But Lancet couldn’t just come up with everything right that night, so he decided to let his mind rest and hopefully brainstorm some ideas tomorrow.

Tomorrow came.

Morning light spilled across Awakener Supreme in pale gold bands. Students moved through the grounds in clusters, the energy high and erratic.

It was the second day of the school week, but more importantly, today was an Assembly Day.

That news alone was enough to change the way everyone carried themselves. By the time the bells had finished ringing through the academy, students from every year were already being directed toward the Assembly Hall.

The reason for tension and excitement was simple: Headmistress Danistasia Ardental had returned.

While rumors had spread after she was spotted at the Hebthej award ceremony and wandering the administration corridors, today marked the official return of the Ice Witch to her throne.

"The Ice Witch’s really back, huh?"

"Yup. Things are about to get crazy around here."

"Tell me about it. My brother says she used to run the academy like a war camp."

"She doesn’t smile with her eyes. That’s what scares me." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Does she really freeze people when she’s angry?"

"Why do I feel like today’s going to suck?"

Lancet sat among the crowd with Kasto on one side and Anita on the other, the three of them squeezed into one of the lower seating sections with the rest of the students.

Anita bumped her shoulder against his, looking at Lancet with a bright, relieved smile. "I’ve got to admit, I’m really happy you’re sitting with us down here and not up there with the Goldies."

"Yeah," Kasto agreed, leaning over to high-five Lancet. "I told you that no matter how high Lancet goes, he’s never going to forget us."

Lancet smiled at the both of them, then looked around to find Luke. Unsuccessful, he turned to his roommates and grinned again. "No one I’d rather hang out with but you guys."

Kasto and Anita smiled at each other.

Then the Machinist glanced toward the front with a more serious look. "Still, the Headmistress coming back is a big deal."

"I know right," Anita whispered. "It’s making me so nervous and I barely even know her."

Lancet followed the gaze of the room toward the stage, where Dean Ordenance had already taken his place near the side.

He looked as he usually did when the academy was under pressure: upright, careful, and composed. But even from a distance, Lancet could tell the balance had already shifted.

Ordenance was not the one the room was waiting for.

The hall gradually quieted. Students adjusted in their seats and professors took their positions. Even the air settled into expectation.

Then the doors at the front opened. Danistasia Ardental entered the hall like a silent gust of winter wind.

The effect of her presence was immediate.

Everyone froze, lips tightened, as they watched her walk elegantly, her icy dark gown flowing behind her. Every moment she carried a cold, composed authority that made the entire hall feel smaller in her presence.

The pale glow of the light above caught on the subtle details of her attire, on the icy calm of her face, on the unshakable confidence in her posture.

The Ice Witch had returned.

Stepping onto the stage, Danistasia let the silence stretch for a while longer. She used the time to scan the faces of the sea of students and professors before her. Everyone felt her cold stare seeping into their veins.

Finally, she spoke.

"Students of Awakener Supreme."

Her voice was clear, cool, and carried enough force that even the farthest rows had no trouble hearing it.

"I return to you in a stronger state than I left you, and I am pleased to say that the academy has not been idle in my absence."

A few students shifted in their seats. Some sat straighter. Some lowered their eyes. Some looked as though they had already begun calculating what their next mistake might cost them.

Danistasia continued, her gaze steady. "The success in Hebthej has elevated this institution’s standing. It has proven what many of you have long been trained to understand but not all of you have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand. Awakener Supreme exists to produce results. It exists to strengthen the world. It exists to shape students who can stand under pressure and remain useful when time turns hostile."

Her eyes moved across the hall.

"I am proud of the development I have seen here. Proud of the professors who continued their work. Proud of the students who did not break under the weight of expectation. Proud of the Vanguard, whose efforts in Hebthej have brought honor to this academy and funding to its future."

Danistasia let the tension build and then changed her expression just slightly. The cold pride in her gaze darkened into a grimmer shade.

"But things will now become more serious."

The shift in her tone stilled the entire Hall.

"Celebration breeds complacency. Comfort breeds weakness. And Awakener Supreme was not built to be a sanctuary for the weak. It was built to forge the ultimate weapons of humanity."

She leaned forward over the podium.

"The pleasantries are over. Things are going to get much, much more serious. I officially declare the commencement of the Inter-Class Competitions!"

A shockwave of collective anxiety rippled through the stands. Some students looked excited. Others looked grim. Most of them looked both at once.

"Starting this week," Danistasia declared, her voice rising with brutal conviction, "we begin the preparatory Dungeon Expeditions. These expeditions will carry double the usual amount of Tributes."

The Year Ones who were unaware of these exclaimed with excitement, murmuring to each other.

"That means your performance this week will matter twice as much," the Ice Witch continued. "Your Class Groups are depending on you, so do not fail them!"

Lancet narrowed his eyes. ’Double Tributes. That’s going to make the different classes fight like rabid dogs over the dungeon slots.’

Danistasia let that sink in before continuing.

"Next week, the full competitions will begin. Duels. Battles. Structured class matches. Individual showcases. Group performance evaluations. All of it will determine how much your Class Group earns, until the Finals when we declare the victorious Class Group and the MVP of the Inter-Class Competitions."

Students were already looking more serious now.

They knew exactly how important this was.

This was the best way to earn Tributes and Profits. More Tributes meant more funding to your Class Group, and according to your performance in getting the Tributes, you would earn more Profits.

More Profits meant more everything.

Danistasia’s expression remained calm, but there was iron in it now.

"Understand this clearly," she said. "The academy will reward strength. It will reward discipline. It will reward competence. Those who perform well will enjoy the privileges of this esteemed institution. Those who fail will be reminded quickly and efficiently that this world has no patience for weakness."

That line landed hard.

No one was smiling or whispering lightly anymore.

Even the students who had been joking before were now sitting forward, their eyes fixed on the stage.

Danistasia let her gaze rest on the crowd one last time, and when she spoke again, raising her voice with finality.

"Prepare yourselves. Study harder. Train better. Push yourselves further than you think you can go. Because if you intend to remain in this academy, let alone rise within it, you will need to prove that you deserve every advantage you receive."

Then she straightened slightly, and her next words came down like a verdict.

"Go and get ready for the Inter-Class Competitions."

The students immediately erupted into roars and murmurs, the kind of chaos Danistasia loved.

The Headmistress watched as they all headed into their classrooms. Lancet turned around to take a final look at her and he could tell almost with certainty that she was peering right back at him.