RHEIN'S POINT OF VIEW
Witch.
The moment I heard that word, a wave of fear and anxiety crashed over me. Maybe, it was because what they were saying felt real—but at the same time, I couldn't be sure.
Maybe, they were just messing with me. But somehow… I don't think they were. These two wouldn't joke about something like that.
I clutched my head as a sudden, searing pain stabbed through my skull. It felt like my head was being split in two, and my knees gave out as I collapsed to the floor.
I couldn't stop screaming.
I knew everyone in the cafeteria was staring at me now, but I couldn't care less. The pain kept intensifying—like my skull was being burned—until everything around me turned into darkness.
Where am I?
Everything is pitch black. Only the moonlight offered a faint glow, just enough for me to make out that I was standing in the middle of a forest.
Then I heard footsteps—not far off.
An old woman came into view, dressed in a black cloak. Slowly… she began to walk toward me.
I didn't know why, but a chill ran down my spine. I wanted to run. I wanted to scream. But I couldn't move, as if some invisible force had locked me in place.
Before I even realized it, she was standing right in front of me.
I woke up with a start, bolting upright in bed. Sweat was dripping from my forehead.
I looked around the room, confused.
My brows furrowed. The last thing I remembered… I was in the cafeteria before I passed out.
So how did I end up here? In my bedroom?
My gaze shifted to the door just as it opened and Sister Rona stepped inside. She smiled at me.
"You're awake. Are you feeling okay? Does your head still hurt?"
"Sister, what happened after I blacked out?"
She sat beside me and gently brushed my hair back. "Your schoolmates took you to the clinic. The guidance counselor called me, so I rushed over. When you still hadn't woken up after a few hours, I decided to bring you home. Luckily, one of my coworkers helped me to carry you, and we brought you back here."
I looked out the window. It was dark. Night had already fallen.
In my entire life, I had never experienced pain like that. As far as I know, I don't have any health conditions that could've caused something like that.
Witch.
I was just thinking about that word when my head suddenly started to ache like crazy.
Could it be… somehow connected to what happened?
"Did the school doctor say anything about why I had a headache?"
"He said it was probably from staying up too late."
I frowned. "But I haven't been staying up late."
"Exactly. I was surprised too. You love sleeping. Maybe… you've just been oversleeping?" she joked with a laugh.
I just shook my head. "Maybe…"
Silence fell between us. I thought that was the end of the conversation, until she suddenly pulled me into a hug.
"Rhein, it's coming. Be careful."
I blinked, startled by her words. I didn't fully understand what she meant—but I nodded anyway, and returned her embrace.
"I know. I'll be careful. Always."
RONA'S POINT OF VIEW
"Alright. Just head out if you're feeling hungry."
Rhein kept staring out the window as I left her alone. I could see it in her eyes—confusion was starting to set in. Her life was beginning to change.
As for that headache she had… I strongly suspect that person caused it.
"I thought she was planning to cause trouble? It seems like she's doing the opposite," Dylan said.
I found him drinking a bottle of soda, leaning against the refrigerator. His assigned pracien wasn't with him—I'd asked him to step out for a bit to assist Natre
I shrugged. "You have a point. But it's also possible she's just pretending to be helpful… waiting until we've let our guard down to strike. We still need to be twice as careful."
I had no idea why she was interfering. I couldn't figure out her real intent.
If she wanted my Rhein and me dead, she would've tried something a long time ago—but she didn't.
"Two major problems: Rhein's trial… and the threat of a powerful deore mnarillaza. Feeling the stress, Princess?"
I shot my irritating companion a glare. I was already in a bad mood, and here he was, poking fun at me.
"What a tough mission you've got there, Your Highness."
"Cut the crap, Dylan. And just to correct what you said—this isn't my mission alone. You're in this with me. You heard what I told my sister earlier, didn't you? You're my workmate."
"Alright." His expression shifted back to serious. "So… after everything you learned earlier, you're still not changing the plan? She has already taken over your role."
I shook my head. "Let her. She's the real witch anyway. All we have to do now… is watch what will happen next."
RHEIN'S POINT OF VIEW
It was already morning, yet here I was—still unable to get even a few minutes of sleep. Yesterday's events continued to swirl in my head.
I kept trying to think of other possible reasons for what happened, but there was nothing else.
I felt like my headache was only getting worse the longer I stayed in bed, so I finally sat up. I grabbed my phone from the bedside table and turned it on.
I had turned it off last night because my friends wouldn't stop calling. I already told them I was fine, but they kept calling non-stop. So even if I knew they were just worried, I shut my phone off. That's what you call peace.
My eyes shut tightly the moment Jean's name popped up on the screen. Of course, she didn't stop.
"Finally, you answered! Do you know I've been calling you all night?!"
I rolled my eyes in annoyance.
"Planning to make me go deaf, are you? Just say the word—I'll come over and strangle you."
She laughed on the other end.
"Relax! I was just kidding. You really can't take a joke. It's not like we spammed your phone."
"Is that so?" I checked the notification bar. "You guys literally hit a hundred missed calls."
"Okay, fine. But if you'd just answered, it wouldn't have reached that many. So don't complain."
"I already updated you all about my condition. It's nothing serious, so please, for the nth time—stop worrying. I'm still alive."
She sighed.
"We know. We just wanted to ask if you're coming to school today or not. We tried calling your sister too, but she's not answering. Is she not home?"
"She is. She already informed our adviser yesterday that I won't be coming in today. So… see you tomorrow."
"I see. Alright. Get some proper rest."
I could hear the sadness in her voice, which made me shake my head with a small smile.
"It's just one day. We'll all see each other again tomorrow."
"Promise?"
That made me laugh. Sometimes, I really liked this childish side of Jean.
"Wow, really? It's not like I'm leaving forever."
"Of course—just for assurance."
"Okay. Promise."
"Bye! See you!"
"Bye."
"So loud this early in the morning."
Who was that?
I accidentally dropped my phone, and my whole body froze the moment I heard that voice.
"Was that just my imagination?" I whispered to myself with a nervous laugh. "Maybe, I'm going crazy. I mean, how could there be a guy here—lying on the floor, no less? And using my sister's pink sleeping bag?"
He opened his eyes and looked at me with a bored expression.
"You're not crazy. Maybe, just… stupid? Yeah, that sounds right."