-Zeref's POV-

Last lesson of the day and it felt worse than all the torture I went through during Gramps's training. I had forgotten how boring school was. I wanted to come to school just for my friends; This studying thing just wasn't for me.

"Psst! Zeref, I think Fiona likes me. She's been staring at me for the past 10 minutes." Jace whispered to me. I looked at the dwarven that was staring back at us and grimaced before shaking my head. This guy, I forgot how big of a simp he was.

I looked to the front of the classroom to see Naz staring back at us. When I caught her staring, she quickly looked back at the teacher, shifting in her chair uncomfortably. Was she staring at me or Jace?

"Who cares man, just let me sleep already. This mana history class is boring as hell." I complained before crossing my arms and leaning my head on them.

"Now you know how I felt for these past couple months; we really missed you bro." Jace spoke, making me smile.

"Stinkend and the one next to him stand up now!" a loud voice bellowed, echoing throughout the large room. I lifted my head slowly before yawning and rubbing my eyes; Jace and the girl sitting next to him on his left stood up shakily. Jace exchanged looks with me, his face showing that 'save me Zeref' expression.

"Not you, you stupid girl, the boy next to Stinkend." the professor shouted, his face red and spit flying out of his mouth, with every syllable he spoke. The students laughed as the embarrassed Naz sat back down hastily.

The professor must have been talking about me. I stood up tall, kicking my chair back.

"Boy that was sleeping during my lesson, what's your name?" the old man questioned pushing up his spectacles.

He had a bald patch at the centre of his head and crooked teeth; his skin was wrinkly and hairy pimples infested his face. He wore a dark robe and held a magic staff in his right hand. He reminded me of those dodgy beggars that would sell you poisoned apples. A girl called Snow white fell for that trick in my old world. Foolish girl.

"Zeref Amara." I replied. A burst of chattering erupted in the room as the students gossiped about where they had heard that name.

"Why aren't you wearing the school blazer and take off that eye patch this instant!" he spat disgustingly.

"Apologies sir, I don't have a blazer and about the eye patch; it can't be taken off." I tried to sound sincere, but it didn't work.

"As punishment, you and Stinkend will clean this room after the lesson is finished. Now sit back down." he laughed hideously and all the students stared back at me.

"Zeref, don't kill him. Please." Jace whispered, trying not to laugh. I smirked before sitting down in my chair again.

Suddenly, the floor started to shake, the board fell off the wall. Everyone took cover under their tables. Jace grabbed Naz, towering over her like a shield. Tiny rubble started to fall onto the tables when I heard an ear-splitting scream. My heart stopped as Jace and I looked at each other, knowing exactly whose voice it was.

Malia.

"AGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" another scream filled the air, this time more pained and desperate. I ran to the door when suddenly the emergency alarm went off.

Red flashes filled the room along with a loud ringing alarm. A blue opaque wall was made in front of all the windows and doors.

"EVERYONE! GET DOWN UNDER A DESK! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!" the stupid teacher yelled, already under his desk.

Girls started to scream as boys yelled, everyone panicked and rushed under their desks.

I flash stepped and grabbed Naz's shoulder, spinning her around.

"Teleport us out of here!" I yelled over the loud shaking of the ground and people's screams.

"I can't! The blue wall is mana proof. It'll just repel us back." she shouted, covering her ears. Jace rushed to her side and pulled her under a table.

"Idiot! Get under the tables!" Jace yelled at her as he shoved her head under her desk while she tried to protest. He stood next to me, giving me the 'what's the plan' look.

"I can't break that barrier, I'll most likely destroy the vicinity If I tried. We have to think of something else." I stressed, pacing back and forth while dodging rubble as it fell onto the ground.

"What do you mean?! Did you HEAR her screams?! Just break that barrier." Jace yelled desperately. I avoided his eyes, shaking my head, trying to think.

"I can't show my powers."

Jace gave out a frustrated sigh before facing the door. He raised his hands, slowly raising them as it conjured up a wave of water. Before he could attack, a familiar figure rushed to the barrier.

"XANXUS!" I yelled at the hunched old assassin.

"TEACHERS TAKE THE REGISTER!!!" Xanxus yelled through the barrier. He was about to leave but I yelled his name again.

"GET ME OUTTA HERE!" I spat.

Xanxus's eyes widened as he saw me. The barrier instantly fell down; I looked back at Jace and Naz exchanging nods and ran through it.

I could hear the professor's shrieks as he tried to call us back but Xanxus shut him up thankfully.

**

We followed Xanxus as he ran through each classroom, telling teachers to take the register for attendance. For some reason, I couldn't find Malia's mana signatures anywhere and there were no traces of her scent. I peeked in every classroom but she was nowhere to be found.

"Good to have you back Zeref!" Xanxus said while making his way down the stairs.

I was about to reply when a scream came from outside.

"AHHHH! PLEASE!" A girl's voice screamed.

"SARA!" Naz identified, pushing me aside and sprinting down the stairs. We followed her, swinging the doors open and making our way to a blind spot behind a wall.

When we arrived, we found Sara fainted on the floor. A deadly aura was in the air but nothing about it helped me identify whose it belonged to.

I wasn't even in school for that long and something stupid had to happen already. It was like I brought all the bad luck with me.

"There's an imposter in the school. This aura is too dangerous to be a student's." Xanxus sounded panicked as Naz fell next to Sara's limp body, cradling her while crying.

"She looks fine. Just a few claw marks on her wrist and cheek." Jace inspected.

"Looks like it was a wolven type beast." Xanxus said, the panic evident in his tone.

Suddenly my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach as the realisation hit me. "Malia screamed." I whispered.

"Zeref, I need you to help me reinforce the school barrier with all your strength. The more power the stronger the barrier will be. We are locking down the school so the imposter can't escape." Xanxus vociferated.

"Naz, Jace, teleport Sara to the nurse's office. Knock on the barrier and say the code to get in." he instructed.

"What's the code?" Jace spoke while picking Sara up in his arms.

"0324"

Everyone did as told and only I was left standing next to Xanxus. "Don't hold back Zeref. This beast is one heck of a monster."

"I know. It's strength is abnormally high."

I held up my hands towards the gates while Xanxus did the same.

"Protecto Anyii!" he said and he linked his arm with mine. Both of our hands started to shoot out a long blast of magic, mine way bigger than his. The ground started to shake with the amount of mana I was releasing and the feeling sent shivers down my neck.

[You have used 1000 MP]

Soon an extra solid barrier was created around the school premises. No way in hell was this imposter leaving with the strength of this barrier holding it back.