I looked at Alice, confusion still marked on my face.
"I... I was wounded."
She nodded coolly.
"Kaito used so vitae on you. It’s healed up most of your issues; you just need a bit of rest to get better now."
’Right. Kaito. That fucker!’
I always knew he was an arse. I could’ve died back there; I was drowning in my own blood, for God’s sake. Taking deep breaths, I managed to control myself enough to speak to Alice again.
"Were you also aware of wh—"
She cut off before I could finish.
"No. Unfortunately, I wasn’t. I would’ve stopped him if I knew. Kaito... can be a very willful person; he just so happened to be the closest to your location."
I could only sigh at that answer. There wasn’t much I could say, really. In all honesty, I wasn’t too surprised at what Kaito did. In fact, it was exactly the sort of thing he’d do.
I would know; after all, I was the one who wrote the damn guy.
Shivers ran down my spine at the re recollection of laying there, broken and useless, while the skinwalker approached.
’I could’ve really died.’
It almost didn’t feel real. Even though I’d already died twice now—once in the simulation and once in my previous life—none of them felt as terrifying as this ti. There would only be an abyss waiting for this ti. I could feel it.
Sighing, I rubbed my face, trying to get my thoughts in order.
In the end, regardless of how infuriating he was, Kaito saved my life. I couldn’t waste my ti getting angry at the man, for all the good that’d do for the current .
’I have to get stronger.’
Strong enough to fight back. Or at least be able to escape from situations like that. Scheming and planning all beca useless when they ca face to face with overwhelming strength.
This would only be the beginning. I absolutely couldn’t let myself be caught off guard again. Not if I dread of stopping the apocalypse.
"Are you alright, Cadet?"
My irritation slipped without aning to.
"Of course. I just nearly died; no biggie."
It was only after the words left my mouth that my brain caught on that I was speaking to a paragon.
I expected so sort of imdiate reprimand. Yet to my surprise, she didn’t seem to mind my words all too much.
There was a slightly relieved look on her face. It made wonder if the skinwalker had done sothing to my eyes as well.
"Seeing as you have the energy to be sarcastic, you seem to be doing much better now."
I could’ve made a retort, but wisely chose not to push my luck. Instead, I asked,
"How long was I out for?"
"About a day. You’ve been exempted from classes, so there’s no need to worry about that. Just focus on getting so rest."
That much was obvious; if I hadn’t even gotten a class exemption after all I did, then I’d definitely blow up in her face. Paragon or not.
"What about the skinwalkers?"
"Gone. Cleanly dealt with, thanks to you."
I nodded understandingly before adding.
"Do you know how they got in? How did they get past the detectors?"
Alice frowned, drumming her fingers against my bed in thought before replying.
"So far, all evidence points to an internal compromise. There is no way a Beast-ranked skinwalker slipped through our security, not without help."
"Do you think it’s another skinwalker?"
"Perhaps..."
She sounded unsure. I chose not to press the topic any further. Dealing with a Terror-ranked skinwalker was an entirely different nightmare compared to these Rank D ones.
Making her cautious was good enough for now.
I tried changing topics.
"What about Lady Evanka’s vision? Has the great threat to the Academy passed?"
Alice shook her head sowhat disappointedly.
"Unfortunately not. I communicated with the Lady not long after the last skinwalker was dealt with. The threat still looms. In addition, she was able to give more detail about the nature of the threat."
"What is it?"
"The threat is not a monster."
’Not a monster?’
The only possible threats that ca to my mind beyond monsters were two. The Hand of the Father, and the Church of the New Mother.
Both were cults to certain extents. One operated like an extremist terrorist group, while the other masqueraded as a formal, organized religion. They were equally dangerous.
Yet, neither of them had been particularly large threats in the first year.
’Did sothing change?’
It probably did. Cracks were already spreading through the narrative; I was certain it wouldn’t be long before it shattered completely. Sa as what happened during this whole skinwalker fiasco.
Even now, I couldn’t tell exactly what caused the change in behaviour for them. My most probable theory was sothing they expected to occur, did not occur. That very inconsistency made them change plans.
That change, and the resultant effects of the skinwalker’s early capture, had likely already sent waves through any possible future event. I couldn’t rely solely on my knowledge from the novel to predict things now. I could only use it as a guide.
Seeing my silence and the look of contemplation on my face, Alice sighed, then continued speaking.
"There is no need to think too deeply yet. Focus on getting better for now."
I rubbed my forehead.
"Right."
She nodded in response, gently standing up from her seat beside , looking down at from on high.
"You have my gratitude, Cadet Victor. A potential problem to the Lady’s plan has been dealt with cleanly because of you. I’ll have Kaito repay you for his rather unfortunate... testing thods. As for , you’re free to visit my office if you face any problems."
"Thank you, Miss."
I ant it when I said that. I knew the weight of what that favour ant. Sure, in my opinion, I deserved even more due to nearly dying. But my opinion could only get so far.
Alice turned to leave, but then paused.
"I believe I need not remind you to avoid injecting anything in the next few days, be it heartblood or vitae. It’d be a sha to lose you so aninglessly."
"Of course."
What did she think I was? Five?
With that final ssage, she vanished. I felt no surprise at the sight.
Instead, my mind began working on thods for improving my strength as quickly as possible.
’Kaito, Kaito, Kaito.... If I ever reach Rank S.’
I was going to beat the shit out of that asshole.
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