"AH!" A sharp cry escaped my lips as I crumpled to the cold floor, gasping desperately for air. My body trembled, and a wave of dizziness washed over . I was alone, thank goodness—alone in the corridor where no one could witness this pathetic sight of .
Sweat clung to my skin, soaking through my clothes as I shivered uncontrollably. The chill in my blood was more than just a physical sensation—it was as if the very essence of my being had turned to ice. Instinctively, my hands flew to my cheeks, searching for so tangible sign of the wound I had just experienced.
But there was no blood. Only the lingering imprint of her cold, deathly touch.
This was the second ti I had co face to face with her, and the encounter was no less terrifying than the first. A year had passed since that initial eting, yet nothing had changed. Her presence was still as chilling. This ti, however, the sensation was even more vivid, more real—as if she had reached into the core of my being and left a mark that no one could see but .
[]
"Did you see what happened?" I managed to ask as I regained my composure.
[]
"Yeah…" I nodded, my eyes drifting to the window, the outside world a blur beyond the glass. []
"She pierced my cheeks with her nails, Cleenah. For a mont, I thought she was going to tear my mouth apart."
[]
"Why is she so obsessed with ? Or rather, with Samael?" I asked, ignoring Cleenah's awkward attempts to defend that woman.
Silence followed my question.
I was almost certain Cleenah would offer so evasive answer, as she often did when I pressed too hard. But this ti…
[]
"..."
Nihil's words rang in my mind at Cleenah's question. He had warned —urged to stay far away from the Avatars of Samael, and by extension, from Samael's truth itself.
"No," I muttered, shaking my head as if to dispel the thoughts. "It's fine."
Yet, the knowledge that she was sohow within gnawed at my sanity. The very idea that such a being could have a presence inside was deeply unsettling. Last year, she had barely spoken to , her presence a faint, shadowy whisper in my mind. But recently, she had begun to take up more space in my life, creeping into my thoughts with increasing frequency.
I couldn't decide if I should be relieved that soone so powerful was close to or utterly terrified by it.
As I wrestled with my thoughts, the sound of approaching footsteps broke through the haze of my mind. I glanced up to see Aerinwyn, her expression severe as she strode down the corridor.
"No more trouble will be tolerated. This is my final warning," Aerinwyn declared, her voice tinged with authority, well she had a high status in the academy.
"Make sure Cyril understands that his people are on thin ice. I hope he doesn't think I'm foolish enough to believe they have nothing to do with these incidents."
"Yes, Senior…" Alicia answered ekly, trailing behind Aerinwyn like a scolded child. Her usually bright deanor was subdued, her head bowed in deference.
I nearly forgot that Alicia was part of the Presidium.
Usually, it would be Christina trailing closely behind Aerinwyn, but since my mother's disappearance, that role had shifted. Now, to my surprise, it was Alicia—a first-year student—who had taken her place.
"Your response lacks conviction, Alicia. Are you going to handle it, or shall I take matters into my own hands? I assure you, I won't hesitate when it cos to your brother," Aerinwyn warned, her stern gaze boring into Alicia with a stern intensity.
"No, Senior, I will handle it," Alicia replied, her voice firr now as she nodded her head.
Alicia dealing with Cyril?
Might be fun to watch.
"Good." Aerinwyn acknowledged with a curt nod, her gaze briefly settling on as she prepared to walk past without further thought.
But I couldn't let the mont slip by. "Instead of burdening Alicia, why not consider taking your own sister as your second, Senior?" I suggested with a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.
Aerinwyn halted mid-step, her sharp eyes cutting back to . "Do you have sothing to say, Mr. Olphean?"
"I'm just curious," I replied with a casual shrug. "Cylien is part of the Presidium, isn't she? I would have thought she'd be the natural choice to step into my sister's role."
By the way my dear sister forced a lot to get in the Presidium but I refused. No way, I could last long with Aerin as President.
Aerin's mismatched green eyes, each with a different shade, regarded in silence for a mont, weighing my words. "I only surround myself with competent people, Mr. Olphean. I trust you're clever enough, like your sister and brother, to understand what that ans."
I glanced at Alicia, who was staring at with her aloof expression but it was different. As if silently questioning what the hell I was doing. But I kept my expression neutral, even as I nodded slightly. "I guess that makes Alicia the most competent first-year, then," I said, acknowledging Aerinwyn's decision with a hint of irony.
Without another word, Aerinwyn turned away, her attention no longer on as she continued down the corridor. Alicia hesitated for a mont, casting one last puzzled look in my direction before hurrying to catch up with her.
"You should head back now. Your class starts soon."
"Yes Senior..."
Ah…
I couldn't help but wonder if Aerinwyn had any inkling of the disaster that was about to descend upon Sancta Vedelia. In the ga, everything was seen through Victor's eyes, making it difficult to gauge what others were doing unless you actively sought them out as part of a heroine's storyline.
But here, I had a different perspective—a broader view of the unfolding events. As much as Aerinwyn suffered from what could only be described as a severe case of tsundere-sis-con syndro, she was undeniably a crucial asset in the coming war.
....
....
After taking another ten minutes to calm my racing heart and recover from the shock—both from Nihil's sudden death and the overwhelming revelations—I forced myself to keep moving. My thoughts were still chaotic, trying to make sense of everything that had happened, but I had a class to attend, whether I was ready or not.
It was the last class before the sester's exam, and then there would be no rest—the war lood too close for that. As much as I wanted to skip the exam and dedicate every second to training, I knew I couldn't. There were crucial events set to unfold during this class, and I needed to be there, to witness them firsthand.
If John wasn't as lovey-dovey with Alia I might have asked him but whatever. I trust myself more obviously.
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