"You should return to your dorm," Ryan said, his voice laced with concern, as both he and Levi sat on the hospital's cafeteria, their plastic salad bowls on a table.
The moon bathed the hospital in a cold, silver hue.
"The surgery took a lot of your mana and stamina," Ryan continued, his gaze focused on the distant horizon. "It's best if you rest."
Levi swirled the fork in his salad, the crisp lettuce crunching under its tines. He couldn't help but feel restless. The weight of what they had discovered hung heavy in the air.
"What about you, Professor?" Levi inquired, studying Ryan's expression.
Ryan's eyes narrowed with determination. "I need to investigate this unknown 'substance,' and I'm going to need some help from other healers."
The wind ruffled Levi's hair, and he nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. A pandemic was looming on the horizon, and they were at the forefront of the battle. For now, only one person had shown serious effects from this mysterious ailment, but they couldn't be certain how many more would be affected.
As Ryan passed Levi a key, the cool metal pressed into his palm. Levi furrowed his brow, wondering why he was being entrusted with Ryan's office key.
'Why is he giving me his office keys?'
"Take it with you,"
Ryan said, as if reading Levi's mind.
"I have a spare one. Go there and train as much as you can, and try to finish the 'Human Anatomy' lesson. Something tells me both of us are going to be busy for a while."
Levi accepted the key, his mind racing with possibilities. He had questions and concerns about what lay ahead. Luna, was also suffering from the same mysterious condition as the patient they had just treated. Levi couldn't shake off his worry, even though the central eye, perched on his shoulder, would notify him of any drastic changes.
He exhaled, determined to focus on the tasks at hand, and made his way to Ryan's office. He settled into the comfortable chair, surrounded by shelves of ancient tomes and curiosities. The room exuded an aura of wisdom and magic, with ornate scrolls and artifacts adorning the wooden shelves.
Despite his best efforts, Levi found it hard to concentrate on his studies. His mind was consumed with thoughts of the impending crisis.
"Luna is suffering just like that patient," he muttered to himself. "But I didn't notice any physical deformities on her, except for her pallid skin."
The clock on the wall ticked away, marking the seconds of Levi's idle contemplation. He was eager to solve the current issues, but for now, all he could do was study and prepare.
He opened the textbook on human anatomy, its pages filled with detailed illustrations of the human body. The drawings came to life as he turned the pages, and he couldn't help but marvel at the complexity of the human form. He recited the names of bones, muscles, and organs, each word carrying the weight of his dedication to becoming a skilled healer.
"If only I could find a cure for this ailment," he whispered, his finger tracing the image of a beating heart on the page.
Levi kept at his studies for hours, the room growing dim as the sun dipped below the horizon. He had lost track of time, absorbed in his pursuit of knowledge and skill.
When the dormitory's curfew approached, he reluctantly left the comforting embrace of Ryan's office and returned to his quarters. He pretended to be asleep when the nightly dormitory check occurred, knowing that his night was far from over.
Once the all-clear signal sounded, Levi silently descended from his loft bed. He felt the cool, worn wooden floor underfoot as he prepared to embark on a mission of his own.
He reached for the mask of Ifrit, its carved features and intricate patterns reminding him of the mysterious power it possessed. With the mask securely fastened, he left his dorm and ventured into the bustling city.
The streets were alive with activity, the hum of conversation, and the aroma of street food filling the air. Guards patrolled the city's winding alleys and cobbled streets, their presence a reminder of the security that shielded the inhabitants.
Levi expertly navigated the labyrinthine alleys, his steps masked by the cacophony of the city. His [Essence] shimmered, concealing his presence from prying eyes. The mysterious power enveloped him, its energy flowing through his veins like a hidden river.
Meanwhile, the lesser eyes, perched on his shoulders, remained vigilant. They scanned the city for any unusual activity, their watchful gazes providing valuable insights.
[Guard approaching on your right]
The central eye whispered into Levi's thoughts, and he gracefully shifted his course, slipping into a shadowed alley.
In the darkness, he observed a clandestine operation unfold. A young woman and two accomplices, their faces concealed by enigmatic masks, were digging a deep hole in the ground.
Levi drew a single arrow from his quiver, his movements precise and silent. With the agility of a seasoned hunter, he closed the gap between himself and one of the men. The arrow found its mark, striking the man's arm, and a brick met the side of his head in a swift, efficient motion.
The woman and her remaining companion were too slow to react. Their bodies suddenly grew heavy, as if the very air around them had thickened. Dizziness overcame them, and one of them began to vomit blood.
Levi seized the opportunity and incapacitated the final assailant, knocking them to the ground. The woman, trembling on her knees, clutched a small, pocket knife tightly.
"Don't... stay away from me, you monster," she whimpered, her voice shaking with fear.
Levi disregarded her pleas, advancing toward her with a purpose. He kicked the knife from her grasp and stood above her, determined to extract the truth.
"Why were you digging this hole?" Levi demanded, his voice unwavering.
"I won't tell you," the woman retorted, her bravado undermined by her evident fear. "Kill me instead."
Levi's resolve remained steadfast. He grabbed her by the hair and forced her face into the ground. He did it again and again until the mask she wore shattered, revealing tear-streaked eyes and trembling lips.
He continued to apply pressure until, at last, she relented.
"Stop... I will tell you."
Levi released her, his grip unyielding until he was satisfied. The woman's tearful confession unveiled a sinister plot involving a mysterious powder and a malevolent figure who paid them to infect the city's water pipelines.
She produced a small packet of the purple powder, and Levi sensed the same malevolent energy that had coursed through the patient he had treated earlier.
Levi's inquisition persisted. "How much money did you receive for this?"
"Five thousand Dale," she whispered, as her hand reached out to take out the money. Levi snatched the money, his expression unyielding, and then rendered the woman unconscious with a final blow.
"At least now I know how the disease is man-made and how they are spreading it," he thought, his thoughts shrouded in determination.
Levi, perched on a rooftop, took aim with his bow and fired an arrow toward the feet of the city guards. His precise shot marked the location from which the arrow had been loosed, ensuring the guards would investigate.
But the night's work was far from over. The lesser eyes reported more suspicious activities in the city, and Levi embarked on a mission to thwart them. In total, he confronted and incapacitated twenty-one individuals working in groups of three. The city guards, for the first time, apprehended a significant number of culprits in a single night, all thanks to a single, well-placed arrow.
Levi acquired a substantial sum of money from these covert operatives. He held onto the packets of the purple powder, recognizing their importance in uncovering the truth behind the looming pandemic. However, delivering the evidence to Ryan would be problematic, as Levi had already violated academy rules and embarked on a dangerous journey of his own.
He knew that if Ryan discovered his disobedience, the consequences could be severe.
Levi returned to the academy under the cover of night, his body fatigued from the night's trials. He crept back into his dormitory, pausing for a moment to reflect on the events that had transpired.
The next day, the city's security was heightened, and Levi's plan had yielded results. Ryan had begun investigating the enigmatic purple powder, but to prevent mass panic, the city kept the potential pandemic hidden from its residents.
Levi, still weary from his night of covert activities, trudged through the bustling academy grounds on his way to class. Every muscle in his body ached from the night's exertions.
As he approached his classroom, his thoughts were consumed by his actions and the mysteries that lay ahead.
"I've pushed myself to the limit," Levi mused. "I hope it was worth it."
He took a deep breath, ready to face the day's challenges. The path ahead was uncertain, but Levi was determined to uncover the truth and find a cure for the looming pandemic.
With each step, he entered the classroom, and as he did, a trembling hand fell upon his shoulder. He turned to see Jack, visibly agitated, on the verge of a panic attack.
"What?" Levi's voice held an edge of frustration, but he sensed that Jack's urgency was not to be taken lightly.
"Please, follow me," Jack pleaded in a hushed tone, his eyes darting nervously. His request seemed more of a desperate plea than a command, and any passersby would have assumed Levi was the one in control.
Levi complied without a word, matching Jack's cautious steps. Their journey led them to an empty classroom, with Jack standing guard by the door.
"I'm sorry," Jack stammered, fear etching lines on his face. "But I can't defy her."
Levi's curiosity piqued as he entered the room and was met by the glint of a sword blade, dangerously close to his eye.
The owner of the sword, Eliza, regarded him with a mixture of disgust and anger. Her fiery red hair seemed to flicker with actual flames, and her fierce eyes bore into Levi with an intensity that burned brighter than the sun.
'To others, she might appear as a fierce beauty, but to me, she's like the sun—beautiful, yet too close, and you'll be consumed by her fire.'
Eliza's voice, laced with anger, demanded answers. "Why haven't you left the academy?"
Levi felt a surge of frustration. "Why should I leave?"
Eliza pressed the blade closer to his eye, mere centimeters from causing harm. Her anger radiated off her like waves of heat.
"You've changed, Levi," she accused, her voice dripping with resentment.
"You've been hiding your true strength. You've already shown your power, so why hide your true self as well?"
Levi puzzled over her words.
'True self? Does she know I'm a psycho?'
He wondered.
No, that's impossible. She must be referring to the previous Levi, someone I don't even know.'
Eliza's anger only intensified, further obscuring her judgment. Levi, in his past interactions, knew her to be less prone to anger than this, and it left him bewildered.
Her blade traced dangerously close to his neck, the air crackling with tension.
"If only I could cut this throat of yours" Eliza muttered through gritted teeth.
Levi, unsure of what the previous Levi had done to earn her , considered an apology. Though he wasn't at fault, the burden of inheriting someone else's body meant facing their past actions.
Eliza, however, appeared unyielding.
He bowed his head, his voice soft with "sincere" regret. "I am sorry for what I did—"
Eliza's response was swift and unforgiving. "It's too late for your measly apology. Be ready for what will happen to you in the future. Only having you permanently out of the academy will satisfy me."
She then left the room, leaving Levi confused and bewildered.
'What did the past Levi even do?'