Chapter 36: In Groups of Three

Ethan sat on the edge of his bed with the system screen open.

The cut on his forearm had already stopped bleeding. He just had cleaned it, wrapped it once, and left it alone. That was just a minor cost. The real cost of the spar was in the numbers staring at him.

```

[Name: Ethan Shaw]

[Age: 19]

[Awakened Class: Necromancer]

[Rank: E]

[Level: 3]

[EXP: 178 / 300]

[Death Energy: 195/500]

[Control Capacity: 54]

```

Twenty eight... he had gained experience points. Not bad for a few minute engagement against a Rank A restricted user, especially when most of the work had been done through the Iron Golem.

The Death Energy loss was of much bigger concern. He had burned through more than half the pool managing Death Link and maintaining the construct under pressure.

Though it was recoverable, the brutal truth was that he had no stamina.

He closed the screen and leaned back against the headboard.

He sighed and thought for a moment.

’Maybe I should work on my stamina next time. Ahh, but I never really exercised in my past life.’

A knock hit the door a few minutes later, and Lila didn’t wait for an answer before opening it.

She stepped inside with Bef trailing behind her like a pet dog, then stopped when she met his gaze.

"You look slightly less dead," she said.

"I appreciate the compliment."

She closed the door and sat on the chair near the desk with one leg folded under her. Bef settled down near her feet, and for a while neither of them spoke.

Ethan glanced towards the Beowolf and back at her. "He’s been following you around since we came back. I feel betrayed."

Lila smiled smugly. "Someone sounds jealous."

"Of you or the beast?"

"His name is Bef. Not ’beast’" Lila corrected.

Ethan just rolled his eyes. Though he could just dismiss the undead at a thought, he simply chose not to.

He got his experience points and Lila was happy. It was a win win.

"You handled the it well," Lila said eventually. "Even when she almost went god-mode on you."

"She adapted faster than I wanted." Ethan looked down. "The important part is that Blood Craft doesn’t work on undead. Without that, she’s limited to external constructs and raw force."

"Which still nearly took your arm off."

"It was a shallow cut."

Lila gave him a flat look. "You’re very calm about someone throwing a blood spear at your face."

He shrugged. "I got what I needed. She got what she needed. That’s a win in my book."

"I still don’t like the arrangement."

Ethan looked at her. "Sure you don’t."

The silence that followed was less tense as Lila watched him for a moment longer, then exhaled and looked toward the window.

"You should rest," she said. "Don’t train again tonight."

"Wasn’t planning to. Too drained for that anyway."

She looked at him then something flashed across her face as she asked. "Do you... want Bef back? I mean, keeping him out must be draining you as well right?"

"He can stay. I already ordered him to come back when you go to bed, don’t worry"

Her eyes widened for a moment before she smiled. "Thanks."

Then, walking towards the door, she spoke again in a soft tone. "Goodnight..."

***

The next morning Lila stopped outside Ethan’s door with her bag already over one shoulder.

She raised her hand to knock, then noticed the folded piece of paper tucked into the doorframe.

She pulled it free and read the contents.

"Don’t worry about me and get to class. Will be there soon."

Lila stared at the note for a second as her eyes narrowed. She then folded it once and slid it into her pocket.

She glanced at the closed door. If he had left early, he had a reason. With a sigh she turned and headed for class alone. ℴ

The class filled slowly— Marcus and his group taking their usual seats near the front and Aria by the window with the usual horde of students flocking her. Lila glanced over the class once and dropped into her seat as she found herself watching the door more than she wanted

The minutes stretched, and she had just started considering whether to look for him when the door opened again as Ethan walked in.

Lila’s eyes drifted to his side and saw Nora walking beside him.

Her eyes settled on him again and she saw that the standard academy blazer was gone. In its place he wore a blue zip-up hoodie with the academy crest printed boldly across the back.

It suited him better than the original uniform. She could tell because she noticed that a few students glanced over.

Ethan crossed the room and sat beside Lila while Nora continued to her own seat without saying a word.

Lila waited until he had set his bag down and asked. "Where did you go?"

"Uniform office," Ethan said, setting his notes on the table and writing something down. "I never customized it after the first dungeon trip like I said I would. Figured I should before it completely slips my mind."

"Okay. But what was she doing with you?"

"Met her on the way back." He said it evenly without looking up from his notebook. "She didn’t follow me there."

Lila studied his face, then the new hoodie, then the side of his neck as if checking for something before speaking...

"You could have woken me up."

"And you would have insisted on coming. I wasn’t going to take long." Ethan said as he finally looked at her. "I’m back aren’t I? Sorry for making you wait."

Lila’s expression softened. "That’s not the point though."

Before she could say any other thing, the classroom door opened again.

Professor Crane entered at a steady pace, glancing towards the lecture hall before finally speaking...

"Seats," she said, "Good. We’re behind schedule."

She set the tablet on the podium and did not bother with any long introduction.

"While I was away, you covered restricted-classes under Professor Grant. As such, we will not be revisiting that today. Instead, you will prepare for a practical evaluation."

A ripple of excitement moved through the class as she continued, "In three days you will enter a supervised dungeon in assigned groups. The objective is to clear it and retrieve Aetherite. Individual performance will be scored, group performance will be scored and both will affect your standing."

She tapped the tablet once, and simple projection appeared behind her — group size, reporting time, and basic equipment rules.

"You are to form groups of three," Crane said. "You have three days to finalize your teams and submit the names. If you cannot form a group by then, one will be assigned to you, so I recommend you get to work."

Lila’s eyes flicked sideways involuntarily toward Ethan and Crane spoke again, her gaze moving across the room slowly.

"Three days," she repeated. "Choose carefully. Class dismissed early for planning."

The projection stayed up as students began turning toward each other almost immediately, their voices rising as everyone met whoever they wanted to form groups with.

Ethan remained seated for a moment longer, one thought surfacing in his mind...

’Now then, who would want to form a group with me...’