The night was silent as Irene and Levi walked together towards the academy. The moonlight illuminated their path, casting shadows on the ground. Neither of them spoke for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, Irene broke the silence,

"Thank you, Levi."

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable in the dim light.

"For what?"

"Irina told me what you did for them and especially for Luna. Thank you."

Levi sighed and didn't answer back.

Irene looked at him again; he looked stoic, like always.

"Aren't you scared? If people find out then."

Irene knew exactly what would happen to Levi. He would lose everything—his work, identity, and even his life. That is why she didn't bother Levi.

Irene could face the consequences; she was a noble and had a family. Levi, on the other hand, 'He has no one to rely on.'

Levi's expression didn't change; he knew the consequences he had to face himself and also affect the whole world.

"I just couldn't stand by and do nothing. An innocent kid's life was on the line. If somebody finds out, my life is ruined. But I'd rather lose everything than regret not doing anything."

Irene nodded, understanding the sentiment. She let out a smile and nodded,

"You are kind."

"I wish."

A psycho like him, kind. The world might end, but kindness would never grow in the barren heart of Levi.

Levi always, to this day, had random thoughts of killing. Blood seemed to call him, and that is why he avoided it. Now he had the taste of it; he wanted more.

But every time he thought of it, a voice would ring in his head, 'Seiko, don't lose yourself.'

He could betray the world but not go against his mother. They continued walking, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken words. Irene couldn't help but feel a mix of gratitude and curiosity. She owed a lot to him and hadn't repaid him yet.

And she was about to ask him for another favour.

"Levi, can I ask you for something?"

"Go on."

He nodded.

Irene started playing with her fingers. She was hesitating but needed to do this.

"Is there anything going on between you and Eliza?"

"No."

Levi shrugged her off without any hesitation and sugarcoating.

Irene squinted.

"That was quick, in fact too quick to be true."

Irene had been noticing Eliza constantly staring at Levi. At first, she thought,

"Maybe she also knows that Levi is hiding his strength."

But she soon realized Eliza found Levi annoying and mostly hated him. Many wouldn't notice, but as her best friend, she noticed the discomfort she had around him.

"She seems to hate you."

Indirectly asking Levi was no use, so being as blatant as possible might get an answer out of him.

Levi's facial expression still didn't change. She hated him and he knew, but he couldn't care less. Though that was between only him, Eliza, and Fiona.

"Really? So what should I do, leave the academy? I don't give a shit, Irene."

Irene was shocked hearing Levi curse but at the same time annoyed; he avoided talking about anything. It was none of her business, but sometimes those secrets would be just too suffocating and too obvious.

Irene didn't ask any further questions, and they reached the academy's main gate.

Students were rushing in with their luggage inside. Only fifteen minutes were left until they entered the dorm or got punished.

Levi and Irene had already maintained distance since they got nearer to the academy. They both acted like they didn't share a meal and walked all the way there.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Without saying their goodbyes, both parted their ways to their respective dorms. Except for Irene. She wasn't finished with her question.

"Levi?"

He turned around and gave her a look,

'Why do you have to call my name, in front of so many people?'

Irene understood, but she also couldn't give a shit. Maybe this wasn't the right place; they could talk more privately, but her heart didn't want that.

It was selfish, and it wanted answers.

"Why did you save me, Levi?"

She had got her answers, a long time ago, but that wasn't the truth. Levi lied; that was clear but why, only he knew.

Levi sighed, knowing he wouldn't be able to shrug her off without telling the true reason, but he couldn't. Having the knowledge of what is about to happen isn't an advantage but a curse.

Living every day, and knowing what is about to come doesn't motivate me. A fear rises inside you again and again. Every day she would imagine if she was up for the job so much, she would lose herself.

'How can I say it without revealing anything? Any ideas?'

He asked the central eye, and it too was clueless.

Levi looked at Irene and thought, 'What would happen if she died?' A dark thought but a realistic one with a given answer. He would fail; the world would end.

When he saw Irene's dorm on fire, he just wanted to save her. In the game, every main character died once; making sure they all lived in the end was hard.

It took Levi 1639 attempts to do so, and he did. However, there was no rewinding of the game. You couldn't turn off your computer and go back to the start.

Now, everything was real, with no way of turning back.

'Maybe saving her wasn't for the mission or for the world but to justify the reason I played that game for so many hours and also…... maybe for my existence. I saved her for my own benefit.'

A simple answer, but emotions never seemed simple for Levi.

Irene waited as the light in Levi's eyes grew in revelation to what he was thinking. A flicker of emotion ignited the ever-dark eyes.

"Irene"

Levi called her name and looked straight at her. Her heart skipped a beat, then more and more that she unconsciously put her hand on her chest.

"If I lost you, my life would be truly meaningless."

He walked away without explaining anything further.

Nobody heard Levi except Irene and wished it was only her.

Irene bewildered, too turned around and started walking along the path as students made way for her.

She wanted and got the answers but never imagined him to say this. She cupped her cheeks and felt it getting warmer and warmer.

Was it the truth or just some flattery? She didn't think about it. Her mind had melted, and her heart was racing to sort it out.

'This is....'

Afraid to admit what she was feeling, she slapped herself. "I just need to sleep, yes that's all I need."

She didn't sleep the whole night.

*******

"Did you stay up all night?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Revising the lessons. After all, we have only two weeks and then the exams start."

Irene said as she looked at the blonde, Rose. The princess looked worried; why? She hadn't touched her book yet. Rose was so busy with the recent royal events that she didn't have time to study.

"But you should take care of your health as well."

The dark circles under Irene's eyes were just too dark for Rose to not care about.

Irene just nodded as Eliza walked in and took a seat beside her. Unlike her usual self who would greet everyone, she just placed her books on the table and said nothing.

Irene was just too tired to notice, but Rose did.

"You both are acting weird; did something bad happen during the holidays?"

As she said that, Levi entered the classroom, the reason why both of them had become weirder?

He just glanced at them and looked at Gabriel waving at him at the very back of the classroom.

Irene hid her face on the table, and Eliza picked up her book, upside down. Both avoided him for different points.

Irene slowly moved her head back and watched him sit and talk with Gabriel.

'Did he not mean it?'

Eliza also turned her head back and looked at Levi, especially his cheek. Both had many unresolved and newfound emotions but towards a guy who felt none of it.

******

The first theory class ended as everyone started packing their bags and heading to the arena for their practical lessons.

"I hope you guys are studying for the upcoming exams."

Many students shuddered as they walked out, hoping the exams would be cancelled.

Everyone walked out of the classroom, except Levi and Fiona. He still needed to have a talk with her and explain, mainly lie, why he ran out of her office that day.

He did visit her office in the morning, but she had already left. This wouldn't be the best place to talk, but he didn't want her to worry anymore.

"Ms. Fiona,"

Levi said as he approached her at the podium at the front of the room.

"Yes."

She didn't look at him and kept organizing her files.

"That day, I didn't mean to"

"I know."

Fiona obstructed him.

"The ability must have something to do with it, right?"

Fiona had been thinking about why Levi ran out like that. At first, she was angry and sad he did that, but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense.

"An ability like that must come with a price. I don't know what it is unless you tell me. So you don't need to apologize."

'That went a lot smoother.' Levi expected Fiona to scold him because if he was in her palace, he definitely would. Because what he did was rude to her.

'I guess being an adult comes with benefits.'

Levi then took out a small box of dark chocolate, wrapped in a brown wrapper, with a picture of chocolate melting, from his spatial ring.

"Ms. Fiona, this."

He passed it to her, and her eyes lit up as she saw the chocolate. She took it and asked,

"Is this to bribe me for the upcoming exams?"

Levi laughed, "No… No, I just bought it. Isn't this your favourite?"

"Yes, it is." Fiona squinted, "How do you know?"

She asked because she had never told anyone in the academy, nor did she even have them in public. It was a guilty pleasure of hers.

Levi at first bought it to lessen her anger, but she wasn't. He didn't like chocolates anyway, so giving her would be the best option, except she forgot that she never told him.

"Ummm… Gabriel said to me once. I don't know why, and I don't know why I remember it. Maybe because I wanted to bribe you, I guess."

Fiona let out a small giggle and walked away from the podium.

Levi carried his bag and walked out of the room. He came back in peeked inside the room and said, "Please be careful."

"Of what?"

Fiona asked,

"When you eat the chocolate, it looks good on the outside but too bitter once you eat it. It feels like gulping down a packet of coffee."

"I know, that's why I like it. Now go, if you are late then me then, ten rounds around the whole arena."

Levi nodded and headed to the training grounds. The central eye on top of his head, instead of his shoulder, curiously asked,

[Master, why did you say that? You have never had that delicacy, and most of all, you can't taste anything?]

Yes, it was weird for Levi to say so, but he wasn't referring to chocolate.

'I cannot tell her, but I just wanted her to be careful, that is all for what is about to happen. I don't know if she picked it up, and I also did a good job saying it, but she needs to be on her guard. After all, the second magic circle at the House of Gemini.'

…

….

'It is made for transforming her into a majin.'