Lucien entered Class S quietly, making sure to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. He moved to an empty seat near the back and sat down.
He had no interest in dealing with the hero's party or the antagonists today.
System: [Wow. Such stealth. Much low-key. Truly, the art of "let me exist in peace."]
Lucien: (Just let me sit down without drama, damn it.)
As he settled in, the door opened, and their instructor strode in.
A tall, imposing man in his mid-forties, with sharp golden eyes and jet-black hair streaked with silver, entered the room.
His presence alone commanded absolute attention.
Cedric Nightbane—the instructor of Class S.
"Good morning, everyone," Cedric said in a deep, authoritative voice. "Congratulations to the ten new students who have joined Class S. You've proven yourselves to be the best of the best."
His gaze swept over the class before continuing.
"For now, I have an important announcement."
Everyone straightened up, expecting something intense.
Cedric crossed his arms. "You all have a two-week break. The academy will be closed during this time."
Lucien blinked.
Wait. That's it?
Leon looked frustrated. "Sir, shouldn't we be training instead?"
Cecilia nodded. "A break seems unnecessary."
Cedric's sharp gaze landed on them. "Training is important, but so is rest. Take this time to recover, reflect, and prepare. You will need it."
The room fell silent.
Lucien, meanwhile, was having an entirely different reaction.
System: [CONGRATULATIONS! You survived your first day in Class S and won an all-expenses-paid trip back home!]
Lucien: (That's not a reward, that's a punishment…)
System: [Ah, yes. Nothing strikes more terror into a man's heart than the phrase: "You're going home."]
Lucien sighed. He barely even remembered his home.
His memories of the Zephyr household were blurry and fragmented—a side effect of his reincarnation.
Still, he had no choice.
Tomorrow, he would return to the Zephyr estate.
__
The next morning, Lucien prepared for his trip.
Umbra sat on his shoulder in shadow form, watching as Lucien packed his belongings.
"Umbra, you're staying hidden while we're at the estate."
Umbra yawned. "Fine. But only because I don't want to deal with humans."
System: [Look at this. One week in Class S and you're already sneaking around like a criminal.]
Lucien ignored it.
As he left the academy grounds, he felt a strange unease.
Why did he feel like stepping into his own home was going to be more dangerous than Class S?
To be continued…