The academy's towering gates loomed ahead as Eren walked the path leading back to the institution he had avoided for weeks. His steps were deliberate, his gaze cold and unwavering. He had spent enough time in the forest building his sanctuary, mastering the Survival System, and growing stronger—strong enough to no longer feel like an outsider, even if the rest of the academy would still see him as one.
The main courtyard was bustling with students, some hurrying to classes while others lingered in small groups, chatting and laughing. The sight was oddly surreal to Eren. It had been only a few weeks, but it felt like he was returning to a completely different world. He kept his hood up, blending into the crowd as best he could.
Eren's first stop was the administration office. He needed to officially reinstate himself as an active student, though he knew the process would be less about paperwork and more about dealing with the disdain of the staff. The receptionist, a stern-looking woman with sharp glasses, barely glanced at him as he approached.
"Raynor Velcroft," Eren said, using his inherited name. "I'm here to reactivate my student status."
The woman's eyes flicked up, her expression neutral but her tone icy. "You've been absent for weeks without notice. Reinstatement requires approval from the Dean."
"Then I'll meet with the Dean," Eren replied calmly.
She hesitated, as if expecting resistance or an outburst, but when none came, she nodded. "Take a seat. I'll send for you when he's available."
While waiting, Eren's thoughts wandered to the new skill he had acquired. "Unbound Fury" was a powerful tool, but the price of using it was steep. The presence that had taken control during its activation still unsettled him. He had spent hours after that incident poring over the Survival System's interface, searching for any information about the entity. The system provided none. Whatever it was, it seemed to be beyond even the system's oversight.
"Raynor Velcroft," the receptionist called, snapping him out of his thoughts. He stood and followed her down a long corridor to the Dean's office.
The Dean, a tall man with a graying beard and piercing blue eyes, regarded Eren with a mixture of curiosity and disapproval as he entered.
"Velcroft," he said, his voice measured. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"
Eren met the Dean's gaze without flinching. "I've returned to complete my studies."
The Dean leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "You've caused quite a stir with your disappearance. Professors assumed you had dropped out, and your behavior prior to your departure left much to be desired."
"I understand," Eren said evenly. "But I'm here now, and I intend to fulfill my obligations as a student."
The Dean studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Very well. But know this, Velcroft: you're on thin ice. One misstep, and you'll be expelled permanently. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly," Eren replied.
With his status reinstated, Eren's next destination was the library. He needed to gather as much information as possible about the Veil and the strange occurrences that seemed to be intensifying around the academy. The Survival System's missions were becoming more cryptic, and he had a nagging feeling that the answers he sought were tied to the academy's hidden secrets.
As he entered the library, the scent of old books and parchment filled the air. The grand hall was lined with towering shelves, each crammed with volumes on every imaginable subject. Eren made his way to the restricted section, a place he had only heard about in whispers.
"Access to the restricted section requires permission," a voice said from behind him.
Eren turned to see a young woman with auburn hair and sharp green eyes. She was dressed in the uniform of a senior student and wore a badge indicating her role as a library assistant.
"I'm researching anomalies near the forest," Eren said. "It's related to the Veil."
The girl frowned. "The Veil? That's not something most students would dare look into. Why are you interested?"
"Let's just say I've encountered things that make ignorance dangerous," Eren replied, his tone clipped.
She studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Follow me. But if anyone asks, you didn't get in through me."
The restricted section was smaller but far more ominous than the main library. The books here were bound in leather and marked with strange symbols. Eren scanned the titles, his fingers trailing over the spines until he found one that caught his attention: "The Shrouded Realms: A Study of the Veil."
He opened the book and began to read, absorbing every detail. The Veil, it seemed, was not just a barrier between worlds but a conduit for things that should never cross over. It explained some of the strange phenomena he had witnessed but also hinted at darker truths—truths that made his connection to the Survival System feel even more precarious.
Eren closed the book and leaned back, his mind racing. Whatever the Veil truly was, it was becoming clear that his quiet life would remain an elusive dream. He was being drawn deeper into a web of secrets and dangers that he couldn't ignore.
And somewhere deep down, he wondered if the entity within "Unbound Fury" was tied to it all.