Chapter 6: Gravity magic

At that moment, the doctor walked out. "Her wounds are healing well, and she's good to go. But she insisted on staying here tonight. Is something bothering her?"

"No, no. I think she's just tired. Don't worry, I'll come tomorrow to pick her up." Karl reassured him.

The doctor nodded in acknowledgment as Karl turned to leave.

"Leonard! Wait!" Zena called out.

'Fuck, did they notice?' Karl hesitated before turning back. Zena walked closer, making Karl's heartbeat quicken. He forced himself to maintain a neutral expression. She reached for his hand, and on his other hand, a magic circle appeared. Then, Zena tapped her watch against Karl's.

"Here's my badge. Scan this when you enter the girls' dormitory. It's a one-time use, so be careful."

The magic circle on Karl's hand faded away.

"Thank you." Karl smiled and walked out.

Zena turned back to face the doctor, but just as the door was about to close, it swung open again. Karl peeked in with a mischievous grin. "Please change your clothes before sleeping."

Both the doctor and Zena blushed, their faces turning bright red.

"GET OUT!" Zena yelled.

Karl shut the door and left, grinning.

Slowly turning back to the doctor, Zena stammered, "B-Babe... do I smell that bad?"

The doctor chuckled at her adorable reaction. "Of course not. He's just messing with you. By the way, a metal tray is missing from Andressa's room. Have you seen it?"

"No. You probably misplaced it somewhere and forgot. You do that all the time. Now, come here."

"Y-Yeah," the doctor replied hesitantly.

Karl stood in front of a massive five-story mansion, its high walls lined with fencing, making the dormitory resemble a prison. He approached the gate to open it.

"What are you doing?" A sweet yet firm voice startled him.

Turning around, Karl saw a woman in her early twenties—an angel descended straight from heaven. She had knee-length blonde hair, striking golden eyes, and carried a spear with intricate engravings.

She stared at him in silence. Seconds passed before Karl snapped back to reality.

"Ah, yes. My name is Ka—Leonard Avaritia. I'm here to collect my girlfriend's stuff."

"May I see her ID?" The angel extended her hand.

Karl looked at her, then hesitated. "I don't have her ID."

"Then how are you planning to enter? You do realize this place only allows females inside, right? You need to be accompanied by a resident or at least have their ID."

"Well, I was told I could enter with this." Karl raised his watch, showing Zena's approval.

"An instructor's badge? What happened?"

Karl smirked internally. 'Caught you.'

"Actually, my friend is in the Academy's hospital, and she urgently needs a specific spellbook from her room. Can you help me?"

"Oh! Leave it to me." The girl placed her hand on the gate, and it swung open. "Residential ID is always better; that way, the warden won't question you much. If she asks anything, just say you came with Mikaela. Now go! I'll wait for you here."

Mikaela remained near the gate as Karl nodded and entered. Inside, he found a spacious lobby with staircases on both sides leading up. Room numbers were displayed on the doors.

Starting from 101, Karl pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and tied it around his face to conceal his identity before heading toward room 124. As he walked, an overwhelming weight pressed down on him. He forced himself forward with sheer willpower, but the pressure kept increasing until he collapsed.

The lights flickered and shattered under the force.

Footsteps approached. Karl struggled to rise but barely managed to get on his knees. The footsteps stopped.

"My child, what are you doing here so late?"

Karl turned his head slightly, spotting an elderly woman in a dark purple dress holding a lantern with a violet flame.

"Oh my! I forgot to undo the spell." She swept her hand over the lantern, and the flame returned to normal.

Karl gasped for air as he stood.

"Then, my child, what brings you here? This area is prohibited."

'Running past her is impossible—she's definitely using gravity magic. Should I show Zena's badge? No, that would expose my identity.'

After a second of thought, Karl answered, "I came with Mikaela."

The warden's eyes widened. She dropped to one knee. "I see. I hope you accomplish your task. May the Horizon see you."

She clasped her hands in prayer before walking away.

Karl resumed his search and finally found the room. He knocked. No answer. He knocked again, harder.

The door creaked open, revealing a half-asleep girl in short pants and a baggy T-shirt.

"Uwah! Do you have any freaking idea what time it is?!"

Karl's hand glowed as he shoved a metal tray into her open mouth, pushing her inside. The room had two beds—one decorated with plush toys and photos, the other plain and unadorned.

The girl struggled, a magic circle forming above her head as a rock materialized.

Karl grabbed her head and headbutted her, shattering the incomplete spell. Blood trickled from her forehead.

She groaned in pain. Karl kicked her in the gut, making her collapse.

He retrieved the metal tray and smirked. "This is how a rock is formed."

His hand glowed purple, summoning a heavy rock. He grabbed her hair and slammed it against her face, breaking her nose. Another hit—several teeth shattered. Tears welled in her eyes.

"W-Why?"

Karl knelt beside her. "If you want to blame someone, blame Remi."

He shoved the tray into her mouth, then snapped one of her fingers. CRACK! MMUPHH!

Muffled screams filled the room. But no one heard.

Minutes later, she passed out from screaming.

Karl stood, walked to the plain bed, and grabbed a flowery pink undergarment. A pair of panties. At 'Nice. Proof secured. Time to go.' At this moment, his eyes glowed bright purple in the dark.

Instead of using the door, he climbed out the window. 'Good thing that fatty's room is on the ground floor.'

Removing his handkerchief, he stored the 'proof' and metal tray in his void storage before heading back to the gate.

Mikaela was still there, waiting. She noticed his forehead. "What happened?"

Karl touched his head and winced. 'Shit! That rock left a mark. Careless.'

He lowered his gaze. "I-I got smacked by the warden for calling her old."

Mikaela burst into laughter. "Hah! I don't know if that's bravery or stupidity."

"Come on, don't laugh!"

"Alright, alright. Did you get what you came for?"

Karl gave a thumbs-up.

"Good. I'm heading off. You should too."

Mikaela opened the gate. Karl stepped out, looking back at her beautiful face.

"Leonard Avaritia. May the Horizon see you."

Karl smiled and walked away.

Half an hour later, Karl lay on his bed, staring at the flowery undergarment. 'This world might be fun.'

He tossed it onto his desk and let fatigue consume him.

A vibration woke him. Groggily, he answered the call.

"Leonard, it's Zena. Andressa wants to see you. Come to the infirmary."

"Yesh..." Karl mumbled.

He stretches his body and empties his void storage. 'Does using a spell often makes it more proficient? Gotta ask Ian later.'

After wriggling in bed for fifteen minutes, he finally got up, showered, and checked himself in the mirror.

'Damn, this guy is too short and ugly.'

Ignoring his reflection, he left for the infirmary.

10:30.

Andressa who is now in her school uniform, sitting in front of a handsome man.

"Does it hurt anywhere?" The doctor asks with a smile.

"No."

"How are the studies going?"

"Good."

Despite the lack of enthusiasm, the doctor continues to ask questions.

"How is-"

"When is Leonard coming?" Andressa cuts in.

Doctor looks at the clock on the wall. "Well, Zena called him an hour ago. He should have been here by now."

Just then a knock was heard. "Come in!" The door opens and Karl walks in. He waves at Andressa.

"Looks like you have to go. Don't forget to take the painkillers from time to time." The doctor advices. Karl and Andressa walks out of the infirmary.