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!"

if a strong gust of

I spent two minutes styling

...great

after smacking the podium,

as to why your ranks are

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

eyes swept through the classroom before she

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

-Nod

could only helplessly nod their head in

of a smile appeared

here are

quickly read through a long list

still

Hall, still

.

.

.

rank and is

.

.

.

five ranks from 739 to

.

.

.

that only by paying close attention

Ren Dover moves up a total of 200 ranks and is now

soon as my name and rank were announced, I felt multiple eyes staring in

a stoic face. With what had happened in

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

fact that my rank rising by

...

Following that, she cleared her voice and once again spoke. Though her

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

anyone could celebrate, Donna instantly poured cold

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

classroom as the students all became

I was probably the one that was the most depressed

everything that went down these couple of months, I hadn't had time to focus

of two exams. The theoretical

I had to judge my strength, I was currently in

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

most worried about was the

matter how much I tried to study, I barely got any of the concepts

some of the stuff I had to

barely had enough time to study for the

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

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

end of the announcements. I hope to see

lost everyone's attention, Donna could only conclude tutor

up her stuff, she soon left the

-Clank!

was the last day I stayed in the lock for at least a

time

this world, I would always get messages from them. Be it for normal stuff

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

I disliked