Laina stood with Zara and Mira in the hallway until they reached the point where they had to split.
"I have to go now," Laina told them softly.
Both girls nodded.
"Okay, be careful," Zara said.
"And message us if anything happens," Mira added, squeezing her hand.
Laina smiled a little before turning away and walking alone toward the school office.
Her footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway as she approached the tall brown door.
She knocked gently.
"Hello sir," she said as she stepped inside.
The principal looked up from a stack of papers.
"Hi, Laina. Give me a minute."
He picked up his phone, dialed a number, and spoke briefly. Moments later, a woman walked in—neat uniform, gentle smile, and a clipboard in hand.
"Please take Laina to her class," the principal instructed.
"Alright. This way, dear," the woman said kindly.
They walked down the bright corridor, the sound of other classes buzzing faintly around them. Students peeked from their doors, whispering as Laina passed. Her hair, her gentle face, her calm energy—she attracted attention without trying.
When they reached the classroom, the woman stepped inside first.
"Silence, everyone," she called, and immediately the buzzing stopped.
"We have a new student."
She turned to Laina.
"Introduce yourself, please."
Laina nodded. "My name is Laina Reed."
A soft wave of murmurs swept the room—admiration mixed with curiosity.
"Please go sit there," the woman pointed to an empty desk beside the window.
Laina took a quiet breath and began walking toward her seat…
but before she could reach it—
A leg suddenly stretched out in the walkway.
She didn't notice.
Her foot caught.
Her body tilted forward—
her balance gone—
the whole class gasped—
But just before she hit the ground…
A soft, warm magic wrapped around her like a cushion.
Holding her in mid-air.
Lifting her gently back to her feet.
Every head snapped toward the source.
There he was.
Morris.
The quiet, cute guy everyone respected but barely heard speak.
Dark hair falling over his forehead, eyes calm and unreadable, posture relaxed as if magic came to him as naturally as breathing.
He stood up from his chair and walked to her.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly, his voice deep but gentle.
Laina nodded, embarrassed and grateful.
"Yes… thank you."
The classroom whispered again.
"Why did Morris help her?"
"I've never seen him move that fast."
"She must be special…"
Laina quickly sat down, trying to shrink into her seat. She hated attention, yet somehow she always attracted it.
A moment later, the teacher walked in, causing everyone to sit properly.
"Good afternoon, class."
"Good afternoon, sir!" the students chorused.
"Today we will be continuing our lesson on power identification and control."
He wrote a few diagrams on the board, explaining how each student's power was categorized—by element, strength, sensitivity, and combat level.
Laina listened carefully, though she felt the sting of the earlier embarrassment still burning under her skin.
After the lesson, the teacher turned back to the class with a smile.
"Since we have a new student, we will be having a practice fight today. We need to see where she belongs."
The class erupted instantly.
"Ohhhhhh!!"
"Finally!"
"This is going to be fun!"
"Who will she fight?"
Chairs moved.
Students buzzed with excitement.
Some even stood up.
Laina's heart skipped.
A practice fight?
On her first day?
Zara and Mira, though in another class, peeked from the door to check on her—eyes wide, already sensing trouble.
Morris leaned back in his chair, watching her with unreadable curiosity.
And the girl who tried to trip her earlier…
smirked.
As if she knew something no one else did.
Laina swallowed hard as the teacher clapped his hands.
"Everyone to the training field!"
The air shifted.
Energy filled the room.
And Laina felt—for the first time—that her life at this school was about to get much harder…
and much more dangerous.