The bell for the end of school on Friday rang.
Bell stood by the flowerbed in the center of the academy, carrying a simple cloth bag.
The bag contained a few bottles of water and some dry rations.
He looked up at the sky.
The setting sun had dyed the sky an orange-red.
“Bell!”
Kyle's voice came from the side.
The red-haired youth strode over, carrying a backpack twice the size of Bell's.
“I'm here!”
Bell nodded.
“Aren't Senior Tia and Senior Antinoia here yet?”
“They should be here soon.”
As soon as he finished speaking, two figures ran over from the direction of the Terra Branch.
Tia and Antinoia.
Both had changed into combat gear.
Tia wore a set of white robes and held a staff embedded with a pale gold gemstone.
Antinoia wore deep blue robes, with a water-drop-shaped crystal floating at the tip of her staff.
“Sorry, we're late.”
Tia ran up to Bell, out of breath, her cheeks slightly flushed.
“It's fine.”
Bell shook his head.
“Everyone's here. Let's go.”
Kyle patted his backpack, which made a dull thud.
“Wait.”
Bell's gaze fell toward the Ignis Branch.
The academy full of geniuses.
“There's one more.”
“Who?”
Kyle was stunned.
“Leon Wolfgang.”
The moment the words fell.
A figure walked out from the gates of the Ignis Branch.
Short flaxen hair and ice-blue eyes.
Leon carried a black scabbard for a longsword and wore a simple set of combat gear.
He walked slowly, each step carrying an air of cold arrogance.
Kyle's mouth hung open.
“Leon Wolfgang?!”
Tia and Antinoia were also stunned.
That genius.
If it weren't for Cecilia's existence, Leon would surely have been the most eye-catching student this year.
Leon walked up to Bell and stopped.
The two looked at each other for a few seconds.
“Let's go,” Leon said, his voice cold.
Bell nodded.
The five of them walked side by side toward the academy gates.
The gates of the adventurer's guild were still as dilapidated as ever.
Bell pushed the door open.
The noise of the hall rushed toward them.
Dozens of adventurers sat at tables, drinking, bragging, and arguing.
Bell walked toward the front desk.
Veronica was still the same as ever, her fiery red curls draped casually over her shoulders.
She looked up, and the moment she saw Bell, her eyes lit up.
“Little brother!”
She stood up, leaning her hands on the counter.
“You're back again!”
Bell nodded.
“We want to register.”
Veronica's gaze swept over the four people behind Bell.
When she saw Leon, she froze for a moment.
“From the Wolfgang family?”
Leon said nothing.
Veronica smiled.
“Alright.”
She took out five pieces of parchment from a drawer and placed them on the counter.
“Fill in your basic information.”
Each of the five picked up a quill and began writing on the parchment.
Bell wrote very quickly.
Name, age, magic element.
After finishing, he handed the parchment to Veronica.
Veronica took it and scanned it.
She raised an eyebrow.
The other four also handed in their parchments one after another.
Veronica collected them and recorded something in a thick ledger.
“Alright.”
She looked up and took five copper badges from a drawer.
“These are your adventurer badges.”
Each of the five took a badge.
A simple pattern was engraved on the badge—a shooting star streaking across the night sky.
Bell pinned the badge to his chest.
“The quests are on the bulletin board over there.”
Veronica pointed to the wall on the side of the hall.
“Pick one yourselves.”
The five turned and walked toward the bulletin board.
The board was covered with parchment.
Each one had a different quest written on it.
“Clear the rats in the basement, reward: five silver coins.”
“Escort a merchant caravan to the neighboring town, reward: twenty silver coins.”
“Find a missing cat, reward: three silver coins.”
Kyle scratched his head.
“These quests... are a bit too simple, aren't they?”
Antinoia pushed up her glasses.
“We are novices.”
Her voice was very calm.
“We can only take these.”
Bell's gaze fell on a piece of parchment at the very bottom of the board.
“Subjugate the shadow wolves in the Shadow Forest, reward: fifty silver coins.”
He reached out and tore that parchment down.
“This one.”
Kyle froze.
“Shadow wolves?”
Tia's face turned slightly pale.
“Those are D-rank magic beasts...”
“I know.”
Bell's voice was very calm.
“But we need money.”
Leon glanced at him but said nothing.
The five of them took the parchment back to the front desk.
The moment Veronica saw the parchment, her expression changed.
“Are you sure?”
“I'm sure.”
Bell's voice was firm.
Veronica was silent for a few seconds.
“Shadow wolves are pack animals.”
Her voice was serious.
“If you encounter them, there will be at least three or more.”
“I know.”
Veronica stared at Bell, a hint of worry flashing in her amber eyes.
“Little brother, adventuring isn't a game.”
“I know,” Bell repeated.
Veronica sighed.
“Fine.”
She recorded something in the ledger and then handed the parchment back to Bell.
“The quest time limit is three days.”
“If it's not completed within three days, the quest is automatically canceled.”
Bell nodded.
The five turned and walked toward the door.
As they reached the entrance, Veronica's voice came from behind them.
“Be careful.”
Bell looked back.
Veronica stood behind the counter with a faint smile on her face.
“Don't die.”
Bell didn't say anything.
He pushed the door open and walked out.
---
The night in the Royal Capital was brightly lit.
The gates of the royal palace looked even more solemn than they did during the day.
Two rows of guards in silver armor stood straight at the entrance.
A magnificent carriage stopped before the gates.
The carriage door opened.
Cecilia stepped down.
Thorne had invited Cecilia here.
Thorne had enjoyed chatting with Cecilia at the White Tower Society—so much so that... his heart had been stirred.
She wore a white long dress, her golden hair meticulously braided into an intricate bun.
A perfect smile hung on her face.
“Miss Lucas.”
A middle-aged man in black robes stepped forward and gave a respectful bow.
“His Highness is waiting for you.”
Cecilia nodded.
“Lead the way.”
The middle-aged man turned and walked into the interior of the royal palace.
Cecilia followed behind him.
They passed through long corridors and countless doors.
Finally, the middle-aged man stopped in front of a massive wooden door.
“His Highness is inside.”
He knocked on the door.
“Your Highness, Miss Lucas has arrived.”
A young voice came from inside the room.
“Let her in.”
The middle-aged man pushed the door open and stepped aside.
Cecilia lifted her skirt and walked in.
The room was very large.
Countless oil paintings hung on the walls, and a thick carpet covered the floor.
In the center, behind a massive desk, sat a young man.
Short golden hair, a handsome face, and dressed in a magnificent robe.
Thorne Ross.
The First Prince of the kingdom.
The moment he saw Cecilia, his eyes lit up.
“Cecilia.”
He stood up and walked over quickly.
“You're finally here.”
Cecilia gave a slight curtsy.
“Your Highness.”
Thorne walked up to her and reached out, intending to take her hand.
Cecilia stepped aside and dodged him.
Thorne's hand stopped in mid-air.
He was taken aback for a moment, then he laughed.
“Still as cold as ever.”
Cecilia said nothing.
Thorne withdrew his hand and turned back to the desk.
“Sit.”
Cecilia walked to the chair across from the desk and sat down.
Thorne leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on her.
“Do you know why I called you here?”
Cecilia tilted her head.
“I don't know.”
Thorne smiled.
“I want you to become my fiancée.”
Cecilia's eyes narrowed slightly.
“Fiancée?”
“Yes.”
Thorne stood up and walked over to her.
“A marriage alliance with the royal family would benefit both sides. Your intellect can help me a great deal, and I can use the royal family's power to help you complete your research.”
He paused.
“Besides, I like you.”
Cecilia stared at him, her obsidian-like eyes devoid of any emotion.
“What does Your Highness like about me?”
Thorne was stunned for a moment.
“Your talent, your beauty, and...”
He leaned in closer.
“Your madness.”
Cecilia laughed.
The smile was sweet and pure.
“Is Your Highness a madman too?”
Thorne's eyes lit up.
“Yes.”
There was a hint of excitement in his voice.
“We are the same kind of people.”
Cecilia stood up.
She walked up to Thorne and reached out, gently stroking his cheek.
Thorne's breathing became rapid.
“Cecilia...”
Cecilia's finger slowly slid down to his throat.
“Your Highness.”
Her voice was very soft.
“I don't like being touched by any man other than my brother.”
Thorne's body froze.
“Because...”
A flash of coldness crossed Cecilia's eyes.
“They all deserve to die.”
Thorne's throat bobbed.
He didn't back away.
Instead, he laughed even louder.
“I knew it.”
He grabbed Cecilia's hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it lightly.
“You are the most interesting woman I have ever met.”
Cecilia pulled her hand back.
“Your Highness.”
She turned and walked toward the door.
“I will become your fiancée.”
Thorne's eyes lit up.
“However.”
Cecilia stopped and looked back.
Those eyes were filled with a sickly madness.
“Don't touch me.”
Night.
In Cecilia's room in the Royal Capital.
Cecilia sat on the edge of the bed.
In her hand was a white towel.
The towel was soaked with water.
She was scrubbing her right hand forcefully.
The back of her hand was already scrubbed raw and red.
“Damned bastard.”
Her voice was very soft.
“That damned bastard.”
“How dare he kiss my hand!”
Her movements became more and more forceful.
“Clearly... clearly only Brother is allowed!”
The towel rubbed against the back of her hand, making a faint sound.
“Bastard! Bastard!”
Her voice grew louder.
She didn't stop until the back of her hand was completely red.
Only then did she stop.
The towel fell to the floor.
Cecilia lowered her head, looking at her hand.
The hand Thorne had kissed.
Her breathing was a bit ragged.
Her voice became very light and soft.
“Bell... clearly... in our previous life, we were so in love...”
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