Lucian shoved the door to his dorm room open, his clothes drenched in the nauseating red liquid. The stench clung to him, heavy and oppressive, as if it was trying to seep into his very skin. He recalled the disgusted stares and the subtle way people shifted away from him during his walk back. The humiliation was suffocating.
He ripped off his clothes and threw them aside before stepping into the shower. The water ran over him in scalding streams as he scrubbed at his skin, over and over, until the stench finally faded. Stepping out, he grabbed the soiled clothes, their odor unbearable, and carried them to the balcony. With a flick of his mana, flames consumed them, leaving only ash swirling in the breeze.
Exhausted, he collapsed onto his bed. His thoughts churned as he replayed the events of the morning: the meeting with Princess Selina, the pulsating pillar, and the disgusting red liquid. His day was ruined before it had even started.
Then the headache hit. Sharp and relentless, it felt like his skull was being split open. Lucian shot upright, fumbling for the potions in his bracelet. He downed one after another, his shaking hands barely able to hold the vials. When the pain finally subsided, he leaned back, his chest heaving.
"Three left," he muttered, staring at the remaining potions. He sighed, the weight of his situation crashing down on him. "If this keeps up, I won't last three days. I need a job... anything."
Forcing himself to his feet, he dressed in his usual attire: long sleeves, gloves, and boots. The outfit, once stifling, now felt like a second skin. He thought about the library. If they were recruiting, he'd take whatever job they offered—he couldn't afford to be picky anymore.
After a quick, unsatisfying breakfast at the cafeteria, Lucian made a long-distance call at the communication booth. Eldric's smooth voice greeted him.
"Hello? Who's calling?"
"It's me, Uncle Eldric," Lucian replied, trying to keep his tone steady.
"Ah, young master," Eldric said warmly. "Is everything alright? Was the money I sent enough?"
Lucian forced a small smile. "Yes, it's more than enough. But... have you heard anything from Megan?"
Eldric's voice softened. "No, young master. I'm still searching, but as you know, the cursed northern lands are beyond our reach."
Lucian's shoulders sagged. "I see. Thank you, Uncle. I have to go now."
Ending the call, Lucian made his way to class, his thoughts weighed down by Megan's absence. If I went there now, I wouldn't survive even a minute. I have to get stronger... strong enough to last in the cursed northern lands. That's the only way.
As he walked, an old man in a robe suddenly brushed against him. Before Lucian could react, the man pulled him into an embrace. Startled, Lucian struggled to break free.
"Let go of me, you creep!" Lucian snapped, his voice laced with revulsion.
The old man sniffed deeply, his grip firm. "I don't know how you're able to see the pillars, boy," he muttered. "You have no trace of demonic energy."
Lucian froze. "What do you mean? How do you—"
Before he could finish, the man's eyes turned pitch black. Lucian recoiled, fear crawling up his spine.
"My name is Zerath," the man said coldly. "Here's some advice: leave this place now, if you want to live. This university... these people... they have no future. Today is their last day."
Before Lucian could respond, Zerath vanished. Lucian stood rooted to the spot, his mind racing. Black eyes? Who was he? And what did he mean, no future?
Shaking off the unease, Lucian decided to push forward. "I'll deal with this later. For now, I need to get to class."
In the classroom, Gareth and Celeste were already in their seats. Celeste kept stealing glances at Lucian, but he ignored her, focusing on the professor's arrival. Jayce announced that the class would move to the training grounds to display their abilities for evaluation.
On the training grounds, Gareth stepped forward with a composed confidence that commanded attention. His medium frame, accentuated by his refined posture, was topped with striking golden hair that gleamed in the sunlight. With a wave of his hand, he activated his family's signature gravity manipulation. The crowd watched in awe as he lifted the mannequin prop effortlessly into the air. Suspended mid-flight, the mannequin hung for a moment before Gareth released his control, sending it crashing to the ground with an earth-shaking impact. The precision and force of the display left no doubt about the power of his noble lineage.
But Lucian's mind was elsewhere. He replayed the encounter with Zerath in his head, the old man's ominous words echoing like a warning. Should I leave now? The thought churned in his gut. He glanced around at the other students, oblivious to the danger, and made his decision.
Lucian quietly slipped away from the group, his steps silent. He didn't want anyone to notice—especially not Gareth or Celeste. But as he neared the edge of the training grounds, Celeste's voice called out behind him.
"Lucian! Wait!" she shouted, jogging to catch up.
Lucian groaned inwardly. Not her. Not now.
When she reached him, she looked genuinely remorseful. "Hey, I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I don't know why Gareth did that. He's always been like that since we were kids."
Lucian sighed. "I know what kind of person Gareth is. Don't worry about it." He turned to leave but froze as a deafening, high-pitched shriek split the air.
Clutching his ears, he glanced around. Students across the grounds were doing the same, their faces contorted in pain. From many places, pillars of light surged from the ground, stretching upward as if trying to pierce the sky."
Lucian's heart sank. The ominous premonition had come true. He grabbed Celeste by the shoulders, his voice urgent. "Run. Use your mana and get out of the university now. Don't stop for anyone. Just go!"
Without waiting for her reply, he bolted toward the main gate, his mana pushing his speed to its limits. Behind him, Celeste hesitated for only a moment before following suit.
But before they could reach the gate, the air around them shifted. A heavy force dragged them upward, their feet leaving the ground. Lucian flailed, trying to push forward, but it was futile. All around him, students floated into the air, their screams filling the sky. He caught a glimpse of Celeste nearby, her wide eyes filled with terror.
Then, with a blinding flash, they all vanished.
Outside the university gates, Baron Zerath stood, his mimicry spell fading to reveal his true form—a regal, red-skinned demon with gleaming black eyes. Beside him, another demon cowered.
"Master Zerath," the demon stammered. "We need to leave now. The detection barrier will catch us soon."
Zerath's lips curled into a predatory grin. "A shame that boy didn't make it out. He seemed... appetizing." He wiped a trail of saliva from his chin before turning away.
"This is just the beginning," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the now-silent university. "We will raze their world to the ground."
With a final glance, he disappeared into the shadows.