player POV-Chapter 48: Trap 3

I entered my classroom and sat in my usual seat next to Darwin, who had been strangely quiet lately. I didn’t pay much attention to what was going on with him as long as he left me alone, though I knew this calm was only temporary, and his outburst was inevitable.

So, I made sure not to provoke him in any way.

I gave him a light greeting before sitting down; he responded with a small smile and then returned his gaze forward, as if trying to focus on something else, or perhaps on himself.

I felt the strangeness of this calm that filled the space around him, as if his presence carried a kind of silent tension mixed with curiosity, making my heart beat at a different rhythm.

The classroom was unusually full of chatter, with muffled laughter, continuous whispers, and the sound of feet moving across the floor, all creating an excited and vibrant atmosphere, as if everyone was anticipating something big—not just a lesson, but a significant event in their daily lives.

This excitement was not without reason: the person who would be teaching today was the focus of everyone’s attention.

It wasn’t just a teacher; their presence created a sense of curiosity and surprise among the students, commanding attention and forcing minds to focus, whether they wanted to or not.

All eyes turned to the front of the class, and as soon as the door opened, a woman entered, causing the whispers to stop abruptly.

Her blonde hair fell softly over her shoulders, and her blue eyes were clear like twin drops of water reflecting the sky.

A gentle smile played on her lips, carrying a mysterious warmth that evoked an indescribable sense of comfort and awe. Her symmetrical features and calm steps left a subtle impression of admiration and astonishment throughout the room.

Everything about her was precise, from her posture to the way she glanced at every corner of the classroom, as if she controlled everything around her effortlessly, and time itself obeyed her rhythm.

Sophia Kremin.

Daughter of the Kremin family, the ruling house of the Athena Empire, and a princess of high standing.

She was one of the key figures in our world—not only for her beauty, but for her intelligence and her natural ability to influence others in a way that drew everyone’s attention. She was kind most of the time, always helping Zion whenever he found himself in trouble, finding ways to get him out of difficult situations, making it seem like he had control, when in truth she was the one pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Yet, she had one flaw: at times, she seemed naive, acting oddly in certain situations as if unaware of the depth of things.

But this did not diminish her impact on others; in fact, it was part of her human charm.

Sophia stood in front of the podium, placed her board down gently, and then raised her gaze to the entire classroom.

Even though some students were lost in their thoughts, she paid them no attention, appearing as if she controlled time and space around her.

Silence filled the room for a moment—a heavy silence, as if everyone had stopped breathing, and the air itself was charged with anticipation of what was to come.

She spoke in a calm voice, yet one that carried power, as if announcing the start of something significant:

"Welcome, everyone. I don’t think a lengthy introduction is necessary, so I’ll keep it brief. I am Sophia Kremin, and I will be your instructor in the study of Anya."

Most students nodded, especially the boys; some seemed affected, while others tried to pretend to focus. This reaction was not due to the importance of her words—they hadn’t yet entered any serious topic—but because of her presence.

Her presence drew eyes and compelled the mind to pay attention, whether one wanted to or not. Every small movement, every breath, every smile was enough to create an echo in our minds, filling us with curiosity and anticipation.

She continued:

"This class will focus on the study of Anya—its essence, its components, and how it circulates within the layer surrounding our bodies, enabling us to harness powers beyond the ordinary."

She looked at us again, and in that moment, the faces of most boys flushed, and even some girls were not exempt from the effect. Beautiful... even I was not immune to this attraction; I found myself staring at her unconsciously, unable to control my attention.

Something about her presence captivated the mind and made the heart anticipate every movement, every word, as if she somehow controlled the collective feeling in the classroom, making everything around us pulse to her rhythm.

Sophia’s gaze paused on Zion, seated in the front row, then slowly swept over the other students as if reading their thoughts. A heavy silence settled, and the air in the classroom felt tense, as if everything around us was in a state of acute anticipation.

She spoke in a calm but sharp voice, loud enough to command attention

"What’s the matter with you? Why do you look like a bunch of primitive apes, driven by instincts with no ability to control yourselves?"

She took a slow breath and continued in a firmer tone:

"I am here to teach, to guide, to select those worthy of knowing Anya... not to see your faces staring at me without understanding, without focus, without seriousness."

She paused for a few seconds, then said firmly

"In this manner... I will not continue this lesson."

She then turned with calm, decisive steps and left the classroom without waiting for any response, leaving everyone in a silence weighted with astonishment.

I exhaled slowly, feeling a mix of surprise and curiosity, but what had just happened wasn’t entirely unexpected.

I knew this would happen; she hadn’t come here to teach—she didn’t truly know anything about Anya. Her real purpose for coming to the academy was to select the gifted students... 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

.....

Sizzle... sizzle...

Sophia opened the door forcefully and sat in her seat. She sat for a moment, her heart pounding, lost in thought about what she had just done.

Every time she recalled her words, embarrassment washed over her, and she held her face in her hands, trying to suppress her shame, whispering softly:

"All I want is to forget what happened..."

She swallowed and felt a slight shiver run through her shoulders. Then she remembered the matter of utmost importance—after all, that was the reason she was here—so she spoke with a voice tinged with anxiety:

"No one will get the wrong idea about me... right?"

She squared her shoulders and tried to breathe slowly. He didn’t show any reaction either, so she tugged her hair slightly before saying

"I must make him stand by my side, no matter the cost."

She sat for a moment, tension and determination filling her, while she tried to control the whirlwind of thoughts, remembering once again what had happened and feeling the embarrassment all over again.