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!"

hand on the podium, a small shockwave swept through the classroom. As if a strong gust of wind had appeared, everyone was

action, the hair I spent two

...great

after smacking the podium,

you are confused as to why your ranks are being

better or for worse, we have to readjust your ranking according to

Donna's eyes swept through

for me to finish announcing the new

-Nod

only helplessly nod their head in

of a smile appeared

here are the new

onto her tablet, Donna quickly read through a long list of

still rank

Hall, still

.

.

.

rank and

.

.

.

up five ranks

.

.

.

slight frown appeared on Donna's brows. It was so subtle that

up a total of

announced, I felt multiple eyes staring in my

stoic face. With what had happened in

a few important individuals. Though I didn't like

that my rank rising by 200 ranks may have contributed to adding a couple

...

to an end. Following that, she cleared her voice and once again spoke.

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

before anyone could celebrate, Donna instantly poured cold water over

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

resounded throughout the classroom as the students all became crestfallen at the

I was probably the one that was the most

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

two exams. The theoretical and

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

day reach the top 10. Being top

aside, what I was most

to study, I barely got any of the concepts

to

to study

agonized over the problem for a bit longer, I just threw it at

I was used to

this is the end of the announcements. I

already lost everyone's attention, Donna could only conclude tutor time ahead of schedule

she soon left the

-Clank!

was the last day I stayed in

finally time

get messages from them. Be it for normal stuff or nagging. They would always make sure to text

back in my previous world, never had I felt

I disliked