[Initializing…]
[Host identified: Anderson Naver]
[Analyzing condition…]
[Error: Neural stability compromised]
[Error: Mana Circuits: Underdeveloped]
[Override enabled]
[Activating]
[System Integration Level: 0%. 12%. 27%... 100%]
[Conditions met: Imminent death. Unlocking dormant function…]
[Skill Acquired: Fear Response Overdrive (Lv1)]
Name: Anderson Naver
Race: Human
Rank: None
Mana Rank: Initiate
Status: Awakening
Skill Slots: 1/5
Mana Capacity: 2/10
Strength: 4
Agility: 6
Endurance: 5
Will: 5
Intelligence: 9
Andy was too scared to process all that he was seeing before him. The words had appeared out of nowhere, and he even suspected a bit that he had started hallucinating out of fear.
Please, move.
This time, Andy found his body responding to his plea. Even better, he felt the crippling fear that had held him hostage previously, sink into a nonexistent river.
He was still scared, but not to the point that he couldn't control his body anymore.
Silently but quickly, he moved to hide behind a shelf that was just a few yards away from the window.
The grotesque creature had just reached the door of the room, about to open it, when a voice came from behind. "You should have waited till their graduation before indulging."
It tilted its head a bit before turning back to face the person who had just spoken. It was an old man, grey-headed with slightly closed eyes, wearing a monocle.
"They are my products… moreover, they were breaking the rules." It said.
Andy was still able to hear what was happening in the room and his heart beat shot up.
I recognize that voice. What's going on?
"Master Gan wouldn't be pleased that you ate what he has been keeping an eye on for years… two of them for that matter."
"Once again, they are still my products. Before graduation, they are mine." The creature suddenly transformed into a suited gentleman with a smile on his face and a touch of blood on the side of his cheek.
Zeladin's corpse, though wasn't being held by any tentacle now, it still floated in the air, just behind the gentleman.
"If you had just wait—"
"Enough! Don't let your position get into your head, Principal Ganaf. Just keep your head down and proceed as you normally would." The gentleman smiled as he walked towards the broken window.
Coming to a stop, he removed a red handkerchief from his breast pocket and whipped the blood off his cheek. "By the way, how many people are meant to be in this building?"
Principal Ganaf smiled at the gentleman. "Five… well, excluding the one you unceremoniously killed, four now."
"Investigate for me a bit. Anyone who's acting a bit out of the norm, kill him. I think a rat noticed something was wrong."
Principal Ganaf frowned.
This was a serious matter, and yet, the person in front of him was acting as though it didn't matter.
Such an attitude is something, Principal Ganaf, hated. He had been working in this institution for decades and had dedicated his life to raising these children.
Curating for their mental and emotional needs.
He would have preferred that they graduate first before being killed.
At least then, their lives would have already been bided for by an Indulger.
Now, two of his most prized students were dead… all for nothing.
Does he think I wasn't aware of their relationship? I am the principal, I am aware of most of what happens on this academy's grounds.
"I'll get on it."
"Good." The suited gentleman vanished from the room with Zeladin's corpse, leaving Principal Ganaf to clean his mess.
Looking at the broken window, his smile wore off. Principal Ganaf snapped his finger and two maids showed up in the room.
"Clean this mess."
"Yes sir."
[Return to your room and act like you normally would, or face death]
Andy suddenly saw more words appear before his eyes. Now that his fear had been doused, he was a bit sane to process what he was seeing. These words hung in the air, colder and more final than any rule the Academy had ever enforced.
He knew he wasn't hallucinating, this was all too lucid to be a trick on his mind.
Whether to believe what he was seeing or not, Andy knew that he had to return to his room. The principal was going to carry out an investigation soon.
Silently, Andy made his way across the hall and went downstairs, rushing back to his room.
He changed out of his clothes, throwing them on the floor, and left with nothing but his underwear. Turning off the lights, Andy quickly went under his blanket and remained still, acting as though he was asleep.
Sure enough, minutes later, his room door clicked open.
Andy felt blood rush up his head and his feet turn cold almost immediately. His breathing picked up and his hands began shaking under the blanket. Fear was about to overcome his body once again, but even with his eyes closed, he saw words appear in his mind.
[Fear Response Overdrive (Lv1)]
Instantly, he felt the agitation in his body vanish and he was able to maintain a still and normal demeanor. Andy's breathing stabilized and his hands remained still.
However, if one touched his palm, they would notice that it was sweaty.
The footsteps from the door to his bed were loud, even more than usual. As if the person was doing it on purpose to see if Andy was going to react.
Unfortunately… or fortunately for Andy, he remained still, acting as if he was deep in his sleep.
Even when the unknown came close to his face, to the point where Andy could feel a cold, funny-smelling breath, blow on to his face, he didn't move.
A few seconds passed and nothing had happened.
"If you continue breathing on his face, he'll wake up." Principal Ganaf said lightly.
And with the appearance of his voice, the cold breath on Andy's face seized.
"That's Anderson, #07, #0344's best friend. Despite his single digit, he's a lazy one that loves to sleep… and he's also a coward. If he were privy to what had happened tonight, he wouldn't be this calm." The principal added, adjusting his monocule.
Every single word from the principal's mouth was like a knife cut right into Andy. But none hurt as much as being called a coward.
Tears threatened to gather in his eyes, but he held them back.
Andy didn't know when or how, but the visitors in his room had left. All so silently, like they were never there in the first place.
Nonetheless, he didn't move from where he was. Continuing to pretend that he was asleep to the point where he couldn't sleep.