In the midst of their rigorous training regimen, Xylon and Kan found themselves abruptly confronted by two mysterious figures, both adorned with masks. One figure stood confidently upon a floating heap of earth, while the other brandished a sword crafted entirely from ice.
"Tss. They're back," Xylon muttered under his breath.
"Prepare yourself, Xylon. Regard this as a challenge you must overcome without relying on Arden's aid," Kan urged.
With a determined nod, Xylon braced himself as the two masked adversaries began their relentless advance.
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....
Jade stood before the mirror, an inexplicable urge compelling her to lock eyes with her own reflection. Startled, she watched as her eyes suddenly turned red, then returned to their normal state. She scrutinized them, searching for any sign of abnormality.
"Was that just my imagination?" She mused.
Jade shook her head, dismissing the thought.
"Nah, maybe I'm just hungry," she rationalized, attempting to shake off the unease.
Suddenly, a sound broke the silence, prompting her to rush to the window.
Gasping, she instinctively covered her mouth as she saw Xylon and Sir Kan engaged in a confrontation with two enigmatic figures, their faces concealed behind masks.
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.
Xylon deftly dodged the onslaught of attacks, the air crackling with frost and ice.
"Why don't we finish this?" Kan suggested.
The enemies lunged forward once more.
Abruptly, Kan sprouted majestic black wings and took flight, engaging in a high-stakes aerial pursuit amidst the chaos of flying boulders. Kan summoned a shield of shadows to deflect the relentless barrage.
Raising his hand, Kan summoned a sword, which materialized before him as he descended to the ground. His opponent followed suit, unknowingly falling into Kan's trap. Seizing the opportunity, Kan ensnared the shadow of his opponent, burying the sword deep into it. The figure screamed in agony, immobilized by Kan's control over their shadow. Shadowy crows emerged, enveloping Kan, then dispersed.
The adversary's eyes widened at Kan's transformation. Kan's hair grew incredibly long, and he had no upper clothing. His eyes reddened, with black marks on his right cheek, and dark marks covered half his body. Kan approached, the enemy unable to move despite their efforts.
Kan was about to remove the enemy's mask when he sensed a coming fireball. Dodging it, he flapped his wings vigorously. Another masked figure joined the fight.
Meanwhile, Xylon continued to dodge effortlessly around his opponent's strikes, frustration boiling within them.
"Damn it! I'm fed up with you!" Xylon exclaimed in frustration.
He concentrated and closed his eyes. His opponent was surprised as she suddenly found herself in a different location. Looking around, she realized her companion was nowhere to be found. It felt like they were in the middle of a terrifying forest. A sly grin played across Xylon's lips.
"Now, let's see what you're truly made of," he taunted.
The adversary prepared to attack but paused upon noticing a massive serpent approaching. Desperately, she unleashed torrents of ice and aimed at the serpent, but it seemed unaffected, coiling around her, choking her. She struggled to escape.
"Aaaahhhhhh!!!!!" The masked figure's agonized cry echoed through the eerie forest as she collapsed to her knees, struggling to draw breath.
Meanwhile, Xylon simply watched with a detached sense of satisfaction.
The two masked figures glanced at their companion upon hearing her scream. They exchanged a look before noticing their comrade gripping her neck as if trying to remove something despite nothing being there. They also observed their comrade struggling to breathe, while Xylon merely watched.
Kan launched another attack, and the two swiftly dodged before approaching their companion. They headed towards the water.
"You won't leave without a souvenir!!!" Xylon shouted.
He extended his hand towards his opponent earlier, enveloping her in an indigo aura.
The masked figure screamed as they sank into the water.
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.
Jade hurriedly went out and approached Xylon. She noticed that they were covered in bruises.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Xylon reassured her.
"Who are they? Why do they keep showing up?" Jade inquired.
"I don't know... I have no idea why they keep attacking," Xylon replied.
They glanced at Kan, who was now reverting to his original appearance, his hair shortening again and the marks on his face and body disappearing.
"Brother, are you okay?" Xylon asked.
"Don't worry about me, you go ahead and leave. I'll investigate here first," Kan said.
Xylon nodded and took Jade's hand, then they left.
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Fall and her siblings were unsure of what to do with Snow.
"What has happened to her?" Rain's voice trembled with concern.
"We're clueless as well. It's the prince's doing," Autumn replied solemnly.
They looked at Snow. She seemed like she had lost her mind, speaking incoherently and appearing extremely frightened. It was as if she could see things they couldn't.
"Stay away from me! Don't you dare come any closer!" Snow's frantic cries pierced the air, filled with palpable terror.
Her screams echoed, a desperate plea for safety.
"Snow, what's happening to you? Wake up, Snow!" Fall pleaded.
But it seemed like she couldn't hear her. Snow ran to the corner, sat down, and covered her ears.
"Stay away... don't laugh at me!" Snow screamed again.
"Is she losing her sanity?" Rain's tearful inquiry underscored the gravity of the situation.
"We must inform Father about this," Fall declared, her heart swelling with fury towards the prince.
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Xylon brought Jade to their mansion.
Jade was amazed to see that Xylon's wounds had disappeared, proving just how powerful vampires could be.
"J-Jade," Zake said as he hugged her.
"Wow, since when did you start liking Jade, huh, kid?" Blake teased.
"L-Love her, b-because His Highness loves her... that's why Zake loves her too," Zake explained while still hugging Jade.
"Pft. Wow, so you really love Jade, huh?" Maddison teased Xylon.
Xylon quickly looked away, feeling a warmth on his face. Jade felt herself blushing.
Suddenly, Aria arrived. Jade's eyes widened when she saw her, and Aria also paused upon seeing Jade.
"You're that girl..." Aria said.
Everyone was puzzled.
"Girl?" Xenon asked.
"Yes, she's the girl who was almost killed by Crayven before. The girl Xylon saved," Aria explained.
Jade stared at Aria, realizing that she was the crying young lady from her dreams. She suddenly felt dizzy.
"Are you okay?" Xylon asked with concern as he helped Jade sit down.
"I understand now. The girl Xylon saved from the monster Crayven... that's Jade. I erased her memories back then," Heberlin explained.
Jade finally understood why she kept dreaming about a girl being chased by a monster. She was that girl, and that event was part of her past. She had been connected to Xylon since then. Xylon was the young man who saved her seven years ago.
"Destiny, indeed. I never thought I'd see this kid again," Rebeus said, patting Jade's head.
"I'm not a kid anymore!" Jade protested.
"But we're older than you, haha," Blake replied.
Jade pouted.
"Pft. Don't tease Jade," Xylon said, putting his arm around her.
Yvess cleared his throat.
"Ahem, what does that arm around her mean?" Yvess asked.
"Ayiehhhh," everyone exclaimed.
Jade bowed her head in embarrassment, while Xylon chuckled, especially seeing her blushing.
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Meanwhile, Kan persisted in his investigation.
His gaze lingered on the water, contemplating its depths.
"A vampire submerged in water? Now that's intriguing," he mused aloud.
With haste, he made his way to his office and delved into the files of the students.
A wry grin crossed Kan's face.
"Seasons..." he muttered, a spark of realization igniting within him.
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....
"How dare they!" The Chief Minister's voice reverberated through the room.
The table soared, crashing violently against the wall, splintering on impact.
"Father, what are we going to do about Snow?" Fall inquired urgently.
"There's no hope left for her recovery; she will be forever trapped in madness," the Minister declared solemnly.
"What? Forever?" Rain's disbelief was palpable.
"Father, perhaps there's another way to help Snow," Autumn suggested hopefully.
"The only means for Snow to break free from her nightmare is if the prince, the one who ensnared her in that dreadful illusion, meets his demise," the Minister explained gravely.
"I'll kill the prince! He'll pay for what he did to Snow," Fall declared with fiery determination.
"You need not take such drastic measures, my child. Destiny will take its course with the prince. Let us exercise patience," the Minister advised calmly.
"But what about Snow? She can't attend school in her current condition. People will surely question," Autumn voiced her concern.
"Leave Snow in my care for now; I will ensure her well-being," the Minister reassured.
With a respectful bow, the siblings departed, leaving the Minister to contemplate the fate of Snow.