Bang!
After all the students of Astronomy 08-1 entered the room, the narrow door was slammed shut from outside, and the room grew even dimmer. Assistant Hilda stood in the aisle between the benches on either side, gripping the rope net hanging from the ceiling. Her tall, thin figure cast shadows of varying depths amid the rows of candlelight, making the oppressive atmosphere in the room even heavier.
Clang!
The room jolted violently. Even seated on the bench, Zheng Qing involuntarily tipped to the left and nearly crushed Class Monitor beside him. Fortunately, Jiang Yu was carefully supporting the swaying Li Meng and seemed not to notice the boy's slight breach of manners.
Assistant Hilda seemed prepared. One hand gripped the rope net, while his feet were planted on the floor like nails, leaving him remarkably steady.
The candle flames overhead, however, could not hold themselves steady like the assistant. Forced to sway with the room, they made Hilda's shadow dance as well, like the shadow Kraken cast upon the sea, or an octopus in the midst of hunting.
The shadow beneath Zheng Qing's feet stirred restlessly. Like Hilda's, it split into many pieces beneath the candlelight, but unlike Hilda's shadow, it possessed a little "initiative."
That initiative, however, had been too deeply influenced by feline instincts. Whenever it saw Hilda's wildly swaying shadows, it felt an urge to hunt.
"Did you hear that buzzing behind the wall?" Zheng Qing asked, trying to divert his companions' attention while cautiously stomping his foot, hoping to warn his shadow that there were other people in the room.
"It sounds like something starting up?" Fatty Xin habitually pulled out his Quill Pen, then immediately realized the situation and sheepishly put it away.
Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses. "There is clear magical feedback... a