[Pinnacle Academy, Central Building - ss 1-A Lecture Room]


    "Okay, ss dismissed. Everyone ensure you''ve chosen your focus topic for the uing exams."


    A chorus of "okay"s replied to Ms. Silvene as she tapped her wand against the whiteboard, revealing various magic theory topics.


    Each topic seemed to have the same weighting and study time, depending on one''s familiarity with a certain aspect of magic.


    The main exams for theory focused solely on what we had learned throughout the semester.


    I suspected these exams would be the perfect opportunity for Bet to iste, trap, and abduct students.


    He would be skilled enough to offer help across various topics and conduct countless one-on-one sessions, even ensnaring main characters.


    This heightened my vignce, as it meant I''d need to be more active outside my dorm and keep a watchful eye on my ssmates.


    Specifically, Lyra. In the original plot, she would be the focus of this uing arc.


    In the next few days, Bet would take a keen interest in her, particrly because her chosen topic revolved around the imperfection of magic.


    This notion contradicted Bet''s beliefs, inadvertently revealing a different side of him to Lyra, one she found strangely odd.


    This fascination would ultimately make her a prime target.


    Her curiosity would lead her to discover Bet''s connections to the organizations controlled by Morwen and dimir.


    When Bet caught her investigating, he would confront her.


    That''s when Lyra would use her tricks to follow Bet, taking advantage of her superior nning.


    He would lead her to a hidden location within Pinnacle, but thanks to Lyra, Jan would be the one to stop him.


    However, given the current plot''s instability, I couldn''t be sure if things would go ording to my attempts at correction.


    Even if things didn''t align with the original story, I couldn''t devise a foolproof n to stop Bet.


    He was too unpredictable, as two sides of one personality couldn''t dictate the actions of both.


    This meant I had to let things y out, at least for now.


    I was tired of these constant deviations from the original story.


    If I just stayed away from the main characters, perhaps everything would fall back into ce.


    Maybe then, the story could finally continue as I had written it.


    p!


    As I headed out of the ssroom, a familiar handnded on my back.


    "Hey, you doing anything after this?"


    My eyes narrowed as I turned to face Jan, who was beaming at me with his usual infuriating enthusiasm.


    "I was nning on going home and sleeping," I said tly.


    But Jan, as always, didn''t take no for an answer.


    "Come on, Rel, you haven''t looked the same since the ceremony. With the examsing up, the gang wants to have a little de-stresser before theory hits us like a ton of bricks."


    He shrugged,pletely oblivious to my internal grumbling about not needing to study.


    I sighed, knowing this was going to be a hassle, and tried to walk past him.


    But Jan seemed to have anticipated my every move.


    BUMP!


    I mmed into an invisible wall, and before I could even process what was happening, Bazz appeared out of thin air.


    "Jan! Is four-eyesing?!" his voice boomed, looking expectantly at Jan.


    "Yeah, and don''t call him that, Bazz," Jan scolded, his brow furrowed.


    "Quickly grab him, Bazz!"


    "Wait, why does he want to take me—"


    I was cut off as Bazz scooped me up by my zer, lifting me like a cat carrying its kitten.


    "Wouldn''t want to miss out on karaoke!"


    As I felt myself being carried down the hallway, I could see the eyes of all the students from sses justing out.


    How embarrassing.


    "Wow! Did you gain weight, Rel? You seem a few pounds heavier," Bazz chuckled, even having the audacity to bounce me up and down a bit.


    "Haah..." I could only sigh in resignation as I was carried away.


    ***


    [Seoul, Hongdae - Noerabang (Outside) - ]


    The car ride to the karaoke bar was a racket of noise and forced cheer.


    Jan and Bazz hummed excitedly as they walked towards the parking lot where their ride awaited.


    "Ah, you must be Jan," a man in a ck suit greeted them.


    "I assume Valencia asked me to pick you guys up?"


    "Yep, nice to meet you!" Jan nodded and bowed respectfully.


    "Well, if that''s everyone, get in. I heard she made a reservation."


    Jan, followed by Bazz carrying Rel, threw Rel into the sleek ck sedan. The two were practically vibrating with excitement, their chatter filling the car.


    Rel, however, sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed, a subtle frown on his face.


    "Why... did I have toe?" he muttered, ncing at the neon lights of Seoul''s nightlife.


    "Of all ces... Karaoke? Of all the ways to celebrate, this is what they choose?"


    Jan, oblivious to Rel''s difort, threw an arm around Bazz and hummed a few bars of a popr pop song.


    "Come on, Rel, loosen up! It''s a celebration! We all deserve a little fun after the award ceremony, don''t you think?"


    Rel raised an eyebrow.


    "Fun... this is fun? I''d much rather be catching up on some sleep. Or maybe even doing a little light reading."


    He gestured vaguely towards Pinnacle, but the vehicle wouldn''t stop until it reached its destination.


    Bazz chuckled from the backseat.


    "Aw, c''mon, four-eyes! Don''t be such a bookworm. We''re gonna have a st!"


    Rel sighed only to roll his eyes afterwards.


    He was outnumbered, and his protests were falling on deaf ears.


    Maybe he could fake a sudden illness once they arrived?


    As the car pulled up to the Noraebang, a brightly lit establishment in the bustling Hongdae district, Rel''s heart sank further.


    The shing lights and pulsating music did nothing to ease his mood.


    The car slowed to a stop in front of the Noraebang, its neon sign casting an eerie glow on the bustling street.


    Rel reluctantly unbuckled his seatbelt, a sense of dread settling in his stomach.


    He stepped out of the car, his eyes scanning the surroundings with curiosity and apprehension.


    The rhythmic thump of bass resonated from within,pared to the quiet solitude he craved.


    Jan bounced out of the car and looked at the building before him.


    "This ce looks awesome!" he eximed, his eyes wide with anticipation.


    "Let''s go have some fun!"


    Bazz followed suit, his boomingughter echoing through the night air.


    "Yeah, let''s rock this ce!"


    Rel trailed behind them, feeling like amb being led to the ughter.


    He couldn''t fathom how singing off-key in a cramped room could possibly be considered enjoyable.


    But he knew better than to try and argue with his overzealous characters.