Chapter 5: Classroom
As they strolled through the school corridor, Robert suddenly stopped in front of the notice board, squinting at a freshly pinned announcement.
"Wait... Teacher Maxwell is on leave?" His eyes widened in disbelief as he turned to Raven, a grin already spreading across his face.
"Haha! Your luck's on fire today!" Robert whooped, as if he'd just won the lottery. "Let's finish the homework during the second period."
Without waiting for a response, he burst into laughter and pushed open the door to the second classroom.
The two of them walked past rows of old wooden desks, exchanging waves with classmates before settling into the very last bench by the window. Raven slid his school bag under the desk and took his seat quietly. Robert flopped down beside him, already flipping open his Language book.
"Did you finish memorizing the thirteenth equation table?" Raven asked, pulling out the same book and setting it on the desk.
"I wrapped it up two days ago," Robert said with a proud smirk, "but I still mess up when I try to write it down."
He leaned in a little, lowering his voice. "Wanna go to the Crystal Theatre this evening?"
"No. My sister won't let me." Raven shook his head just as the classroom door creaked open.
An elderly man with neatly combed grey hair and a serene expression entered, clutching a well-used notebook. It was Derrick, the Art teacher.
"Good morning, Sir!" the students chorused as they stood.
"Morning. Please, take your seats," Derrick said with a warm nod, moving to the blackboard.
"Today, I'll show you how to draw an elephant using only circles," he announced.
As Derrick began sketching, the students dutifully opened their drawing books and followed along. Soon after, he asked them to draw something inspired by nature using their imagination.
Raven gripped his colored pencils and carefully began to sketch a scene: a sun rising between two majestic mountains, a winding river flowing through farmland, nourishing crops before spilling into the vast sea.
[Even after eons of time, this picture of nature still hasn't faded.]
Zera's voice echoed in Raven's mind, full of awe.
But Raven didn't respond. He was lost in the quiet act of creation, his hand steady, focused only on shaping the image in his mind.
Meanwhile, Derrick wandered between desks, commenting kindly on the students' work and cracking light-hearted jokes. The room buzzed with laughter and quiet concentration. Time seemed to slip away, and before anyone noticed, the class was over.
"Finish your drawings at home and bring them tomorrow. I'll give extra points based on effort," Derrick announced cheerfully before hurrying out.
As the murmurs of conversation resumed, Robert elbowed Raven.
"Let's knock out the homework now."
He reached into his bag and pulled out their assignments and books. Raven followed suit, placing the Logistic Calculation book on the desk.
"I wonder who the substitute will be today," he mused.
Just then, the classroom door opened again—and Raven's breath caught in his throat.
A pale-skinned woman with an unreadable expression walked in, her long coat trailing behind her. Her presence alone silenced the room.
"Sh*t," Robert whispered, eyes wide. "It's Elizabeth…"
The students stood one by one, their voices blending in unison.
"Good morning, ma'am."
"Morning," Elizabeth replied, her tone neutral as she motioned them to sit. She pulled out the attendance book, clicked her pen open, and began calling names.
Once finished, she stood with a steely expression and said, "Take out your homework and submit it to the front desk. Those who haven't finished it—stand outside."
The class froze.
Slowly, seventeen students stood, heads bowed in shame.
"Seventeen?" Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, visibly disappointed. "Is it that hard to write the thirteenth equation table ten times?"
Her gaze swept the room, then landed on Raven.
"Raven?" she said, visibly surprised. "You too?"
She sighed deeply, shaking her head.
Without protest, Raven and the others filed out, taking position in the hallway. As Elizabeth resumed the lesson inside, some students began to plead from the hallway, trying to recite their tables to earn forgiveness.
"If you can recite the entire thirteenth equation table without a single mistake," she called, "I'll let you back in."
Student after student tried—and failed.
Meanwhile, Raven opened his book and stared at the dense wall of equations. The page seemed to shift, every number and formula etching itself into his brain with unnerving clarity.
'Is this... the Instant Memorize skill?' he wondered.
He barely needed a few minutes.
Inside the classroom, silence returned as another student stumbled and returned to the hallway, defeated.
Raven took a breath.
"May I try, ma'am?"
"Go ahead," Elizabeth said without looking up.
He began to recite.
At first, her attention remained on her book. But as Raven's voice rang out with flawless precision, she paused—and turned to look at him.
'He memorized it? Even most third-grade students would struggle…'
The final number left Raven's lips. The entire classroom was still.
'Last semester, he could barely finish the first half… Could he have awakened something? But that's not possible. This isn't the mainland. The mana density here is too low for that…'
Elizabeth stared at him, brows furrowed.
"You may return to your seat and begin working on the fourteenth equation table," she said.
Then she turned back to the blackboard and resumed the lesson, explaining the underlying principles of the new table.
But Raven wasn't listening out of obligation. He was genuinely absorbed.
'I just memorized the fourteenth table after reading it a couple of times?'
He blinked in disbelief.
Elizabeth noticed his focus and asked, "Raven, how far have you memorized the fourteenth equation table?"
He stood up, unsure of why she was asking—but obeyed and began to recite.
As the list of equations flowed from his mouth, her expression grew more serious.
"…Eidetic memory," she muttered under her breath and slowly stood.
"Raven, come forward."
A strange tension settled in the room. Raven hesitated, then walked to the front of the class.
She gave him a thoughtful look, then gently placed her hand on his head.
"You have an excellent memory. As a reward for your effort, I'll give you something."
She reached for her silver pen, removed it from her table, and tucked it into Raven's shirt pocket.
"This is yours now. Keep working hard."
Then she turned to the others.
"You should all learn from him—and try to surpass him. Class is dismissed. My afternoon period is free, so use your time wisely."
With that, she strode out of the room before anyone could speak.
Though the students were surprised by Raven's abilities, few paid it much mind. But Raven… Raven was deep in thought.
'Why did she call it Eidetic Memory? Or was it something else?'
He forced the thought away and focused on the remaining lessons. But as class after class ended, one thing became increasingly clear:
'I can recall everything the teachers said. Every word. Every blackboard formula. This ability… It's real.'
…
Meanwhile…
Elizabeth entered a two-story guesthouse nestled within the quiet streets of the Noble District.
The moment she stepped inside, soft, white crystals embedded in the walls flared to life, casting a gentle glow across the spacious living room.
She passed the sofas and a polished coffee table, her footsteps silent on the wooden floor, and approached a side table where a peculiar wristwatch lay.
She slipped it onto her left hand and whispered in a foreign tongue, "Activate CoreCirclet 45355325."
The watch shimmered blue and played a short, harmonic chime. Moments later, a translucent screen projected into the air, displaying a peculiar sight—an animated image of a talking mouse.
"Hello, my beautiful Eli," the mouse said with a wink. "It's been a while."
"So, why did you activate me, my darling? Need my assistance already?" the mouse-like artifact chirped playfully.
"I might've found a potential seed," Elizabeth replied, her tone solemn. "Connect me to Father. Now."
"That fast?" The mouse blinked in surprise and spun toward a hovering blue icon shaped like a human head. "Have you checked the seed's affinities?"
"I haven't," she answered flatly.
The mouse tapped the icon with its tiny paw. A stream of unfamiliar characters flashed across the air before pausing at a single word: Dad.
An invisible pulse of magic radiated from the watch on Elizabeth's wrist—an encoded frequency designed to pierce vast distances.
Moments later, the holographic display flickered, reshaping into the image of a man in his fifties. His face bore the pale-white skin, long white hair, and amber eyes that marked their bloodline. Though his features were worn, his presence remained imposing.
His expression shifted—distant, cautious, unreadable.
His lips moved, but no sound came.
Then, two seconds later, his voice arrived.
"Elizabeth? Can you hear me? How are you doing these days?"
"I found a potential seed, Father," she said without hesitation. "May I return now?"
"Calm yourself," he replied after a brief delay. "Tell me about the seed."
"Raven. Age five. Lives with his sister and aunt. I haven't confirmed his affinities, but I'm fairly certain he awakened the Dawn Goblin's Eldritch Memory skill."
A moment passed in silence. Then the man's eyes gleamed.
"Eldritch Memory, hmm? An excellent bloodline ability. The Family Head might covet it for himself. But you'll need to find one more seed. One seed alone earns you 100 contribution points at the Academy, yes—but that won't be enough for your promotion. And if you choose to share your points with our family's two geniuses, you'll be left with only twenty to thirty."
Elizabeth's face darkened.
"Twenty to thirty? But the Patriarch promised I could keep half. Is he backing out now?" she asked coldly.
"You misunderstand, child." Her father's voice softened. "I'm only allocating some points to your elder brother. If he breaks through to the Radiant Wizard realm, the Academy will funnel more resources into our House. He's promised to assist you in return—and he's already reached the Ninth Circle of the Acolyte stage."
Elizabeth clenched her fists, jaw tightening. After a breath, she nodded.
"I understand."
"And what of your own progress? Have you advanced in the past decade, or are you still stuck at Fifth Circlet Acolyte?"
A bitter smile tugged at her lips.
"I advanced to Sixth Circlet two years ago, Father."
"Hmph. Still leagues behind your brother." A long sigh escaped him. "Why don't you quit Wizardry altogether? You could run the potion shop in the capital. Your affinities are barely intermediate—some even lower."
"I'm doing what I can," she replied, her voice firm. "But this isn't the time to give up."
"Then find another seed," he ordered. "And get close to this Raven child. Once his academic contract ends, we may induct him into the family. A promising servant."
Elizabeth forced a nod.
"Our members found five other potential seeds in the Baron's neighboring towns—children from merchant and knight families. All showed remarkable skill in battle."
"What town are you in now?"
"Darkcross, a town of Baron Alexander's. We tried to stir things, but the Baron's lands remain... too peaceful. With the Royal Family and Crows' Misery's wizards watching, Velvet Eclipse can't make open moves. One misstep, and we'll lose everything."
"If you find two seeds, you'll return with over sixty contribution points. That's enough to secure resources and complete your Zero-Tier Spell Models. Perhaps even break through to Radiant in a decade."
"I understand," Elizabeth whispered, and cut the transmission.
Silence hung in the air.
In the end, I'm just another pawn to be used and discarded, she thought bitterly, turning toward the kitchen in quiet disappointment.
…
Evening fell.
As usual, Athena picked up Raven from school. After helping him with homework, she busied herself in the kitchen preparing dinner.
Meanwhile, Raven retreated to the bedroom, quietly asking, "Are you still there?"
[Yes, Raven. And from now on, call me 'Zera.']
"Okay." Raven nodded and took out a sleek silver quill from his bag—not a feathered one, but a cylinder with a fine nib at the tip.
"My teacher gave this to me today!" he beamed. "She praised me for memorizing the fourteenth equation. Said I'm the only one who got it right. This pen holds ink inside the barrel—no need to dip it."
[You're in high spirits today, I see. But starting tomorrow, you must hide your abilities.]
Raven blinked. "Why? Shouldn't I keep learning?"
[It's not about learning—it's about perception. A child who masters all of elementary school in one month? That's no longer a genius. That's a threat. People fear what they don't understand.]
"But my teachers are kind! No one can trick me," he pouted.
[Even kind people can make cruel choices when frightened. Today, Elizabeth sees you as intelligent and hardworking. However, if you continue to showcase your impressive memory skills, others may start relying on you. Be cautious.]
Raven fell silent, lips pressed tight.
[Anyway, there's something more important we need to discuss.]
"More important?" he asked, tilting his head.
[Yes. It's about your fractured soul. After analyzing it further, I believe there's a way to heal you, using the Bloodline Devouring System. But we'll need Bloodline Essence, even from a Mutated Magical Beast. And that's no easy task. So for now, we'll train your body.]
"I can become a Knight?" Raven's eyes sparkled.
[It's similar—but superior. However, once you devour a Bloodline Essence, this training won't work anymore. Your body will change, and new rules will apply.]
Raven yawned. "I don't get it…"
[Haa… forget it for now. You're still too young to start training. I'll figure something else out.]
A pause.
[Say, Raven. How about preparing a little gift for your sister's birthday?]
"A gift?" His face lit up. "You have something? Can I see it now?"
[No, those three things you received from the Golden Chest are the only material rewards I can give you right now.]
Raven's eyes widened. "Where are they? Can I use them yet?"
Zera chuckled softly.
A faint blue icon appeared in front of his eyes, different from the usual status window. It displayed twenty square slots. Only one glowed blue; the rest shimmered ominously in red.
[Your rewards are stored in Inventory Slot-1. You have access to twenty slots, but opening more would strain your soul. Just focus on the blue box.]
Raven did—and in a blink, his mind linked to an empty void.
Floating inside were three items: an iron spear, a monocle, and a small vial.
[You can materialize them with a simple thought.]
As Zera spoke, Raven reached out with his mind. A moment later, the Iron Spear materialized before him and fell into his hands.
And then—onto the bed with a loud thud.
"Whoa! That's heavy… Can I sell it?"
[If you try, I'll personally crown you the Number One Idiot of the Era.]
Raven laughed nervously. "J-Just kidding."
[Now take out the monocle.]
He complied, holding the monocle up.
"How do I use this?"
[Put it over your left eye. Then look at the spear.]
He slid it on.
And gasped.
…
[Name: Frozen Ender (Sealed)]
Rank: Common (Evolve)
Experience Comprehension: 0%
Description: None
Unique Skill:
Rank-1 Skill: Frozen Lance (Locked)
→ [Requirement: User must master Basic Spear Mastery and activate Basic Aura]
…