Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Haunted House

Lana sweetly turned toward Cassandra and waved her hand. “No need,” she said gently.

“I’ve already found very good accommodation.” Her smile softened as she added,

“I’m truly touched by your thoughtfulness, Cassandra.”

Cassandra grinned, excitement sparkling in her eyes.

“Really? What place? What kind of accommodation did you find? I’ve been searching for you for so long, and I still couldn’t figure out where you were staying!”

Lana clenched her jaw slightly before replying through gritted teeth.

“I… recently rented a haunted house.”

The moment the word “haunted” escaped her lips, Cassandra froze.

Her eyes widened in sheer horror as she grabbed Lana’s arm.

“A haunted house? Are you serious, Lana? Why on earth would you live in such a place? Don’t you understand how dangerous that is?”

Lana tilted her head slightly, watching Cassandra’s genuine fear.

Cassandra continued, voice trembling,

“Even inside the safe zone, there are still a few haunted houses! It’s strange, but the city owners of Xila City couldn’t completely exorcise them. You know that, right?”

Lana nodded slowly. She had heard about that.

Contrary to what people believed, a few haunted houses did exist inside the so-called “safe zones.”

Even the city officials couldn’t completely cleanse them. It was one of the many strange occurrences that no one could explain.

’The haunted houses inside safe zones… I remember now,’ she thought. ’These houses weren’t ordinary at all. They were built right above small yet unique ghost portals. Every year, one ghost would emerge through the portal and occupy the house. Once the ghost grew stronger, it would leave the house and sometimes slip deeper into the safe zone.’

This mysterious phenomenon had been uncovered in Lana’s previous life.

The ghost police had once investigated these cases but couldn’t fully understand why only one ghost appeared every year.

It was as if the portal could only produce one “wild ghost” annually.

Lana was lost in thought when Cassandra suddenly tightened her grip on her hand.

Her expression turned firm, almost pleading.

“I can’t let you go like this, Lana. You’re coming with me.”

Lana smiled softly at her best friend’s determination.

Cassandra’s eyes shimmered with hope, but when Lana didn’t respond, her shoulders drooped.

She sighed in resignation.

She knew Lana too well.

Once Lana decided something, no one… not even the heavens… could make her change her mind.

Stubborn as an ox… that’s what Cassandra always called her.

Taking a deep breath, Cassandra finally asked, ”

At least tell me… what department are you in? I looked everywhere in the Weapon Designing Department, but I couldn’t find you! Don’t tell me you secretly enrolled in some department and snuck into the library to hide your department?”

Lana’s lips curled into a small smile.

Cassandra’s eyes instantly brightened. She grabbed Lana’s hand and gasped dramatically.

“Oh! You little genius! You must have used some kind of connection, didn’t you? Was it Derek? Or maybe Jeff? Who helped you hide your enrollment?”

Lana chuckled and shook her head. “I can’t tell. It’s a secret.” She even stuck out her tongue playfully.

Seeing this, Cassandra’s tense expression melted into a warm, gentle smile.

“Alright, alright,” she said softly. “But if you face any kind of difficulty, promise me you’ll come to me. I mean it, Lana.”

Lana nodded.

Cassandra’s expression darkened for a moment, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Those Almond family jerks…” she muttered bitterly. “If I ever get the chance, I’ll humiliate them myself!”

Then, brightening suddenly, she asked eagerly, “Did Brenda trouble you a lot? Tell me the truth.”

Lana shook her head, but Cassandra’s eyes grew misty.

In an instant, she threw her arms around Lana, hugging her tightly.

“I heard about what happened yesterday,” she sniffed. “I swear I’ll go and demand an explanation from Brenda today!”

Lana blinked, momentarily caught off guard, then patted Cassandra’s back gently.

“If that’s the case,” she said with a teasing smile, “then I’ll wait for my bestie’s justice.”

Cassandra smiled proudly and took Lana’s hand again, pulling her along.

“Come on! We’re going to the Dream Warden Department right now! Let’s see how that bitch dares to bully my best friend again!”

Lana allowed herself to be dragged, while Mr. Crow, perched on her shoulder, gave her a suspicious look.

“Is she really going to confront Brenda?” he asked quietly. ’You know, she might stop midway, remember something else, or maybe that Brenda isn’t even on campus. She seems too genuine… it feels almost rehearsed.’

Lana chuckled inwardly. ’No, Brenda’s definitely here. Cassandra will confront her. And if I’m not wrong, she might even slap her.’

Mr. Crow fluttered his wings in disbelief.

’Impossible! If Cassandra were a fake friend, she wouldn’t even consider confronting your enemies. And if she were a real one, she would never betray you. Which is it?’

Lana smirked faintly. ’You’ll see soon enough,’ she said softly. ’Cassandra is far more complex than you think.’

They walked together until Cassandra stopped in front of the Dream Warden Department.

The moment they entered, a deep silence blanketed the room.

Every Dream Warden sat quietly in their assigned seat, their posture calm and composed.

Unlike the opulent, five-star hotel-like classrooms of the Mystic Department, the Dream Warden Department’s room was simpler, more grounded, yet elegant in its own way.

Despite being one of the most prestigious departments in Shadowridge University, it received no special privileges.

The classroom was shaped like a semicircular auditorium, with tiered seating that ascended step by step.

Each row had a long desk, with a narrow aisle running through the middle that split the left and right sections.

Lana’s eyes wandered across the quiet faces. Dream Wardens were known to be calm, intelligent, and emotionally balanced. It was said they rarely got angry and preferred peace over conflict.

’At least, that’s what I used to believe,’ Lana thought dryly, her gaze hardening. ’Until I met Brenda.’

Brenda truly didn’t have any qualities of a Dream Warden. She was a unique piece.

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