It was supposed to be one normal day for Principal Victoria, a day where she whimsically decided to investigate a suspicious student who had mysteriously vanished after a catastrophic ident.


    Little did she know that this seemingly routine task would unfold into a surreal and disorienting experience.


    As Victoria set out to find the missing student, her memories became hazy, like broken images fading in and out of focus.


    The attempt to teleport to a specific location left her feeling as if she were floating in the air, and suddenly, she found herself trapped in a golden garden.


    The fields of petals surrounding her were so smooth and soothing that Victoria felt a serene lethargy, as if she could sleep for eternity.


    Beside her stood a man of exceptional beauty and gentleness.


    His presence exuded amanding aura, and despite finding him captivating, Victoria couldn''t recall the details of his face.


    Why was it blurry? What had led her to this golden garden in the first ce?


    These questions nagged at her subconscious as she drifted in a daze.


    Eventually, Victoria woke from her stupor, finding herself back in the real world. She stood in the midst of her students as they diligently took their dungeon exams.


    The vice principal''s criticism echoed behind her, but Victoria struggled to focus. A massive headache added to the confusion, making it difficult for her toprehend the events unfolding around her.


    Before she could make sense of the situation, chaos erupted. The normal day she had anticipated took an unexpected turn, and Victoria found herself at the center of a tumultuous storm.


    Blood was raining, people were dying, and the academy was burning.


    "Principal…!"


    One of her colleagues'' urgent call snapped Victoria out of her thoughts, and she turned to witness a gruesome scene. A bloody red wyverny on the ground, itsrge body and crimson eyes exuding a terrifying presence. The creature''s pained cries echoed like ringing bells, filling the air with a haunting melody.


    Despite the inflicted injuries, the blood wyvern used its remaining strength to create a blood barrier, attempting to defend itself against its aggressors.


    "It''s not dead yet…,"mented Gunther, the head of thebat department. Despite his appearance resembling a mad old man, his knowledge of monster biology was extensive.


    He understood the regenerative abilities of the blood wyvern, noting that the massive hole in its chest would likely heal in a matter of minutes.


    Tsk...! Clicking his tongue in frustration, Gunther contemted the dire situation. Many students had already perished because of the monstrous creature, and several colleagues had sacrificed themselves attempting to restrain it.


    Even Principal Victoria, hailed as an archmage, struggled to fight effectively in the midst of the blood rain that hindered her magical abilities.


    The academy, once a bastion of knowledge and learning, had be a battleground. Gunther grappled with a sense of helplessness, realizing that the situation was spiraling out of control.


    "Calm down, old man!"


    A rowdy yet gentle voice cut through the tension, belonging to Head Professor Camiel of the magic department. She joined the fray, her gaze fixed on the pained blood wyvern below them.


    "That thing can''t move with that giant hole in its chest. Can you cut the barrier, old man?"


    Puffs of smoke erupted from Gunther''s red face.


    "Who are you calling old man, you hag? Tsk… Anyway, I can''t. In fact, no one here can."


    The admission hung heavy in the air, and the shame was palpable among the professors and knights on the scene.


    "Your mages are utterly useless in this bloody rain," Gunther continued, frustration etched in his voice. "The priests and pdins are busy with those demons rampaging right now, and most of the knights are currently helping ensure the citizens and students evacuate safely. We might have a chance if that bloody fool us was still here." Gunther''s annoyance was evident, his realization clear that without a solution, the situation would escte. Once the blood wyvern regenerated fully, their fatigue would render them powerless to stop it.


    The usual divisions among departments dissolved in the face of amon enemy, and the faculty found themselves grappling with their inadequacies.


    With each passing moment, the urgency grew, and the need for a solution became increasingly apparent.


    "Principal, what should we do…?" Camiel''s question hung in the air, and all eyes turned to Victoria, awaiting her guidance.


    Victoria felt the weight of their collective gaze, a pressure unlike any she had experienced in her century-long life. Though she had faced simr expectations before, this time was different. The stakes were higher, and the fate of the school rested on her decision. Ignoring her own personal problems in the moment, Victoria knew that her choice would shape the future of the academy.


    As she surveyed the chaos unfolding in her beloved academy, the ce she had yearned tost her entire lifetime, Victoria couldn''t escape the reality that it was now crumbling into dust. For a half-elf like her, the academy had been more than an educational institution; it was her beacon of hope and the fulfillment of her dream to havepanionship throughout the centuries of loneliness she would face. Now, that hope was fading away.


    Tears slid down Victoria''s cheeks as she watched everything unravel. Not even the relentless blood rain could conceal the tears, especially considering the expression on her face. The weight of responsibility bore down on her, and the emotional toll was evident in her eyes.


    Victoria grappled with the realization that her decisions in this critical moment would determine whether the academy continued to stand or crumbled into the annals of history.


    As Victoria''s tears fell, a collective shiver ran through the onlookers. The sight of the typicallyposed and stoic principal showing vulnerability was jarring. The weight of the moment hung in the air, and a somber silence settled over the group. While it was umon to see Victoria in such a state, everyone present understood the profound significance the academy held for her.


    "Principal, I admire your determination to protect the school, but aren''t you being too bound by it?"


    Suddenly, Victoria''s mind shed back to the sage Haiter''s words. His counsel echoed in her memory, and she found herself whispering, almost to herself.


    ''I''m not bound, nor am I obsessed with this academy…'' Her voice, barely audible, betrayed a deep inner turmoil.


    ''I just love this ce….''


    She looked at everyone with a gravity that mirrored the magnitude of the decision she was about to make.


    The catastrophe unfolding around them,pounded by the involvement of demons and a mysterious group orchestrating the attack, had pushed Estelle Academy to the brink.


    Victoria knew that their actions in theing moments would send ripples across the continent, forever changing the course of events.


    "As of this moment, I dere Estelle Academy as no more!"


    Victoria''s promation hung in the air like a heavy storm cloud, casting a shadow over the once vibrant institution.


    The weight of the decision bore down on her, and she felt the echoes of countless memories, achievements, and dreams that had flourished within the academy''s walls.


    "Everyone, abandon the academy, evacuate the students and citizens! This will be thest day you will call yourselves professors, so make sure to leave with a bang!"


    Despite the gravity of her words, Principal Victoria summoned a forced smile and a goofy demeanor, attempting to reim the charismatic personality that had endeared her to the faculty.


    However, the attempt to mask her emotional turmoil was futile, and the traces of tears still clung to her cheeks.


    Everyone present, though well aware of her inner struggle, chose to focus on the resolve in her eyes rather than the tears on her face.


    Ignoring the contradiction between her words and her emotions, the faculty and staff raised their hands in unison, a collective gesture of acknowledgment.


    As if fueled by the impending finality of their roles as educators, they joined Victoria in screaming at the top of their lungs.


    The echoes of their voices resonated through the crumbling halls, a poignant symphony marking the end of an era.


    Everyone knew after all of this Estelle Academy would be no more.


    ….


    "Where exactly were you?" Euphemia''s inquisitive voice cut through the chaotic atmosphere as we traversed the hallways of Estelle Hall. Her questions were a constant, a familiar part of our interactions. Even amidst the turmoil that had befallen the academy, she maintained herposure surprisingly well.


    "And are you sure we should leave those guys behind?" Her gaze lingered in the direction of herboratory. I could sense the concern in her eyes, not just for the experiments and projects left behind, but for the students who had chosen to stay, paralyzed by fear.


    "Well, we can''t exactly force them toe with us, right? And, long story short, I was in the bathroom when everything happened."


    I offered my excuse, fully aware that it might not be taken seriously. Euphemia responded with a nomittal "hmm" while fixing me with a suspicious stare. However, instead of pressing further, she chose to let it go, a testament to the unspoken understanding between us.


    As we continued to navigate the hallways, Euphemia''s trust in me, even when faced with dubious exnations, struck a chord of worry. While her willingness to ept my words made things easier, the underlying question of why she ced such trust in me lingered.


    ''I feel like I can easily make her join a cult if I just tell her to''


    "What about your maid, is she alright?" I asked, attempting to divert Euphemia''s attention away from the worrying situation at hand.


    "I don''t know… but I''m sure she''s alright. Marie is smart, so I''m sure she already evacuated," Euphemia replied, her head bowed. Despite her reassurance, the anxiety in her eyes betrayed the concern she harbored for her maid. In the midst of the chaos unfolding outside, the chances of Marie''s safety seemed uncertain, and Euphemia, treating Marie like a sister, could only hope for the best.


    "By the way, you said we should escape, but how exactly are we going to?" Euphemia''s question revealed a shift in her focus from the immediate concern for her maid to the pressing issue of their own safety.


    It seemed that the gravity of the situation had finally prompted her to address the critical questions.


    I couldn''t help but feel a twinge of surprise that it took this long for Euphemia to ask such a crucial question.


    "There''s a mass teleportation spell that Be and Aria are preparing right now, alongside some professors. I''m sure they could probablyplete it within 30 minutes or so"


    I informed Euphemia, hoping that the promise of a swift escape would alleviate some of the tension that had gripped her.


    I''m just d Aria took the initiative to cast that spell together with Be, though I was nning to tell Euphemia another lie just in case. Knowing that it''s the truth would save me a ton of questionster.


    ''I guess it was a good choice to stick those two together, Elena should be with Louise right now so she should rtively safe with her spirits around''


    Even though the blood rain interfered with magical activities, the staff in Aria''s hands possessed the capability to counter its effects, ensuring the sess of the teleportation spell.


    As we reached the entrance door, Euphemia hesitated, taking a step back and wrinkling her nose at the nauseating scent of the blood rain.


    The magic-induced rain, though harmless, carried the unmistakable aroma of freshly spilled blood, and its blood-red hue was enough to give anyone pause before stepping outside to be drenched by it.


    Sensing her difort, I tightened my grip on her hands, locking eyes with her and offering reassurance. "It''s okay," I said, hoping to ease her unease.


    The nod of understanding she gave suggested that the reassurance had its desired effect.


    ''I wish she was always this quiet though…''


    With a collective breath, we stepped outside into the ominous downpour. However, our respite was short-lived as monstrous growls immediately echoed around us.


    "GRRRRHGH!!!"


    "Run!"


    Without hesitation, we sprinted as fast as we could, cutting down any monsters that dared to block our path.


    I looked at the crow perched on a tree nearby and smiled.