Changing Star's eyes were fixed on her bedroom window. The sun hadn't managed to rise in days, hidden by the thickness of the clouds, but despite this, she felt warmth. Not a pleasant one, but rather the burning fire of destruction.

  Her mind was listless, working quickly, but her body barely moved from its position. Beside her, the capsule of a blind girl of dazzling beauty rested peacefully. Her image reflected that ancient tale of a beautiful sleeping princess, but this princess would only awaken if she managed to end the horrors hidden in the past.

  Cassie, her closest friend, was trapped in the second nightmare with the rest of her court, struggling to ascend the spell. She wasn't worried, or at least she didn't show it, for she knew full well the capabilities of her entire group. They would make it out alive... or at least she would be sure of it if she hadn't been wrong once before. A dull ache struck her heart again, remembering that shameless sleeper. At the same time, her thoughts inevitably traveled to the statue that had accompanied her during her journey through the desert.

  Was it just a figment of her imagination?

  As absurd as that doubt sounded, she couldn't pinpoint whether that shadow had actually been by her side the entire time. A vain attempt by her mind to maintain some sanity.

  During her second nightmare, she never saw it, and when it ended, she found herself alone inside the academy. Of course, since Saint was a native inhabitant of the nightmare world, she had no anchor to return to, yet… What could have happened to her?

  She wished her friend were there and she didn't have to face the world alone… she was tired of being alone. She sighed, taking one st look at the hibernation pod.

  Of the six participants who had braved the nightmare, Cassie, Effie, Kai, and two Fire Guardians; the tter two had already perished. But what scared her was that she didn't feel any pity for them; she only cared that Cassie returned, no matter the cost.

  Was she turning into a monster? Another nightmare creature?

  Her mind clouded as the little light from the sky that filtered through the curtains dimmed. Then, the sound of a doorbell brought her out of her stupor.

  She stood up, scanning the room's security cameras. It was a high school girl with bck hair and pale skin. A small smile spread across her expressionless face.

  Maybe she wasn't completely alone.

  She opened the door, where a girl was nervously waiting for her. The moment their eyes met, the girl almost screamed; but to her credit, she hid it quite well.

  "H-hello, Lady Changing Star." The young woman's cheeks reddened.

  Nephis's smile widened.

  “Welcome back, Rain.”

  The teenager, Rain, was Cassie’s unofficial disciple and the sister of her deceased cssmate, even if she didn’t realize it.

  Rain entered with small steps, feeling a little more rexed in her teacher’s more familiar room. Although it wasn’t easy getting used to entering the Immortal Fme mansion and literally meeting the heroes of the next generation in every hallway.

  For Rain, the opportunity her father had given her to work as an intern alongside such figures was something she still couldn’t believe. In fact, that one of its participants, even if not as well-known, Song of the Fallen had taken the time to instruct her was something she couldn’t help but be grateful for.

  And now, she was talking to Changing Star!!!

  “How have you been feeling? Lady Changing Star, have you grown accustomed to your strength?”

  “Nephis, all my friends call me that. And yes, even if it has been difficult due to a ck of suitable companions. What about you? How are you feeling after—”

  “I’m fine,” Rain interrupted hastily, only to blush at her rudeness. “Sorry, it’s just… I’m fine, really. Lady Cassie taught me well, so there’s nothing to worry about. I’ll get over it and come back.”

  Changing Star studied her silently, feeling the image of another boy superimpose itself over the young women, but she quickly pushed that thought aside. They weren’t the same, just simir.

  Nephis’s eyes betrayed softness as he gazed for a moment at a small tree in the corner of the room, now greener and more vibrant than Cassie had described it in her letters. She sighed again; maybe things weren’t so bad, or at least not for now.

  She had to prepare herself. The cns were moving for their war, and she was now part of Valor, even if the thought made her angry. In less than a month, she would leave for Antarctica, accompanied by her friend, if all went well.

  In the meantime... she had to get stronger.

  While she remained silent in her mind, Rain shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Then, she lowered her head, her voice a little choked.

  "S-sorry if you're still angry."

  Nephis raised an eyebrow, confused, but the teenager continued without meeting her gaze.

  “I didn't think you'd find the movie so bad. I know they exaggerated things a bit and that the love triangle between you, Caster, and Sunny was a bit spicy, but…”

  “ENOUGH!” She almost screamed, her face turning to stone. “How about we train a little? As your teacher's teacher, it wouldn't be ethical for me not to give you a push to become a warrior.”

  Rain instantly paled.

  “B-but you're the most powerful teacher in the world, while I… I…”

  Her words didn't finish when the door to the hibernation pod was shattered by a blow. The room's arm went off with a red alert, then went off just as quickly.

  Both Changing Star and Rain watched intently as the figure of a beautiful woman with golden hair and sapphire-blue eyes emerged from the pod.

  Her presence had changed, becoming more mysterious, deeper, and far more dangerous. But above all, her figure, perfect and graceful, was very, very bare.

  Both girls blushed.