My body... it hurts all over. Was I really buried by them? Some of the wounds on my body are twitching.
Wein opened his eyes.
Slowly, his eyelids lifted. He tried to raise his hand, squinting as the sunlight stabbed at him.
"You're already a fiend." A flat voice startled Wein from his awakening. He turned to his right upon hearing it.
Sherlyn sat beside him while he lay on the bed. Before responding, he looked around to confirm his surroundings.
This was his room.
"We had planned to bury you, but you turned into a fiend faster than I expected."
Wein looked back at Sherlyn before speaking in a hoarse voice. "That's cruel. I wasn't dead, you know."
Sherlyn stood from her chair with an indifferent, sour expression. Just as she was about to leave the room, she stopped.
"Who was the girl with you on the dormitory rooftop?" Her flat tone struck Arcveil's heart for a moment before he answered.
Wein raised a hand to scratch the back of his head and casually replied, "I don't know. She just appeared out of nowhere."
Sherlyn didn't turn fully, only tilting her head slightly to glance over her shoulder before walking away.
"Be more careful next time. We were confused about who knocked you out."
A few moments later, just before Sherlyn opened the door, Wein's thoughts shifted to Chanelle. His serious expression prompted him to ask directly.
"Where is she now?"
"Gone."
With that single, unhelpful word, she left.
Why was she like this?
Wein moved, feeling the weight of his body. The world created by Persephone had been too light—far different from a real human's physique.
And Sherlyn in that tight dark green dress... it was hard to forget so quickly.
"I'm starving." Wein muttered to himself.
He got down from the bed, his face drained of energy, his gaze hollow like someone who had lost the will to live, and slowly walked toward his desk.
---
Outside the room, mist nearly reached the top floor of the dormitory, soon creeping toward the towering astronomical tower.
Wein intended to find some of his friends after this. He glanced at his wristwatch before descending the stairs.
3:07 PM, huh?
He had only been conscious for a short while—not even twelve hours.
"Good afternoon, Wein!"
A gentle voice sounded from behind him. Just as he was about to continue down, he halted and turned.
"Wait, you're already awake?" Aria gasped, stepping back slightly, exaggerating as usual.
Wein smiled, hoping she wouldn't make a scene. "Yeah... how are you?"
"I'm fine. The dormitory is having a feast tonight, so I want to help with the preparations. Aren't you joining?"
As Aria walked away, she had already descended several steps ahead. Wein watched, only realizing moments later that he had unknowingly followed her down dozens of steps.
"Where did she go?"
Wein followed. As he descended, his weak body gradually regained strength—only to be stunned by the sheer number of people working together.
Someone was fixing a window, dressed in protective gear and thick clothes. In the great hall, others were setting up plates, while girls in the corner sewed curtains.
The sight made Wein stagger.
It would be better to just keep sleeping until dinner.
He loosened his shoulders, arms hanging limply as laziness took over, making him step back onto the stairs.
Just as he reached the second step, a bright silver-haired girl—her hair almost white—blocked his retreat.
"Where do you think you're going?"
The beautiful girl crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her chin up as she stared at Wein Arcveil.
"I... was going to clean my room."
"No excuses." Loraine scoffed.
"Hurry up and help with whatever you can. The dorm has been a mess these past few days."
His body, unable to argue, was practically dragged down the stairs, Loraine following behind him.
{I missed you.}
Loraine spoke in the ancient CyFil language, her voice weaving through his thoughts.
Wein's heart skipped a beat. He turned sharply. "What did you say?"
"Nothing, I was just calling you lazy."
She was lying.
The ancient CyFil language, now rarely used, was a skill Wein possessed—one that no one else knew about. He wanted to mention it, but it was too late. He chose silence instead.
"Saying that to someone who just woke up… how cruel."
"What should I do?"
Loraine stared at Wein, who stood there like a man completely drained of strength, before smirking.
"Follow me. You'll be my personal assistant today." Her tone dripped with playful mischief.
"Seriously? This is worse than being forced to run hundreds of laps."
Wein sighed in defeat, trailing after Loraine like a lost chick following its mother.
"Wein, grab that for me." — "Help me out." — "Watch out, I'll assist you." — "Don't bother me." — "You're in the way."
At times, when he looked into her greenish-blue eyes, there was something shining within them.
Sincerity.
They sparkled whenever she gazed at Wein. And in return, Wein looked at her differently than he did at other girls.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Loraine tilted her head, looking slightly tired, her eyes drooping.
"Uh... no reason. How were you when you fought that monster?"
A few seconds after he asked, a hand shot out like a rocket between their almost-touching shoulders.
Loraine, looking annoyed, glared at Wein before narrowing her eyes.
"I should be the one asking you that. You fought alone while we worked together."
"Even now, you're still enduring that pain, aren't you?"
Something hit him—Loraine leaned her head on Wein's shoulder.
His first reaction was shock. Then, he tried to calm himself.
After a moment, Wein half-turned toward Loraine and gently opened his mouth.
"I'm not enduring any pain."