Chapter 78 A Sudden Fever

Chapter 78 A Sudden Fever

Cecilia Blackwood's POV

I'd completely settled into life at Star Ring Academy. I'd even started thinking of it as my second home.

If I'd never come here in the first place, I probably wouldn't feel so torn right now. I wouldn't know the pain of losing something precious.

But I had come. And I'd met Kane and Jenny. If I had to leave now, I'd spend the rest of my life drowning in regret.

My silence successfully infuriated Mr. Darlok. He slammed his hand on the podium. "How long are you going to make everyone wait?"

"All you have to do is release your power! Is it really that difficult? Or do you just enjoy wasting everyone's time?"

Faced with his interrogation, I kept my head down, unable to form a single word in response.

I didn't know how to answer him. But one thing was clear—I couldn't avoid this any longer.

Finally, I took a deep breath and bowed to Mr. Darlok. "I'm truly sorry, sir. I... I can't release my power."

"Why not? Do you think I'm not qualified to be your teacher?" Mr. Darlok's eyes bored into me, his chest heaving with rage.

The class erupted in jeers.

"That's way out of line! How can she disrespect Mr. Darlok like that?"

"Exactly! Just because she showed off at that performance doesn't mean she can look down on our teacher!"

I shook my head frantically. "No, no, you've got it all wrong. That's not what I meant—"

Darlok pointed a finger at me. "I don't care what you meant. Release your power. Now!"

"If you refuse again, get out of this classroom. Get out of my class. You're not welcome here!"

The next moment, a warm hand pulled me behind a protective back.

Kane's voice was ice-cold. "I suggest you watch your tone. My patience has limits."

Darlok slowly clenched his fists. "That's my line!"

"She's shown me complete disrespect! I've been teaching for years, and I've never encountered anything like this!"

"There are only two ways to resolve this: either she releases her power immediately and apologizes to me and the entire class, or she gets out of this classroom!"

"Say that again." Kane took a step forward, his aura flooding the room.

Darlok instinctively stumbled back two steps, fear flashing across his face. "What... what do you think you're doing? This is a classroom! Don't you dare try anything!"

"If you lay a hand on me today, you won't just be expelled—you'll face the academy's harshest punishment!"

He said that, but the fear was obvious. He'd already backed up nearly to the door.

If Kane actually made a move, Darlok would bolt in a heartbeat. Whether he could escape Kane's pursuit was another question entirely.

The other students retreated as well. Not one of them dared meet Kane's eyes.

I tugged gently on Kane's sleeve. "Calm down. Today's incident is my fault. It has nothing to do with Mr. Darlok."

"He's right. If I can't release my power, I don't belong in this classroom."

I bowed to Darlok once more. "Mr. Darlok, I sincerely apologize for disrupting your class. I'll leave now."

I hurried out of the classroom. Kane followed.

I gave him a bitter smile. "You didn't have to come with me. Mr. Darlok didn't kick you out."

Kane shook his head stubbornly. "No. You left the classroom. Why would I stay?"

"Are you hungry? We could grab something to eat, or head to the back hill and practice Dodge Magic, or maybe play some video games."

Kane rattled off suggestions one after another. I knew he was trying to comfort me, to lift my spirits. But right now, I had no interest in any of it.

"I appreciate it, really. But I'm tired. I just want to go back to the dorm and rest."

"Okay. I'll walk you back."

When I returned to the dorm, Jenny rushed over immediately. "Huh? What are you doing back? Aren't you supposed to be in Magical Power Studies?"

"Wait—why are you here?"

Jenny grinned. "The medical wing wasn't busy today, so I came back early. But you still haven't answered my question."

"Did you blow everyone away in class? Did the teacher say you're already too advanced for the course and sent you back to rest?"

I managed a bitter smile but said nothing. I simply turned and collapsed onto my bed.

Jenny's smile faded instantly. "What's wrong? Did something happen? Did Rowan and her crew bother you again?"

"No." I shook my head. "No one bothered me. I'm just tired. I wanted to come back and rest."

"Okay, okay. Get some sleep then. I won't disturb you. I'll grab lunch from the cafeteria and bring it back for you."

Lying in bed, I thought about my entire life—how I'd never known the carefree innocence other children enjoyed. Only endless hiding.

At school, I had to be invisible. At home, I couldn't even play on the streets or in town by myself.

I'd thought coming to the magic academy would change all that. But clearly, some things couldn't be changed. At least not yet.

My thoughts spiraled into chaos.

I should probably thank Kane for holding my hand last night. If he hadn't, I wouldn't have lost sleep.

And if I hadn't lost sleep, I didn't dare imagine how much worse I'd feel right now.

I drifted into a hazy sleep. In my dreams, I thought I saw my mother—just a vague outline, but the warmth I felt was unmistakable.

When I woke again, I found myself in the medical wing.

I rubbed my forehead, wondering if I was still dreaming. "Why am I in the medical wing? Wasn't I in the dorm?"

Jenny's voice came from beside me. "It's already dark out. You slept through the entire day. And you had a fever, so I had to bring you here."

"Well, technically, I didn't bring you. Kane carried you here."

I froze. "I had a fever? I slept all day? Kane carried me here?"

Honestly, I couldn't believe any of it. I hadn't felt a thing.

Jenny nodded. "Yep. Kane stood guard outside the dorm the whole time. The moment I realized you had a fever, he brought you straight to the medical wing."

"Unfortunately, your timing's terrible. He stayed here all day, but he just left to grab you some food."

I struggled to process Jenny's words, still confused about why I'd gotten sick in the first place.

"I didn't feel anything wrong with my body. How could I suddenly have a fever? Are you sure the test wasn't wrong?"

Jenny shook her head immediately. "Impossible. Don't question my professionalism. If I couldn't diagnose a simple fever, I'd have no business studying healing magic."