We climbed the remaining levels of the dungeon slowly, in an almost total silence that weighed heavier than the damp air. Our legs throbbed with every uneven step, the whole body still remembering the fight against the queen. The air gradually became less loaded with mold as faint natural light filtered down from above, through the wide, worn stairs.
The group was quiet, genuinely shaken. The newbies had glassy stares, like people who had seen death way too close. The lightly wounded were carried on the shoulders of the stronger ones or limped along with partial potions. The loot was divided basically, without big fights — nobody wanted to delay getting out. The queen's core stayed tucked deep in my backpack, the main prize for the final kill everyone had witnessed. The extra crystals from the swarm gave decent coins to split and shut down any envy.
Daniel gave a light slap on my sweaty back, voice hoarse from exhaustion.
"Fuck, Shade, you tanked that queen like you were actually high-rank. Without that… lucky plasma coming out of nowhere, we'd all be dead and dissolved."
Raymond nodded seriously beside him, carefully carrying the healed scholarship girl on his shoulder. She was grateful, but way too quiet, brown eyes avoiding mine after that almost uncontrollable tease on the damp floor.
I laughed low and cynical, shoulder throbbing from the slap.
"Lucky, strong, and a bit of channeling. The guild pays well for a core like that. Independence one step closer, at least."
We exited through the main entrance already in full twilight. The low sun painted the distant floating islands blood-orange and dark purple. The guild guards checked the loot quickly and registered the official kills on the mana tablet. Adventure rank went up initially for the whole group — mine jumped the most because of the tanking and final kill. The coins were distributed on the spot, my share fat enough for top healing potions, a mandatory gift to avoid a scolding from the mediocre heiress or even an upgraded weapon.
The group dispersed slowly across the wide surface of the capital, tired empty promises of "more dungeons together soon" echoing in the constant wind. I returned alone to the men's dormitory on the crowded collective airship, backpack heavy with extra crystals I didn't share, body aching while regenerating slowly but steadily, cuts closing the skin little by little.
In the empty, silent room at night, I threw the loot onto the creaking bed with deep relief. The crystals glowed faintly under the mana lamp light. Aria reported low and efficient, mechanical voice just for me: [Personal airship 65% complete now. Queen core integrated as secondary reactor — huge boost to speed and stealth. Drones optimizing production with rich ambient mana from the central capital. Residual combat energy channeled helped accelerate.]
Real good sign. The flying base approaching fast — total escape from this oppressive matriarchal academy, full control in the skies.
But the residual desire burned low and insistent in my veins — the scholarship girl's pleading eyes repeating endlessly in my mind, almost a new partner if I had given in. Interface quiet for now, but the hunger whispering constantly, random venom partially receded leaving a hot trail.
Night fell heavy and suffocating over the entire campus. Sleep came with a strong, inevitable growing tease — cold mechanical voice echoing deep in the dark mind: [Second Nightmare approaching fast. Prepare yourself, Awakened Aspirant.]
Fuck, coming way too soon.
The next day, the oppressive academy routine swallowed me completely again. Morning mana theory classes with cold female instructors explaining complex enchantments, physical training where the men busted their asses under harsh orders, simulated duels where Awakened served as utility for the female students to practice mana commands.
In the afternoon, I escaped to a quiet corner of the vast library. Textbook open on the worn wooden table, but mind far away processing the loot sold earlier — yielding extra coins in the inner pocket, queen core kept secret for Aria to integrate later.
Olivia appeared out of nowhere, quiet. The scholarship girl from the courtyard, from the dance at the party and from the dungeon yesterday. She sat at the table next to mine with a tall stack of books, curious and intelligent brown eyes fixed straight on me.
"Shade, right? Helped the whole group in the dungeon yesterday, rumors spread fast in the girls' dormitory. Can I… study here with you? Enchantment theory is confusing as fuck for me, the official book doesn't add up."
I laughed internally with cold sweat suddenly running down my back — she was way too smart deep down, the kind of protagonist rising fast in the original script, but here just a peripheral mob helping explain?
"Sure. Sit down, show me what's tripping you up."
We started slowly. Her pointing to a specific part of the thick book: "I don't really get this part, it feels wrong." Me explaining vaguely but convincingly, mixing previous-life knowledge with recent study here, dodging holes with cynical logic.
She nodded quickly, impressed, eyes shining with pure curiosity.
"Yes, it makes total sense now! The official book really messes up on points. My intuition had been clashing with it for a while. Glad I asked you about this."
Absolute bullshit. Her now pointing out errors in official theory, me dodging with miraculous vague explanations to avoid exposing lack of deep knowledge.
Studying alone with a girl should be that bittersweet dreamed teenage experience, but cold sweat running down my entire back — her proximity with light floral scent, discreet curves brushing the wooden table when she leaned closer, desire growing subtle but constant.
But the guild and capital news echoed strong in my mind — rumors about the main world system tower showing a strange anomaly, pink rays covering the entire area after the big ceremony, tremendous magical energy being processed causing small explosions, powerful mages sent for urgent investigation.
My SIS — the defective Aspect — always pulsing pink/blue lines on the dark stone, strange pink ray coinciding exactly with the time of the kingdom's general ceremony.
Pure coincidence? Or the Nightmare Spell connected to the bigger tower, anomaly from my reincarnated soul triggering something global?
Olivia leaned even closer, finger on the book.
"What do you think about this part here, Shade? The theory doesn't match the practice from the dungeon yesterday."
Mind distant and split, desire and anomaly mixing confusion, Second Nightmare coming strong.
Absolute precise control needed now.