The academy grounds were quiet the morning after the festival. Lanterns still floated in the air, and faint traces of laughter lingered in the courtyard. But beneath the calm, a ripple ran through the protective wards surrounding the academy—a subtle disturbance, almost imperceptible unless you were attuned.
Class A had been assigned a routine ward check, meant to teach control and observation. Most students assumed it would be a simple exercise—until the wards began flickering, glowing in unstable pulses of magic.
Casian reacted first. "What the—? This isn't part of the drill!" Flames sparked from his gauntlets as he tried to stabilize a failing ward, only to make it flare further.
Lyra's eyes narrowed. "Stop attacking blindly! Work with the currents, not against them."
Mira floated to my side, staff glowing softly. "Haru… this isn't normal. Help guide them."
I nodded, moving carefully. Silver energy flickered around my hands, forming subtle barriers to redirect unstable pulses away from students and structures. My interventions were quiet, precise, enough to prevent accidents but not draw attention.
Other students tried to improvise, sending chaotic bursts that almost worsened the instability.
I found myself subtly adjusting currents, nudging rogue pulses toward controlled points. Every small correction made a difference, and slowly, the wards began to stabilize.
Mira's soft voice floated through the chaos. "There… that should help. Keep observing, everyone."
The anomaly pulsed one last time, then dissipated, leaving the wards glowing steadily once more. Silence fell over the courtyard. Students were breathing heavily, eyes wide with a mix of awe and fear.
Lyra glanced at me. "You… helped, didn't you?"
I shrugged lightly. "A little."
Casian muttered, flames simmering down. "Grey-eyes again… stepping in like he belongs."
Mira gave me a faint nod. "Control and timing matter more than brute power. Today, you showed both."
Even the quieter students seemed to notice, and some of the competitive ones, like Joren, looked at me with curiosity rather than mockery.
The anomaly wasn't random, Mira added quietly. "Something—or someone—is probing the wards. Likely a lower-level demon. We'll need to report this to the Council."
I stayed silent, letting the lesson sink in. Half angel. Half demon. Dangerous. Unstable.
And already, the world was testing us again.