Luo Wei's expression turned subtle. Yet another beastfolk whose entire race had been slaughtered.

Hessel, like Laura, was one of the very last of her kind.

If the story of a race was destined to end, why leave a single bloodline at all?

A line surfaced in Luo Wei's mind: "The Way numbers fifty; Heaven uses forty‑nine; one is left for life to escape."

"What?" Hessel asked. "What does that mean?"

Only then did Luo Wei realize she'd spoken aloud. Since it was out, she explained, "It means nothing is absolute. The fact you're alive means the Black Dragons still have a glimmer of hope."

Whether they could grasp that sliver of hope would be up to their own fortune.

"Hope…" Hessel murmured, brows knitting as she sank into thought.

"Alright, rest here," Luo Wei said, shrugging on her magic robe. "I'm heading out. I'll tell the professors you were too sleepy to even walk, so you skipped the meal."

Hessel: "…Isn't that a little arrogant?"

"It fits your persona."

Luo Wei moved to the door, blocked Hessel's line of sight while recalling Nico, then opened it and slipped out.

When the door shut, Hessel huddled on the tiny bed, baffled.

Fits her persona?

That arrogant excuse fits her persona?

She wanted to know what image Luo Wei even had of her to get her so wrong!

Outside.

Luo Wei had taken barely two steps when she noticed several slender figures standing silent in the hallway.

To the left stood Axina, eyes probing. At the stairhead were Gladys, eyes shining, and Laura, tense and stiff.

"What are you all doing here?"

Luo Wei walked over calmly.

"I heard it," Axina said, arms folded, leaning against the wall. "There was another voice in your room. Her name's Hessel, right?"

"You misheard," Luo Wei replied coolly. "The Intermediate Division dorms aren't here—they're in the central keep."

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Axina sneered. "Then dare you open the door and let me look?"

Luo Wei gave her an odd glance. "Do you have a habit of snooping in other people's dorms?"

Axina's face went cold in a snap. She wanted to spit back—but no words came.

Luo Wei passed her and went to the stairs. "Laura, Gladys—let's go. Cafeteria."

"Okay!" Gladys answered brightly.

The three headed down, leaving Axina alone.

"Damn it!"

"That hateful girl—sooner or later I'll kill her!"

Cursing, Axina turned to stare at Luo Wei's door. Hessel had to be inside. She'd seen Luo Wei help her in, and only Luo Wei had come out.

Axina narrowed her eyes and padded toward the door.

Hessel's reaction after drinking Holy Water had been off. Now she was hiding, afraid to show herself—she must have reverted.

If she were beastfolk, she'd be giving off a heavy, inhuman scent.

If she were a demon, Axina would hear tortured groans—Holy Water burns demon flesh.

She smelled nothing unusual. Carefully she pressed an ear to the door.

"Clack—"

The door yanked open from inside and Axina almost pitched forward.

She caught the frame, but before she could steady herself, a hand shot out and clamped her throat.

"Cough—kh—let me go!"

Forced to crane back, Axina clawed at the fingers on her neck. In her sapphire eyes a cold, lifeless face was reflected.

Hessel stood in the doorway, curly black hair loose, completely naked, her outstretched right arm corded with lean muscle.

Her strength was terrifying: one hand lifted Axina with ease.

Axina's feet left the floor. Blood rushed to her pale face, turning it scarlet.

"Let… go…"

Hessel's fingers slowly tightened. "What were you eavesdropping on?"

"I—cough—I wasn't…" Axina's dangling legs kicked, frantic.

"What do you want to know?" Hessel's icy stare bored into her.

"I was just—cough—just curious…"

"Curious?" Hessel was unmoved. "Curious about what—what I am? How to use me?"

"I—I'm Freya's Blessed One," Axina rasped. "I advise you to let me go!"

"Freya is nothing," Hessel said with cruel disdain. "I'm not her believer. Why should I care whether her Blessed One lives or dies?"

Even so, she let go. Her fingers opened and oxygen‑starved Axina crashed to the floor, limbs weak.

Hessel looked down from above. "If this weren't the Academy, you'd have no chance of living. I've got plenty of ways to dispose of your body and erase every trace."

Eating someone? The brutal Black Dragon had long borne that stain.

Unfortunately the Academy's magic arrays monitored things; if she truly acted, she'd be discovered at once.

"Cough—cough—" Axina hacked violently, braced herself, and wobbled to her feet.

Clutching her stinging neck, she glared up, eyes frosted. "If this weren't the Academy, I'd show you exactly who you've provoked."

Hessel sneered. "I'll return those words to you. Now—get out."

"You'll regret this!" Axina's eyes went wide with fury. "One day you'll kneel and beg me to kill you!"

"Bang—"

The door slammed in her face.

Jaw clenched, Axina trembled with rage. Only after a long moment did she turn and stalk off, fists tight.

Wretched girl—every last one of them!

Anyone who sticks with Luo Wei can't be any good!

She would kill them. She would.

Inside, hearing the receding footsteps, Hessel finally let out the breath she'd been holding. Her slender body abruptly swelled—ballooning dozens of times over.

This time Luo Wei's bed collapsed outright.

At the crack and crash of splintering boards, the massive Black Dragon jerked a paw and turned; her tail swept wide and smashed over Luo Wei's desk and chair.

At the clatter of falling objects the dragon froze. Slowly she twisted her head to look.

—Utter wreckage.

She didn't dare move again. Drawing all four claws in under herself, she hunched awkwardly in a corner. A sheen of despair crept into her dark eyes.

How was she supposed to explain this to Luo Wei—say it wasn't on purpose? Would Luo Wei believe her?

The Black Dragon became a statue, filling the cramped little room.

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