The Author's POV

[Lock, class A-25, Friday 4:45 P.M.]

Sitting in my usual seat, I listened attentively to the class lecture.

Or at least I tried...

Despite the fact that two weeks had passed since the Hollberg incident, the classroom's atmosphere wasn't as lively as it was back before the incident.

Glancing at the classroom, I could see why...

Almost a quarter of the students that used to sit around me were now gone.

Despite not knowing many people, I found out, a couple of days after the incident, that Evan and Cassandra were part of the people that had died during the incident.

...the same two people that were part of my group.

In spite of the fact that I didn't know them that well, the fact that two people I was acquainted with had died went to show how tragic those events were.

Literally, anyone could've died that night...

"Alright, that marks the end of the lecture"

Snapping me out my thought was the engineering professor's charming voice. Just like before, throughout the whole time I had stayed in the lock, she was the only professor that didn't pay special attention to lineage or rank.

Whenever I asked her questions regarding the lecture she would always patiently and calmly explain what I didn't understand.

Therefore, although I didn't necessarily understand what she was teaching, I didn't hate this class.

Right after the lecture ended and the professor left the classroom, everyone remained seated.

That was because we still had to have our end-of-week tutor time. This was a small session we had every Friday and it was where Donna, our tutor, would spend the last remaining fifteen minutes of the day to share any announcements that have been made by the school.

-Clank!

Right on cue, entering the classroom, Donna made her way towards the podium. Walking, as though the wind was blowing, each of her steps caused a thin purple undulation of magic power to spread across the classroom.

Instantly the whole room fell silent. The pressure that emanated from her body caused everyone to stop whatever they were doing.

It was evident that she wasn't in the best of moods, and everyone could feel it.

Arriving in front of the podium, Donna staked a few papers on the table before clicking her tongue and dismissing them.

Sighing, Donna looked at the classroom and spoke.

"Alright, as most of you can probably tell, I'm not in the best of moods"

Raising two fingers she said

"I have two announcements for you guys today..."

"One, there will be a rank readjustment, and that wi'”"

Right after she finished the first half of her sentence before she could continue speaking, disrupting her speech were whispers that resounded throughout the whole classroom.

"...rank readjustments?"

"It isn't even the midterms..."

"What's going on?"

-Smack!

"Quiet!"

shockwave swept through the classroom. As if a strong gust of wind had appeared, everyone

her action, the hair I spent two minutes styling this morning was now

...great

after smacking the

of you are confused as to why your ranks are being readjusted...the

worse, we have to readjust your ranking according

podium, Donna's eyes

please be quiet and wait for me to finish announcing the new rankings before

-Nod

stare, everyone could only helplessly nod their

trace of a smile

are

Donna quickly read through a long

Voss, still

Hall, still

.

.

.

a rank and is now rank

.

.

.

smith moves up five ranks from 739 to

.

.

.

subtle that only by paying close attention would anyone have been able to notice

of 200 ranks

were announced, I felt multiple eyes

ignorance, I tried my best to keep a stoic face. With what had happened in Hollberg, I had already

fact that I had now caught the interest of a few important individuals. Though

point out that the fact that my rank rising by 200 ranks may have

...

Donna finally announcing my name, the rank adjustment came to an end. Following that, she cleared her voice and once again spoke. Though her voice was sweet,

announcement, due to recent unfortunate events, after long and arduous hours of talk, the higher-ups have finally have come to a unanimous decision

anyone could

be mid-term exams so more than a holiday this is

the classroom as the students all became crestfallen at

probably the one that was the most

down these couple of months, I hadn't had time to focus on

of two exams. The theoretical

judge my strength, I was currently in the top 100. Maybe top 50 if I fought with my

the top 10. Being top

most worried about was the theoretical

much I tried to study, I barely got any of the concepts they were

stuff I had to learn, I had to go back and relearn things that were taught back when I

had enough time to study for the

bit longer, I

used to leaving problems till near the

the end of the announcements. I hope to see you

she had already lost everyone's attention, Donna could only

her stuff, she soon

-Clank!

was the last day I stayed in the lock for

was finally time

in this world, I would always get messages from them. Be

annoying and heartwarming. Since my parent's death back in my previous

I disliked