Survival Guide After Accidentally Kissing a Demon - Chapter 288

Chapter 288

The young man looked at the room that had been turned into a complete mess and frowned.

He immediately said in a reproachful tone, “Renee, were you the one who made Luoluo’s room this messy?”

“Oh… of course not!”

Renee denied it on instinct, but the moment the words left her mouth, Lance shot her a stern look.

She could only lower her head and admit what she had done, offering an excuse.

“I only heard Brother say he wanted to find the Memory Jar Bartholomew brought back from Tilisha, so I helped look for it.”

“Brother, I know I was wrong.”

There were still tears clinging to her false eyes, glimmering faintly under the light of the Fluorite Lamp.

She sobbed as she said, “But you have to help me now, because the clue to His Second Highness must be in this room.”

The moment the words were out, Renee realized she had said the wrong thing. Her tongue tripped, and she hastily corrected herself.

“Oh no, I mean the clue to the Memory Jar must be in this room!”

Lance listened and sighed helplessly.

He truly could not understand why Renee was so obsessed with Sainthos’s Second Highness.

Thinking back to Cyril’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony, he had greeted that Second Highness on Renee’s behalf. But afterward, Cyril had warned him-

That person was a monster. It was best not to get too involved with him. If Lance did not want trouble, he should stay far away.

He had to admit that although Cyril had refused to back down when it came to Luoluo, in other matters, Cyril was still trustworthy.

“Renee, I will not help you look for clues about that Second Highness.”

Lance spoke in a tone that left no room for refusal.

“Once I find the jar containing the Tilisha disaster memories, I’ll leave.”

Lance was certain Bartholomew had started acting strange only after obtaining the Tilisha Disaster Memory Can, so he had to find that can.

“Brother-!”

After hearing what her brother said, Renee called out behind him in disbelief.

…

The sea breeze drifted gently with moisture in the air, and the sunlight on Holy Island was warm.

Beili slept again in the infirmary of the medical building.

Doctor Cassius said that after she woke up, she could return to her dormitory and continue her unfinished magic coursework.

Oh, although she had only come here to experience life, she still had to finish her magic coursework.

Doctor Cassius said he would come get her after she woke up.

Beili had originally refused, but then he said he would take her to the Academy cafeteria for a mentor’s meal the students normally could not get.

Beili hesitated for two seconds, then shamefully agreed.

She changed out of the hospital gown and into a light flax-colored Academy uniform, then combed her hair over and over again.

She sat on the hospital bed and waited for half the day, but not even a corner of Doctor Cassius’s coat appeared.

Outside the infirmary, things suddenly became noisy.

A lot of female students were chattering about something in the hallway.

It made Beili feel as if she had returned to the time right after the closing Hunt Banquet.

Back then, Lance had broken half a leg and was lying in the infirmary diagonally across from hers for treatment.

The hallway had also been packed with female students who had received the news.

Beili blinked her red eyes and recalled what she had been thinking at the time.

Back then, she had thought it would be nice if there were a spell that could make them quiet down.

Then Cyril had spoken.

“Either be quiet, or get out.”

The same words, as though chewed through shards of ice, played out once again.

Beili suddenly found it amusing. The corner of her mouth tugged up, and she gave a soft laugh.

The next second, the door to her infirmary room was pushed open.

“Bartholomew-”

Cyril called her name coldly.

Beili lifted her red eyes and saw the black-haired, purple-eyed young man. There was a trace of urgency between his brows.

Before she could ask, Cyril said to her, “Something happened to Lance and his sister.”

…

The door to the infirmary was pushed open, and Beili walked in together with Cyril.

This was a two-person infirmary room, a little more spacious than hers.

“Miss Bartholomew… you’re here.”

Doctor Cassius raised his emerald-green eyes. The slightly grave look on his face softened when he saw her.

He explained, “There’s no need to worry too much. They are breathing, they have heartbeats, and they show signs of life. It’s just…”

His voice paused.

“They simply can’t be awakened.”

Like two plants.

Beili nodded and walked to the bedside.

Her red eyes lowered slightly as she looked at the two people on the hospital beds, their faces somewhat alike.

Bright red hair, upturned eyes, and quiet sleeping faces.

Asleep.

Clearly, Lance and Renee had fallen into a deep sleep.

Just like the Black Lamb she had hidden in her suitcase, trapped in the world of dreams.

“Where did they lose consciousness?”
Beili’s brows drew together slightly.

Her voice was calm, devoid of emotion, but inside, a certain possibility had already whipped her thoughts into a storm.

“They were found in your room. You saw them yourself. Right now, both of them are unconscious, and even awakening magic can’t rouse them.”

Behind her, Cyril answered coldly.

In… her room?

At that answer, the back of Beili’s neck suddenly went stiff.

She pressed her lips together tightly.

She had originally meant to force herself to stay calm and find a suitable excuse to leave.

But in the next second, her body had already undergone Beast Transformation beyond her control, turning into a butterfly. With a flap of her wings, she shot out through the small ventilation window of the infirmary.

Straight toward the dormitories.

The sky above Holy Island Academy was a vivid blue, unmarred by a single cloud.

She could hear the students below chatting and laughing, along with the faint, indistinct sound of waves in the distance and the cries of seagulls.

She flew over the Greek-style buildings.

After spending a little Mana, Beili quickly returned to the dormitory.

After what had happened, some sort of restriction had been placed on the door to their room, so Beili flew directly in through the window.

Her hurried steps swept through the room that had been turned upside down, and she went straight for the bed.

Then she stopped.

Because she saw it.

The suitcase hidden beneath the bed, the one concealed with magic, had been dragged out.

It had even been opened.

Everything inside the suitcase lay exposed in plain sight.

Beili let out a breath of relief.

Because the hidden compartment in the suitcase had not been opened.

The magic she had placed on the compartment had not been broken either.

With a slight lift of her fingertips, one of the Morpho Butterflies appeared, dispelling the magic for her and opening the suitcase’s hidden compartment.

In her field of vision appeared a Black Lamb that looked almost like a plush toy.

The Black Lamb was still inside the suitcase, curled up and utterly motionless.

Beili’s rigid shoulders finally relaxed. Only then did her crimson eyes begin to move, carefully scanning the rest of the room.

…

A while later.

The magic on the door to Beili’s dorm room was broken.

The door was pushed open, and two figures entered.

“Bartholomew-”

Cyril strode in.

His cold, amethyst-like eyes glared at her with some anger.

Beili instinctively lowered her crimson eyes, and then she heard him ask coldly,

“Can you say something before you act next time?”

“Mm… Sorry. I’ll pay attention next time.”

Her tone was calm.

Beili raised a hand and casually smoothed back the long, gray curls hanging beside her cheek.

By the time Cyril and Doctor Cassius had chased her all the way to the girls’ dormitory, she had already hidden the sleeping Black Lamb from the suitcase under the blanket.

She had piled pillows over him and had the Morpho Butterflies cast magic so that he truly looked like a fluffy lamb-shaped throw pillow.

…

She tucked her silver-gray hair behind her ear, and a faint glimmer surfaced in the depths of her dark crimson eyes.

“Perhaps you didn’t carefully inspect the things Lance and Renee left behind in my room.”

Beili spoke softly as she opened her palm.

She displayed a golden sphere before Cyril and Cassius.

“This doesn’t belong to me, so it can only be theirs.”

Her tone was flat as she raised her brows slightly and looked at the two of them. “So, do either of you recognize what this thing is used for?”

Cyril glanced at it and quickly recognized it.

He answered coldly,

“This is Tilisha’s Golden Eye. And a Highest-tier Golden Eye at that.”

Golden Eye.

Beili lightly pressed her lips together, her brows knitting slightly.

When she had been in Tilisha, she had once heard Lance mention this thing.

It was a magical tool created by the Former King of Tilisha in order to free himself from the Demon Eye.

Supposedly, the current Tilisha Kingdom was filled with countless Golden Eyes of all sizes.

They allowed no crime in Tilisha to hide.

As for the highest tier of Golden Eye Cyril had mentioned…

“The tiers of Golden Eye are related to their functions, right?”

Beili asked, a trace of confusion appearing in her deep red eyes.

Beside them, Cassius explained in a gentle voice,

“Of course. The higher the tier of a Golden Eye, the more magic is infused into it, and the more complex it is. Its abilities are also broader.”

“At present, there are only two Highest-tier Golden Eyes in Tilisha.”

Cyril lowered his gaze slightly and added,

“I heard one is in the hands of the king of Tilisha, and Lance has the other.”

Beili nodded lightly.

So.

Had Lance and Renee accidentally used this Highest-tier Golden Eye to stumble into the Dream Cage she had created…?

The thing she least wanted to happen had happened.

Lance and Renee had most likely entered her Dream Cage.
Their consciousnesses were already lost. The only way was to return to the dream and bring the two of them back out.

Of course, there was another simple way to wake them-remove the Dream Cage, and they would wake up.

But Beili would rather die than remove it, because the Demon she had imprisoned was inside.

“Bartholomew.”

Cyril suddenly spoke.

After all, the incident had happened in this room. It had to have something to do with her.

“You need to find a way to wake those siblings up. Otherwise, this is going to become very complicated.”

…

Lance and Renee had lost consciousness in Bartholomew’s room.

And before that, Bartholomew and the two of them had gotten into a tense, farcical confrontation under the eyes of a crowd of students.

If the matter escalated, and if people traced it back even further…

Tilisha’s Prince had lost his leg to a Prince of Sainthos, and Tilisha’s princess had also had her eye gouged out in Sainthos.

If something happened to these two members of the Royal Family now, Tilisha and Sainthos might go to war.

Perhaps it was with that consideration in mind that Cyril made this demand of her.

Beili nodded lightly and said, “I’ll think of something.”

“How long?”

Cyril immediately pressed.

His violet eyes stared straight at her, his tone carrying the habitual air of someone in power.

“Tomorrow.”

Beili drew in a helpless breath.

“I can bring them back tomorrow.”

For those outside the dream, perhaps only a single night would pass, but inside the dream, that might not be the case.

Doctor Cassius stepped forward, as if he wanted to say something.

After his gentle emerald eyes looked at her, he only said, “If there’s anything you need from me, just tell me.”

Beili gave a small nod and sighed inwardly.

If this hadn’t involved the Dream Cage, something no one but her could handle, she really would not have wanted to get mixed up in it…

As she was thinking, Beili lifted her eyes and saw Cyril looking at her and Doctor Cassius with an appraising gaze.

Seeming surprised by her efficiency, the boy’s expression eased slightly in addition to that scrutiny.

“Good. I’ll do my best to keep the news contained,” he said.

Beili thought of the female students outside the infirmary door, who had been deep in heated discussion.

“But it seems quite a few people already know something happened to Lance and Renee. How will Your Highness keep it contained?”

Cyril knew what she meant and replied, “Those people only know the two of them fainted. They don’t know how serious it is. As long as Magus Cassius, who examined them, doesn’t let it slip, it’ll be fine.”

“Rest assured, Your Highness.”

The man whose name had been mentioned gave a mild smile.

Cyril continued, “Then what do you plan to do now?”

Beili raised her red eyes and glanced at Cyril, then said, “If you don’t mind, Prince Cyril, I’d like to tidy up my room now and then get some sleep.”

Cyril’s lips paused for a moment, and belatedly, he swept his gaze over her bedroom.

Then his violet eyes flicked down to the floor.

“Of course,” he said in a low voice.

…

After the two of them left, Beili no longer had the heart to clean up the messy room.

She merely raised a hand and summoned the Morpho Butterflies to clear the dust from the bed, then pulled back the blanket and lay down.

Her forehead brushed against a patch of soft fur.

She lifted her head and saw the Black Lamb’s quiet sleeping face, motionless.

Beili stroked its head and pulled it into her arms.

Her red eyes slowly closed.

As for how things had turned into this?

She could no longer remember.

Perhaps she should never have returned to Holy Island Academy. Perhaps she should never have opened the Dream Cage.

No.

It should be traced back even earlier.

The moment she learned the heart was inside her body, she should have lain down in Cassius’s coffin and slept forever with him.

…

Year of Calamity-

[Eternal Night’s Darkness, Death of the Eldest Son]

The Dream Cage was like building a nest.

Beili expended Mana to add brick after brick to the cage, slowly surrounding Ashera within it.

Once the Dream Cage was complete, the dream world would revolve solely around Ashera and no longer require her maintenance.

Nor would it remain under her control.

So after Beili left the dream, she had no way of knowing what Ashera’s dream world would become.

Beili opened her eyes.

She saw a desolate desert, with shattered houses in the distance.

A dry, scorching wind scraped sand and gravel along with it, raising clouds of muddy yellow dust as it swept past.

The sun baked everything with blistering heat, as if it meant to burn the sand and gravel until they glowed.

Beili saw a gray, murky swarm of locusts, like the shadow of a cloud covering the sun and spreading across the ground.