Lumiel and his new group had already ventured through twenty rooms. Every fifth floor presented a new monster with stronger abilities than the last.
Before they could reach an unbelievable height, a challenge arose: the stairs to the fifth floor were blocked by the rat monster. As the group walked through the dark hallways, the creepy atmosphere thickened.
"Hey, Ms. Viera," Lumiel called.
"What is it?" Ms. Viera answered without looking back.
"Do you have a plan for the monster guarding the stairs to the fifth floor?"
"It has always been our main problem in reaching the fifth floor," Nishia said. "But with Lumiel and the others, we might be able to narrow the gap."
"Well, he is called the Academy's Hero for nothing," Mister Claud said, hands behind his head.
"Right, everyone?" Mister Claud asked the students.
"Yes!" the students answered in unison, boosting Mister Claud's pride.
"From what we know, Lumiel's abilities lean more toward defense than offense, but he still has some very powerful attacks," Skye mentioned.
"You do have a point," Nishia agreed. "Lumiel does have powerful attacks, but if the monster strikes first, then Lumiel's left with only his defense to protect us."
"Everyone! We're getting close to the stairs. Be ready," Ms. Viera commanded.
"But Ms. Viera, what exactly is the plan?" Lumiel asked again.
"Do we have anyone with an ice or fire-type gift?" Ms. Viera ignored Lumiel's question.
Amongst the crowd, a student raised her hand.
"You! Come here," Ms. Viera called out.
The student stepped forward. "What's your name and your gift?" Ms. Viera asked.
"Bianca, ma'am. My gift is Raging Blizzard."
"Raging Blizzard, you say? I haven't seen you before. Can I ask what class you were in?"
"I'm from Class B, ma'am."
Ms. Viera's eyes widened. "Really?! You're only in Class B? What seems to be the problem?"
"My gift doesn't truly look like a gift," Bianca said as everyone listened. "It sounds tempting and powerful — and yes, it is powerful — but there's a drawback."
Bianca looked down at her thick clothes. "My gift leaves me with a never-ending freezing temperature. I have no choice but to always wear layers just to survive the cold."
> "That's why she's always in that thick hoodie," Lumiel thought.
"…And this gift didn't only leave me to freeze uncontrollably, but it also froze my heart — leaving me with only a year or two to live."
Everyone fell silent.
"Is that really true?" Skye asked.
"Yes," Bianca answered coldly.
"That's… even worse than what I have," Skye murmured.
"Is there no other way to at least lengthen your lifespan, Bianca?" Lumiel asked, his voice softer now.
Bianca shook her head, helpless.
The hallway went quiet again.
"Let's get going before it becomes night," Ms. Viera broke the silence.
"But Ms. Viera," Lumiel pressed, "are we just going to ignore Bianca's condition?"
"I'm not!" Ms. Viera snapped. Then her tone softened. "I'm not… I also want to save Bianca." She looked over the students. "But we can't do anything if we're still stuck in this damn place. We need to get out first."
The team moved toward the blocked stairs.
"I've already analyzed the rat's weakness — it's vulnerable in big spaces, or in very hot and very cold environments," Ms. Viera explained.
"So that's why we needed Bianca… right, Ms. Viera?" Skye said.
"Yes. That's right."
"How did you find out, Ms. Viera?" Lumiel asked.
"Actually, Lumiel," Nishia said, stepping closer, "the monsters here are said to have gifts, too. That makes Ms. Viera's gift useful for finding their weaknesses."
The whole team hid behind a wall as the rat monster prowled the hallway near the stairs. When it stepped out of a classroom, blood dripping from its claws, Ms. Viera's eyes narrowed.
"Bianca — Now!"
A sudden snowstorm surged forward, burying the rat monster under waves of ice and snow. When the flurry settled, the hallway was piled high with frost — the monster frozen like a statue.
Then the rat monster roared, shattering its icy shell, and bolted toward a nearby classroom to escape the freezing air.
"It's trying to run away!" Lumiel shouted.
He slammed his hands to the ground. Walls of earth rose up, blocking the classroom doors — trapping the rat monster in the cold hallway with no way to flee.
"Good one, Lumiel!" Ms. Viera called out. "Everyone — attack!"
She and Nishia charged head-on while Mister Claud set up a turret, the other students readying their weapons.
But Lumiel's eyes found Bianca — breathing heavily, as if she'd run a marathon, her hand clutching her chest.
"Bianca!" Lumiel dashed toward her. Skye noticed and followed.
"What happened to you?" Lumiel asked urgently.
"Did you get hit by anything?" Skye asked.
Bianca struggled to speak between ragged breaths. "No— cough— I'm fine…"
"You don't look fine at all," Lumiel said, his worry showing.
"This is what normally happens whenever I use my gift, so it's fine…" Bianca coughed, each word painful.
Lumiel paused. Then, he closed his eyes. "Mama."
Lylia appeared beside him in a faint golden glow. "What is it, Lumiel?"
"Protect them from any incoming attack. They're vulnerable."
Lylia nodded and knelt beside Bianca, gently placing her hand over the girl's shoulder — her presence like a warm blanket against the cold.
"Be careful, Lumiel," Lylia said.
"I will, Mother." Lumiel turned to face the fight. He clenched his fists as he stepped forward.
> "There's got to be a way to release her from that frozen chain."