"Cough."
A sudden cough from Evelisse snapped me back to reality instantly.
My thoughts froze.
Evelisse looked directly at me with narrowed violet eyes.
Clearly noticing my strange reaction.
I quickly straightened myself before continuing forward calmly.
Step.
Step.
Eventually—
I stopped beside Lucinda's desk.
For a brief moment—
my hand tightened slightly around the paper.
Then silently—
I placed the results sheet before her.
I forced a small smile.
"Your paper."
Lucinda didn't even look at me.
Not once.
Her crimson eyes remained focused entirely on the result sheet while her expression stayed cold and indifferent.
Like I wasn't even worth acknowledging.
Just like before.
Something twisted painfully inside my chest.
But I quickly moved on.
My mind was already a complete mess.
I needed to leave this classroom.
Now.
Eventually—
I stopped beside another student.
A black-haired young man lounged casually against his chair while spinning a pen between his fingers.
Everything about him radiated arrogance.
Joseph Valoris.
#2 — 98/100.
The moment our eyes met—
a smirk appeared on his face.
Clearly noticing my distracted state.
As I handed him the paper—
he suddenly extended his hand casually.
"Surprising."
"To think someone our age became Professor Evelisse's assistant."
A handshake.
But the moment our hands touched—
CRACKLE.
Violent lightning mana surged through Joseph's palm straight into my arm.
A cheap attempt to embarrass me publicly.
Then—
my golden eyes slowly met his.
And instantly—
Joseph's smile vanished.
For a split second—
he no longer stood inside the classroom.
He stood within an endless sea of stars.
Infinite darkness stretched endlessly around him while galaxies themselves drifted through the void.
And before him—
something existed.
Something impossibly massive.
A creature so enormous planets themselves looked microscopic before it.
No—
even planets failed to compare.
Its body stretched endlessly across the stars themselves while cold ancient golden eyes slowly gazed down at him.
Those eyes held no anger.
No rage.
Only absolute superiority.
Like a being observing something beneath even insects.
Joseph's entire body froze.
His instincts shattered instantly.
Because the moment those eyes landed on him—
he realized something terrifying.
If that creature truly wished to—
his existence would disappear without even leaving dust behind.
"…W-What…"
The illusion instantly shattered.
Joseph stumbled backward breathing heavily while cold sweat poured down his face.
I released his hand immediately before walking away without another word.
Several students stared toward Joseph in confusion seeing his pale expression.
Even Evelisse's eyes narrowed slightly noticing the sudden shift in atmosphere.
But my mind was elsewhere.
Completely elsewhere.
By the time I finished distributing the papers—
my head already felt unbearable.
I quietly approached Evelisse afterward while the students focused on copying notes from the board.
"I don't feel well, Professor."
"May I be excused for today?"
Evelisse studied me silently for a moment.
Clearly realizing something had happened.
But surprisingly—
she didn't question it.
"…Fine."
"You may leave."
The moment she said that—
I immediately turned around and left the classroom.
Because staying there any longer—
felt unbearable.
...
Rio walked through the academy hallways silently.
The students around him quickly moved aside sensing the unstable aura leaking from him.
His breathing was uneven.
Heavy.
Eventually—
he entered the nearest restroom before locking the door behind him.
Then instantly—
BOOM.
His fist smashed directly into the wall.
Cracks spread across the surface violently.
Normally—
that single punch would've shattered the entire room.
But now—
with his mana circuits broken—
the damage remained limited.
Rio lowered his head afterward while gripping his hair tightly.
His mind burned.
Lucinda.
His elder sister.
The person he never expected to see again.
The memories alone made something inside him boil violently.
Killing intent leaked uncontrollably from his body.
At that moment—
he had almost released Astarax inside the classroom itself.
"…Tch…"
His breathing became heavier.
"I can't stay here."
"I need to leave now."
Darkness suddenly flickered nearby.
Then—
Astarax appeared calmly beside him in her black cat form before landing atop the sink.
Her golden eyes quietly gazed toward him.
"Calm down."
Rio remained silent.
Astarax continued.
"Do you truly intend to run away right now?"
Her tail slowly swayed behind her.
"You finally found a method to repair your mana circuits."
"You finally gained access to Mythralis Academy."
"And now you wish to abandon everything because of one person?"
Rio clenched his fists tightly.
"You don't understand."
Astarax's eyes narrowed slightly.
"No."
"I understand perfectly."
Her voice became colder afterward.
"You are afraid."
Rio's expression darkened instantly.
"You survived against monsters capable of destroying cities."
"You faced death countless times."
"And yet…"
"…the moment you saw your sister…"
"…you broke."
Silence.
Rio slowly lowered his head afterward.
Because he couldn't deny it.
Lucinda's existence affected him far more than he wanted to admit.
Astarax quietly stared at him before speaking again.
"Tell me Rio."
"If you leave now…"
"When will you ever return?"
Her golden eyes reflected directly into his.
"You swore you would grow stronger."
"You swore you would one day stand above the Valen family."
"And now?"
"You wish to run simply because the path became painful?"
Rio's nails dug into his palms.
Meanwhile—
Astarax calmly jumped onto his shoulder.
Her voice softened slightly afterward.
"Do not let your hatred control you so easily."
"Not yet."
"Because currently…"
"…you are still far too weak."
...
Lucinda Valen walked through the academy hallways calmly while another girl followed beside her endlessly talking.
The girl had long pink hair tied into a loose side ponytail while bright amber eyes radiated energy constantly.
Isolde Viremont.
One of the few people within Mythralis capable of casually speaking to Lucinda without freezing from pressure alone.
Both girls wore the official fourth-year Mythralis uniform.
A black military-style academy coat rested over silver inner uniforms embroidered with the Mythralis crest near the chest.
Dark silver belts wrapped around their waists holding mana tools and small artifacts while long black boots echoed sharply against the academy floors.
The uniforms were elegant.
Sharp.
Built more like combat attire than student clothing.
Naturally—
swords rested at both their sides.
"Lucindaaa…"
Isolde groaned dramatically.
"I heard Professor Evelisse is returning our Mana Theory results today."
"Ugh…"
"I don't even think I scored above fifty."
Lucinda's cold crimson eyes shifted toward her briefly.
"I did quite well."
"Huh? Of course you did."
Isolde sighed dramatically.
"I seriously don't understand you."
"How are you good at both swordsmanship and Mana Theory?"
"You Valens are seriously monsters."
Lucinda didn't respond.
Praise like that meant nothing anymore.
Eventually—
the two entered the classroom before sitting near the front rows.
Isolde leaned lazily against her chair afterward.
"Oh right."
"I heard Professor Evelisse somehow got herself an assistant."
Lucinda raised an eyebrow slightly.
"An assistant?"
"Yeah."
Isolde snorted.
"I honestly feel bad for the guy."
"He'll have to deal with that crazy bitch every single day."
Soon—
the classroom quieted.
Evelisse entered calmly.
And behind her—
came the assistant professor.
A young man with black hair and golden eyes.
Isolde immediately grinned.
"Woah."
"At least he's handsome."
She glanced around the classroom afterward.
"Unlike these bulky sword idiots."
Lucinda barely paid attention.
Another assistant.
Another person trying too hard.
Nothing important.
Then—
the assistant professor slowly began distributing the examination sheets.
Eventually—
he approached their row.
And for the briefest moment—
Lucinda's eyes met his.
Her brows faintly furrowed.
Why is he looking at me like that?
His golden eyes widened slightly.
Then quickly—
he regained composure before placing the paper down before her silently.
Isolde smirked immediately.
"Seems like he already fell for you, Ice Princess."
Lucinda inwardly scoffed.
Pathetic.
Just another one like the others.
Her attention shifted toward the paper afterward.
99/100.
Not bad.
Though honestly—
not good enough for her standards either.
beside her—
Isolde stared at her own sheet in horror.
"22 out of 100?!"
"T-This has to be wrong!"
Lucinda almost chuckled slightly—
before suddenly—
a freezing feeling crawled down her spine.
Her crimson eyes instantly shifted backward.
And there—
she saw the assistant professor.
Zio Norken.
At that moment—
he was shaking hands with Joseph Valoris.
Tch.
That idiot Joseph.
Lucinda instantly realized what he was attempting.
A cheap humiliation tactic using lightning mana.
Pathetic.
But then—
her eyes widened slightly.
Because suddenly—
Joseph's entire body froze.
And for a split second—
Lucinda saw it too.
Those golden eyes.
Cold.
Ancient.
Terrifying.
An indescribable pressure washed over the room for the briefest moment before vanishing instantly.
Joseph immediately let go of his hand gasping softly while cold sweat rolled down his face.
Meanwhile—
Zio simply continued distributing papers calmly.
Like absolutely nothing had happened.
Lucinda's brows slowly furrowed.
Confusion filled her mind.
…What was that?