she mumbled. “You stupid nerd. Did you really want to kill yourself?”

  Merlin smiled and shifted his eyes away from her face as her tears fell on him. Chima stood frozen behind her, looking the most relieved Merlin had ever seen him. Hakyun was no different. They both stood silent, staring at him. He smiled even brighter at them, then turned towards Professor Jung. She was kneeling beside him, worry etched on her face.

  “Professor?” Merlin croaked. “You’re here?”

  “You called me,” she said. “Where else would I be if not here?”

  Merlin pressed his lips together and nodded. At that moment, his mind snapped back as he recalled what had transpired to bring him back to life. His eyes widened and he flashed his gaze around.

  “Where—” He coughed. “Where’s Nikolai?” He couldn’t find the boy’s body anywhere. “Did he—? What happened to him? Please tell me he’s alive.”

  Professor Jung smiled. “You almost died and you’re worried about another?” She slapped a palm on her forehead. “Truly, you remind me of my brother.” She took a deep breath and exhaled. “Rest assured, Merlin. The headmaster arrived just in time. He took off with Nikolai on his back. He’ll be administered treatment, and will most certainly live.”

  Merlin’s body relaxed as he heard those words. He fell back fully into Nora’s embrace, breathing out a breath of relief.

  “Thank goodness,” he said. “I’m bummed that I missed the headmaster giving a piggyback ride, though.”

  Professor Jung chuckled. “Help will be here soon to take you to the ward,” she said, rising to her feet. “You did well, Merlin Tyrrell.”

  Merlin smiled. Now was the perfect time to feel a bit smug.

  “I know.”