Chapter 9 Danger Signage
Cecilia Blackwood's POV
My excitement bubbled over. If I could really summon spirits beyond my level, how cool would that be!
I could even find a cute, adorable spirit to be my pet!
At the thought, I raised my hands mid-air, forming seals while murmuring the incantation.
The next second, Kane's large hand reached over and snapped the book shut.
His sudden action startled me. "What are you doing? Can't you see I'm busy!"
Honestly, I felt offended—or more accurately, frightened.
A flash of apology crossed Kane's face, though his tone remained flat. "You can't attempt this summoning circle. You absolutely cannot summon spirits beyond your level."
I scratched my head, confused. "Why not? Don't you want me to summon spirits? Don't you think summoning spirits would be cool?"
Until now, my thoughts had fixated on how cool it would be—or rather, on finding myself another friend.
Kane shook his head slowly. "Because this belongs exclusively to Dark Magic. Anyone else who attempts it will have their soul devoured, suffer backlash, and eventually become confused and lose themselves."
"Do you want to become a soulless, unconscious shell?" Kane spoke each word deliberately, clearly not joking.
I swallowed hard. "Well... that won't be necessary."
I quickly pushed the book aside, realizing he'd just saved me again.
But Kane's gaze didn't shift away—he continued staring directly at me.
Though I didn't touch my face, I could feel my cheeks warming, and not from fever.
"Are you interested in summoning?" Kane finally spoke.
"Yes." I nodded affirmatively. "If I could summon all sorts of strange creatures, wouldn't life be so much more interesting?"
"Friends can't be with me every moment. If I could summon spirit pets, I could just call them out whenever I wanted to chat."
The next second, Kane held out his phone. "Add your contact."
Still as economical with words as ever, as if speaking more might poison him. But I'd grown used to it.
We exchanged contact information—perhaps the first step toward becoming friends.
"Actually, I could teach you. Or more accurately, we could study together." Kane looked at me calmly.
"You mean the details about summoning?"
"Yes."
"Sure, though it won't really be studying together—more like you teaching me one-sidedly. After all, my mind's completely blank on this subject."
Playfully, I clasped my hands together in a mock bow. "From now on, I should call you Mr. Kane—or maybe Professor Kane!"
Kane's lips twitched slightly, his expression uncomfortable. I realized I'd overstepped.
"Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. I was just joking—please don't take it seriously!"
"That's what joking is?" Kane asked, though it sounded more like he was questioning himself.
"Haven't you ever joked with anyone? Well, given your personality, I suppose joking is a luxury for you."
"But if you don't like it, I won't do it again."
I'd already decided to stop joking with him. Since no one had ever joked with him before, his discomfort made sense.
But to my shock, Kane actually nodded in agreement. "If you're willing, you can joke. You can even teach me how to joke—though I might not be a very bright student."
I couldn't help but laugh. "That was a joke right there! You learn fast!"
I patted his shoulder and turned back toward the dorm.
I didn't want him to walk me back—not because of his identity, but simply because it wasn't necessary.
But once Kane decided on something, no one could change his mind. He insisted on walking me to my dormitory door.
"Alright, I'm here. You should head back now."
"Tomorrow..." Kane hesitated.
I frowned slightly. "What about tomorrow? If something's wrong, just say it. Don't be so hesitant."
"Will we eat together tomorrow too?"
I could feel that asking this question had taken all of Kane's strength.
"Of course we will. You're my only friend right now. Who else would I eat with?"
The corner of Kane's mouth curved upward slightly. Though the arc was small, he was definitely smiling—perhaps his first smile ever.
It looked good, just a bit subtle.
When I returned to the dorm, I found all my belongings marked with hazard warning labels—very conspicuous!
"What are you doing? Why did you put hazard labels on my things?"
Besides the pigeon alarm clock and desk, even the clothes I planned to wear tomorrow were covered with warning labels. They might as well be ruined!
No one answered my question.
"What? Too cowardly to admit it? I'll ask one more time—who did this!"
Rowan stood up from her chair. "I did it."
"Why would you do this? Even though we're no longer friends, we're not enemies either!"
I'd thought our relationship had become that of strangers sharing a dorm. Apparently, I was wrong.
Rowan laughed coldly. "You say we're not enemies, so we're not? I already told you clearly—stay away from Kane. But you wouldn't listen."
"Have you considered that being around him won't just curse you—you'll drag us down too!"
"So you still have a chance to turn back. Just cut ties with him, and we can still be friends."
Rowan extended her hand toward me, but whether her expression or gesture, everything felt fake.
I naturally wouldn't agree to this unreasonable demand. "I'll say it again—who I befriend is my own business. No one gets to control that!"
"As for curses and being dragged down—that's all your imagination. Kane isn't that kind of person!"
Roommates Eddie and Domi laughed simultaneously.
"It's only been this long, and Cecilia's already defending him. Kane definitely has a problem!"
"Exactly! Kane's first curse on you is bewitching your heart. You can still turn back now—wait too long and you won't even know how you died!"
I didn't want to hear any more. I reached out and tore the hazard labels off my belongings.
"I'm warning you—this is the last time. If you dare put these labels on again, we're done!"
Rowan sneered. "Getting angry now? Well, do you still want this?"
A necklace appeared in her hand. My expression changed instantly—that necklace was the only thing my mother had left me!
I'd been afraid of losing it if I wore it, so I'd specifically placed it in the academy-issued safe.
But now, looking again, the safe had been pried open...