Inside the train wagon where Evo stood, the students were still on the floor, trembling violently, as if their very existences were on the verge of being erased. Primal fear seeped into their bones; the weakest had fainted, as though it were a self-preservation mechanism, or writhed while clutching their heads in terror. Even the stronger ones had legs that shook incessantly, struggling just to remain standing.
Evo, still at the center of it all, looked at them without a shred of pity. He preferred to act this way and, once and for all, drill some sense into those irresponsible fools. He loathed people who failed to recognize the limits they were meant to respect.
Perhaps he would regret it in the future, when many of those youths, already grown, would be terrified by the mere scent of alcohol, never again daring to taste it, haunted by the memory of this day. But the chance of Evo caring about that was slim—if not nonexistent.
- P-please… s-st-stop!
A student near Evo begged him to put an end to that torment. Evo watched him, fully aware of what his presence was doing to their bodies, minds, and spirits.
…Well, he was extremely satisfied with the results.
He flashed a sarcastic smile at the young man slumped against a seat, staring at him in pure terror.
- You should think carefully about your actions.
- If you had been responsible, perhaps you wouldn't be in this pathetic state right now.
Evo spoke coldly, loud enough for everyone to hear. Inside, they all cursed themselves for daring to drink while underage. They swore to themselves they would never do something like that again.
The fear Evo made them experience was far too overwhelming.
Already thinking of stopping, Evo was about to withdraw his aura from the area, but before he could do so, the door at the front of the wagon burst open with force and urgency.
- Who dares to attack the students of—!
Elizabeth began to roar, but her voice gradually lost its strength as her eyes took in the scene before her.
Several students were scattered throughout the wagon in pitiful states: some unconscious on the floor, others clutching their heads in despair, and a few trembling, pale as ghosts. And at the center of it all stood a single tall student. Unlike the others, he was calm, as if none of it affected him—not even that suffocating presence.
Arms crossed, he turned his attention to Elizabeth, who stood frozen in the doorway, staring at him.
- Evo Eylam!
She called his name slowly, her voice laden with fear. And why was she terrified? Simple.
Elizabeth was looking at Evo—more specifically, at his body, the source from which that presence was spilling out uncontrollably. Her eyes saw something the others could not. The young man's body was releasing an absurd amount of something she briefly thought she must be imagining.
- ''Laws…?''
She murmured in disbelief. Elizabeth possessed only a basic understanding of Laws, but she knew that only mythical beings could wield such power. Yet that belief was shattered and mocked right before her eyes.
There stood a student, releasing Laws from his body as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
She could feel that crushing pride—but it wasn't coming from his aura… it was coming from somewhere else.
From his eyes.
Those golden eyes stared at her, brimming with pride, as if he alone held the truth and nothing else mattered. And the most terrifying part? Evo was doing all of this unconsciously, as though it were a natural part of his very existence—something that defined him.
- Instructor Elizabeth.
She was pulled from her whirlwind of thoughts by a gentle yet cold, cutting voice. It was the young man before her, calling out as the aura that made the metal of the wagon groan was finally reined in.
The students began breathing heavily and erratically, as though the air had been denied to them until now. Some who had collapsed started to rise with difficulty.
Elizabeth, accompanied by the other instructors, moved toward the center of the wagon, now so calm it barely seemed like the same place that had groaned under that suffocating presence moments earlier.
The elf walked toward Evo while thinking:
- ''How can a student have such a suffocating presence…''
- ''And one imbued with Laws?''
It all felt absurd—and frightening. Of course, she and the other instructors were far stronger than Evo, so they were relatively fine—unlike the students.
Even so, simply feeling a chill in her bones was unprecedented… and terrifying.
She stopped in front of Evo, who looked straight at her, as if waiting for her to speak.
- Student Evo, what is going on here?
Evo gave a slight nod before replying, maintaining an apathetic expression, as though none of it concerned him.
- Instructor, why don't you and the other instructors take a good look around?
He made the suggestion with a wicked smile, making Elizabeth's heart give a small leap. That smile, arrogant as it was, was strangely charming and captivating.
Following his suggestion, the three instructors—including Elizabeth—began examining the surroundings. Soon, expressions of disgust and anger surfaced on their faces. Especially on the elf's, who turned a blazing glare on the students before shouting:
- Were you drinking?!
- Have you completely lost your minds?!
The conscious students looked at the instructors, pale, receiving cold, contempt-filled stares in return.
Some tried to speak, but the earlier shock didn't even allow them to form words properly. Elizabeth didn't bother listening. The evidence was obvious: the strong smell of alcohol in the air, several empty bottles scattered about, and countless students showing clear signs of intoxication.
Did she really need to say anything more?
- After this trip is over, I will make sure to speak to all of your families about this!
Everyone's hearts froze. They knew exactly what awaited them once their families found out. They were utterly screwed.
- Now, if you understand, get out of here, go back to your seats, and behave yourselves!
Her voice was sharper and angrier than ever. Evo, who had been observing everything with his arms crossed, turned his attention back to Elizabeth.
- I was on my way to the bathroom when I came across this wagon and saw this scene.
- He began, casting a glance at the students now filing out. Elizabeth remained silent, listening closely.
- So I decided to punish them a little…
- To put some sense into their heads.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes as Evo looked directly at her again.
- Evo Eylam, I know you meant to discipline them, but…
She paused briefly, intensifying her gaze.
- Why did you think you could do that?
- You are not the instructor responsible for guiding them.
Evo broke into a wide grin, causing a slight discomfort in Elizabeth, though she held his gaze.
Tilting his head slightly, he asked mockingly:
- Instructor?
- If the instructors were the ones meant to teach them, why didn't they do so when the students were here, indulging in drinks?
She tried to respond, but Evo wasn't finished.
- Where were the instructors?
- If I hadn't been here, they would've stayed like this all night… and you wouldn't have noticed a thing.
All the instructors trembled at those words. They remembered where they had been just minutes earlier, and their expressions turned bitter.
Elizabeth was the most affected. Her heart tightened.
- ''He's right…''
They had been enjoying themselves in a distant car while their students caused trouble beyond their sight.
She took a deep breath and looked back at Evo, whose eyes were now gentler, as if he had realized she acknowledged the mistake.
- You're right, Evo.
- We were complacent about the students' safety and supervision…
- I apologize for our failure.
Evo smiled at her sincerity and tried to reassure her.
- It's all right, Elizabeth.
- I merely stated my point of view. We all make mistakes… and you acknowledged yours.
- I see you as an excellent instructor.
- Don't let this failure discourage you. Always keep trying to improve.
Elizabeth stared at him as a sweet smile bloomed on her lips. Her heart began to pound violently as she looked at that tall young man, with a smile that… could disarm any woman.
Realizing her own thoughts, she panicked and began shaking her head from side to side, trying to banish them.
- W-what am I thinking?!
- What's gotten into you, you idiot?!
She muttered internally as her face burned, turning red as a pepper.
- Instructor, are you all right?
She was pulled from her daze when she felt a comforting touch on her face—gentle and protective. She looked up at the owner of that hand, who gazed at her with concern.
- You're red and hot…
- Are you feeling okay?
She trembled, her heart matching the rhythm as she heard that voice and faced that devilishly handsome man.
- Y-yes… I-I'm fine!
She stepped back in mild panic at the sight of his reassuring smile. Trying to escape the situation, she quickly turned to the other instructors.
- Y-you… g-go check on the students!
The instructors found her behavior strange.
- Instructor, are you sure you're all right?
- I am! Now go!
She spoke urgently, looking down, flushed and flustered. It was the first time she had ever felt like this, and it frightened her. Her heart hammered against her chest as her mind struggled to drive away those insane thoughts.
Evo watched everything with a calm smile, looking at the flustered elf as he dismissed the other instructors. Inside, his thoughts were filled with amusement.
- Hahahaha…
- She's cute when she's embarrassed.
- The way she acts is a lot like Ravina.
Evo turned his gaze to the window, where the train continued on its course without stopping, despite all that chaos.
He let out a quiet sigh as he thought of the two troublemakers he loved so much.
- I miss you both…
- Freya… and Ravina.
IN A PLACE FAR AWAY
On a certain island, in a deep location far from any prying eyes, several figures gathered in a dimly lit hall. Their auras exuded malice, as if nothing good could ever come from that place.
The air was cold, devoid of any positive emotion—suffocating, malevolent, and heavy.
Many figures stood in silence within the vast hall, shrouded in dark veils, waiting for someone to speak.
- So…
- How is the plan to attack the Elven capital progressing?
A cold, deep voice echoed through the hall, demanding immediate answers.