After that long, weird walk back, they finally reached their dorm.
Third floor.
Room 27.
Ash had not shut up the entire way.
If Rhian was quiet and processing everything that just happened, Ash was the complete opposite, hyping him up like a man possessed, and at the same time, calling Kye every name under the sun.
And honestly, names that would probably make even a seasoned hunter blush.
"He looked at you like you were a cockroach, bro, nah, worse like you were the dirt under the cockroach," Ash ranted, practically foaming at the mouth. "Tch. Outskirts kid my ass. Pretending he's better cause daddy has clean boots."
Rhian let him talk.
It was kinda nice.
Not the insults.
But having someone walk beside him not treating him like garbage because of what he was.
Ash kicked open their door like he paid rent, walking in first, throwing his bag to the side.
Rhian followed quietly, shutting the door behind them.
The apartment was calm again.
Ash flopped onto the couch. "Bro, listen, anyone that treats you different cause of this cursed stuff?" He pointed a lazy finger at Rhian. "Screw 'em. Deadass. You're probably cooler than all of them combined."
Rhian didn't respond right away.
He walked to his room, tossed his bag down.
But before going in fully, he leaned slightly from the doorway, glancing at Ash.
"...Thanks," he said quietly.
Ash snorted like it was obvious. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't let it get to you, alright? Besides…" he grinned again, back to his usual self, "Cursed or not, you still beat half the class in a fist fight with that girl.. Nia. That counts for something."
Rhian couldn't help but let out a small exhale that was almost a laugh.
He went inside.
It was time to rest.
Rhian yawned again, dragging his body slowly toward his bed. His limbs felt heavier than earlier, like all the exhaustion he'd pushed down since morning was finally catching up to him.
"Alright… imma take a rest," he said, voice low, half fading already, "see you later."
Ash, who had been tossing around whatever junk he called his belongings, stood up like he just had an idea hit him. "I'm going to grab some snacks. You want anything?"
Rhian perked up at the word snacks... but then quickly switched.
"Nah... actually yeah," he said, remembering his stomach, "I need something real to eat."
Ash gave a lazy thumbs up. "Say less, I got you."
Rhian stretched out a hand, already pulling out his school phone. "Wait, let me transfer you some mone—"
But before he could even finish, Ash smacked the door open, waving him off like it was nothing.
"Don't worry about it!" Ash yelled, disappearing down the hallway.
The door closed behind him with a loud but casual thud.
Rhian sat there for a second.
And despite himself… he smiled.
Turning around, Rhian moved to his bed like he'd been walking through mud all day. He could barely keep his eyes open at this point.
His muscles weren't sore like after a beating, no, this was different. It felt deeper, like something inside was constantly draining energy from him.
'Is this from awakening… or something else?'
Whatever it was… he wasn't fighting it anymore.
He collapsed onto his bed, feeling the soft pull of sleep wrapping around him almost instantly. His thoughts scattered, from cores, to cursed class, to that faceless monster haunting his past.
But in the end… all that noise faded.
His last thought before darkness took him?
'This bed's way too soft for a guy from the outskirts…'
And then Rhian Locke slept like a rock.
.
.
.
Rhian opened his eyes.
Everything was dark.
It didn't take long for him to realize he was underwater.
This was the deep sea.
The real deep sea. A place that existed so far below the surface, sunlight didn't reach it. No sky. No surface. Just endless water stretching in every direction.
The water wasn't clear either. It was murky, black, and still. It felt old. Cold. Heavy.
Rhian looked around. There was nothing but dark water and distant, faint lights slowly moving in the distance.
Strange fish or creatures he couldn't make out, glowing slightly like they belonged down here.
When he tried to move, he didn't feel slow or trapped. He moved smoothly, like swimming was second nature. His body adjusted easily, gliding through the water without resistance.
It was strange.
He didn't feel like he was drowning or suffocating. Breathing was normal. Calm.
When he looked down at his hands, they didn't look exactly human. His fingers were longer, a little sharper. His skin had a slight texture, like faint scales covering him, only visible because of the soft glow from far below.
He glanced down.
Somewhere deep under him… something was moving.
Big.
Slow.
Watching.
And he could feel it.
Something called to him.
There was no voice, no words, just a feeling deep in his chest pulling him downward. Telling him to swim lower.
Rhian didn't hesitate.
He pushed his body downward, cutting through the water with ease. But as he went deeper, things began to change.
The water grew colder. Thicker. Heavier. His speed slowed even though he was still moving fast. The deeper he went, the more resistance he felt pressing against him.
And the darker it got.
Soon, it reached a point where even his body struggled to keep moving.
The sheer weight of the deep was holding him from moving.
His breathing grew harder, chest tightening. Every kick of his legs felt like dragging chains. But he didn't stop.
Then… something moved below him.
Massive.
Rhian narrowed his eyes, focusing.
And then it happened.
Two enormous eyes slowly opened in the dark.
They were beyond anything he had ever seen. Dark green and ancient, staring directly at him. Just those eyes alone were the size of his entire body.
His breath caught.
Air escaped him in streams of bubbles.
He tried to move, to swim away, but it was like his body wouldn't listen.
And then… a sound shook his very bones.
Deep. Powerful. It didn't come from outside him, it came from everywhere. A language older than anything he knew. Rough, heavy words that bent the very water around him.
And yet somehow…
He understood
guttural and slow
"Vakna... Bróðir..."
Wake up, Brother.
[Volume 1 End]