'What is this fucker doing here?' My mind immediately filled with confusion.
I was pretty sure Zephyr was supposed to be a silent background guy for this entire first arc.
He shouldn't be doing anything important until the big cave exploration next week.
But seeing him walking side-by-side with Sianna really made me question everything I knew about this timeline.
'Hey, system.'
[Host?]
'Why is Zephyr acting differently?'
[I cannot disclose that information, Host.]
'That is enough of an answer for me.' I knew right then that the sick goddess who sent me here was playing games.
Either Zephyr was getting visions of future memories, or he travelled back in time just like me.
If he did come back, then it's a pain in the ass.
I pulled up my timer to check my reality.
[Time remaining: 1 Day 20 Hours]
So they think they can back me into a corner.
Try your best.
I pushed my shoulders back and moved confidently forward down the path right toward Sianna.
Zephyr probably didn't know what he was doing here.
But after hearing Shane's conversation with Melissa yesterday, he clearly figured out that Sianna was an important target for him and was just trying to block whatever he was doing.
"Ah, Zephyr, what were you saying?" Sianna asked him.
"Ah, nothing, ma'am," Zephyr replied.
He put on a perfectly fake innocent voice.
"I am just feeling a little nervous about being in the academy, that's all."
Sianna laughed a little bit at that.
"That is how most of the first-year students feel. Don't worry, you will get used to it very soon."
Zephyr nodded obediently, and then his yellow eyes caught my movement.
I walked directly towards them, kept my focus specifically on her, and completely ignored him.
'So I was indeed right,' Zephyr was probably thinking as a creepy smirk started forming on his face.
"Oh, Shane, what brings you out here?" Sianna asked, looking genuinely surprised to see me walking through the private gardens.
"I just thought I would walk around and get some fresh air before class starts, ma'am," I said smoothly.
"I definitely didn't expect to run into you here."
I didn't wait for permission and reached out, gently took the leather dog leash right from her hand.
I made sure my fingers brushed against hers for just a second.
Her skin was warm today.
"Let me help you with that," I said, giving her a very assuring smile.
"You really don't have to do that," she started to say.
But she didn't force the issue and just went along with it as I fell into step beside her.
The golden retriever happily trotted next to me.
We walked down the path together. I occasionally shared glances with Zephyr over her shoulder.
That fucker was just smirking at me. He thought he had completely ruined my morning plans by third wheeling us.
[You have received a Message from Melissa]
A blue window popped up in my vision.
'Huh?' I totally forgot you could actually text people with your systems once you shared your unique code.
[Why is Zephyr there with you?]
I turned my head around slightly. I tried to search the upper balconies and windows to see if she was watching us. I couldn't find her anywhere.
[He joined uninvited,] I typed back mentally.
[Need help?] she asked.
'She is actually willing to help me for free?' I thought.
That was definitely a surprise.
[Yes,] I replied quickly.
We walked for another two minutes.
Sianna was pointing out some rare roses to me while Zephyr lingered right behind us like a bad shadow.
Then Zephyr's eyes suddenly went completely wide.
He must have read a new message from his own system or received some kind of crazy notification as he stopped dead in his tracks, turned around and just started sprinting back toward the main campus buildings without saying a single word to either of us.
'Wow, whatever Melissa sent him really worked,' I thought.
I had to bite the inside of my cheek to hide my grin.
"Why is he running away like that?" Sianna asked, her face looking worried as she watched him sprint across the grass.
"Must have been his period," I said with a completely straight face.
She stared at me for a long moment in shock.
Then she completely broke character and laughed out loud.
It was a beautiful sound that completely erased the tired look from her face, which made her look years younger.
We walked together for a short time after that, just enjoying the quiet morning until it was time for her to start her private routine.
"I usually go to the faculty training hall right about now," she told me, reaching out to take the leash back so she could tie the dog near her office.
"I actually need to get a morning workout in myself," I suggested casually.
"Would you mind if I tagged along? I promise I won't get in your way."
She hesitated for a second, probably thinking about the academy rules.
But that lingering smile from my joke was still there.
"Alright, just this once. But it is a special hall specifically for faculty members, so you have to keep quiet and stay out of sight."
The faculty training area was empty at this hour. It was much smaller than the student gyms, but the equipment was incredibly high quality.
"I am going to the locker room to change into my training clothes," Sianna said, pointing to a heavy wooden door down the hall.
"Go ahead and stretch out."
"Take your time," I told her.
I watched her walk away.
The second the locker room door clicked shut, I got to work.
I took off my uniform jacket and tossed it on a bench.
Then I pulled my shirt over my head and threw it aside as I stood there half-naked, wearing only my uniform pants.
My new body was ripped, had black hair medium length enough to grab.
The years of past-life training were not showing now, but still it was good enough.
I grabbed an iron training sword from the weapon rack and did a few quick swings just to get a light sweat going.
'Sweat under the lights will definitely make this more arousing.'
A few minutes later, the locker room door opened and Sianna walked out.
She was wearing tight black leggings and a fitted grey tank top that left absolutely nothing to the imagination.
Her curves were on full display now that the bulky academy coat was gone.
But she stopped walking the second she saw me standing in the middle of the room.
Her eyes immediately dropped to my bare chest, and she swallowed hard, lips parted slightly, and she completely forgot whatever she was about to say.
The professional teacher mask slipped right off her face.
"I think I might need your personal help with this stance, ma'am," I said quietly, letting my voice drop deep.