Ch 4

Class was essentially the same, same people and same mechanics. Shin was a year below though and she thinks it won't be long before he accelerates to her year and beyond.

Ohn was a precursor since he was nowhere to be seen since the last winter of her 1st year. She'd hear that he was already under a mentorship and gaining further control with his etherun.

Gazing back at the window, there were people who shouldn't be there. People who do things that shouldn't be done.

Was it already time? 

Her fingers tapped rhythmytically at the table. She also stared at the ticking clock just above the board.

Wisps of smoke were released through her fingertips. Undetectable to the naked eye. The smoke went through the glass and went to the things planted.

A little context was, during the peak of war, the academy was bombed.

Cries of souls in despair were vividly heard.

Lives were ended too early.

Supposedly, you thought you were away from it all. Not at the battlefield but at a place where you thought it would be safe. You were desperate for the suffering to end. They were hoping and hoping for peace...

Parents brought their children to this place so that they could have a better future. A better life. They struggled to do so.

The capital was the hope they longed for. However, how terrible fate would turn on them.

There were mages who found their strength, knowing that people were protected back at home. Mages who's goal and morale were at home. The place they decided was safe.

Going to the academy was not for the children's early demise. Not to lose what they have sworn to love and protect. They despaired... Many despaired... People were devastated...

Arta knew of it happening.

She didn't know when it happens.

...

It wasn't lost to her that there were some events that she had to act on. If discovered? That was throwing gasoline and a lighted match to her retirement (the single thing she desperately wished to have).

This...

This thing...

She couldn't avoid it.

...

There were various schemes related to this bombing. Overall, it was to lose public trust and damage the capital. Manpower, belief, morale, economy, and the power of the capital would be severely affected.

The wisps of smokes seemingly with their own minds went to disable the inconspicious packages. If it can be disabled, it would be disabled. Some would also be eaten per se. However, if the mechanism was unfamiliar and challenging, a bubble would contain it.

How difficult was it to find out the how-to... How many days days did she anticipate this event?

She was so done with it.

...that was phase 1.

Phase 2 was to find people who were going to clean up, the people assigned to kill those who were to escape the explosions. Another string of smoke was released through her fingertips. This smoke was to lie low and mark the enemies.

She felt a headache building up. Nothing was without cost.

Etherun was truly magical and as a person who was restricted by limits at her last world. Well, curiosity kills the cat. Over-using etherun and mixing it would her own consciousness would have several books condemning the method on how unsafe and suicidal it was.

Moving on, Phase 3 was a contingency plan. Expect that something would go wrong.

A shrieking alarm interrupted the discussion of the senior at front. His face turned serious and announced for the students to gather. They were to stay silent and activate the seals of the study hall.

As expected, the seals were unresponding. A voice should be projected to the senior since he promptly decided to gather students to the middle and transported the students batch by batch to somewhere.

That trick is etherun and everything consuming. He won't be able to transfer everyone.

There was something wrong, everyone knows it. All their instincts screamed in danger. However, protocols are in place. Panic won't do well. There was obedience to the superior that soldiers were trained to have integrated into the curriculum.

Shit.

Things were escalating.

A loud bang was heard. Through the windows, one could visibly see a part of building C was damaged.

Shouts were heard, and she needed to go.

The senior also knew this.

"Everyone, go to the main hall!" The senior's voice was projected inside the students' minds. He couldn't risk anyone else knowing the place for evacuation.

If Arta guessed right, there was someone powerful holding down the main hall. It should be the speaker invited today.

So...

So why did the enemy choose such a day where a strong mage would be present.

For her better guess? She could say that the livelier, the better.

If that mage survived, he would encounter endless criticism, and if not? Then, there was great damage to the fighting force.

No distractions

The remaining students were led out by the senior as she stayed at the periphery. There were moments delayed before a loud bang shook another building. Some students couldn't help with their whimpers and tried to keep themselves quiet and invisible. No one needs to know they were there.

...

Abruptly, she pushed several around her forward. Some couldn't help their shrieks as fallen rubble separated her from her counterparts. The senior didn't even bother to stop, but a single glance back, the senior knew that no hesitations were allowed.

His eyes were apologetic before it hardened. He still had to go. Protect the many without stopping. Any distraction would cost.

Wisps of smoke were also released to follow and protect these children as she watched them run.

Focus

"...may the glory of etherun be with you", this was the haunting line that she thought of in this condition.