Chapter 78: A Lunatic’s Game
"Hmm," Jenny murmured, having just returned from her stroll around the academy grounds. She glanced around their shared dorm room, her eyes scanning every corner with growing concern. Asher still wasn’t there.
A frown creased her brow as she set down her jacket on the chair by a desk. What could have possibly happened to keep him away this long? The dorm master would be making his rounds soon for the daily rollcall - it was already past 6:00 PM, and Asher was nowhere to be found. This was completely unlike him, especially given how well he understood the consequences of missing rollcall.
Jenny moved to the window, peering out at the dimly lit courtyard below. Students were already heading back to their dormitories, the usual evening buzz of activity winding down. Where was he?
"Wait a minute," she said aloud, her eyes widening as a memory suddenly surfaced. Her hand flew to her mouth as the realization hit her like a cold wave.
"Maria," she whispered, the name leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.
Multiple scenarios began flooding her mind, each more troubling than the last. Could it be that the desperate girl had done something to Asher? It was certainly possible, given how strange Maria had been acting that morning when they’d encountered her in the hallway. Jenny remembered the way Maria’s behavior. Something had been off about her - very off.
Jenny’s frown deepened as she recalled Asher’s parting words from earlier that day. "You know, if something does happen to me, you’ll probably feel guilty about not coming along to protect your helpless roommate." He’d said it with that characteristic smirk of his, treating it like a joke, but now those words felt prophetic.
’She couldn’t have... right?’ Jenny thought, wrapping her arms around herself as an uncomfortable chill settled in her stomach.
"Hehehe, there’s no way she would do anything... there’s... just... no... way," she muttered to herself, pacing back and forth across the small room. But even as she spoke the words, trying to convince herself of their truth, doubt gnawed at her insides. With each passing second, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something must have happened.
It was completely out of character for Asher to miss rollcall. The punishment for absence was severe - an extreme point deduction for each day missed. Given his relatively weak combat abilities compared to other elite students, maintaining his position through academic excellence alone was already challenging enough. Add point deductions to that equation, and his situation would become nearly impossible.
Jenny knew Asher was smart. So if he wasn’t here, it meant something was keeping him from returning.
But what?