Chapter 776

Clara stood frozen, tears streaming down her cheeks without her even realizing it. Suddenly, Willow's voice echoed in her mind. *"Do you really think you're worthless, that no one cares about you or loves you? But your students must adore you, don’t they? They’ve never said a single bad word about you. Didn’t you say they’d sneak food from home for you? That they’d help you with chores?"* *"No matter what those monsters in the village say, in your students’ hearts, you’ll always be a good teacher. But now, by helping evil, you’re betraying the trust and admiration those children had for you!"* Clara’s gaze shifted to Alex Walker’s face. The boy had just been crying—his eyes were still rimmed with red—but they shone with startling clarity, brimming with the joy of seeing her again and the unwavering reverence he held for his teacher. This was the boy who had once told her, *"Teacher, you’re like a mother to me!"* This was the boy who had promised, *"Teacher, don’t worry. I’ll listen to