"Ah!" William gasped as his eyes parted with a start.

His chest was heaving, something warm wrapped around his torso.

The ceiling was unfamiliar—his vision was hazy, but he could tell.

"Are you awake?" A voice, not quite familiar, came from his left.

The young adult turned and found the familiar brunette standing there.

"Yes…" he nodded. "Where am I?" he asked.

The sound of her thoughts reached William, but his senses were too dull to make out the words swirling inside her head.

Domella calmly stepped forward and took a seat.

Once settled, she informed the young man, "You are in the infirmary, currently getting treated."

William blinked. "How long was I out?"

The other one replied, "A day."

William steadied his breathing before realizing his left arm was being held by someone; fragile, but undeniably human skin.

He turned and found a sleeping Nana resting there, her head leaning against the chair's backrest as she slept soundly.

"She has been with you this whole time, refusing to be taken away. Even during her medical assessment, she resisted separation."

William's heart melted at those words.

The little girl's neck must have gone stiff, but exhaustion had pulled her into a deep sleep.

Just then, William flinched. "Where is Emma?" He was about to get up in a panic when Domella pressed her smooth hand against his bare shoulder, stopping him. She pointed toward the bed positioned diagonally from his.

William turned his head and saw another sleeping figure.

Her silver hair was a mess, covering half her face, yet she appeared so soothingly beautiful that his heart—restless until now—finally calmed at the sight.

He let out a quiet sigh before asking, "Is she fine?"

Domella nodded. "Yes, she is. And no offense, but we are very curious… how is that possible?"

William looked at her. "What do you mean?"

The older woman stated calmly, "You three were standing before a General-ranked Devil, and yet none of you incurred a single scratch."

Leaning back, she added, "I am very curious to know what exactly happened inside the dome."

For a moment, several memories flickered in William's mind.

The Devil cornering Emma… then the appearance of that being who had completely taken over William.

A General-ranked Devil cornered like a rat and erased from existence.

And it all happened—none of them were harmed—because of that being.

"William?" Domella called out, seeing him space out.

The blond turned toward her before shaking his head. "I don't remember anything after the Devil appeared. I lost consciousness because of the negative energy."

Domella narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure you really didn't see anything?"

William shrugged. "Well, you can request a telepath to come check my memories… if you even have one."

Domella gave a wry smile at the poor sarcasm before hearing the younger one ask, "What about the contest? When is the third round beginning?"

Domella sighed. "Well… unfortunately, the Goblet of Honor has been called off."

William was genuinely surprised. "Because of the Devil? I mean, none of you considered this could happen?"

They had chosen a curse-bearer—Nana—to be part of this contest. Surely someone, out of a hundred, should have mentioned the possibility of a Devil appearing during the event.

So were they always planning to cancel the tournament if that one-in-a-hundred possibility came true?

Domella exhaled a sigh. "We would have continued with the contest, especially since all the injured students recovered fairly well—including you and student Emma… but then we received orders from someone we cannot defy."

William hummed, "I thought Arthur didn't have enough authority to go against the Council itself."

Domella shook her head. "It was the Archon."

William blinked in surprise. "You mean… the Head of the Council? One of the Three Sages?"

His shock was justified. The Archon rarely intervened in Council affairs, trusting the Seven-Seated members and the councilmen to handle matters on their own.

For him to suddenly interfere—"This incident even got his attention?"

Domella shrugged. "It appears so. That is why the Goblet of Honor, for the first time in history, has been cancelled halfway through."

Hearing those words, William gave a wry smile. "So all the effort we put into this contest… especially me and Emma… all went to waste."

Domella cleared her throat before assuring him, "We will extend a formal apology and provide compensation to every academy for the unexpected outcome."

William narrowed his eyes. "You put us against a criminal, and later we had to face a Devil. Don't you think Emma and I at least deserve something more?"

Domella exhaled again. "Is there anything specific you need to forget this unfortunate incident?"

William didn't think long before saying, "I want to take this kid with me."

Domella was startled. "You mean to say… this cursed child?"

William glowered slightly as he raised Nana's hand and showed her palm. "Is she now?"

Domella didn't need to look to confirm—the Devil's mark was gone, no matter how surreal it still felt.

How many times had it ever happened?

Someone contracted by a General-ranked Devil, the contract terminated… and the host survives?

Maybe one in ten thousand—if not rarer.

William continued, "You would have put her in an orphanage anyway. I'll take responsibility for her."

Domella shook her head. "I can't make that decision alone. There must be a reason the Devil approached this kid in the first place… that factor could cause trouble."

William shrugged. "That's your problem. I'm taking her home with me."

Domella frowned. "You don't have the authority to make that decision."

William grinned. "But you do. So use it and grant me this wish."

"And why do you think I would?"

William met her gaze. "Because you know I'm an asset you can't afford to offend. I'm sure you've already thought about how to recruit me into the Great Hall… so surely, you won't let this relationship turn sour from the very beginning, will you?"

Domella narrowed her eyes at the boy…but as if he had read her mind—wait, did he?—he guessed things right.

Sighing, she got up from the chair and said, "I will talk to the Council. No promises though."

William smiled, "That's enough for me."

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.

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