Let's Train Heroine

The academy remained in lockdown, preventing any students or teachers from leaving. Fortunately, the academy had sufficient facilities to accommodate everyone overnight, including food provisions.

The families of the students had sent servants, and after lengthy arguments and discussions, all parties agreed to let the students stay at the academy. The students themselves also agreed, knowing that any attempt to leave would raise suspicion, so no one dared to try.

Lucan, Maris, Xue Lan, Elise Brightwood, Grayson, and Lila Winters, all relatively new teachers, were assigned to monitor the students for any suspicious behavior while ensuring their safety. Their task was to identify if any student was responsible for the incident, while also keeping an eye out for other potential threats.

Meanwhile, senior teachers and the principal were focused on analyzing the gas, trying to determine its origin and working on an antidote in case it was used again. Others were using magic to search for clues.

In a small, dimly lit conference room within the academy, the five teachers sat around a polished wooden table, their faces marked with varying degrees of concern. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the magical wards surrounding the academy, ensuring no one could leave or enter without permission.

Lucan leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest. His mind raced, piecing together the events of the past few days and trying to anticipate Mordecai's next move.

He knew who the culprit was. This event had occurred in the game, but due to his actions, the game's events had changed. Now, he was in uncharted territory, unsure of what Mordecai would do next.

He could reveal the culprit, but without evidence, his claims would be dismissed. Mordecai had erased all traces of his involvement, making it difficult to catch him. Lucan needed evidence before confronting him. For now, he had to act as a responsible teacher who knew nothing, concerned only for the students' well-being.

Across from him, Xue Lan sat with her hands clasped in her lap, her expression worried. The usually cheerful Elise was uncharacteristically subdued, her eyes downcast as she absentmindedly twirled a strand of her blonde hair. Grayson studied a map of the academy laid out on the table, while Lila adjusted her glasses, her sharp gaze flickering between her colleagues.

"It seems we've all been thrust into this rather suddenly," Grayson began, breaking the silence. "But the sooner we figure out what's going on, the sooner we can restore order and safety."

"Agreed," Lucan said calmly. "The students are understandably anxious, and it's up to us to keep them reassured. We also need to watch for anything unusual."

Lila nodded thoughtfully. "We have to consider that the culprit might be blending in with the students. They could be anyone—a teacher, a senior student, or even someone posing as one of us."

Elise looked up, her brow furrowed with concern. "It's hard to believe that someone we know, or have been working alongside, could be behind this. But we can't afford to be naive. We need to be vigilant."

Xue Lan glanced around the table, her eyes settling on each of her colleagues in turn. "We also need to be careful about how we conduct ourselves. If the students see us panicking or doubting each other, it will only add to their fear. We need to present a united front."

Lucan nodded, appreciating Xue Lan's insight. "You're right. But we also have to be realistic. We need to stay on high alert and watch each other's backs."

Grayson leaned forward, pointing to several marked locations on the map. "I've been thinking about how we can divide the areas we need to monitor. It's important we cover as much ground as possible, without leaving any gaps."

Lila examined the map, her analytical mind quickly assessing the plan. "We can rotate our patrols, varying our routes and timings. That way, if anyone's watching us, they won't be able to predict our movements."

Elise added, "And we should also make sure to keep the students busy. If they're engaged in their studies or activities, it'll be easier to keep them under supervision without raising suspicions."

Lucan agreed. "It's a solid plan. We'll need to be subtle in our observations. We don't want to spook the students or tip off the culprit."

Xue Lan sighed softly, still concerned for the students' well-being. "It's a fine line to walk. We're protecting them, but we also have to be wary of them. It's not a comfortable position to be in."

Grayson nodded. "True, but we're the first line of defense here. The academy is relying on us to keep things under control until we find the culprit."

Lila crossed her arms, her expression steely. "We'll do what we have to. But we should also stay in close communication with each other. If anyone notices anything—no matter how small—it could be the clue we need."

Elise looked around the room, drawing strength from the determination she saw in her colleagues. "We'll get through this. We just have to stay focused."

Lucan stood, signaling the end of their meeting. "Let's stick to the plan and stay sharp. We'll meet again tomorrow to review any findings. In the meantime, keep your eyes and ears open."

---

Maris stood in a shadowed corner of the room, gently turning an apple over in her hand. The soft glow of the dim light reflected off its red skin, casting a muted shimmer on her pale fingers. She brought the fruit to her lips, taking a small, deliberate bite. The crisp sound of her teeth breaking through the apple's surface was sharp in the otherwise silent room.

Her gaze never wavered from Mordecai. He was bent over his workbench, the sleeves of his dark robe pushed up to his elbows, revealing long, sinewy forearms. His movements were methodical, almost mechanical, as he carefully measured out a fine powder and added it to a beaker filled with an iridescent liquid. The mixture hissed softly, releasing a faint wisp of smoke that curled lazily into the air.

Maris chewed slowly, savoring the sweetness of the apple, her eyes fixed on the dark-haired man. Mordecai's face was set in a mask of concentration, his brow furrowed and lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't notice her presence, his focus entirely on the concoction before him, oblivious to the quiet observer in the room.

The juice from the apple trickled down the corner of Maris's mouth, and she wiped it away with the back of her hand, still watching. The beaker's contents began to bubble, the liquid shifting from iridescent to a deep, ominous purple. Mordecai leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing as he watched the reaction.

Another bite, another quiet crunch. Maris leaned slightly against the wall, her posture relaxed, though her eyes remained sharp. She swallowed, the sound barely audible over the gentle clinking of glassware and the bubbling of Mordecai's experiment.

He moved with careful precision, lifting a small vial of dark liquid and holding it over the beaker. His hand hesitated for a moment, as if considering something, then with a slow, deliberate motion, he tilted the vial and allowed a single drop to fall into the mixture.

The reaction was immediate. The liquid frothed violently, sending a thick plume of dark smoke billowing upwards. Mordecai stepped back, watching with an intense expression, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his features.

Maris took another bite of her apple, the crunch echoing softly in the stillness of the room. Her eyes never left Mordecai, not even as the last traces of the reaction faded away, leaving the room in an eerie, charged silence.

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