Runia feels quite exhausted.

Despite her workmate, Rigel’s offer for himself to be the only person to visit the unfortunate students whose lives are taken because of the previous incident, she insisted on going with him to talk with the mourning personally, hence why she was away for the succeeding days after the students rescue from the infested island.

Together with the other Vice Headmaster, Rigel, the two of them personally visited all of the families of the currently missing and confirmed deceased students after the incident during the surprise exams.

They offered comfort and the sincerest of apologies, being met with all sorts of reactions from the ones who still have their families and guardians.

Some reacted as if they had already prepared for something like this to happen as after all, being a mage, despite being a life filled with honor, fame and glory, is also a life of constant, never-ending danger that will take one’s life if they are caught lacking and unprepared.

Some however, reacted intensely, violently, as hate consumes them from having their trust betrayed by the claims of the Galilea Magic Academy being the greatest, and consequently, safest place for their children to grow.

Through heavy efforts, these two Vice Headmasters managed to at the very least, soothe some sadness from these grieving souls’ hearts, a promise of safety prosperity for their families being given by the academy due to the deaths being said academy’s own fault.

Still, these small comforts don’t make the experience any easier, as being a harbinger of such unfortunate use to family after family for several times takes mental toll, even to mages of such accomplishment like the two of them.

Perhaps it is because of this exhaustion or because of something else, but the shock was apparent to even herself as she enters a familiar classroom in which she pretends to be just one of the professors instead of being the youngest Vice Headmaster the academy ever has.

The reason for said shock being a familiar face that he had seen before the surprise exam starts, someone who entered the exam together with her cousin, Medea.

’I always felt like he isn’t normal, but this... looks like exhaustion is catching up to me...’ she joked to herself despite knowing full well that what she is picking up is something that is completely true.

While it is indeed true however, that doesn’t make the fact any easier to accept.

After all, from all of her interaction with the young man, being one of his class instructors and all, she knew well that despite his uniqueness, he doesn’t really possess all that great of capabilities yet previously.

Previously, that is.

With her gaze lingering on his figure for a few moments, she couldn’t help but feel faint shivers running down her spine as her sharp instincts warns her of something, the young man, despite his defenseless pose sitting and seemingly waiting for today’s lesson, exudes an intense presence that engulfs everything around him.

And it isn’t just mere presence, but something willed, controlled, as the fact alone that the other students around him isn’t capable of feeling such intense will is more than enough of a proof of how much command he has over his own presence.

Still, mages of her caliber are capable of seeing even the deeply hidden, the faint, subservient dance of mana around his figure practically confirming to her that this young man previously just worthy of paying attention to is now growing at an unprecedented degree.

’If he continues growing like this, he will surpass Medea... no, he will surpass most of the staffs before he graduates...’ those thoughts appear in her mind as she muses over the growth of this young man that she can observe.

’How... fascinating...’ had it not been for the report that came to them directly from the rescuers from both the Orionis Family and the Heavenblade Clan, she would’ve assumed that the old Novus was replaced by a rat planted by the people trying to mess up with the academy.

Right now, however, the fact that it isn’t the case just piqued her interest all the more, opting to sate her curiosity later as she knew that with these kinds of talents, taking longer gaze than necessary will only make them realize that they are being observed, being measured.

For what it is worth, she is also among this kind of talent, after all.

’Professor Runia... she’s certainly looking at this direction, isn’t she?’ meanwhile, without her knowledge, Runia’s person of interest had already caught on her measuring him, the young man’s sharp senses alarming him of a monstrous presence’s gaze locking onto him, scrutinizing him as if she can see the entirety of his prowess bare.

His speculation is further confirmed as he met his gaze, a faint smile sprouting on his lips as he respectfully nods, as ignoring the fact that she has such special Unique Magic capable of bending, controlling space, just the raw amount of mana oozing out of her being alone made him immediately decide that, if possible, he never want to be an enemy of her at all.

Realizing that she was caught staring by the young man, Runia couldn’t help but feel even more shocked, as even when she is not that good in stealthy observation among peers of the same level as her, she is still, far stronger than the young man, to the point that assumed she can easily hide her observing gaze.

That was proven not to be the case though from this encounter, causing her to smile wryly as now, she couldn’t help but feel like a weird adult taking a leering look at one of her students, this making her feel a bit of discomfort that she managed to shrug off as she clears her throat.

"Alright, dear students, we know that the incident made most, if not all of you scared, but I am glad... I take it that your presence here means that all of you are already recovering from that~~"

She begins not with a formal greeting nor with the start of her lecture for the day, but rather, with a warm, welcoming and comforting smile seemingly aimed on calming the students’ nerves after all that they went through.

And it seems all too effective as in no time at all, the class begins to turn into the usual, the pressure from the incident gradually becoming dispersed as Runia’s presence commands the flow of the lecture, allowing students to learn while still enjoying themselves.

’She’s not only strong... she’s a great teacher as well...’ seeing her method of teaching the young man Runia previously paid her attention to couldn’t help but remark, truly feeling impressed with how well this lady handled the previous stale air that made the entire class feel lifeless.

’A little duel against monsters like them wouldn’t be so bad, I think...’ with his senses feeling the mana oozing from her being, he couldn’t help but muse the idea, a faint smile appearing on his face as he clenches his fist, excitement gradually coursing through his being as he imagines himself fighting against opponents of the same level as Runia.

Had those thoughts been heard by anyone else, Medea and his absurd mentality included, they would’ve had jaws gaping wide open from shock.

After all, facing such monstrous opponents beyond one’s own strength, most, if not all people’s go to would be flight rather than fight.

Only maniacs who grow through battle would have the idea of trying to fight beings beyond their league.

Knowing that asking a professor to fight him in a duel is just practically impossible however, the young man, Novus, shoves the interesting idea to the back of his mind, shaking his head in a wry smile as he begins paying more attention to the lesson instead.