Ashura slipped silently out of the garden, the cool evening air brushing against his skin. He ducked behind a stone pillar and whispered the incantation, "Oh darkness, unveil my form, velum tenebrarum." The shadows coiled around him, then fled as Ashura's body emerged from the gloom, conjured back into reality as he countered the spell he'd just cast.
"This might become a bigger problem than I anticipated," Ashura murmured, anxiety creeping into his thoughts as he made his way back to his dormitory. Lost in contemplation about how to deal with the impending situation, a sudden movement caught his attention. A muscled hand lunged out, aiming to grab him from behind. But Ashura, trained tirelessly in secrecy to maximize his reflexes, dodged with predatory grace, turning to face his would-be assailant.
"Well, well, I'm impressed! I thought my steps were completely silent," said the woman, her pink hair flowing like a gentle breeze around her feline-like form. "It seems the rumors about you might need some revision," she added with a teasing lilt.
"It's an honor to meet you, Senior Asmodeus," Ashura replied, quickly masking his surprise with a lazy façade. "I noticed you because of the sound created your bell keychain in your waist."
"Please, just call me Senior Alexia. No need for formality!" she chuckled, eyes narrowing slightly with feigned distrust. "You noticed my keychain, huh?"
Suddenly, Alexia leaned in closer, adopting the demeanor of a detective trying to uncover a dark secret. Ashura's confidence didn't waver; he knew she would soon realize he was a mere student,moreover he also a well know "defactus" of kanon families. The Asmodeus family is difereent from Kanon family known for their knights, was renowned for producing exceptionally skilled assassins. Alexia, being one of the family's most talented children, was especially adept in the "Flower Blade Art," which earned her the title "Flower Dance."
"My apologies, Senior Alexia, but I really must be going now," Ashura said, quickening his pace to avoid any further entanglement. *Is it really okay to just grab someone without warning? What is wrong with people at this academy?* he thought, silently praying he wouldn't cross paths with her again anytime soon.
"Sound, huh?" Alexia murmured to herself, a smug smile creeping across her lips. "Seems he lied without realizing my bell keychain has been broken for ages. Ashura Kanon appears to be far more mysterious than the rumors suggest. This could be entertaining," she mused, watching him as he walked away.
Once inside his dormitory, Ashura flopped onto his bed and began penning a report about his unexpected encounter. "Seriously, I hate this part the most. Why can't I just transmit a video recording using the cube of memory?" he grumbled, his complaints flowing freely as he worked well into the midnight hour. Finally, exhausted, he lay back in bed, his eyes fluttering shut.
"WAIT A DAMN MINUTE, I DIDN'T EAT A SINGLE MEAL ALL DAY! NO WONDER I'M SO TIRED!" Ashura exclaimed with a mix of annoyance and realization. He sprang from his bed and rushed to the kitchen, hoping to find something to eat. "I hope everyone else has gone to sleep. I really don't want to bump into anyone else after such a tiring day," he muttered, clinging to hope.
As he reached the kitchen, he was met with a playful voice. "Oh my, you're still awake, Ashura—the youngest of the Kanon family!" said a boy with bright blue hair, dressed in cozy grey pajamas. Ashura's luck seemed to have taken a turn for the worse.
*URGH, WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY LUCK TODAY? HAS SOMEONE CURSED ME?* Ashura thought, eyeing Edmond Valentino, the second son of the prestigious Valentino family known for their powerful potion-making and enchanting tomes. The Valentino family was undeniably among the wealthiest in the Rozast Empire.
"I'm just here for a quick snack. No need to bother yourself with a defactus like me," Ashura said, his tone laced with casual indifference. Most would find his words presumptuous, but Edmond took it in stride.
"There's some buttered bread in the upper cupboard and mushroom soup in the fridge,you can heat them up. Just be careful not to burn the kitchen," Edmond cautioned playfully, winking before meandering back to his room.
Ashura watched him leave, a small smile breaking through his earlier frustration. "So there is a normal person in this crazy place," he whispered to himself. He quickly grabbed the buttered bread and the mushroom soup, heating them up. The delightful aroma wafted through the kitchen, stirring his stomach into action.
"Thank you for the food!" Ashura exclaimed, diving into the meal ravenously. The warmth enveloped him just as the rain began to beat heavily against the windows outside, wrapping him in comfort and nostalgia. He reminisced about the times his caretaker would prepare warm meals, moments he cherished alongside the late Empress Rozaria during her weekly visits. Those memories lingered until the Great Abyss attacked their mansion, altering everything he knew.
As he savored each bite, Ashura couldn't help but reflect on how his siblings were adored by their mother in the main house, while he was left in a distant mansion. Many questions from his past still remained unanswered. The only snapshot left in his mind was of his caretaker—cooking for him, playing, and reading bedtime stories, while Empress Rozaria brought him happiness during her visits.
As the moon hung high in the night sky, Ashura hurriedly made his way back to his room, the weight of the day settling heavily on his shoulders. "I need to return to my room and go to sleep, or I'm going to be late for tomorrow's class," he muttered to himself, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet halls. Little did he know that behind the shadows, Edmond was watching.
Once Ashura flashed by, Edmond emerged from his hidden corner, his eyes narrowed in contemplation. "So he can even make that kind of face too, huh?" he murmured, intrigued. "Ashura Kanon... I'm sure this guy is someone I need as an ally. My instincts tell me he will be a great factor in the crises of the future." His voice was low but filled with great determination, the kind that promised change.
A warm smile spread across Edmond's face as he relaxed in the empty kitchen, his thoughts drifting. "Oh yeah, I need to buy butter bread again tomorrow. It seems he prefers that kind of flavor," he reflected, feeling an unexpected fondness for his future companion.
Meanwhile, in the Royal Castle, the atmosphere was regal and serene. In the left wing, a beautiful room sparkled with bright and shining gemstones, each one worth a fortune—thousands of gold pieces. At the center stood Empress Rozaria, her presence commanding and elegant. "I expected no less from you, little Kanon," she praised, a proud smile gracing her lips. "To be able to get your hands on a clue on the first try speaks volumes of your potential." Her demeanor radiated a sense of comfort, a testament to her belief in the young man's capabilities.