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.

was plausible. Because of my action, the whole

would've held a grudge

did she perhaps misunderstand something regarding

probably thought that

that, but looking back at the event, she probably has a misconception

rank villain, many factors had come to play in me defeating

didn't underestimate me added with

was something that many factors combined together helped me

if's in this world and thus I was now stuck with Amanda thinking I was

...this was honestly problematic.

"...hm?"

who was sitting three rows behind Amanda noticed her weird

her eyes

brow, Melissa rubbed her eyes a couple of times before making sure that

then suddenly

now, she did her signature smile. The smile signaled that

start crying

didn't want to interact with her. Not only was she a sadistic girl who took pleasure in other's suffering, but she was the type to

and Kevin were currently

fact that the class loner suddenly interacted with the two most beautiful girls in the academy

could probably fill twenty five football fields.

class is starting, please

time for class to start, Donna

"Quiet please"

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

couldn't help but admire her even more. The degree of control she had over the class was quite impressive. With just a few words and gestures she managed to shut the whole class

may have something to do with the art she practices, but her natural charisma was not to be dismissed either. She just had this charm around her that made any man

the groups you will be split

oh crap, forgot this was

Amanda thing that I had completely forgotten we had a class trip in about a week's

didn't want to

to the front of

a large box and put it in

your name one by

her register,

your group for the

called, Kevin stood

"Here?"

take a ticket and go back to your

Kevin reached his hand into the box and

was drawn

up with him they were guaranteed results. This was shown multiple times in things such as in the virtual class and other group activities as he got

reaction, I scoffed

break it to you but this time you'll come back

silent for

didn't show what group number

he got. His group was [Group 7],

"Next, Melissa Hall"

up, Melissa walked to the podium and took

seat. The stares were just as intense as when Kevin had come up.

"Next, Jin Horton"

.

.

.

"Next, Ren Dover"

knows how long, my turn had

No one really cared about me so I didn't feel any eyes on

wanted to say but, I found two sets of