A few steps back in time, two days after Eric Avent entered Eric Ostheno's body.
At a recreational park located at Zeris Academy, Chelsey Regulus lay sprawled out contentedly. Even though it was daytime, that didn't deter her from hanging out with her friends during break time.
"Nyaaa~ this is such a blessing, nyaa..."
"Oh my, Chelsey. It's not good for your body to fall asleep right after eating, you know?"
A long-haired blonde female student with a voluptuous figure was gently stroking Chelsey's head as she slept on her lap. Chelsey ignored her friend's words and curled up like a cat.
"Geez, it's because you spoil her too much, Cecilia," said a female elf while eating her lunch. Her pointy ears twitched occasionally, and her short ponytail gently swayed in the breezy wind.
"Fufufu~ it's fine, right? Chelsey is cute after all," Cecilia replied, gently stroking the beastkin's head. Beside the three of them sat two of their friends.
"Ahaha…Chelsey really likes to nap on your lap, right, Cecilia?" asked a girl with short hair while chewing her food. "Right, right! It must be because Chelsey's classes today were so tough that she needs a break!" added a handsome guy in an enthusiastic tone.
The five of them were classmates, as first-year students at Zeris Academy. Although they were in different classes, they always made time to get together during breaks. They chatted as usual until the conversation turned to a certain topic about someone.
"I still can't believe what Chelsey told us," said the elf girl, crossing her arms. "I'm not lying, Ellen!" Chelsey suddenly woke up upon hearing her elf friend's words.
"That's true, Ellen. Since Chelsey is terrible at lying, right?" Cecilia giggled. "Wha-what did you just say, nyaa!?"
"It's unbelievable. I-I mean, that Eric, who's well-known as a human supremacist, didn't insult Chelsey when he was sitting next to her..." murmured the short-haired girl named Anna.
"You're right, Anna," added the young man, tilting his head. "I've also heard that Eric is treating Jeremy better now. Um… how do I put this… he's getting more… tamed?"
"Docile, you mean," the young elf girl corrected him sternly. "But we still have to be careful, Leon. It might just be one of Eric's tricks!"
"I know, Ellen."
"Maybe Eric received enlightenment from the Goddess to correct his bad nature." said Cecilia, clasping her hands in prayer.
"Wow, just as expected of the Saintess. You always think positively about others." Ellen sighed, shaking her head.
Their academy uniforms gently fluttering in the breeze, the five of them continued to joke around with one another. Eventually, they parted ways and returned to their respective classrooms.
***
Zeris Academy also provides libraries to support its students' learning. One of them is The First Year Library, located in the center of the First Year complex.
Inside the library, on the second floor, there are four people sitting together at a table.
"What report are you working on, Silvia?" asked a girl with bright red hair curiously, closing the book she had been reading. Silvia glanced at her close friend and smiled warmly.
"A report about... the recent fight behind the storage facility, Dianne. The committee has their hands full with the upcoming final exam, so they begged me to do it."
"Heh, about that useless Eric?" Dianne clenched her fist, a scornful tone escaping her lips. "There's no way that loser came out unscathed after getting jumped by five people! You think so too, right, Alex? Cornelius?"
"Hmmm~ to me, it's undeniably true, though," said Cornelius, who was sitting next to Dianne, in a lazy tone.
"The testimonies from the beaten-up students also support that." Alex, sitting next to Silvia, stated his opinion calmly. Dianne glared at her friends, showing her dissatisfaction.
"If he's really that strong," Dianne turned to Alex, "...he should've been able to win or put up a great fight when dueling you, Alex! But look at him during the duel!"
"Easy, easy there, Dianne." Cornelius tried to soothe Dianne, waving his hands. "Maybe he's trying to hide his true power?"
Alex refuted his friend's words. "That couldn't be. I can assure you, Eric gave it his all during our duel."
Silvia sighed, watching her three close friends argue. Before the situation became more tense, she tried to calm them down. "In any case," the three of them turned their attention to her. "...I think Eric's behavior just now was better than before..."
"Even so, as his former fiancée, I hope he doesn't act up again and takes good care of himself."
The atmosphere grew quiet, and not a single word was spoken. Because the three of them knew just how tormented Silvia had been while engaged to Eric.
And that was how the four of them spent their time in the library.
***
People in long pale yellow robes surrounded a mansion on the outskirts of Zeris City. A woman wearing white-gold armor approached the mansion's front door. The mansion had originally been a three-story building, but only the ground floor remained.
Those people are priests, clergy, and healers from the Radiant Church.
"This is… interesting," said the woman in armor as she crouched down to pick up a piece of debris. The voice coming from beneath her helmet sounded melodious, like that of a bard.
"Yes, Miss Clarice. Allow me to recount what happened here," a priest bowed toward the woman while unfolding several sheets of paper.
"According to the reports compiled by our brothers and sisters, explosions were heard coming from the area around here. The first explosion was quite loud, but the local residents assumed it might just be a failed magic experiment by someone."
The priest turned the page. "It was the second explosion that caused concern. Because the second explosion was so powerful that the local residents even felt a small earthquake. Eventually, city guards and several adventurers came to investigate the source of the explosion. Then they discovered that the mansion had been largely destroyed."
"I heard that two students from the Academy came here." asked the woman in armor as she brushed the dust off her hands.
"Yes. According to eyewitnesses, they did indeed come here to conduct field research. One of the students, named Jeremy Memo, confirmed this. As for the reason, they did it because they were under pressure to submit a report as a requirement for extra credit."
"What about the other student?" they asked as they stepped into the mansion. The mansion was unrecognizable, more like an old ruin or dungeon than a mansion.
"Eric Ostheno. The Marquis of Ostheno's eldest son." The priest furrowed his brows, a confused tone in his voice as he read the report. "Based on this report, it seems he refused to elaborate further and simply said, 'Ask Jeremy.'"
The armored woman nodded in understanding. She knew just how infamous the boy named Eric Ostheno was. She proceeded to ask another question. "Is it true there was a demonic manifestation?"
"Yes. A Silver-rank monster, apparition-type. A Banshee." The priest flipped through the pages. "Our brothers and sisters have confirmed that the Banshee has been successfully eliminated. Jeremy Memo claimed to be the one who destroyed the ritual shrine."
The priest seemed pleased reading the last part. "Looks like the young boy did his homework. It's rare for people to remain calm and decisive when facing a dangerous situation."
The woman in armor tapped the floor of the mansion, which was littered with debris and dust. "Did the boy also say who killed the Banshee? We both know that just because the ritual shrine is destroyed doesn't mean the Banshee will immediately cease to exist."
"About that... looks like Jeremy Memo won't say any more."
"Was he trying to hide something?"
"No, Miss Clarice. It seems the boy just doesn't want to answer any more questions. Looks like he's still scared after what happened." The priest breathed a sigh of relief.
The armored woman then looked up, gazing at the sky and the mansion's roof, which had vanished as if forcibly erased by something. "The Banshee was presumably killed by a Silver-rank spell..."
"That makes sense-"
"...or higher." The armored woman finished her analysis. The priest gulped audibly, "Higher? Is-is it a Gold-rank spell, Miss Clarice?"
"Most likely." She nodded heavily. "Look at this destruction. I also bet… that person who did all of this is likely still holding back."
"Look at the surrounding trees and bushes; they're completely untouched. Only this building has been shattered to pieces." The two of them stepped out of the mansion.
"Nevertheless, keep this area off-limits to the public for now until it's completely safe."
"As you wish, Miss Clarice." The priest bowed to her and left. Clarice, through her helmet, gazed at the sky, having a premonition that this was just the beginning of something worse.