Shin's words hung heavy in the air, a ripple of nervous gasps erupted from the class.
Everyone froze, their eyes fixed on the instructor. Some exchanged shocked glances.
"You will be told the details in the next class after the break," he stated, leaving the class as the bell's chime announced the start of break.
Students also followed Shin out. Sei also spilled out; the yellow badge felt heavy on his chest. Navi walked beside him in her usual nervous demeanor, the chatter all around seemed to blur. Sei's eyes were fixed on something that didn't exist.
The chatter slowly faded as they headed toward their usual spot, a lone tree toward the edge of the ground, its branches and leaves swaying in the air, the trees whispering in unison.
Sei's mind was a storm, but he laced a trembling smile and proceeded to eat the food. Miyo also came running hesitantly with a rice ball in his hand, his messy brown hair bouncing. He halted in front of them, correcting his glasses.
"Uhm, Sei, did you also hear about the exam..." he spoke, his voice filled with nervousness, his eyes darting around as he spoke.
"Hey, calm down first and sit down," Sei spoke, forcing a cheerful tone.
As Miyo was about to sit down, his gaze wandered around. "Oh, I forgot the water bottle, just a moment," he spoke and left in a hurry, leaving Sei and Navi in silence.
Navi's chopsticks paused for a moment, her gaze at the green grass on the ground which seemed to reflect the rays.
She glanced sideways at Sei. He hadn't spoken much. Usually, he'd crack some dry joke or complain about the test announcement. But not today. His eyes were a little too distant.
"Sei, are you alright?" she asked, her voice smooth and slow. "You are quiet today."
He blinked, looked at her with a mechanical smile. "Am I?"
"You are." Her tone was light, but her eyes didn't waver.
Sei looked away, brushing a strand of hair in front of his bruised left eye again. "I'm just tired. Couldn't sleep well."
She didn't respond right away. Instead, she reached forward slowly, her red, piercing eyes fixed on him, her hand reaching out for his face, gently brushing the hair aside with her fingers. The motion was soft, almost reverent.
The purple bruise beneath Sei's eye became visible as the hair parted. She looked at it for a long moment, her expression unreadable.
"I saw you," she spoke. "Last night… sneaking out. And this morning, your clothes, Sei. They were soaked in blood."
The air seemed to grow colder. Sei's body stiffened. His eyes widened in realization and shame. The breeze passed by, making their hair flutter.
Navi spoke again, her voice calm. "I'm not asking you to explain. I just want you to stop pretending nothing happened."
His chest tightened.
He turned his face away, voice barely audible. "You don't need to be involved."
For a moment, Navi just sat there, motionless. Then she stood up, brushing the grass from her skirt.
"If you can't tell me, fine. But at least know this," she said softly. "You can trust me."
And with that, she walked off, her footsteps quiet against the fluttering grass beneath.
A moment later, Miyo returned. He took one look at Sei's expression—distant—and decided not to say anything. Instead, he sat beside him silently, sipping his water.
Sei sat there idle, his mind lost in everything that happened since he came here. On his first day, he was helped by a mysterious man, with zero clue of who it was. Then yesterday night—the mysterious figures, the hidden tunnel through the wall, and Gillian Fredrik.
The bell chimed again. Sei flinched at the sudden sound. The break felt short today.
Miyo stood up, brushing off grass from his pants. "Let's go."
Sei nodded before standing up. They walked towards the building.
As Sei reached his classroom, he found Navi already sitting in the class. He slowly walked and sat down in his seat.
The second half of the day brought something new.
A tall figure walked into the classroom with measured steps. The room quieted immediately, every head turning toward the door.
The woman wore the sharp black of an instructor, but where Shin was formal and unassuming, she was the opposite.
Her black shirt clung to her chest, stretched tight by her generous curves, a single silver button straining to keep it all closed. She wore tight black trousers that emphasized her long, muscular legs, and boots that tapped softly against the floor.
But it was her presence—undeniably dangerous—that silenced the room.
She leaned down on the table in the front, a small smile tugging at her lips. "So, how are you all?" her voice soft and vicious at the same time.
Her gaze scanned the whole room for a moment, and then she stood back, arms crossed under her chest. "I am Keith, your new instructor for Nature Energy channeling classes."
Her eyes narrowed a bit, then she continued, "I'll be teaching you how to channel Nature Energy from now onwards."
Her gaze again wandered. Sei noticed that she looked at him for a moment longer because of the yellow badge. Then she raised her hand, pointing at a girl in the middle rows.
"You there, I invite you to be my guest here," she spoke with a smile.
The girl wavered nervously for a moment, then slowly stood up and walked in front.
The instructor slammed a light hand on her back. "Come on, don't be afraid," she said in an energetic tone. Then she turned to the class and declared, "This girl right here will demonstrate how you channel Nature Energy."
Every eye in the room turned to the girl. Her face slowly turned red, her figure shaking from the pressure of so many viewers. But she gathered the confidence and raised her hand, focusing. A small group of rock particles gathered at her hand, but they were very vigorous—trying to escape.
The girl closed her eyes sharply, exerting more focus, but the particles suddenly broke free and scattered, dissolving into the air.
"Oh my, just that?" the instructor mocked. "You will fail," she added in a cold tone.
The girl lowered her head instantly and went back to her seat.
Then her voice dropped. It wasn't louder. It didn't need to be. It was the kind of whisper you didn't want to ignore.
"By next month," she said slowly, "if you cannot freely channel Nature Energy…" Her eyes narrowed. "You fail."
Uneasy murmurs spread like ripples through the class. Several students exchanged glances; a few paled visibly.
Sei was still lost when suddenly a voice brought him back.
"Sei Haswarth," the instructor called. "Come on in front."