The second semester at the Academy was underway, and Benedict's life was now even more complicated than it ever had been.

His relationship officially expanded when Sadie joined him and Atropos, not just at their party, but as a girlfriend. That caused some bumps as old traumas resurfaced and cast doubts over their new relationship. All of them were determined to make it work, and because they were able to work through those moments, they grew closer together.

If balancing a new relationship wasn't difficult enough, the three of them also had to use Pockets to advance up the Ranks. Having delved up a full Rank during the last tournament, the now-expanded party decided to do it again, leaving the Rank 4 Pocket for the Rank 5. They weren't alone on that dangerous course, either, as their good friends were doing the exact same thing.

That pushed both groups into moments where a fraction of a second could've meant death for one or more of them. The worst instances came at the hands of different shamans. The blood ritualist almost killed Benedict on their first delve, but his Blood Healing had kept him alive. The worst was the warlord who nearly killed Benedict, Atropos, and Sadie at different points throughout their fight.

They survived and reached Rank 5, advancing a step closer to the Heavens. At this Rank, their Spheres would allow them to augment themselves. It was normally a huge point in every Holder's journey, but that took a backseat to what Benedict found out and received from his bloodline. Having been given a gift that would endanger him if it were known, he still used it to help Sadie break free of her family.

They had a couple of weeks before the semester was going to end. Once it did, they—along with Victor's group—would be ready for the Rank 5 tournament, which had been shrouded in secrecy. They were focused on not just entering that tournament, but emerging as the best of those who entered. The only thing left afterward would be graduation and then leaving the world behind, finding other worlds with Pockets that they could delve to keep advancing.