Morrigan relaxed and leaned back after the class ended and the professor left. Rachel, who was sitting next to her, looked at her and laughed. "I thought you were someone who never got bored..."
Morrigan sighed and smiled slightly. "After all, I’m human too; I can get bored like everyone else."
Rachel stretched, easing her aching body, and turned her eyes back to Morrigan. "You focus so much that I sometimes forget you’re human."
Morrigan rolled her eyes and gave her a mocking look. "I think you should study a bit too, considering everyone’s scores will be posted at the end of the week."
Rachel pouted indifferently. "Do you think I care about this place? I couldn’t care less."
"Suit yourself," Morrigan said calmly, then turned her eyes to her notes and let out a small groan. "I didn’t expect there would be so much homework while at home..."
Rachel laughed and playfully tapped Morrigan’s shoulder. Her eyes were filled with mockery for the assignments. "You could be a bit more indulgent like me."
"I don’t want to spend my free time on this," Rachel said, leaning back. Morrigan raised an eyebrow and looked at Rachel in surprise. "Then why did you come here? Wasn’t it more comfortable in your country?"
A flash of discomfort appeared in Rachel’s eyes for a moment, then she looked at Morrigan. "I was forced to come here by my father. Why would I want to come to a place filled with these idiots!"
Rachel mocked the noble kids in the class. "But even though my father forced me, he still sent me here, supposedly for ’peace’!"
Morrigan could sense that Rachel was both sad and angry, and she had a feeling that their father, Rahul, didn’t send his children here just for ’peace.’
"Let’s move on," Rachel said after calming down.
"We’re joining a joint class, and they say that Professor Vanya Eryndor, who teaches Supernatural Botany, is very kind. I hope she isn’t a crybaby."
While Rachel mocked the professor, Morrigan was curious about the professor’s class. She was eager to attend the Supernatural Botany class.
After the break ended, an attendant entered the room. Despite his simple attire, he had a serious expression. Morrigan immediately recognized the man.
Rodrick was Professor Vanya’s assistant. In the professor’s absence, he took care of and protected the professor’s garden.
"The professor is waiting for you," Rodrick said with a serious expression. "You will follow me in a single file."
Some students were bothered by Rodrick’s stern tone. Harvey, instead of joining the line with her group of friends, tried to walk past Rodrick with a haughty expression.
"Where are you going, Young Lady? Didn’t you hear me?" Rodrick frowned, and Harvey stopped in surprise. "I know where the garden is."
A thin smile appeared on Rodrick’s lips. "That doesn’t matter; you’ll join the line like everyone else."
Morrigan was the first to step forward and stand in front of Rodrick. Rachel followed in Morrigan’s steps and joined the line.
Many others followed Morrigan into the line. Harvey eventually had to join as well, making her way to the back with her friends.
Rodrick looked at Morrigan with approving eyes. Then he turned, and as the students followed him, he explained the rules one by one.
"You’ll hear these rules only once, and then you’re not allowed to ask questions."
As the students acknowledged, Rodrick continued. "It is forbidden to touch or take any of the plants in the Botanical Garden. You may only observe."
A hint of amusement flashed across Rodrick’s face. "Be careful, or you might get poisoned and die..."
Some students paled, while Marcus chuckled mockingly. ’This is good bullying material.’
Rodrick continued. "It is forbidden to harm the plants in any way."
"You are not allowed to act on your own or disobey the professor’s instructions."
"You will do nothing except what you are told."
Adrian, as usual, maintained an indifferent and stoic expression. Upon the Professor’s signal, they aligned themselves with the students from the magic class.
The Professor began speaking with a gentle smile. "I’m so excited for our first lesson today! I hope we all have fun!"
The Professor’s cheerful demeanor made Alice happy. She hadn’t encountered such kindness since she arrived.
However, Rachel wasn’t pleased with the Professor’s behavior. It seemed too childish and undisciplined to her.
For Rachel, Professor Thalindra was a better Professor. Still, Rachel didn’t want to judge too quickly.
The Professor continued, "First, we’ll be examining some plants today."
Then, Professor Vanya received a plant from Rodrick. It appeared to be a simple, harmless-looking plant.
"Isn’t this just an ordinary plant?" Marcus asked with a frown. He wondered why they were studying a common plant.
The Professor smiled excitedly. "It may look ordinary, but it’s not."
The Professor touched the plant with her index finger. In front of everyone’s eyes, the plant suddenly split in two, and sharp teeth bit into Professor Vanya’s finger.
"Kyaaa!" A female student screamed in disgust and fear. While Rachel smirked, Alice grew concerned for the Professor.
"Are you okay, Professor?" Morrigan asked calmly. She believed the Professor wasn’t someone to be underestimated. After all, she was a professor at the Academy for a reason.
"Don’t worry, children," Vanya said with a smile. "It’s just sucking a little blood. That’s the nature of this plant. And most importantly, it’s still just a child..."
Unlike Vanya, everyone else was uncertain whether this plant was really a child. It seemed to be trying to tear the Professor’s hand apart.
After a moment, Vanya withdrew her finger, took a leaf from her hair, and applied it to the wound, which healed instantly.
While everyone watched in amazement, the Professor continued as if nothing had happened. "This plant is called the ’Vampire Flower.’ Despite its appearance, most of its body is underground."
The Professor held the plant and pulled it out firmly. What emerged from the pot was something that even Morrigan found repulsive.
It was a small creature with red eyes and an almost grotesque appearance, with two green plants on its head.
The Professor pointed to the plants on the Vampire Flower’s head and said, "These plants are what it uses to camouflage itself. When you step on it, it punctures your foot and renders it useless."
Everyone, including Morrigan, groaned in disgust. Rachel just grinned. "How disgusting."
"This Vampire Flower is still in its infancy. It’s a rare species that grows to the size of a goblin when fully mature."
Vanya cheerfully explained, "It’s also on the church’s list of species that should never be allowed to survive."
Morrigan paused, a bit surprised. Was the church conducting a monster genocide?
"Flowers like this are dangerous." Vanya said cheerfully, then suddenly grabbed the Vampire Flower by the head, and as it screamed in pain, she ripped its head off in one swift motion.
"This is how you neutralize them."
Alice felt her stomach churn a bit as she witnessed what the Professor had done. The Vampire Flower’s screams echoed in her ears.
"I’m starting to like this Professor," Rachel whispered to Morrigan in an amused tone.
Morrigan realized that the Professor was not the angel from the rumors, but she didn’t really care.
"Now, please find a partner and follow me."
As the Professor spoke cheerfully, the murmurs in the room subsided, and everyone went to their nearest friends.