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!"

through 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 a

...great

after smacking the

ranks are being readjusted...the

we have to readjust your ranking

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

for me to finish announcing the new rankings before

-Nod

stare, everyone could only helplessly nod

everyone nod, a trace of a

here are the

her tablet, Donna quickly read through

still

Hall, still rank

.

.

.

rank

.

.

.

five ranks from

.

.

.

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

up a total of

and rank were announced,

With what had happened

few important individuals. Though I didn't like the attention, there was no use crying over spilled

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

...

that, she

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

could celebrate, Donna

return, there will be mid-term exams so more than a

as the students

of all the people here I was probably the one that

months, I

consisted of two exams. The theoretical and the

since if I had to judge my strength, I was currently in the

really matter. My goal was to one day reach the top 10.

I was most worried

tried to study, I barely got any of the concepts

I was totally hopeless, it's just that for some of the stuff I had to learn, I had to

barely had enough time to study for the courses let alone study middle school

I agonized over the problem for a bit longer,

used

announcements. I hope to see

could only

up her stuff, she soon left the

-Clank!

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

was finally time to

them. Be it for normal stuff

in my previous

say I