The classroom was swallowed by silence after Myael's strike. Anastasia covered her face in shock, Lug clenched his jaw while glaring at Lanius, and Whipney slept as though nothing had happened. Connor and the others watched with stiff necks and cold sweat, unable to look away.
Myael withdrew her sword, but Lanius stood untouched. The blade of wind had no effect, proving the professor's lesson about the absolute nature of Gifts. Yet, curiosity overtook restraint. Myael raised her weapon again, this time releasing a powerful blast of wind that cut the wall behind Lanius. Connor immediately recalled the devastating attack she had once used against him and realized that, if unleashed indoors, it could level the entire classroom.
Before disaster could unfold, Professor Master Muscle intervened. With overwhelming force, he caught Myael's wrist mid-swing, halting her attack as though her arm had been nailed into the air. His booming scolding shook the room, chastising her reckless curiosity. Only then did reason return to Myael's face. Shamed, she sheathed her sword and bowed her head, apologizing first to the professor and then directly to Lanius. Her sincerity surprised Connor. Unlike the arrogant nobles he had known, she lowered herself even before a commoner.
Despite the near-catastrophe, the lesson continued. The professor spoke of the nature of Gifts and Curses. Gifts, he explained, were often sources of pride, leading many to flaunt them for recognition or wealth. Curses, however, were dangerous burdens, often kept secret. To reveal one's curse was an act of deep trust, whether on a battlefield between comrades or in marriage, where couples traditionally shared their curses as a pledge of lifelong commitment. With this, the professor closed the first half of the class, announcing a short break followed by self-study.
Before leaving, he called upon Connor. As group leader, Connor was tasked with learning the strengths and weaknesses of every member and submitting a report within two weeks. The assignment left Connor troubled—he barely knew his teammates after a week of survival tests and training.
Determined, he began observing. Whipney, still fast asleep, seemed to possess no redeeming qualities visible at a glance. Lanius quietly tinkered with metal pieces, hidden partly behind his mechanical wings. Lug, meanwhile, struggled to copy notes with handwriting so clumsy it betrayed a recent attempt at literacy. Anastasia scribbled in her notebook, glancing at her peers one by one, only to hastily cover her writing when Connor's eyes met hers.
Finally, Connor turned to the one person he had avoided—the enigmatic Myael. She sat beside him with a faint smile, offering help. Trapped between the memory of her maid's warnings and his own unease, Connor hesitated, but ultimately accepted. Myael suggested he practice by questioning her directly.
For the first time, Connor addressed her by name. She answered without hesitation—her strength lay in swordsmanship. Writing this down, Connor couldn't help but feel the weight of her talent. With her Gift of rapid mastery and reputation for defeating a high-ranked opponent at a young age, she embodied everything others feared or sought to control.
When asked about her weakness, Myael gave an unexpected reply. With a gentle smile, she said there was only one thing she could not do—but promised to reveal it to him over the weekend. Though Connor received no immediate answer, he felt strangely content, as though her vague response carried more weight than certainty.