Connor left the principal's office unsettled, having narrowly dodged suspicion about the mysterious Red Mask. Though he lied about what he saw, Parcaso and Merog were not entirely convinced. Once Connor departed, Parcaso revealed his doubts, recalling an old memory tied to a horned red mask—something far too significant to dismiss. He ordered Merog to investigate further.
Meanwhile, group class began under Professor Master Muscle, whose booming enthusiasm filled the small room. He started by celebrating Anastasia's first-place achievement in the hall test, praising her before the entire group. One by one, he announced promotions: Anastasia rose two ranks, Whipney and Lug gained promotions as well, and even Lanius advanced slightly. Only Myael and Connor were excluded, though for very different reasons—Myael's rank was already too high to change easily, while Connor's results remained sealed by the Academy.
The professor then shifted to teaching. Unlike his usual explosive energy, his lecture carried calm authority. He explained the nature of Gifts and Curses—unique abilities given only to humans, absent in elves, dwarves, or even dragons. Some gifts supported combat, while others aided daily life, yet at Trinity Academy the majority of students possessed combat-oriented talents. This was why group classes were essential: no single teacher could guide so many wildly different abilities alone.
The topic of the day was the absoluteness of Gifts. To demonstrate, Professor Master Muscle called two students forward: Myael Astaroth, wielder of the wind-summoning magic sword, and Lanius Halfwing, whose gift rendered him completely unaffected by wind. The experiment was simple—what would happen when an unstoppable gale met an immovable resistance?
Myael drew her blade, her usual cheerful face falling into cold blankness as she prepared to strike. The faint shimmer of a wind blade formed along her sword. Lanius, silent and stoic beneath his helmet, gave his assent.
At the professor's command, Myael swung down. The magic blade of wind cut toward Lanius, testing the very limits of two absolute powers in direct opposition.