"Is that all? What happened to his body then?" The teacher's pen hovered over her notes, waiting.
The room fell silent. All eyes turned to Annabelle.
"H-He was devoured by mana beasts," she answered, her voice hesitant, barely above a whisper.
The teacher exhaled slowly, then jotted something down before setting her pen aside with deliberate care. "I see. Given the circumstances, it's reasonable to assume he was being controlled by some mana beast when he attacked you."
A girl sitting toward the back scoffed, shaking her head with clear defiance. "No. I know what kind of person Eren is. He didn't need to be controlled—he did it out of jealousy."
The girl who spoke had long, wavy purple hair cascading over her left shoulder, reaching down to her slender waist. Her deep violet eyes gleamed like precious gemstones, and her flawless skin radiated an elegance that commanded attention. She carried herself with an air of authority that could not be ignored. Unlike most of the others in the room, she wore the full academy blazer, much like Jason did. Her ample bosom was tightly confined behind her crisp white top, yet her poised stance accentuated it with an effortless boldness that seemed almost intentional.
"Hm," the girl beside her hummed in response, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
She had raven-black hair tied into a neat bun, secured by a delicate rose-shaped hairpin. Her ruby-red eyes glimmered with a sharp, calculating light that enhanced the air of seduction she naturally carried. If any among them embodied raw physical allure, it was her, and she wielded that charm with lethal intent. Though dressed like the other girls, she stood apart, draped in a black fur-lined sweater that highlighted the curves of her body. Long, form-fitting socks wrapped tightly around her legs, emphasizing the delicate sliver of exposed thigh between her hemline and stockings. Her top button was left deliberately undone, revealing just enough to capture attention without crossing any lines—a sight that never failed to ensnare wandering gazes.
"He is still your brother, Ashley," she continued, her voice as sultry as ever, smooth like honey with just the right amount of venom beneath it. "I don't think you should—"
"NO." Ashley's voice cut through the air like a blade. "He is NOT my brother."
"Hm~" The black-haired girl, Angelica, smirked with that signature grin of hers, absentmindedly twirling a loose strand of her hair between her fingers. "Last time I checked, he still bears the name Nevana. Doesn't that technically mean he is..." She trailed off intentionally, letting the implication hang in the air, knowing full well it would set Ashley off.
"Enough." The teacher's voice sliced through the tension before it could escalate further. "We will investigate this matter more thoroughly. For now, you're all dismissed. However, be prepared to be called in for questioning at any time. I expect full cooperation from each of you."
The students nodded in acknowledgment, some more reluctantly than others, before filing out of the room one by one.
Click.
The door shut behind them with a soft finality.
"Anna..." Angelica's voice slithered through the air like silk wrapped around steel, that ever-present mischievous smirk tugging at her lips. "You still haven't told us where you've been all this time."
Though her expression was playful and teasing, her thoughts were anything but. The moment she had laid eyes on Annabelle walking into that room, she sensed something was off, something was amiss. She couldn't quite put her finger on it yet, but if she had to guess based on instinct alone, it had something to do with Eren.
Annabelle met her words with a silent, icy glare that could have frozen water mid-flow, then brushed past without giving her a second glance. She strode forward with purpose, effortlessly catching up to Lisandra and Ashley, leaving the conversation—and Angelica—behind without a single word of explanation.
"Come on, Angelica," Jason said, falling into step beside her with his usual hands-behind-the-head posture, trying to diffuse the situation like he always did. "You know she doesn't want to talk about it. Cut her some slack."
"Hm." That was all the response Angelica gave, though her narrowed eyes remained locked onto Annabelle's retreating figure. Her mind ran through a dozen possibilities, trying to piece together why she was being so secretive about her activities during her absence. But no matter how much she thought about it, something didn't add up—there was a missing link, something crucial she was overlooking.
But she would find out. One way or another.
A slow, predatory smirk spread across her lips as she glanced around the hallway. The others were already too far ahead, their voices fading into the distance. No one to save Jason now.
Bam!
Before he could react, she grabbed his collar and yanked him closer, catching him completely off guard. His eyes widened in surprise as his balance shifted forward into her space.
"W-what are you doing?" he stammered, trying to process what just happened.
"Shhh~" She hushed him gently, placing a delicate finger against his lips to silence any further protests.
Her red lips parted slightly, warm breath ghosting over his skin as she leaned in closer. The scent of her perfume filled his senses, making it difficult to look away, and his pulse quickened involuntarily despite knowing exactly what game she was playing.
"Aren't you... forgetting something?~" she murmured, her voice a soft purr that sent shivers down his spine.
Jason swallowed hard. His heart pounded against his ribcage. This was his biggest weakness, and she knew it. He could never resist her when she decided to toy with him like this. In fact, he had never met anyone who could withstand her charms when she turned them on full force. It was her deadliest weapon, sharper than any blade.
"You... look beautiful," he finally managed to say, his voice coming out rougher than intended as he took in the sight before him.
Her smile deepened into a bewitching curve of her lips that made his breath hitch in his throat. "Good," she whispered, stepping even closer until there was barely any space left between them. "Now, how about a reward?~"
She leaned in, eyes half-lidded with that dangerous gleam in them, about to steal his lips—
"ANGELICA!"
The sharp call shattered the moment like glass breaking against stone.
Angelica clicked her tongue in irritation, rolling her eyes as she reluctantly turned to see the girls rushing back toward them with varying expressions of disapproval and exasperation.
"Annoying," she muttered under her breath with a heavy sigh, though the smirk never quite left her face.