Chapter 112: Kelly and Gerard

Kelly walked slowly along the main road. As dusk deepened, the trees lining the path grew eerie and menacing, as if something unseen was watching her from the shadows, sending chills down her spine. She quickened her pace, instinctively heading toward where the crowds gathered, even if it meant taking a longer route.

After winding through several bends, with night fully settled, she finally glimpsed the dormitory ahead—an upscale, standalone student residence spaced about fifty meters apart from the next. It had once been a source of pride for her, but now that short distance felt like a chasm between two worlds. In the darkness, the building loomed like a predatory beast.

Yet, she had nowhere else to go. Even if she wanted to change her residence, she’d have to wait until dawn. Gritting her teeth, Kelly hurried forward. She unlocked the door, leaned against it, and stared at the familiar yet strange room. Her tension eased just a little.

McCarthy’s mysterious disappearance from the academy had genuinely terrified her. He was an intermediate spellcaster, gone without a trace. Even after spending over a month in the Mage Tower, Kelly hadn’t given up searching for any clue, but to no avail. Those who initially had contact with him gradually fell silent.

The zero-ring spell, “Message Transmission,” allowed information to be sent within a certain range to designated recipients, the distance depending on the caster’s power—at least 33 meters for apprentices. With some magical arrays at Giles Academy, this range could triple.

Had he vanished? Or disappeared from this world entirely?

If the latter, it was horrifying. A student harmed within the academy should have triggered the defense arrays, yet nothing responded.

She’d thought about reporting it to the academy’s higher-ups, but would they even believe her? If the incident hadn’t happened to her personally, she wouldn’t believe it either.

If the academy wasn’t safe, then the only place she could think of as secure was the Mage Tower.

But after losing her family’s support, she was expelled from the tower in less than two months; her points and gold were insufficient to stay.

Staring at the room—familiar yet alien—Kelly took a slow breath. At least here, for now, she was safe.

“More than a month has passed; that thing should be gone by now,” she told herself, trying to find comfort in the thought that whatever it was had given up or shifted focus.

“I recall quite a few generous freshmen this term. They’d be interested in this place,” she mused quietly. She decided to trade this house for a spot in the communal dormitory. More people meant more safety and a sum of money for emergencies.

“But tonight, I’ll just have to make do.” She began setting up defensive enchantments.

***

Late at night.

Kelly suddenly opened her eyes from meditation. She sensed someone had triggered her alert, her heart pounding fiercely.

Thump… thump thump…

The sudden pounding on her door startled her. “Who’s there?” she called out.

“Kelly, it’s me, Gerard!”

Hearing the familiar voice, her tense heart relaxed. She cracked the door open slightly. Though night was deep, she could barely make out Gerard’s figure.

She had never been particularly fond of Gerard before—a minor noble whose family fortunes had declined. He’d been recruited by Anderson because of his talent and intellect, but more so for his cunning. In past years, he had indeed contributed many ‘good ideas’ to Anderson, who in return supplied him with resources.

But after Anderson was expelled, they were isolated, and Gerard’s resources dried up. Kelly had tried to contact him repeatedly without success, so she hadn’t expected him to show up tonight.

“Gerard! It’s really you! Thank goodness!” she said joyfully, pulling him inside and quickly asking, “What about McCarthy? Have you seen him?”

Gerard paused, then shook his head. “Since the day I returned from Cook, I haven’t seen McCarthy.”

Kelly’s expression darkened, but she forced a smile and embraced Gerard.

“But I’m so glad you came.”

After a moment of silence, sensing Gerard’s mood was troubled, she quickly changed the subject.

“Gerard, has anyone... you know, been targeting you lately?”

“People?” Gerard considered. “No.”

“Not necessarily people. Maybe some kind of creature... or a monster,” Kelly said hesitantly.

“Oh? You saw it?” Gerard looked up at her. In the dim light, Kelly hadn’t noticed his eyes glimmering faintly—his pupils slit like those of a serpent.

“Not exactly seen it. Just a black figure lurking in the shadows, moving so fast that even my magical familiar couldn’t react before it was killed,” Kelly curled up as if recalling a nightmare. “It always watches me from the darkness. Whenever its gaze sweeps over me, goosebumps rise on the parts it touches.”

“Such a creature in the academy, and the defense arrays didn’t even warn us—it’s too strange!” Kelly’s expression shifted suddenly as realization dawned. She sprang to her feet.

“I know now. Someone is conducting forbidden human experiments in the academy, and this... monster is one of the students.”

“Because we’ve been ostracized... no one’s paying attention to us... that’s why it’s targeting me... and that monster isn’t anyone else... it’s McCarthy?”

Kelly turned sharply to Gerard, horror and fear creeping across her face. Her body trembled uncontrollably, her throat tight as if blocked, unable to utter a sound.

Clap… clap clap clap…

“Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant!” Gerard raised his hands, clapping vigorously with a sinister smile. “Kelly, you know what? This is the first time you’ve ever surprised me. To think you almost guessed it correctly from such little evidence. But it wasn’t McCarthy who killed your familiar—it was Anderson!”

Gerard leaned in slowly under the dim light, revealing a face covered in black scales, crimson slit pupils fixed on his prey. His forked tongue flicked incessantly.

Kelly collapsed, her limbs icy and powerless. She mustered her last strength to inch backward.

“Don’t worry, my dear. This time, you won’t escape. McCarthy is already under His Majesty the Lord’s command. Soon, you’ll love your new form... hehehehe…”

“No... don’t come any closer...” Kelly cried out in terror, frantically pulling the necklace from her neck with all her might.

“No!!!” Gerard roared in rage.

In an instant, the room’s magic array was activated, its radiant power dazzling in the night.

…

(Tomorrow’s going live—I’m a nervous wreck…)