Chapter 67: Familiar Level 2

She woke up exhausted, as though she had not slept enough. A dull heaviness still numbed every muscle in her body, and her mind seemed to drift through a thick fog it stubbornly refused to emerge from. She had the strange sensation of having spent the night running rather than resting, as though her body had slept while her mind had never truly been given any relief.

Which was exactly the case.

The drawn curtains smothered every trace of outside light, plunging the room into deep darkness broken only by the slow breathing surrounding her. She was curled up against the warm body of her best friend, who was snoring softly in complete darkness. Eva's steady breathing vibrated gently against her, accompanied by tiny discreet snores — almost endearing — that probably would have earned instant murder if anyone dared mention them to her after waking up.

The warmth radiating from her was comforting.

Instinctively, Blanche moved even closer, seeking that familiar presence amid her crushing exhaustion without even thinking about it. The blankets still held the warmth of their tangled bodies, while a faint scent of shampoo and clean laundry lingered around Eva. For a few seconds, Blanche remained motionless, half-awake, suspended in that peaceful moment where the world still seemed distant and unimportant.

Then reality slowly returned.

The missions. The monsters. The magic. The lingering sensation of progress still burning beneath her skin even here, in the fragile calm of the dormitory.

She quickly fell asleep again.

This time, following Argy's advice, she returned to the barracks first — once again in the middle of the night. The transition was brutal. The muffled softness of the bedroom vanished, replaced by the cold, dry air outside.

The night felt different here.

Heavier.

More real.

Seventh Level: The East, Part 3.

Objective: Rid the world of vermin. One hundred and fifty goblins.

Time Limit: None.

Reward: To be determined.

She took the road north. After a few minutes, the sound of footsteps echoed behind her. Blanche froze, scanning the surroundings she could now distinguish more clearly.

Nothing.

She resumed walking cautiously. She could hear nothing, but she knew she was being watched. She drew her sword.

And what exactly do you plan to do with that, little mouse?

"Phoenix!" she shouted. "This isn't funny! Stop freaking me out!"

Between two trees, something moved gracefully. A dark mass growled. A beast with deep black fur and silver eyes she knew all too well.

"Phoenix?" she repeated, stunned.

Do you like it? I love it.

The demon stepped out of the shadows: a gigantic black panther, far larger than any real one. The size of a full-grown bear at the very least.

At first, only its eyes appeared in the darkness — two silver full moons floating silently between the rocks, motionless and patient. Then the rest of the creature slowly detached itself from the shadows, as though the night itself had decided to take shape.

Its fur absorbed light instead of reflecting it, a black so deep it looked unreal, almost liquid in places. With every movement, the massive muscles rolling beneath its coat suggested perfectly controlled power, barely contained within that oversized feline frame. Its shoulders towered over Blanche; its paws, broad as dinner plates, pressed against the ground in unnatural silence despite its colossal weight.

The creature moved with unsettling grace.

Its long tail swayed lazily behind it while a deep vibration rumbled in its chest, like distant thunder before a storm. When it slightly lifted its head, the light from the celestial bodies revealed the ivory gleam of its fangs — too long, perhaps too numerous — hidden behind still lips.

And yet, the most terrifying thing was neither its size nor its claws capable of tearing a man apart in a single strike.

It was the gaze.

A calm gaze.

An aware one.

"Holy shit... Phoenix..."

He rubbed his enormous head against her face. She took the opportunity to touch him: he was magnificent, imposing, almost unreal. She sheathed her sword.

You're going to need your rope.

"Huh?"

Still dazzled, she tried to focus. The familiar sniffed impatiently.

Little mouse. Your rope.

She searched through her bag and pulled out the old rope from her climb up the tree.

"What do you want me to do with it?"

Pass it between my front legs.

Hesitant but obedient, she followed his instructions: rope over the beast, just beneath the neck, then crossed under the front legs while leaving some slack. She looped it twice. The panther gently lay down.

Take off your scarf and wrap it around the rope up there.

She obeyed... and suddenly understood.

"You're kidding?!"

Don't make me beg, little mouse.

She rolled her eyes skyward.

Fuck.

She had never ridden a horse before, let alone a panther. She checked her bag, adjusted her cape, then awkwardly climbed onto his back. His gleaming fur offered no grip whatsoever — hence the usefulness of the rope. He stood up without warning; she clung to him with all her strength.

Hold on tight. I feel like stretching my legs.

Blanche screamed when he leaped forward, gripping tightly with her thighs. But Phoenix controlled his stride perfectly. After a while, fear gave way to amazement. The panther radiated comforting warmth, and despite the northern cold, she was not freezing. The wind lashed violently around her, but her cape and the agility of her mount protected her.

See? You were right to unlock me first.

She did not even answer: she had just spotted the river.

The journey that had taken her hours with Argy lasted only one hour riding the panther. Phoenix leaped from rock to rock without getting wet.

The barracks soon came into view. A dark silhouette stood atop the roof. The building remained gloomy both day and night, but Blanche knew how pleasant it actually was to live there. Appearances could be deceiving.

The moment she dismounted, the shadow jumped from the roof, landing smoothly in front of the entrance. She recognized that aura instantly, that desert-like warmth she had missed so much.

"Neige. "

"Aaron," she replied, remembering her username at the last second.

A dazzling smile lit up his face, making her heart beat far too fast.

"Let's go home," he said, holding out his hand.

She gave him hers without hesitation. He pulled her against him. She practically melted when she felt the coldness of his body from having waited so long on the roof. Then he released her, and they walked inside hand in hand. Phoenix used the opportunity to disappear.

Warmth enveloped her the moment they entered. They removed their capes, and she set down her bag while staring at the magnificent drakion scales — pearly, perfectly aligned.

"Those are mine, right?"

"Oh... yes," he admitted.

For the first time, she saw him blush.

Then his icy mask fell back into place.

"We need to talk," he said firmly.