Zorel Academia — Year 1 Classroom
The air buzzed with the chatter of Year 1 students during their free class period. Maya and Leah gossiped happily as the students enjoyed their break, while Caleb and his crew were still undergoing painful healing processes in the infirmary after their barbaric encounter.
Meanwhile, Ryan fiddled with his flame magic, tossing a tennis ball-sized flame into the air and manipulating it to loop and swirl around his fingers with swift precision as he rested his jaw on his left hand.
I wonder where Sai could be. It's been over an hour since we finished Mrs. Bramble's class.
With a flick of his wrist, the ball of flame vanished into thin air. Ryan placed his right index finger against his chin in deep thought as he rested his elbow on the desk.
"Now where did Sai say he was going again?" Ryan muttered aloud.
"Maybe he—"
Ryan's soliloquy was swiftly cut short by a disarming presence.
A properly dressed female walked into the classroom, her attire radiating confidence. Her lustrous silver hair streaked with black flowed behind her in response to the wind, while her bright blue eyes glimmered as she made her way to the front of the class.
"Attention, students!" she announced in an orderly tone.
The badge on her chest bearing the title Deputy Head Girl screamed authority as her sharp blue eyes surveyed the classroom.
"As you should all be aware, the new candidate known as Sai Takka was recently attacked by two Grade One Sorcerers today," she said, pausing briefly to allow the information to sink in.
The pupils gasped.
Ryan frowned deeply, clearly shocked.
"Oh no!" Maya exclaimed, bringing both hands to her lips.
Leah wore an astonished expression.
Now certain the news had settled in, the Deputy continued.
"Fortunately, we suffered no casualties, and the candidate in question is currently exhausted after his altercation with them."
Upon hearing this, a fair-complexioned boy with low-cut hair abruptly stood up.
"What?! That nobody took on two Grade One Sorcerers by himself? That's impossible! It has to be a bluff! He doesn't even have mana—!"
"But he possesses the power to nullify it," the Deputy swiftly interrupted, her disarming aura slicing through the classroom like a blade and instantly restoring silence.
"Which was a major factor in his victory against the two mages," she added calmly.
The boy immediately fell silent, too intimidated to provoke the beautiful disciplinarian any further. He slowly lowered himself back into his seat.
"And as a result of this battle, Sai Takka is currently recovering in the infirmary due to exhaustion. Therefore, he will not be attending classes for the remainder of today."
"And in addition to this situation, the school day has been shortened to two hours before closing time, and all further lectures have been cancelled. Normal activities shall resume tomorrow."
"Any questions?" the Deputy asked, glancing around the classroom.
Before Ryan could raise his hand, Maya's was already in the air.
The Deputy's stare gave Maya permission to speak. Maya stood up nervously, the curves of her chest bouncing lightly as she rose.
"P-Please…"
"H-How is Sai?"
"W-Will he be alright?" Maya asked timidly, her voice filled with genuine concern.
"Sai Takka is currently resting in the infirmary due to exhaustion. Nothing more," the Deputy replied in a cool, reassuring tone.
"However…"
"H-However what?!" Maya blurted out anxiously.
Leah leaned forward, eager to hear the Deputy's next words.
Some of the other students also grew uneasy from the suspense, but none more than Ryan. Despite this, he remained composed, silently listening.
The classroom grew quiet, the atmosphere dense with curiosity as everyone awaited the Deputy's response.
"It is likely that Sai Takka will face trial before the Magical Tribunal, where his fate from this point onward shall be decided by the Tribunal Head."
The Deputy paused silently, her eyes scanning the sea of students before finally bidding them farewell.
"That will be all for now. Have a nice day."
With that, she exited the classroom, her overwhelming aura leaving alongside her.
The classroom immediately erupted into murmurs and chatter once again, while a defiant silence settled within Ryan's heart. He wanted to ensure Sai was truly alright and understand what exactly had happened during the attack.
Ryan rested his index finger against his nose while the remaining fingers covered his mouth thoughtfully. His eyes briefly shifted toward Maya, who looked visibly uneasy.
It was painfully obvious to Ryan that Maya had a huge crush on Sai.
Ryan knew it for a fact—he wasn't an idiot, and neither was Sai. Yet Sai remained completely nonchalant toward her feelings… or perhaps he simply never noticed.
Maybe it was normal for a guy like him.
---
Meanwhile, Sai lay on a one-person bunk bed inside a chamber-like infirmary lined with old beds. Sunlight poured through a single open wooden window, reflecting softly against his body.
"Ughhh…" Sai groaned as he stretched his limbs and sat upright.
As he lowered his legs from the bed, the room spun sideways within his vision, showing that his eyesight still hadn't fully recovered.
His trousers were still on, but his shirt was gone.
The moment Sai felt the burnt scars across his abs, he instantly remembered why.
Guilt.
Weakness.
Anger.
Frustration.
Sai gritted his teeth furiously before lightly punching the wall beside him.
BOOM!
Even that "light" impact shattered a large section of the wall entirely, sending dust and wooden splinters flying through the air.
Sai couldn't care less.
From what he had seen so far, it was obvious this room hadn't been used in years. Why would it? The academy had healing mages for injuries.
But none of that mattered to Sai right now.
"AGGHHHHHH!"
"DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAAAAMN IT!" Sai roared, stomping violently against the floor.
A massive crater formed beneath his foot, growing larger with each stomp.
"THEY GOT AWAY!"
"TEAR GAS?! OF ALL THINGS, I WAS TAKEN DOWN BY TEAR GAS?!"
"HOW WEAK CAN I BE?!"
"I NEED TO GET STRONGER!"
"I NEED TO BUILD UP!"
"I GOTTA TRAIN!" Sai shouted coldly, consumed by rage and self-hatred.
"And that old fool…" Sai muttered bitterly as the gruesome image of Von resurfaced in his mind.
"Next time I see that cheap bastard… I'll kill him."
"Well… you really did a number on that wall."
Sai's heart skipped a beat.
He instantly leapt backward, facing the direction of the voice. His fists rose in front of his face while one foot slid forward into a boxing stance.
However, the moment he saw who it was, he lowered his guard.
Mrs. Bramble leaned casually against the wall with her legs crossed and arms folded beneath her ample chest.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Sai asked, lowering his fists.
"Came to check up on ya," Mrs. Bramble replied casually, though there was sincerity in her tone.
"Well, I'm doing just fine. You can leave now," Sai responded rudely, turning his head away in rebellion, still overwhelmed by anger and self-loathing.
Ignoring his attitude, Mrs. Bramble let out a faint grin.
"You're not from around here, are ya?"
"Yeah?"
"And so?"
"You already know I moved here recently."
Pushing herself off the wall, Mrs. Bramble slowly approached him. The echoes of her footsteps bounced softly throughout the room.
She stopped two feet away from Sai.
Her pleasant smile vanished, replaced by a cold, intimidating frown as she leaned toward him. Her narrowed eyes carried a dangerous weight.
"We both know what I mean."
Sai's expression immediately shifted into shock.
This was the first time he had ever heard Mrs. Bramble speak with proper grammar.
At that moment, Sai realized she was onto him.
There was no point hiding it anymore.
"So…" Sai muttered, his fists clenched at his sides.
"What's it to ya?"
"Nothing much, old lad," Mrs. Bramble replied, raising both hands innocently with a cheerful smile.
"I don't know who you are or where you came from…"
"But for now, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."
"However…" she continued, her tone suddenly darkening.
A shadow fell over her expression.
"If you try anything funny…"
"You're a dead man."
Mrs. Bramble slowly dragged her thumb across her throat in a chilling throat-slitting gesture.