Vald slept for four hours before the noise and light woke him up. He hadn't been conscious when Clarissa found him or even while she dragged him back to the infirmary. He couldn't remember last night but didn't care. Despite the dreamless sleep, he barely slept any better than he had been lately.

"How are you feeling?" a woman in a lab coat asked him when she saw that he was awake.

"Where am I?" he asked despite having a fairly good idea of the answer.

"The college's infirmary," she answered. "Do you remember what happened? You've given us quite a scare."

Vald stared up at the ceiling and tried to think of the last thing he remembered. "I was talking to Professor Halvir…" he mumbled more to himself than the woman, "but then… I… I don't know. Sorry."

The last word was addressed to her and she inclined her head in acknowledgment. "It is perfectly alright. We have already talked to the professor and he hasn't been able to tell us much either." She seemed to realize something and then gasped, "Oh excuse me! I should be more concerned with how you are doing!"

Vald smiled weakly at her. "I'm alright," he answered.

He didn't notice the blush that filled her face because she turned to hide it from him. "That's wonderful then! Well while I'm not allowed to give you much if you are in pain, I can drive you to a hospital to get a prescription if you would like. I am sorry we are not able to do more for you."

Vald sat up, his smile not having gone away, and said, "Anything you can give me will be fine, I'm sure. I really am not in much pain at all."

She nodded and left to get the little amount of painkiller she was allowed to offer him. She brought him water to swallow the pills and watched as he gulped them down and grunted in pain. "Are you sure there's nothing I can do for you?"

He shook his head.

"Well then I regret to tell you that the police want to see you as soon as you're able. Do you mind?"

His eyes widened but he shook his head and said, "No I don't mind. Why?"

"They think whoever attacked you might be the one behind the recent murders. I've told them that your condition was completely different than the victims, but they insisted."

"What was my condition?" Vald asked.

She smiled. "Just a few scrapes and bruises. You seemed more drained than anything. I'm sure the reason you feel so much better is because of your good night's sleep. Oh, speaking of which, do you often sleepwalk?"

Vald smiled. "I have been recently. Sorry if I scared someone, but I normally come back to bed after wandering around all night." Vald didn't want to say that on the few occasions he'd woken before returning home that he'd been near a recent murder victim. That would make it seem like he was the murderer, and he was certain that he couldn't be.

There was a knock on the door and two professors walked inside, one smiling widely and the other looking solemn as always. It was Professor Halvir and his friend who had been in class the other day.

"Is he accepting visitors?" the woman asked kindly.

The nurse, Vald assumed she was the equivalent if she wasn't actually called this, nodded with a smile. "You're the professor who found him wandering around last night, right?"

The professor nodded. "Call me Clarissa." Addressing Vald she said, "Well you've had quite the day. How are you?"

"Fine," Vald answered. He looked at Professor Halvir who seemed to be analyzing him for something. "Um, thanks I guess for whatever happened. I don't really remember anything after we were talking yesterday."

Halvir inclined his head but said nothing.

Clarissa nudged her friend. "Don't mind him. He's not always so tight lipped. We were both really worried about you. Do you think there's a reason you can't remember anything?"

"I am more curious as to what you can remember," Halvir said before Vald could answer.

Vald glanced at him and saw that there was something intense about his gaze. Something that might have meant something if he could remember. "I remember apologizing for falling asleep during class, but nothing after that," he said directly to the professor.

Halvir nodded and the nurse instantly turned on him. "How dare you lecture this poor boy when he was so clearly exhausted?! I hear too much about you, Halvir! Stop being so horrible to the students!"

Clarissa smirked and said, "I don't think that's possible."

Halvir rolled his eyes. "Well than if you're satisfied that he's fine, we both have classes that we need to get ready for."

Clarissa muttered, "Hypocrite," but she smiled and waved while following the professor out.

"You have him for a class?" the nurse asked Vald.

He smiled and nodded.

She glanced at the door and said, "Well if you ever need anything, I'll be here. That man, honestly. It's a wonder he's still a teacher."

Vald smiled but didn't say anything.