Maris's heart raced as she looked around the room. The sight of her classmates, their eyes glazed over with heart shapes, their breaths shallow and labored, filled her with a mix of confusion and dread. The once bright and lively classroom now felt suffocating, as if the very air had thickened.
She could feel the heat rising in her own cheeks, her thoughts becoming muddled as the strange energy seeped into her mind. It was as if a wave of emotion had crashed over her, threatening to sweep her away. But then, just as quickly as the feeling came, a different energy surged within her, pushing back against the intoxicating warmth.
Maris's gaze sharpened, clarity returning as she realized what had happened. The black gas—it had some kind of effect on everyone. Her hand instinctively moved to cast a purification spell, her fingers tingling with the familiar hum of magic. But just as she was about to release the spell, she saw Lucan step forward.
