Gravity Mage with Level-Up System

From the MC's Perspective:

The Following Day

After getting ready, I stepped out of the dorm building and felt the cool morning breeze against my face. My thoughts were still tangled in yesterday's intense discussion, replaying every word and lingering in my mind.

I wasn't sure when the time would be right to act or make a decision. Shaking my head, I pushed those thoughts aside, knowing they would only distract me.

As I made my way towards the Sub-Taboo Hall, my stride quickened, yet my mind was still buzzing. Upon arriving, I went through the familiar routine, swiping my ID at the entrance. The door clicked open, but what awaited me inside was unexpected.

To my surprise, two familiar faces were seated around the large, dimly lit table: Sister Carolina, with her usual warm but perceptive smile, and Senior Brother Gilbert, who was calm but always appeared lost in thought. Both looked at me as I entered.

"Vincent, you came late today," Carolina greeted me with a teasing smile, her sharp eyes glinting, as if she had expected something from me.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

On the other hand, Gilbert looked up from the scrolls he had been scanning and added with a dry chuckle, "It's really surprising to see you not causing any trouble today."

I couldn't help but smile at their words, amused by their reactions, as I casually took a seat across from them. Their familiarity was oddly comforting, though the weight of the conversation I was about to start pressed heavily on my chest.

Without hesitation, I leaned forward and asked, "Senior, how are things at the Capital and the border?"

My words seemed to strike a nerve. Carolina's playful expression dropped, and she became visibly serious, while Gilbert raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback by the question.

Carolina leaned in closer, her voice now sharper with concern. "Are you planning to sneak out? Vincent, you better not be thinking about it."

Gilbert, his brow furrowing, chimed in with a sigh, "Vincent, things are worse than they were before. It's dangerous outside right now. Going anywhere near the borders is out of the question."

I blinked in surprise, their sudden reactions catching me off guard. My mouth twitched slightly as I tried to process their assumptions. "Sneaking out?" That wasn't my plan at all—I was just making casual conversation. But now it seemed like they were convinced I was plotting something reckless.

"I didn't mean…" I began, but the misunderstanding had already set in.

Gilbert noticed the hesitation in my expression, his sharp eyes narrowing as he decided to offer more insight into the gravity of the situation. His voice took on a somber tone, and the weight of his words filled the room with a palpable tension.

"You don't fully understand the situation yet," Gilbert began, leaning back in his chair, crossing his arms. "The border situation is far worse than anyone realizes. The two neighboring countries aren't just watching—they're testing us, sending high-level wizards into our territory to provoke and push our defenses."

He paused, allowing the severity to sink in before continuing. "The Meteor Country, in particular, has been relentless. They've intensified their attacks, targeting vulnerable border towns. More than a dozen towns have already been wiped out in the confrontations, leaving nothing but ruin in their wake.

The civilians… they're fleeing in desperation. Entire towns are being reduced to ashes." His voice grew heavier, his expression dark. "No one knows when this will end. Even our highest-level wizards, the level-8s, have been dispatched without public notice. Their missions are top-secret."

He fixed his gaze on me, as if to drive the point home. "This isn't the time for you to be thinking about going outside. It's more dangerous than you could imagine."

Carolina, who had been silent during Gilbert's explanation, now shifted slightly in her chair, her curiosity piqued. "Senior Brother, what about Elder Galvin? He's been away from the academy for months. Is he ever coming back?"

A heavy sigh escaped Gilbert's lips, and his face softened with weariness. "Elder Galvin… he's been constantly on the move, dealing with one mission after another. The current chaos in the country has kept him busy beyond measure. With the situation escalating, I doubt we'll see him returning anytime soon."

His words hung in the air like a lead weight, thick with the uncertainty of the times.

I remained silent, my mind racing. Up until now, I had been too focused on my personal situation to really grasp how dire things had become in the country. I had underestimated just how strained our defenses were, how precarious the balance of power had become. But as I reflected on what Gilbert had said, a strange thought crept into my mind.

The Dark League… the other two academies… With everything going on, it seemed unlikely they would be able to spare the resources or attention to hunt me down.

If I were to leave, maybe, just maybe, they wouldn't have the energy to chase after me. Their focus would be elsewhere—on the conflict, on the borders, on the battles that threatened to engulf the entire nation.

Still, doubt lingered. Was this truly the right time to make a move?

"Vincent, what's going on with you?" Carolina's voice finally broke through the silence, her brows furrowed in concern. She had just realized that I hadn't participated in the conversation, barely speaking a word since I arrived.

Gilbert, too, looked up from his musings, his sharp eyes locking onto me. He had just spent time explaining how dire the situation in the country was, and I hadn't said a thing. His expression darkened slightly, suspicion flickering in his gaze.

"Don't tell me…"he thought to himself, "he's still planning to go out?""

I noticed their concerned stares and offered them a small smile, trying to ease the tension in the room. "I have important news to share with both of you," I finally said, my voice calm but laced with a weight that caught their attention immediately.

At that, both Carolina and Gilbert straightened in their seats, their expressions shifting from concern to curiosity. They weren't used to seeing me this serious—it was rare for me to be so tense, and that made them listen more intently.

Seeing their attentiveness, I continued, keeping my voice steady, "The Dean received an update from the Mage Union. My next academy has been decided." I paused for effect, watching their eyes widen before I revealed the news. "It's called the True Elements Society. One of the most powerful wizard organizations in the Ancient Redwood Country."

"Gasp!"

Carolina's reaction was instant. Her eyes widened in shock, and she audibly gasped, her hand rising to her mouth as she processed the sudden and unexpected news. I could see disbelief written all over her face, the impact of my words sinking in.

Gilbert, on the other hand, was silent, but the shock was unmistakable in his eyes. He had known this was coming—after all, I had told them before about the possibility of being transferred to another academy. But hearing the confirmation now, and so soon, clearly caught him off guard. His eyes flickered with understanding as the weight of the update settled in.

What stunned him even more, however, was the name of the country. "The Ancient Redwood Country," he repeated under his breath, the name holding a gravitas that filled the room. The Ancient Redwood Country wasn't just any nation—it was a "Super Large Nation", known for its vast power and influence, standing among the greatest of all the nations.

And what made it even more shocking was its proximity. The Ancient Redwood Country was the closest Super Large Nation to our own region, a neighbor whose shadow loomed over us all.

Carolina, still struggling to wrap her mind around it, looked at me with wide eyes. "Vincent… this is… massive." She couldn't hide the disbelief in her voice. She realizes that time for Vincent has come to leave the academy. They may not be able to see him anymore.

Gilbert, regaining his composure, leaned forward slightly, his voice quiet but intense. "The True Elements Society… in the Ancient Redwood Country?" He shook his head slightly, as if trying to comprehend what this all meant. "That's not just an ordinary academy, Vincent. It's a powerhouse. One of the best wizard organizations in the world.

You'll be walking into a completely different realm of power and influence."

I nodded, understanding the weight of what he was saying. My mind was already racing ahead, thinking about the challenges and opportunities that awaited me. But this was a decision I couldn't ignore.

The air in the room felt heavy with the gravity of the situation, but in that moment, I realized something. My path was becoming clearer, and I could no longer afford to hesitate.

I looked at them to observe their reactions. Seeing that the news have hit them hard. I sighed inwardly. It can't be helped. Especially, Senior Sister was hurt deeply.