5. Eight Students

Eight Students.

In my past life, I used to face rooms full of students.

Now, only eight.

There were two desks in front of the classroom, in the left corner of the classroom. I guessed it was for the teacher and the assistant.

Sylen and I walked towards them in silence. I could feel the weight of eight eyes following our every step. Uncertain curiosity students always held when a new teacher entered the room.

I looked at my clean desk. There was nothing on it. No books. No notes. No papers.

But then I glanced at the desk beside me, Sylen's desk. Books. Papers. Notes. Everything was in order. Familiar. Used. She'd been here before. As something more than just an assistant, it could be a teacher of this class. My demotion had dragged her down. My thought.

I looked at Sylen; it seemed she was trying to find something. As she was searching—searching—searching for something, she immediately clicked, like remembered something. She picked up a sheet of paper, neatly well written, boxed and labelled.

"Should I begin the attendance, Sir Alaric?" she asked, her eyes still on the paper. Ah, that was the list of the attendance or students in this class.

I looked at the class. All seats were filled, no absentees. No need for any attendance.

"I think we already know they're here," I said quietly to her and stepped forward to the centre of the classroom.

The students immediately straightened slightly. Some alert, some indifferent, some not caring. All watching. I stood there for a breath, letting the silence stretch as an introduction. Let the students observe me and know me. Right now, this classroom was a place where eight students waited for instruction.

Eight.

In the past, I used to handle dozens. However, now… Eight for me was enough to make a change for myself and my methods. These eight students were everything right now…

I took a breath. "My name is Alaric Mordane." I looked at them. What was their reaction? As they knew my name. Was there any reaction? Startled? Eyes widened, just slightly. A shift in posture. No gasps. No exclamation. But recognition. The name meant something to them. I was still someone, or perhaps I had been someone. Seeing that reaction, I didn't need to introduce more, as they already know who I am.

"It seems all of you already know who I am. Regardless of the information you know, is it bad of me or good of me? It doesn't really matter to me." I let the words rest for a moment. Looking at them again. They weren't defensive nor proud. "However, as you already know me, I really want to know about all of you."

My gaze travelled across the room from left to right. No one moved.

"Nothing complicated, no pressure." I added, "Just your name, age, and whatever else you want to say. Or nothing at all. I just want to know you…".

Silence stretched. Then, finally, the student in front of me raised his hand.

"What do you mean by everything, Sir Alaric?" he asked. I took my glance towards him. Bright blue eyes. Short black hair. He was composed.

"Everything – it means everything. What do you want to tell this classroom about yourself? What is your strength? Or maybe weakness?" Immediately, everyone reacted. So they reacted to the word ofweakness, interestingly. "Or maybe your opportunity – why do you attend this school? Just share it with this class. However, if there is something you don't want to tell, just don't tell it."

The boy nodded slowly. He took a stand. He took a breath. "I am Kaelen Croft. Sixteen. I want to become strong. I want to prove it." Immediately, he sat down.

Simple. However, I felt he didn't say what or to whom. I knew that tone; it wasn't ambition but for survival. There was some pause in the classroom. And then, without standing, the girl with black hair to his right spoke.

"Elara Thorne. Seventeen. I love to observe. Learning." She took a glance towards Kaelen, "I hate a person who doesn't know their limit."

Her voice was so calm, yet so sharp. As she knew what she wanted to talk or speak about.

Two.

I nodded slightly. No need to comment yet. Let them keep speaking on their own.

The next voice came from the row behind her. A boy with silver hair and dark violet eyes. He sat reclined in his chair, arms folded, posture relaxed but too deliberate to be careless.

"Maeve Nightshade. Fifteen. I try to seek knowledge that resonates deeply, not just what's presented on a surface…"

There was an unusual tone in the way he spoke; he was reciting something half remembered, half left. I sensed there was more behind that name, Nightshade. Like a flower. Deadly…

Three.

Then. A girl with blonde hair, sitting just beside him, adjusted the cuffs of her coat and stood with rigid posture. Her uniform was so clean, and her movements tight.

"Lysander Vale. Fourteen. I believe true understanding comes from questioning what the boundaries are. To truly learn, one must sometimes dare to break free from expectations and discover their own path. In here, I seek to unlock potential, in myself and in ideas."

Her words were too precise for someone so young. It wasn't rehearsed; it was lived. That kind of rhetorical introduction usually came from students desperate to prove themselves to authority. Hers. It wasn't desperation; it was a doctrine.

Four.

Before the silence could settle again, the next voice came from the corner behind, so casual, almost playful.

"Call me Finnian. Finnian Blythe. Seventeen. I'm here because nowhere else would take me. Or maybe I didn't want to go anywhere else. Maybe I just want to explore…"

He was lounging on his desk rather than sitting at it. Brown hair dishevelled like he'd just woken up and decided not to fix it. However, his eyes were sharp…

Five.

"…Nim," the girl beside him whispered. Barely audible. Her hand clutched the edge of her sleeve. "Nim Erevan. Fifteen, I—I'm here to learn to protect people. I don't want to hurt anyone again."

Again?

There was some silence that followed her words. Her eyes stayed on the floor, but her voice was quiet. Didn't smashed.

Six.

"Thalia. Thalia Lux." Suddenly a voice came from the front, beside the left of Kaelen. Her hands folded on the desk, posture straight. "I value unwavering conviction. Once I grasp that principle, I hold to it firmly. My strength is my steadfastness, ensuring that every foundation is solid."

Thalia's voice didn't shake. Neither humble nor proud, just certain. A foundation that may have already been tested.

Seven.

I let it settle for a heartbeat. Just one left, and that heartbeat suddenly surprised. As I looked at one seat left, beside Nim, it was the student I have known. The first student I have encountered in this world. And then, as if fate circled back to mock or test me, the last voice belonged to the first face I saw in this world.

Liora Valemont.

Her face was calm as she forgot about me.

Her posture straight and hands folded, and her eyes, those same fierce and sparkly ones, met mine without hesitation. She didn't stand. Didn't flinch.

"Liora Valemont. Eighteen. I believe power came from following the lines someone has drawn. As someone already tried and succeeded. As we just followed those lines."

Her voice wasn't uncertain. As if her truth had already been tested and found firm.

Eight.

The introduction of Liora was the end of it. "Thank you for the introduction, and thank you again, for you have tried to open who you are to me and everyone in this classroom." I said simply, letting the weight of all their introductions linger in the air.

Eight names. Eight voices. Eight lives.

My gaze swept the room again, slower this time. Recognising.

Kaelen's quiet fire.

Elara's blade-edge precision

Maeve's haunted curiosity.

Lysander's doctrine.

Finnian's playful and carefree.

Nim's trembling resolve.

Thalia's granite conviction.

Liora's scarred certainty.

I let out a slow breath.

In the past, I would have called this a small class. Now it felt vast. As each of them held an entire world behind their eyes.

So how would I do for now? I couldn't teach them about magic, as I didn't know anything about it. I slowly looked at the Sylen standing in front of her desk. As I thought, she maybe was a teacher before I got assigned to this class. Maybe I could toss it to Sylen, as Sylen taught them. I could see and analyse how the class worked in this world.

I said calmly, "As I am new in this class, I really want to know about how the class works." I walked towards Sylen. "How about Miss Sylen here, who will teach you today?"

Sylen's face immediately was surprised.

A small movement moved throught the room. Not loud, but clear as I looked at it.

Kaelen sat straighter, confused, maybe even disappointed.

Elara narrowed her eyes, suddenly studying me now, not Sylen.

Maeve showed a smirk slightly, like he found it amusing.

Lysander glanced down at her notes, clearly unbothered by the sudden change.

Finnian let out a soft chuckle.

Nim looked down, her fingers gripping her sleeve tighter.

Thalia folded her arms, calm, but tense like expecting something more.

Liora didn't move. But her stare sharpened.