]
Bakvik and Racquelna kept their vigil, watching over Lonner with unwavering attention. Their eyes were constantly fixed on their injured friend, ready to observe any subtle change in his condition. Slowly, Lonner's eyes fluttered open, as if crossing the threshold from a long slumber. In that precise moment, a joyful smile immediately bloomed across Racquelna's face. "Mr. Lonner's awake!"
Bakvik, who had been resting a short distance from the bed, rushed over to check on Lonner, his concern evident and undisguised.
"Don't move!"
Lonner struggled to shift his body and push himself up, but Bakvik gently, yet firmly, pressed him back down.
"You stay here for now."
Lonner averted his gaze from Bakvik's kind eyes, expressing his dissatisfaction with his own weakened state.
"How pathetic."
He then mustered a changed smile and offered his sincere thanks to the two people who had cared for him so tirelessly. "Thank you, both of you, for keeping an eye on me."
Lonner spoke, his voice clearly laced with profound exhaustion. "I can't take it anymore. I need to rest a little longer."
Suddenly, Lonner's weakened body slumped, and he slipped back into unconsciousness. Bakvik was startled, urgently calling out his friend's name. "Lonner!"
Racquelna acted without hesitation. Gathering her healing magic, she performed a swift and detailed examination of his body, as if scanning him with a precise instrument.
"He's fine. He just fainted from exhaustion."
Bakvik let out a slow sigh, the immense relief washing away his momentary panic.
"That's better."
Bakvik turned to Racquelna, who was still standing by his side, and offered her the chance to rest, his voice filled with genuine concern.
"Go rest. I'll stay with him while you rest."
Racquelna refused with a firmness akin to a stone wall, utterly dedicated to her duty.
"No, that's my job. You're here, I'm here too!"
Bakvik offered a small smile, admiring her resolute commitment, before conceding to her wishes unconditionally.
"As you please."
The Alluring Appearance of Asman
Meanwhile, a large crowd of first-year students had gathered, forming a dense throng to watch Asman, a brilliant student and campus star, as he walked past the residence hall. Everyone was instantly stunned and captivated by his sudden appearance.
"Mr. Asman, what are you doing here?"
"It's Mr. Asman! He's like a handsome god! He's my idol."
Everyone rushed to greet Asman, completely enthralled as if they had fallen under the spell of his dazzling charisma.
"Good morning, Mr. Asman."
Asman waved with a friendly and warm smile. Everyone was mesmerized by his unassuming yet powerful presence. After acknowledging them, he quickly walked off in a certain direction, leaving no trace. The first-year students attempted to pursue his vanishing shadow, but they simply could not catch up. Shock rendered their faces blank with utter surprise. "He was here a moment ago. Where did he go?"
Asman's Secret and Self-Discovery
Asman arrived at the ruins of an abandoned, old building, with only the roof remaining half-buried in the ground. This secluded spot was a secret sanctuary he had found. He called out a gentle greeting to his little friends.
"Meow, meow!"
A group of kittens immediately rushed to Asman, fearless and united. He smiled happily, calling them with a softness that infused his voice. "Meow, meow! Come out here, little one."
Asman opened his chip bag and meticulously laid out the food he had purchased, alongside the food he had personally prepared.
"I've got a lot of delicious food now~"
All the cats devoured the food with gusto, purring contentedly as they ate.
"Meow~"
Asman gently stroked the heads of the cats, his slight smile hinting at a deeper desire.
"It would be great if you could protect yourself after eating."
Asman played with the cats with warmth and tenderness, seemingly sharing a pure form of affection. He slowly stroked the head of one kitten, posing a philosophical question.
"If you could make a wish from God, what would it be?"
The cats responded with natural, simple meows. Asman continued to speak to them.
"That's it. As for me, I want to..."
Asman bowed his head slightly, his eyes softening distinctly, as if gazing deep into his own soul. "I want to know the truth of my real nature and my past self."
Asman bid his feline friends farewell, preparing to depart for the duties that awaited him.
"I have to go now. Take good care of yourself."
The kittens meowed, a sound that seemed to express their farewell and gratitude to Asman.
The Shocking Teasing on the Rooftop
Asman returned to the university, where he was immediately surrounded by students as usual. Ignoring the crowd, he walked straight to Sela, who was sitting quietly, reading a book.
Asman spoke, attempting to explain his absence. "It's just that..."
Sela, who was deeply engrossed in her reading, glanced briefly at Asman before telling him to be quiet so as not to interrupt her intense focus. "Be quiet. I'm reading."
Asman smiled, a bit awkward and uneasy.
"Sorry... I had some personal business to attend to."
Sela's expression immediately changed, like a flipped switch. She stopped reading and looked at Asman seriously, startling him.
Asman was unnerved by her fierce gaze. He adopted a pleading, adorable look, like a frightened kitten begging for mercy.
"Spare me. Let me know the truth before you kill me. Please, please."
Asman behaved like a child afraid of his strict older sister. Sela gave him a gentle smile. Asman smiled back. Suddenly, Sela shot him another intense, fierce look. She quickly cast a light spell on him, causing Asman to float helplessly in the air.
Asman cried out, begging her to let him down.
"Let me go. I'm afraid of heights."
Konji and Litve secretly observed the pair from a high vantage point, hidden from view.
Sela stood firmly, her arms crossed, and turned her back on Asman, utterly unconcerned. "Just stay there!"
Sela spoke with determination and demand.
"You won't disappear during the event!!!"
Asman cried out in genuine fear.
"Aww, I'm scared!"
Sela laughed at his terror, a mischievous and endearing sound.
Konji's face, witnessing the scene, was frozen and blank, as if she had been electrocuted and was in shock. Litve turned to look at Konji with surprise. "What's wrong with you?"
Litve grabbed Konji's cheek, pinching it lightly to snap her out of her stupor, then gently patted it. "Come to your senses!"
Konji spoke, a mixture of awe and surprise in her voice. "Is this year's star really like this?"
Litve chuckled softly, knowing the implied comparison.
"Who does she look like?"
Konji smiled slyly, admitting the truth of the situation.
"You and I."
The two laughed happily, sharing a feeling that their own mischievous past had been mirrored in this uncanny and humorous scene.
[ The mystery ]
...Nesvan found himself in a mysterious place engulfed by darkness. The voices of a group of mysterious figures, terrifying like sounds from a nightmare, were speaking in a strange language that Nesvan could not comprehend.
Suddenly, they attacked Nesvan with swift brutality. Nesvan dodged quickly, but a razor-sharp blade grazed his knee, causing him agonizing pain. "Aaaaahh!!!"
Nesvan clutched his knee, his pain intense, gritting his teeth until his tendons bulged. In this atmosphere of despair and isolation, Nesvan was utterly terrified. The severe pain was escalating as he frantically scanned the darkness around him, unable to see a thing.
Suddenly, a mysterious man's voice
(the same one that spoke the strange language) echoed from behind him.
"Close your eyes, kid."
Nesvan asked, confused and wary.
"Who are you?"
Nesvan looked around desperately but saw no one. He searched everywhere, but could not find a single trace of the speaker.
The mysterious man's voice replied, powerful and resonant.
"Do you want to survive?"
Nesvan trembled with fear.
"I... I want to survive."
They lunged at Nesvan in a frenzy, attempting to kill him. Suddenly, the same mysterious man approached from behind, moving so silently that Nesvan could not sense his presence at all.
"Close your eyes," the man repeated.
Nesvan had no choice but to obey. The mysterious man gripped Nesvan's head. Instantly, the dark landscape transformed into millions of different locations, as if he had crossed dimensions in a flash. Everything went white. Nesvan was transported back to his room unharmed. Shocked and utterly unconscious from the surreal ordeal, he collapsed.
Stay tuned for the next episode...