3rd August

Smoke, dust, awe, surprise. That’s what filled the training grounds of Avalon. Everyone had their eyes fixed on the smoke, eager to know what it unraveled. No words were spoken. Only the sound of the air carrying away the smoke bit by bit. As the smoke started to clear, slow gasps left the observing mouths.

What the gust of wind carrying away the black fog had revealed was an unconscious boy, laying flat on the grass. Its clothes frilled off at the sleeves, and minor burns on the arm. It was John, lying down on the crown unmoving.

I stood frozen, legs slightly apart, fists clenched at my sides, every muscle tense and alert. The weight of the situation pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. My eyes remained fixed on John's still form, while my mind raced with the implications of what had just happened.

Silence again

Words were lost on everyone’s tongues. No words could be uttered. And then everyone sensed it. I did too, as a matter of fact, I sensed it more than anyone. All of my hair from my fingers to my rear stood up. It was that presence, I knew it. Everyone did.

Steps echoed through the veranda as they slowly approached towards me. I couldn’t even get myself to turn around and look. And yet… I knew what I was facing. “You have got quite the show going on, Mr. Tachibana.” She spoke, “No student in the history of this Atheneum has caused this degree of chaos.” she paused, walked down the veranda, halfway closer to them, “And you are not even fully admitted yet.” she scowled.

Everyone had moved their eyes from Miss Yuan to me, expecting some kind of response. And I still hadn’t turned around, my heart was thumping out of my chest. My adrenaline was rushing as if a giant predator was standing behind me and I was but a small critter. Even without looking back I could feel her gaze. But I knew I had no choice. I had to respond. I have no idea what kind of reprimands I’ll have to face.

I felt her gaze move off of me, and shift towards Naomi. She said nothing, but her intimidating glare felt like it would burn my back off and then Naomi’s pupils. Naomi tried to hesitantly walk towards Miss Yuan, “Ma’am, Iー” Naomi tried to plead, but was cut off by her glare. I could see the fear in her eyes. Naomi's usually composed demeanor faltered under Miss Yuan's piercing stare. Her breath hitched, and she swallowed hard, trying to summon the courage to speak again. Her hands, usually steady, trembled slightly.

I felt a wave of panic rise within me. I knew that by not turning around, I was only fueling her anger, an act of defiance disguised as fear. But I couldn’t bring myself to face her. My legs felt like they were rooted to the ground, my heart pounding in my chest.

Was this fear? The paralyzing, all-consuming kind that strips away your ability to act? I felt its grip tighten around me, holding me captive in that moment.

Miss Yuan walked a few steps closer again, her glare still focused on Naomi. “And you, Ms. Sasaki. You do realize that I would have expected you to prevent this from ever happening?” Her glare was sharp and unyielding.

No. I can’t. I have to say something. I can’t let Naomi get into trouble because of me. With every ounce of strength I could muster, I forced myself to turn around and face Miss Yuan. It felt as if multiple hands were holding me down making each movement a struggle. The weight in my chest pressed heavily against me, making it difficult to breathe.

Miss Yuan's piercing gaze shifted back to me, her eyes narrowing slightly. The intensity of her stare made it difficult to breathe, but I refused to look away. Naomi shouldn’t suffer because of my mistakes. “Miss Yuan, what actually happened waaaₐₐₐₐₐₐₐₐₐₐₐₐー”

My vision dimmed and I felt all of the energy inside my body vanish, making me fall on the ground face first. Now there were two bodies lying flat on the training grounds.

Did I just totally screw myself over since I didn’t have any prior knowledge of magic?

“It appears that you didn’t know anything about magic after all, Yuki Tachibana.” Miss Yuan said, her voice laced with disappointment and disdain. Naomi froze in shock at Miss Yuan's words. Her leg moved, but she hesitated. She didn’t dare move, paralyzed by the fear of drawing Miss Yuan’s ire. Her eyes darted from my motionless body to Miss Yuan’s stern face, the weight of the situation pressing down on her.

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“This is exactly why you should have stopped them, Miss Sasaki.” Miss Yuan sneered, “I-I tried stopping them b-but they d-didn't listen to m-me… I'm really s-sorry.” Naomi was trembling.

I’ve never seen Naomi so scared. It feels even more weird since my vision is dimmed and I’m flat on the ground.

Miss Yuan stepped over me and Naomi to stand over John. “And so you decided to cause chaos because the Disciplinary Committee is otherwise occupied?” Her voice was laced with contempt. “You will all be punished accordingly. Report to my office immediately, after getting treated that is.”

I'm getting kicked out of my academy on the very first day! Oh this is so great! Please just take me away! ♫ ♩

“Someone help these flatbeds. They won't be able to move until tomorrow if not treated.” Yeah she really was cold. “The reason why you are in this condition right now is because you didn't know how to handle Crux particles, all you did was release every Crux particle in your body, that is, all of your magical strength was released at once, that is the mistake most of the students like you make.”

I did try to imitate what I saw in a show…

“Umm… Miss…” A timid voice broke through the murmurs of the crowd. Everyone parted to reveal a girl, her face mostly hidden behind oversized glasses. Her golden-brown hair was pulled into messy braids, a stark contrast to the neatly groomed students around her. She looked like a first-year, her uniform identical to mine.

Miss Yuan turned her steely gaze toward her. “Yes? What is it?” she asked, her tone sharp but curious.

The girl hesitated, her voice quivering. “Actually, I have a question…”

“Go ahead, Ms. Austin.”

The girl’s words tumbled out in a jumbled rush. “A-as you said, this explosion happened b-because of Y-Yuki’s inexperience. B-but it was different from the usual explosions we see from newbies. His explosion was concentrated in one point—his palm. The others usually blow out from their whole bodies and are just smoke, but Yuki’s had actual force behind it.”

Her stammering was frequent, a sign of her shyness. Meanwhile, the technical aspects of explosions seemed to intrigue her more than my predicament.

Explosions are indeed fascinating.

Shut up narrator! This chapter is supposed to be narrated by me so get lost!

Miss Yuan’s expression softened slightly as she addressed the question. “The explosions are indeed different, but the underlying cause remains the same. As Mr. Tachibana mentioned, he knew that Crux particles should be concentrated to achieve a powerful effect. However, he lacked the training to execute it correctly. Imagine their bodies as glass jars filled with compressed air—Crux particles. Normally, the air expands and causes a diffuse explosion. But in Yuki’s case, the air tried to escape from a single, concentrated point, resulting in a more forceful explosion.”

Miss Yuan’s gaze hardened as she concluded. “I will be leaving now. I want them in my office within 15 minutes. Someone, provide them with energy and, if necessary, heal Mr. Davis.” With that, Miss Yuan turned and walked away, her steps echoing in the veranda slowly getting overlapped with the student's murmurs rising.

Yeah, I'm totally f0cked!

Naomi looked at me with a mix of frustration and concern before stepping forward to help. “Tch, Why do you always get into trouble like this?” she grumbled as she began transferring energy into me. “Now I’m going to suffer because of you.”

I looked up at her, anxiety thick in my voice. “So, what happens now? Am I getting kicked out on the first day?”

Naomi’s face hardened with determination. “I don’t know, but I’ll make sure you feel every bit of the trouble you’ve caused.” she said, her frustration evident.

The tension in the air was palpable as Naomi continued to transfer energy into me, her movements brisk and purposeful. The crowd began to disperse, murmuring amongst themselves, leaving us isolated on the training grounds.

Despite Naomi's help, my mind was swirling with the weight of Miss Yuan's disapproval and the uncertainty of what lay ahead. The fear of expulsion loomed over me like a dark cloud. I could barely process the intricate details of Miss Yuan’s explanation or the implications of my actions.

Naomi finished her task, her expression a mix of frustration and reluctant sympathy. “Just listen to me from now on, okay? she muttered, clearly exasperated.

“Thanks, Naomi,” I said weakly, trying to muster a grateful smile. “I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”

She sighed but didn’t respond, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon where the sky took the form of dusk. The day had turned into a nightmare, and the promise of nightfall did little to ease the tension.

As the last of the onlookers left, the training grounds were left in an uneasy silence. I struggled to my feet, feeling the weight of the day's events pressing down on me. The road ahead was uncertain, and the consequences of my actions were yet to unfold.

With a final, weary glance at Naomi, I followed her towards the office, my heart heavy with apprehension. The shadows lengthened as the day gave way to night, and the reality of the situation began to sink in. I had stepped into a world far more complex and unforgiving than I had ever imagined, and the consequences of my mistake were just beginning to take shape.

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