Awaiting soft rains(An extra's novel)-Chapter 85: Body

’Right, I forgot she could do that. She’s a witch.’

She’d used it at least once in the novel.

It didn’t take away any wonder from seeing the transformation. Although she looked striking, it was the sort of beauty you could easily gloss over if you weren’t looking closely.

Her cloak had also transformed into a uniform.

It was perfect for infiltration.

"You don’t seem all too surprised."

I nodded, an excuse easily rolling off my tongue.

"You are the first paragon I’ve witnessed, Lady Alice. I don’t even know what to be surprised by."

"Hmm... very well. To the hostels now."

She headed towards the door, her presence completely suppressed to that of an average student. I followed behind her wordlessly.

’Fairness... yeah, right.’

I was sure dragging me along to the hostel was a test of some sort. I had certainly caught her interest now, especially with my information proving accurate.

Perhaps to see how I’d react to the situation. I couldn’t tell; I wasn’t in her head.

Regardless, I didn’t oppose it either. I had to see what caused this change in the skinwalker’s behaviour.

What safer way was there of doing so than with a paragon by my side?

---

Ayo was nowhere in sight by the time we left the room. We didn’t have much trouble getting back to the ground floor of the building.

The loitering cadets there gave no special reaction upon noticing us.

Okay, maybe a few glares here and there, but that was practically par for the course now. Those few among them who actually looked itching to mess with me didn’t approach.

I couldn’t understand why exactly, but it was likely due to Alice.

I glanced at her, yet she kept her gaze forward, calmly observing her surroundings.

The road to the metro station similarly gave no obstacles.

It was only as we got into our seats in a standard cabin that it hit me.

"Couldn’t we have just teleported to Ramona’s room?"

She shifted her gaze from the cadets roaming about the platform outside the train cart.

"I find it more interesting this way."

’Don’t argue with a paragon. Don’t argue with a paragon. Don’t...’

I wisely kept my mouth shut.

---

I felt oddly smug as I stepped into the hostel station.

Although it was far more luxurious than anything I’d encountered in both my lives, the fact that I’d already moved to an even more luxurious place in just a week gave me a swelling sense of pride.

As though noticing this, Alice gave me an amused look.

She still said nothing, though, choosing to wade into the crowd of students moving from hostel to hostel.

It didn’t take long before we reached an elevator.

Luckily, we were the only two entering that particular chute, so it wasn’t too crowded.

The moment we stepped in, Alice’s amusement vanished. Her face became dead serious. With a push of a button, the chute silently began descending.

We stopped at a floor whose number was highlighted in bright, bloody red text.

’13.’

The chute’s door didn’t open, and instead, the intercom turned on. A man’s voice came through the overhead speakers.

"This floor is off-limits to all Cadets. Turn back now."

Alice didn’t react to it. Her eyes merely flashed blue, and the door slid open.

Guards decked in black tactical gear lined the hallway, with multiple weapons—ranging from swords to crossbows to actual guns—all trained on a door at the center of the hallway.

The only reaction we got from them was a respectful nod from the guard manning the elevator door.

"We appear different in their perception."

Apparently, Alice deemed it fitting that I understood what was happening.

As we approached the door, the guards lowered their weapons, creating a clear path to it. Once we stepped before it, Alice’s face twisted into a deep frown.

I looked at her anxiously, but she didn’t bother explaining. Instead, she pressed her finger against a scanner right beside the door.

It flashed red once, then turned blue, and the door slowly slid open.

"Go inside."

I glanced at her, then at all the guards in the hallway, before steeling my resolve and stepping into the room.

The very first thing that hit me was the smell. A faint odour permeated the entire room; it reminded me of meat kept out of a fridge too long. It reminded me of rot.

I couldn’t help but gulp at that.

Besides that, the room looked largely the same as my former room. Table, wardrobe, bathroom, simulated window, and bed.

On that bed lay a person. Long black hair, and a light dusting of freckles on her face.

’Ramona.’

She, or it, looked to be sleeping. I didn’t take a step further.

’Is she...’

Unknowingly, Alice had walked right next to me. Her face still carried a deep frown.

Something was wrong; I couldn’t be sure, but I hoped it wasn’t what I thought.

"Check her pulse."

Things were already looking worse.

I looked hesitantly between Alice and Ramona.

"It... is safe, right?"

Alice didn’t answer. Her silence was enough for me.

’There’s no way she’ll let me die.’

I carefully walked up to the bed, making sure to keep myself out of what I estimated to be the reach of Ramona’s hands. At least to the best of my abilities.

Then, tentatively, I rested two fingers on the part of her neck that was exposed.

It was cold. There was nothing flowing through her veins.

I blurted out.

"She’s dead."

’How?’

I couldn’t even begin to understand how to wrap my head around it.

’Did someone else get to her? Or...’

"Flip her over."

Alice’s steady voice prompted me forward.

I was about to question her when my hand touched something moist.

Beneath the blanket that covered most of her body, the bed was drenched in blood. The smell suddenly worsened.

’Ugh.’

I felt dizzy, but something urged me to push through it. Turning my head away, I took a deep breath, then flipped the girl over.

The back of her dress was torn and drenched in blood, all originating from a deep wound traveling the length of her spine.

Right where the skinwalkers typically inhabited.

Then I realised. There was no monster corpse.

’It’s gone.’

The skinwalker was gone.