Reincarnated as the disaster prince

The next morning, the rising sun cast long, ominous shadows across the dormitory walls. A loud voice shattered the quiet.

"Wake up! Everyone, up!" Mr. June's shout echoed through the halls, snapping the students from their slumber.

Theodore rubbed his eyes, annoyed. He noticed how quickly the noble students scrambled to obey, almost as if they feared Mr. June. Strange, he thought. These spoiled brats are acting like soldiers.

Mr. June approached Theodore, his expression softening. He patted Theodore on the head, smiling as if Theodore were some delicate pet. "Good morning, my little prince."

Theodore clenched his fists, rage bubbling inside him. He despised being treated like a child, and the way Mr. June's syrupy tone dripped over the words made his skin crawl

After a quick breakfast of egg soup and cheesecake, the students gathered outside. The village chief, Mr. Smith, waited for them near the center of the village. His presence was commanding despite his frail appearance, his wrinkled hands gripping a cane carved from ancient wood.

The students formed a line, standing stiffly under the chief's watchful gaze. He began to speak, his voice carrying the weight of sorrow.

"Our village has been cursed for generations," Mr. Smith explained. "Every three nights, a woman comes from the forest—a spirit of malice. She kidnaps our children, and sometimes… she kills those who get in her way. Tonight is the third night. Tonight, she will come again."

The crowd fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. A brave student broke the silence. "Why don't you leave the village if it's so dangerous?"

Before the chief could respond, Miss Lidia stepped forward. "Do not ask such thoughtless questions," she snapped, her voice sharp as her sword.

The chief raised a hand, calming her. "It's fine," he said with a faint smile. "We cannot leave because this land is sacred to us. It is blessed, you see."

To demonstrate, Mr. Smith knelt and pressed a seed into the soil. Within seconds, a sapling burst from the ground, growing into a full tree before their astonished eyes.

"This land is our life," he continued, his tone resolute. "But that blessing has turned into a curse. We have tried to fight her, but the spirit never reveals herself. She strikes from the shadows, stealing our children, spreading her dark magic. We've lost so much already…"

The students exchanged uneasy glances, their excitement for the mission now tempered by fear.

Mr. June broke the tension by summoning dark, tactical suits for the students using telekinesis. The suits were form-fitting and designed for practicality, with padded shoulders, knee guards, and holsters. They were black as the night they would soon face.

The students returned to their quarters to change. Theodore tugged at his suit uncomfortably. The tightness around his arms and chest irritated him, and he muttered under his breath about hating every moment of this trip.

Marvin, ever the cheerful one, approached Theodore and playfully squeezed his cheeks. "You're just like my little brother!" he said with a laugh.

Theodore swatted his hand away and glared. "Don't touch me."

Marvin dropped to his knees, hands raised in mock surrender. "I'm sorry! Forgive me, Your Highness!"

Theodore rolled his eyes and stormed out of the room. Behind him, Cai snickered, clearly amused by the prince's irritation.

As Theodore strolled through the village, the atmosphere felt heavy. The villagers were quiet, their faces drawn with worry. Children stayed indoors, peeking out from behind curtains.

Theodore's curiosity deepened. How had such a small village come under the grip of such a curse? And what kind of spirit was this woman, who could instill such terror?

His wandering brought him to the edge of the village, where a man sat sharpening a sword in his garden. The man's appearance stopped Theodore in his tracks. He was gaunt, with dark circles under his eyes and scars crisscrossing his face. He looked like he hadn't slept in years.

Theodore's instincts told him this man wasn't ordinary. He approached, only to feel a tap on his shoulder.

"Don't go near him," Mr. Smith warned, his voice low. "That man is cursed. We all keep our distance."

Theodore turned back to the man, narrowing his eyes. Activating his shadow sight, he searched for any signs of a curse. But there was nothing—no dark aura, no magical residue.

"Are you sure he's cursed?" Theodore asked, suspicious.

Mr. Smith nodded gravely. "He sacrificed his wife and children to the spirit. That is why he lives like this—haunted, broken."

Theodore frowned. "If he's dangerous, why haven't you banished him? Or executed him?"

The chief's eyes widened, taken aback by the prince's bluntness. "You speak of death so easily for a child…" He placed a firm hand on Theodore's shoulder. "Come, now. You should head back to your quarters. That man has no love for strangers, and he may harm you."

Theodore reluctantly turned back toward the dorms. But as he walked away, he glanced over his shoulder. The chief was speaking to the man in hushed tones. The man's hollow eyes were locked onto Theodore, unblinking, as he replied to the chief.

A shiver ran down Theodore's spine.

Back in his quarters, Theodore's mind raced. The pieces didn't fit. If the man wasn't cursed, why did the villagers fear him? And why had the chief seemed so secretive?

The forest loomed beyond the window, dark and forbidding. Theodore could feel its pull again, the cursed mana swirling like a storm just out of reach. It whispered to him, tempting him to step closer.

As the night crept in, the air grew colder. Somewhere in the village, a women began to cry.