The day started with whispers. Then, they began pointing fingers and calling for action. By lunchtime, when Maya passed the student council room, they turned into an outright storm of demands. People camped in front, banding together, ready to pull out their pitchforks and torches.

The fear of attending a school with a potential monster was indeed a legitimate concern and a catalyst for protest. This was not lost on Maya. However, she was perturbed by a different question.

'How did they know?'

Maya could tell through her secret ability and the ghost of an ancient witch confirming it, but how did rumours about the potential of Nerea turning into a corrupted monster spread? The only ones she had confided in were Erik and Elena.

Erik, having no connection with the academy, was an unlikely source. Not to mention it was unthinkable with his character.

As for Elena, she was known for her mischief, but this was beyond her usual scope. It was unlikely she would incite something that could lead to a student's exile, especially since the same cavalry could come for her if her own secret was revealed.

'Why are they gathering in front of the student council?' Maya wondered, but Leo quickly filled her in that Nerea was inside seeking shelter.

With Leo's relative stability lately, Maya was privy to the rumours swirling around the academy, despite not indulging in the gossip herself. Although the whole fiasco seemingly didn't concern Maya, she couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility to intervene.

The academy has divided. On one side, a faction of students was fervently demanding the expulsion of Nerea and other students with impaired magic. On the other, sympathizers opposed these unjust actions based on unfounded rumours.

Caught in the middle were the student council members, who carried the mantle of maintaining order within the academy, regardless of their personal stance. Among them was Kasper, the first-year rep, stationed before the council room, engaging in debates and reasoning with the crowd.

From his weary expression, Maya could tell Kasper had a long day already, swapped with his duties. Even the spark in his amber eyes seemed to have dimmed by exhaustion. Maya pushed her way to him. Knowing he must not have gotten to eat due to all the chaos, she offered him the packet of sweet honey waffles she had been saving for later.

Kasper took it with gratitude.

The opportunity to engage with Kasper and gain a closer perspective of the situation was too good to pass up. Maya readily offered her assistance, looking at the crowd they needed to sift through and take in any valid complaints while being wary of the ones spreading panic. They worried some could get radical ideas.

Kasper, with a tired chuckle, offered her a familiar proposition, "What do you say, you join the council now?"

Last trimester, Maya declined this offer. Even though she has now adjusted to her powers and life in Mellgrah, her circumstances have become even more hectic, especially after meeting Erik.

Although becoming a council member could provide a good excuse for her to be present during crucial times and not appear like a busybody since she cannot yet reveal her predestined role to save everyone, she didn't want to be burdened with extra duties that council membership would bring.

With a warm smile, she responded, "I can't join, but I can help out for today."

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Kasper appreciated her offer and granted her access to the council room where students had sought refuge. Upon entering, she found only three people sitting in solemn silence.

Keith abruptly stood up. "How did you get in?"

Keith was the lone council member in the room, sharing the space with Vito and Nerea. Maya wondered if he was there as a council member or Vito's friend.

Greeting them, she explained Kasper had let her through as an acting council member for today, and inquired if they needed anything. Scepticism clouded their faces, possibly questioning Kasper's judgment in allowing a non-member into the council room amidst such a sensitive situation. Maya wondered what they had been through to be so guarded against her.

Vito was notably protective of his girlfriend. The moment Maya walked into the room, he had subtly placed himself before Nerea as if making himself into a barrier. It was quite the contrast to a friendly, energetic guy Maya knew him as back in October when she sat with Keith's squad at lunch.

Considering Maya was only an acquaintance, his distrust was understandable. However, if Keith, who was a source of solace for them, was their only ally, it made Maya's presence even more necessary.

She couldn't help but ponder Keith's stance on the entire situation. How did he feel about his friend, who was so devotedly protecting a girlfriend who might be a ticking time bomb, a monster ready to emerge? After all, although lost on everyone but Keith and Maya, Keith's own girlfriend, Elena, was also a wolf in sheep's clothing, walking in daylight with everyone oblivious to her nature. And Keith's reaction to that was cold rejection and avoidance.

Was Keith here out of sincere empathy, or was he a reluctant supporter of his friend, bound by his duty as a council member?

As Maya tried to reach out to Nerea, attempting to offer some comfort and support, Vito seemed determined to keep Maya at a distance.

"Why are you here? And at the tea party as well. You seem overly curious for no apparent reason. Are you trying to turn her into a freak show? Is that it?" Vito crossed his arms on his chest.

Unbeknownst to him, the person he was keeping near was shunning someone who was in a similar predicament as Nerea, while Maya, whom he was wary of, had gone out of her way to help that same person.

"I'm here to offer help. I'm not obligated to remain neutral, so I can openly support you against this baseless witch hunt," Maya responded.

"And how do we know you're not just saying that to catch us off guard before you leave us at the mercy of the mob?" Vito retorted.

"Don't worry," Maya reassured, "I would never abandon someone merely because something about them has changed." She cast a glance at Keith as she spoke.

Keith looked away.

Maya was firm in her belief that everyone can be saved. The lack of a solution now doesn't mean they won't find one in the future. This was where she belonged—close enough to search for answers.

While listening to Leo's reports about the current state outside of the council room, Maya relayed them as the situation she observed prior to entering. Their faces only paled at words she'd 'overheard'.

"Do you have any idea what happened that they turned on you this harshly?" Maya inquired.

"I'm not sure," Vito confessed. "Panic about losing one's magic was spreading for a while, but only yesterday did things start to escalate. It was like suddenly everyone knew which students were in question. I've even noticed adults giving us strange looks."

"So, sometime yesterday or the day before, something happened that started a rumour about corruption," Maya pondered. "What could have caused it?"

"There was Amellan Council Meeting recently," Keith chimed in. "It could be that the identities of infected students were leaked then."

So this was something adults knew. But why would they be so careless as to let it slip into the public?

The sounds outside the council room were starting to intensify. Shouts were now accompanied by loud bangs and even crashing sounds. Maya was appalled by the madness that was overtaking fear-gripped students. Why did it all need to happen today and with such steep escalation?

"This has gone beyond acceptable," Keith criticized.

Things have clearly escalated beyond the point that the student council could handle on their own.

"I have to report the disturbance to faculty members," Keith declared. "Maya, please stay with them until I return."

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