Chapter 75 - Elise van Doren
After leaving the building, Theo didn’t return to campus.
Instead, he spent the next few hours walking through different parts of the city, checking listings and visiting a few apartments that had already been prepared for short-term lease.
Most of them were either too expensive for what they offered or located in areas that weren’t close to anything.
Only as the sun started to set did he finally settle on one.
It wasn’t anything luxurious, but it was clean, quiet, and close enough to both the academy and the Northern Line hunting group.
After signing the lease and transferring the payment, Theo stepped inside and placed his bag down.
For a moment, he just stood there, looking around the empty space.
Then, he let out a quiet breath and sat down on his couch.
’This is good,’ he thought. ’I think Owen’ll be pretty satisfied too.’
They were both going to be sharing this apartment for a while after all.
Better make sure it was all good.
Without wasting any more time, he took out his phone and opened the files Ethan had sent him.
Several reports appeared on his screen, each describing different victims.
As he read through them, his eyes narrowed slightly.
The incidents always had the same things in common.
It was always late at night, around the back alleys, and the sudden transformation.
’But even with that info... no one’s even been able to see what’s behind this?’
The more he read, the stranger it got.
There were several witness statements, yet no one had spotted even the shadow of the creature.
’It’s like they just turn out of nowhere...’
He’d never heard of something like that being possible.
’It can’t be a high-level creature either since the city would’ve long been able to track it down.’
Theo wrecked his brain thinking about it.
Though, even as time passed, nothing came to mind.
’I’ll have to see it for myself tomorrow,’ he thought, shutting his phone off. ’That’s the only way.’
Just as he leaned back, a knock sounded at the door.
Theo tilted his head for a moment before getting up and walking over.
The moment he opened it, he froze for a second.
Then, he couldn’t help himself.
He let out a full-on laugh as Owen stood in front of him, his face covered in bruises, patches of blue and black spreading across his cheek and jaw.
’’What happened to you?’’ Theo asked between chuckles.
Owen clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed.
’’Adrian didn’t like me,’’ he said bluntly.
Even so, Theo noticed something else.
Owen didn’t seem down at all.
Instead, there was a strange glint of excitement in his eyes.
’Look at this guy,’ Theo thought. ’Even though he looks like that... it seems like he’s learned a lot.’
Just then, Owen raised his hand slightly.
A single, small, dark-brown spike formed above his palm.
Theo’s eyebrows lifted.
’’You...?’’
Owen grinned despite the bruises.
’’He helped me crack the earth around my core,’’ he said. ’’Though I had to buy the resources myself.’’
Without waiting, Owen walked inside and dropped himself onto the couch, letting out a deep sigh.
’’I’ll need one more resource before the sphere is completely gone though,’’ he added, staring up at the ceiling. ’’But I’m all out of cash for now.’’
Theo fell silent for a moment, staring at his best friend.
Then, without hesitation, he pulled out his phone.
’’Tell me how much you need.’’
Owen’s face turned towards him, a clear hesitation appearing on his face.
’’Are you... sure?’’
A smile formed on Theo’s face.
’’Of course.’’
For a moment, Owen remained quiet, clearly contemplating.
Then he let out a quiet breath before nodding.
’’I’ll need a hundred thousand,’’ he said. ’’That’s enough for one more B-rank cultivation resource.’’
Theo didn’t hesitate.
He tapped on his phone a few times before holding it up.
’’Done.’’
A wide smile grew on Owen’s face, quickly pulling out his own phone.
’’Thanks, man. I’ll definitely pay you back later!’’
The two of them continued talking for a while longer, even discussing which kind of herb he should buy.
Finally, after settling on something, both went to their own rooms.
’Tomorrow will be a long day,’ Theo thought, flicking off the lights. ’I’ll get to see my instructor first thing in the morning.’
And then at night, he’d go on his first mission.
Theo laid down in bed with that thought in mind, falling asleep seconds later.
The next morning, his alarm rang early.
Theo sat up immediately, letting out one yawn before jumping out of bed.
’Let’s go,’ he thought.
After a quick shower and getting dressed, he stepped out of his room.
To his surprise, Owen was already awake and stood against the kitchen counter with a glass of water in his hand.
Owen glanced up as Theo stepped out, raising the glass slightly.
’’Morning,’’ he said, his voice a little rough.
Theo nodded once, walking over.
’’You’re up early,’’ he replied.
Owen shrugged, taking a sip of water.
’’Don’t want to be late,’’ he said. ’’Adrian will beat me up worse for that.’’
A small smile grew on Theo’s face as he shook his head lightly.
He grabbed a bottle of water and tossed it in his bag before turning back to Owen.
’’You ready to go then?’’
Owen picked up his bag and grinned.
’’Of course.’’
With that, the two of them stepped out of their apartment.
Despite it being early in the morning, it seemed like the entire city was already up and on the move.
Cars zoomed past them every second as they walked to the university, joking around the entire time.
Finally, as they reached the front, Owen came to a stop.
’’I need to get going,’’ he said. ’’He’s expecting me to be at the training area in five minutes.’’
Theo nodded.
’’Go then,’’ he said. ’’I’ll probably be there after meeting up with my instructor.’’
Owen nodded once, then turned and jogged off without another word.
Theo watched him disappear into the crowd before finally continuing towards the reception on his own.
’’I wonder who this Elise van Doren is,’’ he muttered. ’’I hope she can teach me well.’’
He pushed through the door and made his way through the corridor.
As he turned the corner, he froze for a moment.
In front of the reception stood a beautiful, elegant lady.
She wore a deep blue dress, matched by similar-colored high heels.
Her hair was a soft blue color, with several strands of silver mixed in, and flowed freely down her back.
Her silver eyes were locked onto him, gazing at him emotionlessly.
’’Are you Theo Lane?’’ she asked, her voice cold and emotionless.
Theo swallowed hard.
Then he nodded.
’’Yes, that’s me.’’
The woman’s expression remained unchanged.
’’Follow me.’’
She turned without waiting, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she walked to the exit.
Theo followed behind her closely, remaining silent as well.
They passed several students along the way, each of whom couldn’t help but stare at them.
Yet, Elise didn’t seem to be bothered at all.
She continued walking as if the attention around her didn’t exist.
Theo followed in silence, his gaze shifting forward again.
After a few more steps, they pushed through the main doors and continued moving across the campus grounds at a steady pace.
A few minutes passed in complete silence before a broad, one-story building came into view, standing slightly apart from the others.
Elise headed straight towards it.
Theo glanced at it, raising an eyebrow.
’So this is what Owen meant,’ he thought. ’The first-year training grounds.’
As they stepped inside, a long corridor stretched out in front of them.
Doors lined both sides, each marked with either a red or green light.
Elise walked past several of them before stopping at one with a green light.
She glanced briefly at Theo, then went in without a word.
’She really is cold,’ he thought, following quietly. ’Seems like she also didn’t like getting called for this.’
After stepping inside, the door shut behind them with a loud thud.
Elise turned around in the middle of the room, staring straight at him.
’’You are a Bronze Core, correct?’’ she asked emotionlessly.
Theo nodded once, still glancing around the room.
On the sides, weapon racks lined the wall, each filled to the brim with all kinds of different weapons.
Towards the back stood several dummies, each protected by a thin mana barrier.
’’You also claim to have two affinities?’’ Elise continued, heading for the weapon racks.
Theo’s attention snapped back to her immediately.
’’I have both lightning and water affinities, yes,’’ he said firmly.
Elise nodded once, picking up a long pole staff.
She turned to him, lowering her stance as water started swirling around her staff.
’’Attack me,’’ she said coldly. ’’No restrictions.’’
Theo raised an eyebrow, even tilting his head slightly.
Then, he grabbed the spear off his back.
’’If you say so.’’