The office was quiet except for the sound of the clock striking the silence at regular intervals.
Ms. Serena sat behind her wooden desk, and Dan, cain, and Rowan stood in front of her. Their faces still showed the marks of the recent fight.
Serena put her pen down, leaned back in her chair, and sighed deeply, as if she were carrying more than she could handle.
She said in a calm, clear voice:
"So that's exactly what happened?"
The three nodded in agreement.
They looked at each other for a moment before Dan replied:
"Yes, that's all. He wasn't conscious."
Serena didn't say anything for a few seconds. She looked at the papers in front of her. Then she closed them and said in a serious tone:
"This isn't the first time."
Cain raised his eyebrows and asked:
"What do you mean?"
Serena looked at them and replied:
"This is the fourth time this month that a student has collapsed."
Everyone sat in silence for a moment, and then Rowan said quietly:
"Breaking down...? You mean he lost control like Ziegler?"
Serena nodded slowly and said more:
"Yes... the same symptoms. Anger that is not justified, a sudden doubling of physical strength, and then a total loss of mind and reason."
Serena said as she looked through some papers:
We've seen in other cases that there's been a sudden increase in strength and a sharp rise in emotions. But..." She stopped for a few seconds, as if thinking about what to say. "Ziegler's case was more severe than any previous case."
The three of them looked at each other, seeming worried. Then Dan said something to break the silence:
"So far, what does the investigation say?"
Serena looked at him and replied firmly:
"This is not something students like you need to worry about. You should leave now and get some rest."
Her answer wasn't good enough, but her gaze made it clear that there was no point in arguing.
The three of them got up and left the office without saying anything, closing the door behind them.
______
After Dan and his colleagues left the office, Serena stood still for a few seconds. Then she turned her back and walked quickly toward the administration building.
She knew the meeting had started.
She opened the door to the library and smelled the old books and saw the dim light coming through the tall windows.
Four people sat at the round table in the middle of the room: Jack, the martial arts teacher, looked tense and serious. Dr. James was carefully looking over medical records. The deputy director looked tired. Director Ilaris sat at the head of the table. He looked powerful and sharp-eyed.
Ilaris lifted his head as soon as she came in and said in a low but serious voice:
"Tell me... what's the latest?"
The deputy director cleared his throat and began to speak:
"This is the fourth case of this kind. All of the victims—except for the last one—were bronze or silver rank, and most were low in their ranks."
He paused for a moment, as if thinking hard about what to say, before continuing:
"We found a substance in one of the students' rooms... and after examining it, we discovered something disturbing."
The director looked at him closely.
"Continue."
The deputy director took a deep breath and said:
"The substance contains... demon blood."
Suddenly, everyone was quiet, like the room had held its breath.
Jack's voice got louder and louder as he hit the table with his fist.
"How is this possible?! Who would even think of bringing something like this into the academy?!"
Jack realized he was overreacting. He took a deep breath and sat back down, trying to control his temper.
Ilaris signaled for the vice principal to continue.
The latter said calmly:
"After questioning the students when they woke up, it became clear that they had obtained this drug from outside the academy. It seems to be a new product that has recently gone on sale, but it is incomplete and full of flaws. It quickly causes addiction."
Serena raised her eyebrow and said:
"But... how does this drug work? Normally, human blood and demon blood can only be mixed together with a contract."
Dr. James replied, folding his hands over the papers in front of him:
"That's right. But this drug contains demon blood that has been chemically changed to make it easier for the human body to handle. It's not finished, which is why its users are going crazy."
Serena continued seriously:
"What if it were complete?
After she asked her question, there was a long, uncomfortable silence. Then Ilaris spoke in a low but sharp voice:
"If this drug were complete, people would take more of it, and the dose of power it gives each time would not be enough."
He looked at her with a serious expression and said:
"Then, the person will want more. The best way to achieve that will be by making a contract with one of the demons."
He turned to her as if to test her understanding.
"You know what that means, right?"
Serena whispered:
"It means more and more people are making deals with demons."
Dr. James nodded slowly, agreeing with her, while an eerie silence filled the room.
The phone rang in the meeting room, and Dr. James answered it, listening to the voice on the other end.
He ended the call and quietly hung up the phone. Then he looked at everyone with a serious face, like he was carrying a heavy burden.
He said in a low but clear voice:
"Ziegler is dead."
Everyone in the room was quiet. It was like time stopped for a second.
______
Rowan and Cain were in Dan's room. They were silent for a moment, and then Cain sighed and said something.
"So... what do you think about what happened? No matter how I try to look at it, Ziegler was never normal."
Dan replied, putting his hand on his chin:
"Professor Serena said it was the fourth case... It seems there's a common thread between them all. But what made them like that?"
Rowan suddenly said something to him in a low voice:
"A contract with a demon."
They both looked at him, surprised. Rowan stared at the ground as if he hadn't noticed their gazes. Then Cain spoke to him in a curious tone:
"Rowan, why do you think that?"
Rowan lifted his head and said:
"Actually... I have a skill similar to radar. With it, I can sense the mana of those around me. I've met people before who made deals with demons. Mana Ziegler was similar to them."
Dan made a face and asked:
"Do you think he made a deal with the devil?"
Rowan shook his head:
"No... not exactly. If he had made a deal, his mana would have been the same as demons'. But I felt something different. It was normal, but it was also tainted... as if a small part of demonic mana had mixed with it. Honestly, it seemed very strange."
Cain asked:
"And now?"
Rowan lifted his burned hand and said with a slight smile:
"I'm going to the hospital. It seems that Ziegler's fire left its mark on me."
Dan couldn't forget the attack. He remembered how Ziegler's body was covered in flames.
"I understand... Take care of yourself, Rowan."
Rowan waved his hand before leaving, saying he was sorry that he could not study with Dan that day.
Dan replied with a thankful smile:
"It's okay, you just saved us."
Dan and Cain were left alone in the room. Cain said something to Dan with a sly smile.
"Well, Dan... I have to admit, spending time with you is eventful."
Then he added, putting his hands in his pockets:
"If you need anything, you know where to find me."