*WHOOSH!*
The Blood Energy in front of Arin shifted, molding itself into a swirling red cloud under his command. A small section of the cloud detached, forming a sharp spike. It was the same technique Seraphine used during their fight in the forest.
As expected, his control over the Blood Energy was precise, but there was room for improvement—he could be faster.
Arin narrowed his eyes, watching the red cloud's slow drift. "That's more like it..."
"Of course," Seraphine muttered nearby. "I expected nothing less."
Minutes later, Arin stood up, stretching his arms before walking to the bathroom. He had already mastered the basic control of his Blood Energy, and could now wield the Blood Spike skill, even manipulating it in mid-air. But there were still other vampiric abilities left to learn, and time was running short before the expedition.
His appearance returned to normal as the Blood Energy dissipated, his hair and nails retracting. "I have to learn more before the expedition," he said to himself, splashing water on his face.
"You're strong enough to deal with the Beasts in the forest already," Seraphine's voice echoed in his mind.
Arin grabbed a towel, drying his hair with a wry grin. "It's not Beasts I'm preparing for."
"Huh?" Seraphine sounded puzzled, but Arin didn't elaborate. He finished getting ready and left the dormitory.
As expected, Lina was already waiting outside, her face lighting up when she saw him.
"Arin!" she called, waving him over with a big smile.
He couldn't help but smile back. "Let's go."
They walked past the cafeteria, heading toward a two-story building not far off. It bustled with activity, students milling around the entrance.
The sign on the left read: The Area.
Lina, her eyes wide with excitement, grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. "I've never been here before, but I didn't expect it to be so packed!"
Arin chuckled, hands in his pockets. "Same. Let's find a seat."
They weaved through the crowd, finally spotting two empty chairs by a round table. The noise of laughter and conversation filled the room. First-year students filled most of the ground floor, while second-years lounged upstairs, though a few second-years lingered below.
"Are you sure you don't want anything?" Lina asked, glancing at the menu on the table.
Arin shook his head with a small smile. "I told you, I'm fine."
He had already explained that he wasn't hungry, though the real reason was that, as a vampire, regular food tasted bland to him now. He also didn't want to waste Lina's points, as she insisted on paying.
"Alright, if you say so." Lina gave him a playful shrug, her smile unwavering.
A waitress in an apron approached with a cheerful grin. "Good day! What can I get for you both?"
Lina quickly placed her order while Arin, lost in thought, folded his arms. He was already planning his next move. "I'll need a weapon before the expedition," he mused. "Two hundred points should be enough."
Students received fifty points daily from the Academy, and Arin had saved up two hundred so far. If he waited until the day of the expedition, he'd have three hundred, but it might be cutting it close.
"I'll be right back with your order," the waitress said after jotting down Lina's request, flashing a quick smile at Arin before walking off.
"So, do you have a weapon for the expedition?" Arin asked, turning to Lina.
"Of course!" She laughed, leaning back in her chair. "You're worried because I'm spending my points on food, huh? Don't worry—my friend had two short swords and gave me one."
"Good." Arin nodded. "What about you?" Lina asked, raising an eyebrow. "Do you have a weapon yet?"
"Not yet," Arin admitted. "But I'll get one before the expedition."
Lina sighed, glancing around the room. "My class is going to Blueleaf Forest. I heard your class is headed to Clearsky Forest, right?"
"Yeah, I've actually heard of that forest."
They continued chatting until the waitress returned with Lina's food. She set it down with a polite nod, glancing at Arin again before disappearing into the crowd.
Lina immediately dug in, her eyes widening with delight. "Wow, this is amazing!" She paused between bites to add, "I just wish they'd let us visit our families again. It'd be nice to see Mom, Dad, and our little brother."
Arin noticed her mood shift, a slight sadness in her expression. She was clearly missing them, though Arin didn't share the sentiment. Their family... wasn't exactly normal. In fact, they were all crazy, each in their own way.
"I miss Erica too," Lina said suddenly, her voice soft. "She's such a sweetheart."
Arin's hand clenched around the table, his expression hardening instantly.
Lina quickly noticed his reaction and sighed, offering a sheepish grin. "Okay, okay, I won't mention her again. My bad."
"Good," Arin muttered, his voice low but firm.
Lina chuckled, clearly trying to lighten the mood. "I was just teasing."
With that, the tension faded, and they resumed their conversation, laughing and enjoying the bustling energy of The Area. Yet, in the back of Arin's mind, one thought lingered. This was the calm before the storm. The calm was his time here with Lina, talking and laughing.
The storm? That was the expedition.