Today was the academy's annual celebration.

The great hall was festively decorated, filled with laughter and joy everywhere. Students from all grades wore their finest attire, celebrating this grand annual festival together with professors and noble parents. The long tables were laden with various exquisite delicacies, while the air was filled with the sweet aroma of pastries and the delicate fragrance of flowers.


I stood in a corner of the hall, holding a cup of tea, quietly observing the lively scene around me.

To be honest, I don't like occasions like this. Too many people, too many fake smiles, too much small talk to deal with. But as the daughter of the Ethelgard family, I must appear here, at least for appearance's sake.

"Senior Eliana!"


A familiar voice came from behind. I turned around to see Lina walking toward me, wearing her signature sweet smile. She was dressed in a light blue evening gown today, looking truly beautiful.

"Lina." I nodded lightly.


"The celebration today is so lively!" Lina came to my side, her eyes sparkling with excitement, "Do you know? I just heard that there are many ancient rooms beneath the academy, which supposedly contain many precious magical artifacts!"

I frowned. Lina's excited expression made me feel uneasy. In my previous life, she had also shown unusual interest in these "precious artifacts," and the results were never good.

"Those places are usually sealed off." I reminded her, "Besides, today is the festival, we should focus on enjoying this pleasant evening."

"Ah, yes..." Lina's smile stiffened a bit, but quickly regained its vigor, "But it should be fine to just take a look, right? I'm only curious."

That statement set off alarm bells in my mind. In memories of my previous life, Lina's "curiosity" often brought trouble to those around her. And that excited expression she just showed...

"Lina," I looked at her seriously, "It's best not to wander around tonight. Some areas of the academy are dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Lina blinked, "That can't be, this is the academy after all. Besides, I'm not a child, I know to be careful."

After saying this, she turned and walked into the crowd, quickly disappearing into the bustling festival scene.

I watched her retreating figure, a sense of foreboding rising within me.

Unfortunately, my premonition soon became reality.

About an hour later, just as the festival reached its most exciting moment, suddenly—

"BOOM!"

A earth-shattering explosion sound came from beneath the academy, causing the entire building to shake violently. The crystal chandeliers in the hall began to sway, and several vases fell from tables, shattering to pieces.

Everyone froze, and the festival site instantly fell into an eerie silence.

"That was just..."

"An earthquake?"

"No, that sound..."

While everyone was still confused, the academy's Magical Alarm System suddenly blared with piercing sirens.

「Woo——Woo——Woo——」

Red magical light began to flash throughout the hall, the highest level alarm that would only be activated when the academy was under attack.

Immediately after, the voice of Dean Professor Edmund spread throughout the entire academy through a magical amplifier:

「Emergency announcement! Emergency announcement! The academy is under invasion by magical beasts! All students proceed immediately to designated shelter areas! Repeat, all students proceed immediately to designated shelter areas! Professors and members of the Knight Order please report to your respective posts immediately!」

The hall instantly erupted into chaos.

「Magical beast invasion?」

「How is that possible?!」

「Run quickly!」

Students began running in all directions, the scene was complete chaos. Noble ladies screamed, while the gentlemen tried to maintain order, but with little effect.

At that moment, the main door of the hall was suddenly struck open by something, and a monster covered in sharp spines charged in. It was a mid-level monster—a Thorn Beast, about the size of a horse, covered with sharp bone spikes, with blood-thirsty light flickering in its red eyes.

"Ahhhh!"

The screams at the scene intensified.

Following closely behind the Thorn Beast were more monsters—there were flying Arcane Bats, swift Shadow Wolves, and massive Rock Giants. They poured into the hall like a tide, instantly transforming this elegant celebration venue into a battlefield.

I quickly retreated to the wall and began analyzing the situation before me.

The number and variety of these monsters far exceeded normal ranges, and they seemed to be surging from beneath the academy. Combined with what Lina had just said and the time she disappeared, I could basically determine the cause of this disaster.

That foolish woman has caused trouble again, as expected.

"All students fall back! Knights prepare for battle!"

Sir Carlton, the academy's knight commander, shouted loudly as he waved his sword, leading more than a dozen knights to charge toward the group of magical beasts.

At the same time, several professors also began casting spells.

"Fire Storm!"

"Ice Spike Spell!"

"Lightning Strike!"

The light of various spells flickered throughout the hall, intertwining with the roars of the magical beasts, creating an apocalyptic scene.

However, there were simply too many magical beasts.

Just as the knights and professors were desperately fighting back, something suddenly broke through the ceiling of the hall. A gigantic shadow descended from above, landing heavily in the center of the hall.

It was a Chimera—a legendary high-level magical beast.

It had the body of a lion, the head of a goat, and a serpent's tail. All three mouths roared simultaneously, producing a deafening sound. Each of its claws was as large as an adult human's body, with sharp talons that carved deep grooves into the ground.

"A Chimera?!" Sir Carlton's face turned pale, "Why would a magical beast of this caliber be here..."

The Chimera swept its gaze across the crowd, then selected its targets—the lavishly dressed noble students who were clearly of extraordinary status.

It opened its massive jaws and began to concentrate fire magic.

"Danger!"

At this critical moment, a golden light flashed, and Prince Theo appeared before the Chimera. The holy sword in his hand emitted a blinding light as he swung it directly at the Chimera's head.

"Holy Light Slash!"

The golden sword energy cut through the air, leaving a deep wound on the Chimera's cheek. The Chimera let out an angry roar, and the half-formed fire magic was forcibly interrupted.

"Your Highness!"

Lina had appeared in the hall at some point. Her face was pale, and her whole body was trembling. The evening gown she wore was torn in several places, making her look quite disheveled.

She hid behind a pillar, watching Prince Theo battling the Chimera with tear-filled eyes.

Seeing her in this state, I was almost certain about my speculation. This monster invasion was caused by her.

But now was not the time to place blame.

Although the Chimera was temporarily suppressed by Prince Theo, other monsters were still rampaging. Thorn beasts rushed toward a group of lower-grade students who had no ability to fight back and could only let out desperate screams.

The shadow wolves surrounded several senior students who were desperately casting magic spells, preparing to launch a deadly attack.

A rock giant threw a punch at two knights who were protecting a group of noble ladies. If this punch landed, those two knights would certainly die.

The entire scene had completely spiraled out of control.

At that moment, the temperature suddenly dropped at the other end of the hall.

An intense cold swept over everyone, and tiny ice crystals began to form in the air.

"Domain of Ice."

Karen was somehow standing in the center of the hall, with a massive Frost Barrier forming around him. The magical beasts charging toward the students instantly turned into ice sculptures upon touching this barrier.

The power of this magic spell astonished everyone present.

"This level of frost magic..." a professor murmured, "This is approaching the level of an Arch Mage..."

But I could see that Karen's face didn't look good. Maintaining such a large-scale advanced magic spell was consuming an enormous amount of magical power. Beads of sweat had formed on his forehead, and his breathing had become somewhat rapid.

More importantly, although the barrier temporarily protected most of the students, it couldn't last too long. Moreover, the Frost Barrier couldn't contain a magical beast of the Chimera's caliber.

Sure enough, the Chimera let out a roar, its body erupting in fierce flames, and easily broke through the edge of the Frost Barrier.

It lunged toward Karen, while opening its three mouths, each concentrating different magic - fire, poison gas, and lightning.

"Karen! Watch out!"

Prince Theo wanted to go provide support, but he was entangled with several shadow wolves and couldn't break free.

The other professors and knights were also engaged in their own battles and couldn't offer any help.

Karen stared at the Chimera charging toward him, his face showing no fear, only a calm resolve. He raised both hands and began to concentrate an even more powerful frost magic.

"Absolute Zero."

This was a forbidden-level frost magic with immense power, but the caster would also pay a terrible price.

Watching this scene, a complex emotion welled up inside me.

In my previous life, I had never seen Karen cast such powerful magic. He always seemed so carefree and nonchalant, as if nothing could truly move his heart. But now, to protect these students, he was actually using this level of forbidden spell.

Like this, he would die.

A magic of Absolute Zero's caliber was beyond Karen's ability to fully control in his current state. Once it went out of control, not only would the Chimera freeze to death, but he himself would also be encased in ice.

I gripped the teacup in my hand tightly, causing it to make a slight cracking sound.

To save him, or not?

According to my principles after reincarnation, I shouldn't get involved in such dangerous situations. My goal is to stay away from all trouble, safely complete my academy life, and avoid the tragic ending of my previous life.

What does Karen's life or death have to do with me?

But...

Looking at the figure desperately trying to protect others, something deep inside my heart began to ache.

Damn it.

I threw my teacup on the ground and began to concentrate on weaving star dust magic.

"Star Binding."