"Kieran!" Kassandra was shocked when she saw the man who helped her escape from the fourth floor of Night Grand Quarters building.
"It was nice to see you again, Kassandra." A sweet smile escaped from Kieran's lips, which is never seen before.
"So, Kieran, I supposed you are here to join our organization?" It was Cael.
Before Kieran answers Cael's curiosity, he walks towards the sets of different types of medieval knives and daggers. He looks around and scrutinized everything. After a minute of contemplating, he decided to get 6 different types of throwing knives and daggers.
Without looking at the target, he throws one dagger sideways. He smirks as if he knows what the result was even without looking at the target.
"You have a good quality of weapons in here." He said to the three people who are still shocked by what had just happened.
The first dagger that Kieran threw earlier hits the center of the target. It landed beside Kassandra's first arrow.
"The government-subsidized this organization, so yeah, we are pretty blessed," Zoe said.
"Oh, that's why." He then throws another knife while still looking at them. He turns around. Bearing a great speed, he threw the remaining knives simultaneously using both of his hands. As expected, it hits the focal points of the targets. One dagger even hits the tip of the arrow and cut it on half.
Cael cannot help himself from clapping. "That was superb!"
Zoe could tell that Tehmo already left the building. He knows the reason but he just ignores it and walks toward Kieran. "You are now officially part of our organization. Thank you for choosing us. It is a great honor to us."
"You are being too formal. You are Zoe, right? I heard a lot of you from Tehmo."
"Yes. I did not expect that the Great Kieran knows me." Zoe held his left chest with his right hand as a sign of respect to an honorable person.
"Thank you for accepting me, President Zoe."
_________________________
Tehmo was on top of the Church Bell Tower inside the Academy. It is located near the marketplace. He was sitting on one of its windows. He is not religious, but he really likes the spot there. His both legs are hanging on the outside wall while he is crushing an apple between his teeth. He is looking at the marketplace thinking nothing, but his heart is full of sadness. He is not used to this kind of emotion. Earlier, he was quite excited looking at his stupid pig, Kassandra, but it suddenly became painful upon Kieran's appearance. He doesn't understand it, that's why he left the building to unwind and prevent him from doing something foolish.
"I did not know that the guy knows how to smile." He utters out of nowhere.
He remembers how Kieran teases Kassandra. And he doesn't like it. "Am I becoming gay?" He closed his eyes before releasing a long sigh.
They have been together since grade school. They treated each other like brothers. Their relationship is even deeper than his relationship with Zoe and Cael. So, no wonder he became envious of how Kieran treated the new student.
"He never smiles that sweetly to me. Arrrrgg!! What are you saying Tehmo? Are you going crazy? You are jealous over that stupid pig?" Tehmo was talking to himself when he notices two people in front of the church. He stares down to see who are the two people that caught his attention.
"Why?" Tehmo said to himself when he realized that the two people are Kieran and Kassandra. They were talking like they are comfortable with each other.
Then the apple in his right hand suddenly burst. A black fire engulfs it and turns it into ashes.
_________________________
"Thank you for these ice cream sandwiches" Kassandra smiles at him.
"I know you do not have a big allowance yet, so it is a treat from me." Kieran smiles sweetly at her.
"I'm the one who gets help from you, but in return, you give me these."
"You can repay me once you get your first quarterly allowance. Anyway, are those ice cream sandwiches all for you?"
"Oh, no, no! Of course, I'm going to share these with my roommate. What do you think of me? A glutton?" Kassandra turns red because of embarrassment.
Kieran released a soft laugh. "That is not what I meant. Anyways, enjoy my treat." Kieran suddenly put his right hand on top of Kassandra's head and then messed with it.
"Kieran!" She was surprised by Kieran's action.
"I'm sorry. You just reminded me of someone. She looks just like you." His expression became sad. A pain is reflected in his eyes.
"I guess it is your lover?" Kassandra started teasing Kieran.
"You could say that."
"Oh, it is already 5:30, maybe I should go ahead."
"Got a date?"
"Yep. With my roommate." She was walking briskly away from Kieran. She doesn't want Alyza to wait for her.
"Be at your room before 10:00 pm." Kieran reminded her.
"So, I have a curfew now?"
"No, that is the Academy's policy. Read your manual lady."
"Ok. I will. Thank you again for this." She runs while waving the whole pack of ice cream sandwiches with 6 individually packs on it.
Kieran just waves his right hands to her. He looks on top of the church but Tehmo is already gone. He shakes his head before he disappears like a thin air.
_____________________
Kassandra hurriedly opens the door of room 2080. The light is still off. She sneakily comes inside.
"Yes. I'm-" She stops herself from what she is about to say when the light suddenly opens.
"You are late. It is already 5:40." Alyza was sitting on top of her bed.
Kassandra looks at the switch. Some ice lightly hits it.
"Your power really made things convenient. Anyways, to compensate for my mistake," She throws the whole pack of ice cream sandwiches to Alyza.
Alyza catches it with both hands. "Oh, this is expensive! How could you afford this?"
"That is a secret. So, could we eat dinner now?"
Alyza smirks. "Alright, could you exchange that secret over a great dinner?"
"It depends on how great the food and experience will be." She crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Alright then, I have a great spot to offer!" Alyza immediately grabs her arms and literally dragged her outside their room.
________________________
"I heard you joined the student organization leads by Tehmo's friends." Mr. K grabs the bottle of red wine and pours some into his glass.
"Yes, I don't want my allowance to be decreased by half. Also, the woman I told you before joined their organization. It would be easier for me to observe her if I join the same organization as her." Kieran get his share of wine.
"Did you find out what is her power?" Mr. K sips wine from his glass.
Kieran swirls the wine inside his glass before he tastes it. "Well, the elemental stone could not identify it. It says 'Nothingness', though the gem turned black."
"Interesting. Her power is not elemental based."
"That is also what I am thinking. The woman is good at weapons, specifically bow and arrow. She is agile and a sharpshooter."
"Continue observing her. About Tehmo, where is he staying for a while?"
"He is in the men's student dormitory. I heard he demanded a whole space for himself. He even evicted two students out of their own room. The poor students can't do anything but to share rooms with their friends. Well, that is just for a month."
The director released a hard laugh. "Classic Tehmo."
"Spoiled Brat. You spoiled that brat that's why he is acting like that." Kieran empties the wine in his glass.
"Be considerate of him. He is an orphan. His family is not here. So, bear with him for a while. Be his family until he finds his own home." Mr. K looks at the darkness of the room. As if she was thinking of someone.
"I also lost someone precious, but you never spoiled me like that."
"Don't be ridiculous. Cordelia is just around the corner, hiding from the spotlight."
"Stop saying her name. I despise it."
"Ok, your call. By the way, don't forget to activate your Curfew Patrol Men after 10 pm."
Kieran raised his right hand while leaving the Director's office as a sign of his acknowledgment.
"He still loathes you, Cordelia. Better hide from him. Your son will not spare your life." Mr. K pours some wine, he smells it before he drinks it straight.
___________________
"This spot is amazing. I could see the entire academy in here."
They are now sitting on top of women's student dormitory's roof eating their pork ramen.
"So, are you now willing to tell me your little secret?" Alyza takes a bite from the ice cream sandwich in her left hand. Then she took a spoonful of ramen on the iced table she created.
"You are weird. Eating dessert while eating the main dish."
"What is wrong with that? The ice cream sandwich complements the taste of the ramen."
"Alright. By the way, you know Kieran?"
"Kieran Vladimir? The Vampire Prince?" Alyza looks at her without showing any emotion. As if it is a typical topic in this academy.
"I don't know if his last name is Vladimir, I only knew his name. The ice cream sandwich is from him."
"What!?" She almost pukes because of the information she just learned.
"Don't worry, we bought it from the Academy's Marketplace. So, it is safe, and I chose it personally." Kassandra was now curious about stories regarding Kieran.
"I can't believe these sandwiches were bought by Kieran for you. Maybe you are his next victim."
"What do you mean by the victim?"
"Do you know why people called him Vampire Prince?"
Kassandra shakes her head. "No. He is handsome, and his skin is really white. But for me, he doesn't look like a vampire. Also, when he smiles, I did not see any fangs."
"What!? Are you serious? That guy can smile?!!" Alyza almost screams because of so much surprise.
Kassandra paused and think for a while. "Yes, I think he smiled at me around five-times now."
"How did he smile? Is it creepy?"
"No. Actually he smiles sweetly. Like this." Kassandra show Alyza her sweet and genuine smile.
"You know, I noticed you also rarely smiles. You really look beautiful when you wear that smile. Anyway, I was pretty shocked when you told me that Kieran smiles at you."
"So, you are pretty shocked earlier. You are not fully surprised by the way you scream?"
"Don't mock me ok. It is just normal for anyone to react like that if they will hear your story. That vampire guy rarely sees in public. He usually appears at night. Also, he doesn't bear any emotions. His heart is comparable to ice. He is very cold to everyone. They said that he only sees Tehmo Ruprecht as his equal, so he is the only person in this academy who could get closer to him. Also, I heard he owns a whole squad of Grim Reaper."
"Grim Reaper? Are you serious about that?" Kassandra could not believe what she just heard from Alyza.
"There is a rumor that the squad of Grim Reaper was used as the Academy's curfew patrolmen." Alyza takes another bite of ice cream sandwich she almost vomits a while ago.
"So, what is the deal with the curfew? Kieran also reminded me to be in our room before 10:00 pm."
"Well, like what I said, there is a rumor about that Grim Reaper squad. They said that the Vampire Prince manipulates them and make them do the patrolling during the night. One student said he saw the Grim Reaper when he decided to go out of his room past 10:00 in the evening. Luckily, the Grim Reaper was not looking at him. He also said that the patrolman is wearing a black cloak, though it has no scythe on his hand, the patrolman is definitely floating, and his face is definitely like an empty skull."
"What if the patrolmen are just air manipulators and they are just wearing a skull mask to look like a dead entity and be feared by the student."
"That is a possibility. I wanted to confirm if your theory is correct. However, before we do that, we must discover your power first. It would be inconvenient for me if I will carry you once we got cornered." Alyza finishes her meal.
"Do you know that the organization called the Garden of Eve tried to uncover it using the elemental stone." Kassandra drunk the last drop of her ramen.
"So, what is the result?" Alyza stands up to do some stretching.
"I don't know. They said it wasn't working properly. Though the gem turns black."
"That is impossible. The elemental stones always work properly. I never heard of broken elemental stone. Maybe your power is not an elemental based and the stone cannot comprehend what it is. Don't worry, let me handle that. I will do some research on it."
"Thank you. By the way, it is almost 9:30 pm, maybe we should go back to our place."
"Yeah. We are not ready to confront the creepy patrol team yet. Not until you could fight against them."