Amidst the lesson, Jade and the whole class were interrupted as Xylon abruptly burst into their classroom. Gasps of surprise echoed through the room when the prince made his unexpected entrance.
"Your Highness, why are you here?" the teacher asked.
However, Xylon ignored it and went straight to Jade, pulling her up.
"W-Wait..." Jade stammered, caught off guard by the sudden attention.
"We have somewhere to go," Xylon declared, a hint of urgency in his tone.
"Huh? But we still have class," Jade replied, glancing around.
Everyone was looking at them, the classmates whispered among themselves, casting judgmental glares.
She looked at Rain, who shook their head, as if advising her not to go.
"Then, I declare your class is over now," Xylon declared, pulling her out.
"What does that mean?" Rain questioned with a furrowed brow, a hint of concern in her voice.
"This is unacceptable! How did they manage to become so close?" Autumn exclaimed, a mix of disbelief and frustration evident in their tone.
"What shall we do now? We have to do something to separate them," Winter insisted.
"We'll be in trouble if the plans are ruined," Snow cautioned, a sense of urgency coloring her words.
All eyes turned to Fall, who wore a confident smirk.
"I have a plan..." Fall declared, the hint of mischief in their expression adding an air of intrigue to the moment.
.
....
Kan immersed himself in a book when Aria unexpectedly arrived at his office.
"Give me a gate pass," Aria demanded.
Kan glanced at her, puzzled.
"Why do you need a gate pass?" Kan inquired, his expression serious.
"I need to go to the town," Aria responded with a hint of urgency.
"To the town? And what will you do there? You know it's dangerous to interact with humans," Kan cautioned, genuine concern etched on his face.
"Please, Kan... I saw him," Aria pleaded, desperation evident in her eyes.
Kan's brow furrowed.
"Who?" he pressed.
"I-It's Crayven... he looks exactly like Crayven," Aria confessed with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
"That's impossible; he's been gone for a long time. He turned to ashes..." Kan explained, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"I-I know... but I want to see him," Aria insisted, her determination shining through.
Kan stood up, torn between caution and understanding.
"Aria, perhaps he merely resembles Crayven, but he's not Crayven," Kan reassured with empathy.
Aria shook her head, torn between hope and reality.
"I know... but I still want to see him, so please let me go out," she implored.
Kan let out a weary sigh, fully aware that Aria's persistence was unyielding. Once she set her mind to something, no amount of pleading could sway her; she would defy any prohibition with unwavering determination.
"Alright, go ahead," he relented, the timbre of his voice carrying a nuanced blend of resignation and genuine care. It was a concession made not out of defeat, but a recognition of Aria's indomitable spirit.
Aria's face lit up with gratitude.
"Thank you, Lord Kan," she said, bowing with a smile.
Kan scratched his head, uncomfortable with the formal address.
Aria exited the office with a radiant smile, her anticipation palpable. As she stepped into the corridor, she delicately slid on the vampire ring, a precious talisman warding off the sun's searing rays. This enchanted ring was her shield, allowing her to venture into daylight without the fear of burning—an essential accessory for creatures of the night like her.
.
.
"Where are we going?" Jade inquired, a hint of curiosity coloring her voice as they continued their stroll.
"It's a secret," Xylon replied playfully, a mischievous spark in his eyes.
"Hmph," Jade scowled.
Xylon couldn't help but let out a secretive chuckle, relishing the banter.
As they ascended the tower of the academy, Jade couldn't contain her awe. "Wow, you can see the entire town from here," she exclaimed, the wonder evident in her eyes, feeling the gentle caress of the breeze.
"I knew you'd like it here. I discovered this yesterday," Xylon shared, a subtle pride in his revelation.
"It's so high up here. But it's exhilarating because you can see the whole town, hehe," Jade remarked, finding a comfortable spot to sit.
"Why is it not hot here?" Jade questioned, her curiosity piqued.
"The climate is different at the top," Xylon explained, a touch of knowledge in his response.
Jade nodded, her gaze once again captivated by the sprawling town below.
"I wonder if I can see our house from here," she mused, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
"Do you miss your family?" Xylon inquired, sensing the weight in her thoughts.
Jade nodded slowly. "How about you? Don't you miss your parents?" she asked, a genuine concern in her eyes.
"They have been dead for a long time," Xylon disclosed, a shadow of melancholy crossing his face.
Jade expressed surprise. "Sorry," she offered sincerely.
"It's okay. Look at the beautiful sky," Xylon redirected, pointing to the vast expanse above.
Jade couldn't help but smile as she looked at the sky, yet in that serene moment, the memory of Phoenix flickered in her mind.
.
.
Aria went to town, and as she walked, she bumped into Cedrick.
"Oh? Aren't you the cute friend of Stephen?" he asked in surprise.
Aria greeted him with a warm smile. "Yes, that's me. And you're Cedrick, right?" she inquired.
"Hehe, that's right. I thought our paths wouldn't cross again. Students aren't supposed to leave the academy, right? What brings you here?" Cedrick inquired with curiosity.
"I have official permission. Are you by yourself?" Aria questioned.
Cedrick nodded. "Yeah, I am. Given Stephen's aversion to sunlight, I took charge of selecting our culinary delights," he explained.
Aria read what's in his mind. "His sensitivity to sunlight is related to a skin condition, isn't it?" she inquired.
Cedrick nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, you're aware of it too?"
Aria nodded, realizing Cedrick wasn't aware of Stephen being a vampire.
"Where are you headed? Care to have some company?" Cedrick suggested.
Aria smiled again. "I want to stroll around. Would you care to join me?" she invited.
"Absolutely," Cedrick agreed, extending his hand.
Aria glanced at Cedrick's hand, reminiscent of her initial encounter with Crayven. With a gentle smile, she took Cedrick's hand, and hand in hand, they embarked on a leisurely exploration of the town.
.
.
Xylon and Jade were walking back together, but Xylon abruptly stopped, sensing something.
"Is there a problem?" Jade asked.
Xylon quickly turned to look behind. He saw a large chunk of land approaching them. Xylon immediately pulled Jade and shielded her with his body against the approaching mass of land.
Jade's eyes widened as it hit Xylon's back. It made a strong impact, but Xylon seemed undeterred.
"W-What's happening?" Jade questioned, her voice reflecting a mix of confusion and fear.
Xylon faced the unseen threat behind them, ensuring Jade's safety.
"Show yourself, coward! Why don't you face me!" Xylon's voice resonated with a blend of anger and frustration.
A mysterious figure materialized, riding on a floating landmass.
"W-What is that creature?" Jade asked, a shiver of fear evident in her tone.
"Stay with me," Xylon said to Jade.
The masked figure gestured, conjuring large rocks from the surroundings.
Xylon's eyes swiftly shifted color, it turned red. Jade's eyes widened as she saw his fangs.
With a wave of its hand, the masked figure launched the rocks towards them. Xylon, swift and decisive, lifted Jade, skillfully avoiding the rocky onslaught.
"Arden!" Xylon's command echoed, summoning a trusted ally.
Yet, another masked figure, elusive as the wind, appeared.
"Tss, another extra," Xylon muttered, frustration tainting his words.
Controlling the very air, the second figure conjured a colossal tornado, prompting Jade to cling tightly to Xylon.
"Now, Arden!" Xylon's voice cut through the turbulence.
Arden underwent a gradual transformation, growing larger until he resembled a fearsome Reaper, reminiscent of Death itself. Arden swung his scythe. The two masked figures swiftly dodged and headed towards the water. A hand emerged from the water, pulling them beneath.
"They're escaping!" Xylon exclaimed.
Arden swung his scythe again. One of the masked figures was hit, screaming as they sank.
With the threat gone, Arden returned to his human form.
"They escaped," Xylon stated, a note of disappointment lingering in his voice.
Xylon turned to face Jade, noticing her palpable fear.
"W-What kind of creature are you..." Jade tremulously questioned.
"Don't be afraid... I'll explain," Xylon reassured, gently approaching Jade.
Jade instinctively took a step back, her anxiety written across her face.
"Jade," Xylon spoke, his tone carrying a tinge of melancholy.
Jade lowered her gaze, feeling a mixture of confusion and apprehension.
"I won't hurt you, Jade... don't be afraid," Xylon soothingly assured, sensing her unease.
"First, tell me what you are," Jade demanded, her voice determined yet wavering.
Xylon drew a deep breath before revealing the truth.
"We are vampires," he admitted, watching Jade's reaction closely.
Jade's eyes widened in disbelief. "Vampires? You're a vampire?" she exclaimed.
Xylon nodded solemnly. "All of us here in the academy are vampires," he disclosed.
Jade's astonishment deepened. "All of you?" she voiced, struggling to comprehend.
Her gaze shifted to Arden, seeking some semblance of clarity.
"He's my familiar, Arden. He's a Reaper," Xylon clarified.
"So, I enrolled in a school where everyone is a vampire?" Jade questioned, a mixture of shock and realization in her voice.
"Don't worry, Jade. I'll protect you. No one will harm you as long as I'm by your side," Xylon vowed, wrapping her in a reassuring embrace, attempting to comfort her amid the unexpected revelation.
.
.
Tears streamed down Rain's face as she clung desperately to Winter.
"P-Please don't leave us...we'll find a cure," Rain sobbed, her voice filled with anguish.
Winter's presence began to blur, gradually fading away. Soon, she would vanish from existence, leaving no trace behind.
"I-I don't want to die...help me!" Winter pleaded, desperation evident in her voice.
"You won't vanish...we'll plead with the prince...maybe he'll lift the curse," Fall said through tears.
The masked beings, the ones who attacked Xylon, were now revealed to be the siblings.
Snow reached out to hold Winter's hand, only to find it already gone.
The siblings continued to weep, their collective sorrow echoing in the air.
"They will pay for this," Autumn declared with a mix of grief and anger.
Winter let out a heartbreaking scream, and in the blink of an eye, she completely disappeared, leaving the others to grapple with the weight of her absence.
But after a few minutes, Rain and the others were puzzled, wondering why they were crying.
"What's going on? Why are we crying?" Snow asked.
"I don't know. Why are we here? Don't we have class?" Autumn questioned.
"It's strange. Why are we even in this place?" Rain mused, grappling with the strange circumstances.
Gradually, they completely forgot about Winter.
.
.
"Are you serious? You won't erase Jade's memory?" Heberlin questioned, his concern etched on his face.
Their eyes shifted to the slumbering Jade, her peaceful form a stark contrast to the weight of the conversation.
"No, it's better that she knows. It's for her not to be confused about what's happening in this academy," Xylon replied, a sense of responsibility coloring his tone.
"What happened to the masked being you fought?" Xenon inquired.
"I'm sure one of them is gone... Arden's scythe hit them," Xylon explained.
"Whoever they are, they're incredibly unlucky because no one will remember them," Yvess remarked.
Xylon's gaze lingered on the peacefully sleeping Jade, contemplating the weight of the truth they had chosen to share with her.