Twilight began to dwindle as dusk entered the stage; she glanced by the window and saw the light graced Brenov's room in a golden glow.
Anasthasia, in her usual routine, sipped her tea in peace. She took her time as she indulged in the taste that Elise prepared for her.
"Thank you for this, Elise."
"You're so welcome, Miss Ana. It's my utmost job to serve the guests." Elise peered downwards, fidgeting her hands on her nickel-plated tea tray.
Anasthasia shifted her gaze as she stared at five students—on their prim and proper stature with their eyes that avoided hers. She then checked Brenov and Blake, who facepalmed in their place.
"So, going back." A soft clink resounded and glanced at them. "When will the event, 'The Great Hunt' begin?"
"That would be in two months."
"I see, Brenov. It's just right around the corner."
Blake held his hands close to his face as he sat, thinking so deeply. "Anasthasia, that's all I ask of you. Until then, please, help them."
"No promises, Blake."
Blake drew in a deep breath before he stood up and gave a loud clap. "Let's wrap this up. I shall call it a day; you are all dismissed!"
Anasthasia stood up and strutted her way to the door. Elise took the lead, but her strides grew agitated. 'I'm late for the meetup! I need to see Michael.'
"Elise, would it be alright to leave by the window?"
Elise staggered and glanced at her with a grimace. "I beg your pardon?"
She twisted her heel and eyes locked at Blake as she pointed to the windowpane. "Blake, may I?"
Blake flicked his hand. "Go do whatever you want. 'Don't' break it, and make you sure you don't get caught."
Anasthasia gave a crisp nod. "Sorry, I have other appointments." She waved her hand and released a breeze that opened the windows. As the howling winds surged within, she embraced her arms as she cast.
'Float!'
Anasthasia took flight, moving out of the building. She turned around and bid farewell.
'Refraction!'
She swooped down and gracefully landed. She donned back the cloak and looked around her and heaved a sigh of relief as she noticed no students around.
'Zephyr's Kiss!'
Sprinting her way out, she saw a massive crowd, consisting of female students shrieking their hearts out at a distance. She furrowed her brows from the sight and started to dispel her invisibility.
Anasthasia walked through the pits of hell as she nudged to the frontlines. There, she saw how Michael leaned against the wall while he crossed his arm. Her eyes darted on his white faux fur cape's quality—glimmers all over the cascading fabric.
'Look at him, so grandeur with that outfit. Did he come all the way here from a formal event—?'
The girls around her shrieked louder than ever; they were in the fantasy as ecstasy loomed them. She eyed sideways and leered at the lady, who giggled inaudible as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Did the Crown Prince just flashed an angelic smile in my direction? I'm—"
"Dream on! You aren't allowed to take His Highness for yourself!"
"To see the Crown Prince once more after three years of leaving the institution is a great blessing in disguise!"
"I know, right?! That cold and stoic expression of him is—Ahh! My heart melts from his mere presence."
Anasthasia covered her ears from their livid dialogues; she didn't dilly-dally further and strutted her way towards him.
"Who—?! Hey! Where are you going!?"
"Is she a bat-sheet crazy woman? The audacity for her to walk towards His Highness!"
She rolled her eyes from their hostile stares and harsh murmurs. Ignoring their qualms, she moved forth until Michael glanced at her. He broke free from his position, and the corners of his lips quirked up.
Anasthasia wanted to utter a word, but what he did cause an uproar among the crowd.
"Wait! Did His Highness smile at her?!"
"He smiles so rarely and 'that' kind of smile at that!"
"Quick! We need to find who she is, the lady in a mysterious green cloak, as so well graced before his genuine smile!"
Anasthasia peeked through the hoodie, dangling in front of her eyes, as she narrowed cooly. "You might not want to present yourself this way."
Michael didn't budge, but his eyes flashed in surprise. "Why not?"
"You're attracting unnecessary attention." Anasthasia pointed her finger behind her indiscretion. "As you can see, it will do more harm than good."
"I apologize."
"Shall we?"
He bobbed his head, moving his elbow forward, but Anasthasia blocked it with her palm.
"You don't learn, don't you?"
Michael furrowed his brows ever-so-slightly; in the meantime, he gaped at her eyes as though he went into a telepathic session. Realization dawned upon him, albeit a little late, that the crowd behind roared like a conflagration in the forest.
"We shall take our leave then—"
He stopped as he noticed Anasthasia reached for his hand and dragged him nevertheless. They dashed their way out of the institution. While at it, she looked back and stared at his grey eyes, smiling. On the other hand, he chuckled softly and hopped into her joyful ride.
When she noticed how the rowdy noises died out, she took the opportunity to ask him a question and slowed their pace to a stroll.
Fortunately, they somehow arrived in a relatively remote area. Silence commanded the road no more as they could hear their steps.
"I think we're still far from the Royal Palace. We'll delay things this way."
"Don't worry, we're almost there," Michael assured her.
Anasthasia gave him a long face. "Are you serious?"
"Well, it's over there." He then pointed his finger nearby the bushes. She gaped her eyes only to find the area had not an ounce of suspicion—floras naturally bloomed, which only gave a natural ambiance.
In retrospect, she started to cast doubts from his claims.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Tasha, I'm more than confident. Let's go; it's dusk."
Anasthasia followed his trails, coming through the bushes. He suddenly went into his knees and reached for the surface. He jammed his hands in his pocket, grabbing a mysterious card, and inserted unto the dented line.
The grassy floor caved into a pitch-black passage, about a couple of steps seen before the rest swallowed in darkness.
Michael beckoned her, "Shall we?" He then extended his hand, reaching hers.
She reached out to him, nodding, and moved to the depths. But as it got darker, Anasthasia mused at him, "Shall I light the way for you?"
"Many thanks."
Anasthasia had her finger brushed past her palms in one swift move, sparking a bright flame on it.
"That's convenient."
"We don't have torches, more so a matchstick to light the way." She gave a light shrug, waving her finger around. She scrutinized how it was walls of bricks and dirt ground.
Michael used the card unto the dented line near him, which sealed the entrance.
"This is quite a secret passage."
He nodded, "Let's move out—"
"Wait a moment." Anasthasia signaled and laid her palm unto his shoulder.
'Zephyr's Kiss!'
"I feel so light—better than what I use." Michael rolled his shoulders, flexing his muscles from the sensation.
"Indeed. Now, lead the way."
Both of them sprinted, and it only took a couple of minutes to reach by the end of the secret passage. Michael reached out and opened. Anasthasia, meanwhile, squinted her eyes from the bright light that bathed her.
"We're finally here."
Her eyes, bewildered, sized up to the towering walls—it was a fractal—design patterns in gold and white, stretching as though towards the horizon. The pristine windowpane near the ceiling shone golden lighting. Large black-clad armor statues lined up in an orderly manner, which had Anasthasia scratched her head.
'What the heck! This is already hallway, what just happened?!'
"...Tasha?"
Anasthasia shook her head from his queries, "Keep going. I'll follow you."
'Refraction!'
Fading to the background, she uttered in a hushed tone, "Better safe than sorry!"
"You don't have to. It's a lot stricter in the area. I could give you free—"
"No! Just please, we shall get moving."
Michael hunched and strolled. Anasthasia followed, but her thoughts ran deep—chaotic at that as she sensed the mana fluctuations in the area.
'I wonder what could this be? It's giving me an uneasy feeling—No! I feel nauseous!'
She clicked her tongue, more questions came to her mind, but she felt her face crashed so hard. Wincing from the pain, she arched her neck only to see him stop his tracks.
"I'm sorry, Tasha. We're already here." that said, he opened the sophisticated door—glimmered with steel-plates and gold linings.
Anasthasia's jaw dropped as her spine stiffened.
The room was nothing but miasma, and Michael even failed to notice it. From afar, she saw the bedridden man.
'I assume he's the King, but let me deal with this place first!'
'Dispel!'