I woke up with the taste of iron flooding my mouth, and a harsh, heavy breath growling right beside my ear—a breath that wasn't mine.
"FINALLY AWAKE, YOU WEAK BRAT!"
My ribs throbbed as my body was hurled into the wall by a force I knew didn't belong to me. The classroom lay in ruins. Desks twisted into magical beasts, warped by wild mana blasting out of my own palms—spells I never cast.
Across the room, Zakier—my teammate—was lying down with scorch marks across his face. His eyes widened in terror.
"Wo-Workner? Why—"
"THAT'S NOT WORKNER ANYMORE!" shouted Sensei Kaizer, his hands already forming a binding spell.
I wanted to scream. To tell them it wasn't me. But my tongue moved on its own, spitting out words that froze my blood:
"I WILL KILL EVERY ELF IN THIS ROOM. STARTING WITH HIM."
My own finger pointed at Zakier—dark green magic gathering at the tip.
That was when I realized this wasn't a fight.
This was a massacre.
And I was going to be the one doing it.
---
"Huh?! What kind of dream was that?" Workner gasped.
Tok… tok… tok.
"This is Zakier. Can I come in?"
"Oh, sure," Workner replied.
"What's up, Zakier?" he asked. "Oh, I just want to borrow your flying staff for today's practice," Zakier said. "Yeah, just take it."
Suddenly, a faint smear of blood appeared on Zakier's face.
Workner's breathing spiraled again.
"Workner, Workner! Snap out of it!"
Workner jolted back to reality.
"What… was that?" he muttered. "You okay?" Zakier asked.
"You should rest today. I'll tell Sensei Kaizer," Zakier said. "It's fine. Don't worry. This happens all the time," Workner answered.
"You sure you're safe like this? If you say so, I'll head to class first." "I said I'm fine," Workner insisted.
"Alright then, see you later," Zakier said as he walked off.
---
"Forget it, Workner… not important. Just focus on your future."
Suddenly he froze.
"Uh… wait… what was her name? How could I forget something like that? Seriously, what kind of person am I?" Workner muttered, trying to remember the woman who kept appearing in his mind.
---
In Class…
Almost everyone stared at Workner with disdain.
Because of the Drawft blood running through his veins.
In this world, there is NO peace between Elves and Drawfts.
He was the class outcast.
"Why am I still trying…? For who…? I don't even know my own family. I can't even remember the person in my own thoughts…" Workner wondered.
"Workner, just give up already. The world was never fair."
"Who said that?!" Workner shouted.
---
"WORKNER!" Sensei Kaizer barked.
"Y-Yes, Sensei…? What is it?" he replied nervously.
"This is it… I'm done for…" he panicked internally.
"Workner, explain the Magic Star to the class."
"Oh… thank goodness. I'm still alive," he sighed inside.
"Ahem, alright… I'll explain the Magic Star."
---
Workner's Explanation:
Magic Stars are divided into three categories:
1. Familiars
Magical creatures summoned by a mage to form a contract. Their loyalty ratio is usually around 40:60.
2. Mythical Magic Beasts
They aren't summoned. They appear on their own to those they deem worthy or trustworthy. Usually found among royalty, like King Vulkranite El Zatrium of the Human Kingdom, who has a Pegasus.
3. Dungeon Magic Beasts
Wild creatures that can distinguish friend from foe. Some live in groups, like Goblins or Red Ogres.
"There's actually a fourth category… but I can't talk about that. That counts as royal-level classified intel," Workner thought.
---
"Good. A very clear and well-structured explanation. You may sit," Kaizer said.
"Whew… lucky that's one of my favorite topics," Workner muttered inside.
The class began whispering:
"He must be getting special treatment from Sensei Kaizer."
Workner was already used to this—being treated like trash.
"I'm sorry, Workner… There's so little I can do for you," Kaizer thought.
---
After Class…
"Workner! Workner!"
Someone called him from a distance.
"Who's that?" Workner wondered.
"Hah… finally, I can talk to you…"