The morning descended with a gentle softness, brushing away the remnants of night. Only three days remained before the national examinations began—three days that marked the final obstacle of an exhausting academic road.
Al awoke earlier than usual.
"Huaaaamm..." a long yawn slipped from his mouth, his body following sluggishly as he pushed himself into a sitting position.
He sat still for a mont, waiting for his consciousness to fully return. His face looked slightly swollen, faint shadows of sleeplessness resting under his eyes. A thin trail of drool still clung wetly to his cheek, proof of his chronic lack of rest.
Clicking his tongue lightly, he tried to wash away the bitter taste that lingered in his mouth—the unpleasant aftertaste of sleep.
With slow, almost ritualistic movents, he rubbed his face with both hands, wiped away the drool, scratched the back of his neck and shoulders, then finally ended his awakening ceremony with a faint, lazy yawn.
"Haah... they call this week ’self-study ti,’ a so-called ’calm week’ before the exams," he muttered, his voice carrying a note of irritation. "But they still make us co to school anyway."
Stretching his arms outward, he rotated his shoulders, massaged his neck, and loosened the stiffness in his joints. Then, with a small groan, he rose from the bed and reached for a towel neatly folded on a small shelf near the door.
"Hmph? Do I even need to take a morning shower... after what happened in the Divine Void last night?" he mused, his tone a mixture of curiosity and laziness.
He leaned forward slightly, taking a cautious sniff of himself.
"Haah... I guess I do," he sighed in mild disappointnt. "In the end, only my soul entered that divine, fragrant realm. My body? Still slls like a damp basent."
And so, he showered and began preparing for the day.
After finishing his bath and putting on his neatly pressed uniform, he stepped out of his room, his eyes naturally drifting toward the direction of the main dining hall before heading for the main gate.
Should I join them for breakfast? he wondered for a brief mont.
But as soon as his gaze caught a familiar figure among the people seated inside, he decided against it.
No. No, I’m far too drained to argue with her this morning.
Inside the dining hall, the Virellano family was already gathered around the long table, enjoying their breakfast. A few chairs were empty—Aurielle’s, for instance. She was likely already at the office or perhaps hadn’t returned ho at all last night.
Another empty seat was Al’s. His chair was, as always, prepared and waiting for him—though the one ant to occupy it had once again chosen not to appear.
At the far end of the table, Fani sat slumped beside Clarista, dark circles under her eyes betraying her fatigue. She had spent the entire night patrolling in her blood mist form, guarding Al’s project from unwelco intruders.
Hehe. She’s dependable, as always, Al thought with a faint smile.
The morning conversation around the table buzzed with energy—news about Sarah dominated the chatter, all of which Al could hear clearly from where he stood, thanks to his sharpened senses.
Apparently, Sarah had just returned from the capital after attending the premiere of her latest film. The movie was scheduled to be released in Makazhar cinemas at the beginning of the sixth month—just a few days after Al and David finished their national exams.
"Rember to clear your schedules, alright? The production team and other cast mbers will be there too, so no excuses! And then blah blah blah...." said Sarah, explaining at great length while insisting that everyone attend.
Her voice carried the unmistakable tone of soone who wasn’t rely inviting but commanding.
Edward responded with a light nod, as did Sandra.
"Of course, sweetheart. We wouldn’t miss it for the world," Sandra replied warmly.
"Sure thing, big sis," David chid in.
Clarista raised a hand, forming an ’okay’ gesture with a small grin, while Vianna groaned dramatically.
"Ugh... there goes another day of precious training," she muttered in complaint, prompting a ripple of laughter around the table.
From afar, Al let out a lazy yawn, utterly unmoved by their cheerful noise.
Sis Sarah’s film, huh? Hmph... Even if I can’t stand her attitude, that doesn’t an I dislike her work. Maybe I’ll take Ai to watch it with .
He smirked faintly at the thought, quietly laying out his plan for the coming week.
He was just about to leave when his ears caught the faint ntion of his own na. That single word was enough to stir his curiosity, halting his steps and compelling him to listen more closely.
"It seems like Al skipped breakfast again," David’s tone carried a teasing lilt, deliberately baiting the conversation.
The mont Sarah heard that na, her expression hardened instantly.
"David, don’t ruin my morning mood. I should be grateful I haven’t seen him yet," she said coldly.
David rely chuckled under his breath.
"Sarah, you really are always like this." Edward’s voice carried mild reproach.
Sarah huffed and turned her face away without answering.
Sandra, ever the peacemaker, added gently, "Maybe he’s still asleep."
Sarah frowned slightly. "Wait—he’s allowed to eat with us again?"
Sandra replied calmly, "Technically, yes. After all your dad doesn’t seem to mind anymore. It looks like his trauma has subsided." Edward nodded quietly beside her, agreeing with his wife’s reasoning.
"Ahh... what a pity," Sarah sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes.
Edward and Sandra exchanged helpless glances, shaking their heads at their daughter’s stubborn refusal to change.
Not long after, David’s voice rose again, his words laced with false innocence. "So, sis, will he be joining your movie premiere too?"
Sarah imdiately shook her head in firm rejection. "No. Absolutely not. That’s exactly why I brought it up—I want everyone to agree that he’s not invited. I don’t want him there."
Sandra and Edward shared another silent look, uncertain how to respond to her firmness.
Clarista watched quietly, Vianna didn’t bother to care, and Fani—sitting near the edge of the table—looked slightly uncomfortable, though she kept her expression neutral. She had no place to intervene in the family’s internal matters.
David, however, seed amused. A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he glanced sideways toward Fani. She ignored him completely, though this ti her indifference didn’t seem to anger him as much as before.
Hmph... now you see it, don’t you? Just how low that boy’s standing is in this family, he thought with silent satisfaction.
I still can’t fathom why you’d bother staying close to soone like him. Foolish girl. Wake up already and co back to .
anwhile, from afar, Al exhaled softly, shaking his head.
They don’t even ask whether I want to co or not... and yet they talk as if it’s entirely their decision. Huff... what a family.
There was no anger in his tone—no irritation, no hurt. Only a calm, weary boredom.
And with that, he turned away, unwilling to waste another mont listening.
Outside the mansion, the faint hum of industry filled the morning air.
Construction workers had begun to gather, resuming their tasks with the familiar rhythm of heavy machinery coming to life.
Piles of materials were neatly arranged, equipnt glead under the sun, and the grand project of Al’s "new house" continued with efficient, almost chanical precision.
Al walked toward them casually, raising a hand in greeting.
"Good morning," he said lightly.
"Good morning, Young Master!" the workers chorused cheerfully.
He exchanged a few brief words with them, discussing the project’s current progress. Judging by their reports—and the remarkable efficiency of their equipnt—the rough structure could be completed within two to three weeks, with full finishing achieved in about a month.
Satisfied, Al nodded, a faint smile flickering at the corner of his lips.
"That’s good. Keep it up," he said before taking his leave to continue his walk.
---
Outside,
As he approached the bus stop, sothing—an almost imperceptible disturbance—brushed against his senses.
He halted mid-step. His breathing slowed. His eyes scanned the surroundings with practiced caution.
What was that? he thought sharply.
He activated his magical detection instinctively, extending his perception across a one-kiloter radius. Subtle movents of energy, faint but unnatural, rippled through his awareness.
"Hmph... since Dedy isn’t monitoring anymore, David’s little watcher must be keeping tabs again... but no, this aura—this one feels different," he mused quietly.
Focusing deeper, he refined his perception until a second presence revealed itself.
"Oh? That one... and that aura—hmph, yes, this must be the one tailing ."
His hand clenched slightly, and a faint gleam flared in his eyes as he invoked his Dinsional Eye. A thin layer of crimson light spread across his irises.
Within seconds, the world changed. Auras of all kinds appeared around him like rippling threads of color—soft ones, bright ones, oppressive ones, dark ones—all intertwined in a vivid spectrum of energy.
And among them, one stood out.
On top of an old, worn-down building overlooking the main street stood a tall figure clad entirely in a black cloak. He was still as a shadow, yet his body emitted a dense, suffocating darkness—an unmistakable Helos energy.
Al adjusted his stance slightly, his focus narrowing on that figure.
But then—
Ffff—!
The figure vanished in an instant, disappearing faster than the blink of an eye.
Oh? Fast one, aren’t you? Al thought with mild amusent.
He nearly lost the trace completely, but the lingering residue of energy still shimred faintly within his perception.
He shook his head. Does he think speed like that makes him special?
Before he could act further, a voice echoed directly in his mind.
"Master."
The sound ca through his Glyph—a telepathic link used by his subordinates.
"What is it?" he responded ntally.
"We’ve detected a powerful entity observing you from a distance. What are your orders, Master?" ca the report.
"Ah, perfect timing. I detected it too and was just thinking of giving chase. You’ve saved so effort," he replied smoothly.
Then his tone sharpened, carrying an effortless authority. "In that case... what are you waiting for? Capture them."
"Understood, Master! Orders received. Comncing operation!" the voice responded firmly before the telepathic link cut off.
The connection faded, leaving Al’s sharp, crimson gaze fixed on the horizon.
Who dares... a Helos user tailing so openly? Don’t tell it’s one of those Azzaleth creatures. He exhaled lightly and resud his steps toward the bus stop, his mind already calculating possibilities.
---
Elsewhere—on the rooftop of a towering building in the Makazhar District—the very figure Al had seen now stood tall, his cloak fluttering violently in the morning wind.
His face was concealed behind a bear-shaped mask, the surface etched with intricate, crimson lines. Beneath his cloak, a small blood-red emblem shimred faintly—a mark of allegiance unknown.
Before him stood two others dressed in tight black uniforms resembling ninja garb, their hoods drawn low, faces masked, eyes glinting with focused hostility.
The air between them was thick with tension, a silent promise of imminent battle.
"How dare you disturb his peaceful life," one of the masked operatives spoke coldly.
The bear-masked man tilted his head slightly downward, adjusting his stance. The movent was calm, deliberate—predatory.
Then, in the span of a heartbeat—
He moved.
---
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