Isaac POV
The soft rustle of wind brushing against the window was what stirred Isaac from his sleep.
At first, he thought it was just the wind.
But something else crawled along his senses—a faint ripple in the mana outside.
It wasn’t the kind of presence that wandered randomly through the area. No, this one moved with direction.
Isaac’s eyes narrowed in the dark.
Who’s walking around the house in the middle of the night?
His first instinct was to think of Tyr, who usually stood watch outside, would keep a watch.
Since Tyr hadn’t raised an alarm, then either the person was someone they knew… or they were good enough to bypass even Tyr’s perception.
That possibility didn’t sit right with him.
Careful not to disturb Emily or Alice, he slid out of bed.
The room was quiet except for their soft breathing.
He didn’t bother changing out of his sleepwear.
He just slipped into his slippers and walked out into the hallway.
Every step was soundless, and calculated. The wooden floor under his feet didn’t creak once.
By the time he made it downstairs, the presence was right outside the front door. Isaac grabbed the handle and opened it without hesitation.
Professor Catherine stood on the other side, her hand half-raised to knock.
She blinked, momentarily surprised, then let out a soft chuckle.
“Oh, you sensed me? Your perception’s grown mu—” Her voice broke into a wet cough, and she covered her mouth with her free hand.
Red splattered onto her pale skin.
“Professor—”
“I’m fine,” she said quickly, raising her injured arm to stop him from stepping forward. “Really. It’s just a scratch.”
He didn’t believe her for a second.
Her clothes were torn in several places. Her coat was nearly falling off one shoulder.
Blood soaked through her left sleeve, and her limp was noticeable even when she tried to hide it.
Still, she gave him a small, amused smile.
“You are making me blush, Isaac. To think you were waiting at the door just for me. I’m starting to think you actually like me.”
Isaac didn’t smile. His eyes were still focused on the state she was in.
“You’re injured,” he said flatly.
Professor Catherine tilted her head and shrugged. “Nothing a little rest can’t fix. I’ll head to my room.”
She stepped inside but stumbled after just a few feet.
Isaac caught her before she could fall. His arms wrapped around her waist as he steadied her from behind.
“Oh my, are you making a bold move on me?” She still tried to keep up a strong act.
But Isaac could tell she could barely walk.
He didn’t say anything. Instead, he pulled her arm over his shoulder and carefully guided her weight onto him.
“I’ll help you to your room.”
“Mmm… since you’re being so kind, can you help me to the kitchen first? I haven’t eaten all day.”
Isaac raised a brow but changed direction.
“Living room first,” he said. “You’ll sit. I’ll bring the food.”
“Demanding, aren’t you?”
He ignored the comment.
Once they reached the sofa, he helped her sit down and dragged the nearby coffee table over. Then, without another word, he walked into the kitchen.
Behind him, Catherine leaned back, eyes following him through the open kitchen entry. The way he moved, the silence he kept—it was oddly comforting.
Isaac glanced back briefly and caught her watching.
“Don’t worry. I’m not cooking,” he said. “I’m just reheating leftovers from dinner.”
“Mm,” she muttered under her breath.
While he prepared the food, Isaac kept stealing short glances at her.
He had fought against Professor Catherine before. He knew her strength. Even now, he wasn’t fully sure he could defeat her if they both went all out.
And yet, she was in that condition.
What happened to her?
Should I call the stronghold’s main base for a healer?
He quickly discarded that thought.
If she’d wanted help from the base, she would’ve gone there directly. The fact that she came here meant there was something—or someone—she didn’t want to involve.
He quietly made another decision.
I’ll heal her myself. But after she eats.
The bleeding had mostly stopped. It wasn’t urgent. Not yet.
In the living room, Catherine continued to watch him silently.
When he turned away, her gaze changed.
Her hands clenched the edge of the sofa cushion.
She bit down on her lower lip, hard enough to break skin. Blood pooled and dripped from her chin.
The Sentinel… was far stronger than I expected.
If I was almost beaten by someone who is as strong as a Level 50 Champion from high rank species, what chance do I have against someone from Apex rank species?
Her fingers curled tightly, knuckles turning white.
I can’t kill her if I’m this weak…
That was when a voice echoed in her memory. A silky, haunting voice that came from the depths of her past.
“Catherine, why do you train so hard? There’s an easier way for our species to become stronger…”
Her eyes shifted to Isaac again.
She had always rejected that idea. Always. But today’s defeat had rattled her.
If it’s Isaac…
Before her thoughts could spiral further, he returned, placing two plates down on the coffee table.
“Here’s your dinner, Miss Landlord.”
She looked up at him, her lip still bleeding slightly. He noticed it instantly.
“Hey—your mouth. Are you—”
Before he could finish, Catherine grabbed his wrist and yanked him forward. He lost balance and fell onto the sofa, landing on his back. The next thing he knew, Catherine was straddling his hips, leaning over him with an unreadable expression.
“You’ve been a good boy,” she said in a teasing tone. “I think I should give you a reward for it.”
Her hand rested on his chest, then slowly slid downward, across his stomach, stopping just above the waistband of his pants. Her touch was light but deliberate.
“Do you want a reward, Isaac?” she asked, her voice low, velvety.
He stared up at her, unamused. His eyes didn’t waver.
Then, without warning, he raised a hand and cupped her cheek. Before she could react, he leaned up, lips brushing close to her ear.
“If you keep teasing me like this,” he whispered, “then I will also stop holding back.”
Her entire body stiffened.
She didn’t know if it was fear or surprise. For once, she didn’t know how to respond.
Still in that awkward tangle, Isaac let out a soft breath against her ear.
“No man refuses a five-star meal served to him, Professor,” he said casually. “I’m not any different.”
Her face flushed red. She quickly shifted off him and sat down beside him, arms crossed tightly to regain composure.
Isaac chuckled quietly and sat up as well.
She tried to act unaffected. “On second thought, I’m starting to worry. What might a young man with a dragon bloodline do to a fragile maiden like me?”
The sly smirk returned to her lips. “After hearing Emily and Alice every night, I doubt I can survive that kind of treatment.”
Isaac nearly choked.
“Wait—what?!”
“Mm? What?” She acted innocent.
“How do you know—” He stared at her, wide-eyed. ’Did the Vice Principal tell her?’
“Know what?” she asked, clearly enjoying his flustered state.
Isaac groaned and buried his face in his hands.
I don’t even want to know anymore.
Professor Catherine looked far too pleased with herself.
“Just eat,” he muttered. “And stop talking nonsense.”
“Nonsense? I’m serious here,” she said, mock-offended. “Haven’t you read the stories? Big, bad dragons preying on young, beautiful princesses? It’s only natural I fear for my maidenhood.”
He rolled his eyes.
He was about to argue, but then stopped.
Emily was technically a princess by bloodline. And Alice… Calloway Conglomerate’s heiress. She was a princess too, in a way.
Technically, he had been preying on young princess. He groaned inwardly.
You know what, I’ll just keep my mouth shut.
Professor Catherine, thoroughly amused, picked up her fork and began eating, a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips.
Isaac leaned back, watching her in silence.
The questions still lingered.
Who attacked her? Why did she come here instead of going to the base?
When she finally ate and set the plate aside, Isaac spoke, “So… are you going to tell me how you got hurt?”
Catherine glanced at him, then leaned back with a tired exhale. “I was caught in a monster’s ambush.”
He stared at her for a few seconds longer. That was it? No details, no elaboration? Just a vague explanation and an indifferent tone.
“You sure that’s all?” he asked.
She met his gaze but didn’t answer. Just smiled faintly, as if he’d asked something amusing. Isaac didn’t press the point anymore, knowing it would be useless.
“Will you go to the main base now to get healed?” he asked instead.
She shook her head without hesitation.
“Then what will you do?”
“I’ll sleep tonight,” she said, stretching slightly, though it made her wince. “Then when I’m a little better, I’ll head to the base. Maybe tomorrow afternoon.”
“Why not go now?” he asked.
“There are a few people who don’t like me much. I’d rather not be seen at my weakest. Never know who might take the chance.”
Isaac exhaled through his nose.
He was starting to see the lines a bit clearer now.
Every human might be working under the same banner, but that didn’t mean they were all on the same side.
Even someone like Professor Catherine, who had gone out of her way to help the Sanctum and protect people, was cautious. Not of monsters, but of other humans.
“Alice can heal you,” Isaac said after a pause. “She has some recovery skills.”
Catherine tilted her head. “Does her healing scale with the target’s health? Or is it a fixed amount?”
“It scales.”
“Then she can’t. She doesn’t have the mana for it. Let her sleep.”
She began to rise, slowly at first. “Since that’s all, I’ll head back to my room—”
Isaac grabbed her wrist gently, stopping her. “I never said that was all.”
She turned to him with a raised brow, curious.
Isaac said nothing and just pulled her toward a corner of the room. Then he grabbed the soulbind pendant hanging from his neck.
Closing his eyes, he focused on the item inside. The air shifted slightly, and with a brief glow, the Life Support Pod appeared in front of them with a soft thud.
Professor Catherine stepped back slightly, watching the pod with interest.
“This is what Emily used,” Isaac said, gesturing at the pod. “It helped her stabilize during her advancement to high rank species. It’s a Life Support Pod and it’s designed to heal, too.”
She looked from the pod to Isaac. “You want me to use this?”
“It’ll work. You’ll be fine by tomorrow morning.”
“Oh?” She gave a faint smile. “Alright then.”
Without hesitation, she began undressing.
Isaac blinked. “Wait, what are you doing?”
“The liquid inside support pods like this is absorbed through skin,” she said plainly. “Less clothing means faster absorption. You want me healed quickly, right?”
He opened his mouth to say something but stopped when she leaned closer. A sense of softness pressed against his arm. She leaned in and whispered near his ear.
“Since you’re being so kind to me tonight… I’ll let you have a little look.”
Isaac didn’t react. His face stayed blank, and he didn’t turn to look at her. Instead, he stepped back and waved toward the pod.
“Just get inside.”
She chuckled, clearly entertained by his reaction—or lack of one—and stepped into the pod.
The moment she settled in, the interface lit up, displaying a timer: 10 hours remaining.
Isaac glanced at the screen, then, unavoidably, at her. The pod had a clear glass surface, so even though he hadn’t meant to peek, he saw her lying inside.
His brow twitched.
She was wearing clothes.
Well, mostly. She’d only taken off her outer coat and rolled up her sleeves. Everything else was intact.
’So she said that just to tease me.’
He shook his head and stepped back from the pod. Catherine’s eyes were closed, but a small smirk had formed on her lips.
She knew exactly what she’d done.
Isaac exhaled and moved through the living room, pulling the curtains down one by one. Darkness filled the room as the last one fell, leaving only the soft ambient glow of the pod’s screen.
Tyr was outside, standing guard. With the treant nearby and Isaac’s own detection ability, they’d know if anything crossed the barrier.
But still…
He sat down on the couch, facing the pod, and leaned his head back.
There was always that what if.
What if someone slipped past Tyr undetected?
What if someone knew Catherine was here and came to finish the job?
He wasn’t willing to take that risk.
She was strong. Stronger than almost anyone he knew. But tonight, she’d limped through the door, coughing up blood. Torn clothes. A bruised body. She might act like everything was fine, but it wasn’t.
Until now, she had always been the one protecting him. From the shadows, from afar, or directly.
But tonight, it was his turn.
He smiled faintly to himself, pulled a throw blanket over his legs, and adjusted the Soulbind pendant around his neck.
He would stay up.
No intruder would get past him tonight.
Not while she was under his roof.
Not while she was his responsibility now.