You Should Run

Principal Helliot had always been on Kalliope's side. No matter what happened, Helliot would help mediate the situation in Kalliope's favor. She would never let anyone hurt or take Kalliope away from her. Sometimes, she would even take the blame herself.

It wasn't an exaggeration for Dilwyn Nox to say that Isadora had always treated Kalliope as her own child.

Principal Helliot favored Kalliope. That was a fact that everyone in the academy knew.

But, even then, Dilwyn was certain Helliot would never take her favouritism to an unreasonable level. Even if she did, it was doubtful whether she could save Kalliope. After all, this was a case of murder.

So, Vice Principal Nox was sure that no matter what, Helliot wouldn't overlook this crime. With a heavy heart, Principal Helliot would drop a punishment according to the rules.

"Ms. Serphent, please come with me," the disciplinary teacher gestured towards her.

Kalliope pursed her lips. She stared expressionlessly at Vice Principal Nox. Yet, for some reason, her casual gaze had sent Dilwyn's heart trembling. He felt goosebumps all over.

"Shame…" Kalliope sighed as she got up from the chair. Her eyes never left Vice Principal Nox. The corner of her lips suddenly lifted.

It was such an irresistible smile. Her gaze turned alluring, a complete opposite of her adorable appearance. Like a young succubus, she completely charmed Vice Principal Nox and left him subconsciously frozen on his feet.

As Kalliope went past him, she paused and drew closer to his face, "Even though I quite like you, Professor."

A sweet flowery scent brushed his nostrils as Kalliope swept by. It was but a mere seconds before she pulled back, leaving Vice Principal Nox in a daze.

From the side, the disciplinary teacher was not only feeling uncomfortable with that sight, but also irritated with this young witch. The teacher had to admit that Kalliope was indeed pretty.

In fact, everyone in Slidora agreed that she was the most beautiful witch in the Academy. Hell, the whole empire, they believed! Even the princess was only second to her.

Kalliope could be both adorable and alluring. It was all a matter of how she dressed herself. Though she had soft features and cutesy look, her gorgeous cat eyes toned down her innocence and instead gave her a unique, exotic flair!

And now, the disciplinary teacher saw first-hand how Kalliope's beauty attracted men. She minced her lips and ordered sternly, "Hurry up!"

She didn't bother to wait for Kalliope and headed towards the door. She, therefore, missed the gleam of golden light in Kalliope's eyes. To be exact, both the teacher and Vice Principal Nox failed to notice it.

After that, when Kalliope had left with the teacher, Dilwyn only felt a slight hotness at the back of his hand as he snapped out of his daze.

He blinked once, twice, before frowning. He felt something was wrong but couldn't quite put his finger on it. In the end, he ignored the nagging feeling and proceeded to inform the other professors to gather for a meeting.

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Meanwhile, Kalliope leisurely followed the disciplinary teacher towards the underground prison.

At first, the teacher had prepared herself to deal with Kalliope in case she tried to escape. But, she doubted Kalliope would be that brave since it was almost noon and students could be seen loitering around the hallway. It would be risky for her to attempt anything.

Yet, the reality was Kalliope was following her in a relax manner as if she was strolling around the park. She didn't look the least bit scared or worried for being sent to prison by Vice Principal Nox. Even when everyone was staring at her with ridicule, she remained cool. This made the teacher rather speechless.

It was indeed hard to guess how a crazy person's mind worked!

As soon as they arrived at the entrance, they were greeted by a zapping noise of electrical force that built up the prison gate. The lightning crackled as the energy brushed against each other.

The disciplinary teacher used a simple telekinesis magic discreetly to unlock the hidden key nearby. Kalliope heard some movement inside the walls before the lightning force disappeared. She raised a brow.

"Let's go!" The teacher said.

Once they entered, the lightning force lit up again barricading the path behind them. They took the stairs towards the underground and that was when Kalliope felt something peculiar. All of the sudden, she couldn't feel her mana nor could she feel the elemental particles in the air.

She scoffed. Anti-magic field. They had indeed prepared well!

But, that was merely an inch of the security they had set up. When Kalliope arrived at the corridor where rows of prison cells were packed on both sides, she could feel a dark force leaking from somewhere unseen.

This type of corrupted mana could only come from a dark entity, which meant the academy was either imprisoning them or they were a part of the security measure.

Kalliope could feel the heavy oppression weighing on her body as she ventured deeper into the underground prison.

She pondered, 'Judging by how thick the dark aura is, there is either more than one creature or they really have a Gozurak under their control.'

She did remember the time when she had trespassed into the research area at the forbidden wing inside the academy. She had read about their research on the demons and black magic, particularly on the Gozurak.

Although demons didn't walk among them anymore, they used to in the past. Centuries ago, before Zarronium even existed, even more backwards before the great elemental spirits had descended.

Demons were the first entity that walked among the humans. But now, they merely existed on the pages of history.

People might have not believed their existence if it weren't for the devil's spawn. Gozurak was one of the few that existed in their realm and the only one who could grow from a lower-class demon into an aristocratic one.

From the research they had conducted, the sorcerers believed that Gozurak could possibly be a demon soldier back in Orhan, the demon realm.

Though it didn't post any threat to them, if they let it be, Gozurak could be dangerous when it evolved. And this one, Kalliope believed it was at least a baron.

In the past, Kalliope had doubted the possibility of the academy rearing a Gozurak. But now, it seemed to be true.

She frowned. The only way for a demon to grow stronger was from feeding off a soul. The more tainted the soul was, the stronger they would become. Thus, the purpose of a contract.

But, it wasn't possible since the higher ups wouldn't just throw someone to be its meal, especially Helliot. So, the only answer was they found another way to nurture it.

While Kalliope pondered on this issue, the teacher suddenly stopped and turned around. "You're not a fool. Though you may be problematic, it's a fact that you're talented. So, I know you can feel it and know what it is."

The corner of her lips curved upwards. "So, don't do anything stupid. For once, be obedient."

She unlocked one of the prison cells. "For the sake of your own life."

Kalliope stared at her stoically. Silence was drawn between them. Even though she had no magic, she didn't falter against the teacher. Nothing seemed to threaten Kalliope and it would be a lie if this manner didn't piss off her haters.

A small laughter escaped her lips as she walked towards her cell. When Kalliope passed by the teacher, she stopped and whispered, "For the sake of your own life, you should run after this."

The teacher jerked away from her. She glared resentfully at Kalliope' receding figure. The adorable girl willingly stepped into the prison and closed the gate herself. It automatically locked her inside.

"You will regret this," the teacher provoked her one last time before she left.

Kalliope chuckled. She took a seat on the cold floor and leaned against the wall. Her smile was hauntingly beautiful under the bask of sunlight, seeping from the small barred window.

"No. You…will regret this."