The Author's POV

A couple of days had passed since the party, but news of what had transpired during the party spread throughout the whole academy like wildfire.

It was to the point that pretty much everyone knew what had happened.

Currently, I was laying on my bed staring at the white ceiling of my room. Lost in my own thoughts.

I thought that since I didn't directly participate in the main plotline of the story that the future wouldn't change.

I thought I had full control of my memories, so I decided to take advantage of them and help myself to some of the benefits whilst also trying to not affect the plotline.

But I was wrong...no matter how small the change was, once it began...there was no stopping it.

It suddenly hit me.

One little change could cause massive changes to the whole story. It was like a domino chain.

Regardless of how small the force was, once the first domino fell, like a chain reaction all the dominos fell apart.

I was naive, no! I was arrogant.

Because of my arrogance, the plotline started changing. In a way that I was losing control of the advantage that I had as the author.

The event between Elijah and Amanda should've never happened this early in the novel. Somehow my actions had affected the novel. Despite me repeating to myself that everything was going to be fine, I was simply lying to myself.

I couldn't deny something that happened right before my eyes. I couldn't deny that my existence itself had changed the plotline.

...I fundamentally needed to change the way I was thinking.

But how?

'Do I actively interact with the protagonists or keep myself in the shadows as I did before?'

I was lost...

-Ring!

Snapping me from my thoughts was the sound of my cellphone ringing. Turning it on I looked at the notification that showed up.

[Amanda Stern, singlehandedly defeats rank villain that had infiltrated the academy and posed as Elijah Turner. She had been awa...]

'It seems like the news was already starting to spread outside of the academy...'

During these past few days, Amanda managed to cement herself as one of the foremost geniuses in our generation. 'Ice queen', 'Bow Godess', 'villain killer' all sort of nicknames started circulating around the academy as everyone started paying attention to her.

The reason for such attention was because...she singlehandedly defeated a rank villain despite only being in the early stages of rank. A genius amongst geniuses. After the incident, she was now being compared to the likes of Kevin in terms of raw talent.

Turning off my phone, I gave myself a pat on the back. It seems like I managed to cover my traces quite well as nothing was mentioned regarding me.

It also seems that Thomas covered for me, preventing anyone from finding out that I was responsible for tipping them about the incident.

Looks like I owe him one...

Fortunately, apart from the small loophole, with the facts pointing towards Amanda, my daily life returned to what it was before.

well, that was how it was supposed to be like, but...

After changing and heading to my classroom, I noticed two eyes deeply staring at me from the left side of the classroom.

Awkwardly smiling, I lightly waved in Amanda's direction. I was hoping she would take then hint and leave me alone, but it seemed that my action only further increased the intensity of her stare.

'...does she perhaps have a grudge against me for putting her in the spotlight?'

I thought as I tried my best to look at the front, ignoring her piercing stare.

my action, the whole world was now paying

to me, I too would've held a grudge

perhaps misunderstand something regarding my

I thought about it. She probably thought that I was someone who was hiding his

not wrong about that, but looking back at the event, she probably has a misconception about the

villain, many factors had come to play in

Elijah didn't underestimate me added with me

helped me achieve. It wasn't something I could ever hope to

with Amanda thinking I was some sort of genius that

...this was honestly problematic.

"...hm?"

Amanda probably misunderstood me, Melissa who was sitting three rows behind Amanda noticed her weird behavior and looked in the direction she

her eyes paused

of times before making sure that Amanda

first, she clicked her tongue, then suddenly a smirk appeared on

an ominous premonition. Just now, she did her signature

start

was she a sadistic girl who took pleasure in other's suffering, but she was the type

were

beautiful girls

two have could probably fill twenty five football fields. It was that

starting, please be seated

start, Donna dismissed everyone that was in the front

"Quiet please"

for the class to quiet down, Donna lightly raised her palm. Soon everyone

she had over the class was quite impressive. With just a few words and gestures she managed to shut the

may have something to do with the art she practices, but her natural charisma was not to be dismissed either. She

groups you will be split

forgot this was

that I had completely forgotten

honestly didn't want to

of

caring about my predicament, Donna took a large box and put it in

one by

ut her register, Donna

take one ticket and that will be your group for the week that you will be in Hollberg, now let's start...Rank

his name being called, Kevin stood up and headed to where Donna

"Here?"

ticket and go

Kevin reached his hand into the box

everyone's attention was

Being the number 1 ranked in the whole year, if anyone was paired up with him they were guaranteed results. This was shown multiple times in things such as in the virtual class and other

everyone's reaction, I scoffed at

on Kevin you will get a good grade? Hate to break it to you but this time you'll come back disappointed as an incident will prevent him from completing whatever

for a second before going

show what group number he

didn't apply to me who knew exactly what he got. His group was [Group 7], and if I'm not

"Next, Melissa Hall"

walked to the podium and took a

The stares were just as intense as when Kevin had come up. This time it wasn't because of her ability, but more because of how

"Next, Jin Horton"

.

.

.

"Next, Ren Dover"

knows how long, my turn

gotten their ticket, most people ignored me. No one

wanted to say but, I found two sets