The Beginning Of The End

"The situation is getting really tense," the female student muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes glued to the swirling mist in front of them.

"Through the icy fog, a silhouette emerged. A man, hunched low, his form cloaked in shadows. The only illumination came from two glowing circles of black and gold hovering around his face. The faint light barely outlined his gaunt features, revealing just how emaciated his face was."

"And standing opposite him... is some kind of... of fucking mummy, with purple glowing eyes!" she exclaimed, the words tumbling out as she took another step back, her heart pounding in her chest.

The male student let out a huff, his gaze fixed on the tense standoff between the teacher and the strange figure. "Hey, stop mocking the teacher. If he loses, it's up to us to step in."

"What? Are you seriously doubting the teacher's strength?" The female student's eyes widened in playful disbelief, her voice rising in shock.

"..." The male student fell silent, the look on his face unreadable as he turned his focus back to the combat ahead.

Clearly, he was speechless at her nonsensical actions and words.

"Hey, Teacher, do you think you'll lose?" the female student asked, her tone filled with a mixture of concern and curiosity, her fingers twitching nervously at her sides.

"Hmph, if I don't go all out, it might be a bit tricky," the teacher replied, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

He shifted his stance, his body relaxed but poised for action.

"So... do you think you'll lose?" she asked again, her voice a little less sure, still unsure if she could fully trust the situation.

"Nah," the teacher said firmly, his eyes glowing faintly with confidence, his hands clenching as he prepared for the battle ahead. "I'd win."

Suddenly, the man in front of them vanished without a trace.

"Huh?!" The teacher's voice broke the silence, his eyes wide in momentary surprise.

But even that brief shock barely had time to register on his face before the situation escalated even further.

His body remained perfectly still, a sense of readiness emanating from him as if anticipating the next move.

The students exchanged looks, their breath visible in the cold air, tension creeping up their spines.

They had barely processed the disappearance before the air around them seemed to hum with a new kind of energy, the hairs on the back of their necks standing on end.

The female student's hand instinctively gripped the edge of her weapon as she scanned their surroundings, her heart racing.

"Where did he go?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The male student clenched his fists, his eyes scanning the mist with growing unease. "This isn't good. He's too fast."

The teacher's expression remained calm, but his gaze flicked to every direction, sensing the movement before it even happened. He was no longer just reacting; he was waiting, calculating.

As the mist cleared, the surroundings slowly came into focus, revealing the bizarre scene that had unfolded.

The cold air seemed to hang heavier, the silence broken only by the soft crunch of snow beneath their feet.

"Teacher!" The female student called out, her voice sharper than before.

She stepped forward, eyes wide in surprise, her hand instinctively moving toward her weapon as if preparing for another surprise.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" The teacher's tone remained calm, but his gaze shifted downward, following her pointed finger with a slow turn of his head.

"Your foot!" The urgency in her voice grew, her breath catching slightly as she noticed the strange sight.

The teacher's brow furrowed slightly. "My… foot?" He followed her gaze, his gaze narrowing as he focused on the small figure gripping his leg.

The child, barely more than a faint shadow of a person, was gnawing at his foot with surprising determination.

The teacher looked at the boy with a mixture of confusion and slight annoyance.

The pressure of the bite was so insignificant that he couldn't even feel it, the sensation more of a minor nuisance than an actual threat.

"Hey, you're not actually a wild animal, are you?" the teacher muttered, his voice dry, almost amused.

He glanced down at the boy with an air of bemusement, raising an eyebrow at the absurdity of the situation.

With a soft sigh, he began to move his foot, the leather of his boots creaking faintly with the motion. He gave a small shake, attempting to dislodge the boy from his foot.

The boy's thin, frail body didn't budge, his face buried into the boot with an intensity that seemed disproportionate to his size.

The teacher moved again, this time more forcefully, his heel lifting a few inches off the ground, but the boy still clung to his leg.

His bony fingers dug into the fabric, his teeth clenched around the leather like a dog unwilling to let go of its prey.

"You really are stubborn, huh?" the teacher remarked, his tone flat but carrying a hint of something like admiration.

He gave one more shake, this time taking a small step backward, the cold air swirling around them.

The boy's grip didn't falter in the slightest, though his small form seemed to sway with the movement.

"Let go," the teacher muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

He then tried one final attempt, shaking his leg again, his boot brushing against the snow-covered ground with a soft rasp.

The boy remained attached, not letting go, a tiny, unyielding force of nature.

"Hey, Songsen! Give me a hand!" the teacher called out, his tone carrying a mixture of exasperation and command as he tried to shake the boy off once more.

Songsen, the male student, let out a deep sigh, rolling his eyes as if this kind of request had become all too familiar.

"Ugh, such a pain," he muttered, dragging his feet as he stepped closer. His expression was one of reluctant acceptance, but his hands were already moving with practiced ease.

From behind his back, he pulled out a sleek, ornately carved staff, its dark wood glinting faintly in the icy light.

He adjusted his grip on it, the runes etched along its length beginning to glow softly as he pointed it toward the boy still clinging stubbornly to the teacher's leg.

Songsen's voice became steady and deliberate, his words laced with a quiet authority as he began to chant.

"Nullify."

The air around them seemed to shift, the faint hum of magical energy vibrating through the ground beneath their feet.

A soft, almost invisible wave emanated from the tip of the staff, washing over the boy like a gentle ripple.

Slowly, the boy's small frame began to relax, the tension draining from his bony fingers.

His grip on the teacher's boot loosened, and his teeth unclenched with a faint, almost inaudible gasp.

He swayed slightly, the last remnants of his strength slipping away as he finally released his hold.

The teacher lifted his foot gingerly, watching as the boy collapsed to the ground with a soft thud.

His body was still frail and motionless, his shallow breaths the only indication that he was still alive.

Songsen lowered his staff, the glow fading as he let out another sigh, rubbing the back of his neck lazily.

"There. Problem solved. Can I go back to doing nothing now?" he quipped, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he cast a sideways glance at the teacher.

"Oh, come on, it wasn't that big of a deal," the teacher said, shrugging nonchalantly and waving a hand as though dismissing the effort entirely.

His lips curved into a slight pout, feigning innocence as if nothing was ever his responsibility.

Songsen gave him an unimpressed glare, letting out a huff of frustration.

"I'm just a first level wizzard. Even a simple fireball spell would drain me completely right now, and you made me waste magic on this? You could've just bent down and pried his mouth open with your hands, you know!"

The teacher turned his head to the side, crossing his arms with a childish pout as if refusing to acknowledge the comment.

He stared off into the distance, whistling softly, pretending as though the entire incident had absolutely nothing to do with him.

From behind, the female student couldn't help but stifle a laugh, her shoulders shaking slightly before she burst out in mockery.

"Fufu~ Weak boy~" Her teasing tone carried over, and she twirled her finger in the air as if to drive the point home.

Songsen groaned, throwing his hands up dramatically. "Yuki, you're one to talk, standing there just watching the whole time. Do you not see that the boy's about to starve to death?"

The teacher, spotting an opportunity to shift the blame, pointed toward Yuki. "Exactly! Go on, Yuki, stop standing around. Grab some food from the wagon already, you lazy bastard!" He gestured repeatedly, his finger jabbing the air in the direction of their transport.

Yuki rolled her eyes, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "And what exactly do you expect me to do?"

Songsen crossed his arms, glaring at her. "I don't know, maybe get some food, you idiot! The wagon's right there. You're the one carrying the snacks, aren't you?"

"Ugh, fine! But next time, you do it, Mr. Complainer," Yuki shot back, stomping off toward the wagon with exaggerated frustration.