Chapter 158| Terms and Conditions

Chapter 158: Chapter 158| Terms and Conditions

The last thing Zane remembered was the mat under him and the gallery roaring somewhere far away. Then the sound thinned out and the light went with it.

The next time he opened his eyes, the ceiling was different.

White tiles. A water stain shaped roughly like a rabbit. The smell of antiseptic and warm bandages.

He turned his head slowly on the pillow and took in the curtain, the metal cot rail, the cold pack resting on his ribs.

A faint smile pulled at his mouth.

’Never knew I’d end up here again,’ he thought.

『 System Note: The host was unconscious for eleven minutes. 』

’Eleven?’

『 The system recommends not moving. 』

He moved anyway, wincing as a bruised rib complained. He settled back on the cot and stared at the rabbit-shaped stain. A medic had cleaned the blood off his nose, wrapped his shoulder, and told him to stay put for an hour. She’d also told him he was lucky. He hadn’t asked what she meant.

’Lucky,’ he thought. ’Sure.’

He’d expected to see Stacy Reed but she was not in proximity, maybe she was busy or had her hands full.

『 System Note: Recovery is progressing. Accelerated Recovery will clear the bruising by morning. 』

’Good. I’d like to walk tomorrow.’

The curtain slid back.

"There he is," Dex announced, striding in with both arms out. "The man. The myth. The reason I’ll never buy my own breakfast again."

"You never bought breakfast to begin with," Zane said.

"Details." Dex dropped into the chair beside the cot and kicked his boots up on the frame. "Do you know how many people want your autograph?"

"None."

"Eleven. I counted."

Maren came in behind him, still in her dark blue suit, and went straight to the cot without a word. She took the cold pack off his ribs, studied the bruise with her lips pressed thin, and put it back a little more gently than she’d lifted it.

"Does it hurt?" Maren asked.

"Only when I breathe," Zane said.

"Then stop breathing."

"Is that medical advice?"

"It’s the only kind I’m qualified to give." She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and her fingers lingered at the edge of the bandage on his shoulder. "You were stupid out there."

"I won."

"You were stupid and you won." Her voice wobbled, just slightly. "I thought that sphere was going to..."

She stopped. Zane caught her wrist with his good hand.

"I’m fine," he said.

"I know." Maren looked away, her ears pink. "Don’t make it a habit."

Nil swept in last, with Sera trailing a step behind her holding a paper bag.

"Snacks," Nil said, and dropped the bag on the cot. "Don’t argue. I earned them."

"You didn’t buy them," Sera said. "I did."

"I supervised."

Sera rolled her eyes and perched on the end of the cot. She looked at Zane for a moment, and the corner of her mouth lifted.

"Told you it was the left side," Sera said.

"You did," Zane said. "Thanks for the signal, for something that obvious."

He muttered the last few words.

"No big deal. Helping out a buddy."

The word buddy sat between them a half-second longer than it should have, and neither of them moved to fill the silence.

_ _

They stayed for forty minutes.

Dex told the story of the duel three times, with a different ending each time. Sera corrected him once, quietly. Maren fed Zane pieces of a granola bar when he couldn’t reach. Nil sat cross-legged at the foot of the cot, peeling an orange, and watched him with a smile that was a degree too patient.

When the medic finally ushered the others out, Nil lingered.

She waited until Dex’s voice had faded down the corridor and Maren’s footsteps had dropped to a whisper. Then she dropped the last orange segment into her mouth, wiped her fingers on her skirt, and leaned in close enough that Zane could smell citrus on her breath.

"Congratulations," Nil said softly.

"Thanks."

"I’m nineteen, you know." She said it casually, as if it were a new fact about the weather. "Second year. Never lost a bet I intended to lose."

Zane looked at her.

"You said it as a joke," he said.

"I said it as a reward." Her smile slid sideways. "I don’t joke about things I’d actually like to do."

His pulse kicked.

『 System Note: Nil Valkyrie is making a genuine offer. The system recommends the host think before replying. 』

’I’m thinking.’

『 The system recommends thinking harder. 』

"Not here," Nil said, glancing at the curtain. "Not tonight, either. You’re a mess."

"I’m a victor."

"You’re a mess with a victory." She patted his knee through the blanket, light and teasing. "Friday. After curfew. I’ve got a single in the second-year annex. My old roommate moved out last term, and I never reported it. Nobody checks that corridor."

"You’ve planned this."

"I plan everything." Nil stood and brushed the orange peel from her skirt. "Unless you’d like to renegotiate?"

Zane opened his mouth.

Nothing came out but his thoughts began resurfacing. ’Maybe she’s toying with me, even if she’s not I don’t think we need a room for a butt grab or she’s keen on privacy either way I don’t mind it’s a win-win".

"You seem lost in thoughts," Nil said, and winked.

She slipped out through the curtain and whispered on her way."I’ll be off now we’ll catch up later, get well soon".

Zane couldn’t generate the strength to check the view; he just lay there enjoying the bed’s cushion.

_ _

Ryan found him ten minutes later.

He stood in the gap of the curtain, bandaged across the ribs and holding a paper cup of water. His hair was damp, his face pale. He looked like a man who’d been told to rest and had decided to take a walk instead.

"Calloway," Ryan said.

"Castellan," Zane said, turning his head on the pillow.

"Don’t get up."

"I wasn’t going to," Zane replied.

Ryan crossed to the other cot and sat down heavily. He took a long sip from the cup and studied it before speaking again.

"That sphere," Ryan said. I’ve never had to use it at that output. Not on anyone but minor pests."

"You told me you’d be gentle."

"I lied." The corner of his mouth moved. "I wanted to see what you’d do."

"And?"

"You didn’t break." Ryan’s eyes lifted. "You turned it. I don’t know how. But you did."

Zane said nothing.

"I’m not going to ask," Ryan said. "I’d like to. But I’m not going to." He set the cup on the floor. "Someone left right after you turned that sphere, he was so obvious when I stared slightly at the crowd," Ryan said. "Third tier, east side. Grey jacket, no student badge. They didn’t look like they were there to cheer."

Zane’s stomach tightened.’Is this the Ryan I know, giving me information.’ Zane mind swirl in thoughts.

"I thought you’d want to know," Ryan said.

"Why tell me?"

"Because I lost ." Ryan stood, one hand against his ribs. "I’d rather lose to a man who knows what’s behind him."

He walked out.

Zane stared at the curtain as it swung shut.

’Grey jacket,’ he thought. ’No badge.’

『 System Note: The field division has observed the match. The system cannot confirm their conclusions. 』

’I know.’

The curtain moved again.

This time the footsteps were slow and measured, and they stopped at the foot of the cot.

Vael stood there with her tablet under her arm. She looked at him for a long moment, then reached behind her and drew the curtain closed.

"Instructor," Zane said.

"Quiet, Calloway."

She sat on the edge of the other cot. Her voice dropped so low it barely carried.

"The match was recorded," Vael said. "Three angles. I counted two cameras and a handheld. I don’t know whose."

"I saw someone leave."

"So did I." Her eyes didn’t leave his face. "I saw the ripple at the end, too. "I saw the ripple at the end, too," Vael said. "The one that didn’t come from the shockwave."

Zane held very still.

"I’m not asking," Vael said. "I told you I wouldn’t. But when the footage reaches the field division, and it will, they will ask. I won’t be able to answer for you."

"I understand."

"I don’t think you do." She stood. "Rest. Do not leave campus this weekend. And Calloway."

"Yes, Instructor?"

"Whatever you decided to do with your free time, decide it carefully."

She left.

Zane lay back and watched the curtain settle.

His communicator buzzed on the table beside him. He reached for it with his good hand.

Nyx: Saturday, Arena 3 don’t forget. Seems you have a new skill.

He read it twice. A second message followed before he could put it down.

Nyx: I saw it.

He closed his eyes.

『 System Note: Familiarity updates. Nyx Hale +4%. Sera Dunne +2%. Dex +1%. 』

『 Nyx Hale — Current: 28% — Stranger tier 』

’Everyone saw it,’ he thought.

『 Not everyone. Some of them. 』

’That’s not comforting.’

『 It was not meant to be. 』

Friday. After curfew. Nil’s assumed room.

He opened his eyes and stared at the rabbit-shaped stain until it blurred.