Levi walked towards the source of the evil he was sensing. The feeling that woke him up. He was most definitely surprised to find himself walking in the direction of the Library. Even more so after seeing Agatha Stein dragging around a big bag down the hallways.

"Do you need help with that?" He asked.

"Yes, please. Hey! You're that gargoyle, right? What did you say your name was?"

It's just like her to forget his name, he thought. He remembered seeing her for the very first time. It was at the College grounds, he was sitting in one of the benches. Initially, he paid no attention to the girl staring at him intently, as if he were her next meal. Against his better judgment he decided to wave to her. She must've taken that as an invitation because before he knew it, her gloved hands were caressing under his eyes.

Levi remembered being taken aback by the sudden touch but the girl showed no signs of pulling back.

"I've been watching you for a while now. You haven't blinked once."

To which he responded by blinking deliberately once.

"Say, can we be friends? I'm Agatha Stein. I was stitched a year ago", She had said, tugging her flowing burgundy sleeves up to reveal a pale forearm with black stiches running through it. "How about you?"

"I'm Leviathan Vrogalgaum. Please call me Levi. I don't think you want to know how I came into existence"

"Oh, but I do"

And just like that they became friends. Until she lost her interest in Gargoyles that is. Levi sighed at the distant memory. It's been over a year.

"I guess I shouldn't be asking what's in the bag", He lifted one end of the bag while Agatha grabbed the other.

"You could. But I don't think I'll answer"

"I feel like it's coming from the bag. Do you by any chance have something cursed or magical in here?"

"I'm still trying to figure this one out." She said, dejected. "That's it! You gargoyle folk can sense it, right? Do you think maybe you cou-

Levi really did not want to be roped into another one of Agatha's obsessions. "No. I can't understand the source. I can tell you this much though. It's malevolent. I suggest you avoid it."

"Thank you. But I don't think I will", She said in a sing-song manner. "Maybe you could suggest someone who might know more about this"

"I know a witch. If it's cursed, there's a high chance that she was the supplier for it. She makes the best energy potions. I'm not usually one for supporting a borderline illegal business at school. But those are the only things that keep me functioning when I decide to go without sleep. You might know her. The first-year, Aria." He said arriving at her dorm room. "There. Should I help you put it in your room?"

"No. Thanks er... Agatha said, setting the bag down by the door. She tried to remember his name only to give up on it a second later. "I owe you one"

"Yea" Levi didn't really expect her to remember the favour. "Be careful." He said, walking the other way back to his dorm.

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"Dean!" He was surprised to find the principal right in front of his dorm room. "Sir, what may I do for you?" Levi straightened up.

"Nothing. I was just wondering why you were out. You haven't opted for any night classes. Have you?" the giant serpent replied. "You're that student representative. I suppose I'll see you around", saying this, he slithered off in the direction of the office.

That was out of the ordinary. The dean didn't even bother waiting for his answer. But it was the least weird thing that happened today. And suddenly, Levi was feeling tired. His sleep was disrupted, he had to carry a heavy bag all along the hallways and he had an early class tomorrow or rather today.

He let out a yawn, already half asleep as he stepped back to his dorm room with faded walls and the four-post bed.

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It was nowhere near bedtime for Agatha Stein. She hooked Valter's body on a series of wires connected to big box with a screen. The blueish-white lights from the bulbs lit the room.

The linen shirt was carefully cut and pulled apart from the body. 

A small, wound on the pale skin, right over the sternum. No signs of bleeding. The monitor showed no rhythm.

She worked her nimble, gloved hands over the chest, prodding at the wound. She tweaked with her monitor for a bit until it showed a black and white image only she could interpret. There seemed to be a needle-like object in him. She used the forceps to slowly remove the foreign object that seemed to be the root of the problem. One wrong move and it would plunge straight to the heart. With unmatched precision, Agatha pulled the item out of his chest and set it in a glass dish filled with sterilizing fluid.

There was a sharp inhale, probably belonging to Valter. Agatha turned her head to the sound to find a web of smoky veins all around the wound on his chest. She glanced at the monitor. Still no rhythm. But she could swear she heard him breathe.

She needed a closer look at the object. Agatha placed it under the microscope. It looked like a very girthy needle. With inscriptions she couldn't understand.