Holy Chain

'For the sake of your own life, you should run.'

The words that Kalliope had uttered just a few hours ago rang in the teacher's head. The words that she had ignored. The words that she had not taken seriously. That very sentence now came back to haunt her. Would she have ever imagined that Kalliope would truly carry out her promise then?

'You will regret this,' she had said.

Yet now, she was the one who grovelled before that very person. Her wet hair framed her ashen countenance. Clothes clung to her body, stained by the damp soil. Pale blue lips and eyes colored in terror. She sat trembling on the ground with no way of retaliating.

How could she, when she knew exactly what she was facing? No matter what kind of spells brewing in her mind, her chance of winning was slim to none. She was well aware of the dead mana that lingered in Kalliope's body, as well as the grim and forbidding black aura that could be seen faintly swirling all around Kalliope.

The disciplinary teacher clenched her fists. Her heart was pounding agitatedly as she bit her lower lip in utter frustration. Yes, she was familiar with this presence. The presence of that Gozurak whom she and another teacher had 'disciplined' and others experimented on.

She had been one of the witches who guarded the Gozurak once. That was why she had confidently warned Kalliope in the prison.

"Oh…" Kalliope let out a mirthless chuckle as she tipped the teacher's chin to face her. "I see you can still think of something else even in your present situation. How bold…" She sniggered. "But this makes things interesting."

Faced with Kalliope's dark look, black veins against her white complexion and eyes that hid a piercing dagger, dripping with unbridled violence, the teacher's heart couldn't help but jolt in trepidation. Drops of rain beaded down her face, neck, and down to her spine, leaving her teetering under the frigid coldness.

But, she still fought to reel in her fear as she was desperate to keep her pride against this hateful b*tch. She didn't want to admit it. Never! It was then, an old spell came into her mind. Her eyes widened slightly before she glared viciously at Kalliope.

She gushed through her gritted teeth, "I don't know what you're trying to achieve, but you will never get out of here unscathed." Then, she burst into a short, sardonic laugh. "Hell, I don't believe you can leave the academy ground."

"So, fucking grow up and stop being such a burden all the time!" A sharp glint flashed through her eyes as soon as she finished. Her hands immediately held on Kalliope's wrist without a care to the agonizing pain she would face from the dead mana.

"Requisita naturae!"

In that instance, a brilliant green light flashed from the ground beneath them and the soil cracked as several plant roots blasted out of it, creating a small earthquake nearby. Kalliope who witnessed it immediately tried to get away but the disciplinary teacher's grip tightened around her.

Kalliope's eyes narrowed murderously, However before she could flick the annoying insect away, the teacher had been one step quicker.

"Sanctus Torque." The corner of her lips lifted triumphantly as she slowly released Kalliope's hand. "Enjoy."

Kalliope merely raised a brow in response. But, in the next moment, the expression on her face stiffened. A thin cord of white light slowly circled her wrists. The moment the two opposite poles met, a strong magnetic wave pulled both of her hands together and then, several strings of light emerged to bind her hands tighter.

But, it wasn't her sealed movement what bothered her. It was the incoming torment. All of the sudden, a searing heat burnt through her skin and pain shot through her body like hail of fire pouring down on her.

Kalliope was caught off-guard, shocked, and collapsed to the ground in a heap of misery. Her body twitched convulsively. Even as she breathed, she felt the smoldering heat in her lungs. It fried her throat and seemingly baked her inside. The heat prevented her from screaming, thus she could only exhale incoherent groans.

"Ufgh…"

'What's happening??' Kalliope had tried to break the strings of light around her wrists and even summoned the black aura but failed to do so. It was as though her strength had disappeared. The light bound her tighter, sizzling deeper into her skin like it was going to cut her hands.

Yet, she didn't have time to ponder as she felt something coiling on her body. Kalliope looked down to see the roots strapped her onto the ground. She clenched her teeth and glared venomously at the teacher.

--------------------

Meanwhile, amidst the debris on the other side, the Gozurak who slipped away had just finished feasting on the dead teacher. He wiped the remaining mess on his lips with his thumb. A careless smile danced on his face as he was suddenly reminded of the lady's bashful expression. He chuckled wickedly. However, the smile on his face quickly froze.

An acute pain struck his very soul and a scorching sensation slowly spread through his body. Being familiar with this feeling for the longest time, he wasn't as shocked as Kalliope. The man immediately realized what was happening.

'It...hurts…'

He flinched when Kalliope's voice rang in his head. Since they were connected, he could very well feel her pain and her muffled scream of agony.

A murderous rage gleamed in his violet eyes as his body quickly faded into a wisp of black mist, shooting fast towards the academy exit.

------------------

"Painful, isn't it?" Regardless of her own pain from the dead mana, the disciplinary teacher laughed in glee upon Kalliope's sorrow. "I found this spell by accident a long time ago. The note didn't really explain what kind of spell it is, only that it is to restrain demons. I've always wanted to try it since then and managed to do so on the Gozurak."

"But…" she gazed at the teetering Kalliope. Then, in the most gentle way, the teacher tucked Kalliope's hair behind her ear. "Here you are, never cease to amaze us with your power. Successfully contracting a demon and letting me cast this spell once again, my, I have to thank you, dear."

"The feeling is indeed different. How do I phrase it?" The teacher thought in amusement for a while and said, "It's more...satisfying when I cast it onto you."

However, Kalliope merely stared wordlessly at the teacher. Failing to elicit any fear from Kalliope, the teacher clenched her fist. Upon her action, the plant roots tightened around Kalliope's body to the point of crushing. Another jolt of pain shocked Kalliope into biting her lip.

The teacher scoffed derisively. "I can't kill you but I can still hurt you. I'll just say you try to esca--"

Unfortunately, the teacher didn't get to finish her sentence as she was suddenly lifted off the ground by her neck. She reflexively gripped onto the hand that strangled her and her eyes widened at the appearance of a silver-haired man.

"Who--" She was going to ask, but the moment she encountered those obnoxious violet eyes. The teacher immediately recognized the seemingly unfamiliar man.

"Y-You…" She stuttered breathlessly. Fear encapsulated her mind.