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Chapter 61: The Field & The Cave
Last Updated:
2025-04-16 07:50:48
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The first thing I noticed was the chill of the water. My body ached as I stirred slightly, the stream’s gentle current lapping against my legs. “This damn curse,” I muttered bitterly, groaning at the pounding in my head. I was lying on the bank, half-submerged, with the cool rush of water sliding over my arms. My clothes—or what little remained of them—clung to my skin, heavy with moisture. “Why tonight of all nights?” I grunted, almost weeping. “Celene’s going to raise hell on my head for coming back late again.” I barely had the strength to lift myself, forced to wait a few seconds for the beast to fully settle into the void before I could regain control of my body. This was the fourth time she had taken over in the past six months—the beast inside me. A demonlike creature that dragged my consciousness into the dark void at the back of my mind when her hunger grew too strong. That was the part I hated the most—the dark void. It was a suffocating, empty space where I couldn’t see
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The hand covering my mouth was impossibly strong. I kicked out wildly, my nails scraping against a muscular arm that held me firm. My heart thundered in my chest, panic rising like a hurricane. Even with the beast's persistent energy coursing through me, I couldn't break free. 'I can't die like this,' I thought, fear tightening its grip on me. 'Not at the mercy of another predator?' Before I could wrestle free, a calm, steady voice whispered against my ear."Relax, child," it said, smooth yet commanding. "The beast won't harm you now." My entire body froze. The deep voice—it was familiar, but in a way that made chills run through me. My mind raced as I strained to see his face through the dim moonlight, but all I could make out was a shadowy figure. And then it hit me.He was the one who had been giving orders earlier, leading the search party. 'Why is he helping me?' I wondered. 'Does he think I'm just another victim?' When his hand finally released me, I stumbled back, gasping
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"You . . . you know?" My voice trembled, barely above a whisper.Kema’s golden eyes locked onto mine, unwavering and piercing. “Of course, I know,” he said bluntly, his tone calm yet sharp. “You think I wouldn’t recognize the signs?”My legs felt like they might give out as the weight of his words settled over me. 'He knew. Then . . .' I summoned the courage to look him directly in the eyes—but that didn't last, as I'd dropped my gaze just as fast to the ground, both frightened and red-faced. "Then why did you lie for me? I don't understand?" I cringed, and took some steps back. Still looking away from him, I asked, "What do you want?""If I wanted you dead . . ." he said, walking to me. For some reason, I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. Even the stupid beast in me didn't help this time. "You'd be dead." He added when he got close enough to hold my arm. His grasp was firm—dominating.“You’re lucky I found you before they did,” he continued, his voice deep and resolute, like eve
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As I walked back home, I forced myself to think back, trying to recall the evening. Celene, my stepmother, had sent me on one of her ridiculous errands. She’d insisted I pick up a hemmed cloak from the seamstress on the far side of the village, even though we both knew it wouldn’t be ready. I suspected she only wanted to keep me from surprising my father with dinner at his forge.She’d watched me spend the entire afternoon preparing his favorite meal, her lips curling into that familiar, spiteful smile.‘Of course, the witch couldn’t let me have a moment of peace,’ I thought bitterly.The memory was blurry after that. I’d left the seamstress’s shop and walked through the village. Then, as I approached the quiet stretch of road near the fields, I felt it—her presence.The beast’s dark, suffocating aura descended on me, digging into my senses. Her voice came next, low and demanding, resonating in my mind like a drumbeat.“I'M HUNGRY, JADE. I NEED MEAT."I shivered at the memory. She alw
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"Where's what, ma'am?""Is your head full of bricks?" Celene sneered. "Where's the thing I asked you to get for me? I don't see it on you." She eyed me from head to toe like I was dressed in shit."Can't this wait?" My father protested. He sat silently at the far end of the table, his face drawn, his shoulders heavy."Why wait, honey?" She smiled at him. "I'm only asking if she did the errand I'd asked her to do. Is that so bad?" She asked, eating her soup. "So?" She raised a brow at me."The cloak isn't ready yet, so I've returned empty-handed . . . ma'am.""Oh, I see," she twirled her spoon in the air. "How sad," she jested, letting out a small laugh.I glanced at my father, hoping for even the smallest sign of defense, but his gaze stayed fixed on his plate.I waited a bit, the clanking of utensils filling the air, and then finally said, "May I leave?"“Tomorrow, you’ll scrub the floors, polish the silver, and tend to the garden.” Celene leaned back, one perfectly manicured hand re
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Marie’s room was quiet, her small figure settled on a stool as she waited for me to untangle her golden curls. Her innocent smile was a balm for my aching heart, and for a brief moment, the storm of emotions inside me calmed.I picked up the brush from her bedside table and ran it gently through her hair. The golden strands shimmered in the soft light of the candle on her nightstand.“You’re so nice, Jade,” Marie said softly, breaking the silence. “I wish everyone else was nice to you too.”Her words hit me harder than I expected. I paused mid-stroke, swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat. “That’s very sweet of you to say, Marie,” I said, my voice trembling just enough to betray the emotion behind my words. “But don’t worry about me, okay? You just focus on being the wonderful little girl you are.”“But I do worry,” she said, turning to face me, her blue eyes wide with concern. “I hear them talk about you, and it’s not fair. You’re not bad. You’re not a witch like they say.
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Jade: The Hybrid Mage Chapter 61: The Field & The Cave
They weren’t just fast.They were coordinated.Hundreds of sharp-eyed nightmares, darting across the grass with freakish rhythm. Beaks snapping, talons gleaming, thick sinewy muscles built for chasing and shredding. If I hadn’t spent fifteen days sharpening my instincts in the isolation chamber, I’d be a torn-up mess before midday.I dodged left, rolled under a leaping pair, and kicked one away before it clawed my thigh. They circled back, unrelenting.Naila’s voice had been quiet since I stepped into isolation. I knew she hadn’t left—her presence still hummed at the back of my mind, silent and still, hibernating deep in the dark void.She said her time in the God's domain had taken a toll on her resolve, and she needed time alone to recover.But it was moments like this I missed her most.If she were here, she’d tell me how to beat this. How to capture them.But right now? I was alone.Two hours passed.Two. Whole. Hours.I hadn’t caught a single one.The most I’d managed was knockin
Jade: The Hybrid Mage Chapter 60: Welcome to the Barracks
The main hall was still empty when I asked the system for an update.“All RGT Selects have transitioned to advanced training with the five-year cadets,” it replied. “Except Cadet Orin, who remains in Isolation Chamber Nine.”So they’d all made it through.I had passed reflection training last. But apparently, I wasn’t the only one still left behind.I was just about to leave when the door to Chamber Nine hissed open.Orin stepped out.His shirt was soaked through. His arms hung heavy at his sides. Eyes slightly unfocused.We locked eyes.“Hey,” he muttered.“Hey,” I replied quietly.He didn’t stop walking. Just gave me a tired nod and moved toward the exit.“See you at the barracks.”I watched him go, understanding too well the weight in his step.He’d won the fight.But he’d lost the race.After the longest shower of my life and a hot meal that nearly brought me to tears, I made my way to the five-year barracks.It was louder than I expected.Cadets jogged in lines across the courtya
Jade: The Hybrid Mage Chapter 59: Isolation
(Back to Jade's POV)The chamber sealed shut behind me.No sound. No wind. Just a dim glow humming from the ceiling and the faint static of the training panels.This was isolation training. Me versus me. Me versus her.The reflection.But I wasn’t going to beat Petrusia’s reflection by throwing punches blindly in here. I needed more than stamina. I needed instinct.So I trained.Every day followed the same rhythm.Five hours in the mind realm.The system had crafted a simulated world just for me—a time-warped bubble where one day outside equaled ten inside. I’d spend five 'outside' hours locked in that space, which meant nearly fifty hours passed in there. Two straight days of combat packed into one session.The mind realm wasn’t gentle.It was where I sharpened my instincts. Battled wave after wave of randomized combat trials—dummies, wild beasts, humanoids, constructs, and variants. The enemies never repeated. Never got predictable. Every blow I dodged, every parry I missed, every s
Jade: The Hybrid Mage Chapter 58: Shifting Lines
Jade had been gone for three days.No one had seen her. No one had heard from her. Not even the system had offered any updates beyond: “Cadet Jade Ishola remains in isolation. Training active.”But her absence lingered in the air.The reflection platforms still gleamed. The Selects still trained.Nyomei stood center circle, already five rounds into the day. Her hair was damp with sweat, her jaw set tight. The familiar shimmer of twin opponents formed in front of her—two broad-shouldered werewolves with identical faces and cocky stances.They were champions. Like her.The same champions who always claimed first and second—leaving her to settle for third.Today would be different.The sixth round started.They came at her fast, in sync as always—but she didn’t give them time to control the rhythm. Her wolf instincts kicked in before thought could. She moved like water and struck like tempered steel, slipping between their swings and counters.A low sweep took the first down.The second
Jade: The Hybrid Mage Chapter 57: One Minute, Seven Seconds
I didn’t make it past sixty-eight seconds.One minute and seven seconds, to be exact.That was my best attempt so far against the reflection of Petrusia—the artificial construct conjured by the system that fought with all of Petrusia’s best traits but none of her weaknesses.I’d lasted nine seconds during our first match.This was supposed to be an improvement.It didn’t feel like one.I lay flat on my back, breathing hard, staring at the high ceiling of the reflection chamber while the fluorescent runes on the platform dimmed down around me.“One minute and seven seconds,” the system confirmed. “Cadet Jade Ishola: Defeated.”The words echoed like a taunt.I sat up slowly, brushing sweat from my brow and fighting the sting of frustration rising in my throat.Why was I still this weak?I’d trained. Fought. Thought. Bled.And still, I couldn’t lay a finger on her. Not one.“The reflection was modeled on Princess Petrusia of Króna,” the system said, as if offering comfort. “Royal werewol
Jade: The Hybrid Mage Chapter 56: Reflection Training
We were still catching our breath—figuratively and literally—when Nyomei flopped onto the floor and groaned loud enough for the entire Sky Border to hear.“Tag? With someone who has portal magic? How was that even fair?” she cried. “The moment she touched her vest, we were doomed!”Brand, ever the ray of sunshine, crossed his arms and said, “Stop making excuses. You lost. Train harder.”Lotanni scoffed. “Alright, lover boy, calm down. She’s not wrong. That match was set up to humble us.”“I’m not—” Brand stopped short, then sighed. “Whatever.”“I still can’t believe I got tagged first,” Orin muttered darkly. “First! I blinked, and her hand was in a portal slapping the life out of me.”He turned to Bainer. “Why didn’t you get tagged first?”Bainer raised an eyebrow. “What does that even mean?”“She’s saying you were supposed to be the softest target,” Nyomei added with a smirk, then patted Orin’s back. “There, there. Don’t cry.”Orin jerked away. “Who’s crying?”Nyomei burst into laugh
Jade: The Hybrid Mage Chapter 55: Tap Tap
The next day’s training began with an odd tension in the air. Not the usual dread from a brutal combat assessment or another mind-warping illusion. This was something else.We all felt it.Brand, especially.We stepped into the training chamber to find a single figure already waiting for us—lean, composed, draped in the gray-black combat robes of a senior Watcher. She had short silver hair and deep brown skin that glowed under the fluorescent lights. Her stance was relaxed, but something about her presence made the air feel sharper.“Oh stars,” Nyomei breathed. “Is that . . . Lysar Fallan?”“Who?” Lotanni whispered back.“Lysar,” Bainer echoed. “As in—the Lysar? The prodigy who made the A-Class list as a second-year? The one who knocked down three smug royal werewolves in a ranked match?”“Number eleven on the potential successor list for Commander,” Nyomei added. “She’s that good.”And standing beside me, Brand—the usually composed, deadpan, untouchable Brand—was sweating.Actually s
Jade: The Hybrid Mage Chapter 54: Clash at Dusk
We were all still buzzing from the first day of training, bodies sore but minds wired. Lotanni wouldn’t stop humming some tune none of us recognized, Nyomei kept reviewing her own footwork in the air like she was still on the podium, and Bainer looked like she was trying to pretend her muscles weren’t burning.“So we survived the system’s welcome test,” Lotanni said, stretching her arms overhead. “Think tomorrow it’ll start throwing real swords at us?”“I’ll take swords over more mental projections,” Nyomei muttered. “Pretty sure mine showed my fifth birthday party. I hate cake now.”“Good,” I said dryly. “More for me.”Orin and Brand had peeled off in another direction, heading toward the male lodges on the east side of the grounds. The rest of us were on our way back to the female quarters, winding through the stone corridor path flanked with glowing moss and quiet torches.That’s when we heard them.A cluster of low laughter, sharp and deliberate, spilling out from the mouth of the
Jade: The Hybrid Mage Chapter 53: Training Begins
The training room looked like something from a dream. Or a nightmare. I couldn’t decide which.Fluorescent walls shaped into a perfect octagon surrounded us. The white glow of the platforms beneath our feet hummed with subtle power, keeping us slightly suspended in the air. Everything about the room whispered of ancient brilliance—Gyrange’s final forge, they'd called it. Built by the most legendary Magic Engineer in history. And now it was watching us.Literally.“Does it feel like we’re being judged by the walls?” Bainer whispered beside me, shifting her weight uncomfortably on her podium.“They’re alive,” Orin muttered, half to himself. “I’ve heard of this place. It’s reserved for ranked Watchers only. Records everything—every move, every error. Even has a voice.”“Great,” I mumbled. “No pressure at all.”The sound of Commander Kema’s voice rang through the room, deep and calm. “You are now inside one of the most adaptive training environments in the realm. This chamber will push yo
