"So, what did you want to talk about? I'm sure it must be important for you to come here all the way from your house," Lucara asked Bas curiously.
The latter smiled, and then they started conversing as they walked. Lucara asked Bas about his life, and he answered honestly, not holding back anything. After all, Sebastian's King's life was something he only just inherited. He didn't have any shame to feel. He didn't hide his criminal activities either but explained that it was all in the past.
Lucara nodded understandingly before shifting the conversation to a more serious topic: "Have you heard of some kind of serial killer roaming around this area? I heard some people had been drained of their life force."
"That's hardly something I'd like to discuss on a date..." Bas replied shamelessly.
Lucara rolled her eyes at this blockhead.
She was speechless. What date? They were heading to school!
But then Bas noticed a strange look in Lucara's eyes, conveying a sense of unease and fear.
"Lucara, is everything okay? You seem tense," Bas asked, his eyes narrowing in concern.
Lucara hesitated for a moment before finally opening up to him. "I'm scared, Bas. I've been having these nightmares about a shadowy figure that drains people of their life force. And now, with these recent reports of people being drained, I can't help but feel like it's connected somehow."
Bas feigned concern by putting a comforting hand on Lucara's shoulder, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry, Lucara. I'll protect you. I won't let anything happen to you."
Even Bas felt impressed with how easily he could speak nonsense.
Lucara smiled gratefully at him, feigning a sense of warmth and safety in his presence. "Thank you, Bas. You're always so kind to me."
Inwardly, she sneered. Boys were so easy. The two of them continued walking, their steps light and carefree as they enjoyed the beautiful day.
But the mention of a serial killer secretly caught Bas' attention. He felt this was connected to Lucara's mysterious behavior and past.
"I heard about it too," Bas responded, feigning disinterest. "But I'm sure the authorities will handle it. We don't need to worry about it."
Lucara's expression was unreadable as she looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"I hope you're right," she said warily. "But I feel there's more to this than just a random killer."
Bas raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You think so? Why?"
"I can't explain it, but I just have a feeling," Lucara replied cryptically. "Let's just be careful and stay alert, okay?"
"Of course," Bas agreed, his mind racing with possibilities.
Lucara's approach to this topic reeked of conspiracy.
After all, she didn't seem afraid of this so-called serial killer. If she seemed afraid of anything, it was the situation spiraling out of control. But how would that happen? And why was she apprehensive, exactly?
'Is Lucara involved in this somehow? Was she the killer?' He quickly dismissed the thought, knowing Lucara was too kind and gentle to hurt anyone.
Or at least, that's how she presented herself.
Bas was willing to believe in it for now.
Lucara had just wanted to test Bas' reaction to the topic and maybe be the first person to mention this event to him. She felt this would aid her in the long run. All the boys she had met here were so stupid and gullible.
But then again, Bas was unlike the other boys she had met. There was something different about him, something that drew her towards him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up such a heavy topic. I just wanted to make sure you were aware of the danger," Lucara said, her voice laced with concern.
Bas nodded, appreciating her thoughtfulness despite his suspicions. "Thanks for letting me know. I'll be sure to be extra careful."
Bas couldn't help but feel a strange attraction towards Lucara as they walked. He had never felt this way before, and it was both exciting and terrifying at the same time. He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be with her, to explore the depths of her powers and the secrets that lay hidden behind her captivating gaze.
Lucara, on the other hand, was equally intrigued by Bas. She couldn't help but notice the way Bas carried himself. He had a certain confidence about him, a self-assuredness that she found refreshing. She couldn't quite put her finger on what it was, but something about him drew her in.
She had never met anyone like him, someone unapologetically flawed yet unfathomably charismatic.
It wasn't until they arrived at school that Lucara realized what it was. Bas was a hunter, just like herself. She could sense the power emanating from him, the strength of his soul power. There was something oddly familiar about Bas' soul power fluctuations. His atmosphere had a certain depth of purity that was outstanding compared to his actual level.
It was unlike anything she had felt before.
She couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by him. She had always been one of the strongest hunters in her class, and it was because of her ever-rising level of rym purity. But she knew that Bas was on a level she could only dream of reaching since his formula hadn't even reached the same class as hers.
But instead of feeling threatened, Lucara felt excited. What would happen if she drank such delicious nectar? Would she ascend straight to heaven? Draining such a creature dry would be a crime against the heavenly truth.
🐉🐉🐉
Two hours later, Bas King was seated in class, staring out the window during their mid-day break.
The noisy class around him was buzzing with the latest gossip, but he couldn't be bothered to participate. Lucara often snuck glances at him, making Charles fume in jealousy. Simpson, who sat next to Bas in class, was in the middle of a heated discussion with some classmates.
"Have you heard?" asked a girl in blue as she touched Simpson's broad shoulders with her delicate little hand. Her cheeks were flushed red like she was drunk.
"Yeah, it's all over the news," Replied Simpson casually.
"That's the fifth victim this month. This moon succubus is terrifying," said another male student.
"Don't worry, they seem only to capture handsome dudes, so you'll be perfectly safe, bro," Simpson replied to this guy.
"You calling me ugly, punk?!" that male student stood up and grabbed Simpson by the collar.
Three other students stood up and surrounded Simpson's desk with threatening sneers on their faces. Since they were on break, the teacher wouldn't be back for now. They could easily jump this big bastard in the meantime. In fact, the male student holding Simpson really wanted to find an excuse to teach him a lesson.
'Steal my girl, will you? Be ready to be an embarrassed loser.'
"Take your dirty hands off of me, Pewter," Simpson's countenance changed for the worse as his face darkened. The boy named Pewter stood at about 170 cm. Compared to Simpson's 192 cm, he was truly overestimating himself, "Don't make me smash you, little man."
"You think we're all afraid of you like your punk ass booty partner, Frobastian?" Classmate Pewter Shields raged proudly as if he were venting the frustrations of the masses.
In reality, he was simply jealous since these two tall jerks always stole the spotlight in class just by being there, but they never even showed off.
'What a waste,' Pewter thought. 'If I had that kind of attention, how great would that be? How much would I milk it? All the class beauties would be mine alone.'
"Eh?" Bas snapped back to reality after hearing his name stained with vicious slurs and insults.
He was a completely heterosexual male. How dare this insecure peasant refer to him as a 'booty partner'? Bas felt that even an actual homosexual would take offense to such vulgarity.
But this wasn't even the most insulting.
Hair symbolizes growth and wisdom, connected to many soul-related practices. How could Bas allow his afro to suffer such an insult? It was disrespectful to his vow! However, before Bas could speak, his irritation was trumped by the outrage of his admirers.
"Shut your ugly mouth, Rocky! You're just jealous because Brenda left you to confess to Simpson," said classmate Rebecca Washington.
Bas just smirked in amusement. Embarrassing secrets were suddenly spilling out, such drama was rare. Even Simpson blushed a little at the mention of this. Picture that! A big lummox like Simpson blushing.
Bas was speechless.
"Didn't Simpleton hook up with Rock's older sister, too? Rock's just a sore loser," shrugged classmate Brenda Ruby, chiming in with her friend to defend her crush.
She didn't seem embarrassed, and her eyes were quite naughty as she looked at Simpson.
Bas was left even more speechless than before. It turns out Simpson was a PlaYa.
Go Simp!
"Ugly boys are always so talkative."
"I think maybe he wishes he was someone's booty partner."
"Gasp! Maybe he IS someone's booty partner."
Once the females of the classroom started to chime in it became unstoppable. All manner of insinuations and insults were hurled at Pewter.
"Shut...SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTHS, WHORES! YOU'RE ALL FILTHY, YOU'RE ALL, oomph," just as Pewter stood up to admonish the women who insulted him, a stylish, size thirteen sneaker broke through his front teeth and sent him tumbling backward pathetically.
Gasps were released from most of the class before eyes shifted to Sebastian King, whose leg was still suspended in the same position. His afro had never looked so cool to the class as it did now. It was as if he was posing for a martial arts sculpture, and his form was flawless. In fact, it took Bas' peak concentration not to end this punk's dog life with this kick. He didn't want to kill anyone.
You know, civil laws and such.
After all, Bas was powerful enough to carry several tons of weight at the peak of Hunt Foundation. For every 1 point of soul power, a human could lift an additional 100 pounds of weight. The strength increase granted by level ten soul power could be imagined. A kick from him was nothing to sneeze at, to say the least.
However, Bas didn't pause because of concentration on his martial arts form. He paused because he felt a sudden heat in his abdomen when he moved. Activating his spiritual sense, he saw an amethyst ember in the center of his rym pool. It looked like a crystal flame seed.