Adrian’s head drooped lower with each passing moment, his eyelids heavy as lead. His gaze blurred, the professor’s voice morphing into a monotonous hum that pulled him further into a drowsy fog. His quill hovered over his notebook, the page littered with fragmented sentences and haphazard scribbles.

  Stay awake. Focus. You can do this, he urged himself, but his thoughts swirled sluggishly. His chin dipped forward, and a sharp jolt snapped him upright as his head collided with his chest.

  Next to him, Alisha leaned over and jabbed him sharply in the ribs. “Adrian,” she whispered, "wake up, or you’ll be a sitting duck for the professor.”

  Adrian groaned softly, his lips curling into a weak scowl. “I’m not sleepy,” he mumbled, head tipping to one side, propped against his hand as though it weighed more than he could bear.

  Alisha’s eyes sparkled with playful disbelief. “Not sleepy? Right…” Her gaze flicked toward the front of the room, her teasing smirk fading. “What did you do last night? Seems like you didn't sleep at all."

  “Nothing,” Adrian replied quickly, the word tumbling out as he slumped onto his desk. His cheek pressed against the cool wood, and he let out a quiet sigh.

  Alisha arched an eyebrow. “Nothing? Sure looks like a whole lot of ‘nothing’ is wearing you out.”

  "Well I—"

  The professor’s voice cut through their hushed exchange like a blade. “Adrian.”

  He froze, stomach twisting into knots. The soft yet commanding tone carried a weight that immediately silenced the low murmur of the\ classroom.

  “Am I interrupting your… rest?” The professor asked, her eyes locking onto him with an intensity that made his skin prickle.

  Ripples of muffled laughter broke out across the room, stifled behind hands and suppressed smirks. Adrian’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson as he sat ramrod straight, gripping the edge of his desk like it might keep him from sinking into the floor. “I—uh—no, Professor Hale. I was just… concentrating really hard.”

  “Concentrating, you say? Then perhaps you can demonstrate this focus for the class.” Professor Hale turned toward the chalkboard, her heels clicking against the stone floor, and gestured to the intricate diagram scrawled across it. Symbols, circles, and angular lines crisscrossed in a dizzying display of transmutation theory. “Adrian, explain the fundamental principle behind this array. Specifically, how the energy flow remains stable despite the dual-aspect components.”

  Adrian’s mouth went dry. The diagram loomed like an insurmountable wall, every line mocking his drowsy brain. His classmates’ muffled giggles and whispered commentary buzzed in his ears, fueling the heat crawling up his neck.

  Focus, Adrian. You know this. This is all very basic information in the grand scheme of things.

  He cleared his throat, willing his voice not to crack. “The energy flow remains stable because… the dual-aspect components act as balance regulators. They function to offset the natural polarity shift caused by the primary array. By integrating opposing elemental properties, like fire and water aspects, the system maintains equilibrium without overloading.”

  A brief silence followed his explanation, broken only by the sound of Professor Hale folding her arms. Her lips quirked in a faint, approving smile. “Impressive, Adrian. You’re more attentive to our little transmutation class than I gave you credit for.”

  The room’s collective surprise was almost palpable. Adrian straightened in his seat, a spark of pride momentarily overriding his exhaustion.

  “However,” Professor Hale continued, her tone cooling slightly, “if you’re planning to continue your ‘focused’ studies, I suggest you take a moment to wake yourself properly. Go wash your face and return once you’re fully prepared to engage with the lesson.”

  Adrian hesitated, glancing at Alisha, who gave him a knowing smirk. “Yes, Professor,” he mumbled, rising from his seat. The murmurs resumed as he stepped into the aisle and trudged toward the door.

  The hallway was blissfully quiet, its cool air brushing against his flushed cheeks. Adrian let out a long breath, rubbing his eyes as he made his way toward the nearest washroom. I need to give Principal Faesbane a piece of my mind when I get the chance. Late night quests or missions were only fine when I didn't have morning classes.

  Once inside, he approached the closest sink and splashed cold water on his face, the icy shock jolting him fully awake. He gripped the edge of the sink, droplets sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto the basin. Alright, that should be enough.

  He straightened and wiped his face with his sleeve before heading back into the corridor. Just keep moving. No more distractions.

  Yet his thoughts scattered as the sharp clack of heels echoed against the stone walls, pulling his gaze forward. His steps faltered, and he blinked in surprise. A girl with striking violet eyes and hair that shone like amethyst in the sunlight was approaching from the opposite direction.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Her hair, cut neatly into a bob, framed her sharp features. She wore a high-collared white blouse with intricate ruffles and a black ribbon tie, layered under a sleek black jacket that fit her like it had been tailored for a queen.

  Her gaze flicked toward him, sharp and discerning, and a faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. “Well, well. What have we here? A lost lamb wandering the halls?”

  Adrian exhaled sharply, his lips curling into a faint smile despite his weariness. “Natasha, of all the people I thought I might run into tonight, you were nowhere on the list.”

  Natasha stopped a few paces away, one hand resting casually on her hip. “And yet here I am, you should feel honored.”

  Adrian couldn’t help but roll his eyes, though his grin lingered. She hasn’t changed a bit. “Honored? That’s a stretch. But I guess I should congratulate you for not getting lost in this place.”

  Her expression shifted just enough to suggest she wasn’t entirely immune to his jab. “Oh, please, it would do you well to show me some respect, Adrian, I'm your senior and on the student council.”

  “Student council?” Adrian raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. You always did have a knack for bossing people around.”

  “Correction, my dear junior. It’s called leadership, something you could stand to learn. And yes, I am on the council. Vice President, actually.”

  “Vice President? I suppose I should bow or something.”

  She waved him off with a flick of her fingers. “No need, though I wouldn’t stop you. Besides, what’s a bow from a little lamb to a lioness?”

  Adrian sighed before shaking his head. “Well, congratulations. I’m sure you’re making life difficult for everyone around you.”

  “Oh, Adrian.” Natasha chuckled softly. “Your faith in me is inspiring. But let’s talk about you. What’s brought you out here at this ungodly hour?"

  Adrian snorted, leaning slightly against the wall. “Trust me, I wasn’t wandering the halls hoping for a reunion. Some of us have activities that run a little too late.”

  “Ah, the trials of mediocrity.” Natasha sighed dramatically. “I suppose they’ve got you running errands for the academy already?”

  “Something like that. It’s been a while, Natasha. How’s… everything? How’s Lysander?”

  Her expression flickered briefly, just for a heartbeat, before her usual confidence slid back into place. “He's doing splendidly, thank you for asking. As always, he’s busy with his many important endeavors. But you know how he is.”

  Adrian nodded, memories stirring of the last time he had seen Lysander. “Good to hear. He’s… still keeping everything under control, I take it?”

  “Of course,” Natasha replied smoothly. "And what about you, Adrian? Found your place here yet?"

  “I’m doing just fine, thanks. I’m not about to let the academy swallow me whole.”

  “Good. you always did have a certain… spark.”

  Adrian hesitated, caught off guard by the rare moment of warmth in her voice. She’s still as sharp as ever, but maybe she’s not all edges. “Thanks. I guess you haven’t changed much either.”

  “Of course not,” she replied, her confidence returning in full force. “Why would I? Perfection doesn’t need improvement.”

  Adrian chuckled. “Right. Well, as much as I enjoy your company, I should probably get some sleep. Morning classes and all.”

  Natasha tilted her head, her sharp gaze following him as he took a step back. “Running off already? You’re no fun, Adrian. But fine, go get your rest. I’ll let you off easy this time.”

  He turned, glancing over his shoulder as he began to walk away. “See you later, Natasha. Try not to terrorize the first years too much.”

  Her laughter echoed after him, rich and mocking. “No promises."

  ***

  Adrian strode back toward the classroom, though each step felt heavier than the last. Just focus up, and ignore if people look at you.

  The heavy oak door creaked slightly on its hinges as Adrian pushed it open, a low groan that drew a few curious glances from inside. Professor Hale’s gaze flickered toward him, sharp and assessing, but she didn’t pause her lecture. Her voice carried on, calm and measured, as she traced elegant arcs across the chalkboard. Adrian’s jaw tightened, determined not to shrink under her scrutiny.

  Sliding back into his seat, he caught the faint smirk tugging at Alisha’s lips. She leaned over just enough to whisper, her tone laced with mockery. “Finally back I see.”

  Adrian turned his head slightly, meeting her gaze with an even look. “What did I miss?"

  "Not too much, Professor Hale was just going through the material, but you can look at my notes later."

  "Awesome, thanks a lot Alisha, you're a lifesaver."

  "Don't mention it, but you should probably pay attention now."

  "Right, where is the class at right now?"

  "We're just about to move to practical transmutation."

  Professor Hale dusted her hands off and turned to face the class, her expression as composed as ever. “Now, we’ve covered the theory. Let’s see if you can put it into practice.”

  She gestured toward the neat rows of materials on the desks: copper coins that glinted like trapped sunlight, jagged shards of quartz that caught the light in sharp angles, and jars filled with fine iron filings that shimmered faintly in their glass confines. “Your task is to transmute the quartz into glass, using the energy stored in the copper as your catalyst. The principles are straightforward. Apply what you’ve learned.”

  Adrian’s heart sank as the words registered. Quartz into glass? Perfect. Exactly what I missed while I was out ‘clearing my head.’ He glanced down at his battered notebook, flipping through its crinkled pages. His earlier notes were a chaotic sprawl of half-formed thoughts and hastily drawn diagrams, none of which offered any clarity now.

  Professor Hale continued, her gaze sweeping across the room. “Remember, everything you need is in your notes. I expect promising results."