Danger

The door suddenly flew open with a loud bang, and in walked a figure that commanded immediate attention. The man looked to be in his mid-40s, though his sharp, serious expression made him seem older than he actually was. His graying hair and cold demeanor sent a chill through the classroom. The students murmured under their breath, a few of them groaning in boredom at the new professor's intense presence.

Professor Thevron: "Good afternoon, everyone!! I am Thevron Sieve. I will be your professor for this year."

The room fell into complete silence. James, sitting at the back, couldn't help but feel the tension in the air. The professor's voice was commanding, and the stillness that followed was almost suffocating. The students were on edge, clearly intimidated by the man's presence.

Then, one student made the mistake of speaking. Without a moment's notice, a shadow of magic surrounded him, and the student was lifted upside down by his feet, hanging awkwardly in the air. The entire class gasped in unison.

Professor Thevron: "There are rules in this classroom," he said coldly, his eyes scanning the room. "First of all, I don't like talking or standing up without my permission. Second, I don't tolerate failure. Understand?"

The student, still hanging upside down, was shaking with fear, but the professor's unblinking gaze sent a clear message—this wasn't just a warning. His powers were real, and he meant business.

James felt a knot form in his stomach. This wasn't just any professor. The sheer aura of authority he carried was enough to put anyone off balance. As if sensing James' discomfort, Thevron's eyes locked onto him.

Professor Thevron: "I see you have something to say, Mr. James?"

James froze. He hadn't even realized he had muttered to himself until the professor's gaze landed on him. In an instant, his feet left the floor, and he, too, was suspended upside down. His vision blurred, his face turning red with embarrassment.

James: "WHAAA!! WHAAA!! WHAT'S HAPPENING?!"

Thevron's voice cut through the chaos.

Professor Thevron: "Silence!"

Everything went dead quiet. James could barely breathe, but his sense of discomfort soon gave way to an overwhelming curiosity about the professor's power. His peers looked just as intimidated as he felt, but everyone remained completely still, as if afraid to even breathe too loudly.

With a subtle wave of his hand, Thevron released James and the student who had made the mistake, setting them both gently back down on their feet. He then turned to the blackboard, drawing a series of complex runes and diagrams.

Professor Thevron: "Our first lesson will focus on understanding the energy that flows within our bodies. It's called Mana—the life force of every living being. Mana is responsible for our abilities to use magic, and how we control that energy determines how effective our spells and actions are."

Thevron's voice grew colder as he explained.

Professor Thevron: "I will teach you how to handle your Mana output. If you use too much too quickly, you'll burn through it and risk dying. And remember, every being in this world has Mana. No one exists without it."

The class sat in rapt attention, absorbing every word. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the weight of Thevron's words hanging in the air.

Just as James began to think the lesson was over, the cold, white-haired elf girl from earlier stood up, her piercing gaze never leaving Thevron.

Elf Girl: "I would like to correct something. You said we'd die if we ran out of Mana. That's not entirely true, though."

The entire class turned to look at her, but the elf girl was unfazed. She sat down, her posture rigid and her eyes sharp.

Professor Thevron: "Ah, yes. You're right," he said with a nod, acknowledging the correction. "If you run out of Mana, you won't immediately die, not if you belong to certain races, like elves. They have a hidden reservoir of Mana that's only accessible in emergencies."

He paused to let the information sink in before continuing.

Professor Thevron: "It's why you might witness a surge of power in times of danger. It's a survival mechanism, activated when your primary Mana is depleted. Every race has different ways of handling their Mana, but the key is to understand how to use it without overexerting yourself."

James listened intently. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of Mana reserves he had. He knew humans weren't known for their magical prowess, but something about this world intrigued him deeply. There was so much more to learn, and Professor Thevron's chilling yet informative teaching style only made him more eager to understand.

The room remained tense, the students' gazes alternating between the professor and the elf girl, who sat silently, her piercing eyes never wavering. James, though slightly shaken from the earlier encounter, felt his curiosity ignite.