Carefree. That was the only word that described Cael’s attitude toward the group.
Mira and Elowyn hadn’t seen Cael for months. As for Luke, it might have been years.
But Luke didn’t say it out loud.
Looking at Cael, who was sipping Coke without a care in the world, he felt complicated emotions toward his brother.
Luke might have been ignorant when he was young, but as he grew older, he learned why Cael hated him so much.
Their father never cared about either of them.
However, due to Luke’s SSS class and talent, their father began to take notice and compare Cael to him.
Little Luke, who always wore a smug smile, used to point out Cael’s mistakes.
Honestly, Luke wanted to go back to his childhood and give his younger self a good slap for being a total jerk.
Not to ntion, Cael and his mother had been kicked out of the Vayne household.
Even after regressing, his father remained a mystery to Luke.
Feeling awkward, he sighed inwardly.
’This silence is killing . Soone, say sothing.’
As if answering his call, Cael’s violet eyes paused on Luke’s crimson ones as he said,
"Is there sothing on my face? You’ve been staring at ."
Luke didn’t fully process Cael’s question and quickly replied,
"No... no... It’s nothing. You beca even more handso than the last ti I saw you."
Cael couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected that kind of response.
Not only him, but even Mira was bewildered by Luke’s words.
She glanced back and forth between Luke’s and Cael’s faces.
Not just her; even the other custors couldn’t help but glance at the silver-haired brothers.
Luke closed his eyes, inwardly cursing his thoughtless tongue.
Then he heard Cael’s response, leaving him speechless.
"I am, indeed, more handso than you."
Luke didn’t know whether to rebuke that comnt, so he ultimately stayed silent.
But his playful fiancée didn’t want to miss the chance to tease him.
"Indeed. Even with ssy hair, Cael is more charming than you, Luke."
Elowyn also nodded, as if approving of Mira’s comnt.
Luke was even more baffled by the situation.
’Hey... hey... why is this conversation going off topic? This is a reunion, damn it.’
’I can’t trust these girls to change the topic. I need to do it myself.’
Thinking this, Luke asked the group,
"The results were out last night. Did you guys check?"
Just when he thought the topic had finally been diverted, he heard Cael respond,
"Showing off as always, I see."
Luke’s eyes widened.
That wasn’t his intention. Okay? The poor guy just wanted to change the topic.
Mira also comnted,
"Yes, grow up, Luke. Why are you always acting like a little kid who wants praise?"
Elowyn, as before, simply gave an approving nod.
"Well... do tell what my result is?"
Cael asked while leaning on his knuckle, elbow resting on the table, in a relaxed and lazy posture.
Luke’s eye twitched as he answered,
"I... I... didn’t check your results."
Cael sighed and said sarcastically,
"My, my... what did I expect from a heartless brother like you?"
Then Cael turned his gaze toward the blue-haired Mira and said,
"Mira, I genuinely worry for your future. I personally think you should reconsider your decision regarding him."
Luke turned his head and saw Mira, who looked like she was thinking deeply.
’Wait, don’t tell she’s actually considering his words.’
’Ugh, is Cael picking on ?’
’Wait... Elowyn’s appointnt... Cael’s arrival... don’t tell , are they on a date?’
’Did Mira and I interrupt their day?’
’Is he indirectly telling to get lost?’
’No wonder Cael was picking on .’
Luke nodded to himself, finally piecing everything together.
Then an awkward silence followed.
’Leaving now would be a bit... awkward. What if Cael thinks I left because of his presence?’
Luke sighed inwardly, deciding to stay, even if it ant ruining Cael’s and Elowyn’s date.
’Sorry, lil bro. I’ll make it up to you by eradicating vampires.’
Thinking of vampires, his crimson eyes turned cold for a brief mont before he quickly cald down.
Luke couldn’t help but feel wronged, since the main perpetrator was Mira, and he had been forced to co along.
"Luke is first, as always; Elowyn is second, and I was third. And as for Cael... he was... ranked forty-two."
Mira checked the results as she said them out loud for everyone to hear.
Elowyn, who had been silent until now, turned her head toward Cael.
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish before she finally said the words stuck in her throat.
"You’ve gotten stronger, Cael."
Only then did Mira and Luke realize that Cael had reached the [Silver] stage.
Both of them congratulated him.
’The first thing she said to was that I’d gotten stronger... that’s just so you, Elowyn.’
Cael nodded and said,
"I guess I should congratulate you three as well for reaching [Gold]."
Mira turned to Elowyn and asked,
"Elowyn, did you have your breakthrough last night?"
Elowyn calmly nodded.
Although Silver and Gold were only one stage apart, that gap was an insurmountable wall for many.
In the world of Equinox, progression ranks were divided into three stages.
Early Stages: [Iron], [Bronze], [Silver]
Middle Stages: [Gold], [Platinum], [Diamond]
High Stages: [Mythril], [Adamant], [Origin]
Each rank had three grades, with [1] being the lowest and [3] the highest.
For example, when a person first entered the [Iron] rank, they would be [Iron 1]. As they grew stronger, it would advance to [Iron 2], [Iron 3], and then to [Bronze 1], and so on.
[Silver] and [Diamond] were dead ends for many, which was why reaching [Gold] or [Mythril] was considered special.
Not to ntion the overwhelming increase in power they gained.
While the group of four was talking, soone on the floor suddenly shouted, pointing at the clear blue sky,
"Is that a flying... winged... lizard?"
The man’s words echoed, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
Luke and the others also turned their gaze toward the sky, following the direction of his finger.
Luke’s eyes widened as he saw a massive, two-winged monster descending toward them at terrifying speed.
"...That’s a wyvern, you idiot."
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