Shadows in the Forest

On the third day at the academy, Luke entered the classroom for his main class, Magic Combat. As he stepped inside, all eyes turned to him—some curious, others mocking. The whispers began almost immediately. "Isn't that the guy with the blank system window?" one student muttered. "What's he even doing here?" another sneered.

Luke ignored them, his gaze scanning the room until he heard Luna's voice. "Hey, Luke! I saved a seat for you!" She waved from the upper rows, her silver hair catching the light. Luke quickly made his way to her, grateful for her presence. As he sat down, Luna leaned over and whispered, "I heard the magic professor is going to ask you to practice basic magic today. Are you ready?"

Luke nodded, though he felt a knot of anxiety in his stomach. He hadn't used magic in years, not since he dismantled the system. Before he could respond, a voice cut through the chatter. "Students, turn to page two of the basic magic book you were given last night."

All heads turned to the front of the class, where the professor stood. No one had seen or heard him enter, and his sudden appearance sent a ripple of unease through the room. Luke quickly pulled the book from his bag and flipped to the designated page, his fingers trembling slightly.

The professor, a tall man with sharp features and piercing blue eyes, began the lesson. "Magic is the art of channeling energy through your body and into the world around you," he explained, his voice calm but commanding. "Today, we will practice the most fundamental spell: *Mana Spark.*"

He demonstrated the spell, holding out his hand as a small, glowing orb of light formed above his palm. The students watched in awe, their excitement palpable. "Now, it's your turn," the professor said, his gaze sweeping the room. "Pair up and practice. I'll be observing."

Luke and Luna turned to each other. "You go first," Luna said with an encouraging smile.

Luke took a deep breath and held out his hand, focusing on the instructions in the book. He tried to channel his mana, but nothing happened. His hand remained empty, and the whispers around him grew louder. "See? He's useless," someone muttered.

Luna frowned. "Ignore them, Luke. Try again."

Luke clenched his fists, frustration bubbling up inside him. *Why can't I do this?* He closed his eyes, trying to block out the noise, and focused on the wooden ring on his finger. It felt warm, almost alive, as if it were urging him to try again.

This time, when he opened his eyes and held out his hand, a faint spark flickered above his palm. It was small and unstable, but it was there. Luna's eyes lit up. "You did it!"

The professor, who had been watching from a distance, nodded approvingly. "Not bad for a first attempt. Keep practicing."

For the rest of the class, Luke and Luna took turns practicing the spell. By the end of the session, Luke's *Mana Spark* was still weak, but he felt a glimmer of hope. *Maybe I can do this after all.*

That night, exhausted from the day's events, Luke lay down on his bed. As soon as he closed his eyes, he felt the familiar pull of his *Second Body* ability. His consciousness drifted out of his body, floating above the academy like a ghost. From this vantage point, he could see the entire campus bathed in moonlight.

As he hovered there, he noticed four figures dressed in black moving toward the forest north of the school. Curiosity piqued, Luke followed them, his spirit form gliding silently through the air. The group moved quickly and purposefully, their faces obscured by hoods and masks.

They stopped at a large rock deep in the forest. The leader, a tall man, knocked on the rock, and it split open to reveal a hidden staircase. Luke's heart raced as he watched the group descend. He followed them, his spirit form slipping through the cracks in the rock.

The staircase led to a dimly lit underground chamber. The tall man removed his hood, and Luke recognized him immediately—it was Professor Jessica, the man who had been staring at him since his first day at the academy. "Students, you may remove your hats now," Jessica said, his voice cold and detached.

The two students with him obeyed, their faces blank and expressionless. Jessica led them to a room where a masked man in black awaited. "Professor Jessica, are the test subjects here?" the masked man asked.

Jessica nodded silently. The masked man gestured for the students to sit, then injected each of them with a syringe. Luke watched in horror as the students' eyes glazed over, their bodies going limp.

The masked man placed a small iron box on the floor and opened it. A grotesque creature emerged—a shapeless mass of flesh with multiple eyes and mouths. It moved sluggishly at first, then lunged at the students, devouring them one by one. Luke felt a wave of nausea as he watched the horrifying scene unfold.

When the creature finished its meal, it lay still, seemingly lifeless. The masked man sighed. "Another failure," he muttered, raising his hand. Black flames erupted from his palm, aimed at the creature.

But before the flames could reach it, Luke felt himself being pulled toward the creature. His spirit form was absorbed into its body, and suddenly, he was no longer a passive observer. He was the creature.

The lump of flesh began to move again, its many eyes blinking open. The masked man hesitated, the black flames flickering in his hand. "What's this?" he murmured, his voice tinged with both curiosity and fear.

Luke, now inhabiting the creature's body, felt a surge of power and confusion. *What just happened?* he thought, his mind racing. *Is this my second body?*