The professor wrote two columns on the board. On the left he wrote "small or basic object," and on the right "large or complex object." Beneath each one, he began listing example numbers as he spoke.

"Impregnation does not continuously consume energy once applied."

He explained.

"The expenditure occurs at the moment the energy is transferred into the object, but that cost varies depending on what you want to impregnate."

He pointed to the left column.

"A small and simple object requires little energy to be impregnated. The transfer is quick, and the effect, while limited, remains stable within its capabilities."

Then he pointed to the right.

"A large object or one with a complex structure demands much more. The energy required to maintain the coherence of the effect scales with the object’s size and complexity."

Takeshi wrote that down without paying much attention to the board. He was listening, but part of his mind was still on the previous night.

"What matters."

The professor continued.

"Is that if a person spends too much energy on a large-scale impregnation, they are left in a state of total vulnerability. Without an energy reserve, they cannot activate any additional magic and cannot defend themselves against any type of attack. A practitioner who runs out of energy in the middle of combat is, in practical terms, someone with no capacity to respond."

Someone in the front row raised a hand and asked how long it took for energy to recover. The professor answered that it depended on the practitioner’s level and training, but under normal conditions it could take anywhere from several minutes to hours if the expenditure had been total.

Takeshi stopped writing.

’That means I could...’

He stored that information away. He didn’t know when he would need it, but the experience of the past few weeks had taught him it was better to note anything that might turn into an advantage later.

The professor continued talking about the practical limits of impregnation in everyday objects, but Takeshi was no longer processing that part. His thoughts had returned to Nyx.

The statistics he had seen above her head were those of someone who could have finished that fight in less time than Aoi.

’Something doesn’t add up, and Merwyn knows more than she said when she asked us to protect her.’

When class ended, Takeshi gathered his things and stepped into the hallway before the rest of the students stood up.

The student council room was almost empty at that hour. Merwyn sat behind the main desk with an open folder in front of her.

Takeshi closed the door.

"I want to ask you something..."

He said.

"Does she really need protection, or is there something else you didn’t tell us?"

Merwyn watched him for a moment before answering.

"I see you noticed as well."

"It was obvious."

"You’re right that there’s something more."

Merwyn closed the folder.

"Nyx cannot attack other people."

Takeshi didn’t respond immediately.

"Cannot, or will not?"

"She cannot. It’s not refusal or fear. When she tries to attack someone, something stops her and she cannot complete the action."

"How do you know that?"

"The family’s lawyer informed me. He’s someone who has worked with the Solynmar family for years and has access to information that doesn’t circulate outside that circle. According to him, this isn’t new. Nyx has been like this for some time."

Takeshi crossed his arms.

"And why did the lawyer tell you?"

He asked.

"Because I asked him to. He wants Nyx to reach the vote without anything happening to her. That aligns with what I want. It was a practical conversation."

’Merwyn has a network of contacts that makes no sense for a student council president, but this isn’t the time to ask about that.’

"Do they know what happened to her?"

Takeshi said.

"Why she can’t attack?"

Merwyn took a moment before answering.

"Not with certainty, but there’s a hypothesis the lawyer proposed that I consider likely."

She paused.

"Do you know what dissonant magic is?"

"The basics. It’s the category that doesn’t fall under elemental magic or impregnation. It works through specific conditions and isn’t well studied."

"Correct. And within that category, there exists a type of magic capable of altering a person’s behavior and their ability to act in certain ways."

Merwyn opened the folder again, turned a page, and closed it once more.

"Someone may have imposed a condition on her. Something that functions like a specific block. In this case, the inability to harm other people."

Takeshi uncrossed his arms.

"And is that permanent?"

"It depends on the type of dissonant magic and on who applied it. There isn’t enough information to know for sure. What is clear is that Nyx isn’t pretending; it’s a restriction operating beneath her will."

Takeshi remembered the image of Nyx hiding in a corner.

’At the time I thought it was fear, but this is different.’

"If it’s dissonant magic..."

Takeshi said.

"Do you have any idea who applied it to her?"

Merwyn did not answer immediately.

"I have a hypothesis..."

She finally replied.

"But if I tell you too soon and it turns out to be wrong, you’ll make decisions based on incorrect information."

Takeshi wanted to press further, but he recognized the argument made sense.

"Alright..."

He said.

"But if you confirm anything, I need to know."

"When I confirm it, you’ll be the first to hear."

Takeshi remained standing in front of the desk for a few more seconds.

"One more thing..."

He said.

"The lawyer contacted you, a student. Why didn’t he go directly to someone with more resources or authority to protect her?"

Merwyn looked at him with a benevolent expression.

"Because people with more resources and authority have interests that may or may not align with Nyx’s depending on the moment. I don’t have that problem. My interests in this matter are simple: I want her to reach that vote. That makes me predictable, and that’s what the lawyer needed."

Takeshi had nothing to add to that.

"Thank you."

He said, and stepped back into the hallway.

He walked toward the stairs of the north wing.

’Nyx has a level of magic that could have saved her life last night, and she didn’t use it because she couldn’t.’

That changed the problem completely.

Takeshi descended the steps slowly. Outside, the courtyard was full of students during break. From where he stood, he could see the entrance to the library.

’What I can do now is understand how that type of dissonant magic works, what conditions it requires to be applied, and whether there’s any way to reverse it.’

He needed to go to the library.