"Here we are, Jas," Reiner's voice resonated within the confines of a secluded room. Accompanied by his wife, the Queen, he had summoned Jas for an important discussion.
"Your Majesty," Jas acknowledged, accompanied by Alicia, who remained silent behind him.
"You can drop the formalities, Jas. You're as much a mber of the royal family as I am," Reiner said with a chuckle, presenting a docunt.
Despite Jas' royal status, he held a lower rank than Reiner Dolphis, who held the position of Head of the Dolphis House. Jas was just the son of the Head of the Raven House.
"I imagine you're quite pleased with the outco," Queen Doria spoke up, her gaze sharp and accusing.
"I'm sorry... but your son wasn't the right match for my daughter," Jas replied respectfully.
The Queen sighed, her expression softening as she turned her attention to Alicia. "I don't know all the details of what transpired, but if my son caused you any suffering, I apologize on his behalf. We may have spoiled him too much."
"It's alright," Alicia responded quietly.
"Nevertheless, why involve Thon's son in this matter? Are you planning to arrange a marriage between him and your daughter? Was that the purpose of the bet?" Reiner asked, his tone tinged with skepticism.
"Not exactly. It's... complicated," Jas replied evasively, choosing to keep the true nature of their agreent concealed for the ti being.
"I hope Alea isn't involved in this, huh?" Reiner's glare bore into Jas.
"No, she's completely unaware of the situation," Jas reassured him with a chuckle.
"Good," Reiner acknowledged, his expression softening slightly as he produced the official docunt outlining the engagent agreent between Reiner and Alicia. The parchnt bore the signatures, marked in blood, of Reiner and Lazarus Raven.
Upon Jas' confirmation, Reiner tore the paper apart and consigned it to the flas. "It's done."
"Thank you," Jas expressed his gratitude.
"I might have been insistent, but my son seems to have accepted the outco as well," Reiner said with a hint of pride evident in his smile.
"Is he alright?" Jas asked, concerned.
"He's recovering. He's a Dolphis, after all. Never underestimate him," Reiner replied with a grin.
"I wouldn't dare," Jas reciprocated with a smile as he turned to leave, accompanied by his daughter.
"We should make our way. The Third Round will likely comnce soon, my dear," Reiner's wife reminded him, prompting him to nod in agreent.
"I will get a look on Adrian, go ahead," she added and left.
…
…
As Jas walked alongside Alicia, an awkward silence enveloped them. Alicia maintained her usual aloof deanor as she walked ahead.
"How is your mother, Alicia...?" Jas asked, breaking the silence.
Alicia's shoulders tensed slightly before she composed herself. "Fine."
"I see..." Jas forced a bitter smile. He couldn't help but feel responsible for the rift, knowing that his decisions had contributed to their current situation. However, he had been left with no choice but to shoulder the bla in order to preserve his House.
"Alicia... I want you to know that I am proud of you," Jas expressed earnestly.
Alicia remained silent, offering no response as she continued walking away.
Sighing heavily, Jas reached for his communication device. "Is there any problem?"
["Not really, Professor, but there's quite a crowd gathered at the entrance. It seems the residents are eager to witness the matches and catch a glimpse of the elite students of Sancte Vedelia. They're attempting to force their way in, and we're working to maintain order. However, two of our team mbers were injured in the process. We're escorting them to safety."]
"Understood..." Jas nodded, feeling uneasy at the unexpected violence from the residents. He had traveled to other countries with students before, and while excitent was common, such aggression was unheard of.
["Professor Raven, the Third Round is about to begin. We need you.] "I'm on my way," Jas replied, refocusing his attention on the task at hand.
***
[Bring your ass. It already started.]
John let out a frustrated groan as he read Edward's ssage, realizing that ti had slipped away from him while he sought a mont of respite outdoors. He had hoped to simply endure the situation and move on, but it seed the exam was far from over. At least it was the final day, he thought, trying to find a silver lining in the midst of his frustration.
() Hecate's voice rang in unexpectedly.
"What?" ()
"You are a Goddess, do sothing," John grimaced as even Hecate seed overwheld by Layla's obsession.
()
John's steps faltered as he caught sight of Alia walking toward him from the opposite direction. Upon noticing John, Alia flinched, halting in her tracks.
As Alia passed by, John's voice cut through the air. "Wait."
Startled, Alia turned back to face him, her expression guarded. "What is it?"
John held her gaze for a mont, his eyes searching hers for answers. Alia, feeling uncomfortable, attempted to speak up. "If there's nothing—"
-BAM!
Before she could finish, John's fist collided with Alia's arm, causing her to stagger back in shock.
"What?" Alia recoiled, staring at John in disbelief.
"Don't masquerade as her, you sneaky bitch," John spat, his arm surrounded by a swirling mana circle.
Initially taken aback, Alia—no, Nora—quickly regained her composure, a malicious smirk spreading across her lips. "You're obstructing my path once again."
"What have you done with her?" John's voice dripped with icy venom as he confronted Nora.
To assu soone's appearance, Nora had to touch and be near that individual, aning she had likely encountered Alia.
"Oh, are you concerned for her? She's alive, but she'll be disposed of once we've achieved our goals," Nora sneered.
"The Third Horn of Behemoth? If you're here, you're after either the King's or the Queen's appearance. Given your weakness, I assu you're aiming for the Queen," John deduced, his approach asured and cold.
Nora narrowed her eyes, sensing the shift in John's deanor.
"This is your last warning. Where is she?" John's tone turned chillingly cold, his mana beginning to warp the environnt around them.
Instinctively, Nora took a step back, realizing that John had grown stronger since their last encounter.
'He's beco more powerful...' she noted silently to herself. If she had once been confident of overpowering him, that certainty had evaporated in the face of his newfound strength.
"Then I will torture the words out of you." John said and took a step forward but…
-Spurt!
"...!" John's eyes widened in shock as he felt a searing pain in his stomach, accompanied by a sickening sensation of paralysis creeping through his body. A purple substance oozed from the wound, staining his clothes crimson.
"What are you doing, Nora?" A cold voice pierced the air from behind.
Struggling against the debilitating effects of the sting, John managed to take a faltering step backward, his movents sluggish and uncoordinated. When he turned to face the source of the voice, his heart sank.
Standing before him was a tall, imposing figure, shirtless and emanating an aura of malevolence. Dirty blond hair frad his face, and dark eyes bore into John with a chilling intensity. Purple veins pulsated beneath his skin, and a long, writhing purple sting protruded from his back, poised to strike.
John stumbled back, his vision blurred with haze as he recognized the figure before him.
He was a Commander of [Behemoth] and... he was extrely dangerous.
'I... have to warn Edward…' John's thoughts raced frantically as he reached for his phone, but his trembling fingers fumbled, and the device slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground.
"Lomar?" Nora spoke up.
"Losing your composure over an insignificant insect like him. We don't have ti for such trifles," Lomar retorted disdainfully.
"I know... I know how to reach the Queen," Nora assured, annoyed.
With a nod of acknowledgnt, Lomar turned his attention back to John. The wriggling sting extended nacingly toward John's head, but Nora intervened.
"No," she exclaid, halting Lomar's actions.
"What?" Lomar frowned.
"You've poisoned him with your sting, haven't you? Let him suffer a slow and agonizing death," Nora suggested with a malicious smirk.
Securing John's arms, she dragged him into a nearby storage room and sealed the door behind her, leaving him to death's arms.
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