Chapter 73: Double the gifts

Falling as quickly as possible, his dreams were filled with the eternal fire of hell eating away at his skin.

Until he couldn’t fight back anymore, waking up in a scream, it was the middle of the night as Syno’s nightlamp turned on.

"Everything ok with you?" He asked with a caring voice.

"Just a bad dream, nothing more..." Steven answered, trying to fall back to sleep quickly.

’’A dream making a guy like you scream? What kind of torture was that?" Syno asked, sitting up on his bed.

"The Tower of Hell isn’t the easiest place to grow up," Steven lied to him, turning his face to his pillow.

’’Maybe... You want to speak about it?’’ Syno asked, staring at him intently.

Why was this guy so nice to him for no reason? No, something must be wrong with him; he was sure of it.

’’No... not really, a little bit of sleep would help though.’’ Steven finally answered.

Syno seemed to understand his unwillingness to speak, so with a quick move he turned off the lamp, settling them back to the darkness of the night.

Slowly falling back to sleep, he silently cast a sound-blocking barrier around his own body in case he woke up once more.

But the rest of the night luckily passed without any more dreams, as he was woken by a strain of light shining on his face.

Syno was already standing in the middle of the room changing into new clothes. ’’Awake so early already? You haven’t even skipped the first class yet.’’

’’Very funny,’’ Steven mumoured under his breath just after deactivating his barrier.

’’What did you say? I couldn’t hear you. ’’Syno’’ answered in a joking tone.

"Oh, it was nothing, just the favourite place of one of your crushes," he answered smugly, rising from his bed.

"Wait, really?" Syno stared at him with amazement.

But Steven hit him on the back of his head. ’’Of course not. Are you stupid or something?’’

"Auch that hurts," as Syno began rubbing the spot. ’’But why are you actually up so early?’’

Steven pointed towards his calendar, which was mostly filled with red lines. ’Today is a practice exam which is mandatory, and if I want to return to diamond class, I have to get my points back. ’’He announced proudly.

Syno stared at him with a mixed glance, probably questioning his sanity, as he cleared his throat. ’’Whatever, I wish you luck with your exam even if you probably won’t need it.’’

With those final words, Syno stepped outside, letting him alone in their shared room. ’’Why is this crazy guy already awake so early? Class isn’t even starting for more than an hour.’’

Steven really didn’t know an answer to his own question. As he grabbed a new baggy pair of jeans and a simple greyish t-shirt.

Stepping outside just a few moments after, the sapphire dorms were still completely silent, with only a few guards and early students moving around.

Barely any of them even greeted him when they walked by, after his reputation had been destroyed twice in a short time.

Leaving the dorms behind, the cold morning air felt like a blessing after his last night’s dream.

But sadly his happiness didn’t remain for long, as he could feel a familiar magic presence close by.

As it was hiding in some bushes close by, Steven walked over, checking that nobody else was watching him.

’’Why are you here?’’ Steven asked, talking to the bush, which remained silent for a while.

’’V? There is no V here.’’ V’s voice spoke, finally breaking the silence.

"No one is around, so you can deactivate your invisibility if you want," Steven answered, waiting to find out what brought V is here at such a time.

’That’s going to be hard, bro; I am using no spell.’’ V answered casually as Steven finally saw him.

"Are you kidding me?" Steven asked, not believing his eyes. ’’Did you really paint yourself in the colours of the bush?’’

As he could hear V’s laughter echo through the air. ’’Nobody expects something like this; see, I was even able to fool you.’’

Steven could only shake his head in confusion; this guy was truly crazy or a mad genius. ’’I hope it’s water-removeable paint at least.’’

As he could hear her gasp, ’’What do you mean water removable? Isn’t all paint like that?’’ There was genuine worry in his voice.

’’Nope, most of the ones that are being sold hold pretty good against water.’’ Steven answered, having to hold his laughter, imagining V returning looking like that to his base.

’’Ah fuck it, why didn’t the shopkeeper tell me this? ’’V asked, sounding like a mixture of depression and annoyance.

’’I don’t think they were expecting anyone to paint themselves with it.’’ He answered truthfully as V jumped out of his hiding spot.

"Well, all of this doesn’t matter anymore, because it is finished.’’ V voice was filled with excitement.

’’Finished what?’’ Steven asked, confused.

As V pulled out something from his green pockets, a dark blue piece of fabric. ’’The replacement for your cappy. A nice headband.’’ As he held it out towards Steven.

Who only took it out of curiosity, It was just a single piece of black fabric; there was nothing special about it, not even a spell woven into it.

But V’s excitement made him feel bad, so he decided to wear it at least for now.

’’Also, one more thing.’’ V spoke suddenly.

’’What?’’

"You weren’t the first to find me; yesterday when I was waiting for you, some girl walked past her with a long box for you.’’ As V pulled out a tall, long box.

’’She said something about you might need it.’’ V added, staring at it, waiting for Steven to open it.

But Steven already knew who it was; after all, its mana could be felt even through its box.

It was a magical weapon created specially for him.

He really had to thank June the next time they meet.