Chapter 68 The Unexpected Incident of Basic Potions

Chapter 68 The Unexpected Incident of Basic Potions

Evelyn's POV

In the corner of the library, I've seen fairies with transparent wings repairing old books; by the fountain in the courtyard, I've seen mermaids with human torsos and fish tails sunbathing; and even in the cafeteria kitchen, I've spotted a few palm-sized goblins stealing cream.

Besides shapeshifters, there are witches, vampires, and many other creatures I can't even name.

The academy seems very welcoming to these creatures. They've even set up a "Magical Creatures Information Corner" next to the restricted section of the library, filled with books about different species' habits, diets, and cultures.

I randomly picked up a super thick old book and flipped through a few pages. My face instantly turned bright red.

It described in detail how some species, once they've chosen a mate, show extremely strong possessiveness and protectiveness, and would even attack any potential threat to their partner.

My mind automatically put Kane in this category, because his behavior was exactly like this.

"Maybe... this is his instinct? And Kane just wants to protect me."

I closed the book, feeling mixed emotions.

I didn't look at the other books, but the academy seemed to know I was interested and had already placed some books I wanted to read on the bookshelf in my room.

The second thing wasn't so easy to accept.

Through observation, I discovered I was clearly not the only student being bullied and isolated.

In the corner of the cafeteria, I'd seen some lower-grade half-orc students having their meal trays snatched by upperclassmen; in the hallways, I'd seen a girl deliberately drenched with water who didn't dare make a sound; and boys from the same grade cornering a girl, scaring her into running away.

Bullying here seemed to have become an unspoken rule.

As long as you weren't strong enough, as long as you had no backing, you could only be pushed around.

And the academy didn't seem to have any solutions or rules for this kind of thing.

And I was able to escape this fate probably precisely because of Kane's forceful methods.

This realization made me feel sad, yet powerless.

It was Basic Potions class again in the morning.

Today's lesson was making a "Clarity Potion," a potion that required extremely high precision and stability.

If done wrong, it would not only blow up the equipment but also produce toxic smoke that would harm everyone in the classroom.

The classroom was filled with a pungent smell of sulfur and herbs.

Everyone was carefully checking their notes, repeatedly confirming the steps with their hands.

Celia was strictly patrolling from the podium, occasionally pointing out everyone's problems.

"Watch the heat! Wesley, your fire is too high! Are you trying to poison us all?"

"And you, Evelyn, you're stirring too fast. Three circles clockwise, one circle counterclockwise, remember?"

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to concentrate.

The silver spoon in my hand slowly stirred in the equipment. The liquid showed a strange violet color, bubbling finely.

"Three circles clockwise... one circle counterclockwise..."

I muttered the formula, fine beads of sweat forming on my forehead.

However, from the other end of the classroom came some disruptive noise.

It was those boys who always bullied people.

They didn't seem to care about the danger of this class at all, still fooling around, pushing each other, even throwing strange powders into other people's equipment for fun. They weren't here to learn at all.

"Look at that idiot! His potion changed color!"

"Isn't that a failed batch? Why is he still doing it?"

Celia had already scolded them several times, but they continued doing as they pleased, even getting worse.

"Quiet! If you keep causing trouble, I'll kick you out! Or just cancel your future classes!"

Celia roared, but those boys just stuck out their tongues and restrained themselves only slightly. Looking at their smirking faces, they clearly didn't take the warning seriously. Within minutes, they were back to fooling around.

I frowned, feeling uneasy and annoyed.

This lack of focus and carelessness in a classroom full of dangerous materials was like a ticking time bomb.

Sure enough, an accident happened.

Halfway through the class, when those boys were fighting over a bottle of highly concentrated "Soulreturn Weed" extract, they accidentally knocked over a girl's experiment table next to them.

The girl looked very thin and frail, the type with no presence in a crowd.

She had been completely focused on brewing her potion.

"Bang!" A loud crash.

The boy's equipment was knocked over, and the still-boiling, dark green toxic potion inside instantly spilled out.

It landed right on that girl.

"Ah!"

The girl let out a piercing scream and immediately collapsed to the ground, her body convulsing violently.

Her skin visibly rotted and turned black, white foam came from her mouth, her eyes rolled back—clearly symptoms of poisoning.

The classroom instantly became chaotic.

"Oh my god! Something happened!"

"Get the school doctor! Get the school doctor!"

The boys who caused it were also scared stiff, standing there trembling, their faces pale.

Celia's face turned dark. She rushed over to check on the girl, but seeing the toxic liquid all over the floor and the black smoke rising from the girl's body, she immediately realized.

"That's 'Bone-Corroding Poison'! Don't touch her! It's contagious!"

Celia warned everyone, then sent someone to get the school doctor to come directly.

I looked at the girl lying on the ground, at her painfully twisted face, at her hand reaching weakly into the air.

In that instant, a flash of white light went through my mind.

No, I can't just watch this.

I can't just let her die like this.

An unprecedented impulse surged up, and I couldn't control myself at all.

I don't know where I got the courage, but I suddenly rushed over.

"Evelyn! Don't go! It's poisonous!"

Celia shouted from behind, but I couldn't hear anymore.

All I could see was that girl struggling in pain, that hand waiting for rescue.

I knelt on the ground, not caring that the toxic liquid on the floor would dirty my clothes, not caring that the pungent smell would burn my airways, and grabbed the girl's hand.

The moment my hand touched her skin, a bone-chilling coldness spread through my fingertips throughout my body.

It was the breath of death.

But I didn't let go.

Instead, the magic power in my body seemed to be awakened by some force and began to surge wildly.

A dazzling white light burst from my hand, instantly enveloping both the girl and me. The scene before my eyes began to twist and spin, finally turning into a blinding whiteness.

My body felt like all its strength had been drained, and I softly collapsed.