"Why are you just standing there, Elyra? Come, Eldern will take you to your class," Eldern said as he looked at Elyra, who was still frozen in place.
"Wait, Elyra!" Elyra replied quickly, then ran toward him.
"Who is that girl?" someone whispered.
"Who's the one beside Lord Eldern?" another voice added.
"That must be Lady Elyra… she's so beautiful," a student said in admiration.
However, Eldern and Elyra ignored all the whispers as if they hadn't heard anything.
After climbing the stairs to the second floor, they finally arrived at Elyra's classroom—Class 1-1. In the academy, each level was divided into three classes: 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3, with twenty students in each class.
"This is Elyra's class. If anything happens, call Eldern, alright?" Eldern said gently.
"My class is 4-1, on the third floor," he added before leaving.
After Eldern walked away, the atmosphere suddenly felt awkward for Elyra.
"What am I supposed to do in a situation like this…" Elyra thought to herself.
The classroom was noisy with students chatting. Suddenly, two girls approached her.
"Hi! What's your name?" one of them asked kindly.
"My name is Sylvia Dheren, and this is Evelyn Herie," she added, introducing her friend.
"M-My name is Elyra Solv," Elyra replied nervously.
"Wow… you're so beautiful, Elyra!" Evelyn said with sparkling eyes.
"What am I supposed to say…" Elyra thought, feeling confused.
"Hehe…" Elyra could only give an awkward smile.
"You're Prince Eldern's younger sister, right?" another girl suddenly asked.
"Prince?" Elyra frowned slightly.
"Yes! Prince Eldern is a genius and also very handsome!" she said excitedly.
"Oh, and my name is Amelia Liam. Nice to meet you!" she added.
"I… I'm going to the restroom first," Elyra said suddenly.
Feeling uncomfortable with the overly friendly atmosphere, Elyra decided to leave the classroom.
However—
Suddenly, a massive blue wave appeared outside the window of Class 4-1 on the upper floor.
"What is that?!"
"That's terrifying…!"
"Students, move away!" shouted a teacher, Jack Fien, who was in the middle of teaching.
In another dark and silent place…
"Destroy that stone once the mission is complete!" a voice said while attempting to open a portal.
"Your mission is to kidnap the son of Baron Zane Venti. He rejected our offer—remember that," said another voice, sounding like a woman.
"I know. I won't disappoint His Majesty Ferwel," replied a man wearing iron gauntlets.
Without hesitation, the man stepped into the portal.
Moments later—
BOOM!
He appeared on the third floor of the academy and punched the wall with immense force, shattering it into pieces.
Seeing this, Teacher Jack immediately sensed danger.
He quickly raised his hand and channeled Fue Energy.
"Fireball!"
A massive flame shot toward the man.
But—
In the blink of an eye, the man was already in front of Teacher Jack.
His hand moved to Jack's forehead—
Flick!
With a single flick, Teacher Jack's body was hurled backward, crashing into the blackboard and smashing through the wall.
"You… didn't die from that, right…" the man muttered with slight unease.
"So… which one of you knows Gark Venti?" he asked calmly.
The situation instantly descended into chaos. Students screamed and ran in panic.
However, Eldern remained standing—staring at the man with cold eyes.
"What do you want?" Eldern asked cautiously. He knew… that teacher had been defeated in a single move.
Suddenly—
CLANG!
Another teacher appeared behind the man with a flaming sword and attacked.
But the strike was easily blocked by the man's iron arm.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Attack after attack was launched, yet all were effortlessly defended.
Eldern, unable to clearly follow their movements, suddenly remembered Elyra.
"Elyra!"
Without hesitation, he ran off to find her.
Elsewhere…
Startled by the explosion, Elyra ran toward the third floor.
"That sound… it's from Eldern's class!"
Inside Class 4-1—
The man let out a long sigh.
"Hah… maybe I should get a little serious."
In an instant, he appeared in front of the fire-sword teacher—
Flick!
The teacher was flung into the wall, leaving cracks upon impact.
Three more teachers rushed in to attack.
But—
Flick! Flick! Flick!
All of them were defeated with a single flick each.
The third-floor ground began to collapse from the impact—
And a large chunk of debris fell toward a young boy.
The scene happened right in front of Elyra.
Without thinking, Elyra ran forward and pulled the boy away—
But—
"Ghh!"
The boy's leg was trapped beneath the rubble.
From the broken upper floor, a man dropped down.
Elyra froze.
"Battaghor Noxes…?" she whispered in her mind.
"What's with that look… as if we know each other?" Battaghor said suspiciously.
"Why is Noxes attacking openly like this… this isn't their usual way…" Elyra thought, her eyes sharp as she stared at him.
"Elyra!"
Eldern appeared and immediately launched a kick.
But it was easily blocked.
Eldern opened his palm.
"Electro Gun!"
A sphere of lightning formed—
And fired rapidly like bullets.
TANG! TANG! TANG!
Yet every attack was deflected.
"Elyra! Run—huh?!"
Only then did Eldern notice the boy behind Elyra.
"Tch… troublesome," Battaghor muttered.
In an instant, he appeared right in front of Eldern—
His finger pressed against Eldern's forehead—
Ready to flick.
End of Chapter 15