NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 9: Chapter 9 : Shadows and Checkmate.
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The sun was dipping low over the Forbidden Forest, bleeding gold and amber light through the trees. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, carrying the distant calls of strange creatures waking for the evening.
Nestled at the edge of the forest sat Hagrid's hut—a squat wooden cabin with a sloping roof and a massive chimney puffing gentle curls of smoke into the twilight sky. A pumpkin patch sprawled beside it, vines curling around enormous orange gourds, while Fang, Hagrid's boarhound, snored thunderously on the step.
Inside, the hut was cluttered and cozy. Copper pans hung from the rafters. A huge kettle bubbled gently on the hearth, filling the room with the scent of stewing meat and herbs. A crossbow leaned in the corner, next to a giant pair of muddy boots.
At the table sat Rubeus Hagrid, half-giant and gamekeeper of Hogwarts, his great shaggy beard trembling as he wrung his enormous hands.
Across from him sat Albus Dumbledore, calm and silver-bearded, blue eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles. He cradled a delicate china teacup in his long fingers, listening intently.
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Hagrid's Fear
Hagrid shifted his weight on the creaking bench.
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Hagrid (low voice):
> "Professor… I'm tellin' yeh… it weren' right. I've seen odd beasts in the Forest all me life—but this… this were somethin' else."
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Dumbledore nodded patiently.
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Dumbledore:
> "Calm yourself, Hagrid. Tell me exactly what you saw."
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Hagrid's eyes darted to the window, as though checking for eavesdroppers. He leaned closer, lowering his booming voice to a shaky whisper.
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Hagrid:
> "I was checkin' on the Thestrals near the far ridge. It was dark, but me lantern caught a glimpse of summat movin' through the trees. Thought at first it were just a stag or a hippogriff sneakin' about—but then it turned, an' I saw its eyes, Professor. Red as blood… burnin' right outta its face."
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He shivered, beard bristling.
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Hagrid (continuing):
> "An' it weren't just watchin' me. It… it were sniffin' the air, like it could smell me magic. Like it knew me. Gave me a look that froze me bones solid."
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Dumbledore's expression, usually so serene, grew grave. He set his teacup carefully back onto its saucer.
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Dumbledore:
> "Red eyes… sniffing for magic… Go on, Hagrid."
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Hagrid swallowed hard.
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Hagrid:
> "It didn' walk right, either. Sorta glided across the ground. No sound. An'… Professor… it spoke. Not out loud, but… in me head. Said… said: It's almost time. The dark shall cover the world again."
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Silence fell in the hut. The fire popped gently in the hearth. Fang gave a soft whimper in his sleep.
Dumbledore's fingers steepled under his chin, eyes distant, as though staring into a puzzle only he could see.
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Dumbledore's Realization
At last, Dumbledore spoke, voice soft as silk.
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Dumbledore:
> "This confirms what I feared."
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Hagrid's bushy brows shot up.
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Hagrid:
> "Yeh mean… it's Him? He's really back?"
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Dumbledore's eyes, for once, held no twinkle.
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Dumbledore:
> "Yes, Hagrid. Voldemort has returned. But what you've described… this is different. He has regained physical form—but perhaps… not entirely human. It appears he carries magic within him now that even he did not possess before."
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Hagrid let out a low groan, burying his face in one enormous hand.
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Hagrid (muffled):
> "Merlin's beard… an' here we thought things were startin' ter quiet down…"
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Dumbledore rose slowly, robes whispering around him. He laid a gentle hand on Hagrid's massive shoulder.
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Dumbledore:
> "Thank you, my friend. What you witnessed is invaluable. We must remain vigilant—and prepare."
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Hagrid peered up through tearful eyes.
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Hagrid:
> "Yeh reckon he's comin' for Hogwarts again, Professor?"
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Dumbledore's gaze drifted toward the small window, out into the deepening twilight.
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Dumbledore (softly):
> "It is not Hogwarts alone he seeks this time. He will come for all magic. For power beyond even what he once held. And the storm he brings will touch every corner of our world."
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A log in the fire shifted, sending sparks swirling up the chimney.
Dumbledore turned, his expression steeled with quiet resolve.
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Dumbledore:
> "But we shall be ready for him."
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Outside, the wind picked up over the Forbidden Forest, rustling the leaves like whispers of secrets yet to come.
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After while....
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Third Person POV
After completing his final magical quest, Adam left the cool solitude of the Slytherin common room and headed up to the Great Hall.
It was early evening, the sky outside streaked with pink and purple. Inside, the hall buzzed gently with chatter and clinking cutlery. Most of the dinner rush was over, leaving groups of students lounging at the long house tables, playing games, gossiping, or finishing homework.
Candles floated overhead, casting warm golden pools of light across the stone floor. The four House banners rippled gently under unseen drafts.
Adam scanned the room and spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione gathered near the end of the Gryffindor table. Ron and Harry were hunched over a battered wizard's chess set, pieces clanking and muttering threats at each other. Hermione sat beside them, nose buried in a thick leather-bound book, lips pursed in concentration.
Adam strolled over, hands in his pockets.
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Initial Exchange
Adam (to Ron, grinning):
> "I see your moves are really aggressive tonight, Weasley. Almost impressive."
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Ron puffed up slightly, giving Adam a lopsided grin.
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Ron:
> "Of course they are. I'm a chess genius. Aren't I, Harry?"
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Harry didn't look convinced, glancing nervously at the board where a small ivory knight was currently swearing revenge on a black rook.
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Hermione lowered her book with a sharp snap. Her eyes flashed as she stared Adam down.
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Hermione:
> "As a Slytherin student, why do you always insist on sitting with us? Go have fun with your friends."
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Adam tilted his head, looking amused. Then he leaned in a fraction closer, smirk playing at the edge of his lips.
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Adam (teasingly soft):
> "Maybe I love you, Hermione… and I want to be with you."
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Hermione blinked. Color flared into her cheeks—a pink dusting over her otherwise stern expression.
It was the first time Adam had ever spoken her first name out loud.
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Adam burst into laughter, pointing at her face.
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Adam (still laughing):
> "Look at your face, Granger. It's like I just murdered your cat. And by the way—maybe some Gryffindors are the real snakes around here."
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Hermione recovered quickly, snapping her book shut and arching an eyebrow.
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Hermione (with cool disdain):
> "Or maybe some Slytherins pretend they're clever but secretly fancy the smartest witch in Hogwarts… because they're hopelessly intimidated."
She leaned forward, voice dropping a fraction.
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Hermione (mockingly sweet):
> "Don't fall too hard, Adam. You'd hate to have your feelings crushed."
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Adam threw a hand over his heart, feigning injury.
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Adam:
> "Oh, my fragile heart. I might faint."
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Before either could retort, Ron and Harry intervened, waving their arms frantically.
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Ron Intervenes
Ron:
> "Oi! Enough of the soppy drama! Adam—wanna play chess or not? Let's see if you're as clever as your mouth."
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Adam's grin returned in full force.
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Adam:
> "Challenge accepted."
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Ron reset the board with quick, practiced motions. The tiny pieces hopped back into formation, some muttering curses about going into battle yet again.
Harry shifted aside to watch, curiosity flickering across his face. Hermione settled her book on her lap but kept peeking over the spine, her eyes darting between the board and Adam's face.
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Ron:
> "White or black?"
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Adam:
> "Black. I like it ."
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Ron rolled his eyes and pushed a pawn forward with a dramatic flick. The piece marched out, shouting: "Prepare to meet your doom!"
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Adam studied the board, chin resting lightly on one hand. His eyes darted across the pieces, flickering with rapid calculation.
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Harry (in awe):
> "Blimey… he looks like he's plotting world domination."
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Adam moved his knight, countering Ron's aggression neatly. The piece kicked Ron's pawn off the board and strutted back, chest puffed out.
Ron's brow furrowed.
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Ron:
> "Oi, lucky move."
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Hermione leaned forward, her voice cool but tinged with interest.
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Hermione:
> "He's not playing randomly, Ron. He's thinking several moves ahead."
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Ron frowned deeper, sweat beading at his temples as Adam coolly blocked his next assault. After ten minutes of back-and-forth, Ron's forces were in disarray.
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Harry (low voice):
> "No one's ever beaten Ron. Not even Hermione. I think you're doomed, mate."
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Adam didn't even look up from the board.
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Adam:
> "We'll see."
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Hermione lowered her book entirely, fully engrossed now.
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Hermione:
> "He's sacrificing pieces to control the center. Clever…"
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Ron made a desperate bishop move.
Adam smiled slightly and responded with a perfect rook slide, trapping Ron's king in a neat corridor. Ron stared at the board as if it had betrayed him personally.
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Ron (muttering):
> "Bloody hell…"
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Adam gently tapped his king piece forward.
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Adam:
> "Checkmate."
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Ron fell back in his chair, mouth open.
Harry's jaw dropped.
Hermione blinked several times, speechless.
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Adam's Slip
Adam couldn't help laughing.
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Adam (casual, laughing):
> "I kinda miss the days when I won the national chess trophy."
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The trio stared at him as if he'd grown another head.
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Harry, Ron, Hermione (in unison):
> "WHAT?!"
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Adam froze. His eyes widened as he realized what he'd just said.
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Adam (clearing throat quickly):
> "Er… never mind. I'm just… y'know… kinda good at this."
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Hermione narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
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Hermione:
> "National chess trophy? When exactly did you do that?"
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Adam waved it off.
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Adam:
> "You know… a lifetime ago. Who's keeping track?"
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Suddenly, a soft chime echoed in his head. A translucent screen flickered into view before Adam's eyes:
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[ System Notification ]
→ Significant Mental Activity Detected
+2 Intelligence
+2 Observation
+1 Thinking Speed
Current Level: 2
Experience: 25/200
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Adam blinked, hiding a grin.
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> Well, look at that. Beating Ron Weasley at chess is officially an intellectual achievement.
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Hermione kept glaring at him, her cheeks still faintly pink.
Ron just sulked over the chessboard while Harry shook his head, chuckling.
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Harry:
> "Mate… remind me never to bet money on a chess match with you."
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Adam leaned back in his chair, arms folded, grin lingering on his lips.
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Adam:
> "Don't worry. I'm not always ruthless. Just… usually."
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The candles above flickered merrily as laughter rose around the table, even Hermione trying and failing to suppress a reluctant smile
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Adam left the Great Hall behind, still chuckling under his breath. The corridor outside was quiet, echoing faintly with the distant sounds of footsteps and portraits murmuring to one another.
He shoved his hands into his pockets, weaving through pools of torchlight and shadows cast by the high stone arches.
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A Flicker in the Shadows
Just as he rounded the last corner toward the entrance to the Slytherin dungeons, he froze.
Out of the corner of his eye, something shifted.
A ripple of darkness flickered near the far wall—a slight distortion, as if the stone itself had breathed.
Adam's eyes snapped toward it. His hand slid unconsciously toward his wand.
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> There it is again… like the thing from the other night.
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He squinted into the gloom. The torches flickered softly, throwing shadows across the stone—but the shape, whatever it was, was gone.
He crept a few steps closer, scanning the corridor. Silence pressed in around him, deep and watchful.
After a long moment, he let out a sharp exhale and relaxed his grip on his wand.
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Adam (under his breath):
> "Either Hogwarts has ghosts with new tricks… or something's definitely wrong around here."
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He gave the shadows one last glance, then turned and strode toward the Slytherin common room entrance.
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Back in Slytherin
Inside the common room, green lamps cast shimmering patterns across the stone walls. The giant windows looked out into the murky depths of the lake, shapes drifting past in the dark water outside.
A few students lingered near the fireplace, finishing essays or chatting in low voices.
Adam ignored them. He climbed the stairs to the boys' dormitory, dropped his books on his bedside table, and quickly changed into a simple black T-shirt and pajama pants.
He flopped back onto his four-poster bed, closing the green velvet curtains around him for privacy.
His body sank into the mattress, aching pleasantly from the day's quests, the class with Snape, and that unexpectedly intense chess match.
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> I deserve sleep. Just sleep. For five minutes… please…
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System Interruption
Just as his eyes fluttered shut, a chime sounded inside his skull.
Adam groaned.
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Adam (muttering):
> "Of course. You couldn't leave me alone for one night, could you?"
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A screen blossomed into view above his bed, casting a faint blue glow onto his sheets.
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New Level 2 Quest
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[ System Notification – New Daily Quest ]
→ User Adam – Daily Quest (Level 2)
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Objective:
→ Brew a Class 2 Potion under exam conditions without error.
→ Duration: 24 Hours
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Details:
Potion must be chosen randomly from the System's approved list.
Must be brewed entirely by the User without assistance.
Errors will result in quest failure.
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Rewards (upon success):
→ +50 XP
→ +3 Magic Attribute
→ New Spell Unlock: "Protego" (Shield Charm)
→ 1 Minor Recovery Elixir
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Failure Penalty:
→ Temporary magic depletion (-50% Magic) for 12 hours.
→ -30 XP
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Adam stared at the text, blinking. He read it again. And again.
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Adam (half-whispered):
> "Class Two potions… alone… in 24 hours? Merlin's bloody pants…"
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He let his head drop back onto his pillow with a thud.
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> Well. At least it's not running laps again.
> …though the punishment sounds absolutely vile.
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He scrolled through the rest of the screen, confirming the 24-hour countdown ticking away in the corner.
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[ Time Remaining: 23:59:42 ]
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Adam gave a resigned sigh, rubbing his eyes.
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Adam (quietly):
> "You cannot create experience. You must undergo it. Fine, Camus. Fine."
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He rolled over, pulling his blanket higher.
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> Tomorrow. I'll handle it tomorrow. Right now… sleep.
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Outside the lake windows, shadows shifted past the glass like silent predators in the dark.
And in the silent glow of the System's fading screen, Adam finally let his eyes close, mind already bracing for whatever madness tomorrow might bring.
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[ End of Chapter ]
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