"Quiet down, everyone. I'll lead you to the arena now."
Stephanie clapped her hands as she entered, her voice cutting through the chatter.
"Yes!"
Lilina waited until the last student filed out before carrying Wu Yan off her seat. To her surprise, Teacher Stephanie still stood outside the door.
"T-Teacher Stephanie..."
"Lilina, that was incredibly reckless!"
Stephanie crossed her arms, her reprimand sharp and unyielding.
"You haven't even mastered communication with your Contract Beast, let alone know what kind of beast your opponent commands! Accepting that challenge was pure foolishness!"
"Teacher, I..."
"I know you couldn't swallow your pride. But Lilina..."
Stephanie unleashed her Great Mage aura—a crushing pressure that slammed into Lilina.
Lilina staggered under the weight. Compared to this, the blonde president’s earlier intimidation had been gentle.
"Until you gain strength—or learn to draw magic from your Contract Beast—you must endure!"
"Perhaps I’m being too absolute. Labi, barring miracles, will likely peak as a Great Mage even with her high-tier Monster Beast. But you..."
Stephanie retracted her aura. Lilina steadied herself, her face bloodless.
Wu Yan blinked. He hadn’t felt a thing!
"You hold infinite possibilities..."
Stephanie sighed. "Can you communicate with your Contract Beast now?"
"Yes, Teacher Stephanie. But he still won’t channel magic to me..."
"That’s already promising. It confirms my suspicion—your Contract Beast is unlike ordinary Dark Beasts."
"If you persist, you could forge a magic conduit with him. The Academy would take notice. That’s your path to changing your fate. Yet you rashly accepted Labi’s provocation—betting your enrollment! She loses face if she fails. You lose everything."
"T-Teacher Stephanie... I’m sorry, I..."
"Don’t apologize to me. You’ve wronged yourself most of all."
Stephanie gripped Lilina’s shoulders, her chest pressing squarely against Wu Yan’s face.
*Gulp...*
*Hrk—!* Suffocating bliss!
Wu Yan let out a muffled cry of (misery) (bliss).
"You’ve made your choice. Bear the consequences. If you lose, I won’t intervene."
Lilina nodded firmly. "Yes, Teacher. I’ll honor my words."
"Good. Win with that resolve."
Stephanie’s sternness melted into a smile. "Now, let’s hurry. Don’t keep the class waiting."
"Yes!"
---
The blonde girl stared blankly out the window. Files lay scattered across her desk—all bearing one name: *Lilina*.
So many documents. They probably recorded how long she cried as a newborn.
A week ago, she’d ordered Lilina’s background investigated. By dawn, her desk drowned in reports—down to every person met, every word spoken. Such detail likely required time-manipulation abilities. The Student Council’s reach was staggering.
*And what of my own background?* she wondered.
She’d reread every file yet found nothing. Ordinary birth. Ordinary talent. Ordinary life. *Impossible.* How could someone so plain...
Her mind flashed to that day—the Dark Beast hovering above the girl’s head, its silent threat when she’d unleashed her aura.
"President," a voice interrupted. "The meeting is about to start. Everyone is ready."
"Hmm. Understood."
She didn’t move. Her gaze remained fixed on the files.
*If that Dark Beast is truly her Contract Beast, then today...*
She finally stood and strode out.
"Eh? President! The conference room is this way—"
"CANCEL the meeting. Send everyone home."
"C-cancel...?"
Before the aide could protest, the blonde girl vanished.
*Sigh.* "Vice President’s going to be furious again..."
The aide shook her head and trudged toward the conference room.
