The morning sun illuminated Aurelius Academy, casting golden light across the countless marble buildings and towering pillars that stretched toward the sky.

Students moved through the wide stone pathways while instructors supervised various training sessions throughout the campus. For most students, it was another ordinary school day.

For Chloe, it was a nightmare.

She sat in the back row of the Class D classroom, staring at her own hands. She felt like her body didn’t belong to her anymore, and every beat of her heart sent energy through her veins.

Her muscles felt lighter and her hearing sharper. She could hear pages turning three rows away, birds singing and chirping outside the windows, and even the instructor’s breathing at the front of the room.

It was overwhelming, and she slowly reached for her notebook.

CRRRRK.

Her fingers accidentally dug into the leather cover. Chloe immediately let go, her eyes widening.

"Oh no..."

She quickly hid it under her desk. Fortunately, nobody saw it, at least she hoped nobody had.

She swallowed nervously, thinking of last night’s event, the moonlight, the crimson eyes, and the voice.

Everything felt unreal, yet every sensation inside her body reminded her that it had happened.

She was different now. She was still herself, but different, and then there was this feeling that kept surfacing.

A strange urge, like a restless tide: part of her wanted to sit quietly and study, while another part wanted to run, move, and fight.

It wasn’t bloodlust. It was excitement, like her body had suddenly discovered that movement itself was enjoyable.

She had never understood why the vanguard students enjoyed combat so much.

Now, she was beginning to understand, and it was dangerous and strangely exciting.

She clenched her fists beneath the desk, trying to calm herself.

"Calm down... Just act normal."

At the front of the room, the instructor adjusted his glasses.

"Today’s lesson will be a simple mana circulation exercise."

He gestured toward a heavy iron sphere sitting on a pedestal.

The orb was almost half a meter wide and covered in runic engravings.

"Nothing difficult. We will proceed one student at a time."

One by one, students walked forward, and each placed a hand on the orb.

A soft blue glow appeared, and they returned to their seats. Everything was normal.

Then...

"Chloe Arwen."

She froze. She felt the entire classroom turn toward her.

Chloe slowly stood up. Her legs felt light, and she carefully walked down the stairs until she reached the pedestal.

The instructor smiled.

"Relax. Just release a small amount of mana."

Chloe nodded nervously.

"Y-Yes, sir."

She took a deep breath and placed her hand on the iron orb.

At that exact moment, someone behind her accidentally dropped a book.

THUD.

The loud sound startled her, and her heart skipped.

A surge of adrenaline shot through her body, and instantly her Dhampir instincts reacted.

BOOM.

A dense pulse exploded from her palm.

CRACK.

The entire iron orb shattered down the middle, and fragments flew across the room.

Several pieces bounced across the floor, and the instructor stumbled backward in shock.

Everyone froze.

Absolute silence filled the class, and Chloe stared at her own hand. Her face slowly turned pale.

"No, no, no, no, no..."

She quickly pulled her hand back.

"I-I’M SORRY!"

She bowed repeatedly.

"I think it was already damaged!"

"I-I didn’t mean to!"

Nobody spoke.

The instructor simply stared at the destroyed orb, then at Chloe, and watched her with narrowed eyes.

This can’t be possible, he thought. He knew who Chloe was. She was just a support student.

A support student with a Frost-Whiskered Otter.

There was no way she possessed enough strength to shatter academy iron. Something wasn’t adding up.

But Chloe was already panicking. She looked like she was about to cry.

The instructor sighed.

"Return to your seat."

"Y-Yes, sir."

She hurried back.

Then a cold voice echoed inside her head.

"Idiot girl."

She almost jumped.

"Your body is no longer human. You need to control your fear or it will react with your mana."

"If you continue this, the academy faculty will watch you."

Chloe immediately recognized the voice. It was her weird master’s voice, and she swallowed hard.

"S-Sorry..."

The voice answered instantly.

"Do not apologize to me."

"Learn."

"Your muscles are denser. Your senses are stronger. Compress your power instead of releasing it."

"Adapt."

Then the voice disappeared, and Chloe lowered her head.

She didn’t know why, but somehow being scolded made her feel calmer. Maybe because someone understood what was happening to her.

She wasn’t alone anymore.

...

Hours later, the lunch bell echoed throughout Aurelius Academy.

Students poured into the massive courtyard, and Chloe hurried toward her usual meeting spot.

Under a silver-leaf tree, Lina and Mei were already sitting on a stone bench.

Lina smiled.

"Chloe!"

Chloe smiled back.

"Hi."

She sat beside them and immediately became nervous, because Snowy was sitting inside Lina’s carry bag.

The tiny rabbit was resting comfortably with his paws tucked beneath his body, looking cute and adorable.

Yet Chloe’s heartbeat immediately sped up. It was him; she could feel the strange connection between them.

She couldn’t stop staring, and slowly Qhuin opened one eye.

Their gazes met, and then his voice echoed inside her mind.

’Control yourself. You are staring.’

Chloe immediately looked away, and her face turned red.

Lina blinked.

"Hmm?"

"Chloe, are you okay?"

"N-Nothing!"

Mei laughed.

"You’re acting weird today."

Chloe laughed awkwardly.

"N-No, I’m not."

Inside the carry bag, Qhuin simply closed his eyes again.

For now, everything was proceeding according to plan.

Then...

A shadow suddenly covered their table, and a cheerful voice echoed above them.

"Oh, my~"

They all looked up.

Assistant Professor Elizabeth stood behind them, her white robes fluttering gently in the breeze.

Beside her, Aurelion, the majestic Sun-Winged Griffin, tilted its head while observing the three girls.

Elizabeth giggled.

"My, my. What an interesting little group."

She smiled warmly, then her eyes landed on Chloe, and for just a moment, something flashed inside those sky-blue eyes.

Inside her sleeve, a tiny holy compass vibrated violently.

Elizabeth hid it perfectly. Nobody noticed except Qhuin.

Inside the carry bag, his ruby eyes slowly opened.

The game had begun again.

Elizabeth leaned closer with her usual sweet smile.

"Oh, little Chloe, I just heard a fascinating rumor."

Her voice remained gentle, almost motherly.

"It seems a quiet little support girl suddenly shattered an iron testing orb today."

She tilted her head.

"What exactly did you eat for breakfast?"

Chloe instantly froze, and the beating of her heart exploded.

Beside her, Lina looked confused, and Mei blinked in surprise.

Inside the carry bag...

Qhuin’s ruby eyes glowed.

’This woman found a new hobby, or what? Weird.’

She wasn’t after Lina this time, but Chloe.