During my sleep after the dungeon incident, the war returned.
A battlefield drowned in blood.
Cries tearing through smoke-filled skies.
Hope crushed beneath the demon general's feet.
And then—
my own death.
I woke with a sharp, broken sound ripping from my throat.
Hearing returned first.
Then vision.
Then sensation.
Pain followed last.
But I wasn't in control.
Aeldir was.
My sight was blurred, unfocused. I was half-awake, half-drowned in the remnants of the dream. But one thing was clear—this wasn't a class we had ever taken before.
A voice echoed through the haze.
"…Souls are remnants…"
The words slipped apart before I could grasp them.
Darkness took me again.
---
When I woke the second time, the world was steadier.
Ryn—no, Aeldir, through the body—was speaking with Lysandria. I yawned instinctively, rubbing my soul-bound eyes as my focus sharpened.
He noticed immediately.
"Did you wake up?" Aeldir asked internally.
"Yes," I replied.
I looked around. "What's going on here? I don't remember any class like this."
"That means you're fully awake now," he said.
"What's the point of this lecture?"
"Princess Lysandria developed an interest in souls and spirits," he replied.
At the same moment, Lysandria spoke aloud.
"What do you think the teacher is pointing toward?" she asked.
Aeldir hesitated.
"I… don't know," he answered. "It's a rare case. Hard to predict."
I frowned. "What was she asking about before I took control?"
"At the start of the lecture," Aeldir said, "the teacher mentioned that two students in our class possess double souls within a single vessel."
My chest tightened.
"So…?" I asked, shocked and uneasy.
"She didn't expose them," The Instructor said calmly. "But she said if they volunteered, it would greatly help the research."
At that moment—
The student who had beaten me stepped forward.
The instructor continued explaining the phenomenon: types, conditions, and causes. We learned that the student possessed his twin's soul, absorbed before birth when the other vessel proved unstable. His body adapted, becoming strong enough to uphold two souls at once.
A rare case. Possibly unique.
I turned inward. "Did you volunteer?"
"No," Aeldir replied flatly.
The Instructor thanked the student who stepped forward.
Then she sighed softly.
"Alas… the second chose not to volunteer. I would have liked to hear your story as well," she said gently. "But as you wish, your secret will remain yours."
Instructor then formally introduced herself.
A lower S-rank Spirit Summoner, blessed with eyes that could see souls and spirits at will.
"That's amazing," I said quietly. "But never let that secret spread. It would cause problems for you."
Before she could reply—
Tap.
A gentle yet painful pull twisted my ear.
"And once again," Lysandria said flatly, "you're lost in your thoughts and ignoring me."
I took control smoothly. The timing was right—I already understood everything.
"Sorry," I said. "What were you saying?"
She studied me. "Are you able to summon any soul or spirit? I need one to practice."
"I told you already," I replied. "I can only summon two."
She blinked. "One of them isn't a soul, is it?"
"He's… sleepy," I said. "He comes only by his own will. Summoning is more like an invitation."
She looked disappointed. "Then let's forget it."
Internally, Aeldir spoke.
"With how sleepy you've been lately… did something happen?"
"Nothing," I replied.
I paused. "What time is it?"
"Dinner."
"What?" I jolted.
"That was the last class. Dinner starts soon."
We exited the castle—and it was true.
At the entrance, a fully armored guard stopped me and handed over a pouch.
"These are uncollected dungeon cores," he said. "The guardian sent them."
Aeldir reacted instantly.
"You didn't kill goblins. Neither did I. So how—?"
"It's a long story," I replied.
From the tower above, unseen eyes watched.
"It's just as you said," the guardian muttered. "I was suspicious, but I didn't witness it myself."
"His power exceeds normal standards, he may be A-rank… or possibly lower S. Shadow fire too."
"This batch is interesting," the other said. "I'll confirm it personally."
Then he turned away.
"I'll go before something happens."
---
Seeing the cores, Lysandria frowned.
"You don't seem that strong," she said. "Alas… I've already reported the incident to the security committee."
She departed toward the girls' hostel.
---
We reached our dorm.
Kael was inside, playing with Nyx.
"She's adorable," he said. "Where did you find her?"
"It's a long story," I replied.
He noticed my expression and didn't push.
"Have you been feeding her mana cores?"
I froze.
I remembered—milk, bread, instinctive feeding.
I pulled out the cores. Nyx immediately started eating them, each only slightly larger than a marble.
Kael stared. "Are those from a dungeon?"
"Yes."
"So you're the one who sent that spirit to help your sister."
"How do you know?"
"I joined the security committee," he said. "If something like the first day happens again, I want to help."
"Then why ask?"
"She didn't mention who summoned the soul," he said. "Neither did the guardian."
"I didn't tell them either," I said. "It's not a big deal. Forget it."
He nodded. "It stays a secret—her wish."
Then he smiled lightly. "Can you help me with mana beasts?"
"I will," Aeldir replied as he took control.
But then he added quietly, "I want to hear that long story too."
I had two options.
Change the topic.
Or tell him—carefully.
I explain it before he goes to sleep
"I need to practice," I said instead.
"You can practice in combat class," "Aeldir replied.
I stayed silent.
Before I could speak, he sighed.
"Don't force yourself," he said. "You can keep your secrets. I can at least respect that."
I exhaled slowly. "Okay."
He went to sleep.
I lay down too—just for a moment in my soul form.
To breathe.
Before tomorrow began.