The interrogation was conducted across all dormitories, but it wasn't as thorough as Kael had anticipated. The sheer scale of the investigation seemed to have dulled its sharpness. At most, each student was asked four questions before the officials moved on, leaving Kael perplexed.
Afterward, every student was advised to remain in their rooms until the following day, and none dared to disobey, fully aware of the brutal consequences of defiance.
When morning came, Kael and his roommates went about their usual routines, changing into fresh uniforms and tidying up before stepping out. Once ready, the three of them left their dormitory and headed toward the cafeteria.
Reaching the bustling hall, they ordered their meals and instinctively moved to their usual corner. Kael, as always, let his eyes wander across the room, observing the reactions of his peers. Some students looked at him with awe, mesmerized by his presence. Others, however, maintained their disdainful expressions, still viewing him as trash despite recent events.
But Kael didn't let their opinions faze him. In fact, he found himself craving a fight. The desire to level up, to grow stronger, gnawed at him like an insatiable hunger. Yet, unlike his first day, no one approached him with hostile intent. Not even the likes of Elliot.
With a resigned shrug, Kael turned his attention to his meal and took a bite—only to recoil in disgust.
"Gaaah!" He pushed the plate away, grimacing. The taste was revolting. Why does it taste like this? he thought, his stomach churning.
Jeremy, seated nearby, seemed unaffected, happily devouring his own meal. Kael frowned, confused. Why doesn't he notice how bad the food is? Is it just me?
Before he could dwell further, a notification blinked into view, and Kael's heart sank as he read it.
[User has evolved past the level of consuming plant species.]
[You cannot consume anything other than meat; human meat to be precise.]
Kael's blood ran cold. His thoughts spiraled into chaos. Human meat? His mind flashed back to the first time he had consumed it, the way guilt and revulsion had clawed at him then. Now, it seemed he had no choice but to eat it regularly if he wanted to survive.
How am I going to hide this? he thought frantically. Human flesh was not something he could acquire without leaving a trail. Do I have to kill someone every time I eat? The idea made him sick. Perhaps he could engineer accidents or find a way to make it seem like people had lost body parts naturally, but even that seemed far-fetched.
Desperate for answers, he posed a silent question to the system. Can I eat other types of meat instead?
[Yes, other forms of meat can be consumed, but the fresher, the better. However, you will soon require human flesh again.]
[The stronger you become, the longer you can go without consuming it.]
Kael swallowed hard. How soon?
[Between one to seven days. It could be tomorrow or even a few hours from now. No one can predict it.]
Panic gripped Kael. He was becoming a monster in a world that hunted them ruthlessly. I need to fix this. I can't let anyone find out.
He was pulled from his spiraling thoughts by an audible voice calling out to him from across the cafeteria.
"Hey, new kid!"
Kael turned to see a tall boy with short red hair streaked with white. He wore the academy uniform, and a pendant around his neck bore the number two.
"What do you want?" Kael barked, irritation clear in his voice.
"Follow me, and you'll find out," the boy replied coolly, turning away without waiting for a response.
Kael didn't hesitate. He was itching for a fight, and this boy seemed like the perfect opportunity to blow off some steam. As he stood, Jeremy glanced up from his meal, letting out a resigned sigh.
"Extremely unlucky," Jeremy muttered under his breath.
Kael trailed the red-haired boy through a maze of corridors and alleyways he hadn't explored before. Finally, they arrived at a small, deserted classroom. The boy entered and took a seat on one of the benches, his expression grim as he fixed his gaze on Kael.
"What do you want from me?" Kael asked, his hands in his pockets as he leaned against the doorway.
"I'm Silva, a second-year like you," the boy began. "I'm not here to fight unless you force me to. I've come to warn you."
Kael raised an eyebrow, folding his arms across his chest. Warn me? What could he possibly have to warn me about?
"I don't understand," Kael said cautiously. "Have I done something wrong?"
Silva scoffed, leaning back in his seat. "Don't play dumb with me. You know exactly what you've done. I'm talking about Aldric."
Kael's breath hitched. His blood ran cold as the boy's words sank in. He knows.
"I'm sorry—what did you just say?" Kael's voice trembled slightly, though he tried to mask his fear with indignation.
"You heard me," Silva said, his tone unwavering. "I know what you did to Aldric."
Kael's fists clenched tightly at his sides. This can't be happening. He had been so careful, or so he thought. If Silva knew, then it was only a matter of time before others found out too.
I have to silence him.
"No," Kael muttered under his breath, his teeth gritted. "I can't let this go. I can't let him ruin everything."
Silva raised an eyebrow, noticing the shift in Kael's demeanor. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
Kael said nothing, his mind racing. I have to kill him. There's no other way.