Si-Woo and Lirin recounted everything to Oapa, describing the ominous tombstone, the sacrificial magic, and the Mu script embedded into the forest. Oapa, who had been pacing the room, suddenly stopped, his back turned to them.

  The air grew heavy, a subtle tremor rippling through the room as Oapa’s paw-like hands clenched into tight fists. His fur bristled, standing on end as his deep voice broke the tense silence.

  "Not only is someone desecrating the tombstones of others, but they’re also attempting sacrificial magic," Oapa growled, his tone low and seething.

  Si-Woo’s breath caught in his throat as he saw the fur along Oapa’s spine flare outward, an unmistakable sign of his rising anger. The memory of the confrontation with the lesser sprit that had attacked Ha-Yoon flashed in his mind, its feral intensity mirrored in Oapa’s current state.

  Lirin’s calm but firm voice cut through the tension. "Oapa."

  Oapa blinked and turned slightly toward her. The fire in his eyes dimmed as he took a deep breath, visibly composing himself. He lowered his hands, his claws slowly retracting.

  "I apologize," Oapa said, bowing his head slightly. "Please forgive my outburst."

  Si-Woo, who had been gripping the edges of his seat in unease, relaxed slightly. "It’s okay," he said, his voice steady and reassuring. "It’s perfectly understandable why you’d feel this way."

  Lirin crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "Si-Woo also brought up a valid point," she said. "Shouldn’t the cemetery fields be closed off? But we found a rift in the mansion that led directly to it."

  Oapa nodded, his sharp green eyes narrowing. "There are indeed many rifts leading into Ondur’s forest," he admitted. "But the cemetery quadrants are heavily secured. Each quadrant has a specific incantation that only the deceased’s family or close friends are supposed to know. You two shouldn’t have been able to access it—inside the spirit kingdom or otherwise. There’s a factor we’re missing."

  Lirin’s gaze shifted, and her eyes locked onto Z, who was perched on the table nearby, happily tearing into a piece of meat. Her indigo eyes gleamed with realization as she pointed directly at the wyvern.

  "Of course," she said, her voice filled with certainty. "It has to be your bond, Si-Woo."

  Si-Woo blinked, glancing at Z, who tilted its head curiously, still chewing.

  "But this has never happened before," Si-Woo said, his tone filled with doubt.

  Lirin pushed up her glasses, her gaze unwavering. "As bonds mature, so do their abilities," she explained. "Under extreme circumstances, they can perform feats comparable to what they’ll be capable of as adults. And you’re forgetting something important, Si-Woo: whiteblood wyverns are one of the most feared species for a reason. It’s not just their world-ending breath—"

  Her voice softened, awe creeping into her tone. "—it’s also because we know so little about their abilities. They’re elusive and unpredictable."

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  She turned her gaze back to Z, her eyes wide with admiration. "It’s truly an honor to be in the presence of one."

  Z paused its meal and let out a soft croon, clearly enjoying the attention.

  Oapa’s thoughtful expression shifted as he nodded. "That explanation does seem the most plausible," he said, his voice regaining its calm authority. "If Z acted instinctively, it could have bypassed the restrictions on the cemetery quadrant."

  Si-Woo looked at Z, a mix of pride and curiosity blooming in his chest. "So, Z must've unlocked the rift to warn me?" he muttered aloud, more to himself than anyone else. He looked at Z with affection. "We really are one, in a sense," Si-Woo thought.

  Si-Woo frowned, his brows knitting in confusion. "Then what about the ginormous monster that chased us out?" he asked, the memory of the beast still vivid in his mind.

  Oapa’s green eyes darkened, his tail twitching subtly. "Any threatening creatures of that size and nature should never be in the cemetery quadrants," he said firmly. "Such beasts wouldn’t naturally wander into those areas, not with the protective wards in place. Someone—probably the infiltrator—must have planted it there to cover their tracks and keep prying eyes away."

  Lirin crossed her arms, her gaze lingering on Z, still perched proudly. Her indigo eyes glinted with worry. "What are you going to do now?" she asked, her tone tense.

  Oapa remained silent for a long moment, his clawed fingers tapping against the wooden table. His fur bristled slightly as he clenched his fists. Finally, he spoke, his voice laden with frustration.

  "There’s not much I can do," he admitted. "The cemetery quadrants are vast and scattered. We don’t have enough guards to investigate them all, especially with some going missing. For now, I must leave this in the hands of the chiefs and elders... and focus on my role at the academy."

  Si-Woo leaned forward, his tone resolute. "We’ll help any way we can, Oapa."

  Oapa hesitated, his piercing green eyes softening as he looked at Si-Woo. Then, a faint smile tugged at his lips, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Thanks," he said, his voice warm. "You’ve already helped more than I could’ve asked for."

  The room’s atmosphere lightened slightly, but Oapa’s demeanor shifted once again as he turned his gaze to Lirin. Standing behind her, he crossed his arms and stared down at her with an accusing tone.

  "By the way, Lirin," he began, his voice firm but tinged with amusement. "The members of the student council have been hearing rumors of foul language among the level 4 seniors. Do you have any idea what they’re talking about?"

  Lirin froze, a bead of sweat forming on her temple as she refused to meet Oapa’s gaze. "W-what? Foul language? That’s ridiculous!" she stammered, her hand waving dismissively.

  Si-Woo raised an eyebrow, fighting back a smirk as he glanced at her. Z tilted his head, letting out a curious chirp as if intrigued by the sudden shift in conversation.

  Oapa’s brow furrowed, his expression unrelenting. "Really? Because from what I’ve heard, some level 4 seniors have been using very... colorful excuses to get out of activities." His voice dripped with pointed suspicion.

  Lirin huffed, crossing her arms as her face flushed slightly. "I have no idea what you’re talking about," she muttered, her tone defensive but unconvincing.

  Oapa leaned closer, his sharp teeth glinting in a mischievous grin. "Are you sure? Because the last time I checked, there was an instructor who was absolutely mortified after hearing a certain someone shout, ‘My vagina is bleeding!’"

  Lirin’s face turned crimson as she snapped her head toward him. "I said that to get out of conditioning!" she blurted, clearly flustered. "It’s not like I do it all the time!"

  Si-Woo couldn’t contain his laughter any longer, bursting into a hearty chuckle that echoed through the room. Even Z let out an amused chirp, seemingly entertained by the exchange.

  Oapa sighed, shaking his head but unable to suppress the small grin on his lips. "Just... try not to scare the instructors too much, Lirin. We do have a reputation to uphold, you know."

  Lirin grumbled under her breath but eventually nodded. "Fine, fine. I’ll keep it to a minimum."

  The three of them exchanged amused glances, the tension in the room easing slightly as they shared the brief moment of levity.