'She arranged for me to be in the same class as her, right?' Kaiser thinks to himself, his sharp intuition kicking in as he observes Amelia's slightly awkward demeanor
'That would explain it… The principal did say the classes are balanced by strength' he muses, leaning back slightly in his chair while keeping his eyes on Amelia
Amelia, meanwhile, shifts uncomfortably under his gaze, her hands fidgeting with the edge of her notebook "W-Why are you looking at me like that, Kaiser?" she asks, her voice a little higher than usual
"No reason" he replies smoothly, his tone calm but carrying an undertone of mischief
Amelia forces a smile, her cheeks tinting faintly pink "W-Well, maybe it's just fate"
"Fate, huh?" Kaiser echoes, smirking slightly. For now, he simply turns his attention back to the classroom, letting the matter linger in his mind
"Do you know who's going to be teaching us?" Kaiser turns to Amelia, his voice tinged with both curiosity and anticipation
"I don't know, but does it really matter? I think anyone chosen to teach at this academy is qualified enough to teach someone like you" Amelia responds, a light smile on her face, radiating her usual confidence
"That sounds reasonable" Kaiser nods in agreement
He recalls the information he's read. To become a teacher at Vesillian academy, one must have reached at least the Mage level - a rigorous standard ensuring absolute teaching quality. This somewhat reassures Kaiser, though he can't shake off his curiosity about who will be standing in front of the class
As they continue their conversation, the classroom door suddenly swings open. Instantly, just as when Kaiser entered earlier, the entire room fell silent. Every gaze turns to the door, where a mature woman steps in
She possesses a mesmerizing, mysterious beauty that makes it hard for anyone to look away. Her smooth skin gleams faintly, accentuating sharp black eyes that seem to pierce through every secret. Her short, jet-black hair, slightly tousled, adds a touch of strength and dynamism. She walks with absolute confidence - graceful yet decisive
Without uttering a word, her cold and commanding presence is enough to silence the room
She steps up to the lectern, her piercing gaze sweeping across the class. Everyone feels the weight of an invisible pressure emanating from her
"I am Lily Astrite. For the next three years, I will be your instructor at this academy," she announces, her voice clear, commanding, and filled with authority
The tense atmosphere in the class remains unbroken, as if frozen in place. Only Amelia's faint whisper breaks the silence. "Oh, she's really famous" Amelia murmurs, her eyes sparkling with admiration "She's one of the youngest to reach the Mage level. She must be perfect for yo-"
Her words abruptly stop when she glances at Kaiser and notices his expression change. Instead of the admiration or curiosity she expected, his face shows vigilance. His sharp eyes glint with scrutiny and tension, as though facing a potential threat
'Is she using her Aspect?' Kaiser thinks, unease bubbling within as he senses Aspect energy flooding the room
The classroom of 1-C remains utterly silent after Lily's introduction. Her impeccable uniform fails to conceal her cold, commanding aura. Her sharp gaze lingers on each student, as though engraving their faces into her memory
"Here, I don't care who you are or what family you belong to" she states, her voice cutting like a blade. "You will learn to respect me. Nothing more, nothing less"
In an instant, everything changes. Every student feels a sudden chill at their necks. Suddenly beside them, Lily's projections, each holding a gleaming dagger, appear beside them, the blades mere inches from their throats
The room's air feels heavy, almost suffocating. Amelia, seated near the back, gasps sharply. Her eyes widen as her fingers grip the edge of her desk tightly
Without wasting a moment, Kaiser teleports beside Amelia. His hand swiftly brushes the projection's dagger away from her neck
She startles, her wide eyes fixed on Kaiser, her lips parting slightly as if to say something, but no words come out. Amelia sees another projection materializes behind Kaiser, its dagger pressing dangerously close to his neck
Kaiser, though acutely aware of the looming danger, maintains a calm demeanor. His gaze remains fixed on Lily, who stands motionless at the lectern yet exudes undeniable authority. A faint smile crosses his lips, forced but sufficient to mask his discomfort.
"That's quite the unique introduction" he says, his voice unusually composed, his eyes still locked onto Lily