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!"

the classroom. As if a strong gust of wind had appeared, everyone was

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

...great

seconds after smacking the podium,

your ranks are being readjusted...the answer is simple. It's because there's now less of

to readjust your ranking according

on the podium, Donna's eyes swept through the classroom

quiet and wait for me to finish

-Nod

Donna's piercing stare, everyone could only

trace of a smile appeared

here are

Donna quickly read through a long list

still rank

still rank

.

.

.

rank and is

.

.

.

moves up five ranks from 739

.

.

.

frown appeared on Donna's brows. It was so subtle that only by paying close attention would anyone have been able to

total of 200 ranks and is

announced, I felt multiple eyes staring in

face. With what had happened in Hollberg,

a few important individuals. Though I didn't like

my rank rising by 200 ranks may have

...

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

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

as she finished announcing, right before anyone could celebrate, Donna instantly poured cold water

don't be too happy yet. After you return, there will be mid-term

classroom as the students all

was probably the one

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

two exams. The theoretical and

judge my strength, I was currently in the top

one day reach the top 10. Being top 100 didn't really interest me

what I was most worried about was

I barely got any of the concepts they were talking about

wrong, it's not that I was totally hopeless, it's just that for some of the stuff I had to learn, I had to go back and

me training every day, I barely had enough time to study for the courses let alone study

the problem for a bit longer, I just threw

I was used to leaving problems till

of the announcements. I hope to see

Donna could only conclude tutor

she soon

-Clank!

started packing up my stuff. Today was the last

time to

Be it for normal stuff or nagging. They would always

death back in

I