Whatever strange haze I'd been under lifted the moment I stepped into the room.
Robert, as usual, was sprawled across his bed, lazily scrolling through his feed.
"See anything interesting?" I asked.
"Same old crap," he shrugged. "Politicians getting caught with prostitutes, oligarchs dodging justice, parks getting built. Nothing worth reading."
He tossed his phone aside and looked at me.
"…What the hell happened to your face?"
"What do you mean?" I asked, glancing around for something reflective.
"You look like someone knocked the shit out of you."
I pulled out my phone and switched to the front camera.
He wasn't wrong.
I looked… off.
"I don't even know," I muttered. "Feels like something's seriously wrong with me today. First Silius, now Alma…"
"Alma?" Robert's tone sharpened instantly. "You went back to that… Special girl?"
"Yeah. I had this stupid idea she might know something."
"You're that obsessed with demons?" he scoffed. "You'd go crawling back to her after everything?"
"Did you already forget how your 'friendship' ended?"
"She suffered too!" I snapped—
and cut myself off.
What the hell am I doing?
Why am I defending her like that?
Robert looked at me like I'd just said something completely out of character.
"I told you," I muttered, rubbing my temple, "something's wrong with me today."
"Yeah," he said slowly. "And I don't think it has nothing to do with her."
"I didn't eat or drink anything she gave me," I shot back. "Maybe it's just stress."
I paused.
"By the way, where's Christina?"
"Christina?" Robert grimaced. "Don't say it like she owns me."
"Just because I'm her bodyguard doesn't mean I run errands. We have a deal."
"A deal?"
"Yeah. Silius set up a contract with her, but I'm not actually under her heel."
"…So that's what he meant," I muttered, recalling Clyde's words about leverage.
"What are you talking about?" Robert narrowed his eyes. "And why do you need Vilis?"
"I want to ask her who in the academy has special access."
"You've completely lost it," he snorted. "Why make things harder when you can just ask Silius?"
"I'd rather avoid him."
"What's going on between you two?"
"I just can't stand him. No particular reason."
"…Yeah, I'm not buying that," Robert said. "But fine. I'll wait until you stop lying. To yourself or to me."
I pulled out my phone and dialed Christina.
Better not to drag this out.
No telling what kind of hell they were about to put me through in training so I wouldn't embarrass myself in the exhibition fights, or at least survive them.
"Alan? Silius not picking up?" Christina answered.
"No. I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh? Then come to the dining hall—we're heading there now."
"No," I said quickly. "I'd rather talk to you alone, if that's okay."
"Ooooh," she laughed. "Now that sounds interesting. Planning to confess your love to me?"
"Yeah," I said dryly, "and I'd rather not have an audience."
"Alright," she said. "Let's take a walk after lunch. Deal?"
"Perfect. Thanks."
"Silius didn't look too happy about our little secret meeting," Christina smirked.
But the moment she saw my face, the teasing faded.
"Alan… what's wrong?"
"I wanted to ask… do you know who has access to the restricted building?"
"You should be asking Clyde that," she said. "He's basically a walking encyclopedia. Why do you need it?"
"I need access to the library there. I heard it holds information that isn't public."
"That place isn't easy to get into," Christina said. "They don't just teach control there. It's full of labs."
"It's basically the academy's classified core."
"Gordinstreet keeps it locked down hard."
"But who actually has access? Besides the director and her deputy?"
"I've heard the academy has contracts with certain Special families," she said. "You know about them, right?"
"Yeah. I even know a few people from those families."
"I doubt even students from those families get access," she shook her head.
"What about teachers?"
"Then yeah," she nodded. "They definitely do."
"…Thanks," I said, something finally clicking into place.
"But I didn't really tell you anything useful," she said, confused.
"You did. You gave me a direction," I said, already turning away. "I owe you one."
"I'll remember that!" she called after me. "And don't you dare try to back out later!"
A faint unease followed me, like I was going to regret that promise.
Luckily, Taisha was in her room.
Though judging by the atmosphere, she was in a foul mood.
"What are you doing here, Holivan?" Chen asked, looking me up and down from the doorway.
"Sorry for showing up like this, but I really need your help!"
"Yes, I'm aware," she said dryly. "Otherwise you'll die in the first round of the exhibition fights."
"There are multiple rounds?" I blinked. "Wait—no, I mean—yes, I do need your help with training, but that's not why I'm here right now."
"If you have time for anything else, you're either overconfident or stupid."
She paused.
"…Actually, you might be both."
"Taisha, please," I said, almost pleading. "I really need your help."
"…Come in."
She stepped aside and walked toward the bed.
"Make it quick. I have better things to do."
"You're from a Special family, right?"
"Yes. Do you want the full history of my bloodline?"
"No. I just figured if you teach here, your family must have a contract with Gordinstreet."
"At least your logic isn't completely broken," she said. "But I still don't see your point."
"If your family is affiliated, then you should have access to the restricted building."
"And I need to get in."
She stared at me in silence.
Like she was waiting.
Or deciding whether I'd finally lost my mind.
Then—
"I can't take you there."
"But—"
I had nothing.
No argument that would work on her.
I exhaled and lowered my head.
"I have access to the barrier," she continued, "but I'm not allowed to bring guests."
She watched me closely.
"…Could you just give me access?" I asked.
"I could," she said. "But security would stop you the moment they check your credentials."
"What if I enter from a side without guards?"
"Then it would be harder to stop you."
"…What do I need to do to borrow your access?"
"Take my hand."
"…What?"
Taisha grabbed my hand herself.
A faint tingling spread through my palm.
"What was that?"
"Your pass. One-time use. One entry. One exit."
She let go.
"And if you decide to bring someone with you," she added calmly, "don't let go of their hand while crossing the barrier. Unless you want them flagged."
"…Thanks," I said slowly.
It felt too easy.
"For what?"
"The pass—"
"What pass?" she cut in flatly. "Holivan, get out before I decide to start your training right now."
I didn't wait for a second invitation.