Three years ago, I was sent to the Whispering Woods by my parents—and I almost died there. A demon named Vlad hunted me like prey. I survived, but no one ever discovered who summoned him… or whether Vlad survived either.
"He's probably alive. Nobody found the body, but honestly? Not sure he made it either."
But there was one person I met back then. Someone impossible to forget. Someone who carried a weight far beyond her years.
"Fae? Is that—" I asked, stunned.
"Yes. But… what are you doing here?" she replied, walking toward me. Every step she took turned heads—elegant, effortless, like she floated instead of walked.
"Let's go. I'm heading to the cafeteria. Wanna tag along?" I said, hands shoved deep into my pockets.
"Sure. I'm starving," she smiled, flanked by someone I brushed off as just her friend.
Finding a table was easy. I mean, I'm that kid—the one who brutalized seniors and just knocked out a classmate. Add the fact that I was walking beside the Saintess? People practically dove out of their seats for us.
"So, how've you been?" I asked, settling into my chair.
"Fine… but what is that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at Erelya.
"That's my spirit familiar," I lied coolly. No way I could let her know the truth.
"She's cute, though," Fae said, reaching out to Erelya, who promptly dodged—and nearly took her fingers off.
"So are you, Fae," her friend chimed in with a warm smile.
"Thanks so much," Fae said, beaming. Her smile lit up the space around her.
"Hah… you didn't see her three years ago, that's why," I muttered with a laugh—cutting through the hum of conversation like a blade. Silence followed. Everyone turned. I didn't care.
"True… what was it again?" Erelya chuckled, resting her chin on her hand.
"It was Super Monarc—"
"Kyaaaaaa!" Fae shrieked, slapping her hand over my mouth.
"Hah… that scream could wake the dead," I said, peeling her hand off.
"Y-you—" Fae looked like she was ready to murder me, but she couldn't. Not really.
"You were the one who liked being called that before—did you forget?" I said, smirking.
"Can you not? She's been through a lot."
"Watch your tongue. That's the Saintess you're talking to." her friend snapped suddenly, voice sharp.
"I've done nothing," I said, raising an eyebrow.
"Show some respect—she's way out of your league and deserves better than this," she said, visibly annoyed.
"So what? We're about the same age. Doesn't matter what title she's got," I shot back, not even blinking.
"Have you seen anyone else act like you?" she asked, clearly fuming.
"Um… are you blind? Have you seen anyone who looks like me?" I said, louder now.
"Fae, let's leave," she muttered, grabbing her by the wrist and storming off.
"So annoying, Acting like Fae doesn't choose who she talks to." I muttered, watching Erelya stuff her face with food, completely unbothered by what just happened.
"Why you—" I growled, glaring at her.
"We're going to class now," I declared, rising abruptly from my seat.
"Wait—" she started, mouth full, but I ignored her.
After that little drama, it was time for class. I had no idea what subject we were walking into. Magic or swordsmanship? Whatever. Either I'd wing it, or I wouldn't.
"I hope everyone's taken their seats," Professor Elowen's gravelly voice echoed as he picked up a chalk stick and turned to the board.
'Magic Theory 101'
"First question," he rumbled. "What's the fundamental difference between aura and mana?"
"Mages use one, swordsmen use the other," Celeste Virelle answered—probably the most stunning girl in the class.
"Next," he said, unimpressed. He kept asking, but every single student failed. No exceptions. Erelya had explained something similar to me before, so it wasn't completely foreign.
Finally, it was my turn.
"You, at the far back," he said, pointing.
"Yes, sir?"
"Answer the question."
Snickers echoed around me like mosquitoes. They'd all failed—conveniently forgotten that part.
Let them laugh. They'd flubbed it too.
"You should know this," Erelya murmured, lazily watching the wind stir the trees outside.
"Aura affects the body—enhancing it physically. Mana, on the other hand, influences the world around us. It's drawn from the environment," I said.
He stared at me for a long second. The silence dragged.
"…Correct," he said at last, turning back to the blackboard.
Class dragged on. Other than that first question, I couldn't answer a single one after. The rest were handled by Vaelen or Celeste, with the occasional interruption from others who honestly weren't worth mentioning. Neither was I, but…
"Haah… That was annoying," I muttered, stretching lazily as the final bell rang.
"You didn't do much," Erelya said, ever the thorn at my side.
"Answered a few questions. Took notes."
"Why don't you show me those notes, then?" she said, already swiping the notebook from my desk with irritating speed.
"Hey—drop it. You could probably use that thing as a blanket," I teased, trying to snatch it back.
"Ooh, these are the notes?" she burst into laughter—unfiltered and loud enough to make every single person in the room stop and stare.
In their heads, I could almost hear it: What a loud fairy.
And sure enough, they were all staring.
"Drop it," I hissed, yanking the notebook—but Erelya refused to let go. So I dragged her along, the tiny fairy hanging mid-air like a stubborn pendant on a chain.
"You're so light," I grunted, giving the book a shake. She clung to it anyway, wings fluttering in protest.
"This is kinda nice," she mused. "If only we could do it without me dangling like a tassel."
Then, gracefully as ever, she let go and floated beside me.
Just then, Celeste strode over, walking like the room was her runway. I swear I could feel half the guys around us cursing me in silence.
"Don't you know how to conduct yourself properly in public?" she said, her voice as polished as her posture.
"I do… I mean, if I didn't, what would've been the point of all those etiquette lessons?" I shrugged. "I just don't bother unless I'm around actual nobles."
"You are around nobles now," one of her ever-present minions snapped.
"Nope. I don't consider any of you nobles," I replied coolly. After becoming a Virehart, I learned what real pride felt like—what power meant. I could say what I wanted, and no one could stop me.
"I advise you to reconsider," Celeste said, nose tilted up, before turning sharply on her heel and walking off, her little entourage trailing behind like ducklings.
"Did she think we'd grovel like the rest?" I muttered to Erelya as I stood and slung my bag over my shoulder.
We headed toward the door when a voice caught my attention.
"Hey… Isn't that Fae?"
"Yeah," I replied, breaking into a jog. My lips curled into a grin.
"Baaaby~!" I shouted loud enough to echo, purely to mess with her.
Heads turned. Gasps followed. You should've seen their jaws drop when they saw who I was calling out to—the Saintess herself.
"Huh?! Who are you calling a baby?!" she yelled back, clearly flustered.
"You, obviously." I caught up to her, just in time to see a shadow fall over us—Miss "Respect the Saintess" herself had arrived.
"How are you doing, Theryn?" she said sweetly, stepping out of the classroom.
"I'm fine, but… what are you doing with this guy?" Theryn asked, throwing me a suspicious glare.
"Ha ha… We're friends," Fae replied with the driest laugh ever.
"Hmph. Well, I don't like this guy," Theryn muttered.
"Hah… same," Fae admitted with a sigh, eyeing me sideways. "He's so annoying. But… not awful."
"Still annoying," Theryn repeated. "How about a competition?"
"…Huh?"
"Win, and you're fine. Lose, and I'll give you a punishment," she said, her eyes gleaming.
"Do it! I'm totally in favor of that," Erelya chimed in, too cheerful for my liking. I already knew she wouldn't be any help.
"Sure…" I said slowly, already wondering how the hell I'd ended up in this mess.
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