Gravity Mage with Level-Up System

Chapter 1099: Mike Curtisʼ shock

Yellow River Academy:

Several hours earlier,

Mike Curtis stood resolutely in front of the dorm building, his face set with determination. He had no intention of leaving until he met Vincent Carey.

Mike was certain that his mere presence outside would be enough to draw Vincent out. After all, it was no secret that he had a connection to the Sub-Taboo Hall, and Mike figured someone from that mysterious group would show themselves.

But time had passed, and there was no sign of Vincent Carey. The longer Mike waited, the more a sense of unease crept in. Not only had Vincent failed to appear, but there were no signs of the other members of the Sub-Taboo Hall either. The building loomed silent, almost too silent, as if it were holding its breath.

Just as Mikeʼs thoughts began to spiral, he felt a shift in the air. His senses sharpened instinctively—someone was approaching. He turned, his muscles tensed, ready for anything. A figure descended from above, landing in front of him with practiced ease. Mikeʼs eyes widened in surprise—it was Gilbert Reese.

The onlookers, wizard students who had been watching from the sidelines, murmured in astonishment. Few individuals at the Elder House Level were known throughout the entire academy, but Gilbert Reese was an exception. His reputation preceded him, and his sudden appearance caught everyone off guard.

”Senior, what are you doing here?” Mike asked, his voice tinged with a mixture of respect and apprehension. Gilbertʼs serious expression did nothing to ease his nerves. Mike wondered if his insistence on meeting Vincent had angered someone as high-ranking as Gilbert.

But Gilbert Reese wasnʼt focused on Mikeʼs actions. His mind was elsewhere, processing shocking news that weighed heavily on him. Moments before, he had left the Deanʼs Tower, where the Dean had confided in him about Vincent Carey. The details were grim, and Gilbert hadnʼt yet figured out how to relay the information to Carolina.

His thoughts raced as he glanced around at the gathering crowd of students.

”You want to know about Vincent? Then come with me,” Gilbert said, his voice low but commanding.

Mike blinked, taken aback by the gravity of Gilbertʼs words. He hesitated for a brief moment but then, looking into the older wizardʼs serious expression, he nodded and followed without a word. Together, they vanished from the spot, their movements swift and decisive.

The gathered students barely had time to react before the two figures disappeared in a flash, their speed leaving the crowd in awe. Among those left behind was Carolina, who had been watching the entire exchange from a distance.

A wave of relief washed over her as she watched them go. She assumed that Senior Gilbert was going to explain everything to Mike, and for the moment, that was enough to ease her worries.

...

Shortly afterward,

Gilbert and Mike arrived at an isolated clearing behind the main building, far from prying eyes. The air was still, and the sound of their boots crunching on gravel was the only noise breaking the silence. Gilbert paused, turning to face Mike with a grave expression. His usually composed demeanor was clouded with tension.

”Listen to me carefully,” Gilbert began, his voice low and steady, though there was an unmistakable weight behind his words. ”Vincent Carey has left the academy. Thereʼs no need for you to continue with this unnecessary drama.”

Mikeʼs heart skipped a beat. His mind raced, grappling with the sudden information. ”What do you mean?” he demanded, his voice barely concealing his frustration and confusion.

For a moment, Mike entertained the thought that Vincent had left for a mission. Wizards frequently took on dangerous assignments beyond the safety of the academyʼs walls, but something didnʼt sit right with him.

The current situation outside the academy was perilous, with threats looming on all sides. It was common knowledge that wizard students were forbidden to leave the grounds under such dangerous circumstances.

His eyes bore into Gilbertʼs, searching for any hint of deception or omission. ”No normal mission is allowed right now,” Mike muttered, his voice rising as his thoughts swirled.

There had to be more. He couldnʼt accept that Vincent would leave without a word, without a reason that made sense. And more than that, he couldnʼt accept that his dream of a rematch with Vincent—unfinished business between them—would never be realized.

His hands clenched into fists, his frustration mounting. ”Tell me the truth,” he demanded, his voice more urgent now. Mike wasnʼt just asking—he was pleading. Vincentʼs departure couldnʼt be the end of it. Not like this.

Gilbert furrowed his eyebrows, clearly uneasy with Mikeʼs persistence. The silence between them thickened, the weight of the unspoken truth hanging in the air like a storm about to break. Gilbert knew more than he was letting on, and Mike could sense it. The question was, how much was Gilbert willing to reveal?

”I guess youʼve heard about the Mage Union Messengerʼs visit a while ago,” Gilbert continued, his voice steady but weighted with the gravity of the situation.

”Vincent Carey left because of that. He wonʼt be coming back anytime soon.” There was a finality in his tone, as though he hoped this explanation would close the door on Mikeʼs obsession. ”So you should let this matter go and focus on something else.”

The words hit Mike Curtis like a lightning bolt. For a moment, he stood there, rooted to the spot, his mind struggling to process what Gilbert had just said.

The Mage Union Messenger? Of course, he had heard about the visit—rumors had spread like wildfire across the academy. The Mage Union was an enigmatic, powerful organization whose movements often sent shockwaves through the wizarding world. But Mike had never expected this.

His mind reeled, trying to connect the dots. Vincent Carey? The Mage Union Messenger? He had briefly entertained a suspicion about the visit, wondering if it had something to do with the Sub-Taboo Hall, but he had dismissed it.

The thought that Vincentʼs departure was tied to something as monumental as this shook him to his core. Why would the Mage Union take an interest in Vincent Carey? What was happening behind the scenes that no one knew about?

Mikeʼs fists clenched, not in anger but in frustration and disbelief. He had been so sure that a rematch with Vincent was in the cards. It had driven him—pushed him to train harder, to improve every aspect of his magic.

He had waited for the moment they would face each other again, determined to prove himself. But now, that dream was slipping away, the reality of Vincentʼs absence crashing down on him.

He felt a pang of regret. It wasnʼt supposed to end like this. Mike had always imagined their rivalry culminating in an intense duel, where they could settle things on their terms. But now, with Vincent gone, it felt like that chapter had been torn from the book of his life.

”I canʼt believe it,” Mike muttered under his breath, his gaze dropping to the ground. The Mage Unionʼs involvement made everything far more complicated. If they had a hand in Vincentʼs departure, there was no telling how long he would be gone—or if he would return at all. The magnitude of it was overwhelming.

Gilbert watched him carefully, sensing the turmoil in Mikeʼs mind. ”I know itʼs not what you wanted to hear, but you need to understand—this is bigger than the academy, bigger than any rivalry. Vincentʼs fate is tied to forces beyond our control now.” His words were gentle, but firm, like a mentor trying to guide a lost student.

Mikeʼs chest tightened. He could feel the weight of his unfulfilled ambition pressing down on him. There was nothing he could do now but accept the truth. Vincent was gone, and any hope of a rematch had vanished with him.

...

From Mike Curtisʼs Perspective:

I kept my eyes fixed on the figure ahead, the female wizard named Gloria Moody. She rode her monster with an effortless grace, her posture steady despite the incredible speed at which we traveled.

Her flying monster, a massive tiger-like creature, was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Its sleek, muscular form cut through the air with the force and precision of a missile. Each beat of its massive wings created powerful gusts, propelling us forward faster than anything Iʼd ever experienced.

Its speed was staggering—closer to that of a modern aircraft than any magical beast I had ever encountered. Back in my hometown, we relied on more common flying creatures: bird-type monsters, often used for transportation or reconnaissance.

Those monsters, while useful, were nothing like this tiger. This one was different—ferocious, powerful, and swift. Its eyes gleamed with intelligence, and its sleek black-and-silver fur shimmered in the wind, a testament to its strength and rare breed. I had never seen anything like it.

The sheer velocity was disorienting at first. The landscape beneath us blurred into a patchwork of greens and browns, hills and forests rushing past in a dizzying display.

I could feel the wind biting at my skin, despite the protective enchantments I had cast to shield myself from the harsher elements. The air was thin at this altitude, and yet we soared higher and faster, as if the limits of ordinary flight meant nothing to Gloriaʼs black tiger monster.