Maria turned the key in the lock and entered the room silently.
Sarah paced in the middle of the room, chewing on her thumbnail. The light from the magical lamp beside her bed illuminated her anxious face.
As soon as the door opened, she jumped toward Maria.
"Maria! Where were you?!"
Sarah grabbed Maria's shoulders and shook her worriedly.
"The Prince, the other kids, and I looked everywhere! We wanted to celebrate for you. We thought maybe... maybe Damian's henchmen mugged you!"
Maria hid her exhaustion behind a mask of indifference. She put her hand on Sarah's hand and gently lowered it.
"Don't worry. Just... I needed to be alone. The pressure of controlling all those golems was a lot. I went for a walk to get some air."
Sarah looked doubtfully at Maria's pale face.
"A walk? Until this time of night? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Maria went to her bed and sat down. Her body ached, but not from battle, but from the pressure of the guards' anti-mana cuffs.
"I'm fine, Sarah. Just tired. We'll talk tomorrow."
Sarah sighed. She realized Maria didn't want to talk. She turned off the lamp and went to her bed.
"Alright... but let me know next time. My heart was in my throat."
The room plunged into darkness.
Maria stared at the ceiling.
Her hand trembled, as if she could still feel the coldness of the anti-mana cuffs on her wrists. The psychological pressure of those moments in Varon's lab... the interrogations... the threats... Did I have any other way?
Thinking about that helpless creature kept her from sleeping, and she tossed restlessly in her bed. The image of the creature's ruby eyes and Varon's cold smile spun in her mind. She now officially had a double life: Academy classes by day, assistant to a dangerous scientist by night.
I have to find that creature... before Varon finds it.
***
News of Maria's victory against Damian Von Taurus had spread through the entire Academy like wildfire.
When Maria entered the dining hall, the atmosphere changed.
No one called her the "Mana-less Girl" anymore. The looks were different now.
A group of first-year students smiled and nodded upon seeing her.
The dining hall was busier than ever. Dishes clattered. Conversations overlapped. Steam rose from hot food.
Near the entrance, four first-year students — two girls and two boys — were sitting around a table, talking quietly but excitedly. Just at that moment, Maria entered the hall.
One of the boys immediately stopped talking mid-sentence, stood up, and walked toward her.
Maria noticed his approach and slowed her steps.
The boy stood in front of her and said with a flustered smile:
"Hello, Miss Alessandra. I'm Arian Lucas."
Maria turned slightly and faced him.
First-year uniform... but I don't know him. What does he want with me?
"Hello."
Arian cleared his throat a little.
"I wanted to congratulate you on your victory against Damian Von Taurus in yesterday's simulation."
Maria paused for a moment.
Unlikely he just came to congratulate... but better to be polite. I'm just starting to fit in.
She said in a calm tone:
"Thank you. It wasn't anything special. Winning and losing happens to everyone... luck was with me this time."
The boy laughed a little nervously.
"Well... actually, a few of us have a joint study and practice group. For practical lessons and simulations. We thought if you also... I mean if you'd like... joining our group would be very helpful."
Maria glanced briefly at their table; the other three were watching her with curiosity and hope.
She was silent for a moment.
If I accept now, it means entering their circle... but I don't have the patience to deal with new people yet, and besides, I have my own problems (Varon and that creature).
She said to Arian:
"It's kind of you to consider me... but for now, I prefer to train alone. I'm still trying to catch up on my shortcomings."
Then she added with a gentle smile:
"Maybe later."
His smile faltered, but he quickly composed himself.
"Ah... sure. If you change your mind, we'd be happy."
"Thanks."
Arian returned to his friends' table.
Maria continued her path, but she felt curious gazes following her.
So now everyone remembers I exist...
On the other side was Damian's supporters' table. They looked at her with anger and toxic whispers.
"It was just luck..."
"Damian went easy on her."
Maria picked up her breakfast tray and sat in a secluded corner by the window.
Outside, a light autumn snow had started to fall. An early snow that melted before it could settle on the ground.
Maria put a piece of bread in her mouth but didn't taste it. Her gaze was fixed on the trees behind the glass.
It's snowing... does that creature have shelter? Is its wound infected?
Something tightened in her chest. She remembered that feeling of loneliness in the cemetery, that cold night Maria fell asleep on her mother Alice's grave, alone and helpless.
The bite got stuck in her throat.
I have to find it. But where? If I bring it to the dorm, Sarah will find out. If I leave it in the forest, it will freeze.
Her mind was occupied when a familiar shadow fell over her table.
"Congratulations, little strategist."
Maria turned her head. Julian Vane, with that same usual crooked, charming smile and an apple in hand, stood before her.
Maria sighed. She had no patience for anyone, especially someone too smart.
"Good morning, Julian."
Julian pulled out the chair opposite and sat down without ceremony. He tossed his apple up and caught it.
"You don't look like a winner. More like someone trying to hide a corpse."
Maria listlessly stirred her spoon in the soup.
"And you look like someone who is unemployed and looking for entertainment."
Julian laughed and took a big bite of the apple.
"Yeah, came to enjoy the show. Damian was very quiet this morning. His face is a sight to see. You messed up the Academy's power balance, Maria."
Julian's gaze went toward the students eyeing Maria furtively or directly.
"Now everyone is betting on what your next move is. Joining the Prince's faction? Or building your own empire?"
Maria decided to seize the opportunity. Julian was the "eyes and ears" of the Academy. If anyone knew anything, it was him. She knew if she wanted information, she had to endure his game first.
"I'm not looking for a faction. I just want to survive and study."
Julian laughed.
"'Just study.' Yeah, sure."
Maria leaned forward a little and tried to make her tone sound natural.
"Now that we're talking about studies... I want to ask you about one of the professors."
Julian's smile faded slightly. His expression changed from "joking" to "curious."
"Oh? Which professor has caught our genius's attention?"
"Master Varon."
Julian stopped chewing the apple.
His honey-colored eyes sparkled mischievously. He had seen the bait, but didn't intend to be caught so easily.
He swallowed the apple and looked nonchalantly at the ceiling.
"Varon?... What a boring choice. Why not ask about the swordsmanship master? Or, for example, Ms. 'Eleanor' who teaches dance class? Heard she's very strict."
Maria ground her teeth together.
He's dodging. He knows something's up.
"I'm not interested in dancing, Julian. I heard Varon is a genius in 'Magic Engineering'. Because of my lack of mana, I was curious to know how his classes are, maybe it'll be useful for me."
Julian tossed the apple up again and caught it with one hand.
"Engineering... yeah, nice excuse. But usually, first-years don't go to Varon. Unless..."
He paused and stared at Maria with a scrutinizing look.
"Unless... they're in trouble."
Maria's heart skipped a beat, but she kept her face stony.
"Trouble? What trouble could there be with a researcher professor? I just have a few questions about magical equipment for him."
Julian gave a wry smile and leaned back in his chair. He fell silent. Just watching.
One second... five seconds... ten seconds.
Julian's silence and that sly smile grated on Maria's nerves like sandpaper.
Maria finally couldn't take it. She dropped her spoon loudly into the bowl.
"If you don't want to say, don't. Don't waste my time."
She wanted to get up when Julian raised his hand.
"Okay, okay! You boil over so fast. That's your weak point, Maria; your patience is thin."
Julian became a little more serious, but that glint of mischief was still in his eyes.
"Varon... he's not just a professor. He's a walking disaster."
"What does that mean?"
Julian picked a piece of bread from the basket and played with it.
"He's a genius, no doubt. Most of the Academy's security systems are his work. But... there's a reason his lab is in the restricted basement and he lets no students in."
Maria asked:
"What reason?"
Julian paused again. As if he wanted to give words drop by drop to gauge Maria's reaction.
"Rumors are plenty... some say he clashed with the 'Church of Solareth'. The Church believes Varon's research is an 'insult to the sacred'."
"Why?"
"Because Varon is looking for something that shouldn't exist. He wants to break the 'Natural Laws of Mana'."
Julian suddenly leaned forward and stared straight into Maria's eyes. He lowered his voice:
"Maria... You're not very good at lying. At least not in front of me. I don't know why you're after him, but let me tell you something..."
His smile vanished.
"If Damian is a 'Viper' that bites, Varon is a 'Spider'. He doesn't bite... he weaves a web around you. So quiet and imperceptible that when you realize you're caught, you can't move anymore."
Julian pulled back and smiled again, as if he hadn't said anything serious.
"Heard a few of his assistants resigned in a state of madness before. They said Varon has no 'red line'. To get the answer to his experiment, he's willing to sacrifice anything."
This sentence struck Maria's heart like an arrow. "Sacrifice anything." She remembered that wounded creature.
Maria swallowed her saliva. Julian's information, though given with reluctance and sarcasm, was accurate.
"Thanks."
Julian stood up and picked up his half-eaten apple.
"Watch out the spider doesn't bite you, little strategist. Curiosity... is your most dangerous trait."
He winked and walked away.
Maria watched him go and exhaled in frustration.
Smart bastard... he realized something's up. But at least now I know who I'm dealing with. A mad spider.
She picked up her tray angrily. It was time to get ready for the night. First shift in the spider's web. But Maria still didn't know, some webs don't just hold the prey... they slowly change it.
***
Elsewhere in the Academy,
In basements where sunlight had long forgotten...
Master Varon stood alone behind his desk, analyzing the data from the mana trap. Glowing lines on the recording crystal blinked on and off.
He opened a file. Maria's picture was visible on it.
Varon whispered under his breath:
"Maybe I finally found the right tool."
He closed the file and placed it next to the escaped creature's report.
The lab light went out.