<h4>Chapter 217: Assessing the Situation</h4>


    Nearly five minutes passed before Nora’s voice finally returned. "Master, I’ve confirmed my findings. Thisptop does connect to a server, but it’s local... contained within this campus. The server is essentially a dead end, built only for cadets to share and download books. At the moment, all active connections are confined to this dormitory. I can, if necessary, use it to reach other cadets’ptops. But the outside world remains inessible. I’ve already reinforced your firewall... no one will be able to ess your system without me noticing."


    Eleanor exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing. At least that part is safe. "How did you manage to ess theptop in the first ce if there’s no inte?" she asked.


    "The Wi-Fi module is left on by default," Nora replied matter-of-factly. "Since there’s no external inte in this facility, they didn’t bother restricting it. Before you even selected yournguage, I was able to slip in via that connection."


    Eleanor frowned. "Without the inte, then... how do I contact the outside world? Did you try reaching satellites?"


    "I tried multiple times," Nora admitted. "But ever since we entered the first teleportation gate, I haven’t been able to detect a single satellite signal. This ce is cut offpletely. Still... it puzzles me. Researchers here can’t possibly work in istion. They must have channels to the outside world. Phones, data links, perhaps even hidden terminals. Cadets may not be allowed ess, but I suspect there are restricted areas where professors could connect freely. If I can find those pathways, I might tap into them... discreetly."


    "Then I’ll explore as much of the academy as I can," Eleanor resolved. "Keep scanning. We’ll uncover something eventually. But for now... priorities. Did you find anything else on theptop besides books?"


    "Nothing," Nora confirmed. "The drive is filled exclusively with academic books... but there are thousands of them. This is a treasure trove of knowledge, Master. You should take advantage of it while you’re here."


    Eleanor allowed herself a faint smile. "You’re right. I’ll rest for a bit and start with the guidebook. Dinner’s not far off."


    She left theptop on the table after briefly skimming the stored files. Rising, she retrieved her guidebook from the pocket of her robe, then crossed to the bed. Pulling back the white bedcover, she sat and set the guidebook on the pillows. After slipping off her shoes and socks, shey down on the mattress. The softness met her body perfectly, the pillows just the right size. She decided to use only one for her head and kept the other aside.


    She had just reached for the guidebook when Nora interrupted again. "Master, before you read, I rmend checking your updated status screen."


    A glowing panel appeared before Eleanor’s eyes.


    [Status Screen]


    Cadet Name: Eleanor Elizabeth Raynor


    Cadet Number: 10156659


    Institution: Ascendance Academy of Midgard


    Race: Werewolf (Alpha)


    Bloodline: Mind Reaver (Level-1), Thunderbolt (Dormant)


    Cultivation Level: Awakened


    Academy Points: 0


    Unique Abilities:


    Mind eleration [Active] – Cognitive speed vastly heightened; capable of predicting enemy movements in real time.


    Bloodlust Instinct [Passive] – Sharpensbat instincts to lethal efficiency while inbat mode.


    Eidetic Memory [Passive] – Perfect recall of every experience.


    Adaptive Muscle Memory [Passive] – Newly acquired skills are instantly integrated into the body.


    Universal Comprehension [Passive] – Immediate understanding of all spoken and writtennguages.


    Night Vision [Passive] – wless vision in total darkness.


    Combat Skills:


    Tactical Foresight [Passive] – Battlefield analysed at a nce; enables optimal targeting and movement.


    Killing Precision [Passive] – Strikes automatically direct themselves towards vital points.


    Predator’s Awareness [Passive] – Senses minute shifts in an opponent’s intent or movement.


    Overdrive Focus [Active] – Channelstent energy into heightened speed and reflexes for a brief duration.


    Mind Arts:


    Mental Lock [Active] – Locks onto a chosen target, suppressing all distractions until the kill is achieved.


    rity Veil [Passive] – Immunity to illusions, mind-control, and memory tampering.


    Memory Erasure [Active] – Erases selected memories from weaker beings for a limited span.


    Nora’s voice came steadily in her mind. "Master, I’ve discovered how this information panel operates. The nanobots you received from the academy have dispersed throughout your body. The system itself runs independently,manding the bots to collect data from your body and brain to disy on the screen. At the same time, it continuously works to keep your physiology at optimal condition. It even elerates natural regeneration. Your werewolf healing was already formidable... this boost simply makes it faster."


    She paused, then continued, "I haven’t altered the academy’s programming, only ced it under my protection. Forcing control might riskplications. But if anyone attempts to ess or override it, they’ll have to pass through my firewall first."


    Eleanor nodded faintly. "Good. That’s the right call. But keep monitoring everything it does... track every activity, every adjustment. I want to push this system to its limits eventually. And... if you can, seed more nanobots into the system. Anything to elerate regeneration further."


    She hesitated, then asked, "Nora... howe there’s another bloodline in me?"


    "When the nanobots entered your body, their first priority was integration with your brain, granting you the ability you now know as Universal Comprehension," Nora exined. "The second was to analyze your race and bloodline by embedding themselves in key points throughout your body. The system contains data on many bloodlines... itpared your biology against them and discovered traces of two. The one you’ve already awakened is your Mind Reaver bloodline... what you call your Elizabeth bloodline. Night Visiones from your werewolf race, but most of your unique abilities are derived from that awakened bloodline. Because it’s only at Level 1, most of your powers are passive or rudimentary."


    She paused, then added, "Earlier, when I probed the sealed sections of new data, the system itself shifted. Your ssification changed from Awakened to Level 1. That suggests deeperyers are locked behind progression. As you raise your bloodline level, more information and abilities will unlock naturally."


    Eleanor absorbed this quietly. Then her eyes sharpened. "And the other one? This Thunderbolt bloodline... I’ve never known that I have it. If my memory is right, it belongs to the Lychos n. Why would I have it?"


    Nora paused before replying. "From what I can ess, it appears to be the same situation as your Elizabeth bloodline. If awakened, it would strengthen your physicalbat, where your Elizabeth bloodline empowers the mind. I suspect your bloodline potion may be the key to triggering it."


    She continued, "As for how it came to you... only one exnation seems usible. One of your parents carried the dormant bloodline, passed down silently for generations while they were human. You can consider it a hidden inheritance or a blessing, if you will."


    Eleanor fell silent. Her hand tightened unconsciously against the sheets. "...My mother is gone. And I’ve never even seen my father. I suppose I’ll never know the truth."


    Her chest grew heavy as memories surfaced... her mother’s final choice, sacrificing herself to allow Eleanor’s birth. A long, slow sigh escaped her lips.


    Sensing the sudden weight in her master’s mood, Nora gently diverted the conversation. "Master, I’ve located a vast library connected to yourptop’s virtual server. It will take me some time to store everything. In the meantime, you should finish your guidebook before dinner. I won’t be active while I work, but if you need me, just call. And please... keep theptop open."


    With that, her presence faded into silence.


    Eleanor couldn’t help a small, wry smile. "She’s bing more and more sentient... learning faster than I ever anticipated."


    She reached for the guidebook resting by her pillow, opened its first page, and began to read.


    ***


    Exactly at seven-thirty, Ophelia knocked on the door of room 227. Eleanor was so immersed in her guidebook that she almost forgot about dinner. At the sound, she instinctively spread her awareness outward and sensed Ophelia and Kiara waiting patiently outside.


    She slipped off the bed, smoothing down the creases in her uniform as she walked to the door. With a soft click, she opened it and said, "Come in."


    Both women entered and shut the door behind them. "Eleanor, were you already reading textbooks?" Kiara asked, her eyes flicking toward the glowingptop.


    Eleanor shook her head. "No. I still haven’t finished the guidebook."


    Kiara leaned closer, peering at the device. "Oh! But yourptop’s still open. I thought you were ahead of us already. Those books are... honestly, fascinating. I don’t even know which subjects they’ll throw at me here, but for the first time in years, I’m actually eager to learn again."


    Eleanor’s lips curved faintly at Kiara’s enthusiasm.


    Ophelia, more serious, said, "Ma’am, did you finish the guidebook yet?"


    "More than halfway," Eleanor replied. "I’ll finish it tonight."


    Sending a mentalmand for Nora to wrap up her work, Eleanor went into the bathroom. Towels were neatly stacked on the rack,bs of different sizes lined the counter, and a hair dryer sat by the basin. She washed her face, ran ab through her hair, and emerged refreshed as she was ready to venture outside.


    As she stepped out, Ophelia said, "Ma’am, the Maíra girl from 227 is waiting outside. We... couldn’t open the door."


    "Oh?" Eleanor arched a brow. "Didn’t your guide tell you? Except for the owner, no one can unlock these doors."


    "She did," Kiara admitted with a sheepish smile. "But I thought that was only from the outside."


    Eleanor shook her head slightly, then opened the door.


    The moment it swung inward, Maíra darted in as though released from a spring. "I was waiting for you! You said you’d go to the dining hall together at seven-thirty. We’re alreadyte!"


    Eleanor calmly stepped aside, giving the girl space. "Dinner is at eight. We still have plenty of time. If you’re that anxious, you can always go ahead early."


    Maíra froze, her cheeks flushing as she spoke. "Ah... sorry if I disturbed you." She fidgeted, then blurted, "I live in the forest, you know. This is the first time I’ve ever been away from home. And... there are vampires and other races here." Her shoulders shuddered slightly. "They give me the creeps. Honestly, I’d rather wrestle a jaguar than sit beside them."


    Her gaze flicked between Eleanor, Ophelia, and Kiara, almost pleading. "You’re all werewolves, right? Please... let me join your circle. I don’t want to feel alone here."


    Her tone was so much like a child begging for candy that Eleanor had to suppress a smile.