One Week Later—
Rolin stood before a massive crimson door.
Its surface was smooth, polished as if with ancient blood,
adorned with black, intertwining runes that didn't resemble any language he knew.
The walls on either side were colossal,
rising as if to separate everything inside from the outside world.
And beyond them—
the building soared.
Pure white,
with sharp black edges,
towering and majestic,
as if declaring:
Enter… and you will not leave the same.
Rolin took a deep breath.
"Here we go."
He lowered his gaze to his chest,
to the place he knew held a problem…
a future…
and a small disaster with a fiery fur coat.
"As we agreed,"
he said softly, uncharacteristically serious,
"No matter what—"
He paused.
"Don't come out in front of anyone.
Understood, Likath?"
Silence.
One second.
Two.
Then—
"…Do I look stupid to you?"
Rolin exhaled in relief.
"Good."
"…But just to clarify—"
"…What?"
"If anyone tries to dissect you, expel you, or lock you in some experiment dungeon—
the agreement is void."
Rolin froze.
"…There's no clause like that."
"I just added it."
"Likath."
"I am a great entity. I do not sign unfair contracts."
Rolin pressed a hand to his temple.
"We're in a university, not a lunatic asylum."
"…Universities are worse."
He raised his eyes toward the door again.
Students passed by.
Some in formal attire,
some in strange cloaks,
some carrying books that floated obediently beside them.
One threw him a quick glance… then a longer one.
Rolin felt something stir in his chest.
"No."
"…I didn't do anything."
"Don't even think about it."
"…I was just thinking of burning half this place down."
"…Likath."
"Joke."
"Li—"
"Half-joke."
Rolin exhaled.
He reached out slowly,
touching the red door.
It was warm.
Warmter than it should have been.
Suddenly—
Click.
The door swung open on its own,
a deep voice resonated in the void,
as if the university itself
had decided to allow him in.
Inside—
a wide corridor,
black marble floors,
softly glowing runes pulsing with each step.
Rolin swallowed hard.
"Now… there's no turning back."
And from inside—
"…Rolin."
"What?"
"…If we survive this place—"
"Yes?"
"…I'm claiming a longer name."
Rolin smirked despite himself.
"Enter first… then negotiate."
He stepped forward.
And as the door closed behind him—
this was not just the start of a new chapter.
It was
the beginning of a problem far larger than he imagined.
Beyond the towering building looming behind the walls,
the place began to take shape in Rolin's mind.
Lukarina University was not a single building…
It was an entire city.
Smaller structures scattered inside,
wings, annexes, side halls, low towers,
all arranged with such precision that chaos seemed impossible.
Rolin walked along the black marble corridor,
steps slow,
eyes scanning in awe… though he tried to hide it.
Enchanting fountains
spouted water with musical flow,
some ordinary…
some floating in midair,
droplets hanging before reassembling as if gravity were a mere suggestion.
Diverse trees surrounded the courtyards:
tall silver-leafed ones shimmering in the light,
dark broad-leafed ones,
and some…
moving slowly,
as if breathing.
Grass carpets were unnaturally clean,
intersected by dozens of marble paths
branching and weaving
like a map designed by a genius obsessed with order.
The main buildings
mirrored the colossal style:
pristine white, sharp black edges,
clean, imposing,
making raising your voice feel like a moral crime.
The annexes…
were different.
Smaller,
completely black with golden trims,
more mysterious,
less… welcoming.
Rolin stared long,
a shiver running down his spine.
"These don't look like dormitories…"
Inside him—
Likath whistled, long and expressive,
clearly impressed.
'Wow…'
'Can we just loot this place and leave?'
"…What?"
'Look around!'
'Marble, gold, full buildings…'
'I'm pretty sure half these fountains are worth a small kingdom.'
Rolin pressed a hand to his forehead.
"We're here to learn.
Not steal."
'That's what a thief says before he gets rich.'
"Likath."
'Think rationally.
You're poor, previously broken, and have a great fiery entity in your chest.
This is a cosmic sign.'
"This is a university."
'Exactly.'
Rolin paused.
"…Exactly why?"
'The worst heists in history happened in respectable places.'
He took a deep breath.
"Reminder: the agreement says no showing yourself to anyone,
including plotting to loot an educational institution."
'Oh, dear.'
He continued walking, trying to ignore the unhelpful commentary.
Students passed him.
Some chatting excitedly,
some debating complex spells like math problems,
others carrying weapons in special cases—
swords, staffs, spears,
even a massive book
biting its owner whenever they tried to close it.
Rolin noticed the stares.
Curiosity.
Evaluation.
Sometimes…
caution.
"…Am I that noticeable?"
'Maybe.'
'Or maybe your smell.'
"My smell?!"
'Blood, fire, bad luck.'
"…Not reassuring."
He stopped in the main courtyard, looking around again.
This place…
was beautiful.
Organized.
Powerful.
Yet—
He felt something
watching him.
Not a person.
Not an entity.
But the place itself.
Inside him,
Likath chuckled softly.
'Welcome to Lukarina, partner.'
'Let's see…'
'How long until we cause trouble?'
Rolin closed his eyes briefly.
"…I hope you're wrong."
'And I hope I'm right.'
Beneath the overcast sky,
in the heart of a university that accepted no weaklings—
Rolin's real journey began.
He walked, mesmerized… until
BAM!
Rolin
"Ugh—what—?!"
He lifted his head and froze.
"Y-You…"
The girl standing before him…
the same one from the darkness,
but now her features were clear.
Short sandy-blond hair tied carelessly at the back,
cold gray eyes,
pale skin.
Slightly taller than him.
Her voice, cold and sharp:
"I—what?"
Before he could speak, a voice erupted from his chest:
"Beautiful… want to be my girlfriend?"
Rolin's heart stopped.
"Wait! I can explain! That's not me—!"
Before he could continue,
something crushed his stomach,
and he found himself pressed against the wall.
The girl's tone was icily calm:
"You perverted brat."
BAM!
Rolin stumbled backward, groaning.
"Ugh—what is this?!"
He lifted his head… froze.
The world around him vanished for a moment.
The girl—
the same one from his visions in the dark.
Now, crystal clear.
Sandy-blond hair, short and tied back with careless elegance,
gray eyes, cold and unwavering,
pale skin.
Slightly taller than him.
"Y-You…"
he stammered.
She raised an eyebrow slowly.
"I—what?"
At the worst possible timing—
Likath's voice came again, confident, shameless:
"You're beautiful… want to be my girlfriend?"
Silence fell.
Nearby students froze.
The fountain continued its flow, but seemed to judge the scene.
Even the wind softened, unwilling to interfere.
Rolin felt his soul leave his body.
"..."
Then exploded:
"Wait! I can explain! It's not me—!"
He didn't finish.
Something crushed his stomach with terrifying force,
the world spun,
and he slammed into the wall behind him with a thud.
"Khh!"
Sliding half a meter along the cold stone, gasping,
the girl raised her hand slowly,
fist still clenched.
"Perverted brat."
"…This is a misunderstanding, honestly!"
Rolin tried to stand.
"I didn't say that! I swear! There's—there's a rude fiery entity in my chest with no social manners!"
Silence.
She stared.
Then said:
"…Interesting excuse."
Inside him—
'Wow.'
'Strong.'
'I like her.'
"Shut up!"
Rolin whispered hysterically.
The girl stepped closer.
Her presence alone pressed on him like invisible weight.
"Name."
"…Rolin."
"Level?"
"…New student?"
Her gray eyes narrowed.
"My question isn't about rank."
He swallowed.
"…I don't know."
She stared at him long, as if trying to read something behind his eyes.
Then she stopped.
Her gaze… changed.
Not anger.
Focus.
She tilted her head slightly.
"…Strange."
"What?"
"Your power."
She stepped closer.
"Not clean.
Not chaotic."
Then whispered:
"It's… strange."
Rolin shivered.
Inside him—
'Oh.'
'She feels me.'
"Likath."
'What?'
"For the first time… shut up."
The girl snapped her head up.
"Who are you talking to?"
"…Myself."
"Bad liar."
She turned halfway around.
"I'll forgive the first insult."
Rolin exhaled with relief.
"Thanks—"
"But if I hear your voice say anything like that again…"
She looked at him in a way that made his spine reconsider all life choices.
"…I'll break more than a wall."
She smiled faintly, coldly.
"Understood?"
He nodded quickly.
"Crystal clear."
She turned to leave.
Then paused.
"By the way…"
She glanced back.
"Not everyone here is kind."
And walked on, as if nothing had happened.
Rolin remained pressed to the wall, breathing slowly.
Inside him—
"…Likath."
'Yes?'
"If you speak again without my permission…"
'What?'
"…I'll find a way to lock you in a book."
Likath was silent for a moment.
Then—
'…Harsh.'
Rolin closed his eyes.
"…Welcome to Lukarina."
And from afar,
she walked…
and her heart—cold as it seemed—
was not entirely calm.
For some reason…
this new student
was not ordinary.