"What?!" I blurted, my eyes wide in shock.
How did that happen? Who did that to him?
Wait. Could this be why the novel didn't mention him in the first place? Was he just some side character who got killed off at the start of the whole story, maybe for a background event leading up to a main one?
"Yes. Injuries were found on his body, but the authorities are still yet to understand what exactly inflicted such wounds. Plus, he was utterly drained of mana when he was found, and it's likely he must have ingested Necrotox," she said, and my frown only deepened.
Necrotox is an illegal substance which has the ability to render one manaless for a period of time. It completely detaches the connection of the mana veins to the manapool.
"But what about the mana signatures? Couldn't they just trace that?" I asked, since they could also use that method.
"That's the thing—the mana detected from the attacks he received had no signature," she said, and I couldn't believe it.
How is that even possible? It's not. Well, it might somehow be possible if…
"No way. Don't tell me—" I looked at her with wide eyes.
"Well, that's how it appears. Perhaps the assailant has the ability to use atmospheric mana for their attacks," she said, and I just couldn't understand what was going on anymore.
Someone somehow able to use atmospheric mana? That person isn't just going to be OP—they would probably be the most dangerous enemy for someone to face. Using atmospheric mana means two things: one, infinite attacks; two, potent manifestations which equals lethal damage.
"But... how do you even know this?" I asked, and she grinned.
"My sister is a third year," she said, and I understood.
But sister? I never knew she even had a family. The novel never once hinted at a backstory for her.
"So... what's his condition now?" I asked.
"Critical," was her response. "I don't think he will make it," she said, and I sighed.
Well, though I don't really like the guy, that doesn't mean I want him dead.
"Mr. Ryan, how about you?" I heard, then turned to the raised platform where Miss Melina stood. By her side was a bastard I had no love for.
"Ethan," I muttered under my breath, then somehow managed to get Selena's hand off me before standing up and heading down the rows of seats.
"Now we will demonstrate the difference between a high ranker and a low ranker," she said, and I frowned.
Why do I feel like this is a targeted attack? Is she trying to expose my vulnerability? But why?
I reached the platform and she gestured for me to flank her right, just as that bastard Ethan was at her left.
Wait, doesn't the management know I don't have mana? I mean, it was made clear to them by the royal household itself. Though my family no longer shared any ties with me, I am covered as far as school is concerned. And that's because I was registered for the academy at least six years ago, with all my fees paid. That's the only reason I was even able to get into this place without even an ounce of mana—everything had been settled long ago.
So why is she asking me to do this? Wait, don't tell me it's because I wasn't paying attention all along? She can't be that petty... right?
"Now I will give you both a basic spell to chant—it's a fire ball," she said, then looked at the whole class. "Now, as I said before, the demonstration you are about to witness is for you to get a better understanding of how the manapool operates. The purer the core, the bigger the pool. The bigger the pool, the wider the veins. The wider the veins, the more potent your spells."
"Say after me: 'Elemental magic,'" she started, and they both felt their mana stir. "'Flames of Ephynia,'" she said, and they repeated it instantly. A huge fire ball materialized in thin air, hovering just before Ethan. He was shocked at first, but then, watching the awestruck students, he smirked and turned to the teacher. However, instead of the recognition he anticipated, all he saw was her attention elsewhere completely.
Realizing what was happening, he frowned, then turned to see a ball of fire hovering above Ryan.
The fire ball in question was just the size of a clenched fist. However, what seemed to grab the teacher's attention was something else entirely. "Why is it purple?" he thought, echoing everyone's thoughts.