Skyler staggered into his room, the weight of everything he had endured bearing down on him like a storm. Without a second thought, he hurriedly dragged himself to the bed and slipped beneath the blanket, inching closer to the cold presence and wintery scent. He wrapped his arms around Riruru's waist, hugging her from behind, and whispered.
"Still asleep?"
She stirred and rubbed her eyes, turning to nuzzle her face into the curve of his neck, but said nothing—still heavy with sleep.
"Aren't you hungry?"
Skyler brushed back her flowing white hair, then began absentmindedly tracing circles on her back. His thoughts were consumed by the news he had heard earlier—the 51st level of the Battle Royal had been cleared. Everything about the story was shifting.
"Well, in a way... it's not entirely bad. I'd been wondering how I was going to stop Max from being chosen by the Fallen God to wield the Legendary Blade of Aethel, so he would not become the one to slay the immortals. But now... things are moving quickly. At this rate, everything from the original story will unfold much faster."
He muttered under his breath, eyes locked on the ceiling. Still, he didn't miss the subtle movement in the room. Turning his head, he fixed his gaze on the translucent red-haired woman as she moved away from the bed.
"Where are you going? When did you even wake up and come out of the gem, hmm?"
She froze in her tracks as if caught in the act and then turned back to look at him.
"This is your world? It's… quiet."
Skyler patted the empty spot beside him, noting how her eyes were still detached—vacant and distant. Yet, something about the air around her had shifted. Perhaps it was because she was no longer in pain.
"Yeah. Come here."
She looked at him for a moment before climbing onto the bed and kneeling beside him, her gaze flickering to Riruru's sleeping form. Her eyes narrowed as they lingered on his arm wrapped around Riruru's waist.
She remembered the triumphant glance Riruru had given her—the quiet, intimate exchanges between her and Skyler.
She had witnessed it all, silently.
Though she had claimed she would sleep, she never truly did. The unfamiliar presence of the one who had saved her felt strangely precious—like something she couldn't bear to let out of her sight. So, when Skyler left earlier to attend the Gala, she had nearly followed him, afraid he might disappear.
But Riruru, the infuriating white snake who constantly got on her nerves, had stopped her. She was far stronger than her useless and broken form—Skyler's favorite, no less—and had effortlessly dragged her back.
Even thinking about it made her furious.
Skyler stilled in his place as she climbed over him, her clothes shifting to mimic the familiar purple uniform he wore. It looked far more striking on her. Her gaze gleamed as she leaned down, her hand reaching out to lace fingers with his—the hand that had been tracing circles on Riruru's back.
"You should have killed me when I asked. Really. You don't understand. I am not like her. She is normal... but I've witnessed the lives of far too many damned souls."
He blinked, his mind momentarily stopping as he stared at her. What was happening?
She leaned in, as if about to say more, her gaze fixed on his lips. But before she could get any closer, Riruru—who was supposed to be fast asleep—pushed her face back.
"Where is your sense of personal space?"
She grabbed Riruru's hand, arching one brow with a defiant, solemn expression.
"I am learning from you."
Riruru's eyes widened in disbelief.
She wanted to snap back, but both of them froze when Skyler burst into laughter—loud, sudden, genuine, and utterly unrestrained.
Yet, the laughter was silenced by soft lips pressing against his—cold and demanding.
A hand tangled tightly in his hair.
Riruru stilled at the sight, but she didn't feel possessive—only annoyed at the woman.
When the translucent woman pulled back, she gave his lips one final, lingering lick.
"I've been wanting to do this."
Skyler stared at her, his eyebrow twitching and eyes flashing with disbelief. Suddenly, an icy voice echoed in his mind—it wasn't Riruru's. It belonged to the pretty woman sitting on his body with a cold expression.
'You saved me. Now it's your responsibility to make sure I have the will to live. But with how much clearer my mind feels, I think it'll be easy... as long as you stay by my side.'
She smiled—a faint but unsettling smile, devoid of any real emotion—then vanished back inside the small crimson gem, leaving Skyler staring after her in silence. She was far too forward… and how had she already begun to move past her trauma so easily?
"She feels kind of scary, Riruru."
He glanced at his sweet Riruru, seeking comfort—only to find her staring at his lips with narrowed eyes, arms crossed over her chest, a look that made him want to run.
"I should cook something—"
His words were cut short as she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back.
"Just a minute."
She pressed her lips to his neck, then tilted his face toward hers and kissed him. When they broke apart, both were breathless. She patted his back with a satisfied expression.
"Okay, now you can go and cook."
Skyler, whose hands were already sneaking under her clothes, paused. He stared at her in quiet disbelief. Wait—was she serious?
She started it!
Yet before he could crawl back toward her, she turned and hopped down from the bed.
"I am hungry. Let's cook together."
Skyler stared after her, completely dazed. When did his cute, innocent Riruru become so merciless? His eyes then snapped to the crimson gem resting on the bedside table.
"She's getting the wrong influence!"
***
Early the next morning, Skyler stepped out of his room, more exhausted than when he had gone to bed, after Charles knocked on the door. The man easily spotted the white snake coiled around Skyler's arm.
"Oh, Riruru. How have you been?"
Riruru met his gaze and, to his surprise, gave a nod. Skyler studied his student ID card with a thoughtful expression.
"First, we need to go to the Beast Tamer department. Riruru has a battle. Good, I don't have any matches scheduled then."
Charles nodded, walking beside him.
"Okay, I can come watch too. I don't have any battles this morning either. But what about the Talisman department?"
Skyler chuckled softly.
"It's too late for that—I am already marked absent for missing the first round. Looks like you can't be in two places at once."
They stepped out of the building and made a beeline for the Beast Tamer department.
The academy was already packed with so many people that it felt crowded. Multiple eyes darted toward Skyler. Many even tried to approach him, but the solemn glare of the little snake sitting on his shoulder was enough to send them retreating in a hurry.
Charles shook his head, amused.
'Here I thought only Skyler was crazy, but it turns out Riruru doesn't like anyone getting close to him either—especially pretty ones.'
Just as the two reached the Beast Tamer department, a familiar face—Isaac—waved at them. Charles had already texted him, so if he was free, he would come straight there.
Skyler's nose scrunched when he spotted Zack standing behind Isaac, waving too.
'This leech. Why is he always around? Doesn't he have anything better to do?'
He nodded to Isaac, completely ignored Zack, and stepped into the Beast Tamer Department. The building buzzed with the chatter of students and spectators, packed shoulder to shoulder—not to mention the beasts scattered throughout the halls.
Skyler silently made his way toward the room where Riruru's battle was scheduled; however, Zack just wouldn't keep quiet—like a persistently annoying fly buzzing around.
"Not even a good morning?"
Zack sighed and stepped closer.
"By the way, I heard something shocking."
He lowered his voice to a whisper so only Skyler could hear, even leaning in closer.
"The 51st level of the Battle Royal has been successfully cleared—all thanks to you who discovered the Lost Sapphire of Serenity."
Skyler's eyebrow twitched sharply, and he deliberately pressed his foot against Zack's, making him hiss in pain. The moment Skyler reached the room where Riruru's battle was about to begin, he strode in. As if he weren't irritated enough by his father yesterday, this damn leech had to test his patience too.
The room he entered had been transformed into an arena, with numerous students, their beasts, and spectators surrounding a huge stage in the center. The beasts stood quietly—some perched on their tamers' shoulders, others seated obediently at their sides.
The atmosphere shifted the moment Skyler entered, followed by Charles and the others. All eyes turned to him, appraising. But when their gazes landed on the small cute snake, a collective sigh of relief followed instantly.
At least Skyler's tamed beast didn't look as ridiculously powerful as he himself was. The little white snake looked just adorable.