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Or if one possessed a very strong conviction that contradicted the caster's command.
However, the suggestion the opponent had planted wasn't dangerous enough to provoke such firm values.
If she stubbornly resisted the Magic here, it would only heighten their vigilance towards Ayla.
'They might even try to use physical force against me.'
There was no way out.
Ayla had no choice but to follow the female student in front of her.
She slowly inhaled.
"Okay, lead the way."
Ayla said, clasping her hands demurely.
If she couldn't escape right now, she had to leave a trail so that someone could find her.
She fidgeted with her clasped hands, carefully severing the bracelet she had loosened earlier with her fingernails.
It was a bracelet Felix had given her, saying it would ward off bad luck.
'The beads are small, so they probably won't be noticed even if they fall…'
Would it be enough to leave a trail until she reached her destination?
Ayla followed the female student with a nervous heart,
dropping turquoise beads one by one on the floor with each step she took.
Whether it was because she was completely off guard, thinking Ayla was under the Magic, the female student didn't look back.
They were heading towards the academy's forest, where there were fewer people.
Ayla's expression hardened as she realized this.
'The destination is further than I thought.'
She was almost out of turquoise.
She thought about using a Magical potion, but it would be a disaster if she was subdued instead.
Fortunately, she arrived at her destination not long after she ran out of bracelet beads.
"Here it is."
The female student opened the door for her.
When Ayla hesitated, the female student shouted in an annoyed voice.
"Hurry up and go in!"
Immediately, her arm pushed Ayla's back hard. Ayla was sucked into the building in an instant.
Clang!
At the same time, the door closed.
'It's an old warehouse.'
Inside, there was a musty smell.
Cold sweat ran down Ayla's head.
'Emotion Manipulation Magic is amazing.'
Even though she was mentally prepared and on guard, she had been affected by the Magic, albeit slightly.
What was even more surprising was that she couldn't remember the student's face at all.
'To use force so blatantly. Rosia must be quite desperate.'
She had been subtly teasing Rosia all along, but she didn't expect her to take such direct action so soon.
Perhaps she had made her anxious in various ways.
The warehouse door was tightly sealed as if Magic had been used.
Ayla grabbed the handle and shook it several times before finally letting out a hollow laugh.
'Locking me in a warehouse before the exam. Rosia must be planning to prevent me from taking the exam at all.'
What could be the reason?
'Did I get a superior score in Magical potion class? But she knows the rest of my subjects are terrible.'
Ayla carefully sat on the floor, avoiding the dust, and continued to think.
'Rosia couldn't have noticed the Mana Insensitivity Cure… Wait. Now that I think about it, what happens to me if I fail all subjects in this exam?'
The moment she thought that far, Ayla felt a cold chill run down her spine.
'I'll definitely be expelled… Then I won't be protected by the academy anymore.'
It seemed Rosia was waiting for Ayla to become a helpless outcast.
In fact, that would be easier for Rosia to handle.
'It's obvious what she'll do to me after that.'
Ayla laughed helplessly as she recalled the various situations that had appeared in the original story.
If she wanted to make things difficult for her with this, Rosia's scheme was half successful.
'If I can't get out of here quickly, I won't be able to complete the Temporary Cure after all.'
Ayla raised her head and looked around.
The inside of the warehouse was pitch black, with no light coming in.
At this rate, even if she used a Magical potion, no one outside would notice.
Rosia would have definitely taken separate magical measures.
The only good thing was that she could roughly guess where this was.
Probably one of the many supply warehouses in the academy.
But it was full of dust, as if it was rarely used.
This meant that even if a day or more passed, the chances of someone finding her here were slim.
'The academy won't start a massive search right away just because I've been missing for a while.'
They wouldn't make a fuss just because a commoner student went missing.
And in the worst case, Rosia could deceive people and interfere with the search itself.
Perhaps she would be found in this cold warehouse after a long time.
'Or… maybe they'll just get rid of me.'
Could she be sure that wouldn't happen?
Ayla stared at the tightly closed warehouse door with a cold face.
The only fortunate thing was that she had left some traces while heading here.
'Felix would recognize it.'
Ayla looked at her wrist, which felt empty because the bracelet was gone.
The bracelet Felix had given her now had only a thin string left.
'He needs to find me as soon as possible…'
If she was lucky, she could return before the exam started, but then she wouldn't be able to complete the Magical potion.
Ayla squeezed her eyes shut.
She remembered telling Felix not to interfere deeply in her affairs not long ago.
'I was a bit harsh.'
Felix's face as he handed her the bracelet with an effort to look indifferent came to mind again.
'I told him not to bother, acting like I was so great…'
Now she had no choice but to rely on him for everything.
Ayla quietly closed her eyes.
All she could do now was to quietly pray that someone would find her.
The next day, Peony, who attended class as usual, had a bewildered expression.
It was because Ayla, who was always waiting for her in class before she arrived, was not there.
'Is she stopping by somewhere?'
With a puzzled mind, she waited until the roll call, but Ayla still didn't show up.
Professor Jacy, who was in charge of the first class, also looked embarrassed.
She tilted her head and asked Peony.
"Do you know where Ayla student went?"
"I… don't know either."
Professor Jacy looked around at the academy students. Everyone was shaking their heads as if they didn't know what was going on.
Academy students had to obtain permission from the professor in advance if they were absent from class.
But Professor Jacy had not received any separate report about Ayla's absence.
"Didn't she run away because she was afraid of the exam?"
"She was bound to fail anyway. How much help would a diploma from here be?"
"Isn't Duke Blanche paying for her tuition? She should be ashamed of herself."
Usually, the students were mindful of Peony and refrained from criticizing Ayla.
But this time, they couldn't hold back and spewed out words of ridicule.
Then the students asked Rosia.
"Rosia, don't you know anything?"
"Ayla doesn't really have anywhere to go right now."
They were asking if Ayla had returned to the Blanche Noble house.
Rosia shook her head with an innocent face.
"Well, I haven't heard anything from the other family members."
"Oh my gosh, then where did she go?"
"I don't know either. I wonder why Ayla didn't come to class today…"
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