Rainee opened her eyes and found herself in the familiar walls of the academy’s clinic. Looking around, Rainee noticed that she was in one of the curtained bedrooms.

Moving around, she hears a light metallic sound and finds herself cuffed to the clinic bed. It was a common metal cuff used by humans to restrain other humans.

What?

Rainee tries to sit up but an immense headache assaults her head. In addition, fatigue and pain start to appear on her body. Touching the side of her own body, Rainee winces in pain when she feels a large bruise.

She lies back down.

“W-what happened… everything fucking… hurts…”

Rainee tries to recall the last thing that happened.

After I vandalized the school… I went home… then I started to gain a lot of youki… Then… everything started to become fuzzy… after that… I think Moka and Tsukune came to visit me…

Then memories of Tsukune’s bloody and mangled back come to mind, causing Rainee’s heart to plunge into her stomach.

Tsukune!

The shock of that memory pushes Rainee to sit up despite the pain. She groans in pain. Looking at the metal cuff on her right hand, she uses youki to increase her muscle mass. She groans in pain again as she quickly realizes that her youki isn’t flowing correctly.

What… happened?

Using her youki, she starts to map out the internal pathways of energy within her body, only to find that almost all of it is completely shattered.

Rainee starts to panic. If her pathways were damaged, it would take an inordinate amount of time for her to repair it, making her unable to utilize youki in the meantime. But her pathways aren’t just damaged, they’re completely obliterated.

She would need to rebuild it from the ground up, something she has no clue about. After all, youki pathways are something naturally built over time from childhood to adulthood.

It was then that Rainee realized why they used a basic metal cuff to chain her to the bed. Whoever cuffed her knew that she wouldn’t be able to escape.

She started to panic even more but she forcefully calmed herself down.

Don’t panic… I’m in the clinic. I’m still in the school… No one will kill me here…

Rainee knows that she’s not in immediate danger so she tries to relax but her mind quickly wanders back to Tsukune.

Did I hurt Tsukune… Is Moka fine?

Rainee feels a guilty pang in her chest as she imagines Tsukune in another clinic bed, separated from her by closed curtains.

“Tsukune? Are you there?”

Hearing no response, Rainee sighs.

He’s not here…

She tries the cuff again but without any youki, she’s just as helpless as a normal human.

Eventually, the bruises, fatigue, and pain combine to exhaust Rainee both mentally and physically.

Sleep takes her once more.

Due to the pain, Rainee’s sleep wasn’t as smooth sailing as she wanted it to be.

…Voices?

“... pathways… destroyed…”

“Who… it?”

“Months… Years… recover…”

As her sleep slowly eluded her, the voices became clearer.

“Was it the girl or the boy who destroyed it?”

“We’re still not sure.”

“As usual, he is cryptic about it.”

Then silence.

What? Why did they stop talking?

Rainee wondered why the voices suddenly stopped. She became anxious and didn’t dare open her eyes.

“She’s awake.”

Rainee’s eyes shot open and she tried to jump off the bed, forgetting that she was cuffed.

She groans in pain when the cuff pulls her back.

“Ow…”

The bruises on her body reverberate with immense pain. Slowly and with a bit of resignation, Rainee turns to the sources of the two voices.

Surprisingly, she only finds one individual standing by her bed.

It was a man with a tall and giant stature, easily dwarfing every other student Rainee had seen before.

T-tall!

Rainee didn’t have a clear view of this monstrous individual but she was sure that he was 7 feet tall.

After a quick inspection, Rainee notices that the entirety of this individual's body is concealed in some manner. The tall, robust man is adorned in a finely crafted tuxedo, and his sizable hands are covered in sleek black gloves. A mirror-like mask veils his face, extending to cover his entire head, leaving no trace of hair or skin exposed.

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Freaky…

But before Rainee could offer any words, the masked man spoke.

“There’s no time. Yes, there is. Shut up, we’ll terrify her. Maybe, we should work on our disguise first.”

One voice with different content and intents spoke. It was as if the person was speaking to themselves. They continue to do this for a while until a dominant voice starts controlling the conversation.

“Apologies ms. Brennan, I am Cottus and I am here to dole out your punishment.”

Rainee felt apprehensive by this man’s sudden appearance.

“Punishment??”

Rainee quickly acts like she’s harshly wronged.

“What do you mean punishment?? I did nothing wrong!”

Despite her efforts to act like she’s the victim, Cottus’ next words are cold and decisive.

“We are aware that you are the one who spread hundreds of rumors and did acts of dangerous vandalism in front of the academy.”

Rainee bites her lips. If her accuser is that sure and is willing to use force, she can’t do much about it, especially in her current condition.

“You have no evidence,” She says with strong conviction.

“That is true but the ones who are coming here do not care for evidence.”

Rainee frowns.

“The Public Safety Commission.” She says with disgust.

Cottus nods.

“I believe that someone of your skills has found unsavory rumors about them.”

Rainee looks away from Cottus.

“I’ve heard what they do to monsters that disobey them…”

Cottus nods, aware of what Rainee knows.

“Yes. And you have a choice. You can either choose the punishment I will give you or you can face them instead.”

Rainee frowns.

“I don’t know you. And while the Public Safety Commission is terrifying, I trust an evil I know than one I don’t.”

Cottus remains silent for a moment, as if deep in thought. However, his featureless mask and motionless demeanor make it impossible for anyone to discern his thoughts.

“I agree but your youki pathways are gone. You are nothing but a glorified human now, unable to make use of your gnomish powers to save yourself.”

Rainee grits her teeth.

How did he know what monster I was? Is he with the school?

“We can help you,” Cottus says with a powerful commanding tone.

Curious, Rainee couldn’t help but ask.

“Who’s we?”

“If you cooperate and work with us, we can consider introducing you.”

Rainee frowns.

“I… if I go with you, you’ll help me fix this damage?”

“Yes.”

Rainee glares at Cottus’ faceless mask.

“Okay, I’ll do it but I need proof. I can’t just accept this because you said that you can help me. Prove it.”

Cottus and Rainee continue to stare at each other, waiting for the other to break.

Fortunately for Rainee, Cottus acts first. He reaches out his arm towards Rainee's cuffed right hand. She sees a complicated magical circle form at Cottus' hand, from which he conjures a unique spell onto her arm.

An overwhelming sense of relief washes over Rainee's right arm. It's akin to a previously clogged pipe being cleared of all its accumulated debris.

With a bit of manipulation, Rainee could summon bits of earth just in her right hand. Her control and power were weak, not even 10% of the power she had during her fight with Moka.

But to overpower weak metallic cuffs, this was enough.

Infusing her right arm with youki, Rainee’s right arm then swells with muscle, allowing her to effortlessly rip off the metal cuff from the bed.

Once she drains the youki, she groans in pain due to the exertion.

Cottus waits for Rainee.

After withstanding the pain, Rainee goes down the bed and turns toward Cottus.

“So… where to now?”

Cottus nods and swiftly retrieves a red, diamond-shaped gem from his pocket, which immediately begins to glow, generating multiple magical circles.

The circles grow in size and envelop both Cottus and Rainee. After the circles stop growing, they disappear.

----------------------------------------

Tsukune looked at the unconscious Moka and Rainee. He didn’t know which to help first.

On one hand, is Moka, his current closest friend, while on the other side is Rainee, a girl who endured a devastating attack from Inner Moka but did lie and endanger the two of them.

Unfortunately for Rainee, Tsukune’s choice was easy.

Sorry Rainee!

Still fueled by adrenaline, Tsukune rushes back to the academy with Moka in his arms.

It took some time but Tsukune’s stronger body was quicker compared to before. He was able to go to the clinic in record time.

Mayumi shot Tsukune a hostile stare as he brought in Moka, similar to their previous encounter, but this time he appeared even more bloodied and battered.

“Tsukune…”

Mayumi’s voice was laced with a mix of anger and disappointment. She sighs and commands Tsukune.

“Set Moka in one of the beds and come here.”

“Sorry Miss Mayumi, there’s another wounded student out there that I have to get.”

“I said. Come. Here.”

Tsukune’s courage quickly withers in front of Mayumi’s scolding. He does as he’s instructed and sets Moka in one of the beds. He then approaches Mayumi.

“Miss Mayumi, I have a friend who’s also wounded near the girl's dormitory that I also need to carry.”

Mayumi sighs and creates a magical circle in her hand.

From nothing, a moving skeleton appears beside her.

Mayumi speaks in a language unfamiliar to Tsukune. It seems the newly formed bone-white skeleton understands and leaves the room.

“Stop worrying about useless things. My servant will collect your ‘friend’. Now, come here before I tie you up.”

Tsukune obediently listens and sits on the chair in front of Mayumi.

“Turn around.”

Tsukune does as he’s told.

Mayumi starts to assess the damage that Tsukune took.

“I can’t feel your youki. You must’ve pushed yourself this time to be so dry.”

Mayumi frowns.

“You’re not going to regenerate if you’re out of youki and once your adrenaline runs out, you’re gonna feel all of this pain all at once.”

Tsukune felt a cold sweat run down his back as he realized the gravity of what Mayumi just said. Desperate to avoid that terrifying situation, he quickly asks Mayumi for help.

“I… is there anything you can do to help me through it?”

Mayumi sighs.

“Yes. Don’t worry. I’ll set you up with some painkillers and youki regeneration medicine… you’re lucky that the headmaster funds all of this.”

Worried, Tsukune asks Mayumi a question.

“I uh… just curious but what would happen if someone without any youki takes that?”

While taking some medical tools from a nearby cabinet, Mayumi answers.

“Hmmm… I don’t know. This is a medicine made for monsters with youki… the only things that are without youki are normal animals and humans… Well, it’s probably better to not give them to animals or humans.”

Tsukune takes an audible gulp as Mayumi hands him two pill bottles.

“This painkiller is strong but with your regeneration and stamina, you should be fine. This regeneration pill is to be taken only when your youki doesn’t return fast enough. Don’t take too many or you might become drunk on excess youki, okay?”

Tsukune nods, terrified of the two pill bottles in his hand. Mayumi taps the painkiller, snapping Tsukune out of his thoughts.

“You better take that soon. Your body’s adrenaline is going to stop soon.”

And just in time, Tsukune starts to feel a sting on his back. As he’s about to stand up, he feels himself stuck in place. Looking down, he notices bandages wrapping around his entire body.

“I didn’t say for you to go. I still need to remove some of the rocks lodged on your back.”

Mayumi hands Tsukune a glass of water.

Tsukune was tempted to make an excuse to drink the medicine later but the pain on his back started to become more prominent. He grits his teeth in pain.

Opening the bottle of painkillers, Tsukune takes one of the tablets and as Mayumi said, it was very effective. The feeling of pain in his back almost immediately subsides.

Mayumi then starts to take out some of the rocks embedded in Tsukune’s back, causing some minor spikes of pain. Fortunately, the painkillers were as strong as Mayumi advertised. Unfortunately, it’s too strong for a human.

Tsukune’s vision starts to become blurry as the painkillers start to knock out his entire body as well.

But before he falls unconscious, he sees Rainee being brought in by the same skeleton that Mayumi created earlier.

That’s… that’s good.

----------------------------------------

Mayumi has just finished treating Tsukune, who is now unconscious, and has settled him into one of the beds. She then turns her attention to Rainee, beginning to attend to her injuries.

While her expression was mostly covered with bandages, Mayumi’s eyebrows seemed to frown.

No… Her pathways are destroyed… who did this?

She then turns to Tsukune and frowns.

Is that why he’s out of youki? This technique would require massive amounts of it… It’s been centuries since I’ve seen something like this.

Frowning, Mayumi tries to think of a way to fix Rainee’s issue.

No, the headmaster wouldn’t spend so much funds on one person, especially if they’re the ones who started the fight.

Mayumi looks at Rainee with pity.

“672, get me records of Rainee Brennan. I need to see what type of monster she is.”

672, the newly summoned skeleton, forms from nothing and appears beside Mayumi. It then moves toward Mayumi’s storage room and pulls out Rainee’s personal files. It gives it to Mayumi. Once it finishes her order, it fades away.

“Okay, let’s see… Species… Species…”

Mayumi browses Rainee’s file and quickly finds that she’s a gnome. Closing the file, she shakes her head.

A pity… gnomes… rich in youki and an affinity with manipulating earth… but otherwise very mundane in almost every other aspect.

Mayumi turns toward Tsukune.

Very much unlike vampires…

Sighing, Mayumi goes to work until she hears a knock on the door.

Turning toward the entrance, Mayumi sees a familiar green-haired student, wearing rounded glasses, enter her clinic.

"Good day, Nurse Mayumi. We've been informed that a student named Rainee Brennan is here. I'm from the Public Safety Commission, tasked with ensuring she remains here until my superior arrives."

Them again…

Turning toward Rainee, Mayumi frowns.

“Sure, she’s here.”

While the Public Safety Commission student brings Rainee to bed, Mayumi thinks.

She won’t receive any help but I should tell the headmaster about this.