“CASEOH!”


    The sharp voice cut through the haze in his mind.


    Caseoh’s eyes snapped open as he jolted upright. His hand shot to his chest, feeling his heart pounding beneath his ribs. He was seated at a desk — the familiar wooden frame of his classroom.


    His breathing slowed. His body… felt different.


    “Did you fall asleep in my class?” the teacher’s voice snapped.


    Caseoh blinked. His vision was sharper — he could see the chalk dust floating in the air at the front of the room. The murmurs of his classmates registered at once. Whispers. Staring.


    He slowly turned his head. Everyone was looking at him — wide-eyed, shocked, confused.


    “What’s wrong with everyone?” he muttered.


    “Stand up,” the teacher said.


    Caseoh stood.


    And that’s when he felt it.


    The shirt around his body slipped down his shoulder. The waist of his pants sagged dangerously low. His sleeves — which had always been tight around his arms — now hung loosely.


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    “What the hell?”


    He glanced down. His arms — toned. His chest — defined. He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the window — sharp jawline, lean muscle, piercing eyes. He was… completely different.


    The classroom gasped.


    “W-Wait… who is that?”


    “Is that Caseoh?”


    “No way — he looks…”


    Caseoh’s hand shot up, gripping his shirt before it slid off his shoulder. His other hand tugged his waistband back into place.


    I was fat yesterday.


    The murmurs grew louder.


    “Since when did Caseoh look like… that?”


    “Did he use some kind of magic?”


    Caseoh’s gaze hardened. His mind was clearer than ever — processing the information at an unnatural speed. He pulled his uniform into place, trying to steady his breathing.


    “Elric,” someone whispered.


    Caseoh turned toward the back of the room. Elric was seated with his arms crossed, a thin smile playing on his lips. His eyes were sharp — calculating.


    “Interesting,” Elric murmured.


    “Caseoh!” the teacher’s voice snapped him back to reality. “Answer the question.”


    Caseoh’s eyes flicked toward the board. A complex magical equation was scrawled across it — one he would’ve struggled with before. But now…


    “Three-point-eight units of light mana, balanced through the third gate of the circulatory pathway,” Caseoh said calmly.


    Silence.


    “That’s… correct,” the teacher said slowly.


    The class erupted into whispers.


    “How did he know that?”


    “Did he study?”


    Caseoh sat down, his mind racing. His body — his senses — his mind — everything was enhanced. And that power… he could feel it thrumming beneath his skin like a coiled spring.


    What happened to me?


    “Elric.”


    Caseoh turned. Elric was already standing. He walked toward Caseoh’s desk, his smile thin.


    “You’ve changed,” Elric said.


    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Caseoh replied coolly.


    “Come on,” Elric’s gaze swept over his frame. “Yesterday you were struggling to breathe after walking up the stairs. Now you’re spitting out high-level mana calculations?”


    Caseoh didn’t answer.


    “You’re hiding something,” Elric said. He leaned down slightly, his smile fading. “Training grounds. Tomorrow. Prove you’re not bluffing.”


    Caseoh’s eyes narrowed.


    “Don’t back out.” Elric turned and walked toward the door as the bell rang.


    Caseoh’s hand clenched into a fist. He glanced down at his palm. His strength — his power — he could feel it swirling beneath his skin, waiting to be unleashed.


    As the classroom emptied, Caseoh remained seated. His reflection in the window caught his eye.


    This isn’t normal.


    Xa?eoh’s voice echoed in his mind.


    "The power was always within you. I merely unlocked what you buried under weakness."


    Caseoh’s gaze sharpened. His grip loosened. A slow breath left his lips.