Chapter 1
Stellarspire School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's Head of Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts, Adrian Voss, heir to the ancient Voss wizarding family, fell prey to the Shadow Coven's Memory Erosion Curse during the final siege against dark forces—all to shield his beloved Selene Frost.
I, Lydia Evermist, Stellarspire's Charms Instructor and Adrian's fellow alumna, stripped the smoke-stained enchanted robes from his unconscious form and lied: I was his fiancée.
For a decade, he lavished me with unwavering tenderness. He entrusted me with the Voss family's heirloom, the Holy Light Wand, and even stood guard as I neared the final stage of forging my magic core—the key to ascending to Master Wizard status.
Yet in the split second before my core solidified, the curse in his veins shattered.
He wrenched the Holy Light Wand away. A blinding burst of white magic erupted from its tip, shattering my magic veins as he watched my energy dissipate and my core splinter into dust.
"Lydia, this is the price of your deception," he said, his voice cold.
He blamed me for Selene's fate—claiming she would never have abandoned the wizarding world for the Muggle realm, the ordinary human society that wizards so often look down upon, if I hadn't stolen her place.
As my wizarding constitution teetered on collapse, Stellarspire School's alarm bells wailed in the distance.
With a band of students twisted by darkness at his back, Adrian had unleashed a bloodbath within the Charms Tower.
My mentor, colleagues, even the students I'd taught—all hung from the abandoned gallows on the Forbidden Forest's edge, their souls eroded into nothingness by dark magic.
As my last spark of magic faded, I watched him carve Selene's name into Stellarspire's Hall of Honor.
When I opened my eyes, I was back on the day Adrian returned from the siege, the Memory Erosion Curse still fresh upon him.
This time, I buried all misplaced affection, bowing coldly. "Professor Voss."
*****
The mental voice of Alexander Hale, Leader of the Magic Council, pressed into my consciousness.
"Why haven't you followed the plan to bind Adrian's loyalty?" he demanded.
Adrian was a prodigy revered across the wizarding world—master of Potions, ancient Voss magic, and the linchpin in defeating the Shadow Coven.
The Magic Council had schemed to use his amnesia to their advantage.
Having grown up with him at Stellarspire, knowing his every strength and weakness, I was their perfect pawn.
"This is your one chance to remain at the academy." Alexander's tone was heavy, unforgiving. "If you fail, you will be exiled to guard the Shadow Rift. There will be no return."
In my previous life, I'd had no choice but to agree. It cost me my magic core, my mentor, and everyone I cared for.
The agony of shattered veins still lingered in my bones.
That unformed core, forged over a decade of toil, had been destroyed by his own hand.
Upon regaining his memory, he'd blamed me for every misfortune: harvesting my mentor's magic marrow to brew a healing potion for Selene, feeding my colleagues' souls to dark creatures, and subjecting my students to the torture of the Sacred Lightning Curse.
This time, I'd rather face the Shadow Rift's miasma than relive that hell.
I replied steadily, "Supreme Leader, Professor Voss took the curse to save Ms. Frost—his devotion deserves respect.
"Moreover, none of this would have happened if Ms. Frost hadn't insisted on storming the Shadow Coven's lair to seek the Holy Radiance Stone..."
Before I could finish in my mind, Adrian clenched my neck.
He stood before me, magic energy swirling around his fingertips, a frigid smile on his face.
"Lydia, you've returned as well?" he said, his voice dangerously low.
His eyes were bloodshot, burning with profound hatred.
"Why not claim to be my destined partner this time?"
Panic surged within me. Adrian had also come back with the memories of our previous life
His grip tightened, threatening to crush my windpipe.
"The fault lies entirely with you. My wrath in our previous life stemmed from your deceit. I would not have been driven to such extremes otherwise," he hissed.
He accused me of knowing Selene had lost her magic shielding him from a dark curse, waiting desperately for rescue in the Muggle world.
Yet I'd hidden the truth, even letting her witness our magical betrothal—breaking her spirit and making her abandon all hope of returning.
"Lydia, with death, all debts are settled. From this moment, we are even..." Adrian said, his voice flat.
"With all due respect, Professor Voss, we were never more than fellow alumni—then and now," I gasped, fighting for breath.
The repeated use of his title, "Professor," made his brow furrow slightly. He released my neck with a contemptuous flick of his sleeve and turned to leave.
Enraged, Alexander materialized in a flash of light. "Useless fool! If you can't win him over, off to the Shadow Rift with you!"
"I accept the decree," I responded, my voice unnervingly calm.
"You're so determined? Have you lost your mind? The Shadow Miasma there will corrode your magic core! With your current strength, you wouldn't last three days!" Alexander barked, disbelief warring with fury.
"Supreme Leader, Adrian never truly lost his memory. It was all a test. Surely you haven't forgotten—if he fully succumbs to the Shadow Coven, no wizarding force can stop him," I said, meeting his gaze.
As I spoke, Alexander's face paled.
He had long regarded Adrian's magical might with unease. Now that the Shadow Coven's power stretched across the realm, their grip absolute—should Adrian ever pledge his strength to them, the balance would shatter beyond repair.
My words changed his mind. I volunteered to guard the rift—a sacrifice he couldn't refuse.
Professor Elaine Shaffer, Stellarspire School's renowned Potions Master and my longtime mentor, rushed to me, her eyes teary-eyed.
Resting my head on her lap, I whispered, "Professor Shaffer, this is my duty."
"Lydia, I know your pain, but the Shadow Miasma will destroy your magic core!" she said, brushing my hair back.
Tears burned in my eyes. I had no choice—this was the only way to protect my remaining students and my mentor.