The Instructors glanced at each other.

They realized that it wasn't the appropriate time to ask about Darell's miraculous recovery.

So, they silently left the medicine hall.

Even the Dean, himself reluctantly left the medicine hall.

He had seen Darell's miraculous recovery.

He wanted to find out what was the cause of the recovery.

Because, it might disrupt his and the King's future plans regarding Darell.

Nonetheless, he shook his head and kept walking out to the exit of the medicine hall.

Darell, on the other hand, messaged the spot where Emma slapped him.

Weirdly, he felt pain when she did so.

Even though his defense was higher than her strength.

But, he pushed these thoughts to the back of his hand.

Because he had to face something more important.

He tried to speak.

But, he couldn't.

It was as if there was a knot in his throat.

He couldn't bear to see Emma's crying face.

* SLAP *

Emma slapped him again.

Tears continued to fall down from her eyes.

She didn't try to stop them.

She was venting her pent-up emotions.

* SLAP *

She slapped him yet, again.

Darell could feel his heart ache seeing her teary-eyed face.

He remained still, letting her do as she pleased.

She then, pounded his chest with her fists frustratingly.

She continued to do so for a few minutes until, finally she stopped.

Then, she clung to him desperately.

Her grip tightened as if she was afraid that if she let go, she would lose him forever.

Darell sighed and hugged her back.

He gently stroked her hair, causing her to shiver in delight.

She lifted her head and with her tear-streaked eyes gazing into his, she pleaded, " "Promise me, Darell. Promise me you'll never leave me again. If you do, I swear I'll find a way to follow you even in death and haunt you forever."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

He wiped the tears from her eyes using his thumb and he vowed, "I will never leave you. Not now. Not ever."

A radiant smile formed on her face when she heard Darell.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw her beautiful smile.

So, he kissed her tenderly on the forehead.

She blushed heavily and bashfully buried her face in his chest.

He couldn't help but smile at her cute reaction.

He looked at Lilith who was standing nearby.

She was looking at him with tears glistening in her eyes.

With a smile that mirrored Emma's.

He smiled at her and gestured her to come.

Lilith leapt into his arms eagerly and hugged him tightly.

Her voice trembled as she pleaded, "I don't want to be alone, brother. Please, never leave me."

Darell's hand caressed her hair and he whispered in her ear, "I promise."

He then beckoned Eric and Ariel to join them, and together they formed a circle of unwavering support and love.

They held each other tightly, cherishing the warmth and solace that emanated from their unity, the passing minutes marked by the beat of their intertwined hearts.

After a few minutes, Darell and the others settled in their seats in the medicine hall, where Darell proceeded to ask them a series of questions.

They shared with him the disheartening news that he had been unconscious for an entire week.

This revelation left him in shock and he realized the anguish they must have experienced seeing him so helpless.

Darell let out a sigh and made a mental note never to exhaust all of his mana again.

The consequences were evidently grave, and he didn't want to subject himself or his friends to such trauma again.

They proceeded to fill him in on their activities during the past week.

Darell couldn't help but be taken aback when he learned that they had reached level 10.

He felt satisfied and proud on seeing them progress.

Furthermore, they revealed that the Dean had been regularly visiting him during his unconscious state.

This revelation surprised Darell, as he had never crossed paths with the Dean before.

To his surprise, the Dean had been questioning about his abilities through them.

Darell's eyes narrowed, and he realized that he needed to be cautious around the Dean.

While he remained unsure of the Dean's intentions, he resolved to distance himself from any plans involving the Dean.

They turned their attention to Darell's remarkable rapid regeneration.

He calmly said that his Space ability granted him a passive regeneration capability.

Deep down, he felt guilty for deceiving them, but he believed it was necessary for their own well-being.

Midway through their conversation, the door swung open.

An Instructor stepped into their room in the medicine hall.

"Congratulations on your remarkable recovery, Darell," the Instructor spoke with a congenial tone, acknowledging the progress he had made.

Darell graciously inclined his head in appreciation, expressing his gratitude for the kind words.

However, the Instructor's demeanor shifted, taking on a more serious tone.

He relayed a message that instantly unsettled Darell.

"The Dean has specifically requested your presence in his office," the Instructor said.

Darell's eyes narrowed, his gut telling that something was about to happem.

He let out a sigh, a premonition of impending unease settling over him.

With a subtle gesture, Darell acknowledged the Instructor, signifying his willingness to comply.

He bid his friends farewell, briefly conveying his departure, and then obediently followed the Instructor's lead, making his way towards the Dean's office.

The Dean's office was located at a central position within the sprawling Academy grounds, encircled by an array of bustling halls and corridors.

When he reached there, he looked at the office and the surrounding halls and corridors.

The structure before him appeared deceptively modest, exuding an air of simplicity that belied its significance.

For other people, it could easily be mistaken for a humble thrift shop rather than the sanctum of the esteemed Dean.

Darell took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

The door suddenly, swung open by itself.

Shaking his head, he entered.

He was greeted by an opulent interior that starkly contrasted the unassuming façade he had witnessed moments earlier.

His eyes fell upon a figure seated within the room, a man whose flowing white locks spoke of wisdom and experience.

Despite his apparent age, his visage possessed an ageless quality, free from any blemishes or lines of time.

The Dean, immersed in his contemplation, glanced up from his teacup, fixing his gaze upon Darell with an inscrutable curiosity.

Gesturing towards an empty seat, he silently invited Darell to join him.

Placing his teacup down with deliberate care, the Dean wasted no time in getting to the heart of the matter.

His piercing eyes narrowed as he broached the subject.

"Do you possess a regeneration ability?", the Dean asked.

Darell nodded calmly, acutely aware that the truth was not an option he could afford to divulge.

The Dean further asked, "How did you manage to overcome a rank 06 beast? Given your level, it should have been an insurmountable challenge to even face such a formidable opponent, let alone emerge victorious."

Knowing that revealing the skills bestowed upon him by the system was not an option, Darell lied, crafting a plausible facade.

"When I delved into the Space ability scrolls provided by the Instructors in the library, I stumbled upon a skill that allowed me to temporarily enhance my stats at the cost of a considerable amount of MP," Darell fabricated, his tone betraying no hint of dishonesty.

The Dean, though initially skeptical, was left with little choice but to accept Darell's explanation.

Aware of the enigmatic nature of Space ability users and their unfathomable skills, he understood that conventional understanding often fell short in comprehending their capabilities.

As the questioning continued, Darell maintained his poker face, adeptly fabricating responses to sidestep any further questions..

Hours later, as the evening rays of sunlight illuminated the sky, Darell exited the Dean's office.

He was annoyed.

Annoyed by the old bastard.

Annoyed by his repeated pestering.

He thought, 'I have to maintain a safe distance from this old coot. He looks and feels cunning. I have to be careful around him.'

He quickly made his way back to his dorm room.

A quick bath and change of clothes refreshed him.

And, he joined his friends at the crowded dining hall.

After a satisfying meal, they bid each other goodnight and retreated to their respective dorm rooms.

Darell lay on his bed, his mind wandering to the events that had transpired while he was unconscious.

He replayed the conversation he had with the Dean, analyzing every detail and wondering what the man's intentions were.

His thoughts then drifted to the battle with the rank 06 beast, and the warning that the system had given him.

He remembered how he had ignored it in the heat of the moment, and a pang of regret shot through him.

He vowed to never disregard the system's words again.

When he made this promise to himself, a voice suddenly echoed in his head, startling him.

It's been a long time, host.