Alan crossed his legs on the bed, focusing on the subtle dance of mana swirling around him. He could feel each particle seeping into his skin. The rhythm of his breathing marked a calm cadence as he tried to increase the flow of mana filtering into his body. His shoulders relaxed, and a warm tingling sensation traveled up his nape. He attempted to channel it toward the center of his chest.
Suddenly, a knock at the door shattered his concentration. Alan opened his eyes and sighed in frustration. He tried to ignore the knocking, hoping it would stop if he didn't respond. But the knocks persisted, growing firmer and more urgent. Begrudgingly, he got up, wondering who could be visiting at this hour. He strode to the door and opened it abruptly. Standing there was a young woman, greeting him with a smile.
"What are you doing here, Chloe?"
The young woman raised her eyebrows and leaned her shoulder against the doorframe.
"Good evening, Alan. May I come in?"
He let out a long sigh, stepped aside, and motioned her in with a gesture. Chloe stepped inside, followed by a chinchilla that paused at the entrance, sniffing the air. Once Chloe had entered far enough, Alan shut the door with a snap.
Inside, Chloe looked around the room with curiosity. She ran her hand along the textured wall, feeling its rough surface. Her gaze eventually settled on the capybara sprawled on the bed, staring at her with its large, dull eyes.
"Your room is lovely."
"All the rooms are the same," Alan replied, crossing his arms. "What are you doing here? It's late—you should be resting."
Chloe turned, letting her jacket slip slightly off one shoulder. A trace of floral perfume filled the air, subtle yet impossible for Alan to ignore.
"Don't treat me like a little girl. We're only a year apart. Besides, that's no way to speak to your fiancée."
Alan felt a pang at hearing that word. Being part of a noble family was a constant burden. You always ended up marrying the daughter of a wealthy family, all to boost the family's prestige. Of his four siblings, Alan was the one burdened with the highest expectations—a fact he had always resented. It was one of the reasons he wanted to leave home and study at the academy. Although, had he known he'd run into Chloe here, he might have reconsidered.
"That's something our parents decided," he said, looking at Chloe coldly. "I never agreed to it."
"How cruel…"
Chloe brought a hand to her eyes, wiping away imaginary tears that fooled no one. She quickly dropped the act and sat on the bed. Her fingers glided over the capybara's back, eliciting a soft grunt from the animal. Alan glanced at it, noticing how his guardian seemed to enjoy the attention. He let out a long sigh, which didn't escape Chloe's notice.
"What's wrong? Don't you want me here?"
"To be honest, no. I was about to go to sleep when you showed up."
"Don't be like that. We've known each other since we were kids." Chloe tilted her head with a hint of playfulness. "I still remember when you proposed to me."
"I was four. And don't change the subject." Alan took a step toward her. "What are you up to?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't play dumb. Do you think I didn't notice you deliberately took Lucy to the abandoned section of the academy? It's a miracle nothing happened to her."
"Really?" Chloe exclaimed, feigning concern. "I'm so sorry. It's just… Trina escaped, and I didn't even realize where we were. Lucy was so kind to…"
"Chloe?"
The young woman looked up, a half-smile tugging at her lips, betraying her mockery.
"You're not buying it, are you?" She ran her fingers through her hair with an elegant flick. "I just wanted to give her a little scare—a harmless prank. I wanted to see how that weirdo would react."
Alan's brow furrowed, and the tension in his jaw sent a clear message. Chloe shifted on the bed, stretching her legs languidly as if unafraid of any consequences.
"Leave Lucy alone. She's a good person."
"Why? We're such good friends," Chloe protested, then immediately burst into laughter. "What's gotten into you about that girl? When you have me, why are you interested in her?"
"Leave her alone."
"Fine, fine." Chloe's smile twisted into a pout. "Shall we have breakfast together tomorrow, then?"
"Go to bed."
Chloe laughed, rising from the bed with a slight sway of her hips, and approached him with measured steps.
"All right, see you tomorrow," she said, brushing her fingertips lightly over his shoulder. Her jacket slipped further, revealing more of her arm.
Alan held his breath. The floral perfume overwhelmed his senses, but he didn't step back. He simply opened the door. Chloe stepped out, her chinchilla hopping along behind her. The sound of her footsteps faded as she rounded the corner of the hallway.
Alan closed the door and looked at his guardian, who watched him curiously. He ran a hand through his hair and let out a prolonged sigh.
"I don't think we'll get bored at the academy, Cape."