Will finally reached his dormitory.
Calling it a dorm felt wrong. It was more like a penthouse that had been specially assigned to the first ranker.
The space was far larger than what a normal student would ever receive.
The moment he stepped inside, it became clear that the academy did not treat the Archon like an ordinary student.
Inside, there was a proper kitchen with clean counters and neatly arranged shelves.
A wide balcony opened toward the academy grounds, allowing fresh air to circulate freely.
A separate training area occupied one side of the room, complete with reinforced flooring.
There was also a spacious living area connected to a personal bedroom that was tucked slightly away for privacy.
The place felt quiet.
Will did not waste time exploring further.
The moment he reached the bed, his body gave up. He fell forward and buried himself into the soft mattress without even removing his footwear properly.
The sudden motion caused Tamasya, who had been perched on top of him, to roll off his back like a cotton ball. She bounced once and collided with the rigid wall nearby.
"Aaah!! You brat!! At least wake me up!!!"
Tamasya immediately transformed back into her original form while clutching her head in pain.
Snore...!!!
There was no reply.
She leaned forward and looked closely.
Will was already asleep.
His arms were wrapped tightly around the mattress as faint snoring sounds escaped from him.
His breathing was slow, and his expression had relaxed completely.
Tamasya stared at him for a moment.
She stood up on the bed and carefully lifted Will by his shoulders. Despite his weight, she handled him with practiced ease.
She adjusted his position properly and placed him flat on the mattress.
"Went to sleep as soon as he touched the bed," she murmured quietly.
She pulled a nearby blanket and wrapped it around him neatly and also made sure his head was resting comfortably before stepping back.
Although Will had only recently woken up from the infirmary, it was true that he had not slept properly for a long time.
As an awakened S-rank, he could stay awake for months if needed.
However, the events of the past days had taken their toll.
His mind had been constantly active, and the pressure had built up into a persistent headache.
Tamasya moved away from the bedroom and entered the living area. She sat down on the sofa and exhaled slowly.
A quill and paper appeared in her hands from her space ring.
She began writing a letter addressed to Will.
During the academy attack, Tamasya had clearly realized her own helplessness.
No matter how capable she once was, her current state was far from sufficient. If she wanted to stand beside and protect Will properly in the future, she needed to recover her cultivation and powers as soon as possible.
That was now her top priority.
Only after that could she truly protect him.
She trusted Andrea and knew that Andrea would take care of her disciple while she was away.
That trust allowed her to make this decision without hesitation.
Earlier thoughts of staying with Will in his dormitory vanished quietly. In their place came a stronger resolve.
She wanted power and certainty. She wanted to be strong enough to never feel that helpless again.
When the letter was finished, she rolled it carefully.
Her hands moved again, and a shadow manifestation of a small black cat appeared. It was the same form she had used earlier. She tied the rolled letter securely to the cat’s back.
Then she walked back toward Will’s bedroom.
He was still sleeping peacefully.
Tamasya stood beside the bed and looked down at him. Her fingers trembled slightly as she ran them gently across his smooth face.
The distance between them felt smaller than it had any right to be.
She leaned forward and placed a soft peck on his forehead.
"We will be together soon," Tamasya whispered in a hushed voice.
Her figure faded quietly into wisps of shadows as she disappeared from the room without making a sound.
——————————
Several hours passed...
Will continued sleeping peacefully on the bed, completely unaware of the time passing.
Ding! Dong!
The doorbell rang.
There was no reaction.
Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!
Another round followed.
Still nothing.
Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!
"WAAHHHH!!! COMING!!!!"
Will jerked awake abruptly.
He jumped out of bed and stumbled forward on bare feet, still half asleep. His movements were clumsy as he rushed toward the door.
When he opened it, his vision was still blurry. A short figure came into focus slowly.
It was a dwarf.
The dwarf looked up at him with an expression that held no affection whatsoever.
"Your package," the dwarf said flatly. "Sleepyhead."
"Ohh!! Right!!" Will replied groggily.
He took the box from the dwarf and nodded. Without another word, the dwarf turned around and left the floor.
Will’s room was located on the tenth floor, alongside the Archons of the senior years.
Below that level, the building was split into two separate wings. One was for male students, and the other was for female students. A wide dining hall stretched between them.
Will closed the door and carried the box inside.
He placed it on the table and then looked around searching for Tamasya.
"Master?" he called out.
There was no response.
He walked toward the bedroom and spotted a small black cat jumping onto a fluffy chair.
"There you are," Will said with a smile.
He picked up the cat gently, holding it like a baby.
That was when he noticed the scroll tied around its stomach.
His smile faded.
He untied the scroll and opened it.
As he read, his brows slowly furrowed.
By the time he finished, his mood had completely soured.
Without thinking, he stood up and tossed the cat aside as if its existence didn’t matter. It landed on a curtain and began walking along the wall.
The sight was strange, but Will was too absorbed in his thoughts to care.
"Fuck... now I’ll have to live alone again," he muttered.
[Um... Host, you didn’t expect her to live here with you, did you?]
"Yeah!! So what!!" Will shouted suddenly.
The frustration surprised even him.
Living with her for the past year had changed him more than he realized.
Somewhere along the way, his heart had softened. The thought of her absence now felt heavier than expected.
The realization hit him fully.
He took a deep breath.
"I’ll just train," Will said quietly, forcing himself to calm down.
[Yes. You have a purpose to fulfill. Remember.]
"Yeah," Will replied.
He sat down on the chair and pulled the box closer.
When he opened it, several items appeared inside.
The first item was an Academy Shop Crystal. It was a transparent crystal that allowed students to browse and purchase items from the academy using academy points.
Will picked it up.
[ding!! Would you like to integrate the Academy Shop Crystal with the system?