Chapter 76: Detention

Later in the classroom, Mark kept his gaze fixed through the window, out toward the distant landscape beyond the school grounds, rolling hills and stretches of green grass fading into the horizon.

He always preferred looking past the boundaries of the school itself, chasing that small, grounding sense of freedom, the feeling of existing somewhere beyond its restrictions, even if only in his own mind for a moment.

Hermione glanced toward him, curiosity plain on her face. "Mind if I ask what’s on your mind right now?" she asked.

Mark lingered a moment before letting out a breath, still facing away from her, eyes fixed outside. "No, I’m fine," he answered shortly. Hermione shot him a skeptical look before shaking her head, clearly unconvinced but choosing not to push further.

Kai sat with Max beside him. The seat where Roman normally sat remained empty. The reason for that already sat clear in Kai’s mind, ever since word reached him about Roman’s current condition over at the school’s medical wing.

Mia, meanwhile, had empty seats flanking her on both sides. Her eyes flicked briefly toward Hermione before sliding over toward Mark, still turned toward the window. She forced a tight smile, working hard to bury the rising animosity building steadily in her chest at the sight of the two of them together. Some small, petty part of her genuinely wished she could just crush them both, once and for all.

Jimmy glanced toward Kai from the corner of his eye before shifting his attention toward Mia, sitting alone with her empty seats on either side. He couldn’t quite hold back a small, amused chuckle.

"Those lackeys of theirs definitely had it coming, jerks through and through, but honestly, it was supposed to be these two taking the real hit here," he muttered under his breath, eyes drifting toward Mark.

"Still, if there’s one real lesson in all this, it’s don’t ever bother messing with that guy. It’s obvious he’s not the same person he used to be. And to make things worse, the Phoenix girl’s apparently taken a real liking to him too, so yeah, probably best not to push my luck there," he noted quietly to himself.

He let out a resigned breath the moment he noticed his seatmate standing eagerly in front of his desk. "Alright, what’ve you got to show me this time? Another candy brand nobody’s ever heard of?" he asked, tone thoroughly weary.

Candy Girl’s expression never wavered, holding out a paper flyer with her smile stretching even wider. "No, not that, doofus. Just take a look already. You’re going to end up thanking me for this."

Jimmy raised an eyebrow as he accepted the flyer, Candy Girl settling into the seat beside him. He studied it carefully, eyes moving slowly across every line of detail printed on the page.

"Huh, this is genuinely random. Some kind of upcoming dungeon programme? Or just another fake merchandise scheme trying to hook students’ attention?"

Candy Girl scowled slightly. "Why do you always assume the worst about everything? Seriously, you need to cool off in the shower sometimes."

"We could always cool off together, Annie," Jimmy said smoothly, and the comment pulled an unmistakable flush of green across her cheeks before she managed to compose herself with a sharp exhale.

"Jerk," Annie, the Candy Girl, pouted, quickly snatching the flyer back from his grip. "This one’s actually legit, though. It’s a community programme centered around an Ever Dungeon right at the heart of the city, organized officially through the Mineral Guild, happening about a month from now. Students from a bunch of different schools are getting involved too."

She flicked the flyer squarely at Jimmy’s face. "Best part, you don’t even need an official license like most other dungeons usually require. Just a passport and formal school permission, and you’re in. Enrollment’s still early stage right now, which means this is our real shot to sign up while spots are open."

She paused, letting out a small sigh. "And honestly, I really need a proper test run with my own summon. I’m hoping it might finally push toward evolving into its next stage. It would genuinely mean a lot to me if it worked out."

A smile crossed Jimmy’s lips at that quiet admission. He turned to face her directly. "Yeah, alright, I’ll actually think it over myself. I could use some real progress pushing my own summon toward evolution too. Evolution thresholds always land differently, some hidden somewhere along the stretch between tiers. Most tend to trigger closer to a summon fully reaching its potential, though. I think mine’s actually got a decent shot at evolving before it even hits that ceiling."

Annie shrugged, still chewing absently through a piece of jelly candy. "Doubt it’ll go the same way for mine, honestly. His potential’s not sitting too far above his current tier as it is, so I’m not exactly far behind either."

From her seat in the first column, Amanda kept her gaze locked on Mia over in the second column, whose own attention had drifted elsewhere entirely, fixed instead on Hermione seated in the fourth.

"Good thing she’s finally been knocked down a peg, stuck sitting there with those empty seats on both sides. Acting like she’s above everyone just because she placed second back in freshman year. Well, she’ll get a proper look at her own fall before she finally learns her actual place around here," Amanda muttered under her breath.

She averted her gaze quickly the instant Mia’s eyes swept briefly toward her. Still, Mia caught the reaction anyway, her expression tightening into a visible scowl.

"Mark. Mark, psst, Mark..." Hermione’s voice kept drifting toward his ear from beside him, though he refused to turn and look, well aware she’d find some way to make him laugh and shake him loose from whatever heavy mood he seemed intent on holding onto just then.

Just then, Olivia stepped into the classroom, trailed closely by two of Mia’s subordinates, both walking with the posture of thoroughly scolded puppies, though they still clung stubbornly to the defiant swagger of practiced bullies as they made their way toward their seats. Mia’s expression shifted into something sly, while Amanda’s remained openly displeased at the sight.

Olivia smoothed down her skirt before making her way to the lectern. No stack of books waited on its surface this time, a clear sign she’d come bearing an announcement, or perhaps a free lecture instead.

"This morning’s incident wasn’t exactly the ideal start to a period meant to help all of you properly gauge your standing and momentum against one another following the competition. Still, I suppose that was never going to stop certain situations from unfolding regardless. Victor, Jack, I trust you both remember the extended three days of detention already waiting for you, and consider that just a preview of what’s coming should there be a next time," she informed them evenly.

The faint smile that had briefly crossed Mark’s lips at the mention of their punishment faded instantly the moment Olivia’s gaze settled squarely on him.

"And that includes you as well, Mark Moulow," she finished.

Mark’s expression shifted instantly, rising halfway out of his seat, palms pressed flat against his desk, eyes steady and hard.

"Excuse me? What exactly is that supposed to mean? I can’t stand being anywhere near these two idiots, let alone sharing detention with them! This is completely ridiculous!" he snapped without any real restraint, drawing every eye in the classroom toward him at once. Hermione felt like sinking straight through her own seat from secondhand embarrassment.

A brief, heavy silence settled over the room before Olivia finally responded.

"Four of you are facing this punishment alone, for whatever. There will be several others involved to join as well. This is simply about maintaining fairness, equality, and consistent justice within the school’s overall policy."

"Equality? Please, spare me," Mark shot back, jaw clenched tight.