The sun dipped high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the sprawling academy grounds. Ray, Kai, Mono, Niatina, and Elysia stood near the entrance of the dormitory area, their excitement palpable. Each dormitory building loomed before them, as they took their first step in.
Many students looked around, some helping their younger siblings settle in, some looking for their new dorms. As the group looked around, Ray shifted his weight from foot to foot, stealing glances at Niatina. She, too, kept her eyes on him, their gazes colliding and quickly darting away. The tension between them was thick, like a fog that refused to dissipate.
Both felt the weight of their past interactions—the harsh rejection, the unspoken feelings. Now, standing in the academy together, they were lost for words.
Kai sat in his wheelchair, observing the scene. He sighed softly, knowing the intricacies of their emotions better than anyone. But just then, Mono came up to him.
Mono nudged him. “Kai, are you a genius?” she asked, her eyes wide. “How did you score top in the entrance exam?”
Kai shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. “Ray taught me,” he replied through his projection. “That’s all.”
Mono and Niatina exchanged surprised glances. “Ray?” The same Ray who struggled with his princely duties, was able to get time to teach Kai. They couldn’t fathom it.
Ray just laughed it off, scratching his head. But then, he leaned toward Kai. “Why did you say my name?” he whispered.
Kai shrugged. “Sometimes, it’s better to give the credit to other,” he replied, his projection formed in a smaller size next to Ray.
Ray wondered what Kai meant by that. But just then, a teacher called out to Ray, beckoning him toward a nearby building. Ray hesitated, then nodded to the others and followed the teacher’s summons.
The remaining trio watched Ray’s retreating figure. Niatina’s fingers twisted nervously in her skirt, and Mono’s eyes narrowed in curiosity. She was wondering when she felt a touch in her hand.
Kai tapped Mono’s hand. She glanced at him, and he nodded subtly. Mono just looked at him for a while, as she slowly nodded back and stepped toward Niatina.
“Nino,” Mono said, her voice gentle. “Can you go and bring a handkerchief? I forgot it in the carriage.”
Niatina hesitated, but slowly agreed to. As she walked away, Elysia skipped over to her friends, waving at Kai and Mono. She had that infectious enthusiasm that made everyone smile.
Now, it was just Mono and Kai left. She looked over Kai, and he gestured toward the dormitory buildings. She sighed, as slowly she came up and took control of Kai’s wheelchair. “I hope you understand what you are doing…,” she whispered to him. But Kai just smiled, his mind formulating a plan.
Together, they rolled toward the dormitories, leaving the group behind.
Kai and Mono, both moved towards the back of the dormitory building. Bushes and trees covered them from the people walking outside.
Mono looked behind them, her eyes scanning the surrounding. “Cozy, isn’t it?” she said, her voice low as a whisper.
Kai nodded smiling, but his mind elsewhere. He had a task to complete. “Mono,” he projected his words, his projection floating infront of him, facing her, “did you bring it?”
She turned to face him, reading the words, her expression unreadable. She reached out to her pocket, pulling something out. From her pocket, she pulled out a weathered leather-bound diary. “Here,” she said, holding it out to him.
Kai’s fingers twitched with anticipation. He reached out to take it, but Mono’s next words stopped him cold.
“You won’t open it, will you?” she asked, her gaze steady. “Not without her permission.”
He hesitated, before he replied.
“No,” Kai replied, his projection unwavering. “I won’t open it.”
Mono’s lips curved into a half-smile. “Good,” she said. “Because I don't want anyone to read my sister's private diary.”
But as Mono handed him the diary, Kai’s thoughts raced. “Well, I won't read it, but…”
Kai’s fingers traced the edges of the diary. He moved it back and forth, pretending curiosity, while Eva worked her science. Through the earpiece, her voice echoed in his mind: “It’s all done, sir.” Kai smiled inwardly. Eva had scanned every page, unravelling the mysteries within.
He handed the diary back to Mono, who raised an eyebrow. “Just curious about royal princesses’ diaries,” he replied through his projection. “You know, how they maintain their diary.”
Mono’s confusion lingered, but she didn’t press further. Together, they left, rejoining the group. When asked where they’d been, Mono came up. “Showing Kai around,” Mono replied, her tone casual.
The day went by peacefully, with the group looking around the academy classes and their buildings. And soon, it was nightfall. The three royals went back to the palace, as Kai and Elysia went back to their mansion.
On their journey, Elysia was happily telling Kai about how happy she was to be in the same class as her friends, to which Kai listened attentively, with sometimes responding through his projective words. As their way back continued, Elysia asked a question. “Brother,” she looked at him, asking. “Why did mom and dad didn’t come with us?” The question started to wonder in Kai’s mind too, as he recalled that Ray also said something similar.
“Right… Even uncle Max and aunt Celestina didn’t go back with them,” he thought to himself. “I wonder why…”
Sometime later, now in the midnight, Kai sat in his wheelchair on the balcony of his room. The twin moons cast a serene glow over the mansion. Smiling, he gazed at the celestial bodies, lost in thought. “I did say 10 days, but should I clear their issues tomorrow?” he mused.
But his reverie was interrupted by a sudden alert. Eva’s screen popped up in front of him, flashing red. “Huh? Eva, what’s wrong?” Kai asked.
“The cursed energy detection has found signals. It’s the same assassin you encountered, sir,” Eva explained, her tone calm and precise.
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Kai’s heart raced. “Wait, is he here?” he asked urgently.
“No, sir. His energy seems to be coming from the west, a little away from the capital city,” Eva replied, pointing to the location on the map in the screen.
Kai’s eyes looked forward, towards his west. His mind raced. “The west… away from the capital city…” He recalled a conversation with Ray. “Wait a sec… Ray once told me that there’s a small village a little away from the capital city,” he wondered, piecing together the puzzle. “Which is filled with demi-humans.”
He looked straight ahead, his eyes narrowing with determination. Why was the assassin in a village filled with demi-humans? The question gnawed at him, demanding answers.
Around the same time, in the village of the demi-humans: Heinz, lay nestled in a secluded valley, its quaint cottages and winding paths bathed in the soft glow of the twin moons. But tonight, the peaceful village was shrouded in a sinister silence.
From the shadows, the assassin watched. His eyes, cold and calculating, followed the movements of the human traffickers. They moved with practiced stealth, herding demi-human children, human like body with beast ears and tail, into a concealed wagon. The children’s eyes were wide with fear, their small hands clutching each other for comfort.
The assassin’s heart hardened. He had seen this before—innocent lives torn apart by greed and cruelty.
He moved silently, his dark cloak blending seamlessly with the night. As he approached the wagon, he overheard the traffickers’ hushed conversation.
“Make sure they’re all secured,” one of them whispered. “We need to be out of here before dawn.”
The assassin’s fist tightened. He had to act quickly. With a swift, fluid motion, he incapacitated the nearest trafficker, his movements precise and deadly. The others barely had time to react before they, too, were subdued. His claw-like fist drenched with their blood.
The children stared at him, their fear slowly giving way to hope. The assassin knelt down, his voice gentle. “You’re safe now,” he said. “I’ll get you out of here.”
The moonlight cast an eerie glow over the valley as the assassin moved silently through the shadows. His mission was clear: rescue the demi-human children from the clutches of the ruthless human traffickers. As he approached the clearing where the children were held, he felt a sudden presence behind him.
Before he could react, a blade was already descending towards his neck. The assassin spun around, but it was too late. The leader’s sword was mere inches away from his throat. Just as he braced for the end, the leader’s arm, along with the blade, vanished into thin air. Blood sprayed everywhere, painting the night red.
The leader screamed in agony, clutching the stump where his arm used to be. The assassin, equally shocked, looked around for the source of this unexpected salvation. But as he looked around, a mocking laugh echoed through the valley. He looked up to see a girl dressed in red, standing on a hill with the twin moons shining behind her.
“My, my, you sure have a cute voice for someone with such a huge body,” she teased, slowly descending to the ground, revealing it was Trickster. The assassin got his guard up, his eyes never leaving her.
“No need to be so tense. Just relax,” she said, her gaze shifting to the assassin. She then turned her attention to the leader, who glared at her with pure hatred.
“You…!!” he spat, but before he could say more, the girl waved her hand dismissively.
“Yeah, yeah, curse me all you want, but I’m not in the mood to hear it… so, get lost,” she said with a smile. In an instant, the leader’s head exploded, sending a shower of blood and gore everywhere. His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
The assassin stood there, covered in blood, his eyes wide with shock. But the blood that sprayed towards the girl seemed to freeze in mid-air, stopping inches away from her, and slowly falling on the ground. She looked at him with a playful smile.
“Well, that was fun. Now, shall we get those kids to safety?” she asked, her tone light and carefree.
The assassin nodded slowly, still trying to process what had just happened. Together, they turned towards the frightened children, ready to lead them to safety.
The children, their faces streaked with tears, rushed towards the assassin and Trickster. “Thank you! Thank you!” they cried, their voices filled with relief and gratitude. The assassin knelt down, gently patting their heads, while Trickster watched with a soft smile.
“Let’s get you all home,” the assassin said, his voice gentle. The children nodded, still sniffling, and began to lead the way back to their village. The assassin and Trickster walked just behind them, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.
As they walked, the assassin couldn’t shake his curiosity. He glanced at the girl beside him and finally asked, “Who are you?”
Trickster made a playful, wondering expression. “Hmm, maybe you don’t read the newspaper?” she teased. “Well, you can call me Trickster.”
The assassin’s mind raced. “Wait… I’ve heard that name. The one who recently killed that nasty noble,” he wonders, looking at her with a mix of awe and suspicion. “So, she’s Trickster… and she holds such power…” he thought.
He cleared his throat, ready to introduce himself. “Right… I am D-”
But before he could finish, she interrupted with a knowing smile. “Diark, right? And you are able to use cursed energy.”
Diark’s eyes widened in surprise. “How do you know about cursed energy?” he asked, his voice serious.
Trickster shrugged, her smile never fading. “Who knows…” she replied mysteriously.
The journey back to the village was filled with a sense of relief and quiet joy. The children, now safe, led the way with renewed energy. As they approached the village, the parents rushed out to meet them, their faces lighting up with hope and gratitude.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!” the parents cried, tears streaming down their faces as they embraced their children. Diark and Trickster stood back, watching the emotional reunions with a sense of fulfillment.
After some time, the village settled down, and the parents, still tearful, approached Diark and Trickster. “We can’t thank you enough for bringing our children back safely,” one of the mothers said, her voice choked with emotion.
Diark nodded, a rare smile touching his lips. “It was what anyone would do,” he replied simply.
As the night deepened, Diark and Trickster found themselves sitting on a hill overlooking the village. The twin moons cast a serene glow over the landscape, and the sounds of the village slowly faded into the background.
Diark finally broke the silence. “What did you want from me?” he asked, his voice steady but curious.
Trickster laughed, a light, musical sound that seemed to dance on the night air. “I just wanted some answers from you, which I already got,” she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
Diark frowned, wondering what she meant. “What answers?” he asked, but Trickster was already standing up.
“Well, I shall go now,” she said, her tone light and carefree.
Diark just looked at her, a mix of confusion and curiosity in his eyes. Before he could say anything more, Trickster vanished into thin air, leaving only a faint shimmer in the moonlight.
“Who is she…” Diark murmured to himself, still staring at the spot where she had stood. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, and slowly started to walk away, the mystery of Trickster lingering in his mind.
The next day. the morning sun cast a warm glow over the mansion as Sakura gently pushed Kai’s wheelchair down the grand staircase. Kai was dressed in his academy’s uniform, the crisp fabric a stark contrast to the soft morning light. Behind them, Lala followed, carrying a small luggage. She wore her maid uniform, her steps light and graceful.
As they reached the front of the mansion, a carriage awaited them. Standing beside it was Ray, Elysia and Mary. Ray's face breaking into a wide smile as he saw Kai. Ray and Elysia, also dressed in his academy uniform, waved enthusiastically.
“Ready for the first day, roommate?” Ray called out, his voice filled with excitement.
Kai looked at him in confusion, his brow furrowing. His projection formed, the words appearing in the air: “What roommate?”
Sakura giggled softly behind him. “Well, you and Ray will be roommates in your dormitory,” she explained, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Kai’s eyes widened in surprise, and he glanced back at Ray, who was still grinning. “Surprise!” Ray said, laughing. “Looks like we’ll be spending a lot of time together.”
Kai’s expression softened, a small smile forming on his lips. He nodded, accepting the unexpected news. “I guess we’ll have to make the best of it,” his projection read.
Ray clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s the spirit! Let’s get going, then. We don’t want to be late on our first day.”
With that, they all climbed into the carriage, ready to embark on their new adventure at the academy. Lala behind bowed to Sakura, as she also took her step into the carriage. But Kai from inside gave her a hand, smiling. She happily took it, as the three went on their way to the academy, as Sakura waved at them wishing them Goodluck.
-To be continued