The classroom fell into a frozen silence. Every student in Class E stood frozen as their eyes locked onto the horrifying sight before them. Felix—one of their own—lay lifelessly on the floor, his body twisted unnaturally, blood dripping from his nose and mouth. His uniform was torn, his breathing shallow. A gasp rippled across the room, followed by screams and shouts. Paul stood paralyzed. His lips trembled, his heart pounded against his chest like a war drum. Time itself seemed to stop.
"FELIX!!!" Deborah screamed as she ran forward, kneeling beside him. Her hands trembled as she tried to lift his bloodied head onto her lap. "Someone get help! Get a teacher!"
Tears welled up in several students' eyes. Luke's fists were clenched so tightly his nails pierced his palms. Cain stood in the corner, unmoving, his eyes shadowed and dark.
Paul took a step forward. His breath was ragged. This... this wasn't just a fight anymore. This was war.
---
Meanwhile, at the School Council Chambers...
A solemn and tense atmosphere filled the meeting hall. The long table held the presence of every authoritative figure in the Academy: The Headmaster Kura, several high-ranking prefects, elite teachers, the Holy Ones, and seated at the head of the room—Mathew, the King of Magic himself.
"So you mean to tell me," Mathew said, his voice calm but steely, "that Class E students went against the rules of this academy and launched an attack on senior students... almost killing them and leaving several injured?"
"Yes," the room echoed in unison.
Mathew furrowed his brows. "Why would a student do such a thing?"
Headmaster Kura adjusted his robe and scoffed. "Class E is the worst batch we've ever had. Teachers complain about them endlessly. They're a disgrace to the academy and have no future as warriors."
Mathew paused, then leaned forward. "The question we should all be asking is this: Why would a Class E student attack a Class B student?"
Elijah, the 4th prefect, stood and bowed slightly. "Permission to speak, my lord."
Mathew gestured. "Go on."
"According to the victims, Cain of Class E was caught stealing a forbidden school artifact—one hidden deep within the academy's sealed chambers. The Class B students attempted to intervene and warn him, but he attacked them."
Gasps filled the room.
Mathew's eyes narrowed. "The artifact... you mean the relic sealed since the Monster Realm War?"
Elijah nodded. "Yes, sir."
The room was deathly quiet.
"This is treason," Kura said coldly. "They must be dismissed from the academy immediately."
Mathew raised a hand. "Didn't Class E appeal their case to the School Court?"
Kura hesitated. "Y-yes."
"Then let the court decide. I want to see how they plan to defend themselves."
Mathew stood. "Bring in the Class B students."
Moments later, three Class B students entered the chamber, standing nervously at the center.
Mathew gazed at them with sharp eyes. "Why did Cain attack you, even after you warned him about the artifact?"
One of them, Joel, stepped forward. "My lord, I am Joel. Cain has always been a braggart—always claiming he could destroy the school with his power. He's known for fights, both with juniors and seniors. We saw him stealing the artifact and tried to stop him. He went berserk and attacked us."
Another silence.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
Peterson stormed in, furious, eyes blazing. "WHAT THE HELL DID WE DO TO YOU?! Why are you trying to wipe out Class E?! Felix is in the hospital, half-dead because of you! Are you trying to kill us all?!"
Seeing the Class B students, Peterson charged and punched Joel across the face. The room exploded in chaos. Spells lit up the air.
"CAST: HOLDING PRISON!" all ten prefects shouted in unison.
A glowing magical cage surrounded Peterson, locking him in mid-motion. He thrashed in rage.
Mathew stood slowly and walked toward him. "I dare you," he whispered, his voice like a blade.
Liorion stood next to Mathew. "You've interrupted a sacred council and caused violence. You are hereby sentenced to seven days in school confinement."
---
At the School Hospital...
Felix lay unconscious, pale, attached to a mana-drip. Around him, the students of Class E stood quietly. Outside the ward, Paul leaned against the wall, eyes low. Deborah walked up beside him.
"This... this is all Class B's doing," she said bitterly.
Paul turned to her. "Tell me everything."
Deborah took a deep breath. "We went to the library. Then Felix got a message from a weird Class C student saying someone wanted to meet him outside. He left. Minutes passed, and I couldn't feel his mana anymore. I ran back to class and saw Joel and others walking out of it, smiling. I rushed in... and found Felix like that. Then I called you."
Paul clenched his jaw. "I see."
Joyce stepped out of Felix's ward. Her face twisted with anger. "You're the reason we're in this mess. You dragged Class E to court. Now everyone's blaming us!"
Others began to murmur, agreeing with her.
Suddenly Naomi rushed in. "PETERSON HAS BEEN CONFINED BY KING MATHEW!"
The entire class gasped.
Deborah broke into a run toward the confinement room. Others followed—everyone except Paul. He stepped into Felix's ward and sat beside him.
"Felix," he whispered. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean for this to go so far. I thought I could handle it. But now... I need your help."
He held Felix's bruised hand. A soft light glowed—Paul was healing him. Quickly. Suddenly there was a knock.
He released the spell and sat back. Luke and Cain entered. Luke looked sorrowful. Cain seemed ashamed.
"Don't be scared," Paul said calmly. "We're going to get through this."
Cain's breathing slowed.
"Was Felix able to get the evidence?" Luke asked.
Paul sighed. "We won't know until he wakes up."
Cain groaned. "There's no proof. No witnesses. We're doomed."
Paul stared at the wall. "Are you sure no one saw what happened?"
"No one," Cain said.
Paul paused, eyes narrowing. He remembered: A girl with pink hair had been spying on him during his investigation. She always seemed to disappear before he could speak to her.
"I think we have a way," Paul whispered.
"How?" Luke and Cain asked in unison.
---
At the Confinement Room...
This place wasn't ordinary. It was where students were broken—disciplined to the edge of death. Inside, Peterson was being whipped with enchanted animal-skin lashes. Every stroke tore flesh and drew blood. His screams echoed through the corridor.
Outside the room, the rest of Class E trembled. Deborah sobbed into her hands. Joyce leaned against the wall, teeth clenched in rage.
Their hearts broke as each scream grew louder.
Then King Mathew appeared behind them.
"This... is just the beginning," he said, his voice grave. "More... much more is coming."
And with that, he vanished.
Class E stood there, broken, in horror—yet in the moment of disaster.
The battle wasn't over.
It had just begun.