Max woke face-down on his desk with a noise that could only be described as a drowned walrus snoring into a keyboard.
His head throbbed not painfully, but like something had been rearranged inside his skull.
Brain software update complete.
Probably.
Dragging himself upright, he shuffled into the bathroom and splashed cold water over his face.
For a moment, he just stared at his reflection.
Then he blinked.
His eyes once brown were now a pale storm-gray.
"…Okay. That's new."
A soft chime sounded in his head.
Scan Complete.
Silent Casting Unlocked.
[Name: Max]
[Level: 1]
[Title: Advanced Human]
[Exp: 20/50]
[Age: 19]
[Health: 5/5]
[Strength: 10]
[Speed: 8]
[Mana: 9/10]
[Magic Points: 1]
Max stared.
"I have levels…?"
He reached toward the floating screen, and with a thought, it vanished.
A new window replaced it.
Spell Identified: Scan (Tier D).
Activates dormant areas of the mind, allowing hidden information to become visible.
Warning: Spell output may be unpredictable.
"Tier D?" Max muttered. "Ancient brain-awakening spell and I get the budget version? Amazing."
Still… a power was a power.
And if this place practically encouraged chaos, then information might be the strongest weapon of all.
His curiosity flickered.
Rules said not to roam at night.
Which, of course, meant he was definitely going to roam at night.
Max crept out of his room, keeping his footsteps soft. The dorm halls were dim, lit only by floating blue orbs. He moved past Henry's office and risked a peek inside.
[Henry]
Leader of Boys Dormitory
Status: REM Sleep (Drooling)
Max grinned.
"This spell is going to get me in so much trouble."
On a table sat a bowl of fruit. Because apparently magic schools also cared about dietary fiber.
He scanned it.
[Banana] — contains potassium. Good job.
[Apple] — stop scanning fruit.
Max squinted at the apple.
"…Rude."
He slipped silently out the front doors and into the night.
The air was cool, fresh, and unsettlingly quiet. Moonlight poured over marble walkways and tall towers, giving the academy an eerie yet beautiful glow.
Perfect atmosphere for bad decisions.
Max circled toward the library massive, gothic, and guarded by a keypad-locked back entrance.
He whispered, "Scan."
A glowing message appeared.
[Security Door]
Alarm triggers after hours without authorization.
Password required: ?????
Also: You don't need to whisper spells. Just think.
Max blinked.
"…Thanks for the sarcasm, mysterious spell."
He leaned closer, trying to figure out the code.
That was when the world exploded.
BANG.
BANG.
BANG.
Three bolts of lightning slammed into the wall inches from his head, throwing sparks across the courtyard.
Max turned slowly.
Professor Spark stood behind him lightning dancing up her arm, wild grin on her face.
"Well well," she said, voice dangerously cheerful, "I wondered which idiot would be first to break curfew.
Congratulations. it's you."
Max froze.
"…Professor Spark?"
She twirled a finger, electricity spiraling around it like a ribbon.
"Correct! But since we're outside class…" She winked.
"…Call me Amy."
Max's entire soul screamed.
"W-wait—what did you say—"
ZAP.
Lightning slammed into his legs.
He hit the ground instantly twitching, numb, feeling like someone shoved him into a porcupine made of static and regret.
His health bar flickered into view.
[HP: 1/5]
"Oh come on!"
Amy lifted her hand again not to aim at him this time, but at the sky.
Lightning shot upward, branching into fireworks of crackling blue and violet light.
She exhaled, admiring her own bolts like fine art.
"Beautiful, isn't it? Lightning is passion. Power. Precision. Also great for teaching lessons."
Max wheezed. "A-aren't you supposed to protect us?"
Amy glanced down at him.
"Oh, I am. I stopped you from setting off the alarm. You're welcome."
She knelt beside him, grin softening not kind, but sincere.
"Listen, Max. Curiosity is good. Recklessness? Better. But timing?"
She tapped his forehead.
"That's survival."
She turned to leave but paused.
"Next time," she added over her shoulder, "don't get caught."
Then her voice dropped to a whisper that felt colder than the night air.
"And let's hope tonight wasn't your last mistake."
Footsteps echoed.
Not hers.
Dozens of them.
Closing in.
Max's eyes widened.
"Well," he muttered, barely able to move, "that's a bad sign."