Chapter 26 – Gifa’s Legacy

After the graduation ceremony had ended and the farewell night was over, Zareen didn’t immediately join his friends who were busy planning their future travels. Instead, he walked alone, following a path only he knew: the quiet corridor leading to the hidden library where Gifa used to wait for him.

The corridor seemed to swallow all light, guided only by faint blue torches. Each step brought back memories of his very first encounter with the ancient little mage, the one who had secretly trained him. His heart pounded, because he knew that today would mark a turning point in his life.

---

“Master! Teacher! I did it—I graduated!” Zareen’s voice echoed among the towering bookshelves of the ancient library.

For a moment there was silence. Then a childish laugh rang out. From behind the shelves appeared a small figure with silver hair, carrying a tiny glowing staff.

“Hah, so you came after all. I thought you’d be out partying like the rest of the students.”

Zareen gave a faint smile. “I’d rather see you first, Master. Besides… my graduation only feels real if I report it to you.”

Gifa’s bright eyes glimmered, though her expression remained composed. “Good. You know why I called you back here, don’t you? Your time at the academy was just the beginning. Now it’s time for you to take on your real mission.”

---

### The New Staff

Gifa raised her hand, and blue light filled the room. From within a magic circle, a dark staff materialized, crowned with a lavender crystal core at its tip. Its design was simple, yet the aura it emitted sent chills down Zareen’s spine.

“This is your staff. Unlike the academy-issued ones that only channel a single type of magic, this one is flexible. You can use it for both offense and support—just as you chose.”

Zareen stared in awe. “Really? So I can… use both?”

Gifa shook her head, her face turning serious. “It’s not that simple. You *can* switch, yes. But remember—once you change your path from attacker to supporter, or vice versa, your status will reset. All your achievements will return to zero. You’ll have to rebuild everything from scratch.”

Zareen went silent, his brows furrowed. “That’s… harsh. Why does it have to be like that?”

“Because great power must come with a price,” Gifa replied, locking eyes with him. “You are the only one with this choice. The others do not have such freedom—so your consequences must be different as well.”

---

### The Quest Book & Tools

Gifa then placed a thick book on the table. Its cover was black, with a dragon insignia engraved at the center.

“This is the Quest Book. Inside are the missions you must undertake. Some are simple—helping villages, subduing minor monsters. But others are tied directly to the reason you were summoned to this world.”

Zareen opened the first page, seeing a list of quests with various difficulty levels. There were faded maps, strange notes, and cryptic symbols that looked like riddles.

“And these,” Gifa continued, handing him several items. “Healing potions, a protective charm, and this magic compass. The compass will guide you toward your next destination, aligned with the quests in the book.”

Zareen received them carefully, feeling as if both a burden and a destiny had been placed in his hands.

---

### The Unsealing

Finally, Gifa’s expression grew more solemn than ever before. “There is one more thing. While you were at the academy, I sealed away a portion of your power. I didn’t want you to stand out too quickly. This world is cruel to those who are different. You needed to grow alongside the others first.”

Zareen’s eyes widened. “You… sealed my power?”

“Yes. And now it’s time I release it.”

With a wave of her hand, a purple light enveloped Zareen’s entire body. It felt as if invisible chains holding him back shattered into pieces. Power surged through him like a tidal wave, forcing him to his knees. His breathing turned ragged as his aura flared wildly, filling the entire room. The new staff in his hand vibrated, resonating with the unlocked energy.

Zareen gasped, overwhelmed. “This… this is incredible. I’ve never felt this strong before.”

Gifa smiled faintly. “That’s because you’ve finally returned to your true self. But remember—this power is not for boasting, nor for pride. It exists for you to protect others.”

---

### A New Vow

Zareen stood, gripping the staff tightly, determination burning in his eyes. “I understand, Master. I’ll complete every quest in this book, even if I have to sacrifice myself.”

Gifa placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Do not forget—you are not alone. You have friends, and even a rival who will always push you forward. Trust them when you need to. Your path will be hard, but you don’t have to carry it all by yourself.”

Zareen nodded. In his mind, the faces of Gino, Rina, Arven, and Dario flashed vividly. They might have parted ways, but the bond between them remained.

---

### End of Chapter

That night, Zareen left the hidden library with steadier steps. In his hands were a new staff, the Quest Book, and a burden of responsibility greater than ever before. His newfound aura seemed to make the night sky tremble, as though the world itself recognized that his true journey had just begun.

And far above, the stars seemed to whisper: the fate of this world now rested, in part, in the hands of a young man named Zareen.