Chapter 83: My Past Self

Lydia carefully helped Rishe onto the bed and adjusted the pillow behind her head.

Once she was comfortable, Lydia fetched a cool, damp towel and gently placed it on her forehead.

"Rishe, how are you feeling? Can you hear me?"

Rishe gave a faint nod but didn’t manage to say anything. After giving her bracelet a light tap, Lydia checked on Rishe’s Resonance Stress.

[Resonance Stress: 76%]

"It’s quite high, but it shouldn’t be enough to make her lose consciousness."

Since it was already late, Lydia couldn’t simply call for a doctor. She decided to contact the Head Principal and ask for his help.

"I am afraid this was caused by some kind of suppressant. The symptoms were quite similar to what Lady Fielyn experienced."

"A suppressant?"

Why did Rishe had to use those drugs? Not only Zachary and Ephraim, but Rishe as well?

Being a high-ranking Sentinel sure came with a price. Especially when they had no Guide.

Now that Lydia thought about it, she never saw Rishe with a guide before. Not even once.

How did she manage her Resonance Stress?

"Unfortunately, I can’t tell for sure from this examination alone. But her symptoms are worrying, so we need to be careful." The Head Principal nodded with concern.

Lydia looked at Rishe, who remained motionless on the bed. Her face was pale, and even though she was breathing, she showed no sign of waking up.

The Head Principal adjusted his diagnostic device before turning toward Lydia.

"There’s something else you should know, Lady Valendorf. Lady Arestionne has been without a Guide for quite some time. This has been a concern ever since she transferred to Belfort University."

"But Rishe had been studying here for about half a year. How had she managed to endure her studies and Sentinel duties without any guiding?"

The Head Principal seemed to understand Lydia’s confusion.

"Lady Arestionne is an SS-Rank Sentinel. The higher a Sentinel’s rank, the harder it is to find a compatible Guide."

Since it was almost midnight, the Head Principal decided to take his leave. Before he left, he handed Lydia a bottle of herbal medicine. "Give this to Lady Arestionne. It should help with her fever. I’ll contact Imperial Elite Guides and ask them to find someone to guide her tomorrow."

"Understood, Professor."

After giving Lydia a few final instructions, the Head Principal left the room.

Waiting until morning might be the safest option, but what if Rishe’s condition worsened before then?

"I want to help Rishe. I’ve guided Ephraim and Zachary before. I wonder if I am compatible with Rishe?"

Lydia tapped into her mental power and held Rishe’s hand.

[Compatibility: 96%]

"Wait. 96%?"

She checked the result again, wondering whether she had misread it. However, the number remained unchanged.

She had 96% compatibility with Rishe.

"I’m sorry, Rishe. But I couldn’t let your condition get any worse. Not when I can do something for you. Let me guide you."

Lydia closed her eyes and focused her mental power. This was the first time she guide Rishe.

She concentrated on their connection and delve into Rishe’s Spiritual Domain.

When Lydia opened her eyes again, she found herself on a deserted mountain covered in ice and snow.

A fierce blizzard swept through the endless white mountains. The icy wind howled around Lydia, cutting through her clothes and chilling her to the bone.

Snow whipped against Lydia’s face, making it hard to see."

"Eeek.... As expected from an SS-Rank Ice Sentinel. How am I supposed to find Rishe here?"

Lydia wrapped her arms around herself as she trudged through the thick snow. The freezing wind made every step exhausting.

After what felt like an eternity, Lydia spotted a cabin on the distance.

"I hope that cabin has a fireplace or warm foods inside. Anything but this freezing place."

She pushed open the cabin door and hurried inside. However, the moment Lydia stepped inside, her surroundings changed!

The small cabin had shifted into an enormous palace. Unlike Adelstein Empire, this castle was dominated with navy blue color and wolf ornaments.

Dark blue banners with the image of a wolf and slashed blue moon hung from the castle walls.

Moon wolf? Wasn’t that Rishe’s Spirit Animal?

Before Lydia could investigate further, a loud crash echoed through the corridor.

Countless mutated monsters filled the hallway and attacked Sentinels and Guides.

She tried to fight a mutated turtle but a blast of Resonance from the soldiers behind her shattered the monster into crystals.

A gigantic mutated polar bear almost smashed Lydia’s leg with its paw. But she managed to dodge it.

There were too many of them, so Lydia rushed through the crowd.

"Wait. Some of them aren’t monsters. They’re... mutated humans!!"

Twisted horns grew on their bloodied eyes. Many of the mutated humans had hunched backs and crawled on all fours.

Their aggressive movements were unnatural and wrong.

Even zombies that Lydia often see in books and televisions were much better than these horrible mutants.

"What in the world is happening here?"

Lydia quickly summoned her rapier from her bracelet. She tightened her grip on her weapon and forced her way past the hallway.

The entire palace was in chaos.

Sentinels and Guides were fighting against Rift monsters. The sound of weapons filled the air.

Why was there a battlefield inside her Spiritual Domain? And why were there so many mutated humans?

"These people are fighting a losing battle against the mutated monsters and humans. Was this what happened to Rishe?"

The deeper Lydia ventured into the palace, the worse the destruction became.

Bodies lay scattered across the floor, and blood stained the stone tiles.

Broken weapons and damaged furniture littered the corridors. Everything was reek of blood.

Lydia’s stomach tightened at the sight. After fighting her way through another corridor, Lydia finally reached a pair of enormous doors.

She pushed the doors open and stepped inside.

But unlike the chaos in the hallway, the throne room was eerily quiet.

Someone stood in the throne room. She had familiar ocean-blue eyes, and her silvery-blue hair was tied in a high ponytail.

Lydia recognized the blue Imperial Authority uniform immediately.

She had worn one just like it in her previous life, back when she was an F-Rank Guide struggling to survive.

Even the smallest details were familiar, from the neat collar to the insignia attached to her chest.

The woman standing on the throne room in front of her had the same face like Lydia. No—It was her past self.

Her older self.

Lydia Valendorf, at 27 years old.

"Wait..."

Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her rapier.

"How is this possible?!"