Abyssal Awakening

After the Lord's retreated from Rosalyn's Resonance, 'calm' returned to the city.

No longer were they being pressured by the Aura of Lords. Instead, they were concerned by the sudden disappearance of the Inverted World.

Students questioned the reason for staying behind in this Academy now that the main attraction for coming here was gone.

Shopkeepers wondered about profits while civilians worried about their safety if people were to abandon this place.

Meanwhile, Rosalyn was enjoying herself in her office with a wide smile on her face.

She leaned back on her chair and rested her heels against her table.

In front of her, she could see the confused yet concerned expression of Garret, Department Head of Combat.

"Why the long face? Not used to how I look?" Rosalyn chuckled, swinging herself around her chair.

This new sense of freedom brought out a childishness inside her that she had long forgotten and she relished this feeling. This giddiness.

"Well… Without the Inverted World, we can't conduct any lessons nor can we prepare any excursions. To put it frankly, this Academy has lost all of its value." Garret scratched his chin.

"Hmm… You're not wrong. The Inverted World was the main reason why people came to this backwater place. But now that it's gone, no one would give a sh*t. But this is perfect. Let the ones who don't want to stay leave. There are other facilities that we can use and I'll also call up some old friends of mine.

"Now that I've reached the status of Lord, it'll be much easier to ask for favours of them." Rosalyn smiled, playing around with her hair.

Seeing that the principal was stubborn and nonchalant, Garret could only sigh as she didn't seem like she was going to change her mind.

"Understood."

"Either way, don't worry about it~ I have it handled. Plus, now that I've become a Lord, I plan on redeveloping Silverwind Valley to suit my needs ya know?" Rosalyn reassured.

Hearing this, Garret nodded as she dismissed him from her office.

Leaning back on her chair, Rosalyn let out a sigh of satisfaction and closed her eyes. She was living her dream life right now and nothing could bring her down.

*Knock knock

"Come in." Opening one of her eyes, Rosalyn glanced towards the door and saw that it was Elara.

*BANG!!!

Slamming a mountain of documents on the table, Elara took a deep breath as there were dark bags under her eyes.

"Principal, I've done all the work that you've requested of me."

"Oh my… That was fast." Rosalyn blinked her eyes.

With how lazy Elara usually was, she couldn't help but think that there was something else she was after.

More Abyss Blood? Research funds? Perhaps even her blood now that she's a Lord?

"There's something that you want right? How long have we known each other? Just tell me and I'll see if I can arrange it." Rosalyn waved her hand. Elara was lucky that she caught her in a good mood otherwise she wouldn't have given this kind of reward for some fast work.

"I won't hold back then." Elara licked her lips.

Seeing this, Rosalyn chuckled.

'It must be Abyss Blood that she wants.'

"The application change for Alice Agnelia. I believe she was registered for the Combat Department right? Please transfer her to my department instead." Elara requested.

"A transfer? Easy… Enough? Huh?" Rosalyn blinked her eyes.

"Ah! It's easy you say? That's perfect then! I'll let her know fufu~ How the research we can conduct~" Elara panted as she prepared to leave the room when Rosalyn massaged her eyes.

"Wait just a moment. You want… to transfer a student to your department?" She clarified as Elara nodded her head.

"Is that too difficult?"

"Well… Not exactly? But you don't want Abyss Blood? I'm a Lord now, you know that right?" Rosalyn raised an eyebrow.

"Oh pardon my late congratulations but the entire city knows." Elara nodded.

"Weren't you desperate to get my blood before though?"

"Yes, but that was the past. I found something else that stirs the emotions within my chest!" Before Elara could begin to explain her love for Alice's abnormalities, Rosalyn shook her head.

"Right right, I get it. I suppose it's only a matter of time before you're dragged into her mess." She sighed.

"So can you commence the transfer?"

"You see, therein lies the issue. Alice isn't here anymore." Rosalyn shrugged.

"Eh? What do you mean she's not here? Is she elsewhere at the moment? Another city?" Elara asked, unsure as to what Rosalyn was trying to say.

"She's not in the Abyss. Not in a city, not in some weird stranded location. An accident happened and she's flung herself all the way to the surface." Rosalyn sighed, pointing her finger up.

After the last Lord left, Rosalyn wanted to find Alice and thank her personally. She wasn't sure what she pulled off in the Inverted World but it was thanks to her that her ascension could go so smoothly.

Otherwise, she would've not only had to hold back three Lords but also had to destabilize the Inverted World enough for her to absorb it. In that situation, it was a do or die moment that was leaning towards die.

Yet no matter the method she chose to track Alice down, the leads ended where the Inverted World was.

Naturally, since she was tasked with looking after Alice, Rosalyn had to take accountability.

###

*Gulp…

Glancing up at the Raven who was standing atop her chair, Rosalyn didn't dare let out a single peep as she couldn't tell what Kaden was thinking.

Even though she knew there was a gap between them, having attained the status of Lord, she figured the gap would've been bridged. But now that she's reached this stage, she could tell how much of Kaden's power she wasn't seeing before! Hell, she wasn't even sure if this was everything!

In her ignorance, she had tried to stand her ground earlier but the Raven slapped her into a wall with a single beat of its wing!

"I can't track her either. Though I know that she's alive." Kaden's Raven sighed, scratching its head.

"If she collapsed the Inverted World from the inside and is still alive, she probably rode the Void to safety. Well either way, as long as she's alive it'll be fine. I'll leave both Ria and that kid Luke in your care. Keep an eye on them, train them if you must." The Raven shrugged, preparing to leave but Rosalyn stopped him.

"W-wait!"

"Hm? Do you want another beating?"

"No! How should I explain it to Allura? You know I also need to notify her right??" Rosalyn explained as the Raven tapped its beak.

"If I can't sense Alice in the Abyss then there's a 95% chance she's at the surface. I'm not 100% sure though so just do what you can." Without giving Rosalyn more time, the Raven flew up before diving into its own shadow.

###

Just thinking about her brief exchange with Kaden that resulted in her being slapped and then tasked with looking after two kids, Rosalyn shivered.

While she may have been freed from the chains of Allura's blood, Kaden was still holding her leash tightly.

Shaking her head, she glanced over to Elara who was twitching strangely.

*BANG!!!

"!!!" Jumping up from Elara's sudden movement, Rosalyn wondered what she was up to.

"What's this?"

"My resignation letter. I want to quit."

"???" Blinking her eyes, Rosalyn watched while Elara left the office. After a moment to digest what Elara just did, Rosalyn's veins bulged on her neck.

"All of these motherf*ckers leaving without giving me a chance to reply…" She muttered, clenching her fist.

She was an Abyss Lord dammit!!!

Even though she wanted to throw her table out the window, it had been recently replaced and she couldn't do that. Not when their budget was tight for reconstruction and development.

Once she left the room, Elara let out a sigh of boredom.

She thought that Alice would be her new reason to remain in this Academy but not that both the Inverted World and her love had gone, there was no point in staying.

Plus, it wasn't like this was a sudden decision. She had already thought about resigning for a while now since nothing's really caught her eye and it's constantly been the same old same old.

Seeing Arunya waiting by the side, emotionless as always, Elara patted her on the shoulder.

"Things might get tough on you Runi~ You'll have to look after a new Department Head once I'm gone."

"There won't be a department head that's as perverted or weird as you, professor." Arunya replied while glancing at the hand touching her shoulder without turning her head.

Gently picking up the arm by the sleeve, Arunya couldn't help but wonder if the professor washed her hands after exploring her own body thoroughly.

"Rude. I know I gave the principal my letter of resignation but still." Elara pouted as she made her way out of the main building.

Strangely, Arunya followed behind.

"What are you doing?"

"Professor, if I may be honest, I doubt you can survive out there. Plus, if you leave, I'll lose my role as assistant. Since the Inverted World is gone, I've lost what was keeping me in the Academy. I may as well follow you and keep you alive. That way you owe me a big favour." Arunya replied, causing Elara to smile as she tried to ponce on Arunya.

"Please contain yourself professor. While I may be following you, I don't want to be entangled in a physical relationship with you."

"So mean~ But I like that about you. Thank you for taking care of me~" Elara laughed, jumping on Arunya's back.

"Should I get you more food professor? You've gotten lighter."

"Blame the principal. Gave me a bunch of work before I quit too." Elara lamented as the two of them made their preparations to leave the Academy and go on their journey to find Alice.

###

Meanwhile, at the surface.

Looking at a bandaged Alice lying on the bed sleeping, Selen held a blade in her hand and narrowed her eyes.