Reincarnated As The Villainess's Best Friend

"Find the intruder," another stern voice echoed through the dorm.

"Shit," I muttered, glancing at the door. "I need to get out of here."

Ginny's eyes widened, her hands clutching the map. "Rin, if they catch you in here..."

"I know," I cut her off, searching my mind for a plan.

Fighting all the guards was not an option. Not only would it make things worse, but I didn't want to waste any more mana taking on a squad of trained enforcers.

I needed to escape, and fast.

The front entrance would be bubbling with guards, and jumping out the window from the topmost floor was not a great idea.

"How do I get out?" I whispered under my breath.

Freya pushed off the wall, her smirk replaced by a look of determination.

"I can get you out," she said, her voice low. "But... there's a catch."

"Of course there is," I snapped. "What do you want?"

"Take me with you."

"No."

Her lips curled into a frown. "I'm not staying here while you go off on some grand adventure to find your girlfriend. I want in."

"No way," I said, shaking my head. "You're not coming."

The sound of boots grew louder, accompanied by the clank of armor. They were close.... Too close.

I could hear multiple doors being opened down the hall. The guards were searching each room.

Freya stepped closer, her voice dropping to a fierce whisper.

"You don't have a choice, Rin. I know a way out. You want to get to Lucy? You need me."

"This isn't a game, Freya. This is real. This is dangerous."

"All the more reason to take me with you," Freya leaned closer, her eyes locking onto mine. "You'll need help surviving Blackthorn Forest, and I prefer to go on an adventure with you instead of drying up in this dorm. Besides, I have a grudge to settle with Kyro."

I clenched my jaw, my options dwindling with every second. The guards were almost here, and if they caught me, I'd be locked up before I could even think about finding Lucy.

Freya was a liability, but she was also my only way out.

If I let her come with me, her blood could be on my hand, but if I refused, she might decide to reveal my intrusion to the Tribunal.

Fuck. How could one girl give me so much trouble?

"Fine," I growled. "But you do exactly what I say."

Freya's smirk returned.

"Deal."

She turned to her sister, who'd moved to the far corner of the room.

"Are you coming, sis?

Ginny shook her head.

"Alright. Don't tell them anything."

Ginny nodded, her face pale but resolute. "Be careful, both of you."

I grabbed the map on the table, folding it into my cloak before stepping out of the room.

Freya darted to her own room down the hall, motioning for me to follow. I kept my head low, my heart pounding as the guards' voices grew louder.

Soon enough, Freya's door came into view. She slipped inside and I followed, closing the door softly behind us.

The space was a chaotic mix of books, and clothes, but Freya moved quickly. She threw off her nightgown and tossed it onto her bed.

"Like what you see, pervert?"

"No."

She frowned, putting on a white shirt and black pleated skirt, before draping a dark green cloak over her shoulders.

"Follow me," she whispered, stepping out of the room.

We ran to the far end of the corridor, where she pressed her hand against what seemed to be an ordinary stone. With a low rumble, a section of the wall slid open.

Behind it, was a narrow, pitch-black tunnel, going straight down.

"A secret passage?" I asked,

"Don't act so surprised," she said, her voice teasing. "Girls always have their secrets."

"How long have you known about this?"

"Long enough," she said, jumping into the tunnel. A dull thud followed soon after.

"Come on, Stormborn. Unless you want to explain yourself to the guards."

I didn't need to be told twice. I jumped into the darkness, the stone grinding shut behind me.

The fall was brief, but the landing was softer than I expected.

We were in a passage that ran underneath the academy. It was dark and cramped, and the air was thick with the scent of earth and damp stone.

Freya moved ahead, her cloak brushing against the walls as she led the way.

"Nature Affinity: Fireflies."

A small colony of fireflies flew out from her hand, illuminating the path just enough to keep us from stumbling.

"Where does this lead?" I asked.

"Outside the school grounds. Near the old gate, actually. Convenient, right?"

I kept silent, my mind racing.

The glowing dot on Ginny's map burned in my memory, a beacon driving me forward. But Freya's presence complicated things. She was unpredictable, and I didn't trust her. Not completely.

Still, she'd gotten me this far, and I couldn't afford to turn back now.

The passage twisted and turned, descending slightly as we moved deeper. My boots scraped against the uneven floor, and the air grew colder and heavier.

Freya remained silent, her focus solely on the path ahead. For once, her usual banter was absent, replaced by a quiet determination that made me wonder what was driving her.

Was this really just about a date, or was there something more?

After what felt like an eternity, the passage opened into a small cave. A faint breeze blew into it, and I could see a sliver of moonlight ahead.

Freya stopped, turning to me.

"Is Lucy really in danger?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

"She is," I replied, clenching my fist. "Kyro is not who he seems."

"Hmm."

Freya nodded, her expression unreadable. She stepped forward, pushing aside a curtain of vines to reveal the exit.

We emerged into the night, the cool air hitting my face like a slap. The old gate loomed in the distance, barely visible in the moonlight.

Beyond it, were the winding paths that led to Blackthorn Forest, and I'd heard enough tales to know the forest didn't give second chances.

I glanced at Freya, her green cloak blending into the darkness.

"You don't have to come with me. You can turn back now."

A smirk reappeared on her face. "Trying to dissuade me, Stormborn? 'Cause it's not going to work."

I didn't answer. My focus was on the forest, on the glowing dot in my mind, on Lucy.

Whatever lay ahead – beasts, Kyro, or whatever – I was going to face it.

I had to.

For her.

"Alright," I said, stepping toward the gate. "Let's go."