"By the way, Jade, this is for you," Rain said with a warm smile, handing a beautifully wrapped gift towards Jade.
"For me? But why?" Jade asked, a mix of curiosity and gratitude in her eyes.
"Oh, come on, Jade. Do we really need a reason to give you a gift?" Autumn chimed in, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Just think of it as our way of expressing gratitude for choosing us as your friends here in the academy," Winter added, her expression reflecting sincerity.
A genuine smile spread across Jade's face. "Thank you."
"Group hug!" Rain exclaimed with enthusiasm, and they all embraced in a tight group hug, sharing a moment of friendship.
However, amidst the joyous atmosphere, Jade's attention was caught by a male student on a tree branch, looking at her from a window. Suddenly, the guy descended from the tree upon realizing she noticed him.
Who is that guy?
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....
Emerging from the old chapel at the back of the academy, a male student raised his hands, weaving another formidable barrier. He fortified it, ensuring that no vampire would attempt to enter again. The other day, someone managed to infiltrate, forcing him to kill them. Completing his protective spell, weariness crossed his face as he started to walk away.
Meanwhile, from within the protective chapel, a young lady observed the departing student, her gaze revealing admiration for his vigilant efforts.
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....
Jade once again found herself alone, uncertainty growing regarding the whereabouts of the Seasons siblings. She decided to head towards the tree where she had seen the mysterious guy earlier, climbing up and settling on a branch.
"Wow, this place is nice," she marveled, leaning against the tree.
However, her serene moment was disrupted when a caterpillar crawled onto her shoulder.
"Aahh, a caterpillar!" she screamed in panic.
The branch she was sitting on suddenly gave way, causing her to fall.
"Waahhhh!!!" she let out a terrified scream.
To her surprise, strong arms caught her mid-fall. It was Xylon. She clung to him tightly, and in that brief moment, their eyes locked.
Jade's heart raced as she glimpsed Xylon's striking features up close—his prominent nose and expressive eyes. A subtle intensity lingered in their gaze, and she couldn't help but glance at his lips. The scream escaped her again when he abruptly released her, and she tumbled to the ground.
"Ouch! Why did you do that?" she complained, her annoyance evident.
"You're so stupid. What were you thinking, climbing that tree?" Xylon retorted, with irritation in his voice.
Jade stood up, brushing off her uniform. "First of all, I'm not stupid! Why do you care if I climb a tree? Just because you own the school doesn't mean you can forbid me from doing what I want, hmph!" she snapped, a defiant spark in her eyes.
Xylon, visibly annoyed, responded, "And you have the nerve to get mad after I saved you."
"I didn't ask you to save me. Besides, you let go of me," Jade argued.
"Because you're heavy, like a pig. Tsk," Xylon said irritably, walking away.
"Hey, I'm not a pig! I'm sexy, okay!" Jade shouted after him, a mix of irritation and defiance in her tone, annoyed by Xylon's arrogance.
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....
Maddison and Genevieve clutched each other's hands, their eyes shut tightly as they fervently recited the memorized incantations from the ominous book. The wind, initially a gentle breeze, gradually gained strength, echoing the intensity of their mystical endeavor.
"Obtege nos in tenebris, confirma vires nostras obscuras..." their voices synchronized in the ritual.
Abruptly, an encompassing darkness shrouded the surroundings, as if a storm was brewing in the force of the wind. Maddison and Genevieve, immersed in their incantations, were interrupted by the sound of applause.
Their concentration broken, the surroundings gradually regained their brightness. Turning toward the large rock, they saw Autumn seated with a mocking smile.
"What do you want?" Maddison's voice carried a hint of irritation.
The discord between Maddison, Genevieve, and the Seasons sisters was palpable, each holding disdain for the other. Maddison considered them as fake and hypocritical.
"Nothing, just taking a leisurely stroll and noticed the encroaching darkness in the surroundings. Only to find out that it was caused by the two witches who are starting to wreak havoc here in the academy," Autumn taunted.
Maddison arched an eyebrow. "Oh, really? At least we show others what we're up to. Unlike you, who suddenly disappears, and no one knows where the hell you go. Hmm, maybe your frequent disappearances were truly to visit your home in hell," she said with a sarcastic tone and smirked.
"What did you say?" Autumn stood up from the large rock. "If anyone's heading to hell first, it'll be you because you're a curse!" she retorted.
"I guess you've forgotten, we hold the same rank. Our powers are more special than yours. In fact, we could make you ugly if we desired. But we're holding ourselves because we pity you," Genevieve taunted.
Autumn gritted her teeth, conjuring fire in her hands aimed at Maddison. However, they skillfully evaded the attack.
"Dolor Mortis!" Genevieve's commanding voice resonated.
Autumn writhed in pain, collapsing to her knees and clutching her chest. Genevieve, fueled by anger, continued to tighten her fist, intensifying Autumn's agony.
"Aaahhhhh, stop, please, aahhhh!" Autumn's screams echoed through the air.
But the relentless torment persisted.
"Aaahhh, p-please, enough, aaahhh!" Autumn pleaded, blood coming out from her eyes.
"Enough, Gen!" Maddison's urgent shout finally broke through. Only then did Genevieve snap out of her actions, stopping the torment inflicted upon Autumn, leaving her weakened on the ground.
"I hope you've learned your lesson," Maddison declared, and with a lingering glance at Autumn, they left her lying on the ground.
"Y-You'll... pay... for this..." Autumn's furious whisper lingered in the air.
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As Jade strolled down the hallway, a sudden pull on her arm startled her, revealing Phoenix's unexpected presence.
"W-Why did you just grab me like that?" Jade asked, her confusion evident.
"Sorry," Phoenix softly apologized.
"Why are you apologizing?" Jade inquired, her curiosity growing.
"I've been hiding something from you," Phoenix confessed, his voice carrying a weight of unspoken truths.
"Is this about what I witnessed in the abandoned classroom and concerning your friend?" Jade inquired, her concern deepening.
Phoenix chose silence as his response.
Jade sighed, "Phoenix, what is truly concealed in that place? I can't be mistaken about Rebeus; I saw him. What kind of being is he? I'm getting scared..."
"I'm sorry, Jade, but I can't disclose it to you. It would only endanger you. It's best if you try to forget what you saw," Phoenix urged.
"But how? How can I erase it when the mere sight of Rebeus terrifies me?" Jade questioned.
She reached for Phoenix's hand, seeking reassurance.
"Please, Phoenix, tell me the truth. Was it really Rebeus that I saw in there?" Jade's tears started to flow.
Phoenix swiftly wiped away Jade's tears and embraced her.
"No, it wasn't Rebeus. Perhaps what you saw was the rumored ghost haunting the academy. So, promise me you won't venture back to that place," Phoenix implored.
Jade nodded in agreement, with a lingering fear still present in her eyes.
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Autumn forcefully swung open the door to their room, frustration and irritation evident on her face.
"Oh, what happened to you?" Fall inquired with concern, noticing Autumn's disheveled state.
"Tch, I got targeted by those two witches," Autumn grumbled as she made her way to the bed, the weight of the recent encounter still weighing on her.
Autumn's wounds slowly began to fade, but the emotional scars remained.
"Why did you end up in a fight?" Snow curiously asked, trying to understand the source of the conflict.
Autumn, with an exasperated expression, rolled her eyes. "Don't bother asking. Just wait until the new king is appointed; those two witches will surely regret messing with me!" She declared with fiery determination, a hint of anger still lingering in her voice.
"Wait, where's Jade?" Fall suddenly inquired, a note of concern in her voice.
"I don't know, maybe with Winter," Snow replied, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
Fall, sensing something amiss, peeked outside the window, her gaze searching for any signs of their missing friend.
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....
Darkness enveloped Kan's office. Not a single light could be seen. Inside, Kan rested, and the pervasive darkness within the office emanated from his shadows.
Kan opened his eyes upon hearing a knock, and his shadows gradually dissipated, revealing the entire office bathed in light.
"Come in," he said.
Xenon stepped inside.
"It's rare for you to come for a visit. Is there a problem that brings you here?" Kan inquired.
"Have you heard about the disappearance of some people in the town?" Xenon asked.
"I've heard about it; a bat informed me," Kan replied.
The bats were the loyal servants of the vampires, tasked with observing and gathering information about the human and vampire realms. They were also messengers for the vampires.
"I have a suspicion that certain vampires are involved," Xenon asserted.
"That's what I've been thinking too. They've been preying on the townspeople but have been restrained by the orders of the council and the prince," Kan explained.
"But they're starting to defy orders. What if this leads to the exposure of our existence to humans? It's bound to sow chaos," Xenon voiced his concern.
Vampires had long maintained a discreet distance from humans, and the belief in their existence had faded from human minds.
"I'll go to the capital to find out what's happening," Kan decided.
The capital Kan referred to was the capital located in Aznar, the kingdom of the vampires.