'Where is she going?'
Aurora fixed her eyes on the figure in the distance. Her purple hair swayed below her waist as she walked.
Since she'd been the one who invited Zoey in the first place, Aurora had chosen a room close to hers. The instant she heard the door open and soone advanced out, Aurora knew.
'Is she going to see soone?'
Zoey knew no one except them. Yet, she'd long since left their area and had wandered into another.
'Why do I even care?'
It was the fourth ti she would ask herself that question. She'd imdiately moved without thinking, wanting to see what Zoey was up to.
'I'm just curious. Yes, that's it.'
The scene went on until Zoey finally stopped on a balcony on one side of the mansion.
'She just wanted fresh air?'
Aurora hid at the end of the hallway, watching as she gazed into the night. Now, she wasn't sure what to do next.
'She's fine. I'll just go back.'
She was about to leave when a movent caught her attention. Aurora squinted her eyes, watching as a figure hovered towards the balcony.
'She was waiting for soone?'
She killed her presence and hid, intent on not getting found out as she observed the scene.
"Hello."
"…"
'Let's see who it is…'
The hallway was open towards the balcony, and she could get found out if she so much as peeked. To circumvent this, Aurora focused and created a thin shroud of heat, bending the air until it shimred like liquid glass. Through it, she saw the figure.
He was slender looking and donned a white lab coat. His hair was ssy and unkept. He wore a welcoming smile, though the look in his eyes hinted at madness.
'I've seen him before…' Aurora tried to recall. 'A mber of the Velmirath team.'
The man smiled when he received no response.
"You don't have to answer. I understand. I can see the anguish in your eyes. My condolences, for whatever you lost. Though it is not in my place, I would like to offer my help."
'She wasn't waiting for him.'
"…"
"I can help you forget everything."
Zoey finally turned to him at those words. Just as he was about to speak, his eyes flickered towards the end of the hallway, and he smiled.
"It seems we have to cut our eting short," he said, backing up. "Consider this my way of… trying to be of service. You can find when you've made up your mind."
Aurora's gaze burned with a bright heat as the man left the scene.
'This bastard…'
She knew the power of the Velmirath world. During the debriefing with Sirius, he'd explained everything.
They were known as mad philosophers, and their powers were centered on mana hallucinations and illusions in general.
And if she hadn't been here, he'd been about to use that power on Zoey.
'I'll teach him a lesson.'
Though Zoey wasn't her loved one, she was Atticus's, sort of. Targeting her was targeting Atticus, and Aurora wasn't going to let that slide.
As Zoey began retracing her steps, Aurora quickly moved to her room. It was only after she confird that Zoey had returned to her room that she finally relaxed.
The next day arrived swiftly, and the cheers and roars from the crowd had only gotten fiercer.
The day before, the Khelzar team had won the Ashveil Dominion after nurous tense and high-stakes battles. Today was the scheduled battle between Somnera and Velmirath.
"Ladies and gentlen! Are you ready!?"
Aurora, along with the other teams, watched the event unfold through a large screen in a common area. The Stellaris soon introduced the contenders, and Aurora found herself staring at a particular figure.
'That's him.'
The guy she saw last night. She couldn't help but notice he stood in the middle of the team.
'He's their captain.'
As the Stellaris announced the start of the battle, Aurora clenched her fists.
'I hope you win.'
If they won, the Ravenstein team would be able to face them the next day. Then she'd be able to show him his place.
"Watch."
She glanced towards Ember, who had just smacked Caldor at the back of his head.
"What the hell is wrong with him?"
Caldor appeared to be in his own world. He gazed at nothing in particular, wearing a wishful smile.
Another smack landed on his head.
"Ouch!" He sat up abruptly, clutching his head. "What was that for?"
"Watch."
Ember pointed to the large screen in front of the room, but Caldor casually waved it off.
"Yeah, yeah. I have more important stuff to think about."
"Like where you'll get so brain cells?" Aurora said.
"Haha, very funny, lighter."
"What was that?"
"I said y—"
"What?" Ember cut in. "Why happy?"
Caldor smiled proudly, then slumped down on his chair. "I finally found love."
Aurora, Ember, Nate, and Kael exchanged glances, then at the sa ti, they spoke,
"Who?"
…
The battle ended in Somnera's victory, much to Aurora's dismay. She resolved to find another way to repay that bastard.
Still, her attention was montarily taken by sothing else.
"A girl… actually agreed to go on a date with you?"
"Yep!"
She exchanged another glance with Ember.
"Hey, you didn't threaten her or anything like that, right?"
"Of course not! I cooked for her, and she said yes when I asked her out!"
"Hmm," Nate crossed his arms, "and you didn't put anything inside the food?"
"What? What are you even talking about… of course I didn't!"
The group had all gathered inside Caldor's room, watching as he tried on different outfits for his 'date.'
"Why are you guys asking so many questions? You don't believe ?"
They exchanged looks, then shook their heads in sync.
"No."
"Wow, I'm overwheld by all the trust." He glared at everyone. "Let see if you'll still maintain this sa energy after tonight."
"What'll happen after tonight?" Nate asked.
"I'll have won her after this date! Then I'll introduce her to you sorry lot. Now, if you excuse , I have a date to get to."
Straightening his clothes, he left the room with confident steps.
"Are we really letting him leave like that?" Nate asked.
Starting a relationship with a girl from another world wasn't sothing they knew how to address.
"Yes. His woman," Kael shrugged and stood.
"Old woman," Ember added.
"Nah, I wouldn't worry," Aurora said. "He'll probably ruin this date anyway."
The others nodded in agreent. If Caldor was the sa Caldor they knew, then there was no need to worry.
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