All-around teacher at the magic academy

As dawn broke, morning light streamed through the gaps in the curtains into Leon's office.

The night felt like it lasted only a moment.

Leon remained quietly seated in his office, his eyes bloodshot, feeling exhausted from not sleeping all night.

His body felt as if it were being weighed down by heavy lead, but whenever he closed his eyes, those images he didn't want to recall would flood his mind, making it impossible for him to fall asleep.

He struggled to stand up from the chair, stretched his stiff body, and tried to shake off the fatigue of the night.

He turned to look out the window. The sun was gradually rising above the horizon, and the golden sunlight bathed the earth in a warm glow.

He composed himself, took a deep breath, and realized that today should be his last day in Barton.

Everything should come to an end, and he should say goodbye to this place.

Although he had only spent a short time there, Leon still felt very reluctant to leave.

He truly wished he could stay here forever, working in this knowledge-filled and vibrant college, alongside his colleagues whom he was slowly getting to know, and growing alongside those energetic students. But reality is always cruel, and he knew he had to leave.

...

The atmosphere at the Duke of Chloe's mansion was exceptionally lively today, with all the powerful figures in the entire city of Barton gathered there.

In Barton City now, Duke Chloe undoubtedly holds the most power. Of course, Raphael and his group are excluded, as they are only staying here temporarily. Once they leave, Duke Chloe will have complete control over the city.

This banquet was grander and more lively than any in previous years. Whether they were old friends who had a close relationship with Duke Chloe or strangers who had only met him once, they all came with carefully prepared gifts to express their respect and gratitude.

Emma gracefully followed beside her father, smiling and exchanging pleasantries with each of the distinguished guests who visited.

She was well-mannered and her speech revealed good upbringing, but she carried an unspeakable weariness in her heart.

Sometimes, she couldn't help but wonder if this grand banquet was really a celebration of her birthday.

She wasn't particularly interested in the arrival of other people; the compliments and smiles numbed her.

In her heart, there was only one figure she longed to see, the one she truly hoped to meet.

Her eyes searched the crowd from time to time, hoping to find that special person, but she was disappointed each time.

"His Highness Raphael has arrived." A voice announced quietly from the crowd. Though the voice was not loud, it was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the hustle and bustle of the banquet.

Duke Chloe and the surrounding nobles, who were engaged in a lively conversation, all stopped talking as their attention was drawn to this sudden news.

Duke Chloe led the way, followed closely by a group of nobles, all walking out of the mansion's courtyard with a mixture of anticipation and awe on their faces.

"Congratulations, Your Grace! Happy birthday, Emma!"

Before the person even appeared, that majestic and enthusiastic voice had already come from outside, echoing in every corner of the courtyard.

This was undoubtedly the first formal meeting between Duke Chloe and His Highness Raphael. Raphael entered unhurriedly from outside the door, his steps steady, a perfectly measured smile on his face; his composure and nobility spoke volumes about his princely status.

Upon seeing this, the nobles present all nodded in greeting and murmured, "Your Highness Raphael."

Their eyes were filled with respect and curiosity; every time the prince appeared, he became the center of attention.

Raphael gracefully responded to the greetings from the other nobles one by one, and finally, he approached Duke Chloe. He smiled and offered his sincerest congratulations to Duke Chloe and Miss Emma.

The Duke of Chloe always wore a warm smile; he thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere of being noticed and respected by the royal family.

His eyes gleamed with pride and satisfaction; today's banquet, thanks to Raphael's arrival, was undoubtedly even more dazzling.

Emma beside him maintained a polite smile, but her eyes revealed an undisguised indifference.

She was already tired of all the formalities and insincere small talk, but when her gaze swept through the crowd and she saw Aurora's arrival, her expression changed slightly, and a hint of genuine happiness flashed in her eyes.

The crowd escorted Raphael to the ornately decorated hall. With Raphael's arrival, the atmosphere of the banquet became even more lively.

The musicians played cheerful melodies, and the dancers began to weave through the crowd. Their gorgeous gowns and exquisite accessories shone brightly, making everything dazzling.

...

Leon stood at the entrance of the luxurious building, gently straightening his clothes. His fingers slid across his lapel, trying to smooth out non-existent wrinkles.

His gaze swept over the brightly lit building before him, and an indescribable feeling welled up inside him.

He slowly pulled the exquisite invitation from his pocket; Emma had personally handed it to him. Leon knew that in this occasion that emphasized status and etiquette, without an invitation, he probably wouldn't even be able to get through the door.

He handed the invitation to the guard standing at the door. The guard took the invitation, performed a quick check, and after confirming that everything was in order, politely said, "Excuse me, Mr. Leon, according to regulations, we need to check whether you are carrying any dangerous items."

Leon frowned slightly, puzzled by this routine. He was a magician; to him, so-called dangerous objects were far less dangerous than his own abilities.

Leon remained unusually calm. He did not show any resistance, but simply raised his hands slowly, allowing the guards to search him.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the boundaries of the courtyard, landing on some distant point. His expression was indifferent, making it difficult to discern his true thoughts.

"Are you done?" Leon snapped out of his thoughts, turned his head, and asked calmly, his gaze falling on the guard standing beside him.

The two guards exchanged a glance, seemingly confirming the results of each other's checks, before one of them simply replied, "Go in."

Leon nodded slightly, straightened his clothes again to make sure everything was in order, and then stepped forward without hesitation, passing through the door and entering the banquet hall.

He did not ask the guards to inform Emma of his arrival, as he felt there was no need to disturb her.

Tonight, Emma is the star of the party; she deserves the glory and attention.

Moreover, Leon's purpose in coming here was not merely to attend the celebrations.

Perhaps when the two meet again, they won't be able to chat as easily as before.

...