Early the next morning, Jelo woke up to a violent headache.

It felt like someone was hammering directly into his skull, each pulse sending waves of sharp pain radiating through his temples. He groaned, clutching his head with both hands as he forced himself to sit upright. The room spun slightly, and his vision blurred at the edges. Something was wrong—terribly wrong.

"Oh no… no, no, no… please don't let it be what I think it is," he muttered, his voice hoarse and barely above a whisper.

As if responding to his fear, the System interface materialized before him, its glowing text cutting through the dimness of his room like a knife.

**Energy Reserves: Low.

Warning: Critical Energy Levels.

Acquire Dabba heart to replenish reserves.**

Jelo's heart sank like a stone dropped into dark water.

"I knew this would happen sooner or later…" he whispered, a bitter taste filling his mouth.

The realization settled over him with crushing weight. He'd pushed himself too hard during the training The fight with mark, the strain of using his abilities beyond his limits—it had all drained him faster than he'd anticipated. And now his body was paying the price.

If only there were a way to store the Dabba heart safely instead of constantly running back for them. If only he could stockpile them, preserve them somehow, so he wouldn't be caught vulnerable like this. But the system can't store it yet.

And then—

He remembered.

Master Olmo's words echoed in his mind, clear as if the instructor were standing right beside him.

*"Next time you need a Dabba's heart, come to me."*

Without wasting another second, Jelo jumped off his bed. His legs wobbled slightly, but adrenaline pushed him forward. He dressed quickly, throwing on whatever clothes were closest, not bothering to check if they matched or if his shirt was on straight. He rushed out of the room in such a hurry that he didn't even notice Atlas wasn't there.

The empty bed across from his went completely unregistered in his mind.

If Atlas had been around, he would have definitely stopped him. His roommate would have demanded to know what was going on, where he was rushing off to, why he looked so pale. Atlas had that protective streak in him, that tendency to worry even when he tried to hide it behind casual questions.

But Jelo was already sprinting toward the teacher's dormitory, his footsteps echoing through the early morning corridors. The academy was still quiet at this hour, with most students either still asleep or just beginning to stir. The soft light of dawn filtered through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the polished floors.

His headache intensified with each step, but he pushed through it. He had to. There was no other choice.

When he arrived at the teachers' building, two hefty security guards blocked his path. They stood like twin pillars of muscle and authority, arms crossed, expressions neutral but watchful.

"What are you looking for?" one of them asked, his voice deep and professional.

"I need to see Master Olmo. It's urgent," Jelo said, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice and failing.

"You can't see Master Olmo right now."

Those words hit him like a physical wall, stopping him in his tracks.

No. No, this couldn't be happening. Not now.

How was he supposed to get the Dabba heart now? After what happened last time, there was no way he could sneak into that portal room again—not with all the porters stationed there, not with security heightened after his unauthorized entry. Master Olmo had been lenient before, but there were limits to even his patience.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. Think. Think!

"I—Master Olmo called for me," Jelo blurted out, the lie spilling from his lips before he could stop himself.

The guards exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. For a long moment, they simply stared at him, and Jelo's heart hammered in his chest. Would they believe him? Would they check? Would they—

"…If that's the case, go in."

Relief flooded through him so intensely his knees almost buckled.

Luck was on his side. For once, for this one crucial moment, luck was actually on his side.

As soon as he stepped inside the building, navigating the unfamiliar hallways with quick, uncertain steps, he saw Master Olmo walking toward him from the opposite direction. The instructor looked freshly dressed, his usual composed demeanor in place, though there was a hint of surprise in his eyes at seeing Jelo there so early.

Perfect timing. Impossibly perfect timing.

Jelo quickly explained everything—the low energy, the critical warning from the System, the violent headache, the urgent need for a Dabba heart. The words tumbled out in a rush, probably not as coherent as they should have been, but Olmo seemed to understand.

The master instructor paused, his expression growing thoughtful, perhaps even concerned. He stroked his chin, his eyes distant as he considered the situation.

"Of all times for this to happen…" he muttered, more to himself than to Jelo.

"There's no getting around this, is there?" he asked rhetorically, though his eyes moved to Jelo's face, perhaps searching for confirmation.

Jelo didn't need to answer with words. He simply nodded, his expression conveying everything—the urgency, the necessity, the lack of alternatives.

Master Olmo sighed, then his expression hardened with decision.

"…Very well. We'll go get one for you," Olmo said firmly. "Come with me."

Jelo followed immediately, staying close behind the instructor as they navigated through the building. His heart was still racing, but now with cautious hope rather than panic. Master Olmo was helping him. Everything would be okay. He would get the Dabba heart, replenish his energy, and—

But halfway to their destination, something hit him. A memory. A promise.

He had promised Mira that whenever he went to obtain the Dabba's heart, she would come with him.

She had made him swear it. After everything that had happened, after all the secrets he'd kept from her, he'd promised her she could be there. That he wouldn't shut her out anymore. It was one of the few promises he'd actually made explicitly, and breaking it would damage the fragile trust they'd been rebuilding.

As they reached the portal room, with its familiar hum of energy and the swirling gateway that led to dangerous zones beyond the academy's safe walls, Jelo stopped walking.

"Master… Mira has to come with us."

Olmo turned, frowning slightly. "Why?"

Jelo hesitated, searching for an excuse, some plausible reason that wouldn't reveal too much. But nothing came to mind that wouldn't sound flimsy or suspicious. And Master Olmo was too perceptive to be fooled by half-truths.

When he couldn't find an adequate cover story, he explained the real reason—the promise, the importance of keeping it, the need to include her.

Olmo listened, but he didn't fully understand the depth of it. What he did know, however, was one critical fact—Mira was only E-rank. Sending her into a zone dangerous enough to house Dabbas was reckless at best, potentially fatal at worst.

And the place they needed to go was anything but safe.

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