A storm of emotions churned and intertwined within Feliel’s chest — there was the blazing fury of being fooled for so long, the deep regret for her own foolish gullibility, and a sense of fear that came far too late.
She realized that far from helping Campbell, she might have been harming her all along by continuously injecting that mysterious potion…
Feliel clenched her fists tightly. Her nails dug deep into her palms, bringing a sharp sting, but it was not even one-ten-thousandth of the pain in her heart.
A surge of anger with nowhere to vent crashed through her body, making her tremble slightly as her face turned ashen.
Sefina stood to the side, silently watching the shifting expressions on Feliel’s face — from shock to anger, then to pain and self-reproach. A hint of understanding flashed in her burgundy eyes.
She saw the violent turmoil in Feliel’s heart and understood that this Seventh Seat was, in essence, nothing more than a pawn manipulated by Black Utopia, who had used her weakness to play her like a toy.
Sefina stepped forward and, without saying much, reached out to gently pat Feliel’s tensed shoulder once more.
“Calm down,” Sefina said, her gaze sweeping over Campbell, who was still asleep on the experimental bed. “At least… at least Miss Campbell is still alive.”
Those words were like a beam of warm light, instantly piercing through the thick haze and anger in Feliel’s heart.
‘Alive…’
‘Yes, Campbell is still alive.’
It was not a miracle of resurrection that she had begged for but could never reach; it was a hope that was much more attainable.
She was not dead. She was only sleeping, waiting to be awakened.
A sense of relief at having survived a disaster surged in Feliel’s heart, followed by an even more urgent longing.
Hope was rekindled. Feliel suddenly turned her head and grabbed the wrist of Nona, who was preparing to mix a potion.
The cold severity and airs she usually held as the Seventh Seat vanished completely. Only utter earnestness and pleading remained on her face, her voice trembling slightly.
“Miss Nona! I beg you, can you save her? As long as you can wake her up, I… I’ll do anything! Whatever materials are needed, whatever price I have to pay, I’m willing!”
Looking at the plea and hope almost overflowing from her eyes, Nona pushed up her glasses and soothed her in a gentle tone.
“It should be possible. There is no need to be so tense. It is just that the concentration of ‘slumber elegy’ in her blood has accumulated to a very high level.”
“It needs to be neutralized and metabolized little by little with potions. This will take some time; we cannot rush it.”
“Furthermore…” Nona paused and looked at Campbell. “Her body seems to have some old injuries. In the process of waking her up, we will also need to provide treatment and conditioning at the same time.”
‘Old injuries…’
Feliel bit her lower lip, a flash of pain in her eyes.
Yes, it was because of those incurable old injuries that she had fallen into the trap of The Organization step by step.
But fortunately, the truth was revealed before it was too late. Her dear friend still had a chance for a new life.
Just then, Sefina walked up to Feliel. Looking into her eyes, which were filled with rekindled hope yet also a trace of confusion, Sefina spoke calmly.
“Now, the situation has changed. Are you going to join us, or — “
“Yes, I’m with you.”
Before Sefina could finish, Feliel cut her off and gave a decisive answer.
She did not loosen her clenched fists. Instead, she tightened them even more, as if she had made a firm resolution.
Because for now, only Sefina’s side could rival The Organization and was willing to help Campbell.
***
The Underground Base, a cramped guest room temporarily tidied up.
The night was deep. Starlight filtered through the small transom high on the wall, casting a few faint spots of light into the room.
Space in the underground chamber was limited. With the sudden increase in people tonight, Sefina and Feliel had to squeeze into this one room for the time being.
Because Feliel’s injuries had not yet healed, Sefina took the initiative to give her the only bed, while she herself simply made a pallet on the floor.
At this moment, Sefina was sitting at a small desk against the wall, a dim magic lamp placed on it.
She habitually spread out a sheet of stationery, held her quill, and began writing a letter to the distant Theresa. The tip of the pen moved across the paper, making a faint rustling sound.
Lying on the bed, Feliel tossed and turned.
Too much had happened today — her identity being exposed, a life-and-death struggle, the truth behind her friend’s “resurrection,” the anger of being used by The Organization, and the determination to join a new camp…
The massive amount of information and emotional ups and downs kept her brain abnormally active, making it hard to fall asleep.
She turned on her side, looking at Sefina’s back as she focused on writing under the light. After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke softly.
“Sefina, from now on… what do I need to do?”
Sefina’s writing did not pause. Without looking back, she replied, “You do not need to change anything intentionally.
At Oselenka, continue being a good Assistant to Master Shalina. Maintain your usual image and behavior.
“As for The Organization’s side, you will be like me — a sleeper agent. Wait and see how things develop, and relay information or execute missions when necessary.”
Hearing “The Organization” and “sleeper agent,” Feliel suddenly remembered something, and her brow furrowed. She propped herself up a little and looked at Sefina.
“Sefina, if you were able to lock down my identity through the records of students staying out late, then Headmaster Rofilia… will she think of that too? What if she goes to check that night’s registration sheet as well?”
This was indeed a potential threat. If Rofilia followed the same line of reasoning, the suspicion on her would rise sharply.
However, Sefina remained seated calmly at the desk, her pen moving smoothly, her expression as tranquil as still water.
She spoke indifferently, her tone carrying the composure of someone who had everything under control.
“To prevent Rofilia from following the trail, I already took care of that night’s records after I identified you.”
Sefina paused slightly before continuing her analysis.
“Moreover, Rofilia does not know about the existence of the mana ring, so she cannot pinpoint someone’s location as accurately as we can.
“Additionally, the number of students who did not return to the dormitory that night was large. It would be a massive amount of work to investigate them all.”
“Lacking key clues, she will most likely give up on this line of investigation due to insufficient leads or a wrong direction.”
Sefina stopped her pen and turned her head slightly, glancing at Feliel out of the corner of her eye.
“As long as you act as normal and do not give yourself away, there will not be a problem.”
Feliel felt a bit more at ease and nodded. Sefina’s caution and thoroughness made her feel a sense of reliability.
Only, her gaze involuntarily fell on the thick stack of stationery next to Sefina. Seeing how Sefina focused on writing without even looking up, she could not help but feel a bit curious.
“Why do you keep burying your head in those letters without even looking up? Who are you writing to? It is so late.”
Sefina’s hand paused for a moment, but she did not look up. She only responded in her usual flat tone.
“It is nothing.”
Feliel’s gaze swept over Sefina’s shoulder and happened to see the clear and beautiful handwriting at the beginning of the sheet — ‘To Theresa.’
‘Theresa…’
Feliel whispered the name in her mind and then said softly, “Is it a letter to a distant companion, or a dear friend?
“I really envy you… being able to correspond with a close friend like this. As for Campbell, I do not know when she will be able to wake up and say a single word to me.”
Feliel just said it casually, with a hint of faint sadness for her own situation.
However, Sefina’s next words shocked Feliel beyond measure. Even many years later, she would still remember this night vividly.
“No, she died long ago.”
The quill made one last faint mark on the paper.
Sefina’s tone was still terrifyingly flat as she added one final sentence: “She has already… been dead for many years.”