"The incantation for the Daishi spells, 'Moro Tarlus Nara', directly translates to 'I shall pierce' conveying the..."

While Karnella rambled on with the lesson, no one was listening. A heavy silence hung in the air as everyone stood frozen, gripped by shock and fear. The girl's death served as a stark reminder that they were all easy targets for Karnella, and the looming threat of death lingered over them with every passing moment.

The headless body, sprawled on the table next to Dariu, continued to bleed profusely. Dariu, stained with blood, stared ahead, seemingly trying to ignore the lifeless figure beside him. Though his gaze was directed at Karnella, his mind replayed scenes of Mika's tragic end. Despite the horror unfolding, Dariu fought to keep a grip on himself. He breathed heavily, beads of sweat trickling down his face, but he strained to maintain an outward appearance of composure, his expression an empty facade.

As Dariu gradually regained his senses, he shifted his attention to Naylu, who had fallen into an unsettling silence. Naylu, both forearms pressed against the table, cast his gaze downward, visibly trembling and breathing erratically. The grip of a panic attack had taken hold of him.

"Naylu," Dariu whispered.

He received no response.

"Naylu!" He whispered louder.

Naylu slowly turned his head towards Dariu.

"You need to calm down."

"H-how c-could I?!" He questioned, stuttering, "She c-could kill anyone of us at any m-moment."

"She won't, we didn't break any rules. Remember Rinus yesterday said he couldn't expell us unless we do that."

"P-perhaps, but still he—"

"I have a question," said one student.

Everyone immediately shifted their gaze to the student with the raised hand. In the midst of the classroom's deep fear and shock, an unexpected scene unfolded: a student not only paying attention but also actively participating by posing questions.

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The boy, with long tied-up black hair and a white streak falling over his pale face, had sharp blue eyes and a cold, nonchalant expression.

"What is it?" Asked Karnella.

"If 'Tarlus' is 'pierce', how come it's used in other incantations besides the Daishi spells?"

"The word 'Tarlus' can have other meanings depending on the context, for example..."

Dariu and Naylu shared confused glances in response to the strange exchange, and a wave of surprise rippled through the room, catching Hena off guard as well.

The remainder of the class dragged on, each moment feeling like an hour. The horrifying incident seemed to have frozen time for everyone, stretching what should have been a few hours into a seemingly endless duration. Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, the class finally came to an end.

Once the class concluded, Dariu and Naylu decided to step outside, seeking a breath of fresh air.

"How are you feeling?" Concerned, Dariu asked Naylu, who was seated on a wooden bench.

"I don't know... I'm just happy that nightmare is over."

"I'm afraid it has only just began."

"Do we really have to endure this for four years?"

"That's what we signed up for," said Dariu, then took a deep sigh, "but I think somewhere along the way, we'll get used to it."

"Or we die."

"Yes, that's also a possibility."

"And both are despicable, I don't want to get used to seeing people die."

"Neither do I, Naylu."

Next class soon began, and it was titled 'Lojicraft', a class dedicated to the understanding of the principles of Lojia and the science behind it.

The man teaching the class was a dwarf characterized by a long, pointy nose and a bald spot framed by black hair on the sides of his head. A single lens adorned his left eye. Dressed in a white plaid shirt and yellow pants. Lastly, he wore the customary gloves adorned with Nymph stones. He had already presented himself as Radbuck Nelius.

"Lojia is not magic," explained Radbuck, "the fictional term, 'magic', existed long before Lojia appeared, and according to the folktales: magic is miraculous, convenient, and simple. Lojia is everything but that."

Radbuck then proceeded to elucidate the three fundamental principles of Lojia: Lacus, Arsha, and Nayum. Lacus represented the reservoir of energy within a Lojius, determining the quantity and strength of spells one could evoke. Arsha denoted the spatial range of a Lojius, serving both as the area for spell materialization and as a sensor for detecting Lojia-infused objects or individuals. Lastly, Nayum pertained to the imagination; as each spell required a specific mental image for conjuring, a robust imagination led to the creation of more skillfully crafted and inventive spells.

He also emphasized a crucial point: there is no all-powerful Lojius; trade-offs exist. A vast Lacus might mean a weaker Arsha or Nayum. Each Lojius possesses distinct strengths and weaknesses. Success in a battle against another Lojius depends on understanding and exploiting these nuanced dynamics rather than seeking an all-encompassing power.

"In your journey to master Lojia, the initial step is comprehending your individual strengths and weaknesses. Each of you must explore your innate capabilities – do you excel in possessing a vast Lacus or a broader Nayum? Perhaps a humble Nayum but a robust Arsha? Knowing the answers to these questions is paramount for your mastery of Lojia."

Radbuck concluded by informing the students that a comprehensive evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses would be conducted by another teacher after the class. Practical training, being outside his expertise, would be facilitated by an instructor better suited to assess their applied skills.

The next class was Combat Mastery, it was focused on practical training for Lojius combat, taking place outdoors.

"I am sure that midget has already informed you that we will be doing an evaluation of your abilities," stated the teacher, a young man in his thirties. His shoulder-length black hair and goatee framed his face as he addressed the students.

Dariu felt a surge of anticipation, thinking, finally, the real progress can start. Previous classes had been filled with theoretical knowledge, and now he eagerly awaited the commencement of practical training. What excited him the most was the prospect of gaining a deeper understanding of his abilities in that current class.