What are u doing?

The academy hall in the main stadium, looks different from the front academy hall where the new students gathered a few months ago. Being in the first east castle, it becomes a special place to celebrate a formal event or party. Now it is used as preparation for the annual dance party which will be held next week.

Neuvrost Academy, specially organizes autumn dance parties that have been routine for hundreds of years. Each participant, will be drawn in a lot will choose a partner or choose yourself. Those students gathered in the hall to listen to Mrs. Gangers as representatives of the academy about the various activities they will do before the graduation exams or class upgrades begin.

For Luke and Louis, they will graduate this year. But the mission that Professor Armstrong gave them was still valid even though they had their own jobs. However, for a noble family like them, it was a no-brainer. Family work, it's a small thing compared to the country's mission. So they can choose to continue their family business or not, basically they are still bound by the mission. It was their contract, it was irreversible and the nobles knew it.

After Mrs. Ganger ordered several activities, one of which was a dance party, she turned her direction to Lily as the head of the committee to explain about the tofu dance party. The disciples' eyes lit up when they heard those two words.

Especially for Jules and Zoya, even if they only thought about the food that would be served in this place, they also wouldn't waste a dance party just to eat. They've written down what notes to buy later, of course they'll also drag Clare and Blaire with them. Even though Jules is fierce, she's also a woman who gets excited when she hears the word shopping. While Clare just resigned to their advice followed by Blaire.

Lily tossed the dance partner rules. She put her hand down and it glowed with a faint light then it was written on it her decision. It was randomized based on Lily's ability in secret, so no one thought the decision was unfair and no one had the right to argue. White writing floated above her hand, moving like it was written with a pencil. The students focus, they hope to choose their own partner in order to work well together.

Concatenated writing is perfectly formed, neat and shining, looked elegant in the eyes of those who saw it for the first time like Clare or other first year students who rarely saw anything like this. For nobles, it was commonplace and in their homes were often found.

The writing formed the word "Random". A smile appeared on Lily's lips then announced it. For first year students, they think it shows that they have to choose for themselves, but for those who are above them it is a big mistake but uploading their enthusiasm. "Random does not mean free to choose. That means it's done randomly and by chance, no one will know who your partner is for now. You'll know after I announce to you this afternoon to regroup. When you reunite, you will line up and find out who your partner is right then. It's not me or any other teacher who decides, but you yourself coincidentally. Before you know it, there will be another direction to decide. Understandable?"

"Yeah."

Lily's brief explanation made them even more curious. But for the four girls standing at the very back, it didn't really matter. Whoever it is, just need to follow it. But Clare, she felt tortured once again. Does she really have to go? She could have excused himself and pretended to be sick so she wouldn't come, but her friends like Jules and Zoya would be so unfaithful to leak it and force her to. Clare really can't dance, she doesn't want to repeat the embarrassing past. If it happened again, where would you put Clare's face?

Lily came back to say a few things about the party rules. They were left shopping for 3 days outside the academy. During those 3 days, there were no classes. Class will be held after the dance party. Then there will be gridiron football competence for the boys and asked to prepare everything.

This month has been full of interesting events, but for Clare the only thing that is interesting is solving her mental problem, Clare is almost insane.

After the briefing, they returned to continue the class. Clare is the same as before, unable to focus. She didn't even understand Lily's words because she was busy in her own world. The number of times she'd felt her head hurt, Clare thought it might be due to the weight of her mind that made her brain's nerves contract. Then that voice that came when her head hurt, Clare also assumed that the voice came because of the burden on her mind. Vrochis is in the forbidden forest, quite far from where Clare is standing, especially since Clare has been so far away from the forest. So it's most likely just an illusion she's used to.

The sun has moved to the west. Before Clare went to the hall, she decided to go to the dormitory to calm her mind. All this time, Clare had always taken sedatives before going to bed so she wouldn't have nightmares, now her mood was getting worse and she needed a sedative in the dorm room. Clare passed through an empty hallway to get to her dormitory which was quite far away, let alone being in another part of the castile which was the quietest place. In a hurry, Clare ran up the circular staircase to the dormitory.

Passing through the quiet hallway, suddenly Clare saw someone at the end of the hall right in front of the dorm door. The figure of a thin man had his back to him and Clare didn't recognize him. But the aura felt familiar, only familiar but not remembering it. Clare's head ached again and she held it in. Clare didn't want to ignore it, as she continued her footsteps, her headache gradually disappeared but the tension in her heart grew heavier.

Clare noticed something was wrong. She saw the figure still with her back to her slowly turning around mysteriously. So tense, Clare felt her vision was blurry even seeing the figure was not clear. When that figure revealed its appearance in a black robe and a cold aura pierced Clare's heart, Clare felt even more strange. Clare didn't want to ignore it and chose to continue on her way.

When her eyes returned to normal, she got closer to the door as well as the figure and she saw the truth. Her eyes were wide, her heart was burning and her body was shaking. Her mind had been blank for a long time, Clare must have recognized that face, Vrochis. How did Vrochis get here? How about a tracker in the woods? Is this an illusion?

Clare's thoughts grew abnormal and the mood worsened. Clare didn't know where to go and her mind blankly focused on the human form of Vrochis. She remembered when Vrochis wanted to arrest her for some unknown reason, it scared her.

"Why?" Clare moaned faintly. Her breath was heavy, her chest was tight too. Clare felt her whole body frozen by a cold aura.

Vrochis heard it and smiled. "I can tell you. But before that, you have to say goodbye."

Clare didn't know what was good about her life. Why does this demon creature want her to die so badly, what's the harm? Clare was completely at a loss for words, her body was shaking and even moving felt weak. Don't know what mental attack Vrochis gave to Clare so helpless like this.

Clare didn't want to take the risk. She decided to leave and turned around. Even though her legs felt weak, but thanks to her strength she was able to run away from Vrochis through the deserted passages. Every now and then Clare looked back, Vrochis was still standing with a horrified grin, his eyes reddened like a demon and spreading tremendous pressure over Clare's body.

Clare staggered and sprained her leg. Not wanting to fall for nothing, she kept running until she bumped into something when Clare's gaze turned back. As she recalled the passage was still long, how could he be that fast? Clare looked straight ahead, found someone's body holding her who wanted to fall.

Clare didn't know what to do, the smell was familiar and maybe Clare knew her, but she didn't want to hope for more. She looked up to find his dim blue eyes. This distance is too close, can even feel her breath. Every breath counts and Clare feels a comfort that can't be described in words.

Clare doesn't know what to do when she realizes that in front of her is Luke! Clare has a sudden shock and she wakes up from her daydream. But his legs felt weak, she stood up properly and with great difficulty moved away from Luke's body. In his haste, his leg hurt from the sprain and she almost fell if she didn't hold on to Luke's arm. Clare was on the verge of crying, her leg hurt so bad she was trying to hide it. But no matter how well she hides it, still physical pain can't be hidden as well as inner pain.

"What's wrong with you?" Luke asked. His brow furrowed slightly, it's not unusual to see Clare running like she's being chased by a ghost let alone spraining it.

Clare stared at him blankly for a moment then remembered what had happened to her a few minutes ago. Clare looked back, there was no one. What is an illusion? Is this the effect of taking sedatives every day? There was no way Clare was going crazy and hallucinating every day.

Luke glanced at Clare's gaze but found nothing but emptiness. He doesn't understand what happened to Clare, but he knows something happened to her. He could hear Clare's ragged heartbeat, more chaotic than ever as if she had seen something she shouldn't have seen.

"Did something happen?" Luke's words made Clare look at him and shake her head slowly. Luke knew Clare was lying, otherwise why would Clare run like that?

Luke helped Clare up, but Clare's leg hurt more and more. A sprained leg is an uncomfortable ordeal, the foot feels numb and hurts when pressed. Luke took the initiative to carry Clare to get to the dorms properly. He didn't want to drag Clare around with a limp, so he took an alternative.

Clare was again taken aback. She's being carried by someone like Luke, is this a dream? As time went on, Clare became more and more sure this was a dream. Vrochis in the forest, no way here. But because suddenly her legs hurt again, her belief that this was a dream disappeared instantly. Luke also asked him, but Clare couldn't answer because he wasn't feeling well. To Clare this is strange, Luke who is so cold is heartless, how is it possible to pay attention to her? But from a co-worker's point of view, helping each other is common. Especially when they're on the same team.

Luke took Clare into the dorm and sat her down on the sofa in front. He didn't say much and picked up an ice cube then knelt under Clare's feet with the ice cube tray and cloth next to him.

Just as Luke was about to take off Clare's shoes, Clare said in surprise, "What are you doing?"

Luke glanced at her, not the same stoic stare but not as cold as before. "Don't tell me you never know. If you let it go it will get worse and you can't do anything."

Clare was stunned. He forgot about it in a panic. If it was all an illusion, she shouldn't have forced herself to run and her legs wouldn't hurt like this.

Seeing Luke take off one of his shoes, Clare felt bad. "Let me." Clare grabbed the ice and cloth holder on the table and rolled it up and placed it at her feet. It does hurt, but it can be endured. It was nothing compared to being thrown by Vrochis and hitting a tree.

Luke sat down next to her. His thoughts kept repeating over and over again. If he asked now, he doubted Clare would answer him honestly like before. But you won't know if you don't try one more time. Clare was still in shock, maybe she's better now.

"What did you see?" Luke asked. His face returned to seriousness as the conversation reached an important stage.

Clare glanced at him and awkwardly continued the compression while shaking her head slowly. "Nothing."

"I'm not Gavin. You can't hide anything."

Clare was stunned. When Luke says Gavin's name, it's like pressure and Clare doesn't know what it means. "I haven't been feeling well lately. So often hallucinating... Not that I'm crazy, I just... My head hurts a lot so I don't think so."

Luke looked at Clare intently. He still wasn't sure about Clare's answer. Just because of being sick and hallucinating, it didn't make sense for a Blood Immortal like Clare. Immortal Blood's condition was better than other humans. Her memory was good, her nervous system was better, so it was impossible to have hallucinations.

However, Clare did not know that he was Immortal Blood. So maybe Clare really thought it was a hallucination. She had indeed seen something or experienced something that made her think she was hallucinating.

"What's in your hallucination?" Luke asked again to be sure.

Clare returned her gaze. Luke's gaze wasn't sharp, but shady, so Clare didn't have any pressure on it. But to answer what she saw, she felt it was embarrassing for someone to hallucinate. But at least she could tell him, Luke wasn't like her leaky friends.

"I see… Vrochis." Clare lowered her voice like a whisper when she said the final words. "It's just an illusion, no need to think about it. Every day I check its position, it hasn't changed from the forbidden forest." Clare had told them all from the start that Vrochis was in the forbidden forest and had never made a move. That's why they were relaxed up to this point.

But Luke's expression changed. He had thought of something and assumed that Clare's vision wasn't just an illusion or hallucination. Vrochis's position is no longer erratic, his position tracker is troubled and seems to be detached from Vrochis' body. Which meant that Vrochis could be anywhere while the tracker was released in the forest. Vrochis is all around them.