328 what are you doing here-

[Next day]

"Uh... what are you doing here?" I asked, staring in front of me. Stormborne was behind his desk, looking at me with his usual stern expression.

"Ruu... we are here to take you back!" my mother said, standing beside my father.

I was happy—more than happy—to see them, but why were they here?

Just a little while ago, I had settled back into my room after the long journey from Eshmera to Solstice. Today, I woke to the warden banging on my door, telling me that someone was in the headmaster's office waiting for me. And here they were, both of my parents had traveled all the way from Sephra to Solstice right after the Phantom Chamber's challenge ended. During their travel, they got news about the demon invasion, so they used the fastest way here—transportation gates. It must've cost them a lot of money.

Now, I stood in front of them, though not entirely alone. Raven peeked into the office from the hallway, waving at me but immediately backing off when Mom leaned to the side to take a better view of her.

"Friend?" Mom asked, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded, giving her a bit of a smile, to which Mom looked a bit surprised but happy.

"Anyways, Ruu, let's go," my father said, but Stormborne cut him off.

"Wait a second, why don't we have a chat before you all decide anything?" Stormborne suggested, his tone calm but firm.

"Not required, Headmaster. We'd like to take our son back after what has been happening in the Hestia Empire. It's not safe around here," my mother insisted, her voice unwavering.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hilton, I understand your concern, but let me at least get my point clear. After that, you both are free to decide what you may regarding your son." Stormborne was not backing down either. Did he want something from me?

The office was filled with an uncomfortable silence. The large, wooden desk that separated us from Stormborne was cluttered with scrolls and papers, remnants of his recent work. Shelves lined the walls, filled with ancient tomes and artifacts, casting long shadows in the dim light. A large window behind Stormborne's desk allowed sunlight to stream in, highlighting the dust motes that floated lazily in the air.

Stormborne leaned forward, his steely eyes fixed on my parents. "The situation here is indeed grave, but pulling Ren out now would not necessarily ensure his safety. The academy is a fortress. We have defenses in place, and we are training students to handle such threats."

My mother crossed her arms, her face stern. "Our son's safety is our primary concern. We've heard about the attacks, the creatures. How can we be sure he is safe here?"

Stormborne sighed, rubbing his temples. "Mrs. Hilton, Ren is one of our most promising students. His potential is exceptional, and his presence here is crucial not just for his own growth, but for the future of our defense against these threats. After his performance in the Gambit, I think it's clear that he's not weak."

Stormborne was praising me? Was there only one sun in the sky today? This seemed way too odd.

I glanced at Raven, who was now cautiously peeking in from the doorway again. She looked worried, her usual playful demeanor subdued. I gave her a small nod, trying to reassure her.

My father spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "Headmaster, we appreciate what you're saying, but as his parents, we have the right to decide what's best for him."

Stormborne's eyes softened slightly. "I understand. But consider this: taking him away now could mean he loses valuable training and support. We have staff that can keep him safe within the academy and the whole city is undergoing changes to enhance safety for citizens and students. Taking him back wouldn't be a wise idea."

My mother's gaze flickered to me, her resolve wavering. "Ruu, what do you want?"

Caught off guard, I looked between my parents and Stormborne. "I... I want to go—"

Ding ding

--------------------------------------------------------------------

System Notification [Muted]

∆!∆!∆!∆!

The host has been ensnared by a Curse.

Curse: Fate

Caster: Nature

Current Impact: 31%

Cure: None

-------------------------------------------------------------------

A window immediately popped up. What the hell?

My eyes went to the changing numbers of current impact. They climbed from 31 to 32, then 33, continuing with each passing second.

What the hell is happening?

"No, I don't want to go," I awkwardly said, keeping my gaze glued to the panel. The impact slowly went back to 31 percent.

"Huh? Ruu... why? I want you to come back with us. It's not safe here at all!" my mother said. I agreed—I didn't want to stay here—but it seemed the system wanted me to stay at any cost.

I could feel my heart race as those numbers kept rising.

"Mom, I think the headmaster is right, and I actually want to complete the year. It's only four months remaining now," I said. In fact, I only needed two months until the in-game death passed. After that, I was free—I wouldn't even bother with exams. Either way, I wouldn't have to because by then, the demons were going to rage a war on a different level.

"If it's because of the promise we made you take, then please—" my mom began, desperation edging her voice.

"It's not, Mom. It's because I want to stay. It's my decision, and I need you to understand that," I said, hating each word I uttered. I wanted to go home—back to Sephra—but if I made a mistake and the countdown began, I wasn't prepared for what would happen. What would even happen if the curse's impact reached a hundred percent?

At that moment, my father stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on my mother's shoulder. "Well, it looks like Ren knows what he's talking about. I'll trust him on this, honey," he said calmly.

"But—"

"No buts, Ren—" he looked directly at me. "You can stay," he declared firmly.

We spent a few more minutes talking with Stormborne. My parents did most of the talking while I silently pondered why Stormborne was so intent on keeping me here. Nothing concrete came to mind.

Leaving the office, I found myself standing between Raven and my mother in the corridor. The academy's stone walls were cool to the touch, and the soft hum of distant conversations filled the air. Sunlight streamed through the tall, arched windows, casting long shadows and illuminating the intricate tapestries hanging along the walls.

"Umm, Mom, this is my... friend, Raven Larkspur," I introduced hesitantly. "Raven, this is my mother."

Raven stepped forward with a polite smile. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Hilton."

My mother gave her a once-over, then smiled warmly. "It's nice to meet you too, Raven. Thank you for looking out for my son."

Raven's eyes sparkled. "It's my pleasure. Ren's a great friend."

"Oh! Is he now!" Mom gave me a side eye, then turned to Raven with a smile that looked sweet but had an interrogative edge. "So, Raven, where are you from?"

Raven responded politely, and their conversation continued, my mom's tone soft but probing. It felt like an interrogation wrapped in a warm blanket.

"Quite a player you are, Ruu," Father bumped his elbow against mine while winking. "Found yourself a good girl, huh?"

"There's nothing like that between us, Dad," I replied.

"Yeah, yeah. It's almost like saying that a girl and a boy can be just friends," he added.

'Facts,' Blaze joined us, having apparently just woken up in the dorm and followed us without my noticing.

We walked through the corridors and then the academy grounds until we reached my dorm building. It was still quite early in the morning, so there weren't many eyes on us, which was good. After returning, I knew that students shamelessly followed me around all the time.

Raven seemed to remember something and immediately said, "Wait a second, I'll be back!" before dashing off.

"This is a nice little room you have—oh, what's that?" Mom looked around the room until her eyes settled on a pile of books where I had placed the pendant I got from Ignisara. I was still unsure of its significance, so I hadn't worn it much.

"It's nothing much. I bought it from the Bargain Alley," I answered.

Mom picked up the pendant, examining it closely. "It looks quite unique for something from a bargain market."

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Yeah, it just caught my eye."

Dad looked around the room, nodding approvingly. "You've made quite a space for yourself here. Feels like a second home, doesn't it?"

I smiled slightly, though my thoughts were far from feeling at home. "Yeah, I guess it does."