"Marcus!" Serena's sharp voice echoed across the classroom, slicing through the morning murmur.
"Yes, ma'am?" Marcus straightened in his seat, startled but quick to respond.
Serena stood at the podium, her sharp eyes darting across the room as she ticked off names on her attendance sheet.
"Oliver?"
"Present, ma'am!"
"Kael?" Serena paused, waiting for a response.
Silence stretched across the room, and she frowned, scanning the rows of seated students.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Marcus, do you know what's happened to Kael? He hasn't attended class for the past week." Serena asked.
Marcus hesitated, his eyes darting briefly to Shirone and Ren before he replied, "I… I don't know, ma'am."
"Hmph. Leave it, then," Serena said, brushing it off.
"I'll deal with him later."
After attendance was done —She closed the attendance sheet with a soft snap.
