Poor Randa couldn't say a word, just blushing awkwardly and fidgeting as Cydal's words hung in the air.
The screen flickered to life again.
[Quest guide prepared: Check your map for your destination.] There was a step counter, barely a few steps next to him. It belonged to the one asked him for this quest.
His attention shifted to his side where thr step counts ended. Right above longs' head. He was grinning widely, as usual. "Asking a girl to meet behind the school on your first conversation? Bold move, buddy."
Cydal barely acknowledged him, but Long didn't care. "But I don't know... It could scare her off, or make her unsure. Relationships take time, you know?"
Long didn't stop there. He shouted, "Anyways who cares about that?! I can't believe you're in this school, we're classmates, and you're sitting right next to me! Do you see it? This is a sign, man! We're gonna have the best time as best friends!" he screamed as he talked, his spit could reach cydal from the next seat.
Cydal barely flinched, though other students seemed bothered by Long's nonstop chatter. Long kept going, oblivious. "Yes, as you expected, I know everyone in this class. They all love me. I'll introduce you to everyone soon."
But Cydal's mind wasn't on Long. His thoughts flickered back to the penalty for failing a quest. The last person he spoke to would die in six days, their heart being ripped out. It was a chilling rule from the game.
Cydal muttered under his breath. "It's him… This is the one who the screen talked about." He paused for a bit…but he quickly shook his head. "No. I don't have time. I must hurry and complete my current quest."
Longs still hadn't stopped. "Anyways, are you listening to me?! I was talking about the different clubs this school offers, and oh my god, do you know that I believe I have the perfect club for you?!"
Cydal raised his hand to his face, shutting him up. "I don't care."
"So that catacombs you mentioned, how likely is it real?" He was already skeptical. The chances of this big lug offering anything useful were slim.
Longs lit up with excitement. "Oh boy, so we're finally starting our adventure!? Listen to this, this is a legit source, alright? Want me to reveal their identity? Not even if you bribed me. The entrance to the catacombs starts from somewhere in the basement! There've been rumors—whispers, footsteps, and conversations. People say it's there."
Randa, eager but left out, tried to join the conversation, but no one heard her. She was pushed away as Longs continued.
"And here's the juicy part," Longs continued, oblivious to Randa's frustration.
"There's actually a secret group running the place. I was told not to meddle in it—it's not something I can handle—but that only makes me want to go more."
Cydal narrowed his eyes. A secret group? His mind buzzed with possibilities. Could be just a club with a bunch of students, offering me nothing. Or maybe, just maybe, it leads to the Creator's Lair.
The thoughts circled in his mind, but before he could respond, someone behind him caught his attention. A weight settled onto the back of his chair as someone casually stretched out his legs, pushing away Cydal's desk, he was resting his hands behind his head. He turned, eyes locking with what it looked Lardo from before, he sat surrounded by his gang. Some of the thugs didn't even have chairs, but their loyalty had them crammed on the floor beside him, refusing to sit anywhere else.
Lardo's gaze locked onto Cydal. "Huh? What's with the new face lookin' like mah nuts?"
Cydal didn't flinch. "Turn away, ya little wuss. Unless ya want me to pummel ya in front of the whole damn school," Lardo mocked, a cruel smirk playing on his lips.
Randa, trying to apologize, whispered, "I'm sorry for that. He may look like trouble, but if you don't get in his way, my brother won't bother you."
Yes lardo was indeed her brother.
But then, Lardo's voice bellowed across the classroom, loud enough for everyone to hear. "What do I tell ya, dumb woman? Don't freakin' call me your brother. I have nothin' to do with ya n yer fake family!"
Randa, terrified, fell silent, burying herself in her own thoughts. Longs and Cydal exchanged glances with lardo, disappointment clear in both of their expressions.
Lardo's voice rose again, his smug grin widening. "You dared look at me, piss face? I warned ya not to do that. Now I'm gonna whoop your ass."
His gang surrounded Cydal, blocking him from view. Randa, small and overshadowed by the thugs, was barely visible in the chaos.
One of Lardo's gang members leaned in close, sneering. "Did you hear that, punk? Our boss said to meet him at the rooftop tomorrow. If you don't, you're dead. But don't worry, you'll still die tomorrow, at the boss' hand."
Cydal barely heard the words as the screen flickered in front of him.
[New quest has been added: You are challenged by Lardo]
[Meet him at the rooftop tomorrow?]
He chuckled, a dark amusement crossing his face. "Ho, so this is added as a quest now? Is he also a player?"
[Unknown.]
[Meet him tomorrow at the rooftop.]
"Oye, you damned bastard," one of the goons barked, slamming his fist onto a desk loud enough to make Randa flinch. "Listen when the boss is talkin' to you!"
Cydal didn't flinch. Didn't blink. There was no reaction — just that hollow, glassy look in his eye like his thoughts were somewhere else entirely. Like none of this mattered.
Cydal finally spoke, his voice low and uncaring, like it was just another chore on his to-do list.
"Yeah, I heard you," he muttered. "A fight at the rooftop?"
He looked up, locking eyes with the thug who had been shouting the loudest.
"I'll be there."
Longs and Randa both stiffened. Their eyes widened, panic flashing across their faces. Both shook their head, mouthing Don't!! but the words wouldn't come out loud.
'Of course I'm not going to ignore it.'
'If this fight was important enough to register as a quest.. Then there's definitely something big going on.'
One of the thugs leaned in way too close to Randa, making her shrink back in her seat.
"What's with that calm-ass face, piss-brain? You even know who our boss is?" the thug sneered, spit flying. "He's gonna crush you, man. Break every damn bone in your body."
Cydal turned his eye to him — slow and uncaring. The kind of look you give someone who just said something profoundly irrelevant.
That look alone made the goons bristle.
"Tch," lardo leaned back on his desk looking away from everyone. "This the nut-faced freak mah father holds in high regard? This average-lookin' twig? What's wrong with his judgment, huh?"
He puffed up his chest, voice rising like a storm.
"I ain't gonna be humiliated by some dead-eyed twig with a blank stare and a weird-ass vibe. Nah, hell nah. I'll see him at that rooftop."
"I'm gonna make an example outta him — for Father, and for anyone else looking down on me."
He shot one last glare at Cydal before storming out.
Although leaving wasn't an option anymore.
A loud thud! — stacks of books slammed down on Lardo's desk, shaking it hard enough to rattle his ego. He flinched, his goons jumping in sync like scared pups. They all turned, startled by the sudden voice that tore through the room.
"Where do you think you're going, punk?"
The woman stood tall infront of them, fierce as a storm. Her hair was cut in sharp wolf spikes, so dark it barely looked blue, and her eyes — her eyes shone brightly.
She wasn't in armor, but she might as well have been. A light green shirt tucked under a flowing skirt that brushed the floor, making her look like someone elegant and dangerous all at once.
"I found these books scattered on the beach while I was out for a walk," she said, voice steady. "These yours? Books are rare and expensive for every student here. How dare you throw them away like trash?"
Cydal turned slowly, his gaze locking on her. Something clicked.
She looked like Beauty.
Actually… no — she was Beauty.
But she was different. Stronger. Bolder. Like someone had carved away all the softness and left only fire.
She met his gaze, smiled confidently — like she'd been waiting for this moment. But she didn't speak to him yet.
Lardo jumped up, barking, "Shut up, lady! Ya ain't got no right to order me around! This school be mine, I rule it!"
Beauty rolled her sleeves, grinning wide like a demon ready for blood.
"Oh? Then how about I take back my throne? It's been a while I got my hands dirty on fresh blood!"
Her energy was wild — unshakable. Everyone took a step back.
"Now sit down, kids."
"Tch. Whatever. Old hag, we ain't scared of ya," one of the goons muttered.
The insult hit her, a flicker of pain behind her fiery eyes. But anger took over.
"You little… You know what? Sixty pages. Each of you are doing a sixty page homework by tomorrow," she snapped. "You've missed too many classes already, and I will check every damn page. You don't walk out of this like cowards, I will be watching you."
The room froze in terror. Even Lardo sat down without another word. Although he blushed a bit, he admired woman this strong. But more importantly, he knew if his enemy was stronger than him, it's another thing if he had that many enemies stronger than him.
And yeah lanjo was the second feared teacher on this school grounds, who do think was the first? It's her! The whole school, no the whole village used to fear the man slayer and now she is back.
Cydal blinked. His face turned slightly red.
What the hell? Was that really… her?
That timid woman who he saw in the forest this morning?
This wasn't a stranger anymore.
This was Beauty. And she was back.
And before anyone could say a word, a loud scream broke the silence.
"Kyaaaa! Cydear!"
Her excitement was like a bomb. Everyone's heads turned.
"You look so mature and professional in that school blazer! But don't you dare get ahead of yourself!" she grinned, charging forward. "To me, you're still just my little boy!"
Without hesitation, she pulled him into a crushing hug, arms wrapped around him like vines with no intention of letting go.
Randa and Longs stared in stunned silence. Randa's cheeks flushed pink — a flicker of something like jealousy in her eyes. Longs blinked twice, unsure if he should intervene or just let the chaos unfold.
Cydal? He was frozen. His guard completely shattered. He squirmed awkwardly in her grip, trying to pry himself free.
"Oh my, Miss Beauty," Randa spoke, voice hesitant. "You… know him?"
"Know him?" Beauty raised an eyebrow, still hugging Cydal tightly Messing his hair, suffocating him, he has zero thought in his eyes. "I raised this boy! You don't see the resemblance?"
Randa blinked, unsure how to respond. One is way too cheerful and the other one doesn't even know what 'cheer' means.
Longs leaned in, smirking. "Man, what happened to you miss beauty? First you don't come to school for so long, and now you don't even look like yourself…you've transformed!!"
"If Kowa were here, he'd say something dramatic like—" he deepened his voice and waved a hand, "'A fairy has landed before me… Take me with you, oh divine one, I am unworthy of this cruel earth!'"
Beauty burst out laughing. "Angel, not fairy! He always calls me angel! And he'd say.. She shifts her voice to match kowa's deep voice, 'Let me leave this filthy earth to ascend with you to the heavens!'"
She laughed harder, covering her mouth. "That kid's too much for me sometimes… But where is he? I'm missing out on his nonsense."
"Oh, and you'll be thrilled to hear that your one true Miss Beauty will be your new teacher from now on!" she announced with a playful grin. "I just had a lovely chat with the principal."
"And I did this for my dear, I've been away from him so long… I don't want to be even a minute apart from him now," she said, clinging to him like he might vanish again.
Judging by how long she'd been hugging him—and how tight—any normal person would've flatlined by now.
Randa and Longs were buzzing with excitement, but then they remembered—what about Sir Lanjo? He was supposed to be teaching this class.
They glanced around, but he was nowhere in sight.
"Oh, that lazy excuse for a man?" she laughed. "He practically cheered when I asked if I could take over his class. I swear, he was begging me!"
"Ahaha, just what are you guys doing to that poor, sensitive soul?" She asked.
Longs and Randa were too awkward to say anything about that.
Cydal gently pulled himself out of Beauty's embrace without saying a word. No eye contact. No acknowledgment. Just silence.
He stood up, turned, and walked toward the classroom door.
Beauty's smile lingered for a moment longer—then slowly faded. She didn't try to stop him. She couldn't. Deep down, she expected this. And yet, it still stung.
Longs glanced between them, confused and concerned. "Oye?! Where do you think you're going—in the middle of class?!"
Before anyone could answer, the sharp ring of the school bell cut through the tension.
The period had ended.
And just like that, Cydal slipped out with the rest of the students—gone.
"Oh crap, I totally forgot!" Longs slapped a hand to his forehead. "I'm so sorry, Miss Beauty, but I have to go—I promised Cydal I'd join him on a quest!"
Beauty blinked, confused. "A... quest?"
She barely had time to finish the word before Randa nodded politely, grabbed her bag, and followed Longs out the door. "I'll go too. I'm worried about him."
Now alone, Beauty stood still in the quiet classroom.
The atmosphere had shifted. The liveliness from earlier was gone, replaced with a heavy stillness that clung to the air like fog.
Everything around her felt... gloomy.
She sighed softly, her fingers brushing against the edge of the desk.
"Welcome back, huh?" she murmured to herself, forcing a faint smile. "Not quite the reunion I pictured."
A moment later in the hallways:
The school hallways were as chaotic as ever—students rushing past, conversations buzzing, books clutched tightly as feet echoed across the tiled floor.
Longs weaved through the crowd with ease and caught up to Cydal in seconds. Randa, on the other hand, struggled to push through, trailing a few steps behind the boys.
"Dude!" Longs called out, panting slightly. "Slow down! Hey, wait—are you seriously this pumped for the catacombs? Is that why you're practically sprinting?"
Cydal didn't listen to him.
"Hey, dude! Wait up—I want to ask you something!"
Longs shouted with dramatic urgency, as if Cydal hadn't already heard every word.
Cydal stopped but didn't turn around. "Speak."
"Is it true you had an older brother?"
"I guess I did," Cydal replied, his voice strained, trying hard to sound unaffected. "But he was more like… a friend."
Longs didn't noticed the sourness in his tone, he just pressed on as usual. "What happened to him?"
"He died."
Cydal said it flatly, without emotion.
Longs didn't flinch at the cold response. He leaned in further. "Was it… at that orphanage?"
Cydal froze.
A tremor ran through him.
In an instant, his mind was no longer in the present.
He was back in that burning room.
Crackling fire.
Blood spattering with each heavy punch.
The sickening sound of bones breaking—over and over everytime a punch was thrown.
He saw man—half-burned, half-clawed—struggling to beg for mercy, choking on smoke and pain, unable to speak. It was kashi muruo.
And the one doing it… was just a kid.
Or maybe a monster.
Its long green arm ended in claws. The entire left side of its body twisted, demonic.
Something else moved in the corner.
Another boy—wounded, bleeding, barely alive—crawled to him. He clutched the creature's foot, crying, begging.
There was a hole on the boy's back—deep, raw, as if pierced by something terrible.
His face was smeared in blood—unrecognizable.
"D-don't do t-this… Don't b-become what they s-say you are."
Tears streamed down his face, his voice barely a whisper as the words trembled out of him.
The kid froze, the bloodied man still clutched in his claws.
He turned, maybe to speak, maybe to stop—
But then came the noise.
Shouting. Footsteps. Chaos, just beyond the door.
In seconds, it burst open.
A crowd stormed in, their eyes locking onto the kid still holding the man.
Their fury was instant.
They didn't ask questions.
They dragged the kid by his hair, fists raining down, boots striking, stones flying like judgment.
The other boy on the floor—the one who tried to stop him—was left behind.
The kid screamed for help.
Begged.
But the crumbling building gave its final groan and collapsed on the boy before anyone looked back.
He didn't get to see what happened next.
Before he could even turn his head, a stone struck his eye with such force—
It popped.
Then—
A voice shattered the memory.
"Cydal!"
Longs' shouting dragged him in the present, Cydal reached up, fingers brushing the edge of his eye patch.
Like the pain from that moment had never truly left him.
Cydal turned and looked directly at Longs—and that stare froze Longs mid-step. It wasn't anger. It was just... cold. Expressionless. But somehow, more chilling than rage.
"I know I agreed to take on this quest with you," Cydal said flatly, "but I forgot to mention—there's a condition."