Takahishi nodded, his movements hurried as he dressed. A few minutes later, they left the room, heading for Hunter Academy.

As they arrived at the academy, they found their incantation teacher, Shizuki, already there, teaching the class. The other students stared at Crinix and Takahishi as they walked in, their faces a mixture of curiosity and annoyance.

Shizuki turned, her eyes narrowing as she gazed at the two latecomers. "You boys are awfully late today."

Crinix and Takahishi apologized in unison, their voices barely above a whisper. "Sorry, ma'am."

Shizuki's expression softened, her eyes glinting with a hint of amusement. "Okay, just go sit down and try to be punctual next time."

As Crinix and Takahishi headed for the back seat, the door creaked open, and Niski slipped in, his movements swift and silent. He didn't even acknowledge Shizuki's presence, let alone apologize for being late. Shizuki's eyes narrowed, her gaze following Niski as he made his way to the back of the classroom.

Niski plopped down beside Crinix and Takahishi, his head thudding onto the desk. "Hey, wassup guys?" he muttered, his voice laced with exhaustion. "Man, I'm so tired."

Crinix's eyes widened, concern etched on his face. "Niski, are you okay?"

Niski raised his head, his eyes bleary. "I didn't get any sleep yesterday. Brother made me clean the entire house throughout the whole night." He yawned, his mouth stretching wide. "I'm so tired, but I'll be fine."

Takahishi's eyes narrowed, skepticism written all over his face. "You sure you're going to be fine?"

Niski grinned, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Yeah, you guys don't have to worry. I'm just glad we had a great time yesterday, hanging out."

Takahishi's eyes widened, his voice rising in protest. "Huh? A great time? I almost died yesterday!"

The classroom fell silent, all eyes turning to Takahishi. Shizuki's voice cut through the silence, her tone firm. "Hey, you three, be quiet. You're making a lot of noise and disturbing the lesson."

Crinix, Takahishi, and Niski swiftly turned, their eyes fixed on the board. The words "Portal Incantation" were scrawled across it in bold letters.

Shizuki turned, her eyes scanning the classroom. "Today, we're going to learn about the portal incantation. Does anyone know what a portal is?"

A hand shot up in the front row, and Crinix turned to see who it was. It was the pink-haired girl they had met a few days ago, Aya.

"A portal is a magical gateway or doorway," she said, her voice confident.

Shizuki nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "That's correct."

Shizuki's eyes swept across the classroom, her gaze lingering on each student as she emphasized the importance of mastering the portal incantation. "Without a portal, we wouldn't be able to travel through the Human Realm or other Realms." She paused, her voice filled with a sense of gravity. "That's why it's essential for every Grim Hunter to learn this incantation."

A student in the front row, his hand shooting up like a sprout, caught Shizuki's attention. "Teacher Shizuki, can anyone perform the portal incantation?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Shizuki's fingers instinctively pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, a habitual gesture that betrayed her excitement. "Ah, yes! Remember, in our previous lesson, I mentioned that anyone with soul energy can perform an incantation." She scanned the classroom, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "However, the portal incantation is different from other incantations."

A murmur of curiosity rippled through the classroom, like the gentle lapping of waves on a shore. Shizuki's eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled. "When performing an incantation, you need the right verbal pronunciation, but when performing a portal incantation, you have to first focus on a place you want to go."

The classroom fell silent, confusion etched on the students' faces like the lines on a well-worn book. Shizuki's gaze swept across the room, her expression patient, as she elaborated, "You see, a portal can only take you to a place you've clearly visualized and focused on. It's not just about speaking the words; it's about conjuring the image of your destination in your mind."

"I get it now!" a student exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder. "For me to use a portal, I have to focus on the place I want to go!"

Shizuki's face lit up with a warm smile, her eyes shining with approval. "Exactly! You're not just reciting words; you're creating a doorway to a new destination. Remember, the power of the portal incantation lies not just in the words, but in the clarity of your focus and the depth of your desire."

The students exchanged nervous glances, their faces set with determination. Shizuki's gaze swept the room, her eyes locking onto each student in turn. "But for now, let me show you how to open a portal," she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

With a fluid motion, Shizuki lifted her right hand into the air, her fingers splayed wide. "Aperio portal," she muttered, her voice low and mysterious.

The room seemed to hold its breath as a bright blue light began to emanate from Shizuki's outstretched hand. The light grew in intensity, taking on a spherical shape that pulsed with an otherworldly energy.

As the students watched in awe, the blue light began to take on a life of its own, forming a doorway in the middle of the room. The air seemed to shimmer and ripple, as if the very fabric of reality was being torn apart.

Shizuki took a few steps forward, her eyes shining with excitement. "A portal incantation isn't hard to master," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "All you need are the right words. Without those, you'll never be able to open a portal."

As she spoke, the portal behind her began to close, the blue light fading away like a dying ember. Shizuki's gaze swept the room once more, her eyes locking onto each student in turn. "Let's continue with the lesson," she said, her voice firm.

The rest of the lesson flew by in a blur, Shizuki explaining the intricacies of the portal incantation and answering questions from the students. Finally, the siren rang out, signaling the end of the lesson.

As Shizuki gathered her things and left the classroom, the students began to file out, their faces set with determination. They knew that mastering the portal incantation would be no easy feat, but they were ready for the challenge.