Update: A Slight Retcon + New Story Teaser

Hey everybody! Those caught up on reading Chloe at the moment might have realized that Leftie has mysteriously vanished from the story as of the last few chapters. To correct this, I added some details to the start of chapter 97 to make it clear that Leftie is just being hidden inside Cloaky for now. I've edited the chapter directly, which you can see here.

On a side note, I'm also currently working on a new story I plan on releasing in early 2026. It's admittedly going to be a very different story from Chloe, but as much as I love writing our adorable zombie girl, I do need a change of pace to keep myself from burning out.

But, to end things on a high note. I do have the chapter 1 of the new story ready! The title is subject to change, but it'll likely be something along the lines of Immortal Professor.

I'd love to know your thoughts, so feel free to comment below about what you think of the new story! Without further delay, here's chapter 1:

1. Waking Up

To live forever was to outlast purpose itself, and so Lucian had learned to forge his own. Among the countless lives he had led were those of a god-king, an enlightened sage, a wandering swordmaster, and, for reasons that still baffled him, a legendary chef.

That last one had been surprisingly vicious. Who knew the culinary world involved so many knives pointed at your back, both metaphorically and literally? 

After living for so long, Lucian got bored, dreadfully bored. He’d seen nearly everything the world had to offer, and it was time for a change.

At one point, Lucian posed as a vampire hunter, slew an evil vampire lord, and took over the creature’s tomb. The world celebrated him as a hero and rewarded him with riches, but his true prize was the vampire’s legendary stasis coffin, capable of granting sleep for hours, days, or even years.

Lucian set the coffin to wake him after a few decades, expecting to rise into a new, more interesting world. What he hadn’t anticipated was being jolted awake by a splash of cold water to the face. 

How did somebody get in here? He thought.

Then came the voice. One that sounded far too amused for someone who had just committed attempted resurrection via cold water. “Lucian, I know you're not actually asleep. Do get up, won't you?”

Lucian sat up slowly. A dry chuckle escaped him as his eyes landed on the intruder. "Elysia, is that you?"

“In the flesh,” she replied.

She looked... very different from how he remembered.  Once upon a time, Elysia had been the picture of the reclusive mystic. 

She had hair cascading down to her waist, long robes, and a tendency to avoid people and anything city related. This fact made her current appearance all the more surprising. 

Her hair was now a neat shoulder-length wave, framing elegant elven ears. And she now wore a tailored black suit over a high-collared white blouse. 

“Out of everyone I’ve ever known, you were easily the least likely to end up with a desk job.” Lucian said. 

Elysia chuckled. “A lot has happened.”

Lucian raised a brow. “How long was I out, exactly?”

“One hundred and fourteen years. Six months, three days, and… fourteen hours.”

“That long? I was aiming for a few decades, not over a century."

“Then you should be grateful I woke you up when I did.”

“Maybe I am grateful,” Lucian said, rolling his shoulders as his joints made a few cracking sounds. “But was the cold water truly necessary? I feel like there were gentler options available."

Elysia gestured toward a metal bucket beside the coffin. “That bucket was difficult to bring down here. You could at least pretend to appreciate my effort.”

Lucian froze for a moment. Something didn’t add up. Why would Elysia physically carry a bucket, all by herself, down into a dusty ancient tomb?

Elysia was easily one of the best mages he had ever known. She once lifted an entire fortress into the sky and threw it against a dragon. She could teleport across continents. She could even sprout forests out of barren desserts. 

And yet, in spite of everything he knew about her, Elysia had carried a bucket. Which could only mean one thing. “Elysia, have your visions returned?”

She didn't say anything immediately. But eventually, she nodded. "They have."

High elves were often born with extraordinary talents, but Elysia’s gift had always been more troublesome than most. She could see glimpses of the future, but every vision came with a price.

The more she saw, the weaker her magic grew. She had once explained it to him as though seeing the future disrupted the natural flow of mana in her body, as if her spirit simply grew tired of existing in more than one timeline at once.

Even worse, Elysia’s visions always seemed to grow strongest the closer disaster loomed. It was why Lucian had hoped, maybe foolishly, that they would never return.

Lucian let out a slow breath. “I’ll ask the obvious question. What do you want me to do?”

Elysia clasped her hands behind her back. “I want you to become a professor at Celgrad Imperial Academy.”

There was a long pause after that. Lucian stared at her. 

“Elysia, did the bucket hit your head at any point on the way down?”

“I’m serious.”

“That’s concerning.”

“You asked why I came. Now you have your answer.”

“You woke me from my peaceful century-long nap, to offer me a job in education?”

“Yes.”

“You went all the way here with a bucket, slipped through my wards, traps, and guardians, invaded my resting chamber, and now you want me to teach children?”

“Okay, first of all, you designed those wards so they wouldn’t harm me. Same with the monsters. And second, the students are not children. They’re adults, legally speaking."

Lucian stared at her, still partially convinced Elysia was playing some kind of joke. But her expression was deadly serious. 

He sighed, rubbing his temples. “Are you absolutely sure about this?”

“I am. And I’ll explain why.”

“Please do.”

“My latest vision was also the most potent. Normally, I see only fleeting glimpses of what may come. But this time, I witnessed nearly an entire potential timeline."

“How much did you see?”

“Enough to lose sleep over. The world was torn apart by forces I could not perceive. In the end… no one survived. No one but you, Lucian.”

“That’s… not the kind of compliment a man likes to hear.”

Elysia gave him a knowing smile and continued. “Based on my research, I’ve traced the source of the disturbance to the Celgrad Imperial Academy. When the former Headmaster retired, I took the liberty of applying for the position.”

“Slow down. Before, you said ‘forces you couldn’t see’? What exactly does that mean? And how does this tie to the academy?” 

“It’s difficult to describe. In my vision, people vanished, some torn apart by invisible forces. There were no spells or weapons. It was… horrifying. Afterward, I searched every archive I could and found records of smaller, eerily similar incidents at Celgrad. Stories of students disappearing, limbs found where they shouldn’t be. The faculty tried to cover it up, of course.”

Lucian exhaled through his nose. He’d seen enough of Elysia’s visions to know when she was serious. “So, you want me to go undercover as a professor, and quietly investigate the apocalypse?”

“Precisely. Your presence at the academy is crucial. In the future I saw, you weren’t there, and everything went catastrophically wrong. This time, we must change that.”

“I suppose that makes sense."

“We’ll discuss the finer details later. For now, let’s get you to your new office. I’ll brief you on your cover identity for this era on the way.”

Lucian snorted. “I haven’t accepted anything.”

“You will."

“Did you foresee me agreeing?”

“No, but I did foresee you wearing pants sometime in the not too distant future.”

Lucian glanced down, realized he wasn't wearing any clothes. Well, this is rather awkward.

With a snap of his fingers, magic rippled over him as a set of long black robes materialized around his frame. He then stepped out of his coffin. “I’m decent. Shall we?”

“Absolutely not,” Elysia said flatly, already pulling a folded pamphlet from her pocket. It read Faculty Dress Code and Presentation Standards, and she tapped a sharply dressed figure in the centerfold.

Lucian gave the image a glance. The man wore a black suit, tailored trousers, polished shoes, and gloves. Seems simple enough. 

With a snap of his fingers, Lucian’s robes disappeared and were replaced by a neat black suit. He had a nice shirt under a dark vest with silver stitching. More importantly, he also had pants, along with a pair of shoes.

“Will this do?” Lucian asked. 

Elysia arched her brow. “Why don’t you look at yourself and decide?”

Lucian shrugged and conjured a levitating mirror with a flick of his hand. It hovered before him, spinning slightly in the air.

His short black hair was a little messy, but still looked presentable. And it went well with his  suit. Pleased, Lucian dismissed the mirror with a quick wave.

“I daresay I look quite gentlemanly,” he said, adjusting his collar.

“Then you’re good to go."

"I should be able to teleport us out of here easily enough. Where exactly is the academy?"

"Do you remember the Beldavre Swamp?"

“Oh, absolutely. That’s where you first—”

“Don’t even finish that sentence,” Elysia groaned, grabbing his arm. “We’re going there.”

***

With a shimmer of light, Lucian and Elysia appeared atop the roof of a broad stone building. Lucian rubbed his head, feeling disoriented. It took him a moment to steady himself, as it had been a long time since he last used teleportation.

He glanced sideways. “You alright?”

Elysia winced, rubbing her temples. “I’m… fine. Anyway, we’re here.”

Lucian turned to take in their surroundings, and froze. There wasn’t a swamp in sight. Instead, a sprawling academy stretched beneath them. “I thought you said we were going to Beldavre Swamp.”

Elysia smiled. “The academy was the Beldavre Swamp, once upon a time.”

Lucian chuckled softly. “Ah. Very interesting.”

Sprawling courtyards and tall halls stretched out before him, all built from white stone and finely cut wood. Wide arched walkways connected the buildings, and there were many banners bearing a stylized lion’s head fluttering in the breeze. 

He rested his hands on his coat pockets, taking it all in. 

Elysia stepped beside him, watching his expression. “Impressed?”

Lucian tilted his head, pretending to consider. “It’s not bad. Though it doesn’t quite compare to the College of Aerilon. That one was built on a floating island above storm clouds."

“Aerilon was destroyed over three centuries ago.”

“And that remains one of the greatest losses in academic history. The architecture alone was worth preserving. And so was the wine cellar. Mostly the wine cellar.”

Elysia let out a soft chuckle as she turned toward him. “Yes, well… that’s all in the past now. Come on. Let’s walk. I’ll show you your office.”

Lucian arched a brow, clearly unconvinced. “Or, and hear me out, I could just teleport us. Save time.”

“Maybe not this time,” she said, already making her way toward an iron hatch near the edge of the rooftop terrace. From her coat pocket, she took out a ring of keys and began flipping through them.

Lucian eyed the hatch with some suspicion. “You’re sure we have to go through a hatch?"

“If I teleport again today, I’ll get dizzy, and then I'll make sure you clean up the mess."

Lucian chuckled and held up his hands in mock surrender. “Fair enough."

The hatch soon opened. Elysia climbed down first, and Lucian followed, descending the ladder. At the bottom, they stepped onto a new staircase that led deeper into the academy proper.

The halls were quiet and well-kept. A deep red carpet ran down the center, and the occasional portrait or statue broke up the otherwise neat decor. Most classrooms were empty, their doors closed for now. 

After another flight of stairs, Elysia finally stopped in front of an oak door. A small brass plaque beside it said: Lucian Godwinson, Professor of Advanced Principles and Applications of Magical Theory.

Lucian gave a low whistle. “You really went all out, didn’t you?”

Elysia smiled faintly and turned the handle. “You’ll be pleased with the interior, too.”

He stepped inside after her, and paused.

The room was spacious. Wooden shelves lined the walls, filled with thick books, while a tall window overlooked a vast courtyard. A deep blue carpet with silver trim matched the black desk, which was clearly chosen with taste. In one corner, there was a comfortable armchair beside a low table, and near the back wall, a ship in a bottle.

Lucian blinked. “You remembered the ship.”

“You always liked the one in Aerilon’s library,” Elysia said, settling into the seat across from him. “It felt appropriate.”

Lucian walked around the room once, then took his seat behind the desk.“You’ve really outdone yourself, Elysia.”

She took a seat across from him and smiled. “You’re one of my oldest friends. Doing this just felt natural.”

“Thanks for all of this, really. But let’s get to the point. What exactly do you need me to do?”

Elysia gestured to the drawer to his right. “Start by reading the documents I left for you.”

Lucian arched a brow, but pulled it open. Inside was a slim folder, stamped with an official-looking crest. He flipped through it, scanning the contents in silence.

A moment later, he looked up. “So let me get this straight. I’m Lucian Godwinson, only son of Baron Garland Godwinson from the Kingdom of Norwood. Naturally gifted in magic, served a few years in the kingdom’s military, and after a brief and distinguished career, I’ve been offered a position here at Celgrad Imperial Academy.”

Elysia nodded. “That’s exactly right.”

He gave her a sideways glance. “Surprised you kept the first name. I thought you'd change it.”

“Please. You’re far too attached to that name. The most you’d ever do is dress it up a little. Luciar, Lusean… and even Luciano, wasn’t it? Back when you fancied yourself a bard.”

Lucian winced slightly. Ah yes. The bard phase. Let’s not bring that back.

“Fair point. Still, won’t this identity cause problems? I’ve never heard of Baron Garland or the Kingdom of Norwood.”

“The kingdom is real, although it's quite new. I have allies there who made the paperwork and history stick. Everything will hold up if anyone looks too closely.”

Lucian nodded and set the folder down. “Alright then. What do you want me to do?”

Elysia smiled. “I’d like you to investigate any strange phenomena you encounter within the academy during your time there. But for the near future, focus on familiarizing yourself with the curriculum and the system, you do still have classes to teach.”

“System?”

“Try tapping your desk, and then channel your mana into it.”

He did as instructed. A soft pulse of energy ran beneath his palm, and then glowing text shimmered into view in the air before him.

[General Status]

 Name: Lucian Godwinson

 Title: Professor

Main Subject: Advanced Principles and Applications of Magical Theory.

 Points: 0

“What in the world is this? And what are these points supposed to be, exactly?” Lucian asked.

Elysia’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “That’s the academy’s system. You can bring it up on any desk by channeling mana through it. Students can access it too.”

“Alright… but what’s the point of it? No pun intended.”

“It helps track and encourage learning activity. Try tapping the desk again while channeling mana.”

He did as she said. Soon, more glowing text shimmered into view.

[Active Tasks]

1. Finish teaching your first class (Reward: 5 points)

2. Conduct a class outdoors (Reward: 5 points)

3. Appoint a student to be your teaching assistant for the current term (Reward: 5 points)

“The task list changes every week. And the points can be exchanged for various rewards.” Elysia explained. 

“This system’s actually kind of cute. Didn’t think you were the type to design something so… charming.”

“Oh, I didn’t make it.”

“Really? Then did one of the previous headmasters create the system?”

“Actually, no one knows where it came from.”

“You’re telling me this entire school has been using a magical system of unknown origin, and no one’s questioned it?”

“Many have questioned it. But no one has ever discovered where the system came from… or who created it in the first place."

Lucian leaned back in his chair, watching the glowing text fade. Something about all this didn’t sit quite right. 

If there was something that Elysia didn’t understand, then it had to be either impossibly ancient or completely alien. “Where do you think the system actually came from? And is there any chance it’s malicious?”

Elysia tapped her fingers against her sleeve. “Some have speculated it was created by the academy’s first faculty. A theory claims the original headmaster designed it alongside a circle of archmages to guide the school’s philosophy. But I’ve searched every record I could access, and no reliable sources confirm that story."

Lucian raised an eyebrow. A magical system that manages itself, tracks tasks, and hands out personalized rewards, and nobody’s sure who exactly made it? Lovely.

“As for whether it’s malicious,” Elysia continued, “that’s harder to say. So far, it only seems to encourage learning. The tasks are all tied to teaching, study, improving mana control and magical aptitude. On the surface, the system seems helpful. But the fact that I still don’t know its origin does make me uneasy.”

“Alright. I’ll look into it myself while I’m teaching. There’s quite a bit about it that intrigues me, like what exactly I can buy with these points.”

“The list of rewards varies by individual. It appears to adapt to each person’s position within the academy, their overall aptitude, and several other factors that remain unclear to me.”

Curious, Lucian placed a palm on the desk and channeled mana through it once more. The surface pulsed faintly as glowing text appeared in the air.

[Purchasable Rewards]

Available Points: 0

1. Empty Spellbook (Cost: 15 points)

2. Wand of Shoe Polishing (Cost: 25 points)

3. Potion of Minor Mana Regeneration (Cost: 50 points)

Lucian studied the list in silence for a moment. Then he glanced over at Elysia with a dry smile. “Tell me, are the rewards supposed to be this underwhelming, or is this the system’s idea of a joke?”

Elysia shrugged. “They improve over time. The more tasks you complete and the more you engage with the academy, the more impressive the rewards become. It scales with your activity.”

“Well, that makes enough sense. But when can I redeem something, and how does it actually arrive?"

“The item usually manifests near you. Though I still have no idea where any of the rewards come from."

Lucian let out a slow breath and leaned back in his chair. “Between this new system and the academy’s investigation, I’ve got plenty on my plate.”

“Is it too much at once?” Elysia asked, watching him carefully.

He smiled faintly. “Not at all. Honestly, I’ve been craving a good challenge.”

“Perfect. Your first class starts at nine tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow morning? You couldn’t have given me a bit more warning?”

"Finding you without magic wasn’t exactly easy, you know. Besides, I'm sure you’ll manage just fine.”

Note: Read Chapters 2 & 3 of the new story here.