Fools and corpses

-12:05, the ground floor of the Academy-

Her breath came in ragged. Her heart beat in unsteady pulses. Her feet, bare as she always liked, stepped on a carpet that welcomed her weight.

Seraphina sped through a lengthy corridor. As she turned a corner, the green-haired elf leaned on a wall for a few seconds. Straining her ears, she could hear some indistinct chatter in the hall she'd come from, but even to her, it was less than a whisper. The people who had chased her here were still after her, but she had a while before they'd reach her.

Several minutes ago, when she was outside, she was only exploring Weydan, enjoying the time she had. But then, things progressed almost as if in a blur.

After hearing the distant explosion, Seraphina's senses immediately sharpened. Using Keen Senses, she confirmed that something had happened west of the Academy. But just when she thought it was just a singular instance, several more explosions followed. The Liveren Princess needn't look at the distant smoke billowing to know that something was happening. Working on heightened alert, she continued her stroll around the Academy until she reached the main entrance in the northeast.

That was when she met them. Four huge men, their carnation and clothing speaking of their Ureliar descent, locked gazes with her. And, within the dark eyes, she could not see anything but a hunter seeing prey. They didn't even attempt to conceal the weapons on their belts or the pressure they aimed at her. At first, she tried to reason with herself, saying that she was just being paranoid.

She changed her mind after one of them unsheathed a weapon.

Barely able to evade, she tried summoning spirits. As she'd expected, only two managed to stabilize a connection, but that was enough. They bought her enough time to run toward the Academy. She figured she was safe within. But since the mysterious barrier had dropped, her connection to the astral plane was cut. Her summons disappeared, and even attempts to contact Cileres were in vain. For the last five minutes, Seraphina had been running from her pursuers. Now, finally, she had a second to gather her breath.

With a tired motion, she swiped some sweat that beaded down her brow. The oceanic-blue eyes looked toward a nearby window, locating her half-translucent reflection. Her skin was red from the running she'd done, the hair a mess that trailed behind and clung to her skin. The dress, nearly matching her eyes in hue, hung loosely, a discernible hint of her cleavage peeking before Seraphina fixed her bra and pulled the garment up.

"Haah," she exhaled heavily, lifting a hand. However, just like she'd tried before, no mana coursed. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't create a connection. Even her Origin Magic was unavailable, albeit admittedly, she still had minimal control over it at best.

She summoned her status screen.

[Seraphina Liveren (Age: 18)

Class: Spiritualist

Level: 6

HP: 410/410

MP: 863/1120

<New stat increase!>

<Effects>

<Skills>]

With a frown, she opened the Effects page.

[Effects: None]

'This barrier... it does something... I can't use any mana, nor does my it recover at all...' she looked up grimly, only to see the blue obstacle covering the sky. 'It must be it. Otherwise, it would've shown up in the Effects. And it looks like it covers the whole Academy...'

Taking a deeper breath, Seraphina leaned on a wall. Then, noticing the flaring exclamation point, she opened her Stats screen.

[-Base stats-

Strength: 17

Stamina: 28

Agility: 22

Intelligence: 67

-Special stats-

Bad Luck: 25

Dexterity: 19

Composure: 12 -> 13

Insight: 33

Spiritual Power: 12]

'Of all the stats, it had to be Composure...' she sighed. Aside from Bad Luck, it was the most useless stat she possessed. 'I don't need to keep up my appearance at this time, I need something like Stealth...'

But all she could do was grit her teeth. Seraphina had always felt that her status screen was laughing at her. Bad luck - a stat that shone like a dark star above her head since her early childhood - was something she never understood. It was like fate itself wanted her to fail at things sometimes. It was this stat that her family attributed her late classing to. Dexterity - which she had a particular liking for - had always been her savior whenever she wanted something. Aside from that, only Insight - the stat that grew with more books she'd read and granted her Keen Senses - had any use right now.

Seraphina sighed, dismissing the panels.

'It's strange.' she thought, looking around. 'Lucas mentioned Fridays are lax, and most students finish studies before noon, but that's still bizarre that I didn't run into anyone. There should be at least some faculty members present... right?'

Her ears perked up slightly as she heard somebody speak in Siles. The surprised tone of a man's voice told her something mildly unexpected had happened, but she didn't dare check. Instead, she immediately resumed her run. At the crossroads, she picked the way to the left. If her sense of direction was as good as she thought, she figured she was going west.

'In the western part, there should be the assembly room. With any luck, I will be able to hide in there. Better than staying wide open in the corridors.'

Seraphina breathed heavily. With every step, she looked at the design of the Academy. Albeit she knew her situation, a small part of her still found the style majestic. As she turned the final corner, she saw the grandeur of the corridor leading to the assembly hall and slowed down. Nearly forgetting herself, she took the picture in full.

The walls stood so high that they took up the second floor's space. Numerous chandeliers hung low from the ceiling, their ornate designs reflecting sunlight that entered through the tall windows. The walls were colored a sienna color. The smooth surfaces were adorned with several paintings and tablets with written text. Although Seraphina knew nothing of Siles, she could imagine what they spoke of.

'Likely permeating to how Ylla created the Academy... books said she built the whole place in just five days, all on her own. Not just the basis, but from the foundation to the very roof.'

Her blue eyes wandered, taking note of a particular painting. It depicted a middle-aged woman with fair, yet sun-touched, skin and defined contours of her face. Her small ears were slick, slightly pointy yet still round. Her eyes were of a shade of liquid gold, and though the canvas couldn't portray it, they no doubt shone with the extraordinary intelligence she held when alive. The woman held a long staff adorned with a big, round opal, its dark wood contrasting against the multitude of the stone's colors. Long robes, shades of royal purple, descended her frame, pooling out of frame. The background depicted a vast and endless sea, dark blue waves crashing against a sharp-cut cliff.

Seraphina gawked for a few seconds, taking in the details. A badge with some text written in a beautiful font. Although she couldn't understand its words, she didn't need to. She knew whose portrait this was.

'Ylla Renva.' she thought. 'The only person to reach the 9th circle before age 50 in history. Classed when she turned six, and by the time she was recruited by Luccius Voldigar, she was already at the 6th circle.'

Seraphina sighed. Stretching her fingers, she let her shoulders drop a little before straightening in her position. "=A great hero, fitting a legend. And I?=" she asked herself, looking at her palm. "=I wanted to just do something, and now... I... don't even know what's happening... I-I want to go home...=" Seraphina felt her breath hitch. The gravity of her state pressed on her. She wasn't ready for something like this. She didn't want to be involved in whatever conflict was happening, nor did she want to end up being attacked by those men. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was powerless to do anything. There was nobody here. The Academy, supposedly teeming with life, felt devoid of any presence.

However, she heard a voice.

"=Princess!="

Seraphina's heart leapt. She couldn't believe it.

"=Cileres?="

She turned around, only to see a familiar ball of black fur speed toward her.

"=Cileres!=" she exclaimed, momentarily forgetting her state. A sudden wave of euphoria spread in her heart.

"=Are you alright?="

Tears streaked down her delicate skin. "=Yes...=" she sobbed, hugging the cat tightly. "=I am now.="

She stroked Cileres's back. The black hairs gently tickled her fingers, the cat shifting against her bust. For at least a moment, the direness of her situation felt distant. The sun rays gleaming through the window felt warm once again.

Words pressed themselves on her thin lips.

"=I'm sorry, Cileres, I--="

"=Princess.="

"?"

"=There's no time. We need to go.="

Seraphina swallowed the saliva that gathered in her mouth. Reminded of her situation, she sniffed, doing her best to stop more tears from coming whilst wiping her cheeks.

"=Where?="

"=To the entrance. Lucas rushed in here to look for you. We need to regroup with him immediately.="

"=...he did that?=" Seraphina asked. Her heart thumped strangely, like a sudden tightness threatened to burst an aorta. However, she stifled the feeling. "=But how did--="

"=Princess,=" Cileres cut her off once more. "=There will be time for answers. For now, we need to escape.="

The green-haired elf paused, her expression shifting to uncertainty before she steeled herself. With a nod, she dropped Cileres and wiped her cheeks. Then, she followed in his tracks as the cat guided her.

However, they didn't make it even past the first corner.

Before they ventured back, Seraphina heard it. The voices returned, echoing off the walls. She froze in place.

"=They're already here...?=" she murmured with disbelief. She wanted to be wrong. She wanted to be proven wrong so much. But her worst fear came to be when she saw Cileres stop. The cat's fur bristled, a telltale sign of her ears not deceiving her. Immediately thereafter, her familiar backed off.

"=They're approaching quickly... damn it,=" the cat's snout moved, the bronze of its eyes dimming as it was visibly displeased. "=That room at the end. Hurry,=" he bellowed.

Seraphina's breath hitched. Her hands quivered as she **** herself to shuffle on her feet. Cileres ran beside her, the door in the distance growing in size as they approached. A yell echoed throughout the corridor, one of the men crossing the corner and taking note of her. Seraphina desperately reached for the handle, just in time to hear a whistling sound before a small bolt hit the wall to her right and bounced to her feet. With the spike of adrenaline in her veins, she pressed and, with relief, found the door unlocked.

Closing the door as she entered, the Liveren Princess looked around hastily, searching for anything to barricade the gateway with. However, she suddenly stopped herself.

"=...it opens to the outside,=" she looked at Cileres. "=We need to run another way.="

She bolted. The massive room had five entrances in the circular wall surrounding it. Surely, she could escape through another and lose the pursuers.

However, the moment Seraphina opened the nearest door, she was welcomed by a horrifying sight. Three men stood outside the room like guards, each holding either a cutting or bludgeoning weapon. One of them appeared to also carry around a crossbow.

They immediately took note of her. The same, now-familiar glint of predatory look flickered in their eyes before Seraphina slammed the door shut, a bang resounding against the wood as one of the men swung with their weapon.

...

Then, it went silent.

Seraphina quickly scrambled back on her feet and sped away, but even as a few seconds passed, they didn't enter the room.

...why?

She couldn't help but let the ponder enter her mind as she approached another door. However, the same situation happened with the third door. Then, the fourth, and finally, the fifth. The men didn't attack her outright, but the moment she attempted to take a step outside, they didn't hesitate to swing at her.

Seraphina breathed out unsteadily, sitting on the ground. Tears welled up. Why was this happening? Why was she kept like this...? What was happening...?

"=Princess.="

She turned to Cileres, sitting next to her. The cat's eyes watched her diligently yet calmly, intelligence seeping from the bronze points.

"=I-I... *Sniff* I'm sorry...=" Seraphina sobbed, unable to contain herself anymore. "=T-This is all my f-fault...=" she wept quietly, unable to stop. Salty drops dribbled down her cheeks before dropping onto her dress, the elf woman not caring to wipe them at all. Sniffling, she dropped the mana stone she held, the item bouncing slightly on the ground.

"=Princess.="

"?"

She looked at her familiar.

"=This isn't your fault,=" Cileres continued. "=Nobody knew something like this would happen. This is not related to you being here. It's just a coincidence. And do not worry. Sooner rather than later, you'll be saved.="

Seraphina sniffled. Suddenly, she realized something.

"=Cileres... how did you get inside the barrier? Last I contacted you, you were outside just before it formed.="

"=I came here with that woman, Nimue.="

The green-haired woman breathed sharply. She still could recall the icy-cold sensation of the mana threads that elf-- no, she was no elf. The icy-cold threads Nimue used in the past were still vivid in her mind. Their ability to completely shut off her connection to the mana was almost identical to the barrier's.

"=...how?=" was the only word the green-haired elf released.

"=She made a hole in the barrier briefly. She said she is here to get Lucas only, but they will definitely come to find you.="

Seraphina's lips trembled at the remembrance of the white-haired man. The mere thought he'd do something as reckless as run into the Academy in this situation made her stomach turn. Fighting the sensation, she exhaled heavily. Supporting herself on her hands, she leaned back slightly and looked around.

The assembly hall was a big, circular space, around fifty or sixty meters across. It was mostly flat, and only its center ten meters were slightly raised on a marble pedestal. The rest of the floor was covered with nearly arranged planks of sturdy wood. The tall walls of the room had a faintly yellowish yet pleasant tint.

A huge array of chandeliers hung over fifteen metres above her head, spanning the entire room. The crystalline chains hanging from them were still. The southern wall - the only part of the hall exposed to the outside - held three rows of tall windows, long streaks of light illuminating the inside. Even the lowest level, however, stood almost three metres above the ground, thwarting all hopes Seraphina held of using them.

Stopping her observations, the elven princess focused on her familiar.

"=So what? Are we supposed to just sit quietly here?="

"=That is the best option for us.="

She remained silent for several long seconds. She felt the guilt eat at her spirit. Unfurling her hand, she looked at the mana stone within. She didn't know much about the runes, but the barrier inscription on its top was as obvious as day to her. She had seen it in her grandfather's notes in the past.

She couldn't tell how much time had passed. Seconds lazily flowed, and eventually, minutes melted into one another. Seraphina only sat in one spot, gathering her breath whilst wondering. Why did none of the groups that surrounded the assembly hall enter? Why were they standing guard yet attacking her if she tried to leave? What was the meaning of all this?

She couldn't comprehend that. If they were after her, they'd have already captured her... or worse. She shuddered at the thought. But in sincerity, this made no sense to her. It felt like this whole situation was cobbled together in haste. Just how else could she explain this? It wasn't like the men could've been targeting her specifically... right?

However, her ponderings weren't incessant.

A vibration went through the air.

Seraphina felt it first. The mana at her very fingertips simmered, almost as if momentarily broken out of its trance. The power within her flowed, first slowly, before breaking into full speed.

"!"

She flinched. A hasty look exchanged between the two confirmed that it was not her imagination. The mana, once stopped, now moved again. With haste, Seraphina summoned two light spirits to her side. Now, maybe she could--

Her thought was sharply interrupted by the screech.

It was an inhuman roar of anguish and resistance. Seraphina felt her very bones creak, a feeling of primal fear rooting her in the middle of her action. The voice was quiet, but it felt eerily familiar, just like the sensation behind it.

As it died off after a few seconds, Seraphina twitched. Noticing the blue tint of the sunlight fading, she looked through the window, only to be greeted by the sight of the barrier littered with holes. But before she set her mind on what she wanted to do, she saw it begin filling back in. Likewise, her connection to the astral plane felt like it would snap away.

Squeezing her hand, she was reminded of the mana stone within. She bellowed.

"=Cileres, get to me!="

The cat didn't question her. In less than a second, the black furball had already bolted, rubbing into her stomach.

Seraphina relayed her intent toward the mana stone. She didn't know if it'd work. But, knowing she didn't have the time to ponder, she did her best. Guiding the mana within her, she let it pool on her hands as she squeezed the stone within.

She was nearly surprised when she felt it vibrate gently in response. Less than a second later, a layer of blue barrier spread around them, encasing the Liveren Princess and her familiar in a 3-metre radius dome of protective magic.

She exhaled. Sweat beaded down her temple, but she didn't care to wipe it. Instead, she felt her knees buckle, and she dropped to the ground.

'It worked...'

The realization hit her, making her ignore the fact that the spirits she summoned had disappeared. All that mattered was the fact that the mana stone humming in her hand listened to her request.

"=Cileres, are you alright?="

"=Princess?=" the cat answered, jumping off her and looking around. "=Is this... a barrier? How did you do that?="

Seraphina raised a hand, presenting the culprit. Cileres's immediate reaction was a sigh.

"=...I know this isn't the time to be saying this, but you really need to work on that nasty habit of yours, Princess.="

Seraphina felt a faint smile tug on her lips. Whether it was because of embarrassment or something else was unimportant. All that mattered was that, for the first time in the last hour, she felt... safe.

"=I will. I promise I will.="

Seraphina breathed lighter. She didn't know how long the mana stone in her hands would last, but if it were even half as strong as she thought, it would be enough to stay safe where she stood. Besides that, she didn't want to try its strength by charging out. However, the taste of the small victory was enough to make her forget her weeping from just minutes ago.

'Look at me, Dellin. Your little sister can now take care of herself.'

She almost chuckled.

A few more minutes passed, or at least so Seraphina thought, before the room's atmosphere changed.

A door opened, bringing her attention to it immediately. The green-haired woman tensed up, the cat by her feet hissing lowly as he recognized someone from the group that had entered.

"=Princess... be very wary of that elderly man,=" he warned. "=He possesses some weapon... it instantly rendered Lis'te unable to fight.="

Seraphina took a better look at the man in question. He was lean and rather tall, probably around Lucas's height. She took in the details of his attire and look, taking note of how his gray eyes shimmered with surprise when he noticed the dome of protective magic around her. He exchanged some words with a brown-haired woman wearing a dark bodysuit, which looked like a strange choice for the hot weather. Her dark eyes scanned Seraphina instantly whilst she returned some words.

"=Who are they...?=" Seraphina asked the cat while still scanning the dozen men who entered the room. Each of them looked imposing.

"=They two seem to orchestrate the entire operation,=" sounded the reply. "=But I don't know their goals.="

Their short talk was immediately broken by the elderly man stepping forth slightly. Seraphina heard some kind of mechanical click resound quietly with every other step.

'A prosthetic leg...?' she wondered, seeing the stiffness of the man's motions. It was faint, like he'd already gotten used to it after many years, but still present.

Briefly, the two looked at each other. The man sighed, his gaze not dissimilar to a parent looking at a child. In a slightly twisted way, Seraphina felt like he was hesitant about something. But that notion was discarded as the man raised his hand dismissively, a few terse words leaving his lips. The other men stepped forth.

"=What do we do...?=" Seraphina questioned as she noticed them almost eat her with their gazes. The weapons in their hands gleamed before they struck.

The barrier shrugged their strikes off without a scratch. The men barely flinched, instead striking again.

"=I... don't think we can do anything right now,=" Cileres responded bitterly between the strikes.

Seraphina moved. However, the moment she attempted to back off, an invisible **** pulled at the mana stone. Some of the men were behind her, pushing against the barrier to prevent her escape. Their commander and the woman, whom Seraphina figured was his personal assistant or the like, stood at a small distance, observing the situation unfold.

Seraphina wasn't sure how long it took for anything to happen. The mana stone in her hand constantly vibrated and released increasing waves of warmth, relaying to her that while the barrier held, its strength slowly grew weaker. A crack appeared on it, slowly spreading in a spiderweb-like pattern.

Physically, she froze. Mentally, she begged. With every sound of metal crashing against the magical barrier, Seraphina wailed internally, cursing the fate itself. She had just gotten a light of hope, and now, all was lost again. Why? Why were these people harboring ill intent toward her? What was the meaning of it all?

A sudden reverberation went through the air. The floor trembled, and the windows rattled. The men striking the barrier froze and, like everyone else, looked in the direction.

A second or so later, a fiery blast broke one of the doors to smithereens, sending a rain of splinters in the vicinity. The dense smoke billowed for several seconds, hiding the culprit of the ****.

Then, something entered through the smoke as if flung. As it stopped after a second or so, everyone saw it: it was the body of a man, charred beyond recognition. Seraphina felt her stomach twist and turn at the sight, the smell of burnt human flesh making her head spin.

The elderly man was the first to act. He gave a short shout, which prompted everyone to flinch. The dozen men immediately responded by shuffling away from Seraphina, standing in a formation and tentatively stepping toward the blasted door.

"=Princess, watch out!="

If not for Cileres's warning, Seraphina would've missed it. As she looked back toward the commander, she saw a small machination of sorts in his hand. It looked harmless, but knowing her familar's words, she didn't think twice.

The barrier was visibly cracked, the mana stone in her hand hot as it was unable to repair it anymore. Seraphina couldn't be sure if it'd survive a blow from something that instantly struck Lis'te down.

A long second passed. The gray eyes of the commander in front of her glimmered, the barrel of the weapon in his hand aimed straight at her. His fingers moved, a quiet click piercing through the racket of what was happening.

Seraphina lifted her arms, doing anything to protect her face. The projectile, small as it was, was propelled toward her faster than the speed of sound, reaching the obstacle in the way before she could've even blinked. With a sound of glass shattering, the barrier broke apart.

But, by luck or unluck, the projectile's path was altered due to the magical obstacle. It was impossible to tell because it was too fast, but the bullet, once headed straight for her chest, went up. It struck her hand, piercing it, before breaking the mana stone she held and ricocheting further off-course. Unaffected, it'd have likely struck her heart. Now, however, another part of her was hit. The last thing her left eye saw was the smudge of the bullet that struck her bone, destroying the organ before flying off.

She screamed in pain as the sensations hit. Searing-hot wetness of her blood enveloped her face. She stumbled back, finding herself on her back, her hands going to the area. The world was promptly ignored, the overwhelming agony filling her mind.

However, it wasn't for long.

Within a few seconds, the worst pain of her life snapped her consciousness away.

-12:28, third floor of the Academy-

Illan's steps were quick, the man nearly breaking into a run as he ascended the flight of stairs.

It had been at least half an hour since the strange barrier beset the Academy. And ever since it did, magic was impossible.

A free hand ruffled his hair as he tried to control his breathing. Ester was fine, he was sure of it. He had specifically asked her to stay home today. He wasn't sure exactly why he did. His memory faintly recalled some Ureliar man in a bar saying something about Friday and 'a change'. Whichever the case, he felt happy that his little sister listened.

Which only turned into a groan as he looked out the window.

He wasn't supposed to be here. He had no Friday lectures. He’d come anyway, certain the Academy was safest.

And now?

Illan's bronze eyes dimmed as he noticed the plumes of smoke in the western Weydan. They were already close to completely dying off, but the sight sent an unpleasant sensation down his stomach nonetheless. Thankfully, as he had checked, the eastern part - where the Breshnaw household stood - looked quiet.

He paused as he entered the third floor. The penultimate floor gave him a much better vantage point than what he'd had so far. From here, he could see some faint movement in the distance - most likely units of Enforcers moving toward the Academy to inspect the barrier. Internally, he felt a tinge of relief wash over him.

He still remembered the numerous Ureliar men who passed near the Academy, far above the usual numbers. When the barrier dropped, Illan tried to look out the window to find them, but suddenly, none of them were present. People didn't just vanish. The implication was obvious.

'Academy is now littered with Ureliar people, who have completely unknown agendas regarding us... but it's likely not to picnic.'

He groaned to nobody in particular. The empty corridors, bathed in pale blue light, felt eerie to walk in. Especially since someone with ill intent and most likely superior strength could jump him at any moment...

However, he calmed himself. He did have something to help himself with that. His hand traced the outline of an almost-full vial in his pocket, nearly full with the stimulant. He wasn't exactly sure why he took it. He actually planned to make use of it on Sunday, when he'd make a return to the Stormrider mansion. However, he ended up taking it today instead, feeling an unfamiliar prickle under his skin. Now, he was happier than ever that he listened to the feeling.

With a sigh, Illan slowed down. Right now, he just wanted to get away from the commotion downstairs. He did take note that, as far as he knew, the assailants did not come upstairs, but he wasn't going to give them a reason to.

His teeth gritted, and his fingers curled into a fist. Strength surged within him, the vial's effects still present. His mind felt just a tinge fuzzy, but Illan chalked it up to the barrier. After all, expulsion of mana was suddenly impossible. The mere fact made his blood pressure spike.

But suddenly, Illan heard something. A screech went through the air, making every blood vessel in his body freeze over as his heart halted. Faint energy sizzled all over his skin, as if mana, still so far, began moving again. He shot a look down the corridor he came to, looking toward the stairs in the distance, as if locating the source of the voice.

Then, just as suddenly as it started, the sound ended, leaving behind a dull echo. Immediately thereafter, the sizzling stopped.

His hand instinctively clutched the vial in his pocket. Did an enemy just... kill someone? For a few seconds, he pondered his options before he lifted the small bottle. Regardless of how much he wanted to spare using it, the sound just now erased his thoughts of doing so. It was better safe than sorry.

He downed the vial before he had any second thoughts. Immediately, Illan felt a surge of strength swell within his muscles. With every next breath, it felt like a fire burned, fueling his every action. It was far stronger than yesterday, the power in his veins coursing like liquid fire. He felt like he could move a mountain.

But that sensation was thrown out of his mind as he saw movement up ahead. His muscles tensed up, only to immediately deflate as he noticed a familiar face.

"Professor Schweizer?" he frowned, surprise overtaking his mind briefly.

"?" Elaine's eyes lifted, meeting his gaze before the small woman raised a brow. "Breshnaw," she half-stated, half-asked, visibly puzzled at his presence in here. "Did you... hear that thing?"

"Yes," he confirmed. "Do you think someone was attacked?"

"Attacked? By whom?"

Illan exhaled shallowly. In terse words, he spoke about what he'd seen happen. As he finished, he noticed the unpleasant grimace on Elaine's face. The redhead was clearly mulling the issue.

"I see... dammit. I must go to the deanery. First, that thing," she glanced toward a nearby window, eyes aimed at the barrier. "And now this... Gods, what the hell is happening?"

Illan shook his head. "The only thing I know is that the barrier appeared about half an hour ago, and it stops magic from being used."

A tinge of confusion entered Elaine's face. "Half an hour...? And nobody reacted?"

Illan didn't answer. Truthfully, he wasn't sure what to do. As he thought about the issue, he indeed didn't see a single soul for even longer than the barrier had been up for. Even the Academy's workers didn't cross his vision. Almost as if... something held them up...

Yet, as a few seconds passed, the Breshnaw man felt his muscles buzz with power. Within his mind, new thoughts surged, intermingling with the inner concerns about the situation. A remembrance of a few days ago surged, where Professor Schweizer berated him for things she had no right to. After all, he didn't sign up for stupid alchemy. What right did she have to school him about things he didn't even want in the first place?

However, Illan snapped himself out of his thoughts as he noticed Elaine move. The petite Melidan woman passed by him, going further into the corridor. A murmur left her mouth, intelligible to the brown-eyed man, just before she passed by him.

Yet, something in him stirred, like an irritating buzz. The sensation grew in intensity as his mouth parted.

"Where are you going, Professor?"

"To the deanery."

"Then, should I escort you?"

"?" Elaine stopped in her tracks. Turning halfway to him, her verdant eyes sparkled with authority as her voice turned sharper. "You heard that thing, Breshnaw. You'd best seek shelter."

Illan nodded. The incessant buzzing in his ears was growing almost uncomfortable. He found it a little challenging to even filter out the words the woman spoke.

"I know, but what if you happen to cross paths with those people, who knows what will happen."

"So you say it's better if they catch us both?"

Illan chuckled. "Not at all. But I am much stronger than you think," he responded, his confidence growing by the second as the liquid worked its way through his body. With a motion faster than her eyes could register, he reached for a nearby metal frame - a piece of a small exhibit about some machinery or the like - and held it between his hands. With little more than mild exertion, the sound of metal whining filled the air as the iron frame, thick as a finger, was visibly distended. With equally fast movement, he placed it back, the bent metal a clear showcase of his strength. Yet, within him was only a sensation of how natural it felt to have such strength.

Elaine's voice broke him out of his momentary ponder.

"Enough, Breshnaw. I must go to the deanery."

He saw it. For the first time ever, a glint of fear crossed the verdant orbs. Though her voice was firm, Elaine was now aware that he was in the upper position. He was stronger and faster than she could comprehend.

"On the contrary, Professor. We have much to talk about still."

Illan smiled inwardly. Though he felt his mind become fuzzier by the second, he didn't care. With a swift yet careful motion, he reached toward the small professor. She stepped back out of his reach, body tensed up as he did little more than chuckle.

"Final warning, Breshnaw," Elaine steeled herself, but the twitch of her hand was unmistakable.

"What's the matter, Professor? I just want to talk."

He stepped forward, pressure oozing from him. Elaine twitched, eyes widening as she found herself unable to make distance. It was like his presence rooted her in place.

Illan smirked. It felt good to have power over someone who bitched over him for so long. Now, she couldn't stop him, whatever he did... wait. Whatever he did?

The young Breshnaw almost blinked in surprise at the revelation. He never really wanted to bring Elaine to her knees literally. What he really wanted was for her to finally see him as the noble he was. He never considered her in a carnal way. But now, almost as if guided by the buzzing in his mind, he found himself almost fantasizing about it. Elaine Schweizer - the fiery Melidan woman - on her knees, servicing him, her petite body nude for him to use...

Yes, that position would suit her nicely. And now, they were alone...

He didn't even realize when he reached out to her shoulder. Elaine flinched, making a sound before Illan's other hand covered her mouth. He would not be denied. Not now. The feeling in his veins told him - he had the upper hand. And might made right.

Illan brushed Elaine's shoulder, feeling her shuffle against him. Gods, this feeling, of overpowering someone this easily, was intoxicating.

"Professor, did I ever tell you how much I adore you?"

"?" Elaine squeaked strangely, taken aback by his question.

"Allow me to show you exactly how much."

His hand moved, grasping the material with ****.

But before he pulled, he heard a voice.

"Oi!"

A womanly voice called out from behind him. Illan's hands flinched back. Just before he turned, he noticed the concern cross Professor Schweizer's face. She knew that woman, whoever she was.

"Dory..." she uttered quietly, her tone full of disbelief.

"Oh?" he asked, locating the ginger-haired woman who stood about his height. "What's the matter? Are you lost?"

"Oh, ah'll tell ye what's the mattah," she answered with a grimace. "Ye see what's happenin' and ye hasslin' Prof 'stead of goin' away."

Illan almost hissed. Mostly, it was at the sheer audacity Dory had to even speak like this to him. To him! And was she, anyway, to use that tone? Her face didn't check any boxes in his mind, and Illan knew all the important heads in the Academy. This meant that whoever this Dory was, she was at most a Baron in status. He would not stand being scolded like this by someone from such a low group.

"I'm hassling her? And what are you doing?"

"Step away from Prof," Dorothea said lowly, clearly unthreatened by his pressure.

"Or what?"

The ginger-haired woman pulled out a small vial from her pocket.

"Ye wouldn't want Asterfall to touch ye," she said, shuffling the item between her fingers.

"Asterfall?" Elaine spoke with shock. "Dory... why?"

Illan flinched. He didn't know that much about alchemy, but Asterfall was on the short list he did recognize. A volatile compound with a tendency to explode violently with even a single drop. A vial like what Dorothea held would be enough to level the entire corridor. And worst of all, the look she gave him told him she was not bluffing.

Illan's teeth gritted. With ****, he stepped forward, quickly cutting the distance to Dorothea.

Suddenly, the ginger-haired woman bolted in his direction. Surprised by her action, Illan instinctively dodged, his Mage instincts telling him to avoid the strike. However, with surprise, he noticed Dorothea pass by him, reaching Elaine a second later.

"Dory, what are you doing?" Professor Schweizer asked, visibly taken aback.

"Oi," Dory called out to Illan. "Catch," she suddenly swung, throwing the vial in Illan's direction.

"!" Illan's body moved immediately. With movements faster than he thought possible, he shot forward, his hands flailing as he reached...

...and missed the vial.

However, a split second later, only the sound of the vial cracking resounded. There was no explosion, fire, or anything of the like.

Illan groaned lowly. To think he could fall for such a simple trick...

"You," he said, looking right at Dorothea. The anger in him bubbled and sizzled.

"Prof, go!" the taller Melidan woman pushed the petite professor behind her, into the corridor around the corner.

"Wait, Dory--"

"No time!" she answered, rushing to meet Illan's advance.

He swung. He saw his fist make a clear arc, quickly closing in on Dory's face. He was definitely faster than her. Once the strike connected, he'd--

*SLAP!*

Illan didn't even register the slap to his face. Stunned briefly by the strike's speed, he stepped back on instinct, only to have a fist strike at his shoulder. His immediate response was met with a duck, and then a jump back as he tried to kick. Despite his superior speed, she appeared to anticipate his every move.

However, she couldn't expect everything. That came to delightful fruition as Illan aimed a faint. Then, instead of following up with a different blow, he dashed, slamming into Dorothea's chest with a shoulder.

She released a half-yelp of pain before stabilizing her position. However, the strength of his blow was immense, enough so to make her stagger for a second or so. That was enough.

Illan almost charged, aiming a weak blow to the side of the woman's head. When that was read, he followed it up with a strike to her abdomen.

Normally, he wouldn't do this. Even if he went against a Warrior type, Illan had had qualms about striking a woman. Now, however, such petty things were cast into nothingness. They didn't matter anymore, not now. Now, the only thing that mattered was fulfilling his immediate thoughts, whatever they were. And the one at the front of his mind was simple: defeat the enemy.

Dorothea backpedaled again. However, Illan was right after her, a hand grasping her shoulder. She struck at his elbow, but the Mage didn't budge. His strength was too much for her to handle.

Illan responded by pulling her closer. As his other hand got a hold of Dorothea's shoulders, he threw her forth, the woman tumbling on the ground. But before he went after her, a sparkly glimmer on the ground caught his attention.

"Hmm?" his bronze eyes went down, immediately locating the vial. It must've fallen out of Dory's pocket, he figured. As he picked it up, he saw how its near-translucent content shifted.

A thought budded in him. Dory dared to trick him with some salt solution or the like, calling it Asterfall. The least he should do is respond in kind. Hell, he should break the vial on her face, just to see how she'd like that.

He looked at the ginger woman, who stood up, her hazel eyes locking with his before she noticed the vial. An expression of fear crossed her face as she touched a pocket in her robe, immediately realizing the origin of what Illan held.

"Oi," Illan snickered. "Catch."

Dorothea's eyes went wide. Her mouth moved, but she was too slow. Illan's speed, enhanced by the vial's effects, caused his hand to move nearly in a blur as he swung, tossing the item. His strength, more than doubled from its regular status, caused the vial to cross the corridor in a blink. Only his accuracy was not augmented, making it miss Dorothea entirely. It flew past the woman, right toward the corner behind which Elaine had run off to.

And in that moment, he realized. He saw Dorothea's expression and read from it the most obvious emotion ever: dread.

His realization came to fruition as the glass kissed the stone and shattered. And the liquid inside combusted violently.

The explosion filled the air with a thunderous roar. The shockwave went across the corridor, cracking the walls all around. The ceiling burst in flames, unable to withstand the pressure. Dorothea was immediately swallowed up by the ball of fire. However, a glimpse of something - a hand, perhaps - was flung to the side before the entire place began collapsing.

Unbearable heat and forces beyond what his body could handle ravaged Illan as he was thrown back. In a split second, the young Breshnaw was flung away, crashing through the window.

The world felt like it came to a standstill as he fell.

Long, incessant seconds passed one after another as he saw the massive ball of fire exit right after him, narrowly missing him. Had it hit, it'd have definitely killed him outright.

But that was not the end of his trial.

Illan didn't have to look to know the fall would be fatal regardless. Even if he somehow survived it, he'd bleed out right after. His body was torn. Pain radiated from literally everywhere, his every nerve screaming. It was over for him.

However, just as he was about to hit the ground, Illan's brown eyes saw blackness. Unending void enveloped him, darker than the blackest night, yet somehow shimmering as though filled with a billion billion stars. And within those points of light, two golden eyes looked straight into his.

A feminine chuckle entered his ears.

-12:38, the ground floor of the Academy-

He stepped forward.

There was no haste in his gait, his every motion almost like he moved underwater. Every step forward carried him with silent confidence.

The sword's blade in his bloodied hand gleamed as he retracted it, fresh droplets of scarlet liquid dripping. In the faint silver that still shone beneath, the faces of two men reflected. They stood tall, possibly even taller than him, with muscles that rivaled some wardrobes in sheer width. But despite their physiques and weaponry, only fear and uncertainty lurked in their eyes.

A dull thud of a now-dead body of their comrade snapped them out of sheer shock. The front man, holding a bludgeon, moved forward whilst his other comrade took aim with the crossbow in his hands.

Pitiful.

He didn't dodge. There was no need to. The projectile crossed the half dozen metres of distance quickly, but his hand was faster. As it entered his range, his sword's tip struck the bolt, deflecting it effortlessly.

Then, the other opponent approached.

Simple.

There was little technique behind the brutish blow. It was a matter of a quick sidestep before the blade was swiftly lodged in the man's heart. With a calculated, almost artistic motion, he pulled the weapon out, a spray of blood painting the nearby wall. Some droplets landed on his attire as well, further staining the shirt that, just this morning, was a bright shade of gray.

The last of three cried out, his voice a mix of fury and subconscious terror. He dropped the crossbow, his hand going for a knife on his belt.

Slow.

Darkness spread across his sword. An aura of dimness consumed his hand before he performed a quick thrust. Immediately after, a lance of the same color shot forward, gouging the man's eye out before impaling his brain. The Ureliar pest jerked before the projectile dissipated, his body limping.

He breathed out. His violet eyes scanned the trio's bodies. Years ago, he'd heave at the very thought of taking the life of another human. Now, however, not even the smell of blood moved him. He'd seen too much, experienced too much, to be bothered.

A presence in his mind shuffled forward.

'(Enough stalling.)' Eamon spoke with authority. '(The time is almost up. Get moving.)'

He barely reacted. His violet eyes glanced toward a nearby window. In the half-translucent reflection, he could easily imagine the annoying ahjussi frowning.

His lips parted, releasing a heavy breath. He knew the elf man was right. However, it didn't erase the sorrowful bitterness that bit his heart.

'You promised we'd save her.' he finally spoke in his mind, his violet eyes almost burning with anguish and rage as he held his sword tighter.

'(I promised we'd try. You did all you could.)'

His expression shifted, turning bitter as he resumed his walk.

'You didn't. You kept things from him. If you had told him--'

'(Causality would've killed us both.)'

'You don't know that!' he yelled, looking at a window he passed. 'You're simply a coward, Eamon. You call it 'caution' when you're just afraid of what will happen if you're wrong!'

'(And you are any better, Lucas? If it were up to you, you'd jump headfirst into this.)'

'But I'd have saved her.'

Lucas gripped his sword with ****. The rugged handle was rough to the touch. He got a hand through his hair in a habitual motion, further staining the white strands with the scarlet liquid. Then, he flinched. His hair was much shorter now. It didn't need to be fixed nearly as often.

'(We were given one chance, Lucas. One. Adlin's existence was denied to make this possible. Because this way, we have a chance to save more than one life. We can save millions! Maybe even win the war!)'

Lucas's eyes lowered. He knew that Eamon was right. He knew that, yet... he couldn't make peace with that.

'It's not the same without her.'

He exhaled, eyes straying toward the window. The blue-tinted light encompassing him felt bleak, its warmth gone as his thoughts escaped to Nimue. Bitter, acidic guilt gnawed at his throat. This hurt even more than the first time. Back then, he at least wasn't around.

Eamon's presence grew closer.

'(I know.)' he spoke bitterly. '(Do you think I feel different? Vrale will never remember she had a husband.)'

His voice, for the first time, expressed understanding. Lucas understood, much as he didn't want to admit it, that Eamon knew exactly what he felt. They both had been through a lot. In time nobody remembered, in a war that's been raging on for millennia, they'd lost so many that he frankly couldn't even remember them all anymore. And now, this happened because of a gamble they took.

'(That's why are doing this. So no one else has to know.)'

A wry smile entered his lips.

'You have the shittiest pep talk, Eamon.'

'(Still better than what you deserve.)'

'And the shittiest attitude.' Lucas exhaled. Then, he fixed his grip on the sword, his expression steeling. 'Let's go save Gerdival's blood now.'

His eyes lifted as he turned the corner. At the far end, the door to the assembly hall stood, guarded by three men.

He clenched his fist. The mana in the air gathered, creating several tiny balls of fire. Their orange glow heated his wrist as they formed a bracelet-esque formation before his fist lifted in the direction.

The men didn't even notice him before the pellets flew. Flying erratically, several crashed into the walls and floor before finally reaching them. However, every single ball of fire exploded violently, carrying with it the strength of no less than the 3rd-circle Explosion spell. The entire corridor shook, windows breaking as shards of stone flew in all directions. The carpet on the floor was torn to shreds and burned. Waves of heat washed over the corridor's length but were promptly ignored.

Only three out of nearly twenty projectiles reached them, but that was enough. Even a single one was enough to instantly kill them. Cut-off screams sounded together with the other sounds before silence reclaimed its dominion.

'(Sloppy.)'

Lucas frowned. Ahjussi was always annoying with his remarks.

'I've forgotten how responsive this body used to be.' he replied, straightening his fingers. A tingling sensation shot through them.

For once, Eamon didn’t answer. The quiet was almost comforting.

He dashed forward, running straight through the dark smoke and dust that clouded his vision. As he recognized a silhouette of a man - one of the guards who managed to stay upright after the explosion - he jumped, slamming his heel into the man's chest. The **** of the blow sent the husk straight into the assembly hall. Then, slowly, he entered, just before he heard the bang of a gunshot.

Lucas flinched.

'What?'

His senses flared up when Seraphina’s scream pierced the air. No… that couldn’t be right. He still had at least ten minutes. What had changed?

He didn't wait. Ignoring Eamon's panicked voice in the back of his mind, Lucas bolted the final few steps before he exited the smoke cloud.

His gaze swept around.

Several men stood, tensed up, wielding weapons as they scanned him. Somewhere behind them, he saw the green-haired elf - the target of today's attack. Relief sparked faintly within him as he focused on her. She was alive. Barely, but alive.

Then, his gaze went left.

The gray-eyed man - Egis Treseleer - looked at him with an expression that showed complete and utter shock, be it at his presence here at all, the way he entered, or the way he looked. Or, most likely, all three.

But Lucas focused on his immediate companion. And, seeing the dark-eyed woman, Minerva, his blood boiled.

She was the reason this had gone to hell.

If not for her, Nimue would still be alive.

His amethyst eyes shimmered, rage surging. His grip on his sword tightened, every fiber of his body tensing as he pierced the woman with an ice-cold gaze. His target was set.

However, it wouldn't be a **** spree without interruptions. He heard one of the Ureliar men shout something whilst approaching his position. Despite the fear he must've felt, he charged forward, his mace aimed at Lucas's head.

But the strike wouldn't connect.

Lucas didn't speak. He simply raised his hand without so much as glancing sideways.

Instantly, the mana around gathered, creating a ball of fire which sped toward the man, exploding against his face.

The man, who barely managed to even halve the ten-meter distance, cried in pain as the flames charred his face by the second. Skin boiled, eyes melted, and teeth darkened, before he finally shut up, dead.

Shock registered across everyone's faces. In particular, Egis and Minerva seemed to not even comprehend the extent of what happened. No, rather, they didn't seem to want to accept it. For all they knew, magic was impossible within an anti-magic field. After all, that was its main function. But they needn't know how he did that. Freeform magic was a forgotten style, after all.

Lucas exhaled. He would need to take care of the pests after all.

For a brief moment, he reached within himself, preparing his Willpower before forming numerous bolts of mental energy. Each of them was filled with overwhelming dread and disgust - the exact emotions he knew the men felt toward him, amplified beyond comprehension.

Before the initial man's carcass fell to the floor, the mental magic struck each of his comrades, their minds overcome with fear. Most of them dropped their weapons, intangible mumbling rolling off their quivering tongues before their survival instincts kicked in, sending them scattering, as far away from Lucas as they could.

He stepped forward, completely ignoring them. His gaze was only locked on Minerva. She flinched, recognizing the stare he gave. Her fingers curled as she stepped back, trying to reach for a weapon she didn't have.

'(Lucas. Wait. Focus on the Liveren.)'

Eamon urged in his mind.

Lucas stole half a glance toward the green-haired elf and **** himself to halt. Using the moment of stunned silence, he lifted his hand. The mana around him coalesced, creating a light-blue bead of energy, no larger than his fingernail. With a simple mental command, the pellet flew right above the men, reaching Seraphina's **** body before exploding into a small dome of protective magic, keeping her and the black cat safe.

Then, he turned back, a piercing gaze aimed at the black-eyed woman next to Egis.

'Now, this one will die.'

It was retribution. A punishment befitting a crime. A life for a life.

Egis shuffled, trying to put himself between Lucas and Minerva. The distance was about fifteen meters, and decreasing by the second. He raised his hand, the weapon within gleaming as he aimed it, whilst Lucas came to a stop about ten meters away.

But then, in the split second of staredown, Lucas noticed something.

'(They took Ylla's Tear.)'

Eamon said, confirming that Lucas's eyes, in fact, worked properly. By Egis's side, a small pouch was affixed. Although he couldn't look inside, the white-haired man could feel the faint energy radiate from within. The tiniest sparks of mana shimmered, almost as if the electrum-made bracelet fought against the barrier's effect. He could easily envision the mana stone on its surface sparkling.

'Doesn't matter.'

They wouldn't know how to use the artifact under the barrier anyway.

The sword in his hand gleamed before darkness consumed the blade.

Egis said something. The words bounced off Lucas's ears as he ignored the speech.

Inhale.

The sword's blade grew, reaching the ground.

Exhale.

He swung, the motion full of precise finesse.

The dark energy on the blade extended together with the swing, creating a crescent-moon-shaped slash that rushed forward, cutting the distance before half a second passed. Minerva appeared to anticipate the strike as she pushed Egis away.

However, just when he thought it'd hit, a sound entered his ears. The irritating screech of metal whining filled Lucas's ears as the strike diverged ever so slightly. The slash that was supposed to cleanly bisect the woman instead struck her hand.

The first sound that pierced the stillness that followed was a blunt thud, followed by a short scream. Minerva clutched the stump that had become of her right hand, anything from elbow down now lying on the ground in an increasing pool of blood.

'(Lucas, stop!)'

Eamon roared as Lucas's hand rotated, another swell of energy coursing as he prepared to strike again. Causality wasn't going to stop him. Not now. Not this time.

'(STOP!)'

Minerva's gaze lifted as Egis went to his knees, trying to support the woman. She looked at Lucas, and for the first time, her emotionless facade cracked. Underneath, she held a silent plea.

But before Lucas brought his hand down, a bang echoed.

The southern entry door slammed open, breaking off its hinges. The sound reverberated in the almost-empty assembly hall.

A feminine voice pierced the air.

"LUCAS!!!"

A single word. A name. That was all it took for everyone to freeze in place. However, it wasn't out of surprise.

It was out of pure shock.

Lucas’s breath caught. His hand lowered, energy dispersing harmlessly. He knew that voice. He knew it.

The two in front of him looked just as shaken, their eyes widening as they looked past him and toward the source. The dark-eyed woman, in particular, seemed completely aghast.

Lucas turned around, sword lowering as the energy on its tip dispersed harmlessly. His violet eyes located the speaker.

Her hands dripped with blood. Her face had visible streaks as though a brutish animal had torn her skin. Her outfit - usually a black-and-white maid suit - was now drenched in scarlet liquid, scale-like crystals of the same-colored ice breaking off her left hand as she clenched her fists. Mist entered after her, bathing her silhouette gently as it fought against the warmer air she stepped into.

Eamon hesitantly spoke in his mind, but his words were barely hearable.

'(Is that a--)'

Lucas couldn't understand. How was this possible...?

He saw her sharp eyes. One was a familiar green, while the other looked like plated gold.

'(--homunculus?)'

He, however, used a different word.

"...Nimue?"

-???-

I open my eyes to see a ceiling different from what I last went to sleep under. It's white, and a large source casts radiant light everywhere. I can barely make out what's happening. My mind feels dull, and my vision spins until I manage to focus after a few seconds.

I move. No... rather, I try to. I cannot control my body. Something binds my wrists and ankles, but I can't even bend my neck to see. No... I realize that I cannot even blink. They paralyzed me. I can't even breathe, and I only feel a small mask on my mouth forcing air in and out of my lungs.

...

There is rustling around me. I hear words thrown around. 'Procedure', 'Blood pressure'... some others I do not even understand. A few things move in the corner of my vision. I can barely look, let alone catch up with the movement. Unable to see who or what is around, I begin pondering.

...why am I tied up?

I ask myself, trying to decipher the meaning of what's happening. Everything's blurry. I can barely remember what I was doing before going to sleep. Something within tells me that 'Master Limen wants to see me'. Those words reverberate in my skull. D-3's face comes to my mind. Right after that, I am reminded of D-8's words. 'Procedure'... he did mention that word...

But that is cut off when I hear Limen's voice.

"Let's begin," he says with a clear tone. Unlike when he's talking with us, his cold and efficient voice sends shivers down my spine.

Something's wrong. Something's really, really wrong. I try to struggle, but it's all in vain. My body won't hear my commands.

And then, I notice Limen's dark eyes staring straight into mine, his mouth covered with a mask. He realizes I'm aware of what's happening. Despite the cloth on his mouth, I can see a grin widening on his face. He's fascinated.

"How interesting," he smiles, his eyes glimmering with interest. "She resists the sedative."

"Impossible," a woman says nearby. "That's a dose that'd put a hundred men into a coma," there's disbelief staining her tone. She seems baffled.

"The higher series are much stronger," someone else says. "C-series also exhibited resistances, although... not to this extent."

"We can proceed," Limen smiles before turning to me. "Don't worry. You won't mind this soon enough."

I don't know what he's talking about. All I know is that I must get out. Out out out...

I struggle, or rather, try to. Overcoming the binds and whatever keeps me from moving is impossible for me. It's like trying to move a mountain with a finger.

And then, I feel it. The cold edge of a knife. It presses against my sternum.

*BA-THUM!*

It pushes. Without any warning or sound, it drives into me, splitting me slowly.

The pain hits me like a boulder. It's incomparable to anything I've ever felt. As the knife travels down my chest, I want to scream. I want to wail. I want to cry and struggle.

...but all I can do is lie there.

*Ba-Thum!*

I can't even count seconds. I feel my blood spilling with every painful beat of my heart. It's weakening, but the pain doesn't subside at all.

Then, I feel something new. A new knife, jagged unlike the first one, is pressed against my ribs. Instinctively, I know what is about to happen. I want to vomit. I want to scream again.

...no, not even that. I want to die. Anything but to feel that pain anymore.

But the only thing that follows is the dull sound and vibrations of the knife's teeth cutting my ribs.

*Ba-Thum*

I don't know how long it takes. Minutes, hours. I cannot even tell. The pain consumes everything. I don't even know who I am. All I know is, I can't bear this pain.

They finish with the ribs and sternum. I can hear the sickening sounds as they open me fully.

And then, without a word, they strike.

*Ba-Thu--*

The final, unfinished beat of my heart. The last pump of blood it gives me. It's painful, and it reverberates through my every vein. They cut it and remove it for what feels like an eternity.

...

...

Then there's silence.

It's impossible to tell how long has passed. My vision is dark. I can't hear anything. My body is frigid cold. I've lost so much blood. And yet... I'm awake... why... why... why...!

...

...

...

Then... something changes. I can't feel it immediately through the pain, but it becomes obvious after a few seconds.

*Ba-Thum*

The cold is quickening. Its spread becomes more focused, going through my veins as if it has a mind of its own.

I can feel my fingers twitching. It's like that frigidity turned into my blood, powering my limbs.

*Ba-Thum!*

A surge of energy appears in me. It comes from where my heart was, and I suddenly feel strength come to my limbs. It takes me a few seconds to realize what's happened. But then, I feel it.

In the place where my old heart was... a new one beats.

*BA-THUM!*

'<D-7, wake up!>'

-12:30-

Nimue's eyes opened.

---

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