Hakyun’s head hurt. Everything had happened far too quickly and his memories were so hazy that it took him a bit longer than it should have to put together the pieces.

  He recalled waiting for Nikolai to get done with his reading after his request that they spoke in private—which had taken at least two hours—and they had then proceeded to the Open field at Nikolai’s request. Apparently, that was the most private location in the Academy for them to have their discussion.

  Hakyun had been skeptical about that at first, but he had seen no need to be cautious. It was not like he had mentioned that he knew of the possibility of Nikolai being on steroids, and he could not for the life of him picture Nikolai attacking him. So he had followed willingly.

  However, as soon as they had gotten to the Open field, the back of his head had been struck by something hard and fast, and he had fainted.

  Now, he was awake, and the sky had turned dark.

  I can’t believe this… Hakyun groaned, his mood despondent, as he shifted slightly where he was seated, back against a tree. He looked up and saw Nikolai seated on a trunk a distance away, watching him with a blank expression.

  “What’s the meaning of this, Nikolai?” Hakyun asked, well aware of what it meant. He just wanted to hear it from the horse’s mouth.

  “You’re awake,” said Nikolai, not a single trace of emotion in his tone. Hakyun wondered if this was the same friend he knew. “You slept for almost two hours…” Nikolai glanced at the sky. “And now it’s dark.”

  “I asked what the meaning of this was,” Hakyun backtracked, his brows furrowing.

  Nikolai pulled his gaze from the sky and put it on Hakyun. “You know what this is.”

  “Do I?”

  Nikolai heaved out an exhale and stood up from the trunk he was seated on. “I saw you three yesterday,” he started. “You arrived while I was leaving.”

  Hakyun blinked. “You left the Academy yesterday? But—”

  “...But there was no record? That’s because I snuck out. If I kept putting in the same location in the records whenever I left the Academy, it would become suspicious. The first time was fine as I was unsure if I would be harmed; but it would be foolish if I kept it up. That aside, I didn’t think you were that brazen, Hakyun? Chima and Merlin, yes, but you? Sneaking out of the Academy like that, heading to a club. What if you had been caught? Would you have been able to stomach the repercussions?”

  Hakyun’s heart skipped a beat as he heard Nikolai go on and on.

  He hadn’t been given a straight reply, but all his questions were answered regardless. There was no doubt about it anymore…

  “You really are on steroids?” Hakyun asked.

  Nikolai tilted his head. “Steroids?” He chuckled. “You guys gave it such a simple name. Well, I’m not allowed to tell you what it really is, so I’ll just let you be.”

  Hakyun cocked his head, shaking it slightly. “What is going on with you? Do you think this is okay? The Academy will expel you.”

  Nikolai paused his approach to Hakyun and pursed his lips. “You think I don’t know that?”

  “Then why?”

  “Because I’m weak, Hakyun!” he bellowed. “I’m weak. What? Can’t you see that?”

  Hakyun was caught by surprise. To him, that was such a shallow motivation for what Nikolai had done, considering they had only just been admitted into Prestige Academy.

  “Everyone is weak, Nikolai,” said Hakyun, his body still far too fatigued to move. “Everyone of us. I see no reason for you to be in such a haste to get strong.”

  Nikolai scoffed. “What do you know about anything?” he sneered. “I have every reason to be in a haste. My future depends on it. The only reason I’m at Prestige Academy in the first place is so that I can get stronger; that’s the only way I can be useful. But compared to the rest of you, my starting point is completely abysmal. If we all keep growing, there’s no way a D-Class Mage like me can catch up.”

  “I’m a D-Class Mage as well, Nikolai,” Hakyun chimed in.

  Nikolai frowned. “That doesn’t put us on the same level. I’ve seen you fight. You’re smarter, sharper, and better at using your magic. Like I said, if we all keep playing children and grow at the same rate, I’d still be dead last amongst us.”

  Hakyun couldn’t believe what he was hearing—in fact, he couldn’t believe anything at all. Something had infected Nikolai’s mind. This wasn’t the same person he had cleared the physical assessment test with, the same person he had laughed with while they studied, the boy before him was different—too different.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “Whatever’s happening with you, Nikolai, I can listen,” Hakyun proposed, trying to keep himself calm despite his heart raging in his chest. “I’m sure we can figure a way around it.”

  “No. We can’t,” said Nikolai, shutting down Hakyun. “Do you think there’s anything you can propose that I haven’t tried already? This is what I have to do. It’s the only way I can be of any use.”

  Hakyun felt a pulse in his throat as his mind went silent. He could see it in Nikolai’s eyes; there was nothing he could say to the boy that would make him listen. He stole a glance at his smartwatch, hoping that Merlin and Chima would have realized that something was wrong by now. But he couldn’t just sit and wait for them. Nikolai was well aware of what would happen to him if the fact that he was on steroids got out, and Hakyun feared what the boy was planning to do.

  “Are you going to kill me?” he asked, knowing that such a thing was preposterous, but it was the only way he could figure out what exactly the boy was thinking. A wild goose chase, but it was a chase regardless. “There are cameras in the Open field, you know? A quick investigation, and you’ll be found out.”

  Nikolai frowned. “Kill you? No, Hakyun, I’m not a murderer. And that will be stupid of me. My life in the Academy will basically be over.”

  “It already is,” said Hakyun. “Have you forgotten that you are on steroids?”

  Nikolai hummed. “I see… Regardless, you’re here for a different reason.” Hakyun raised a brow. “You’re going to call your roommates over and we’ll have a lengthy discussion as to how you three were wrong about me, and how you’ll keep your mouths shut.”

  Hakyun blinked. “And do you think we’ll ever agree to do that?”

  “You will,” Nikolai said, fire in his eyes. “Or I really will become a murderer.”

  “Then there’s no need for that,” Chima’s voice cut through the tension in the air. “You have another roommate present.”

  Hakyun and Nikolai turned in the direction of the words. Chima stood there, and beside him was Nora. But… Merlin wasn’t present. Hakyun immediately realized what was going on.

  Nikolai jerked back slightly in what seemed to be amusement. “Wow. You guys really have some chemistry. I didn’t think you would come without Hakyun having to call you.”

  “We’ve shared kimchi together, of course we’re on the same wavelength,” Chima jested.

  Nikolai glanced around then frowned. “Why’s she here instead of Merlin?”

  “Mel’s busy,” Chima said. “She’s his twin—she’s basically him.”

  Nora jabbed her elbow into Chima’s side at that statement, then stepped forward.

  “You should stop this,” she said, and Nikolai groaned.

  “I’ve heard enough of that already,” he clicked his tongue. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but call Merlin and tell him to get over here now. I know that boy always has things running through his head—some sort of sense of bravado, I suppose—but I won’t have anyone spoil my plans.”

  “Your plans? And what are those?” Nora asked while Chima glanced at Hakyun and motioned for him to get up already—which he did.

  “My plans are none of your concern,” Nikolai argued.

  “Then are you going to tell us who gave you the location of where you bought your…drugs? Because I doubt you found it lying wide in the open on the internet.”

  Nikolai narrowed his eyes on Nora. “You’re just like your brother.”

  She shook her head. “Nope. No way.”

  “Forgive me, Nora, but I can’t tell you anything about that. It’s far better this way.” Nikolai gave a long, low sigh, then dipped his hand into his pocket and brought out a syringe. It was flowing with a gelatinous green liquid. “I will only say this one last time. Get Merlin over here.”

  Nora clicked her tongue. She channeled her mana and her Grimoire was released from her pouch. “Do you really think you can take three of us on?”

  Nikolai shrugged. “Doesn’t matter if I can or can’t. But, please, don’t leave me with no choice. Call Merlin over here.”

  “You always have a choice, Nikolai,” said Nora. “First, you can tell us who told you where to buy the drug…”

  “I can’t,” replied Nikolai with a pained expression.

  Nora licked her lips. “Then you can put down the syringe and let’s talk about this.”

  Nikolai hesitated. “I can’t either,” he said. “I have to do what they asked me to, Nora, or else—” He paused, and the trio staring him down frowned. “You guys are being a pain in the ass. Just listen to me and keep your mouths shut, okay?” They didn’t say anything, and that said it all. Nikolai sighed. “I guess you really leave me no choice. I’ll just have to break through then.”

  He dug the syringe into his neck, eliciting a pained scream from himself as his veins squirmed and the black of his pupils spread out and took over his eyes. Instantly, Chima and Hakyun grit their teeth and channeled their mana as well.

  ###

  Merlin was halfway towards the male staff dorm when he halted.

  Again, his instinct was going haywire. He couldn’t put a hand on why exactly going to Professor Dmitri gave him the ick, but his body was very much against it. If he tried to push forward, his heart would freeze like it was about to give out, and it bothered him.

  Then the image of Professor Dmitri shooting Nikolai a glare that shook one’s bones during Grimoire sparring class flashed through Merlin’s mind, and his body didn’t respond to him any longer.

  He couldn’t do it. Professor Dmitri was definitely not the right choice.

  Merlin pursed his lips and placed his gaze onto his smartwatch. The only other people he could ask for help were Miss Eun-Wol, who, most likely wouldn't be able to be of any help, the headmaster, who was the worst option he had, considering they were trying to keep Nikolai from being expelled—which, honestly, seemed like a fever dream—and Professor Jung, who was most likely the best option he had.

  He opened his ‘favorites’ list of the Academy staff, which only had Professor Jung in it, and dialed her hotline. A few seconds later, she picked up.

  “Merlin? Why are you calling this late at night?” She sounded groggy, but not the kind that signified someone had just woken up from their sleep. Which was good, because it meant that she’d been awake, and wouldn’t need time regaining her sharpness.

  “Remember you told me to come to you if I ever needed a shoulder to lean on?” Merlin started, his tone urgent. “Professor Jung, I really need your help.”