Dorian stormed out of the classroom, his face flushed with embarrassment and rage. The confrontation with Yukio had humiliated him in front of the other students—something that a senior, especially one from a noble family, couldn't afford. Yukio's sudden burst of strength had shocked him. Dorian was certain the human wasn't supposed to be that strong. But more than that, he had been bested by a first-year. A human first-year.
As Dorian stalked down the hall, his mind churned with thoughts of revenge. He had to find a way to hit back, to regain his dignity. But going after Yukio directly didn't seem like a good idea, not after that show of strength. And he couldn't go after Asiha either—she was a vampire princess, untouchable by someone of his standing, even if he came from a noble family.
But Yukio's friend, Kai? Now that was an easier target. Kai was just a regular human—no strange bursts of strength, no noble connections. And most importantly, he wouldn't be able to fight back.
As Dorian rounded a corner, he spotted two familiar faces waiting for him. Vincent and Lucian, fellow seniors and his closest allies at the academy, were lounging near a wall, chatting casually. They noticed Dorian's approach and immediately straightened up.
"Dorian," Vincent called, his voice laced with curiosity. "You look pissed. What happened?"
Dorian stopped in front of them, his face still twisted with anger. "That human, Yukio, humiliated me in front of everyone today."
Vincent raised an eyebrow. "Yukio? That first-year kid? What'd he do?"
"He fought back," Dorian spat, still incredulous. "The guy suddenly got strong. Way stronger than a first-year should be."
Lucian, always the more practical of the two, leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "You're telling me a human first-year overpowered you?"
Dorian glared at him. "I didn't say overpowered. I just wasn't expecting it. But he'll pay for it."
Vincent, always eager for drama, smirked. "So, what's the plan? You can't go after him directly, not after what happened. And the princess is untouchable."
Dorian's eyes narrowed, a dark grin forming on his face. "We don't need to go after Yukio or the princess. Kai—his friend—is the weak link. We hit him, and Yukio will get the message."
Lucian nodded thoughtfully. "Kai's got no protection. He's not connected to the princess, and he's just a regular first-year. Should be easy to mess with him."
Vincent's smirk widened. "Smart. Go after the human who can't fight back."
Dorian leaned in, lowering his voice as other students passed by. "We'll wait for the right moment. We can't make it obvious, or Yukio and Asiha might catch on. We wait until Kai's alone, and then we teach him a lesson he won't forget."
Lucian grinned wickedly. "Sounds like a plan. How do you want to handle it?"
Dorian thought for a moment, then nodded to himself. "Nothing too public. We corner him somewhere isolated. A little intimidation, a little... force, just to show him and Yukio their place."
Vincent slapped Dorian on the back. "I like it. We'll make sure that human knows who's really in charge around here."
As the three of them made their way through the academy halls, Dorian's anger began to cool, replaced by a sense of satisfaction. It wouldn't be long before Yukio and Kai learned their lesson: no one crosses a senior, especially one with connections like Dorian's.
AFTER SCHOOL
Meanwhile, Yukio and Kai were back in their dorm, still trying to wrap their heads around the events of the day. After their rushed morning and the confrontation with Dorian, they were both exhausted, though the tension of the situation still weighed on them.
Kai sat on the edge of his bed, kicking off his shoes with a sigh. "Man, today was rough. I didn't think we'd be making enemies so fast."
Yukio leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. "Yeah, Dorian's not going to let this go. I can feel it."
"At least you put him in his place," Kai said with a grin. "The way you shoved him against the wall... I've never seen anything like it. It was awesome."
Yukio rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a little uneasy. "I don't know, Kai. Something about it felt... off. It wasn't normal. It's like I had more strength than I should've. You know me—I'm not that strong."
Kai chuckled. "Hey, whatever it was, it worked. That jerk had it coming. We just need to be careful now. Dorian's the type to hold a grudge."
Yukio nodded, his thoughts drifting back to the strange surge of power he'd felt. He knew it had something to do with the bond between him and Asiha, but he couldn't tell Kai that. The Enslavement Ritual had to remain a secret. He glanced over at Asiha, who was quietly reading on her bed, her brow furrowed in concentration.
Asiha must have sensed Yukio's gaze because she looked up and gave him a small, reassuring smile. "Don't worry too much. We'll figure things out. And we'll keep an eye on Dorian."
Yukio nodded. "Yeah, I just hope this doesn't escalate."
Kai stretched, yawning loudly. "Anyway, I think we're in the clear for now. Dorian might be pissed, but he's not going to try anything today. We'll deal with him when the time comes."
But as Kai leaned back on his bed, closing his eyes, Yukio couldn't shake the feeling that something was brewing—something dangerous. Dorian wasn't the type to let things go, and Yukio knew that if the senior vampire couldn't take him or Asiha on directly, he'd find another way to strike.