As Alex and Jiten made their way to the cafeteria, their minds buzzed with the success of their potions class. They found a spot to sit and enjoy their lunch when their attention was captured by a stunning brunette. She wore a white uniform with two medals on her chest: a bronze one with the apprentice emblem and a gold one with the air symbol. Her long hair flowed gracefully down her back, and her captivating green eyes drew them in. With a tray of food in hand, she approached their table and chose to join them.

"Hey guys!" Emily greeted, her smile radiant as she took a seat beside them.

Jiten returned the greeting, matching her smile. "Hey, Emily! How's it going?"

Alex nodded in agreement, echoing Jiten's words. "Good to see you, Emily. Grab a seat."

Emily's eyes glimmered with curiosity as she leaned in. "It's been good, but I've been dying to know if there's been any progress with that noisy warehouse behind your house, Jiten. Any updates?"

Jiten leaned back in his chair, a spark of excitement in his voice. "Well, there hasn't been significant progress yet, but I have a feeling I'm getting closer to successfully brewing the evaporation sleeping potion."

Emily's face lit up with genuine enthusiasm. "That's amazing, Jiten! I have no doubt you'll crack it soon."

Curiosity then shifted towards Alex as Emily turned to him, a playful glimmer in her eye. "So, Alex, have you completed the homework for Teras Anatomy?"

Caught off guard, Alex hesitated for a moment, contemplating his response. "Um, well... actually..."

Jiten seized the opportunity to interject, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Oh, come on, Emily. You know Alex and his procrastination skills. Lucky for him, I took charge and helped him out. So, he's covered!"

Emily couldn't help but burst into laughter, finding Jiten's remark highly amusing. "Is that so, Alex? Looks like you have Jiten to thank for saving you!"

Joining in the laughter, Alex appreciated the light-hearted banter and camaraderie between the trio. "Yeah, it seems I owe him one this time. Thanks, sleeping beauty."

Jiten, taken aback by Alex's remark, nearly spilled his drink in surprise. Emily, noticing the commotion, turned to Jiten with a quizzical expression. "What happened, Jiten? Did something interesting occur in your potion class?"

Alex couldn't resist seizing the opportunity to playfully tease his friend. With a mischievous grin, he chimed in, "Well, let's just say that our esteemed 'Mr. Potion Master' here came dangerously close to receiving an F in the examination. If it weren't for my quick thinking and assistance, he might not have made it."

Jiten's face turned slightly red as he sputtered in protest. "Hey now, let's not exaggerate, Alex. I was just... momentarily distracted."

Emily, thoroughly intrigued, leaned in closer. "Come on, Jiten, spill the details. What happened in that potion class?"

Reluctantly, Jiten began recounting the story of how he had fallen asleep during the examination, leaving Alex on his own. As he narrated the events with a hint of embarrassment, Emily and Alex exchanged amused glances, thoroughly entertained by the tale.

Emily burst into laughter, unable to contain herself. "Oh, Jiten, you never cease to surprise us! Falling asleep during an examination? That's priceless!"

Joining in the laughter, Alex couldn't help but tease Jiten a little further. "Well, at least you can rely on your exceptional sleeping skills, Jiten. Who knows, maybe that'll come in handy one day."

Jiten playfully rolled his eyes, realizing he was outnumbered in this friendly banter. "Alright, alright, you two. Let's hurry so we aren't late for Teras Anatomy."

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Alex smiled and said, "Let's hurry before he falls asleep." Alex, Emily, and even Jiten, who was the target of the joke, laughed as they got up from their seats to head to the Teras Anatomy class.

They arrived in the classroom and found their seats. Emily chose to sit in the middle, positioning herself between Alex and Jiten. It was a strategic move to ensure they didn't engage in too much conversation during the class.

As they settled into their seats, the room filled with anticipation for the lesson. Just then, Professor Lucy Turner entered the classroom in her usual clumsy manner, struggling to balance a heavy-looking paper box in her hands. The students watched with curiosity as Professor Turner carefully placed the box on her desk, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. She turned to face the class, her quirky personality filling the room.

"Good afternoon, everyone!" Professor Turner greeted, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "I hope you're all ready for an exciting lesson today."

Jiten, unable to contain his curiosity, raised his hand and asked, "Professor, what's in the box?"

Professor Turner's eyes twinkled as she looked at Jiten. With a playful grin, she reached into the box and retrieved a jewel-like crystal stone. Holding it up for everyone to see, she explained, "Today, we will be learning how to identify the quality of Teras Cores."

The students leaned forward, their interest piqued by the mention of Teras Cores. Professor Turner continued, "Teras Cores are special crystals that possess unique properties. They are found inside every tera and are known to hold immense energy within them. These cores are used in advanced spells and have significant applications in the field of medicine and potion making. In some regions, they were even used as currency. I'm certain that Professor Harrow has taught you about Tera grades and the threat levels they represent. The power of the core is related to the grade of the tera."

Alex, intrigued by the subject, raised his hand and asked, "How can we determine the quality of a Teras Core?"

Professor Turner smiled at Alex's question. "Excellent question! Identifying the quality of a Teras Core requires a keen eye and knowledge of the specific characteristics to look for. We'll be examining things like color, clarity, and internal patterns. By analyzing these factors, we can determine the grade and potential power of the core."

The class engaged in a hands-on activity, as Professor Turner distributed four different Teras Cores to each student. She guided them through the process of analyzing and comparing the cores, discussing their observations and making assessments about their quality.

Once the exercise concluded, Professor Turner took out a cube filled with intricately engraved runes, about the size of an orange. She held it up for the class to see. "Attention, everyone. This is a Mimic Cube," she explained. "When activated, it can reproduce the sound of anything that has been recorded. In this case, I have recorded the call of a nature tera. Listen up!"

With a flicker of anticipation in the air, Lucy channeled her mana and activated the cube. Instantly, a foreboding and chilling sound filled the classroom. It echoed with a haunting familiarity that sent shivers down the students' spines.

Emily turned concerned eyes towards Alex, who seemed visibly shaken by the sound. His face grew pale, and his eyes widened with a mix of fear and disbelief. It was as if the sound had unearthed a long-buried memory, a painful reminder of a tragic event that shaped his life.

Unable to bear seeing her friend in distress, Emily leaped to her feet and urgently pleaded, "Professor, please turn it off!"

Lucy's gaze shifted from Emily to Alex, and then to the rest of the class. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, she hastily and clumsily fumbled with the cube, desperately trying to silence the distressing sound. The room fell into an uneasy silence as the cube was finally deactivated.

Alex sat frozen in his seat, his mind flooded with a rush of memories. The sound he had just heard resembled the haunting cries of the creature that had mercilessly taken away his parents during the ill-fated ceremony night. The weight of that loss, buried deep within his heart, resurfaced with unexpected intensity.

Tears welled up in his eyes, and he struggled to regain composure. A torrent of emotions swept through him, but amidst the chaos, his mother's words echoed in his mind, carrying a profound significance. "Despite not being my true son, you will always be."

In that vulnerable moment, Alex found himself questioning the meaning of his mother's words. Did they hold a hidden truth? Was there a deeper secret behind his lineage? The mystery of his identity now loomed larger than ever before, intertwining with the sorrow that enveloped him.

Taking a deep breath, Alex wiped away a tear, determined to gather himself and carry on. He turned to Emily, his voice filled with a mixture of gratitude and resilience, as he assured her, "I'm fine, thanks, Emily."

Their eyes met, understanding passing between them. Emily, ever the supportive friend, nodded gently, silently acknowledging the weight of his emotions. She opened her mouth to offer comforting words, but before she could utter a single syllable, Jiten's voice rang out, filled with shock and urgency.

"Guys, we have a huge problem!"