Now didn't seem like the best time to cultivate the essence I'd gathered into my Soul since my last meditation. Leveling up and increasing my stats was always an emotionally, mentally, and physically demanding ordeal. It didn't seem like the most intelligent choice to undergo a cultivation so soon after a crash. But what I planned to do next might not be the smartest decision, either.

I needed to talk to Codex. Desperately. I wanted to ask him about the body essence enhancement Nic had taught me, about the crashes that happened as a result, and it was essential that Dex and I make a plan to get me out of this place. Soon, I'd reach Tier 10, which had been my original goal in coming here and attending the academy. It would only take maybe one or two more battles, or even just completing another cavern. My time here was coming to an end.

Nic's secrecy and Cinthara's renewed coldness toward me were the final push toward my realization that I needed to move on. Having the neural implant in my head, a device that continued to bring on intense headaches and keep my informative AI companion from my mind, also remained a factor in my desire to leave. And living on a planet around people who clearly worshipped Euridice, the goddess who despised me, was starting to feel more and more dangerous.

The imagery of Euridice everywhere, depicted in statues and paintings, served as terrifying reminders of her existence. I shuddered in my chair in front of the desk of my dormitory as I reflected. I couldn't help but think back to my last hours on my home planet, when Euridice herself had paid me a little visit. The all-powerful Goddess of Deception, who was clever enough to fool universes of people into thinking she was the Goddess of Knowledge–stealing the title from Lord Solomon, cared enough about some random boy from a desolate planet full of dry desert and a tiny population.

Her sudden appearance in that cave I'd taken shelter in after Edrona's destruction had me thinking I'd lived my final moments–that she'd arrived to kill me. But she'd come to threaten me… to mock me. She hadn't even come in person, just as a projected hologram. Arguably, threats and mockery from a goddess are worse than death. I'd almost rather have her kill me quickly than live the months of wariness and constantly looking over my shoulder, nervously anticipating the goddess's eventual and wrathful killing blow.

I could remember her words to me clearly:

"I have a plan for you. Do not misunderstand–you will die, but I have decided to use you as a sort of… experiment. So, if you want to live a while longer, you will not bring me any more problems, like killing my priests, for instance."

She had not liked the fact that I had ruined the plans she had made with Priest Kane, her plans to use him to enslave the people of Edrona and steal all of their essence rather than just a percentage. In the universes she held dominion over as goddess, Euridice had somehow found a way to siphon a portion of people's essence when they cultivated, making it difficult for them to climb the Tiers. Of course, she couldn't do this with me, since the way I advanced and strengthened worked through the systems inserted into my head by Lord Solomon and through my particular godspawn DNA.

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Though Edrona was only a tiny portion of her many worlds, I could see why me putting an end to her plans in even just a small way could prove annoying. But if I had to do it all over, I'd do it again. Priest Kane destroyed everything I'd ever loved–he was the reason I'd lost Drayek and Sarina.

I let my head fall onto the desk as I groaned. All of my mental, emotional, and physical stores were depleted. I couldn't let myself think of those I'd lost. Not right now. I needed to gather enough strength to act, not to start crying.

After a few much-needed deep breaths, I rose from my seat. I moved to put on all of my armor and retrieve all the necessities: my spear, Eira, my satchel, and the sack I used to gather spoils from battles. I had no plans to fight anything, knowing that my body couldn't handle another fight right now, but I was always better safe than sorry.

Eira chirped within her designated pouch at my hip, almost as if she asked where we were headed? Maybe I'd imagined it, but her continuous trills seemed to drip with excitement.

I'll just find a cavern and only stand in the entrance, I told myself. I won't go any further. That way, I can talk to Dex, but I won't try to complete the cavern by myself tonight.

Something about the caverns, probably the fact that they were built by Lord Solomon and somehow blocked whatever had turned off Codex in my head, allowed me to have my AI companion back. And as far as I knew, the caverns were the only places I could talk to Dex.

I left my dorm room, making a great effort to not draw any attention to myself. Thankfully, someone walking the halls in a full set of armor wasn't uncommon–many students were Scouts or Scout Supports. The real trick would be leaving the city by myself without drawing any unwanted eyes. People were allowed to leave, but I didn't want anyone finding out my particular plans, or worse, start following me.

Though dangerous, I had to find a cavern by myself. Not only was Cinthara incapacitated, but I didn't think she'd want much to do with me at the moment. And I didn't want to enlist Nic, at least not until he decided to be a little more forthcoming with me. Hopefully, my journey would remain clear of any fighting or other dangers. Battling by myself and directly after a crash wouldn't be ideal.

I nodded casually as I passed fellow students and some academy instructors. Most nodded back politely, and others ignored me completely. Even as I entered the bustling city outside of the academy, everyone was too preoccupied with their various activities to pay me any heed, like shouting out price negotiations for tablets or weapons.

The hard part was navigating my way through the roads and alleyways toward the secret exit Cinthara had shown me when she took me to the first cavern. Evening had already come and gone, and the hour grew late, my anxiety growing right along with it.

I sighed in relief when I finally met a far corner of the city cave, free from swarming crowds and twisting alleyways. I tiptoed up to the high cave wall and ran four fingers along exactly where Cinthara had just last week. The stone shifted, then rumbled open into a triangular entrance just wide enough for me to fit through.

After making sure no one had seen or heard the wall opening, I stepped through before the wall closed up again. I walked up the inclined path, not feeling as claustrophobic as last time, as I now expected the narrowing of the walls to give way to the trail opening up to the surface. The wet walls scraped against my armor, but I trudged along. I was excited to talk to Dex again.

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