"Marcus!" Serena’s sharp voice echoed across the classroom, slicing through the morning murmur.
"Yes, ma’am?" Marcus straightened in his seat, startled but quick to respond.
Serena stood at the podium, her sharp eyes darting across the room as she ticked off names on her attendance sheet.
"Oliver?"
"Present, ma’am!"
"Kael?" Serena paused, waiting for a response.
Silence stretched across the room, and she frowned, scanning the rows of seated students.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Marcus, do you know what’s happened to Kael? He hasn’t attended class for the past week." Serena asked.
Marcus hesitated, his eyes darting briefly to Shirone and Ren before he replied, "I… I don’t know, ma’am."
"Hmph. Leave it, then," Serena said, brushing it off.
"I’ll deal with him later."
After attendance was done —She closed the attendance sheet with a soft snap.
"Alright, today we’ll be studying the application of [Arcane Amplification], a fundamental principle used to enhance magical potency during battle."
The room perked up slightly at the mention of the topic.
Arcane Amplification was a subject that every aspiring mage needed to master if they hoped to survive on the battlefield.
Serena continued.
"Now, who can tell me the primary drawback of Arcane Amplification and how it affects the caster’s body if misused?"
A hush fell over the class as Serena’s question hung in the air.
Slowly, two hands rose from ends of the room—Shirone and Ren.
Between them sat Marcus, slouched in his chair, his arms stubbornly crossed.
"Seriously? Fuck both of you," Marcus muttered under his breath, glaring at the two overachievers.
Serena’s sharp gaze landed on Marcus, ignoring the raised hands entirely.
"No, you two don’t get to answer this time. Marcus, why don’t you enlighten the class?"
Marcus froze, his face scrunching into a mix of disbelief and irritation. ’Why me? They already know the answer!’
Shirone and Ren exchanged a knowing glance, both suppressing grins as Marcus reluctantly sat up straight.
"Fine," Marcus grumbled, throwing a death glare at both Shirone and Ren. "But I swear, if either of you smirk, I’ll—"
"Marcus, the answer, please," Serena interrupted, arching a brow.
Grinding his teeth, Marcus sighed and answered begrudgingly, "The primary drawback of Arcane Amplification is that it overdraws from the caster’s mana core. If the user isn’t experienced or doesn’t have a balanced flow, it can cause mana backlash, leading to exhaustion or, in severe cases, core destabilization."
Serena gave a satisfied nod, a rare smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Good. See? You’re capable when you try. Maybe you should participate more often instead of glaring at your classmates."
Marcus sank back into his chair, muttering, "Yes mam"
Shirone couldn’t resist leaning over.
"Good job, Marcus. You actually sounded smart for once." Shirone said.
"Shut up, shirone."
Ren snickered quietly, earning another glare from Marcus.
Serena, ignoring their antics, turned back to the blackboard.
"Now that we’ve covered the drawbacks, let’s discuss ways to mitigate them. Open your textbooks to page 78."
.
With the last word of the lecture, Serena closed her book with a sharp thud, commanding the attention of the room.
Her gaze swept across the students, a rare seriousness shadowing her expression.
"Class dismissed. But before you leave, I want to address something important," she announced, halting the shuffling of books and chairs.
The students froze, sensing the weight of her tone.
"**Listen carefully. If you encounter anyone—**a student, an outsider, or anyone else—telling you that there’s a shortcut to getting stronger, that you can bypass hard work to achieve power instantly, know this: It’s a lie. And most likely, it’s the work of an unknown black organization."
The room went completely silent, her words landing heavily on the students.
Serena continued, "You are all talented individuals, but there’s no substitute for effort, discipline, and time. Anyone promising otherwise is only seeking to manipulate you. I’m telling you this now because this organization is real, and it’s targeting people like you."
She turned her sharp gaze to the back of the room. "Elise. Step forward."
Elise, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, stiffened at her name.
She hesitated for a moment before rising and walking to the front of the class.
Her usual confidence seemed muted, replaced by a shadow of unease.
"Tell them what happened, Elise." Serena’s voice softened slightly, but the authority remained.
Elise nodded, her hands trembling faintly as she began. "A week ago, I… I was approached by my one friend. She told me a stranger offered her a way to get stronger—instantly. At first, I thought it was a joke, but then…"
Her voice faltered, and she took a shaky breath. "I found out it wasn’t. It was a demon. Disguised as a human. I… I didn’t realize it until it was too late. They attacked me, and I almost… I almost died."
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The room erupted into whispers, students leaning in to murmur to one another.
"Quiet!" Serena’s voice cut through the noise like a whip, silencing the chatter. She gestured for Elise to continue.
"If it weren’t for someone intervening, I wouldn’t be standing here right now. That demon nearly killed me." Elise’s voice wavered, but she held her head high. "Don’t let your ambition blind you. If something feels off, report it. Don’t be reckless."
Serena nodded approvingly. "Thank you, Elise. You may sit down."
Elise returned to her seat, and the room was left in stunned silence.
Serena surveyed the students with a piercing gaze. "You heard her."
The gravity of her words hung heavy in the air.
"Stay vigilant. And remember: There are no shortcuts. That will be all. Dismissed."
..
Meanwhile, Deep in the Forest
Kael moved silently through the dense forest, his sharp eyes scanning every shadow.
He had been tracking faint traces of demonic energy for hours but had yet to find the source.
Unbeknownst to him, his actions had already altered the course of fate.
By saving Elise, he had prevented a disaster that, in the original story, had claimed countless lives.
In the novel, the demon had killed Elise, taken her form, and used her position to lure other students into traps.
The resulting carnage had been devastating. But now, Elise was alive, and the demon’s plans were disrupted.
Kael, however, was unaware of the ripple effect his intervention had caused...
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