Chapter 31: Succubus Lirazel
Back at his inn, Nolan slammed the door to his rented room shut.
It wasn't much: creaky floorboards, a cracked windowpane, and a bed that seemed like it might collapse under the weight of a feather. But it was his temporary nest of solitude, his fortress of desperate scheming.
He kicked off his boots and flopped down, cursing under his breath.
"Shit. Shit. Shit!"
He rubbed his temples like they were made of fire. "What now? I can't leave the damn city. The gates are sealed tighter than a vault. The guard's a stubborn brick, and tomorrow is the Trial! If those students lose—and they will lose—people will point at me. Me! And this world doesn't give second chances. They execute problems."
He paced the room like a man possessed, muttering everything from old curses to Earth-based slurs that didn't even exist in this dimension.
His plan to disappear had crumbled. Now, all he could do was wait. Wait for the next blow.
Eventually, stress caught up to him. Exhaustion pulled at his bones like a tidal wave, and sleep dragged him under.
Soon, the room became quiet.
It was too still.
Then—