A deathly silence fell over the room. No one moved.
Leila's body lay on the ground, bloodied, her breath barely perceptible.
Nova felt her heart tighten, not for Leila, but because of that sensation in the air.
Something was off. Arie wasn't sweating. His expression remained calm, too calm.
**Nova** (thinking):
*She's not just any girl. She's holding something back. Something dangerous.*
**Caden**, always impassive, approached Arie.
**Caden** (coldly) :
"You know that you could have killed her?"
Arie (staring, calm):
"She said she was ready."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
The headmistress entered; murmurs spread. She ordered everyone back to their classrooms.
Only the headmistress, Caden, and Arie remained — the others had taken Leila to the hospital.
Arie broke the silence.
Arie (calmly, but with a chilling tone):
"What happened today was just a warning. My mistress sent me.
Prepare yourselves — dark days are coming.
Monsters are already lurking in the nearby regions.
And your so-called chosen ones? They're worthless.
Wake up, or die."
She turned toward Caden.
Arie:
"Tell me. Who is that girl?"
Caden (coldly, arms crossed):
"What are you talking about?"
Arie (smiling):
"Your niece. She has no mana. She's a Zero.
But I can't even get near her without—kof… kof… kof…"
Headmistress (shocked):
"What's happening?!"
Suddenly, Arie collapsed. Blood poured from her mouth.
Her eyes rolled back.
Nova stepped out from the shadows, arms crossed, slowly walking toward her aunt and Caden.
Nova (calmly, loud enough for all to hear):
"So now we're making pacts with monsters?"
Headmistress (furious):
"What are you doing here?!"
Caden (darkly):
"Why do you have such strong mana if you're not awakened?"
Nova (icy tone):
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
The headmistress, red with rage:
"Get back to your class right now!"
Arie (half-rising, gasping):
"Kof… kof… stay away from her… stay away or… kof—"
Caden (firmly):
"Get her out."
Nova, still staring coldly at Caden, left silently with her aunt, while Caden watched her go with a smirk on his face.
That smirk... didn't mean anything good.