Gravity Mage with Level-Up System

Chapter 1124: Leona Perry

From MCʼs Perspective:

Darcie Lynch immediately turned on her heels and left, her silhouette quickly disappearing into the distance. I stood there for a moment, the echo of her departure lingering in the air, and made up my mind. Iʼd wait and see what is going to happen next.

A sense of anticipation hung in the atmosphere, the kind that comes just before a storm breaks.

Time passed slowly, and to focus, I turned my attention inward, feeling for the Gravity Mana particles around me. My recent progress in understanding the gravity rule had been like unlocking a new sense, a deeper awareness of the forces that surrounded me.

There was still one final barrier to break through—one last hurdle. Once I crossed it, Iʼd ascend to a level-7 Wizard. That thought sent a ripple of excitement through me.

With the power of gravity spells at my fingertips, I could fight wizards who outranked me. Soon, the challenges of my current level would be nothing more than memories.

Just as I sank deeper into these thoughts, a sharp noise broke through the quiet—the distinct sound of footsteps drawing near. The rhythm of those steps snapped me back to the present, my eyes flicking in the direction of the sound.

I turned to see someone approaching. A woman, dressed in a formal blue-and-white uniform, with a white mageʼs robe draped over her. A peculiar, beast-shaped crest is pinned to her chest.

Her presence immediately commanded attention, as if the air itself made way for her. She moved with the confidence of someone who had no doubt about her power.

She stopped just a few feet from me. ”Hi, Iʼm Leona Perry, a level-8 Thunder Hawk bloodline wizard,” she said with a smile that didnʼt quite reach her eyes.

There was something unsettling about her, though I couldnʼt quite place it. Her smile seemed too practiced, too sharp. For reasons I couldnʼt yet understand, her presence gnawed at me, irritating me in ways I hadnʼt anticipated.

”Iʼm Vincent Carey, level-5 Sub-Taboo Gravity Wizard,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. Inwardly, though, I smirked. She had no idea about the truth. My system shielded my real strength, hiding it from anyone trying to pry into my abilities. She wouldnʼt know what I was truly capable of.

Leona stood tall, towering over me at 6ʼ2”. Her build was solid and muscular, but not bulky like a statue carved from marble, with smooth, fair skin. Her long silky hair is blue in color.

She was strikingly beautiful, the kind of beauty that carried danger with it. Her eyes gleamed with something I recognized curiosity, perhaps, but also a calculated interest. Right now, though, she was up to something more subtle.

A faint pressure filled the air between us, and with a quick glance, I noticed a small arc of blue lightning flickering around her fingertips. She was testing me, sending out pulses of energy that radiated like ripples in water.

The arcs seemed harmless, but I knew better. For someone at her level, they were nothing, but for wizards below level-7, they could be deadly, or at least incapacitating, depending on their strength.

Suddenly, my system chimed in my mind.

[Ding! Warning]

[A dangerous element is nearing the host]

Without hesitation, I leaped back several steps, instincts taking over before I even had time to think.

Leonaʼs eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise breaking through her controlled expression. ”Impressive reflexes. I see youʼre not completely useless. But… youʼre only level-5. How did you manage that?” she muttered under her breath, confusion threading her voice.

My blood ran cold at her audacity. This was no mere greeting, she was testing me, probing for weaknesses. Anger flared inside me, and I had to hold back the urge to crush her right where she stood.

Did she think I wouldnʼt notice? That her subtle attack would go unchallenged? It was becoming clearer by the second—Leona wasnʼt here to guide me at all.

”Stop!”

A firm voice cut through the tension like a knife.

Leona Perry froze mid-step, her predatory gaze momentarily faltering. An older woman in her sixties appeared between us, materializing with the quiet authority of someone long accustomed to command.

She was dressed in green uniformed robes, the fabric shimmering faintly with enchantments. Her short, white-green hair contrasted sharply against her deeply wrinkled, but sharp and discerning face. Her eyes, though aged, glinted with a fierce vitality.

The old womanʼs gaze locked onto Leona, sharp as a blade. ”Young Wizard Leona, what exactly do you think youʼre doing here?”

Leonaʼs mouth parted slightly, dumbstruck by the elderʼs unexpected arrival. A flash of anger flared in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, her expression slipping back into a mask of polite indifference.

”Cough,” Leona cleared her throat, shifting her weight, trying to look nonchalant. ”Elder Iris, I was just passing by and saw someone standing here alone. I thought I could lend a hand,” she said, her voice dripping with a sweetness that didnʼt match the venom in her glare, which she now directed at me.

Elder Iris narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. Her nostrils flared slightly as she let out an audible, disapproving huff. ”Harumph,” she muttered, clearly unimpressed. She could see through Leonaʼs thinly veiled lies as easily as one might glance through a window.

”You can leave now, Miss Leona,” Elder Iris commanded, her tone brooking no argument.

Leonaʼs jaw tightened, but she had no choice but to comply. She turned on her heel, her posture stiff with suppressed rage.

She had barely scratched the surface of what she wanted to know about the newcomer, just the name and supposed rank. But I could see the flicker of determination in her eyes as she left. This wouldnʼt be the last time Iʼd cross paths with her.

As Leonaʼs figure disappeared down the path, Elder Iris sighed, a heavy breath that seemed to carry the weight of experience and patience. ”The little devil is gone,” she muttered under her breath. ”Now I can speak with the new student in peace.”

She turned to me, her expression softening, though her eyes remained sharp, appraising. ”You are Vincent Carey, am I right?”

I nodded in acknowledgment.

”Good,” she said with a slight smile. ”Elder Darcie informed me of your arrival. Iʼve been asked to show you around the organization and explain the details about your department.”

”Okay,” I replied, grateful for the change in atmosphere. The tension Leona had stirred up still lingered in the back of my mind, but for now, I pushed it aside.

We started down a wide, cobbled path, choosing to walk instead of flying. The surrounding environment was serene, a stark contrast to the earlier hostility. But my thoughts kept drifting back to Leona Perry. If she wasnʼt an elder, then what was she? And why did she target me?

Elder Iris, sensing my unease, gave me a sidelong glance, clearly reading my thoughts. ”That girl who accosted you earlier,” she began, ”is from the Bloodline Beast Department. Her bloodline magic comes from the ancient Thunder Hawk bird.”

”Bloodline Beast Department…” I echoed, committing the name to memory. My resolve hardened as the words settled in my mind. They had underestimated me.

They must have thought I was just another naive, fresh-faced wizard. If this had been anywhere else, under different circumstances, I wouldʼve killed her on the spot without hesitation.

Elder Iris seemed to catch the shift in my demeanor, and though she didnʼt say anything.

A few seconds later,

Elder Iris noticed that I was still deep in thought, my mind clearly preoccupied. She halted in her steps, turning to face me directly, her gaze both steady and commanding.

”Young Wizard Vincent,” she called out in a solemn tone, the seriousness of her voice pulling me back to the present. I blinked, snapping out of my reverie, and focused on her.

”That girl, Leona,” Elder Iris began, her eyes narrowing slightly, ”she came here with the intent to test you. As for why... I assume Elder Darcie has already given you some advice on that matter.”

”I know,” I replied, meeting her gaze with a serious expression. But even though the situation was tense, I showed no fear. My eyes stayed clear, unwavering. I could tell that Elder Iris noticed. There was no reason to show weakness.

A flicker of approval passed through her eyes, subtle but unmistakable. The calmness on his face, the confidence in his voice, those were the qualities she expected from someone who wouldnʼt be easily shaken.

”Good,” she said, her tone softening just a fraction. ”But you need to be cautious with that girl. Leona isnʼt just strong and talented in her own right, sheʼs also well-connected. Her family holds significant influence, and her master is one of the Palace Masters in our True Elements Society.”

Her words carried weight, and she spoke them with the authority of someone who had seen the consequences of such power struggles unfold many times before. ”So, avoid conflict with them if possible,” she added, her voice firm but not unkind.

I nodded, though inwardly my resolve only strengthened. ”Donʼt worry, elder. Iʼll be careful,” I replied, repeating the same assurance I had given Elder Darcie earlier. I wasnʼt naive. I knew how to navigate dangerous waters, but that didnʼt mean I would back down.