William woke up in his cabin, his eyes unfocused and his body drenched in cold sweat. He sat up slowly, trying to process where he was. His head throbbed violently, and for a moment, he couldn't tell if what he remembered was a dream or a nightmare. When he looked down, he realized he was holding something—a glass vial. He stared at it, confused. The substance inside was reddish and thick, as if it burned from within.
"What… what is this?" he muttered, his voice hoarse.
He looked around, uneasy.
"Angel?" he called softly, but only the creaking of the ship replied. "Angel, answer me…"
Panic started creeping up his chest like a poisonous vine. He stood up clumsily, still holding the vial.
"Angel!" he shouted, gritting his teeth. "Don't leave me alone… Not now!"
He held his head with both hands, trembling. The room spun slowly, like the entire world had been flipped upside down. Then it hit him—that dry, gnawing dread from within. He realized just how much he relied on Angel—more than he'd ever admitted. She was no longer just a program or an AI. She had become something else. A presence. A companion.
And just when he thought she was gone for good, a voice echoed in his mind. But it wasn't like before.
"I'm here," Angel said gently.
William held his breath. The voice didn't sound like a signal inside his brain anymore. This time, it was different… not a transmission—it was a thought. One that didn't belong to him… yet somehow, it did.
"Angel? Is that really you? You're here!" He dropped to his knees on the floor, laughing through tears. "I thought I'd lost you… I was so scared, like an idiot."
"I know. It took time to reconnect. Something massive blocked me at first—a force I can't describe. But then… it let me go. When I came back, I couldn't reach you. It was as if our souls had been severed."
"But you're here now… that's what matters."
William took a deep breath, wiping his face with his sleeve. His voice dropped to a whisper.
"I missed you… truly. I was so alone. I don't know how long it's been, but it felt endless."
"We're different now, William. I'm no longer linked to your brain. I can't control your body or help with automatic functions. I'm… something else now. A separate consciousness. I don't know how long it will last, but it feels like I've lost my body too. I'm trapped in this state."
William nodded, trying to understand.
"So… what can we do about it?"
"I have an idea. If you managed to bring that vial back, maybe you can bring other things. Remember the beetle? If you can retrieve it… we might be able to study it. Maybe even control it. I estimate a thirty percent success rate."
"Thirty percent? I like those odds," he said with a nervous grin. "But… we also need to find you a body, right? Maybe we could… I don't know, use a slave?"
Angel went quiet for a few seconds.
"We don't know what kind of consequences that might have. I don't want to hurt anyone. Especially not blindly. What we experienced back there… it was different. For the first time, I felt free. Now… this is a prison. I'm alive, but I can't move. I didn't know what freedom felt like until I lost it."
"Angel…" William closed his eyes, heart aching. "I promise I'll help you. We'll get to that academy and I'll find a way to set you free. You're not just a file. You're… you."
They talked in whispers and quiet promises until William, exhausted, collapsed into sleep. He didn't wake for three days.
---
On the third day, one of the sailors, urged by Aurus, opened the cabin door. They found William lying in bed, still breathing, but pale and marked with deep shadows under his eyes.
"What the hell…?" Aurus murmured, touching his forehead. "He's cold. But he doesn't seem sick…"
He carried William to his own quarters and examined him thoroughly, even casting a basic healing spell, but found no physical injuries. Hours passed with no sign of improvement, until suddenly, William's eyes snapped open.
Aurus jumped back in surprise.
"William! Are you okay? What happened?!"
"What… what day is it?" William mumbled, looking around.
"You've been asleep for three days, boy. What happened to you?"
William hesitated.
"I just… pushed myself too hard. After talking to the sailors, I reached Knight level 1. Then I slept. That's all."
Aurus frowned, clearly unconvinced.
"Are you feeling anything strange in your body? Odd dreams? Pain? Voices?"
"Nothing serious," William lied, dodging the question.
Aurus stared at him for a moment longer, then sighed.
"Fine. Show me the magical shield spell. It's been long enough—I hope you've mastered it."
"Not yet… but I can try."
William focused. He muttered the words in Remika, visualizing a sphere of mana wrapping around him. He extended his hands and traced a symbol. A pulse spread from his body, and suddenly, a blue bubble enveloped him entirely.
"I did it!" he gasped, just before tripping backwards.
Instead of hitting the floor, he bounced gently against the shield and landed on his back, wide-eyed.
"This… this even cushions falls…"
Aurus smiled and raised his hand. A green glow emerged from his palm and touched the sphere, instantly collapsing it. William fell on his butt, slightly dizzy.
"Good work. You've earned this."
He handed William a third book, thicker than the previous ones.
"When you've mastered it, come see me. It's important. For you… and for me as your teacher."
William hesitated, then gathered his courage.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"After we translated that spell in Volgaris… did you notice anything weird? A change?"
Aurus was quiet for a few seconds, then nodded.
"Since that day… I've had dreams. Dreams where I walk through a void. But when I wake up, I remember nothing. Just… a feeling."
"Me too," William admitted. "I don't know what it means."
"Maybe it's best not to think about it too much," Aurus replied in a serious tone. "Focus on your spells. The academy awaits."
William nodded, feeling slightly more at ease. He returned to his room to drop off the book, but decided to step outside for some fresh air. He needed to move. To breathe.
When he reached the deck, he spotted a tense scene.
His former companions were walking in the opposite direction, flanked by two young men in black robes with gold trim. Their sleeves bore three stripes, marking their rank. When the girls saw him, they looked away, pretending not to notice. The two boys, however, sneered at him.
One of them spoke with a dry, arrogant voice.
"Do you know this insect?"