The medical wing's emergency treatment room had become a scene of controlled chaos. Professor Harold's hands moved with practiced precision across Alex's broken body, his healing essence flaring in complex patterns as he worked to stabilize the most critical injuries first.

"Severe lacerations across the torso, broken ribs, signs of extreme dehydration and malnutrition," Harold reported, his voice tight with professional concern. "Multiple burn wounds that appear to have been partially healed, then re-injured. Whatever he went through in that realm... it was sustained combat, not hiding."

"But he survived," Damien said from where he stood against the wall, refusing to leave despite Harold's suggestion. "That's what matters."

Gareth occupied the opposite corner, his analytical mind cataloging every detail of Alex's condition. The wounds told stories advanced combat techniques, exposure to extreme temperatures, what looked like claw marks from at least three different beast species. This wasn't someone who'd hidden for three days. This was someone who'd fought.

"His vital signs are stabilizing," Harold continued, his healing abilities working overtime. "The internal damage is significant, but nothing irreparable. His body shows remarkable resilience for someone his age. He should recover fully with time and rest."

Alex's eyes remained closed, his breathing shallow but steady. Blood had been cleaned from his face, revealing features that looked somehow older than they had three days ago. The kind of aging that came from experience rather than time.

"I'm going to keep him sedated for now," Harold said, preparing another medical technique. "His body needs undisturbed rest to process the healing."

Captain Aldric, who'd been observing from the doorway, stepped forward. "How long until we can debrief him?"

"At least twelve hours. Possibly longer if complications arise." Harold's expression was firm. "He's been through severe trauma. Pushing him too quickly could compromise his recovery."

Gareth's analytical mind processed the visible injuries with growing unease. Alex had clearly faced threats that had killed one hundred forty-eight other students. The fact that he'd survived at all suggested either extraordinary luck or extraordinary capability.

Before anyone could respond, Alex's eyes snapped open.

For a moment, no one moved. His pale eyes tracked across the ceiling, then around the room, cataloging faces with the kind of methodical precision that suggested tactical assessment rather than disorientation.

"Kael?" Damien moved closer, his voice careful. "You're back at the Academy. You're safe."

Alex's gaze fixed on him, and Damien felt a chill at the coldness in those eyes. Not hostile, but distant. Calculating. Like he was evaluating whether this situation represented a threat.

"Water," Alex managed, his voice rough from trauma.

Gareth moved immediately, returning with a cup that Alex drained in seconds. The simple act seemed to help him focus, the tactical assessment in his eyes fading slightly.

"How long?" Alex asked.

"Since the rift opened? Three days," Harold replied, moving to check his vital signs. "You just crossed through a rescue portal we forced open. You're the last survivor we've recovered."

"The portal," Alex said, trying to sit up despite Harold's restraining hand. "Is it still open?"

"Yes, but it's"

"Close it." Alex's voice carried urgency that made everyone tense. "Now. Don't wait. Close it immediately."

Captain Aldric moved forward. "We can't. Master Vex has been trying for hours. Something is preventing—"

"The realm is collapsing," Alex interrupted, his words coming faster despite his exhaustion. "I saw... sections of ground just disappearing. The whole dimension was falling apart. The portal probably won't close naturally until that process completes."

"That matches Vex's assessment," Aldric confirmed, his expression troubled. "He theorized the dimensional instability was interfering with closure protocols. You actually witnessed the collapse?"

Alex nodded. "It was getting worse by the minute. Cracks spreading everywhere. The sky was flickering. I barely made it through before..." he trailed off, and everyone noticed the slight tremor in his hands.

Harold's medical instincts kicked in. "Kael, you need to rest. Whatever you experienced"

"The portal won't let anything cross from the other side, right?" Alex interrupted, his pale eyes fixed on Aldric. "It's not calibrated for that yet?"

"Correct. One-way extraction only. Nothing can enter from that realm." Aldric studied the boy's face. "How did you know that?"

"Because I saw beasts trying to reach the portal. They got close, then just... dispersed. Broke apart into nothing." Alex's voice was steady, but there was something underneath carefully controlled trauma. "Whatever that realm was, it's dying. But until it completely collapses, things are going to keep trying to escape."

Complete silence filled the room.

"Did you encounter other survivors?" Gareth asked quietly. "Any indication of what happened to the others?"

Alex's expression went carefully blank. "Bodies. Everywhere. Most looked like they died in the first few hours. Some from beasts. Some from..." he paused, choosing his words carefully, "...other causes. I didn't see any living students after the first day."

The statement hung in the air like a death sentence.

"The realm had areas that looked artificial," Alex continued, his voice taking on a warning tone. "Carved stone. Deliberate construction. Not natural cave formations. I don't know who built them or why, but dimensional rifts aren't just empty space. Some of them are claimed territory."

Aldric's tactical mind immediately grasped the implications. "You're saying there are intelligent entities operating in dimensional rifts?"

"I'm saying I saw evidence of deliberate construction in a supposedly empty realm," Alex replied carefully. "What that means, who built it, what their capabilities are I don't know. I was too busy trying to survive to conduct archaeological surveys."

The lie was smooth, practiced. Only Gareth noticed the fractional tells the way Alex's pulse had spiked slightly when delivering that last statement, the micro-expression that suggested careful word choice rather than honest recollection.

But Gareth said nothing. Whatever Alex was hiding, he had reasons. And those reasons were probably worth respecting.

"This information needs to reach the Council," Aldric said. "If there are potential threats beyond simple beasts in dimensional space"

"Tell them," Alex replied. "But I can't provide specifics. I was focused on survival, not mapping enemy territory I didn't have."

"Understood." Aldric's tone suggested he'd noted the evasions but wouldn't push. Not yet. "We'll conduct a full debrief once you've recovered. For now, rest."

As the Captain left to relay the information, Harold returned to his healing work. "I'm keeping you here overnight for observation. Your body has been through severe trauma, and I want to monitor your recovery."

Alex nodded, exhaustion finally catching up to him now that the immediate urgency had passed.

Damien moved to the bedside. "I thought you were dead," he said quietly. "When you didn't come through with the first groups... I thought we'd lost you."

"Takes more than a dimensional rift," Alex replied, but his voice carried genuine warmth for the first time since awakening. "Thanks for staying."

"Someone had to make sure you didn't die dramatically for no reason," Damien said, attempting levity that didn't quite mask his relief.

Gareth approached from the other side. "When you're recovered, I'd like to hear about survival strategies. The data you could provide"

"Later," Alex interrupted, but not unkindly. "Right now, I just want to sleep in a real bed and know I'm not going to wake up fighting for my life."

Both visitors tensed at the casual admission, but neither pressed for elaboration.

Harold finished his primary healing work and stepped back. "Sleep. Your body needs time to process the repairs. I've accelerated what I can, but natural recovery will handle the rest."

Alex's eyes were already closing, exhaustion claiming him before Harold finished speaking. Within seconds, his breathing deepened, and he slipped into genuine unconscious sleep.

Damien and Gareth remained for several minutes, watching their classmate rest.

"He's different," Damien observed quietly. "Something changed in there."

"Three days of survival in a hostile dimension would change anyone," Gareth replied, but his analytical mind had cataloged more than just physical changes. Alex's speech patterns had shifted more controlled, more calculated. His tactical assessment of the room had been immediate and thorough. His warnings about dimensional threats had been delivered with the kind of authority that came from direct experience, not speculation.

Whatever had happened to Kael Ashford in that realm, it had transformed him in ways that went beyond physical trauma.

The question was whether that transformation would be an asset or a liability in the battles to come.****

In the depths of the medical wing, while Alex slept under Harold's watchful monitoring, his system finally processed the pending rewards that had been interrupted by dimensional transit and emergency medical treatment.

**[LEVEL UP COMPLETE]**

**[You are now Level 4]**

**[+10 Stat Points gained]**

**[Additional Quest Reward Processing...]**

**[+20 Stat Points from Arena Warden Defeat]**

**[+1 Ability Slot Unlocked]**

**[Total Available Stat Points: 30]**

**[Warning: Ability Slot expansion requires conscious allocation]**

**[Warning: Dimensional Marker detected - foreign essence signature integrated]**

The notifications flickered at the edge of his unconscious mind, waiting for him to wake and address them properly.

But for now, Alex slept.

And in the facility he'd left behind, in a research complex that existed between dimensions, the Master observed the data streaming from its newly placed marker with satisfaction.

The interdimensional anomaly had survived against eleven percent odds.

The investment was already paying dividends.

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