The other students' views on Adam only worsened after the Comme Hall incident. Their points plunged into the negative. Even the students who had remained seated when the brawl broke out and those who were absent suffered from the same unfair curfew. Worse still, Magna and Isolde lectured them for hours after class every day for a week.

And it was all because of Adam.

Even those who knew the truth still blamed him—his taunts haunted them more than Haldris' wrath. Each time they saw Desmond's smirk, they heard Adam's phantom voice stating that the scourge, the leech, the one who squandered their points each year, now owned more than they did.

Unlike Desmond, Adam found better use for his time than entertaining their jealousy. Finding out how to defeat the golem, training Quintella and Bao, and attending classes—these meaningful tasks filled his days.

Diane's lessons delved into ancient shamanic arts, showing how intelligent species of creatures worshipped profane divinities to twist elemental spells into vile hexes related to blood, death, or decay.

This was not just theoretical knowledge; they would go on a field trip to confront these shamanic tribes by the end of the semester.

On the other hand, Haldris' lessons were... painfully slow to Adam. Endless days spent watching the others try to coax captured beast souls into obedience. A couple succeeded mostly because they had captured weak beasts. For Nadia, Trevor, and Jonathan, however, the challenge became a cruel wrestling against arcanists and adept-tiered beasts more cunning than teenagers could ever be.

He spent most of his time with Quintella, listening to Haldris' lecture about Pandaroks. He learned Bao was a regular baby among her clever species. But what Pandaroks gained in intelligence, they lost it in raw might.

Yet Adam didn't care. Quintella and Bao were already inseparable, best friends forged in the crucible of his training. And since he was guiding the baby panda, he would help her shatter its species limits one way or another. He had ideas to test, but nothing concrete without in-depth simulations and the certainty that they wouldn't hurt the cute Bao.

Finally, Louis went deeper into their study of ghosts. He taught how sane ghosts became evil, what power each species developed, and how only iron forged willpower and great precautions could resist their mind-corrupting assaults.

What interested Adam most was the philosophical aspect of the lesson. Louis never stopped reminding them, with his characteristically weary voice, that ghosts—even evil—were not meant to be killed, but to be guided to the netherworld, where these lost souls would hopefully find peace.

As interesting as the lessons of the half-burned teacher were, Louis' suspicions had seriously grown on his nerves. With hawk-like rigor, he relentlessly followed them in the corridor of the Reward Hall.

After the tenth day, Adam began to believe the man would never give up. At least not on his own.

Now, on the last day of his shared punishment with Desmond, he crossed his arms in front of the Reward Hall, its tall, carved door drowning his solemn features in shadows that did nothing to cool the pressure burning through his veins.

"I can't believe Teacher Louis has so much time to waste on us!" Desmond kicked a stone into the gardens with a snarl. "Where is the prince wannabe?"

"Patience. He will come." Adam said, his lips tightening into a thin line. "Don't talk about him like that."

"Yeah, I shouldn't." Desmond gripped his forehead, grimacing. "It's killing me, Adam. Not knowing if it'll work out or if we'll find Louis right behind us like one of those ghosts he teaches."

"Hey!" A light shout brought their attention to a short figure. Adam smiled as Elliot rushed to them and asked, "I'm not late, right?"

"Right on time." Something approaching a smile finally found its way to Adam's face. "Remember what you must do?"

Elliot nodded. "Go to Louis' office after you and ask him about the ghost story you told me. Easy! You can count on me."

"It's not a game, Elliot." Desmond clenched his fists until his knuckles whitened. "Louis can't check on us for at least ten minutes, or we're done for. You hear me?"

"Yup. Loud and clear, like the ninety-nine previous times." Elliot chuckled before his boyish features hardened with the determination of a man. "I gave you my word. Leave the ten minutes to me and focus on whatever you must do inside."

Adam patted the boy's shoulder. "I owe you one, Elliot." Then, he turned toward Desmond. "Let's go."

Their heavy steps echoed against the tiled floor as they passed through the counters managed by archmages. The mixed scent of rich minerals, still coated in fresh layers of dirt, blended with the sour, sweet, and peppery fragrance of magical plants—but none of it registered in their minds. Only the plan to defeat the golem did.

They entered the side corridor, which felt bleaker than yesterday. It seemed to stretch endlessly, the offices flanking the cold walls feeling like a countdown. Toward success or failure? They didn't know. But each step dragged slightly longer than the last. Every breath felt drier in their throats.

Desmond knocked on the door, his fists trembling against the solid timber.

"Enter," Louis called, and they lumbered inside, sweat pearling on their foreheads.

"Last day of punishment," the teacher said from behind his desk.

Yet his green eyes blazed with meaning Adam understood. He would not give up even on the last day.

"Bring me the thirteen crates of soul-sealing dust I arranged in the storeroom." He leaned forward on his desk, his hand pressing against the heavy scarf hiding his burnt lower face.

Before he could continue, another knock made him frown. "Yes?"

"Teacher Louis?" Elliot peeked through the door before his lips curled into a relieved smile. "That's the right office. Great! I have a very important question only you can answer."

Louis' gaze darted between the boy and the two teenagers. Coincidence? Unlikely.

"It's about ghosts," Elliot continued, his smile twitching, his voice cracking in genuine horror. "Do you know what I heard from a student from the House of Transmutation—that if someone found a ritual to transmute minerals into organic matter, they could build bodies for ghosts to possess, that they could raise an army that could strike both soul and flesh. Please, teacher. Tell me that's impossible."

"What?!" Louis slammed his palms on his desk, launching himself in front of Elliot in the same fluid motion. "Who dared speak such heresy? Show me!"

"I rushed to you the moment I overheard the discussion. I didn't see the student in question, but he was hiding inside the garden's maze. I'm afraid he'll leave if we waste time."

Louis hesitated for a heartbeat before he shook his head. "Lead the way!"

"Yes, teacher!"

Just like that, Louis bolted behind Elliot, his green eyes spewing mana in waves that chilled Desmond's blood.

Adam recovered first, sighing through a neck so tense that every muscle fiber pulsed beneath his fair skin. "Told you it'll work."

Desmond exhaled the breath he had been keeping in. "It's not over." He panted, waving his hand. "Let's go before he returns."

Adam clenched his fists, his voice frosty. "We'll destroy that piece of junk once and for all."