"What the fuck was that?! You?! Why did you do that?! What is wrong with you, you psycho?!"
Back in Katherine's class, her voice cracked as she screamed—and with it, the simulation around them began to dissolve. The holographic walls of the bank flickered and faded, revealing the sterile white metal walls of the underground training facility.
Riley, unfazed, calmly lowered the gun he had used to shoot the hostage. His eyes remained fixed on the girl he'd just shot.
Only… she wasn't really a girl. As the simulation collapsed, her body deconstructed—first into a mannequin, then fully revealing the robotic frame underneath. All of the people in the simulation—hostage, kidnapper, bystanders—were robots. The holographic illusion was gone. All that remained were metallic skeletons scattered across the training hall.
"Why would you shoot the hostage?!" Katherine stormed up to him, fury burning in every step. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"Because I am here for you, Ms. Scarlet Mage," Riley replied evenly. "You told me to find you if someone caused me trouble. I was only following your instructions."
"What…?" Katherine's face twisted in disbelief. "That—what?! That's not the point! You shot the hostage!"
"I wanted the simulation to end," Riley shrugged. "We have the same program in our basement. Eliminating the hostage is the fastest way to conclude it."
"I was ending it!" Katherine clenched her fists. "I had already taken down the kidnapper! Why would you shoot the little girl like a fucking psycho when it was clearly over?!"
"No, it was not." Riley shook his head.
"What do you mean?!" She snapped.
"There were more bank robbers, possibly two or more."
Katherine blinked. "What?"
"The bank being simulated was large, Ms. Scarlet Mage. It is improbable that a single robber could pull it off alone."
Riley gestured to the inactive robots scattered around them. "Sister and I were given a similar scenario five months ago. There were hidden assailants among the civilians. I assume this simulation would be no different."
Katherine opened her mouth to argue, but before she could speak, a panel slid open on the wall. Blinkshot entered the training hall, followed by several students, all looking stunned.
"The boy is correct, Scarlet Mage," Blinkshot said, his gaze fixed on Riley as he approached. "There were two additional robbers posing as civilians in the simulation. He's right about that."
Then his tone darkened. "But what wasn't right—was shooting the hostage. That was never an acceptable solution. Even if this is a simulation, that is not how heroes should think, son."
Riley nodded without hesitation. "I understand, sir Blinkshot. But I needed Ms. Katherine."
Blinkshot didn't respond right away. He simply stared at Riley, eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to read his thoughts. Behind him, the students murmured among themselves—but not for the same reasons.
"Who's that? Is he… an albino?"
"I saw him last week in the dorms—with Katherine."
"He's kinda… cute."
"Wait—do you think they're, like, together?"
"Shh. He's, what… twelve? Thirteen?"
"So what? Katherine's still a minor, too."
"Ew, stop. She's basically a cougar at this point."
"Yeah, but it will still be legal."
"Not for long."
"You guys know I can hear you, right?" Katherine snapped, glaring at her classmates. But they only chuckled sheepishly and looked away.
She groaned and turned to Blinkshot. "So… what now, Mr. Blinkshot? Do I reset the simulation?"
Blinkshot, still watching Riley, finally blinked and looked at her.
"No," he said simply. "You're out of time. You fail this round. Just go with the boy—he clearly came here for something. You're dismissed, rookie."
"What?!" Katherine's jaw dropped as she stepped forward. "You can't be serious! That wasn't my fault! If it weren't for—ugh, never mind. This isn't up for discussion, is it?"
"No."
"Great." Katherine threw her hands in the air, then shot Riley a glare. But after a moment of looking at his blank, almost innocent expression, she sighed and waved him forward.
"Come on." She walked out of the training hall without waiting.
Riley gave a polite nod to Blinkshot before following her. The moment they were outside, Katherine turned on him and almost poked his forehead.
"You owe me, you little psycho." The frustration in her breaths was obvious, but more exasperated than angry. "I mean, seriously. I read your heart. Not even a single twitch when you did it. Even knowing it was a simulation, that's... not normal."
"I am not normal, Ms. Katherine."
"You—"
Before she could say more, she noticed someone standing just a few feet away.
"Wait—V?" Katherine blinked in surprise as Victoria gave her a small wave.
"You… know who I am?" Victoria asked, stepping closer.
"Of course," Katherine nodded. "Everyone does. I've seen you around campus. Are you officially starting school now?"
"Mm-hmm," Victoria nodded. "They said I was ready—and that I needed to spend more time with other people."
"Huh." Katherine glanced at Riley. "Weird choice… but I get it. There's something about this guy that's just… oddly distracting."
Victoria blinked at that. "Do you… have a crush on him?"
The sparks in her eyes flared slightly, crackling in the air. Katherine, however, just stared at her for a second—then laughed.
"Wow. You really are children," Katherine muttered, then narrowed her eyes. "But wait... how did you even know where to find me?"
"Ms. Hera," Riley answered calmly, pointing toward the corner.
Katherine followed his finger—and sure enough, there was Hera, peeking from behind a pillar, barely holding back laughter.
"You—" Katherine took a step toward her, but Hera vanished before she could get a word in. All she could do was sigh and pinch the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"Seriously. Why am I always surrounded by children?" She groaned. "Ugh... I swear, I'm getting her back for this. Anyway, you got what you wanted. I'm here."
She crossed her arms and gave Riley a resigned look.
"What can I do for you, your highness?"
***
Riley didn't waste time. He brought Katherine to the mall—but when they arrived, Hannah and the others were nowhere to be seen.
"We… were gone a while," Victoria said with a sheepish smile as she stood beside Riley. "Maybe they went ahead to the bingsoo place?"
"Ooh, bingsu?" Katherine perked up. "I love that place. Spent half of my first and second years hanging out there. Come on—since you dragged me out here, the least you can do is buy me dessert."
With no other leads, the awkward trio made their way to the Korean shaved ice cafe. And sure enough, Hannah and the others were already inside, enjoying their bowls of shaved ice.
"Guess your sister won the duel," Victoria whispered as they stepped inside. The soft chime of the entrance bell drew everyone's attention.
"Riley!" Hannah waved from their table the moment she saw him. Riley was about to wave back—but his eyes froze on her face.
There was a large bruise around her left eye.
Your face, Sister. Your perfect face... I knew it. Steph needs to die. But how? It would be difficult to—
"Riley?"
Victoria's voice broke through the silence in his head.
"Are you okay?" she asked gently as she waved her hand at his face.
"I am fine, V," he muttered. "I was just thinking about what happened to Sister's face."
Victoria turned to look and quietly gasped at the bruise—but said nothing. Katherine, however, didn't hold back.
"That's completely normal," she sighed, casually slipping her hands into her jacket pockets. "Honestly, that's nothing. I broke my arm three times in the second year from all the duels. I fought in the foodcourt, the courtyard, the field, the rooftop... you name it."
Riley quickly turned his head toward her as he heard her words.
"Then you know the Academy well, Ms. Katherine?"
"Sure do." She shrugged.
"Then, do you know where I could take someone to quietly kill them without anyone ever knowing?"