Bab 76: You'll have to go through me

A few minutes earlier...

The teachers stood just outside the forest, chatting among themselves. There were six of them in total: three Magic Theory teachers and two Weapon Training instructors. Mr. Dan, the Weapon Training teacher for Class 3A, was assigned elsewhere, so a female staff member from the Academy had been sent in his place, bringing their number to six.

If one looked closely, they'd notice each teacher holding a card. These were communication cards that would alert them if any students needed assistance. If a student tapped their card three times, the teacher's card would vibrate and show the student's location.

Since the students entered the forest, none of the cards had vibrated—an encouraging sign that they were faring well.

All the teachers were engaged in conversation, except Riya, who stood silently by the carriage designated for her class. Arms folded, she stared into the forest, her gaze distant.

Then, suddenly—

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion snapped her out of her thoughts. Explosions were common, as students used magic to fend off beasts, but this one...

It was louder.

The other teachers fell silent, frowns deepening as they turned toward the source of the sound.

"Should we check it out?" the white-haired man, who had earlier explained the rules to the students, asked.

The others hesitated until a female teacher spoke up. "It might be worth our attention."

But before anyone else could respond, Riya stepped forward.

"No," she said, voice firm, drawing puzzled looks from the others.

The white-haired man approached her, hands clasped behind his back. "What are you saying, Miss Riya?"

Riya's arms remained crossed, her gaze unwavering. "There's no need to check it out."

Another female teacher frowned. "I disagree. What if a student is in trouble?"

Riya couldn't help but roll her eyes. "You're acting like this is the first explosion we've heard since they entered the forest."

She continued, "If a student were truly in danger, they'd have tapped their card by now. Or do we plan to start panicking every time we hear a boom?"

The teachers went quiet, processing her words. She was right, technically, but still...

"We can't rule out the chance that a student's in trouble," the white-haired man said finally. "It's possible they dropped their card during a fight and can't contact us."

As some of the others nodded, Riya cut in.

"No." Her gaze hardened. "This is an expedition, and I won't let you all interrupt it."

Her eyes locked on the man. "You underestimate the students too much. No one's in trouble."

The man continued staring at her without a single word, while the other teachers seemed confused.

The white-haired man finally made his decision and stepped toward the forest, but—

SHING!

Riya's sword was out in an instant, its edge pointed directly at his throat.

Her cold gaze held him steady. "I strongly suggest you stay put. Back off, Mr. Ben."

The other teachers froze, stunned.

"Miss Riya, what are you doing?" a female teacher demanded.

"Show some respect!" a male teacher added.

The woman substituting for Mr. Dan watched in silence, showing no sign of intervening.

Ben, however, merely chuckled, stroking his white beard. "Riya," he began, "it seems you've grown bold. Bold enough to challenge me, it seems."

His gaze bore into hers. "Do you truly intend to start a fight?"

The wind stirred, growing sharper as the tension between them escalated.

Riya tightened her grip on her sword, narrowing her gaze. In that moment—

BOOM!

A fierce brown Aura erupted around Ben, enveloping him in power. His white hair whipped wildly in the wind as he stared her down.

Riya held her ground, unfazed as her own Aura flared—blue and raging, clashing against Ben's in a battle of sheer force.

The air between them crackled as their Auras collided, swirling like opposing storms. To anyone watching from afar, it was a contest between a blue Aura and a brown Aura.

Ben grinned. "What are you hiding, Riya?" he challenged, his voice low and cutting.

Riya said nothing, her gaze sharp and unyielding.

"Why are you stopping us from entering the forest?" he pressed. "What don't you want us to see?"

From the way Riya was stopping them from entering the forest, it was pretty obvious that she was hiding something.

The teachers backed away, trying to avoid the clash of Auras but still close enough to overhear.

Riya stood firm as the force between them intensified, both Auras refusing to yield.

Ben's patience thinned. His hand went to his sword, drawing it with a sharp, metallic ring.

"ANSWER ME!" he roared, his Aura swelling, pressing down like a tidal wave.

"Tch..." Riya clicked her tongue, a slight frown crossing her face. But then—

WHOOSH!

Her Aura surged, further increasing the pace of the wind. But that wasn't all.

She instantly crouched as she gripped her sword with both hands. Her eyes glowed a fierce blue, radiating an unyielding intensity that matched the raging Aura around her.

"You want to enter the forest?" she asked, her voice cold as the ground cracked beneath her from the sheer force of her Aura.

"..... Then you'll have to go through me."