Chapter 246 - 254. His treat
"It’s deeply troubling. Utterly unheard of!" said Pangani, a sharp-tongued second-year instructor, sitting restlessly on a chair with crossed arms. Her brows were furrowed after hearing Madam Sarah’s report about Anna.
"In my 463 years of living," began Mrs. Lawson, the Principal, her tone serene but edged with ancient pride, "I’ve never seen a crystal turn black during assessment. But that doesn’t mean we should panic. The world changes. Magic changes. I’ve lived through empires rising and falling, through eras before mana-scripts and all these modern magic gadgets people use these days."
"Yes, yes, Madam Principal," Pangani interrupted, waving a hand. "We know you were around when dragons used scrolls instead of claws. Just spare us the history lesson. What makes you so sure this isn’t a problem? Having a crystal turning black?"
Lawson sighed, brushing a strand of silver-blonde hair behind her long, pointed ear. "If I had to guess... it could mean the girl’s been touched by a lesser god. After all, they manifest often. New ones are born out of belief and power shifts every now and then. If we truly want answers, we should search for similar incidents across realms. Maybe there are people who’ve gone through the same case. Trace the divine fingerprint, so to speak."
Pauline, a statuesque woman in her late thirties with an ever-impeccable look and the bluntness of a war hammer, scowled. "With all due respect Madam Principal. Your ’divine theory’ reeks of nonsense. Gods grant their favor to those who reflect their virtues. That girl’s a healer. If she had divine favor, she’d be glowing with light magic or aome warm healing like or whatever. Not drenched in some eerie shadow."
Madam Sarah sat silently to one side, listening to the two ladies having a debate about her student. Pauline was beautiful, fierce, and brutal with words. She was the type of person who never sugarcoated a single thought, and most people knew better than to challenge her unless they wanted to be chewed up and spat out.
"So what do you think it is, genius?" Mrs. Lawson asked, casually toying with the tips of her elvish ears.
Pauline flicked her orange hair over her shoulder. "I don’t know. I don’t have the faintest idea."
Sarah raised a brow. "Really? All that fire and no theory to back it?"
"Nope!" Pauline replied bluntly, unapologetically. "I don’t speculate without evidence. It often leads to confusion and failures! But one thing I am sure of for certain is: that girl’s power didn’t come from a god. If anything, it reeks of something darker. Something thats neither a god, nor a human. Maybe it’s the devil himself."
Sarah stood with a groan. "Oh, here we go. Please don’t start with that ancient demon lore. The devil’s been sealed for millennia by the goddess Veyra. Everyone knows that tale. He and his demonic spawn are locked away beyond the realm of touch currently known as the demon realm, and none of them could escape. Even if he did, do you think he broke free just to gift some random girl edgy powers? Thats ridiculous. This isn’t some kid’s fantasy comic."