Author's Note: Do Not Unlock Yet. Chapter Is Still Under Construction.
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The stream's water was bone-chilling, but Victor didn't care. The first sip sent a ripple of life through his veins, banishing the dizziness that had been creeping in for hours. His cracked lips finally loosened, and his dry throat stopped scraping with each breath.
"Ahh… nectar of the heavens," Victor muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his trembling hand. "If anyone asks, I fought ten beasts for this water."
He crouched beside the stream and tore off a section of his half-shredded academy uniform. The cloth was stiff from frost, but he managed to twist it into something like a pouch. Scooping carefully, he filled it with water until it sagged under the weight. "Portable hydration," he said proudly. "Who needs a spatial ring when you have survival instincts and poor fashion sense?"
He tied the cloth shut and was about to turn away when a faint flicker caught his eye.
