Wolf returned from Demon Forest two days before Barbara’s wedding. He exchanged his Demonic Beast Monster Cores with the shocked Headmaster for four regular Tenth Order Monster Cores. Wolf conformed to social norms. He even ignored Lord of Steel’s jabs, resulting in a boring and uneventful conversation.

He left the office, closing the door with care, unaware that Smith felt proud. The rate at which the youth improved when given the slightest nudge of decapitation and expulsion was incredible. It showed the greatness of Headmaster Smith’s educational methods.

Wolf had more important matters to consider than the crazy old kook’s over-inflated ego.

He was back in society. His reputation was once again there, weighing on his shoulders. There was no undoing the past. Even if Wolf traveled back in time, he would act the same, maybe he would try hiding his identity, but they’d eventually discover him. Despite existing rumors and books his enemies spread, he would still go out to harvest prostitutes’ souls if it provided greater benefit.

However, as South warned, it was no longer worthwhile. With each column, Wolf’s rate of Soul Force generation grew, as did the requirements to form the next column. Besides, Wolf had alternatives. Remnant souls from Ninth Order Monster Beasts were more nutritious than eight women, and Wolf had great expectations for the Tenth Order ones.

I need thirty of these to advance to Sword-Saint. Wolf scanned his Ring of Holding on his way back to his dorm suite. The problem was Headmaster Smith only had ten more, and those were his supplies for Spell Formation Scribing. Also, the man said, he already has enough Eighth and Ninth Order Monster Cores, so Wolf could only trade the Tenth Order ones at two per one rate.

I’ll have to consume around fifteen Monster Cores from Demonic Converters. If Big Brother was correct, that means I will evoke a faint feeling of hatred in normal people. I can’t advance until I perfect Ghost Shroud.

But those were distant future’s worries. After Barbara’s wedding, Wolf would have thirteen weeks for his next excursion. He hardly had sufficient time to harvest enough Monster Cores to exchange for Headmaster Smith’s entire stock.

For now, Wolf planned to hole himself up in his room and refine the four Monster Cores he had on him. It was quarter past six in the morning when he entered his dorm apartment. Wolf awakened his senses and heard Wayde’s steady breathing from his bedroom. He noted it, then headed to his room.

On the ground, right inside, was a letter with a simple address. To Wolf, penned by a familiar hand. Wolf opened Anna’s letter.

Wolf,

I’m sorry about everything. It’s all my fault. Please, I beg you, come find me for a serious conversation. I’m attending all my classes, and I spend the rest of my waking hours sitting in plain view, next to my bedroom window.

Please,

Anna

Wolf knew at a glance that Anna’s frail hand shook while writing those words. Something’s wrong with Anna!

In a split second, he forgot about refining Monster Cores. He dashed out of the flat, slamming the door behind him, nearly startling the sleeping Wayde to death.

Anna said she didn’t want to meet me. That I humiliated her. And now, she’s begging me to see her. She’s in trouble. Damn it! I have my combat spells ready, I can’t turn the minder into a puppet.

Wolf came up with a plan to take Anna somewhere private outside the Mage Academy for breakfast. The simplest solution would be to create a folded space, but that was indecent. And Wolf grew acutely aware of the price for not following what hypocrites labeled as decent.

Wolf banged on the door of Anna’s and Matilda’s suite.

“Anna, it’s me.” A moment later, a pair of bare feet slapped against the wooden floor of the left bedroom, then Anna’s bedroom door squeaked open. Just as Wolf sent his senses into a dormant state, Anna opened the door.

“You came!” She jumped and hugged Wolf with tears in her eyes.

“Save me,” Anna subvocalized and begged as she started crying. However, she wiped her tears a moment later.

“I missed you.” The young woman released Wolf and wiped her eyes again. “I haven’t seen you for so long I teared up.”

She gave Wolf a wretched smile and tugged his hand. “Let’s go to the cafeteria. We can talk there.”

Wolf wanted to mention how cafeterias opened at seven, then realized Anna was making an excuse. Nobody would wait for half an hour before the canteen opens. Meaning it was an empty public space.

The youth nodded, waited for Anna to put on her shoes, then followed.

“I hope your mission was profitable. I tried to find you three weeks ago, but you were nowhere to be found, so I left a message,” Anna barraged Wolf with random clumps of words one might expect from idle housewives waiting for busy husbands. Her eyes were even more disturbing. They darted left and right, searching for hints of danger.

Wolf caught panic and paranoia in Anna’s gaze, so he awakened his senses, but didn’t find anyone following them. Several gazes were trained on him, but they bore no ill will, and being observed was nothing out of the ordinary for the Mage Academy grounds.

Once they entered the mess hall’s mudroom, Anna took Wolf’s hand between her palms and gazed into his eyes. She tried to look sweet and in love, but Wolf only saw terror.

Father gave me an ultimatum. Anna traced letters on Wolf’s hand, still blathering. He will kill Mother…

Wolf’s eyes went wide, but Anna kept writing and talking. … if I disobey. I wanted to kill him, but he said Mother would die a horrible death if I tried anything. He tortured her in front of me.

Anna’s lip quivered. She forced herself to smile, but still choked on her tears while spewing random nonsense. He said if he catches me drinking again, he will send her to me in pieces. I didn’t dare spend time alone. I always showed him I was sober. He ordered me to sleep in your bed at least four nights every week whenever you’re in Silver City.

We need to buy or rent a room somewhere. We might have to get intimate. He wants me to have a big belly— But Wolf pulled back his hand when he sensed those words. Anna was on the brink of sobbing, but turned her throaty sounds into giggles and excited laughs.

“What do you want?” Wolf subvocalized. “And speak by mouthing words without making a sound. Nobody is watching now.”

“I want my mother not to die.” Anna did as Wolf ordered, but then she realized she couldn’t spew nonsense that way. She feared someone would realize she was secretly talking with Wolf.

“Give me your hand. It’s so warm and I haven’t held it for so long.” Anna said aloud and continued with gibberish and writing words and plans.

“I can kill him.” Wolf mouthed, but Anna shook her head.

What if he fed her poison and she would die without an antidote? What if it’s a spell we don’t know? Anna wasn’t willing to risk it.

Her mother was everything to her. She was her only friend before Wolf. She was someone she could confide in and tell her and ask without restraint. Please don’t. We need to find shared accommodation near the Mage Academy. If you must go to brothels more than thrice a week, I will keep you company—

“Anna, are you unwell?” Wolf mouthed and an instant later realized how stupid his words were. Mandy told me to stay silent and count to five before speaking when someone shocks me.

Anna stared at Wolf. She even stopped mid-word, her mouth agape. The young woman wanted to shout ‘of course I’m bloody unwell’, but then Wolf dropped his gaze.

“Sorry. I said something stupid.” He mouthed, and surprisingly, Anna felt better. The young woman hugged him. Not because anyone forced her, but because she wanted to. Wolf hugged back. He squeezed her tightly in his arms and for a moment, she believed everything could be all right.

When they separated, Wolf ruined the moment.

“We could live in Mandy’s apartment? It’s big, has more than one bedroom and a giant bathroom you’d like.” He offered a solution, and Anna swallowed, then nodded.

If you want us to live with her, I will make that concession.

Wolf wasn’t certain what was there for Anna to cede. “She said she’s not angry with you. In fact—” Wolf almost spilled Mandy’s secret. Saying she was grateful, and that she demanded he treat Anna well, but then realized that was Mandy’s private affair, something she confessed to him, not to be shared with others. Otherwise, he would affirm her reputation as a cock-loving whore.

Do you have any other… Anna paused her writing.… ideas?