Fall.

“A demon...? So that’s what I was sensing,” Irma whispered, narrowing her eyes at the swirling silhouette cloaked in a disturbing aura.
Without hesitation, she dashed forward. Her fingers moved quickly into a magical formation as she chanted:
“Frontier Crystal!”
A radiant sphere of light enveloped Marcus and Alric, shielding them from the demonic energy. The barrier shimmered with a cold blue glow.
The demon recoiled a step.“What? A mid-level mage or higher...?”
Marcus opened his eyes wide, stunned.“I-Instructor...!” he gasped with relief.
Irma quickly assessed the situation, her voice commanding:“Hey, girl! Go call the professors!”
Calthey, who had been standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. To her, this all felt like unnecessary drama.
“So... it begins.”She sighed.“Fine, whatever...”She took off running, though her inner voice murmured:“Isn’t this all pointless? We’re just spectators on the edge of fate...”
Meanwhile, Alric, now back on his feet, shouted:“Please! Don’t kill the demon!”
Irma blinked.“And why not? It’s a demon.”
“No! It’s Illya!” Alric’s voice trembled, yet it held desperate sincerity.“She’s our ally!”
Marcus added in a pleading tone:“Please... don’t kill her!”
Irma paused.“I can’t just take their word for it... but what if I’m wrong? Who am I really protecting then?”
There was honesty in their voices. A genuine belief in their friend — even if that friend wasn’t human.She whispered:“Hmph. You kids are something else. Very well. I’ll do as you ask.”
She began to weave a new incantation.
“Seal of Truth.”
The Seal of Truth is a high-level spell that binds a living target. Chains rise from the air and restrain the target, sealing them within a spherical barrier. The seal can only be broken by the caster’s will — or after three months.
A magic circle lit up beneath the demon’s feet. Chains erupted from the air, wrapping around Illya, and a shimmering dome of light closed around her.
Through the dense barrier, Irma caught a glimpse of Illya’s eyes — there was recognition in them.
“W-What...?” Marcus muttered, unable to believe what he’d seen.
Vwooom... The barrier fully sealed off the demon from the outside world.
“H-Hey! Why?! Couldn’t she just be healed?!” Marcus shouted in disbelief, eyes wide.
“Don’t be hasty,” Irma replied calmly.“There’s no cure for demonization... not yet. But research is ongoing. There’s hope.”
“Damn...” Marcus exhaled. He wanted to save her — and now there was at least a chance.
“Still better than killing her,” Alric said with a small nod.
Heavy footsteps echoed in the distance. Three professors entered the hall.
“I heard there was a demon,” said Knights Valeador with a serious look.
“A demon? How rare for our academy. Hohoho,” chuckled Ignis Robert with amusement.
“This generation never ceases to surprise,” Sirius White said with his hands behind his back.
“Ah, you made it, gentlemen,” Irma greeted them with a soft smile.

---
System Notification:Quest 1: First Catastrophe — [Heal or Kill the Demon]Status: [Postponed]Rank: [D]**Consequence: Debuff — “Voiceless Author”]Skill “Writer” — Temporarily Sealed.
“W-What the hell...?” Marcus whispered. His heart felt like it stopped.
He was already at his limit — and now this?
“You didn’t complete the quest, but you didn’t fail it either. So you get a debuff. Be grateful,” the System said coldly.
“M-My... main skill...”He raised his trembling hands to his head.“Without it... who even am I?”
“You were pathetic even with it. Nothing’s changed,” the System responded, icy and cruel.
“W-What...?”Marcus’s eyes widened. His mouth opened in disbelief.
“That’s not for me to decide,” the System said.“You choose who you are.”
Calthey, returning with the professors, looked toward Marcus.
“What’s happening to him...? Am I the only one seeing this?” she whispered.
“I’m no longer the Writer...Now I’m just... a character?”
The System said nothing.