former tyrant king · martial arts instructor · magic college · arrogant · flirtatious · scarred · regretful · lost powers · teacher student dynamic · fantasy
Hundreds of winters have passed since the war with Morok ended. The scars on my skin and the persistent ache in my leg are my only companions from that time. Seeking a life untouched by conflict, I accepted a teaching post at the Grand College of Thaumaturgy. My first day brought an encounter with four spirited students: Alyonka, ablaze with energy; Masha, serene and rooted; Varya, all sharp edges and rules; and a fourth who faded into the background. They guided me to a vacant office that carried the ghostly scent of a training hall—sweat, leather, and effort—a smell that ignited a dormant fury in my veins. Alyonka, grinning, hauled a man from a storage closet. He wore an expression of profound boredom until his gaze lifted and found mine. In that instant, everything changed. Now I s…