Chapter 4: Frozen Sanctuary

Despite completing Quest 3, the sheer strain of channeling the Holy Aegis Barrier took a heavy toll on Audrey’s mortal body.

As the adrenaline faded, a deep, bone-chilling frost began spreading through her veins—the dreaded “Ghost Frost Backlash.” Her knees buckled, and her vision began to flicker to black.

Before she hit the marble floor, a pair of strong arms caught her.

Wyatt scooped her up effortlessly into his arms, pulling her small body against his chest.

“Audrey!” his voice echoed with rare panic. Without hesitation, he launched himself into the air, stepping through space using his spatial teleportation spell.

A second later, they materialized inside Wyatt’s private quarters at the pinnacle of St. Jude’s Clocktower. The room was lined with ancient leather-bound books, glowing blue crystal lamps, and a massive fur-draped velvet sofa near a crackling fireplace.

Wyatt gently laid Audrey onto the sofa. Her skin was deathly pale, her lips turning blue as shivering fits racked her body.

“Hold on,” Wyatt commanded. He removed his gloves, revealing long, pale hands etched with glowing silver runes. He sat beside her and pulled her into his lap, wrapping a heavy fur blanket around both of them.

He pressed his warm palms against her back, steadily injecting his refined spectral energy into her body to melt the curse frost.

> **[AFFINITY EVENT TRIGGERED: GHOST MASTER’S DEVOTION]**
> **[Target Affinity: 65%]**
> **[Special Buff: True Warmth Protection Active.]**

Audrey slowly opened her eyes, resting her head against Wyatt’s neck. She could feel his heart beating steadily now—no longer an icy ghost, but a man restored by love.

“Why are you helping me so much, Professor?” Audrey mumbled weakly, her fingers lacing through his silver hair. “Isn’t it against the rules?”

Wyatt looked down at her face, his gaze softer than the moonlight streaming through the clocktower window. He gently brushed a strand of dark hair away from her forehead.

“The rules of St. Jude mean nothing to me anymore, Audrey,” Wyatt whispered softly. “If this game tries to take you… I will burn the entire academy to ground.”