The Academy's Doomed Side Character

"The hell...?"

This was it. The true artifact wasn’t the dagger itself, but this—the sentient black liquid that lived inside it. It was the core.

I took a cautious step back, but the moment I hesitated, it lunged.

Before I could pull away, the thing latched onto my left arm with a sudden, slick motion. It coiled up, wrapping tightly like a band of cold fire.

"Shit—! Not the arm!"

Summer uniforms were short-sleeved. If this thing left a mark, I was screwed.

Too late.

The black liquid stopped moving and opened what looked like a jagged, snake-like mouth. Then—chomp.

It bit into the back of my hand.

I flinched at the sting, more surprised than hurt, and then... the pain faded.

In its place, a small, glowing mark bloomed on my skin.

A tattoo—dark, almost metallic—formed into the shape of a winged serpent.