After confirming that she needed to go to the Medical Office to collect blood, Luna changed into her usual travel clothes and draped a shawl over her shoulders before preparing to set out.
Eliza was still in Luna’s room, seemingly ready to accompany her.
“Let’s go.”
Luna carefully approached the entrance hall and gently pushed the front door open, stepping outside.
To avoid making any noise, she deliberately didn’t close the door tightly but left a small gap.
That way, when she returned, she could quietly open it without a sound.
There was no need to use a key, and it wouldn’t disturb her sister or anyone else inside the room.
She silently felt relieved. Despite having spoken loudly in the bedroom just moments ago, her sister and the others hadn’t woken up. Truly lucky.
However, Luna had no idea that all this was thanks to Eliza secretly casting a Soundproof Barrier inside her room.
“Ugh—!”
Just as Luna reached downstairs, a sudden wave of discomfort washed over her. Her body trembled slightly as she leaned weakly against the wall, looking extremely ill.
Huff… what’s happening…
A strong dizziness hit her, and her body felt drained as she gasped for air, clutching the wall for support.
Her face had turned pale as paper, her forehead beaded with fine sweat, and her lips cracked from dehydration. Each breath burned her throat, dry and painful.
Her heartbeat was rapid yet weak, as if it might stop at any moment.
Her mind grew foggy, and only one thought repeatedly circled in her head—drink blood.
Just as Eliza had said, she had entered the Second Stage, and her craving for blood grew ever more intense.
That thirst was like a parched person longing desperately for clear spring water—strong and urgent!
Luna knew she was standing on the edge of a dangerous abyss. One wrong step could lead to irrevocable ruin.
No… I can’t collapse here!
She took several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down. Despite her exhaustion, she gathered her strength and took step after step toward the Medical Office.
The Medical Office was located at the Training Field—the place she had been taken to when injured during training. In her memories, that was where emergency blood bags were stored.
It took about twenty minutes to walk from the Dormitory to the Medical Office, but at this moment, the journey seemed unusually long and arduous. She wasn’t sure if she had enough strength to make it.
But it wasn’t only her body she worried about.
At this hour, Guards patrolled the Academy grounds, and the streets were lined with surveillance cameras.
If anyone noticed her abnormal behavior—especially her craving for blood—the consequences would be unimaginable.
Every step was filled with difficulty and risk, but she didn’t retreat. Clenching her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms, she tried to use the pain to disperse the overwhelming desire.
I must stay calm and clear-headed. I can’t let this craving consume me!
If a Guard caught her, she might be stopped and questioned about why she was out alone at this hour. In the worst case, she could be taken for further investigation.
After all, a young girl wandering the streets alone at three in the morning would inevitably draw suspicion and attention.
To minimize this risk, she had carefully put on a shawl, hoping to reduce how conspicuous she appeared.
She walked cautiously, constantly scanning her surroundings with her peripheral vision, afraid of running into any patrolling Guards.
Whenever she spotted a Guard in the distance, she would immediately slip into a shadow or quicken her pace to avoid being seen.
Fortunately, ten minutes had passed since leaving the Dormitory, and she hadn’t encountered any Guards yet.
She quietly felt relieved. At this rate, she should reach the Medical Office in about ten more minutes.
“Ugh… this is so uncomfortable…”
Luna whispered softly, feeling her symptoms worsening. Her vision blurred, and her body swayed as if she might collapse at any moment.
She recalled what Eliza had said earlier about the confusion that came with the Second Stage. Now it seemed true.
Though Eliza was right beside her, she wore an indifferent expression, as if unmoved by Luna’s plight.
This made Luna feel a chill—did Eliza really not fear for her safety?
But on second thought, maybe Eliza wasn’t that simple.
Since she knew Luna had entered the Second Stage, did she have a contingency plan or some backup? Luna had no way of knowing.
For now, she had no time to dwell on it. She had to reach the Medical Office quickly and find a way to resolve her crisis.
So, she summoned all her remaining strength and pressed on toward the Medical Office.
Though her body was utterly exhausted and her vision blurred, she refused to give up. She told herself to persevere until she got there.
If Eliza really had a backup plan… she hoped it would come soon.
“Almost there…”
Luna murmured quietly as she could now faintly make out the outline of the Training Field building ahead.
Once she reached that place…
Yet fate didn’t seem willing to spare her.
Just as she rounded the corner, she ran straight into a patrolling Guard.
“Miss, please stop.”
The Guard’s voice was clear and commanding, causing Luna’s feet to halt involuntarily.
It’s over…
At that moment, Luna’s heart seemed to leap into her throat. She knew how suspicious she looked in her current state. If the Guard discovered her condition, the consequences would be terrible.
Should I run?
The thought flashed through her mind but was quickly dismissed.
Running would only deepen the Guard’s suspicion and make things worse.
With no other choice, she steeled herself and stopped, waiting for the Guard to approach.
She tried to remain calm, but inside, the fear and craving for blood surged like a tide, threatening to overwhelm her.
“Miss, what are you doing out at this hour?”
The Guard’s voice echoed beside her, but Luna seemed lost in another world, unable to clearly hear his words.
Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the “scent” emanating from the Guard—a fragrance she had never smelled before, so enticing and intoxicating.
In her vision, the veins beneath his skin became vividly clear, like a delicate painting unfolding before her eyes.
And that “scent” came from the blood flowing through his body. Luna felt as if an invisible force pulled her toward him, compelling her to draw near and taste that tempting blood.
As the Guard stepped closer, the struggle within Luna intensified.
She knew well that if she gave in to this temptation, the consequences would be catastrophic!
His blood must be delicious…
The thought flickered in her mind but she immediately forced it away.
I absolutely cannot do that. If I do, everything will be ruined!
However, as the Guard neared, she felt her strength fading further, as if an invisible power was devouring her will.
She fought to resist the urge, but each breath grew more labored.
Suddenly, her body trembled, and she leaned painfully against the wall. Eyes squeezed shut, she tried to use sheer willpower to overcome the temptation.
But that “scent” circled endlessly like a curse inside her mind.
So painful…
Luna groaned softly, feeling as if she were trapped in endless darkness with no escape.
Please don’t come any closer!
She cried silently in her heart, her voice so faint even she could barely hear it.
Luna’s whole body had grown extremely weak, her eyes needing to remain shut constantly. She felt as if she had reached the end of her life, unable to hold on any longer.
No… I can’t give up like this…
She told herself this, but her body began to slide down uncontrollably.
Suddenly, an overwhelming sleepiness washed over her, making her unbearably exhausted. She felt as if she were falling into an eternal dream, never to wake.
Is this how it ends?
She asked herself silently, but the answer was as dark and silent as the void.
***
“Miss, are you alright?”
The Guard looked at Luna, full of concern. He sensed something was wrong and prepared to report the situation to Headquarters via his Communication Device.
“Reporting, there is a—”
Just as he turned on his device to give a detailed report about the girl before him, Luna suddenly reached out and firmly grabbed his Communication Device, cutting off the words on his lips.
Her eyes shone with an inexplicable power as she softly said:
[ Don’t say anything. ]
Those words seemed to carry a certain magic, freezing the Guard’s next words in place.
“63136, do you have anything to report? Over.”
A voice came from the other end of the Communication Device. Luna clearly caught this message.
[ Say there’s no problem here. ]
With an unyielding tone, Luna issued her command to the Guard. Hearing this, the Guard immediately complied, replying into the device:
“Test, test, 63136, 1234, 1234.”
“9418, communication normal. Continue duties, 63136.”
After the brief response, the call ended. The Guard remained standing, his gaze fixed on Luna.
More precisely, he was waiting for her next instruction.
[ Leave here. Your memory will be erased two minutes after you leave. You won’t remember anything. ]
“Yes…”
The Guard passed by Luna as if he were a completely different person from the one who had just stopped her.
Once he left, Luna relaxed her arms with a shake and stretched, sighing:
Hmm—!
Freedom at last!
She hadn’t expected to get the chance to control this body this time. Sigh, poor little one.
Indeed, the Luna now moving forward was actually Eliza controlling her. As for Luna herself, she was currently unconscious.
If you looked closely, Luna’s eyes had changed from the original golden-red Yin-Yang eyes to a pure red.
That was the strongest proof that Eliza was in control.
Though she wanted to keep controlling this body longer, there was still a mission to fulfill…
She needed to help her little one find blood. Almost there—just a little longer.
Thinking this, the ‘Luna’ continued toward the Medical Office…
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