Kent hurried to support Rose, keeping her from collapsing immediately.
However, the moment he touched her, he realized something was amiss. Rose’s current state was unusual, radiating a dangerous aura.
Kent quickly glanced at Lucy and the others. The four of them, with years of camaraderie, understood his intent with just a single look.
“Miss Rose, are you all right?”
“I… I never wanted him to die! I just… I just…”
Before she could finish, an indescribable aura surged from Rose’s body. The overwhelming pressure instantly blew open the tent.
Fortunately, Kent had anticipated this. The four of them had already prepared their combined magic array, which activated immediately to contain the force erupting from Rose.
Without it, the entire temporary camp might have been destroyed.
“What’s happening?” Kent muttered uncertainly, then speculated, “Could it be… an Inner Demon?”
Mages not only relied on mana but also on mind power.
If one’s mental fortitude wasn’t strong enough, it was easy to lose oneself in their power, creating an Inner Demon.
Once controlled by an Inner Demon, a person would gradually lose their consciousness, eventually becoming a hollow shell.
Now, it seemed Rose was in just such a state.
Tony’s death had unsettled her mind, and combined with other factors, her Inner Demon had surfaced.
“An Inner Demon… How do we deal with it?” someone asked.
“I have no idea,” Kent replied helplessly. “I’ve only ever heard of Inner Demons. How could I know how to resolve one?”
For now, their only option was to hold out, hoping to endure Rose’s outbreak and see if a solution presented itself.
As the sinister aura emanated from Rose, Kent and the others hesitated, considering whether they should temporarily retreat. Just then, a finger lightly pressed against Rose’s forehead.
In an instant, Rose collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Nina appeared, letting out a sigh of relief as she confirmed Rose was unharmed. Luckily, she had arrived in time.
Had she been even slightly late, the growing influence of Rose’s Inner Demon could have made the situation irreparable—and Daniel would have been furious with her.
Now, in the early stages of the outbreak, there was still hope.
To protect Rose from further harm, Nina immediately sent her into a dreamscape. However, Nina felt uneasy, so she entered the dreamscape alongside her.
Within Rose’s dreamscape, Nina found herself witnessing Rose’s childhood.
She was the granddaughter of the old headmaster, a position that should have guaranteed her affection and care. Yet, her mediocre talent cast a shadow over her life.
“What? You’re the old headmaster’s granddaughter? How are you so useless?”
“You can’t even use basic magic? Most people learn that in half a day! Who takes three whole days like you?”
Those jeers and taunts pierced Rose like daggers.
Over time, they shaped her personality, turning her increasingly introverted and quiet. As she grew older, Rose became more withdrawn, isolating herself from others.
Eventually, no one even mentioned her connection to the headmaster anymore.
But Nina knew those experiences had left deep scars in Rose’s heart. Scars that only Rose herself could shatter.
“I… I can’t disappoint my father anymore! I… I must prove myself to him!”
Rose’s angry shout echoed through the dreamscape. Nina looked in the direction of the sound and saw Rose wielding a massive sword, striking down from above.
Nina’s face went pale, but fortunately, she didn’t need to maintain the dream any longer.
Rose opened her eyes and immediately saw Nina in front of her.
“Nina? What are you doing here? Wait… if you’re here, that means my father…”
Still pale from her efforts, Nina replied, “Rose, don’t talk about that now. That sword you swung in your dream—no wonder you triggered an Inner Demon.”
“Inner Demon? What Inner Demon? Nina, what are you talking about?” Rose was utterly confused.
“Fine, let me explain,” Nina said. “You just experienced an Inner Demon outbreak.”
“An Inner Demon…”
Hearing the term, Rose began to recall what had happened before her memory lapsed. Slowly, the events came back to her.
“Tony… It’s a pity. My constant pressure drove him to his death,” Rose said regretfully.
“I think, Rose, that your urgency to prove yourself stems from your childhood experiences,” Nina observed.
For the children who had mocked her, their words might have been casual, something they forgot the next day.
But for Rose, those words cut deeper than any weapon. That lingering pain made her Inner Demon almost inevitable.
Tony’s death had been the final trigger, unleashing the suppressed negative emotions within her and allowing the Inner Demon to take hold.
Thankfully, Nina had intervened. Through the dreamscape, she helped Rose regain control.
“Rose, listen to me,” Nina said solemnly. “Don’t dwell on these thoughts for now. It’s the only way to prevent another outbreak of your Inner Demon.”
Rose nodded, understanding the severity of Nina’s warning.
Maintaining Rose’s dreamscape had been an arduous task for Nina, especially during Rose’s final sword strike.
That destructive force had nearly shattered the dreamscape before it even landed. Thankfully, Nina had ended the dream in time, and Rose had successfully regained control over her body.
But the effort had taken its toll on Nina. The vast amount of mana she’d expended left her visibly pale and weakened. Still, the outcome was worth the cost.
“I’m sorry, Nina, for causing you so much trouble…”
“It’s nothing, Rose. You’ve always looked out for me. This time, I was just returning the favor.”
“Did you come here specifically to find me?”
“Yes. Well, to be precise, the headmaster sent me.”
“My father?”
Hearing this, Rose’s tone grew somber. She had yet to fulfill her promise to him. The last remaining city, Bluecrystal City, still stood outside the Death Legion’s control.
As Rose’s emotions began to shift again, her aura showed signs of another change. Alarmed, Nina hurriedly said, “Stop thinking about that, Rose. Right now, you need to return to Crossbridge Academy and consult the headmaster about resolving your Inner Demon. He also has other tasks for you.”
“Other tasks?”
“Yes. Now go back, Rose. Remember what I said—don’t dwell on this.”
Nina prepared to leave.
“Nina, aren’t you coming back with me? We haven’t seen each other in years,” Rose said, trying to stop her.
“No, I have other matters to attend to. Besides you, the headmaster also needs Reed and Nora back. Once I’ve gathered everyone, we’ll have a proper reunion. The headmaster’s task requires all of us.”
Rose noticed how frequently Nina mentioned Daniel and his instructions. Her curiosity about what could require them all to return deepened.
Still, Rose longed to return to the academy. It had been six years since she last saw her father. With that thought, Rose opened her eyes again.
“Miss Rose, are you all right?” Kent asked.
“Where am I?” Rose replied.
“This is our temporary camp,” Kent explained. “You had an Inner Demon outbreak not long ago. Fortunately, Miss Nina was here. Before she left, she told us to let you rest.” free𝑤ebnovel.com
Rose felt a headache coming on.
So, her recent encounter with Nina had only been within the dreamscape?
When had Nina’s dreamwalking technique become so advanced? It seemed she wasn’t the only one who had been growing stronger these past years.