The school's courtyard buzzed with energy as students and teachers gathered, their attention collectively drawn to the sleek black car that pulled up gracefully to the gate. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation.
When the car door opened, a silver-haired girl stepped out, her movements elegant and deliberate. The moment her foot touched the ground, cheers erupted like a thunderclap, applause following in an overwhelming cascade.
Kassandra stood tall, her presence commanding. She smiled—a radiant, effortless curve of her lips that lit up the crowd. Her classmates' admiration was palpable, their eyes filled with fervor and pride, a warm embrace welcoming her return.
A teacher stepped up onto a makeshift stage, holding a microphone that crackled slightly as it came to life. "Good morning, everyone!" the teacher began, her voice enthusiastic. "Today is a special occasion. I'm thrilled to announce that Kassandra has achieved an extraordinary victory in an international fighting competition! Her dedication, resilience, and remarkable skills have brought great honor to our school. Let's give her another big round of applause!"
The applause swelled again, even louder than before, as pride and excitement filled the air.
Once the cheers subsided, the teacher handed the microphone to Kassandra, inviting her to speak.
With a composed demeanor, Kassandra took the microphone and smiled slightly. "Honestly, I don't have much to say," she began, her tone light. "I entered the competition because my activity points for graduation requirements were embarrassingly low. Luckily, I managed to win."
Her candid comment, delivered with a soft laugh, drew laughter and applause from the crowd. Kassandra thanked them briefly before stepping aside, her calm yet charismatic energy lingering as the focus shifted back to the audience.
In one corner of the crowd, Victor stood quietly, his eyes fixed on her. Memories of their past flashed through his mind unbidden—the closeness they once shared, the distance that had grown between them, and the reasons for it. He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a moment, silently blaming himself for how things had turned out. If he were honest, they had always fit so well together.
"Man, it's been ages since I last saw her," Rudy muttered beside him. "Doesn't she look even more stunning now?"
"Of course. She's got amazing genes—half Russian, half English," Wyatt replied, nodding in agreement. Then he nudged Victor with a grin. "What about you, Victor? What do you think?"
Victor didn't hesitate. "Yeah, let's just get out of here," he said flatly and turned on his heel, leaving without waiting for a reply.
Rudy and Wyatt exchanged confused looks before following him reluctantly.
---
By 1:00 p.m., school was over, and, as expected, Kassandra had become an instant celebrity. Crowds of students approached her with eager admiration, but she kept her interactions brief. Kassandra was not one to revel in attention; she valued her privacy and preferred to stay out of the limelight.
Now, she stood outside the school gate, wearing dark sunglasses and waiting patiently on the sidewalk for her father to pick her up.
She glanced down at her phone, scrolling through the flood of congratulatory messages that had piled up throughout the day. With a weary sigh, she slipped the device into her bag, unwilling to deal with the surge of attention any longer.
A low hum caught her attention. A luxury sports car rolled to a stop in front of her, its polished exterior gleaming under the afternoon sun. The window slid down to reveal a blond-haired young man, his features striking, his smile practiced and charming.
"Kassandra," he drawled, his voice smooth as silk. "Need a ride? I'd be happy to take you home."
"No, thank you," Kassandra replied curtly, her tone polite but distant.
"Oh, come on," he pressed, his grin widening. "Don't be shy. Or are you waiting for your boyfriend?"
Kassandra's expression hardened, irritation flashing across her features. Before she could respond, another voice cut through the moment.
"Yes, she is waiting for someone."
Kassandra turned her head, startled. Standing just a few feet away was a familiar figure. She slowly removed her sunglasses, her eyes widening slightly. "Victor…" she murmured, almost to herself.
The blond man in the car blanched, his confidence crumbling. "Victor, I—I didn't know Kassandra was… I mean… sorry!" he stammered, retreating hastily as his car sped off down the street.
Victor chuckled under his breath, watching the vehicle disappear. "Some people never change," he murmured, his attention shifting back to her.
"It's been a while since we've talked like this," he remarked, his tone casual but tinged with something deeper.
Kassandra didn't reply right away, simply staring at him. Seeing him up close again after so long stirred a strange mix of nostalgia and unease within her. She had long buried those feelings—or so she thought.
She closed her eyes briefly before opening them again, her expression now guarded. Crossing her arms, she asked, "What do you want, Victor?"
"Nothing much," Victor replied, his tone light but sincere. "Just wanted to congratulate you. Your dad must be really proud of you."
Kassandra scoffed softly at his words, shaking her head. "What are you up to, Victor? You avoided me for three years, and now you decide to strike up a conversation? I've heard plenty about you at school, and if you think we can just go back to how things were… sorry, but that's not happening."
Victor smirked faintly, his demeanor calm, almost amused. "When I saw you this morning, I wasn't thinking about the past," he said, his voice low. "I remembered something else about you. After all, you still owe me."
Kassandra's brows furrowed, and she unfolded her arms. His words triggered a memory, one she hadn't thought about in years. Her expression darkened. "What do you want?" she asked, her tone wary.
"If you're worried I'm asking for something personal or intimate, don't be," Victor replied, smirking faintly. "I'm not here for that."
Kassandra frowned, studying him. He seemed different now—more composed, more rational than the boy she once knew.
"Then what are you really after?" she pressed.
Victor didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a dark orb. Its surface swirled with a strange, ominous energy, faint tendrils of shadow emanating from its core.
"Can you extract this?" he asked simply.
Kassandra's gaze locked onto the orb, a strange energy emanating from it that made her uneasy. "Victor, where did you get that?" she asked sharply, curiosity and concern mingling in her voice.
"That's not important," he replied. "The question is, can you do it or not?"
Sighing, she folded her arms again. "I can," she said reluctantly. "So this is what you came for, huh?"
"I've heard your alchemy skills have improved," Victor said with a faint smile. "Don't disappoint me."
Kassandra bristled slightly at his tone, but before she could retort, a black sedan pulled up beside them. The window rolled down, revealing a middle-aged man with neatly groomed facial hair and jet-black hair.
"Well, if it isn't Victor," the man greeted warmly before glancing at Kassandra. "And Kassandra. So… are you two finally back together?"
Kassandra's scowl deepened. "No, Dad," she snapped, turning on her heel and climbing into the car. "Let's go home."
Her father, Gareth Vale, looked at Victor with a sheepish smile. "You're always welcome to visit," he offered.
Victor nodded, holding up the orb. "I'll be stopping by soon. Kassandra has work to do with this."
Gareth's eyes widened with interest as he examined the orb from afar. "That's quite the artifact you've got there. Where did you find it?"
Victor's expression darkened. "That's a story for another time," he replied evenly.
Gareth nodded, satisfied. "Kassandra's skills are top-notch. She'll be able to handle it. Well, see you soon, Victor."
With that, the sedan pulled away, leaving Victor standing alone at the gate.
Kassandra leaned back in her seat, her thoughts a chaotic tangle. Seeing Victor again after all this time stirred emotions she thought she had buried.
'Why now, Victor?' she wondered, her heart heavy with unspoken questions.