The rain outside poured harder now, hammering against the tall, arched windows of the academy hallway. Water ran in rivulets down the glass, mirroring the tears that began to streak Fran's cheeks. Her breaths came unevenly as she tried to steady herself, but the emotions clawed too fiercely at her.

"I... I don't know that much," Fran began, her voice trembling, barely above a whisper, yet ringing with honesty. "All I know is... my sister... she uses her magical power too much. And the result... she passed out for days." Her voice cracked, and she pressed a hand to her face as more tears spilled down.

The patter of rain mixed with her sobs, the sound of each drop echoing like a tiny heartbeat in the otherwise silent corridor. Fran's tail twitched anxiously behind her, brushing against the marble floor.

"I was crying because... I thought she was dead," she said, her voice breaking entirely. "At that time... I thought my sister was completely gone." Her eyes shone with the reflection of the storm outside, and her tears rolled freely down her cheeks.

She looked down at the polished floor as if seeing her own grief mirrored there. Then her gaze lifted, raw hope trembling in her blue eyes. "But then... when I noticed the news inside the castle... that she was alive... I...I felt like my life had meaning again." A small, shaky smile broke through her tears, a fragile light in the storm.

Jade, standing beside her, shifted uneasily. His face darkened, jaw tight, and he lowered his head, trying to hide the mix of guilt that what he have done to her as long as he remembered and helplessness that flickered across his features.

Professor Galahad, on the other hand, had silently moved closer. His broad hands rested gently on Fran's shoulders, steadying her as if anchoring her through the torrent of emotion. His calm presence radiated reassurance, and though he said nothing, the silent understanding between them was enough to offer her some small comfort.

The storm outside pressed in against the stone walls, the rain cascading like a curtain of tears from the heavens, and inside, the trio stood bound by worry, love, and fear. Fran's sobs began to soften into quiet hiccups, but the tension in the air remained, thick as the clouds above.

The hallway smelled faintly of rain and wet stone, each drop outside echoing Fran's heartbeat, each echo a reminder of how fragile hope could feel—and yet, how strong it could be when it returned.

Fran's sobs echoed softly, bouncing off the walls as her small body shook, her tears glistening in the muted light. She rubbed her eyes frantically, desperate to erase the sorrow etched there, but the emotions refused to be tamed.

Professor Galahad knelt before her, the long hem of his dark robe brushing the floor, his calm aura grounding the chaos around them. "Fran," he said gently, his voice low but steady, "if only I had helped her right away when your sister was in pain… but still… the most important part now is that she's safe." His gaze was firm but kind, and his hands rested lightly yet reassuringly on her trembling shoulders. "She's in the care of the Mage Doctor. Don't worry. She's top tier—she knows exactly what to do."

Fran hiccupped, the sound mingling with the rain, but the warmth in the professor's voice and the steadying touch on her shoulders began to soften her panic. Galahad let out a quiet sigh, one of calm resignation and understanding, and a small, gentle smile broke across his face as he looked at her.

"How about this," he said softly, "I'll treat you to anything you want from the canteen. All you want, okay? Anything you like." His right hand remained on her left shoulder, steadying her while his voice carried the weight of sincerity. "What do you say? Do you agree?" He closed his eyes briefly, smiling warmly as he waited.

Fran's trembling lips curved into a small nod, her tears still glistening but her heart lighter for the first time in hours.

Professor Galahad stood, brushing a bit of dust from his robe, and reached for her hand. "Alright, little girl," he said, his tone soft but firm, pulling her gently to her feet. She stumbled slightly, still clinging to him as he steadied her.

Jade, standing quietly a few paces back, watched them with cautious curiosity, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as the atmosphere shifted from worry to tentative comfort.

"Come here too, Jade," the professor called, smiling over his shoulder. "I'll treat you as well." Jade's eyes widened slightly but he hurried to follow, stepping carefully to match their pace.

Together, they began walking down the hallway, the rain outside continuing to fall, but inside, the warmth of reassurance, care, and gentle laughter began to replace the fear and tension that had gripped them moments before. Fran's steps grew steadier, her hand still firmly in the professor's, her heart lifted by the simple, human kindness surrounding her, even as sweat dampened her hair from the residual stress and tears.

Meanwhile.....

The infirmary was quiet, almost sterile in its stillness, the soft hum of enchanted healing lamps casting a warm, pale glow over the room. Dila still lay on the pristine bed, her silver-white hair fanning softly over the pillow, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths, her body wrapped lightly in soft linens to keep her comfortable. The faint smell of herbs and antiseptic mingled in the air, a calming mixture meant to soothe the injured and weary.

The Mage Doctor moved with deliberate precision, her robes brushing the polished floor silently. One hand hovered over Dila's chest, wrist glowing faintly as a thin, focused beam of magical energy scanned her core, while the other held a clipboard-like board enchanted to record and display vital readings. Each movement was measured, practiced, but her eyes betrayed curiosity, widening subtly as she examined the results.

"Interesting…" she murmured softly, tilting her head as the magical scan met resistance. The beam flickered slightly, struggling to penetrate deeper layers of Dila's core. She tapped the board lightly with a stylus, jotting down observations as her brow furrowed in concentration. "Interesting… very interesting," she repeated, almost to herself, her tone a mixture of fascination and caution.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, nodding as though confirming her own theories.

"The moment I scan her… it's odd, is she's actively rejecting my magical scan when I probe deeper, or there was something that prevent me to scan deeper?" she said, her voice calm but threaded with astonishment.

"Even as a seasoned Mage Doctor, this… I've never seen it. Not in the medical library we share, not in cases of severe mana poisoning, nor in instances of Demonlord corruption magic… nothing. And yet, here we are. This is… unknown."

She paused for a moment, letting her gaze linger on Dila's serene yet fragile form, the girl's soft breaths punctuating the silence. "Hmmm… this could be a rare anomaly, a magical condition so unique that even our combined knowledge has never documented it. Fascinating… and troubling."

The room remained still, the faint light of the healing lamp reflecting off the enchanted instruments scattered around, the soft rustle of papers and magical devices blending with Dila's shallow breathing. The Mage Doctor's eyes narrowed in thoughtful calculation, her mind racing through possibilities as she continued her careful examination, fully aware that she was holding in her hands a case unlike any other she had ever encountered.

Meanwhile.....

The flickering light buzzed faintly from the old fluorescent tube above, casting a pale, stuttering glow across the room. Dust drifted lazily in the air, and every flicker of the bulb made the shadows stretch and retreat against the walls like restless ghosts. The ground beneath her was cold.... rough concrete that bit at her palms when she pushed herself up.

For a moment, Dila lay there in silence, her breath shaky, her mind fogged. The faint hum of a computer fan filled the quiet.... that soft, nostalgic sound she hadn't heard in what felt like forever. Her eyelashes fluttered open, and her lips trembled as she whispered, "Where… am I?"

She slowly got up, the dim light flickering across her pale face. Around her were familiar shapes—her old computer desk, her worn gaming chair, her favorite keyboard still lit faintly with blue LED lights, the same one she used to play Halo World MMORPG for hours on end. The monitor's screen glowed faintly with a frozen image of the game's login page, her blurred character standing motionless as if waiting for her return.

Her steps echoed lightly as she walked around the room, her hand brushing the dusty desk surface. "This… this is my room," she muttered softly, disbelief trembling in her voice. "My computer… my seat… even my old energy drink cans are still here…." She turned in a slow circle, her silver hair brushing against her shoulders as she scanned every corner.

The air was cold, faintly metallic, the scent of old electronics mixing with the still dampness of the basement. Her fingers went to her cheeks, gently cupping them as she whispered, half laughing in nervous shock, "Wait… why… why do I feel like I'm still a girl?"

She looked down—her hands were slimmer, her arms delicate, her reflection faintly visible in the black screen of the second monitor. Her blue eyes widened as her voice cracked, filled with disbelief. "Is this… still me? Am I… Dila?"

Her breathing quickened, trembling with confusion. She turned around, pacing a little in the flickering light, the silence pressing close around her like a dream that didn't quite make sense.

"I must be… dreaming," she whispered finally, her voice fragile. "Yeah… dreaming. That's the only way this makes sense."

The room stayed still… the faint hum of the computer the only thing that answered her trembling words, as she stood there between two worlds—one of code and light, and one she couldn't seem to wake from.

Dila took a slow step forward, still hugging her arms for warmth. The flickering light behind her cast her shadow across the floor.... stretching long as she walked toward the old wooden door at the end of the basement.

"Hello…?" she called softly, her voice echoing faintly through the quiet. Only the faint hum of her computer answered back.

She moved closer, her bare feet brushing against the cold floor, until.... thud!

"Ahhh—!" she yelped, stumbling slightly as her knee hit something solid in the dark. She bent forward, clutching her leg, her voice trembling in a small moan. "Ahhh, that hurts...." She crouched down, rubbing her left knee with both hands, her lips curling in pain. "Awwww.... that really hurts…."

For a moment, she stayed there, wincing softly, and then her eyes widened. Her heartbeat skipped. "Wait.... if this is just a dream.... why did that hurt?" she whispered. The words left her mouth slow and shaky, her breath turning shallow.

The thought lingered for a few seconds before she let out a soft, uneasy laugh. "Maybe it's… an advanced dream," she murmured, forcing a small, nervous chuckle. Her smile faded quickly though, replaced by unease as her gaze drifted toward the door again.

She stood up, brushing off the dust on her legs, and carefully stepped around the wooden table she hadn't noticed before—its surface cluttered with old boxes and tangled cords. Then she reached out to the door handle, her fingers trembling slightly.

The metal knob was cold under her skin. She turned it slowly.... creeeeak…

The door opened with a groaning sound that echoed down the passage beyond.

What waited behind it wasn't what she remembered. The corridor stretched out into darkness, dim and suffocating. The faint smell of damp wood and old dust filled her nose. The walls were lined with cracked paint, cobwebs clinging to the corners, and piles of junk scattered across the floor—broken furniture, rusted cans, and old tools that looked forgotten for years.

There were no windows. No light except the weak glow from the basement leaking through the open doorway behind her.

She swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper. "What… is this…?"

Her words disappeared into the dark corridor, unanswered. Only the faint creak of the house settling broke the silence, as if the old place itself was breathing in the dark.

The sudden vibration startled her.... brzzzz... brzzzz... It came from her pocket, sharp against the silence that filled the corridor. Dila jumped slightly, her heart racing. "Ahhh...." she gasped, placing a hand over her chest. The faint glow from her pocket was the only light around her.

"Wait.... I don't remember having a phone with me...." she murmured, her voice trembling. Carefully, she reached into her pocket and pulled it out. The light from the screen spilled weakly over her face, painting her features in pale white. But when she looked closer.... there was nothing. No icons, no wallpaper, no buttons.... just a blank, white screen.

She frowned and pressed the power button at the side, then the volume buttons.... nothing. No response at all. The glowing screen just hummed faintly, almost as if it was alive, pulsing like a quiet breath in the dark.

"Maybe it's broken...." she whispered, her voice echoing down the corridor. "Still.... it's better than nothing. At least I have light."

The glow stretched ahead of her, revealing the corridor walls. Dust clung to the air, swirling slowly each time she moved. The floorboards creaked under her bare feet, faintly damp from the leaking ceiling above. Her reflection shimmered faintly on the cracked tiles beside the wall, warped and ghostly.

She took a few steps forward, the soft light flickering as if resisting the darkness around it. Her own breathing became louder, matching the distant dripping sound somewhere deeper in the house.

"Creepy...." she whispered under her breath, the single word trembling in the still air. Her grip on the glowing phone tightened as if it were her only anchor in that silent, forgotten place.

Then....

The sudden slam of the wooden door echoed sharply through the corridor....

Dila flinched, her whole body jolting. The faint light from the phone trembled in her grasp.

"W.... wait!" she cried, spinning around.

But the door.... was gone.

Her eyes widened. Where there should have been a frame, there was only a cold, uneven wall of wood and stone, patched together like the end of a hallway that was never meant to lead anywhere. She ran toward it, reaching out, her palm pressing flat against the rough surface. It was solid.... real. No seams, no handle, no outline.

Her voice wavered. "W.... what.... what is this....?"

She stepped back, her breathing shallow. The phone's glow wavered as her hands shook. The corridor around her seemed to breathe.... the darkness deepening as if it was watching her. Dust floated through the beam of light, slow and silent, like time had stopped moving entirely.

Her throat tightened. "What if.... what if this phone stops working.... what if the battery dies...." she whispered. The thought alone made her grip it tighter, pressing it against her chest. "No.... no, please.... don't turn off...."

She slid down against the wall, her legs weak, her back meeting the cold, hard surface of the dead end. Her silver-white hair fell over her trembling shoulders, and she stared blankly at the floor, trying to steady her breath.

"Ma.... maybe it's just really.... a dream," she whispered, forcing a faint smile that barely reached her eyes. "Yeah.... just a dream playing with me again.... like last time...."

Her small laugh came out hollow.... soft.... almost like someone else was whispering it through her lips. The sound lingered for a moment, swallowed slowly by the quiet darkness, until all that remained was the hum of the phone's fading glow.... and the faint echo of her uneven breathing.

"Oky.... oky.... Dila.... please.... calm down," she whispered shakily, her own voice echoing back at her through the empty corridor.

Her fingers trembled as she pressed the glowing phone against her chest, feeling the faint warmth of its screen pulse against her heartbeat. The air was cold.... damp.... it smelled faintly of wood rot and dust. Every sound she made felt too loud, bouncing off the narrow walls that seemed to close in around her.

She took one slow breath, then another, her knees weak as she steadied herself. "You're fine.... as i said just a dream...." she murmured again, as if saying it would make it true.

Her hand reached out, brushing along the cold wooden wall until her fingertips found the uneven edge of the wall. She cupped it, using it for support, pushing herself upward with effort. The rough surface scraped lightly against her palm, grounding her.... reminding her she could still feel.

The light from her phone quivered faintly across the wall, revealing cracks, peeling wood, and something that looked like dried mold. The corridor stretched ahead in still darkness, silent and heavy, like it hadn't seen life in years.

Dila swallowed hard, her throat tight. Her voice trembled as she whispered again, "Please don't fade...." holding the phone close as if it was the only thing keeping her from being swallowed by the dark.

Her breathing steadied a little.... enough for her to take one small step forward. Then another. Each movement slow and careful.... the echo of her barefoot clicking faintly through the lifeless hall.

Her bare feet pressed against the cold wooden floor.... fleep... fleep... fleep.... each step soft, yet echoing too loudly in the hollow dark. The chill seeped up through her soles, crawling up her legs until she shivered. "The floor's cold...." she murmured softly, her voice trembling.

She wrapped her arms around herself, clutching her shoulders tight. Her breath came out in small puffs of white fog, visible in the dim glow from the phone's pale light. The screen swung faintly in her hand as she rubbed her arms, the light flickering across the walls like a weak flame in a storm.

"What's up with this place...." she whispered, her tone uneven, frightened, and confused. The air felt heavy, almost pressing against her skin. The smell was damp.... old.... like a place forgotten for years. The silence only broke with the faint creak of the floorboards under her weight.

Her phone slipped slightly in her palm as she hugged herself again. The screen's glow reflected faintly on her face.... pale, almost ghostlike in the dim corridor. "Why.... why this dream feels more real than last time...." she muttered, her voice breaking near the end.

Her heartbeat pounded faster, echoing in her ears. Every shadow along the wall looked like it was moving.... every creak of wood made her flinch. And still, she walked.... barefoot and trembling.... deeper into the unknown, clutching her only source of light as if her life depended on it.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.