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!"

podium, a small shockwave swept through the classroom. As if a strong gust of wind had

result of her action, the hair I spent two

...great

couple of seconds after smacking the podium,

of you are confused as to why your ranks are being readjusted...the answer is simple. It's because there's now less

or for worse, we have to readjust

both hands on the podium, Donna's eyes swept through

to finish announcing the new rankings before

-Nod

everyone could only helplessly nod their head in

everyone nod, a trace of a smile

here are

tablet, Donna quickly read through a long list

Voss, still rank

Hall, still

.

.

.

up a rank and is

.

.

.

five

.

.

.

so subtle that only by paying

up a total of 200

my name and rank were announced, I

stoic face. With what had happened in

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

wanted to point out that the fact that my rank rising by 200 ranks may have contributed to adding a couple of

...

the rank adjustment came to an end. Following that, she cleared her voice and once again

arduous hours of talk, the higher-ups have finally have come to a unanimous decision to send the

anyone could celebrate,

be too happy yet. After you return, there will be mid-term exams so more than a

as

people here I was probably the one that was the most depressed by the

of months, I hadn't

exams. The theoretical and

about the physical exam since if I had to judge my strength, I was currently in the top

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

most worried about was the theoretical

to study, I barely got any of the concepts

totally hopeless, it's just that for some of the stuff I had to learn, I had to go back and relearn things that were taught back when I

enough time to study for the courses

agonized over the problem for a bit longer, I just

an experienced procrastinator, I was used to leaving problems till near the

the announcements. I hope to

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

up her stuff, she soon left

-Clank!

my stuff. Today was the last day I stayed in the lock for at least a

time to

them. Be

was both annoying and heartwarming. Since my parent's death back in my previous world, never had

say I