All-around teacher at the magic academy

Logan is a teacher at St. Peter's College, where he has been working for two years.

During this short but significant period of time, he fulfilled his duties day after day with an almost devout attitude. His dedication earned him the respect of his colleagues, while his affability made him beloved by his students.

As usual, Logan finished his work for the day and prepared to return to his cozy home. He walked with a light step, in a good mood, and looked forward to the quiet night that was about to begin.

For Logan, history is more than just a subject; it's an inseparable passion. He's captivated by traversing the long river of history, drawing wisdom from every yellowed page. Logan possesses a unique talent: he can reconstruct the entirety of an era from mere fragments of historical records, experiencing its rise and fall.

He harbored a deep curiosity and sympathy for every character in history books. In Logan's eyes, these historical figures were not merely carriers of names and events; they were flesh-and-blood individuals with emotions and dreams.

Through a meticulous analysis of their lives, Logan felt as if he could travel through time and experience their life journeys firsthand. This resonance with historical figures enriched his life with vibrant colors and profound insights.

Looking back on his two years at St. Peter's College, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction. This carefree life was filled with invaluable freedom—the freedom to do what he truly loved. Unburdened by the mundane details of life, he spent his days teaching students and immersing himself in books.

He did not prefer to study history in his office, because in that space, students would often come to ask him questions and interrupt his thoughts.

Logan preferred reading in his dorm room, where he could immerse himself completely in the depths of history, undisturbed by the outside world. In those quiet moments, he would devote himself entirely to the pages, as if walking alongside the historical figures, experiencing their joys and sorrows.

In this small haven, Logan found the perfect place to converse with history, and his soul received the purest nourishment.

Logan walked along the path to his dormitory, his mind drifting back to the history books he had recently become engrossed in. He particularly admired the character described in the book, and often fantasized about becoming that person, even though it could only be a beautiful wish in his heart.

He was planning to continue his research when he suddenly felt an indescribable sense of unease, as if the air around him was filled with a discordant atmosphere.

Just then, a strange gust of wind blew by without warning, and Logan involuntarily shivered, a strange chill creeping into his heart. Before he could think further, the amulet hanging around his neck suddenly began to heat up slightly. This amulet was left to him by his father before his death, and he had worn it ever since, never taking it off.

Immediately afterward, Logan felt an invisible force spreading through his body. His heart pounded, and his breathing became rapid. He tried to break free from this sudden force, but felt as if he were firmly bound by an invisible hand, unable to escape no matter how hard he struggled.

Suddenly, a hazy figure appeared in Logan's mind. The figure was shrouded in a black cloak, its face indistinct in the shadows. He could hear the figure chanting ancient incantations in a low voice, like a demon from the abyss, sending chills down his spine.

Logan felt a sharp pain spread from his heart outwards, rapidly reaching every part of his body. His body gradually weakened, and his consciousness began to blur. He desperately tried to call for help, but found himself unable to make a sound, as if he had been deprived of the ability to speak.

In this boundless darkness, Logan experienced an unprecedented terror. He had no idea how this sudden curse would change him, nor whether he could escape this terrible fate. In this desperate situation, all he could do was struggle desperately in the darkness, searching for even the faintest glimmer of hope.

...

Leon had nothing to do today, so he planned to seek out Professor Polan to discuss some academic issues related to curse magic in depth. In his view, learning more knowledge was always a good thing, and in his eyes, learning magic was far from being a dry and boring accumulation of knowledge.

Exploring the mysteries of magic is like leveling up and fighting monsters in a game; every time he makes progress, he feels a great sense of accomplishment.

Just as Leon was thinking of visiting Professor Polin, fate seemed to have already arranged their meeting. On his way, he happened to run into Professor Polin. Leon first politely inquired if he had any urgent business, and after learning that there was no pressing matter, he stated his purpose directly.

Upon hearing this, Professor Polan smiled with satisfaction. It wasn't because Leon could offer him much academic assistance, but because someone shared his deep interest in profound fields like curse magic.

Master Polan disagreed with the world's prejudice against curse magic, believing that magic itself was neither good nor evil. In his view, even light magic could be used for killing, and its efficiency was often faster than that of curse magic.

He firmly believes that the good or evil of magic depends on the user's intentions and purposes; magic itself has no thoughts, and it is people's prejudices that give it different labels.

Leon deeply agreed with Professor Polan's viewpoint. He believed that magic, like power, can bring immense benefits and convenience to humanity when used for the sake of justice. However, if power is abused and used as a tool for evil, it can also bring profound disaster to society.

Leon couldn't help but recall his past life, a time when many people used their power to escape legal punishment. It wasn't just crimes like tax evasion; some incredibly powerful figures could even easily commute a death sentence to a few years' imprisonment. He had fantasized that if he possessed supreme power, he would surely bring these evildoers to their due punishment.

However, Leon has now seen through many things and realized that his thoughts at the time were nothing more than powerless anger.

In any era, there will always be all sorts of people; this is an unavoidable reality. Everyone has their own thoughts and values, and he cannot change that. This realization taught Leon to accept it, and it also made him cherish the learning opportunities before him and his pure pursuit of magic even more.

"Why don't we continue our discussion at my residence?" Professor Polan's voice interrupted Leon's thoughts. He was somewhat surprised, not expecting Leon to be so focused when discussing academic issues, even to the point of forgetting himself and his surroundings.

“Alright, then I’ll take my leave.” Leon replied, unaware of Professor Polan’s admiration. If he knew what Professor Polan was thinking, he might have felt a little embarrassed.

On their way back, the two chatted and laughed, and the conversation naturally turned to the realm of curse magic. Teacher Polan patiently guided them, while Leon listened attentively. Through Teacher Polan's explanations, he gained a deeper understanding of some basic knowledge about curse magic.

Curses take many forms, but can generally be classified into three main types: personal curses, territorial curses, and generational curses.

Personal curses, the most common form, are specifically targeted at a particular individual. These curses are relatively simple and easy to understand, and are usually triggered by personal grudges or specific events.

Regional curses are more widespread, affecting a specific region or location. Anyone who enters this area will be affected by the curse, the specific manifestation of which depends on its nature. Mild regional curses may only cause minor discomfort, such as dizziness, nausea, or temporary unconsciousness. In more severe cases, regional curses can lead to a rapid depletion of life force, or even death, leaving irreversible consequences.

Generational curses are far more profound and enduring, affecting every generation of a family or lineage. Such curses may manifest as mild symptoms, such as a family-specific genetic disease, or more serious conditions, such as a newborn being born with a defect, and may even lead to the decline and end of the family line.

Casting a curse is a complex and dangerous task that requires a series of specific conditions to be successfully carried out. First, specific magical items must be prepared, which may include ancient spellbooks, mysterious ritual implements, or even the victim's personal belongings, all of which play a key role in casting the curse.

Next, a series of specific rituals need to be performed, which may include specific actions, spells, and/or offerings. In some cases, to enhance the power of the curse, it may be necessary to sacrifice animals, blood, or other precious items.

Those afflicted by a curse will face both physical and mental torment. Victims may suffer physical pain, illness, or deformity, while also experiencing hallucinations, fear, madness, or despair. The curse may even alter the victim's fate, subjecting them to unfortunate events or persistent bad luck.

To break a curse, one must first find or create a spell capable of breaking or neutralizing it. Sometimes, a curse can be transferred through a sacrifice, transferring the curse from the original victim to another person, provided the recipient is willing. If the cursed individual is powerful, they may also be able to counteract and lift the curse through even stronger magical power.

Under Professor Polan's meticulous explanation, Leon's mind was filled with a storm of emotions. He realized that his previous understanding of curse magic was extremely superficial. Compared to elemental magic, curse magic existed on a completely different level. This power was mysterious and unpredictable, extremely strange. Judging from its characteristics alone, it seemed not an exaggeration for people to classify it as evil magic.

Leon sighed inwardly, realizing that the term "curse magic" might not be entirely unjustified. He couldn't help but develop a deep interest in the origins of curse magic—what kind of wisdom or madness could create such mysterious and unpredictable techniques?

As Leon was lost in thought, he suddenly noticed a person kneeling on the road not far ahead, arms tightly wrapped around their chest. Curious about what the person was doing, Leon wondered what was going on, and just as he was speculating, the person suddenly collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

"What's going on?" When Ms. Bolan saw this, she frowned, exchanged a glance with Leon, and the two immediately ran over to check the situation.

Leon felt that the person lying on the ground looked familiar. He was certain that this person was a teacher at the academy, and although he didn't know his name, he must have seen him at the academy before.

“It’s Professor Logan.” Professor Polan recognized him. Although Professor Polan rarely interacted with other teachers, Logan had been working at the academy for two years, so they inevitably bumped into each other and greeted each other on some occasions. When Leon heard Professor Polan call his name, he was filled with curiosity, wondering why Logan had collapsed here.

“Something’s not right. This feeling is a bit like being cursed,” Professor Bolan said in a heavy tone.

"Saving lives is the priority. Let's carry him to my place first."

Leon didn't say much. He immediately squatted down, gently carried Mr. Logan on his back, and then followed Mr. Polan's steps quickly toward his dormitory.

While carrying Professor Logan, Leon felt his body burning with an unusual heat; even after a short distance, he was already drenched in sweat. A sense of unease crept into his heart; he wondered if the curse might spread to him. But he quickly reassured himself, thinking it unlikely; the curse shouldn't be that powerful. Besides, Professor Polan was right beside him; he should be able to handle this.

After settling Mr. Logan onto the bed, Leon let out a long sigh of relief. He found his heart pounding, unsure whether it was from nervousness or worry. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

“The most direct way to break this curse is to find the medium the caster used to trigger it. This situation is likely due to someone ambushing you, and the object used by the caster was probably in prolonged contact with the victim,” Professor Polan explained while observing Professor Logan’s condition, and at the same time began to arrange the surrounding environment to stabilize the current situation.

“Normally, curses don’t strike suddenly; for now, I can only temporarily control his symptoms. To quickly lift the curse, it would be best to find that crucial medium.”

Leon offered his suggestion: "I think we could search Professor Logan's house to see if there are any related items. If they are items that he has been in contact with for a long time, they would most likely be kept in his usual place of residence."

Professor Polan thought Leon's suggestion made sense, but he couldn't leave right now and needed to stay to stabilize Professor Logan's situation. Leon realized this and understood that he couldn't be of much help here either.

“I’ll go. I’ll go to Professor Logan’s house and see if I can find any clues.”

"Then I'm sorry to trouble you."