Chapter 04
My fake mate—since I'm a hybrid, not just a werewolf—the bond between mates doesn't work the same for me. My status as a hybrid was known only to a few people: my family and those who were present at my birth. This secrecy was necessary because our family seer predicted that my birth would cause chaos. It turns out there was a prophecy about it, so they had to keep it a secret.
Then Peter Ravenhood, Aiden's father, suggested the fake mate bond to make me seem as normal as possible and to prevent other seers from trying to look into my birth.
The world hasn't been the same since the day I was born, and the fake bond worked perfectly. I couldn't complain either—I was just a baby then. I literally knew nothing about what was going on. But as I grew up, I found out about it.
I learned to live with it. I looked at Aiden as those memories flashed through my mind. He looked different from before: those dark eyes, broad shoulders, sharp jawline, and lean physique packed with enough muscle, hidden beneath black trousers and a purple shirt.
Oh, Nightshade House—he's a werewolf after all. He was handsome and all grown up. "How have you been, Aiden?" This is his second year at the academy, after all. "Yeah, it has been a while," Sia added.
Looking at the two girls, I couldn't help but admit they were beautiful. Elena was on another level of beauty. My heart couldn't help but skip a beat. I don't know when it happened, but I've never seen her the same way again. "Yeah, it has been a while."
"Let's go somewhere quiet to talk; there's a lot I want to tell you guys," Aiden said, walking to his car, not giving them any opportunity to say no.
"Come on, Elena, let's go," Sia said as she walked towards the car. Elena smiled and followed her. They got into the car and drove, following Aiden to wherever he was taking them.
"Wow," Sia said, looking at a tall building made of rainbow-colored glass. It was out of place for an academy that usually sticks to a particular color when building things, but that made it more beautiful.
"Yeah, it really is," Sia replied. "Alright, let's go—Aiden is coming down already," she said, dragging me out. I wondered how long she was planning on dragging me around today.
I got out, looking at the two smiling. I guess they haven't changed much. The core of their characters was still there. I was the one who changed the most, I thought, frowning. Looking at the two who smiled back, I couldn't help but smile too. I guess I'll leave those thoughts for later.
"So where are we going, Aiden? Is it that?" Elena said, pointing to the restaurant. "Yeah, it is. Let's go," I said, offering them both my hands, which they took. We've been friends since we were children, so holding hands was no big deal.
And I knew they were planning on using me as a meat shield for relationships. I could already feel the trouble coming with the way people were stealing glances at us as we walked inside.
I was starting to regret it a little, yeah, just a little. But that regret died immediately. I smiled with a smug look on my face.
"Yeah, you can only watch from the sidelines," I thought, looking at them with a victorious smile. "Oh, someone's enjoying himself," Elena said, giggling. I almost tripped, which only made them laugh harder.
And the jealous and angry looks sent my way just multiplied to the extent that I felt a chill run down my spine. "Yeah, but they have to do much more than that to scare me. If I get scared so easily, how can I raise my head proudly as an alpha?" I thought.
As I composed myself and smiled back at them, I overheard their conversations, "That arrogant bastard—he should sleep and never wake up," and "Yeah, he must have been a saint in his first life to get that lucky. He must have saved the world to be that lucky. Heaven knows I would kill to take his spot," another said.
"Really, all this because of jealousy?" I thought as I heard all their insults and death wishes. I could hear Sia and Elena trying as hard as possible to hold back their laughter.
As we walked to the elevator, I couldn't help but marvel at the place. The highest floor—that got me hyped up. I looked at my phone, reading the information I found about it:
The highest floor of the renowned Atlas restaurant within Verneville Academy of Magic is a marvel of mystical architecture. Dubbed the "Spectrum Lounge," this exclusive level is encased in a dazzling matrix of rainbow-colored glass, offering a kaleidoscopic view of the surrounding landscape.
Yeah, I could finally see the famous "Spectrum Lounge." I would have dragged Elena to this place if Aiden hadn't done it already. Looking at Elena, I could tell she loved the place by the way she was looking around. Well, who wouldn't, I guess?
As we ascended to the top floor, the elevator doors slid open to reveal a spacious, circular room bathed in a kaleidoscope of colors. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all crafted from intricately arranged, rainbow-hued glass panels, casting a mesmerizing glow across the space.
The room's focal point is the majestic, crystal-encrusted bar, which seems to shift and change colors as you move around it. The bar itself is shaped like a stylized, glowing aurora, adding to the ethereal ambiance.
Plush, rainbow-colored seating areas and intimate, crystal-enclosed booths are strategically placed to provide stunning views of the surrounding skies, which seem to blend seamlessly with the rainbow glass.
I knew I was already in love with this place. Aiden looked at Sia and chuckled as they took their seats, with Elena and Sia sitting side by side. I knew they would love this place. I couldn't help but feel proud. I guess the 5 million dollars paid for the reservation was worth it, I murmured aloud.
"5 million dollars?" Sia said as I called for the waiter. "Yeah," I replied. "And it's worth it," I said, knowing fully well the worth of this place. I think the 5 million is nothing more than a charity offer, I said, looking at Sia as the waiter walked over to our table to take our orders.
At night, the Spectrum Lounge transforms into a dazzling spectacle as the rainbow glass comes alive with a soft, pulsing glow, mirroring the colors of the aurora borealis. The room's magic is further enhanced by the presence of rare, glowing plants and subtle, shimmering illusions, making it a truly enchanting experience.
"The Spectrum Lounge is a coveted destination for special occasions, romantic evenings, and exclusive gatherings, offering an unforgettable experience amidst a kaleidoscope of colors and magic," the waiter, Jane, added. She has been working here for 4 years now. "Well, I can't really blame them for doubting," she thought. "I even thought the amount was absurd at first," she gave them an understanding look and continued politely.
The Atlas suite and restaurant were made using Mythrilux. Mythrilux is an extremely rare and valuable material, making it highly sought after by magical craftsmen, architects, and collectors.
A tonne of Mythrilux is worth approximately 10 million Verneville dollars, the standard currency in the world realm. However, its value can fluctuate depending on market demand, availability, and the reputation of the craftsman or supplier.
To create the breathtaking rainbow-colored glass structure of the Spectrum Lounge, the architects and craftsmen used approximately 5,000 tonnes of Mythrilux. This enormous quantity was carefully selected, cut, and enchanted to achieve the desired effect.
That means 50 trillion VD (Verneville dollars).
This staggering amount represents the cost of the Mythrilux alone and does not include labor, other materials, or the intricate enchantments that make the Spectrum Lounge truly unique.
Keep in mind that these figures are estimates, as the actual cost and quantity of Mythrilux used might be known only to the architects, craftsmen, and high-ranking officials involved in the project," Jane explained, looking at them proudly.