"Pssst…"
Ingrid ignored the eerie whisper as she slowly walked through the corridors of the academy.
There weren't any students that seemed to have wandered off to where she was. They were all most probably in the training grounds, mastering their spells.
Ingrid felt a little pout forming in her face as disappointment washed over her. She wanted so badly to peek at the magic spells over there but she knew that she should avoid crowded places for now.
Heaven knows how those genius students would react to a suspicious person sneaking around trying to get a good look at them.
Ingrid sighed as she looked around the large open hallways of the academy.
Guess she'll have to make do with enjoying the scenery. It's not like she'll ever be able to return here anyways so best take in what she can and burn it into her memory forever.
"Pssst…"
Thinking it was just the wind again, Ingrid ignored the eerie voice a second time.
Despite the darkness of the night and the daunting shadows casted by the huge pillars on the corridors, she didn't let the scary thoughts consume her as she observed every detail she saw while she walked.
Surely there aren't any ghosts around?
After all, it is the esteemed Eldora Academy. Surely such vile creatures would easily be exorcised by Veteran-ranked priests, right?
"Pssssssssssssssst…"
The eerie whisper drawled on and Ingrid somehow felt that it was slowly coming closer to her.
S-surely there aren't a-any ghosts a-around?
"Pssssssssssssssssssssst… Nana!"
Ingrid stiffened when she heard the eerie whisper once again. It seems that she could no longer rule it out as the wind since the whisper seemed to have called out something.
Although still not believing it to be a ghost, she didn't want to take any chances and so she decided to pick up her pace.
Avoiding looking behind her, Ingrid scanned the area for any sort of place that was bright enough for her to feel safe.
After a few seconds of desperate searching, she finally saw a perfect spot. It was a small open space that held a small little fountain. The fountain looked as though it was shining due to the moonlight that was reflected in its water.
Ingrid hurriedly made her way to it, doubling her pace. But before she could leave the darkness of the corridors, a hand suddenly shot out and grabbed her.
With alarm bells ringing in her brain, Ingrid's adventurer instincts came out and she instantly counter-attacked the person's grab by twisting to the side the hand that grabbed her. Unknowingly using all her strength, her hand tightened as she glared at the person that was hidden in the dark.
The person yelped in surprise but he quickly maneuvered his arm free from her tightening grasp.
"Ow. That shocked me, little idiot!"
The man cried out as he stretched out his arm and rubbed the part when she grabbed.
Hearing the husky voice, Ingrid knew immediately that the perpetrator was a man. And while ignoring the hammering of her heart from the shock, she went into her fighting stance as she spoke evenly and sternly, hoping it would sound intimidating.
"Who are you?"
The man looked at Ingrid with a dumbfounded expression as he scratched his head.
"I haven't seen you for days and you actually forget how my voice sounds like? Words can't describe how hurt I feel right now, Nana!"
He whispered as he slowly inched his way towards her.
Ingrid squinted her eyes to get a good look at him but the darkness of the night proved it to be difficult.
"Show yourself! Don't hide by the shadows or else I'll assume you're hostile."
The man slowly sidestepped to let a little bit of moonlight illuminate his face before chuckling lightly.
"Me? Hostile? When was I ever hostile with you? Well, don't count the first day we met..."
Ingrid narrowed her eyes as she slowly made her way towards the open field while still facing the man before her. She knew, from her maneuver earlier, that he was a strong man and if she were to fight him head-on, he'd most likely win. And so, she figured to stay at a place she deemed safe to calm her nerves so that she could think well if ever they end up fighting.
Still, his words just continued to confuse her.
"Why do you act as if you know me? I have no idea who you are!"
The man furrowed his brows as he also slowly walked towards the open field.
"Okay, I'm really confused right now. Is this some kind of game? Is that it?"
Ingrid didn't know how to reply to that so she simply kept quiet as she continued to observe the man.
"Okay, are you sure you haven't lost your mind, little idiot?"
Ingrid clenched her jaw as she spat out.
"I'm not an idiot! Answer me, who are you?! And why did you grab me?"
The man sighed as he decided to just humor her with answers.
"Okay, okay fine. Guess I'll play along with this stupid game."
He muttered under his breath as he began to speak monotonously.
"Hello. My name is Rhys. I sneaked in here because I was curious why a dear friend of mine stopped visiting me. And now that said dear friend seemed to have forgotten that handsome friend of hers. Behold the tragedy called my life."
Rhys faked out a sniffle as he batted his eyelashes at Ingrid.
Seeing the weird responses he gave, Ingrid cautiously took a step back.
Perhaps this man was crazy?
Did he just say he sneaked in here?
How come a lunatic was able to enter this place?
Rhy looked at Ingrid's strange actions and he couldn't help but furrow his brows.
"But seriously, what happened to you, Nana? You just suddenly stopped visiting without any warning and whenever I asked Raghnall about it, that brat just lashes out on me. And then now, I find you here clad in armor, looking like you're about to hunt some animal here in the Academy."
He began to make his way towards her as he looked at her with both confusion and concern in his eyes. But before he could take another step, he saw her stiffen as she readied herself to strike.
With his instincts as a fighter, he knew that taking a step further meant starting a fight. And so, although he was greatly confused, he decided to take a step back instead.
Then, he looked at Ingrid with observing eyes as he tried to make sense of the strangeness of the situation.
Perhaps he made a mistake?
Maybe this wasn't Nana but someone that looks identical?