I had been planning to dive headfirst into the Lich project the moment I had all the materials. The thought had consumed me for weeks—the Skull, the Source, the Skeleton, the Staff, all aligned and ready. But Benjamin's warning lingered in my mind like an ominous echo: Do not attempt the integration until you've reached White-rank.
He wasn't wrong. The process required a mana reservoir I simply didn't have yet. So, reluctantly, I shelved my ambition for the moment. Not abandoned, just… postponed. A few more weeks wouldn't kill me. Hopefully.
Meanwhile, the Academy buzzed with renewed life as the other students trickled back from their own missions. Some came back smug, others quietly relieved, and a few limped in, carrying more bruises than glory. The atmosphere was electric, stories of narrow escapes and triumphs floating around like gossip on steroids. It seemed everyone had a tale to tell.
