The training room looked like a fragment of forest transported into the Academy. Soft light filtered through a transparent magical ceiling, creating the illusion of a daytime sky. A small lake reflected the branches of nearby trees like a mirror, and the fresh air added to the sense of realism.
Alex stood on the clearing, gazing at the crystal-clear water. He took a deep breath and thought, "Not bad. Kind of soothing."
The door opened with a soft rustle, and Aria stepped into the room. Her expression was serious, though she looked a bit hesitant as she stopped in front of Alex.
"Hi," she said evenly.
"Hi," Alex replied, turning toward her.
"I wanted to..." Aria began, hesitating slightly. "Apologize for my behavior yesterday. I might've been a bit... too harsh."
Alex smirked.
"A bit?" he raised an eyebrow, though there was no anger in his voice. "Alright. Apology accepted."
Aria nodded in relief and, as if wanting to change the subject, asked:
"So, what are we doing today?"
"From what I saw yesterday, your fundamentals are solid," Alex said, folding his arms. "So, we'll focus on refining your skills. And the best way to do that—duels."
Aria smiled with satisfaction.
"Finally, something interesting. I'm not a big fan of theory."
Alex smiled back.
"Same here. That's why I chose this method. But fair warning—if your performance doesn't impress me, we're going back to basics."
Aria frowned and said with determination:
"Don't count on it."
"Perfect. Then show me what you've got," Alex said, extending his hand. His wrist flushed red, and streams of blood began to flow, shaping into a sword with a gleaming crimson blade.
Aria gave him a mocking look.
"As you say, teacher," she replied, two daggers materializing in her hands.
They both assumed fighting stances. For a moment, silence stretched between them—heavy with anticipation.
"Begin," said Alex, and in the same instant, they lunged at each other.
This time, Alex didn't just dodge Aria's attacks—he went on the offensive, testing her defensive skills. His blood-forged sword moved swiftly and precisely, forcing Aria to react in the blink of an eye. Her daggers deflected his strikes with practiced ease, and she seemed much calmer than the day before.
"She's focused," Alex thought, sidestepping her counterattack. "As I expected, she's making fewer mistakes this time, though some of her movements are still rough."
Her confidence grew with each exchange, but Alex managed to spot several weak points.
After a few minutes of intense sparring, Alex raised his hand, signaling the end.
Aria, slightly out of breath, wiped sweat from her forehead and asked:
"So, how did I do, teacher?"
Alex smiled as he lowered his sword.
"Not bad, really not bad. You performed much better than yesterday. But there are still a few things to improve. Your strikes are more accurate, but during wide swings, you leave yourself too exposed. That could be dangerous in a real fight."
Aria nodded, taking his feedback seriously.
"What else?"
"Some of your movements are a bit imprecise, especially during fast maneuvers," Alex continued. "It's fixable with regular training focused on body control. You need to work on coordination."
"Got it," Aria said, tossing her hair back. Her eyes burned with determination. "Alright then—ready for round two."
Alex smiled, noting her enthusiasm.
"As you wish. Just remember what I said," he added, raising his sword once more.
Aria resumed her fighting stance, ready to demonstrate her improved skills.
The training ended after several intense rounds. Aria lay on the grass, breathing heavily, while Alex sat nearby, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Who would've thought this girl could actually make me work up a sweat?" he mused. "Didn't expect her to adapt to my advice so fast. At this rate, in about six months, we'll see some real results. I'd tell her that out loud... but I don't want to feed her ego."
Alex smiled as he looked at the exhausted Aria.
Suddenly, the door opened and Adam walked into the room. He stopped, taking in the scene before him, and raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Well, what brings you here?" Alex asked, lifting his head.
Adam smiled as he approached.
"Classes are over, so I figured I'd come check on you," he said, glancing at Aria, who was still sprawled out on the grass.
Alex turned to her in surprise.
"By the way, why aren't you in class?"
Aria, still slightly breathless and lying down, glanced at Alex.
"I also got permission from Elizabeth to skip some lectures," she said with a wave of her hand.
Adam, looking at Aria, decided to tease her.
"So, Alex beat you? How predictable."
Aria shot to her feet, glaring at Adam with mock outrage.
"Say that again, Adam!"
"I said our 'Undefeated Countess'"—he put deliberate emphasis on the title—"got taken down by a regular guy. After someone promised me she'd never lose to anyone ever again."
"You're asking for it."
A playful scuffle broke out between them, filled with teasing remarks and light punches. They traded jabs and witty comebacks like old friends who had known each other since childhood.
Alex simply watched their antics with a smile, feeling the tension of the training fade away, leaving behind a sense of lightness and quiet satisfaction.
Alex and Adam entered the dining hall, where a warm and cozy atmosphere prevailed. Students chatted cheerfully at the tables, some laughing, others eating silently, lost in thought.
The boys found an empty table and helped themselves to food.
As they began eating, Alex looked at Adam with a slight smile.
"Do I still appear as just a 'simple guy' in your eyes?" he asked, clearly referring to Adam's earlier remark.
Adam waved a hand dismissively, smiling.
"Don't take it to heart. It was just too good a moment not to tease Aria."
Alex raised an eyebrow with interest.
"And what exactly connects you two?" he asked.
Adam took a sip of water and replied:
"Our parents have been friends for a long time. When we were kids, I used to spend time with Aria and her brother Damian. While things were always calm and friendly with Damian, Aria and I usually teased each other. It often turned into playful 'duels.' And no matter how many of those we had, Aria never managed to beat me. Don't get me wrong — she's no weakling. Among all the noble kids I know, she's the strongest."
Alex smiled.
"The strongest, huh?"
"Right after you," Adam rolled his eyes. "Besides, you're a special case — you don't count."
"Oh, so you don't want anyone knocking Aria off your little 'strongest list' pedestal?" Alex grinned slyly, a spark of mischief in his eyes.
"Are you done?" Adam didn't even look at Alex and tried to focus on his food. However, the light blush on his cheeks didn't go unnoticed by Alex, who decided to press further.
"Alright, alright," Alex patted his friend on the shoulder. "But judging by how you talk about her, I have to admit — you two would make a great couple," he teased.
Now the blush on Adam's face was unmistakable.
"Don't joke like that, Alex."
Alex laughed, and they continued their meal. Suddenly, a young boy burst into the dining hall, breathing heavily as if he had run a great distance. Without hesitation, he rushed to Adam, bending over and pressing his hands to his knees to catch his breath.
Seeing his condition, Adam immediately handed him a glass of water.
"Take it easy. Drink some water and calm down," he said gently, encouraging the boy.
The boy eagerly took a few gulps, steadied his breathing, and finally looked up.
"On... on the central square..." he began, trying to speak steadily. "There's a duel happening between students, but it's gotten out of control, and no one can stop it."
Adam immediately turned to Alex with a serious expression, then looked back at the boy.
"Lead the way," he said firmly.
The boy nodded and ran toward the exit, while Adam and Alex quickly rose from their seats and followed him. The three of them sprinted in the direction of the central square, their hearts pounding with adrenaline and worry over what was happening.
The boys reached the central square of the Academy, where a crowd of students had already gathered. Pushing through the mass of onlookers, they finally saw what was going on. Two students stood in the center — an angel and a demon. Both looked battered, with minor wounds, but they were still on their feet, breathing heavily.
The demon created a magical circle and launched a spell at the angel. Too exhausted to dodge, the angel cried out and fell to the ground. The demon laughed and began slowly approaching his fallen opponent.
"Stop!" Adam shouted, but the demon ignored him.
Adam moved forward resolutely to intervene, but a student grabbed his shoulder roughly.
"Where do you think you're going?" the student asked harshly, gripping Adam's shoulder tightly.
"This duel has to end," Adam replied calmly, trying to pull away.
The student only squeezed harder and added with a sly grin:
"Get out of here unless you want to be the next one beaten in front of everyone."
Adam had had enough. He struck the boy hard in the face, knocking him to the ground. The crowd around them parted slightly, and a group of demons quickly gathered to surround Adam.
Alex started to rush over to help, but Adam stopped him.
"I'll handle this. You take care of that guy."
Alex nodded and ran toward the fallen angel. The demon who had defeated him pulled a vial from his inventory and drank it, clearly preparing for another attack. Alex retrieved a regeneration potion to help the angel. Opening the bottle, he poured the potion into the angel's mouth, trying to revive him as quickly as possible.
"Get out of here! This isn't your duel!" the demon yelled, advancing on Alex.
Without taking his eyes off the angel, Alex calmly replied:
"The duel is already over. I'm just helping the one who lost."
The demon laughed and formed another magic circle.
"It ends when I say it does!" he shouted, releasing a stream of dark magic.
Alex prepared to counter the attack, but suddenly, a young woman with black hair appeared in front of him, instantly deflecting the spell with her own dark magic.
Dust rose from the clash of spells and began to settle. The demon yelled:
"Who dares interrupt my fight?!"
But upon seeing the girl's face, his tone changed drastically. His voice trembled with fear as he whispered:
"Lady Lilith..."
The girl, wearing a serious expression, addressed the demon:
"Explain what's going on here," she said, her voice cold and firm.
The demon awkwardly looked away and stepped back, but she didn't let him escape.
"I'll ask again," her voice grew harsher as she stepped closer. "What happened here?"
"It was... just a regular duel," the demon muttered quietly, but it was clear he knew that wasn't enough.
"A regular duel should've ended long ago," she replied with a stern look. "You pushed things too far, and that's unacceptable within the Academy."
The demon had no reply. Lilith let out a long breath.
"We'll speak later."
Two boys in white uniforms — the same as hers — stepped up to the demon and flanked him, ready to escort him away.
The girl turned to Alex and the angel.
"How is he?" she asked, looking at the angel lying on the ground.
"He's alright," Alex answered calmly. "I gave him first aid. The infirmary can handle the rest."
"Thank you," Lilith said, her voice softening slightly. "We'll take care of things from here."
Alex stood up, shifting his gaze to Adam, who was calmly standing nearby. A few beaten demons lay beside him, yet Adam appeared unfazed.
Alex walked over to him.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"As you can see, nothing serious," Adam replied with a smile. "And you?"
"Everything's under control now," Alex smiled and gave a quick glance at Lilith. "Well, there are people here who can take care of the rest. We've got an unfinished meal waiting."
A magical circle appeared beneath their feet, and Alex teleported them back to the dining hall.
Lilith turned to the crowd.
"You can disperse. There's nothing more to see here," she said calmly to the students, who slowly began to leave.
Then she looked at the two boys and the demon.
"Wait for me in the office."
With those words, she vanished into a magical circle along with the unconscious angel.
The boys returned to the dining hall and continued their meal. Breaking the silence, Alex asked Adam:
"By the way, who was that guy who came running for us?"
"That's Liam," Adam replied without looking up from his plate. "We met today during a lecture. Just a regular guy, but he seems to like helping others."
"Liam, huh?" Alex nodded, making a mental note of the name.
After a short pause, Adam asked:
"Did incidents like this happen often in the future?"
Alex paused for a moment before replying.
"Not really. No one wanted to get expelled from the Academy, but there were always enough idiots who ignored the rules. Why do you ask?" Alex raised an eyebrow, looking at his friend with interest.
Adam leaned back in his chair and hesitated slightly before answering.
"Even before enrolling, I considered joining the student council, but I wasn't sure if it was for me. After today's incident, I've decided to join. I want to help maintain order at the Academy."
Alex smiled.
"Good decision, Adam. You'll be able to make a real difference."
"Thanks," Adam replied with gratitude in his voice. "Would you want to join us?"
Alex shook his head.
"I wouldn't mind, but I'm afraid I just won't have the time. Training with Aria, my own leveling… But if you ever need my help, just ask."
"Got it," Adam nodded. "Thanks for the support."
At that moment, Mira entered the dining hall and walked up to them. She greeted them and turned to Alex.
"Alex, Lady Elizabeth is expecting you."
"Thanks, Mira," Alex replied, rising to his feet. He said goodbye to Adam and disappeared into a magical circle, teleporting to Elizabeth's office.
Alex appeared in Elizabeth's spacious office. She, as always, sat at her desk, gazing out the window that offered a beautiful view of the Academy. Hearing his arrival, Elizabeth turned to him, smiled, and greeted him.
"Hello, Alex."
"Hey," Alex replied, taking a seat across from her. "So, what do you need me for this time?"
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, looking at him with mock indignation.
"What do you mean, 'need you'? You asked me to arrange a meeting with Krul, remember?"
"Oh wow, you got it done faster than I expected. When is she coming?"
"Any moment now. While we wait..." Elizabeth stood up and walked to one of the cabinets, pulling out a bottle of wine.
Alex watched her actions with curiosity.
"Wine? What for?"
Elizabeth smiled as she turned back to him.
"Krul is an old friend of mine, and I know exactly how to win her over."
Alex smirked.
"Will ordinary wine do the trick?"
Elizabeth gave a sly grin.
"This isn't just ordinary wine, Alex. It's the finest wine from the demon capital. Krul absolutely loves it."
Alex raised his hands.
"Well, you'd know best."
Suddenly, the office doors opened, and Krul entered the room.
The doors opened smoothly, and Krul stepped inside. Her arrival seemed to change the very atmosphere — even the air felt warmer.
Tall and graceful, she moved with the natural confidence of someone used to the world revolving around them. Her long black hair, styled in perfect waves, cascaded over her shoulders, giving her the look of a Hollywood starlet — with an unmistakable demonic flair.
Her deep ruby eyes sparkled with a mischievous gleam, and her sensual lips curled into a slight, almost playful smile. High cheekbones, flawless features, and porcelain-like skin added to her surreal beauty.
If her face radiated aristocratic elegance, her outfit asserted dominance. She wore a perfectly fitted white shirt, unbuttoned one notch lower than dress code allowed, revealing the graceful line of her collarbones. Over it — a black blazer that hugged her figure, adding a strict touch to the look, and completing the outfit were tight black trousers that hugged her long legs perfectly.
Alex involuntarily gave her an appraising glance, mentally noting, "Well, Elizabeth wasn't exaggerating. She really is one of the hottest women I've ever seen. Damn, if only I were still in my old body..."
Krul slowly shifted her gaze from Elizabeth to Alex, her smile widening.
"Oh, so this is your nephew, Elizabeth?" Her voice was velvety, with a hint of teasing. "Interesting..."
She stepped closer, openly eyeing Alex from head to toe.
"You have quite a strong aura for a mere student. I have a feeling our conversation might be more intriguing than I expected."
Elizabeth stepped in before things escalated.
"Alright, enough with the measuring glances. Krul, stop standing by the door and take a look at what I've got for you," she said, holding up the wine bottle.
"Fine, I'm sitting," Krul sighed softly and took a seat across from them, crossing her legs.
Elizabeth poured each of them a glass of wine, and they all took a few sips.
"So, Alex," Krul began, "if you want me to teach you dark magic, you'll have to convince me that it won't be a waste of my time. I don't just take anyone."
She narrowed her eyes, studying his reaction carefully.
"Then surprise me. Why should I agree?"
Alex shifted more comfortably in his seat, meeting Krul's piercing gaze with calm confidence.
"Why dark magic, specifically?" He tilted his head slightly, as if pondering the question himself. "It's powerful. One of the strongest forms of magic—if not the strongest. It's not easy to master, but those who do become truly formidable. I want to be one of them."
Krul listened in silence, her eyes never leaving him as he continued:
"Besides, it's versatile. Darkness isn't just destruction—it can also protect. It can be used in battle, yes, but also in crafting unique spells. To me, it's not just brute force—it's something more."
She slowly raised her glass to her lips, took a sip of wine, and leaned forward slightly.
"All of that sounds very... familiar."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Krul sighed, sounding almost bored.
"If your goals are as... primitive as you describe them, you'd be better off learning elemental magic. It's easier, effective, and your chances of success would be much higher. So why darkness?"
Alex felt her interest slipping away.
"Damn it. At this rate, I'm getting nowhere. If only I could tell her the truth, instead of reciting lines from some book."
He tried again.
"Elemental magic is strong, sure… but it lacks the depth that dark magic has. It's bound by the limits of nature, while darkness is…"
"Something mysterious and powerful?" Krul finished for him, smiling playfully.
Alex pressed his lips together, realizing she was toying with him.
"This is a disaster."
Krul took another sip of wine, paused, then set her glass down and declared flatly:
"No."
Alex blinked, not immediately understanding.
"What?"
Krul rose from her seat, radiating unwavering confidence.
"I refuse to teach you."
She said it so calmly and casually, like turning down a request to pass the salt at dinner.
Something clenched inside Alex.
"Why?"
"What a stupid question," he immediately scolded himself.
Krul turned her back and started walking toward the door.
"Because you sound just like every other person who's tried to become my student. You're not a demon, Alex. Learning dark magic will be harder for you than for any of my previous pupils—even with my help. And I have no intention of wasting my time."
She reached the door and placed a hand on the handle, but paused to deliver one last remark over her shoulder:
"And besides… you haven't been honest with me. And I hate liars."
Alex tensed. His fists clenched instinctively.
"I can't lose a teacher like her."
He saw Krul start to open the door.
"Looks like I have no choice."
In the next moment, he leapt to his feet.
"I know what dark magic is capable of!"
Krul froze.
"I've seen its true power. Its destructive force—nothing in elemental magic compares! Power strong enough to wipe out an entire army in a single instant. And I need that power… to protect the people I care about."
His breathing was heavy, struggling to calm down after the emotional outburst.
"Let's hope that was worth it," Siren's calm voice echoed in his mind.
Krul slowly turned back to him.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"That's more like it," she said, walking back to the table and settling into her chair again. "Now let's talk seriously. Although I am curious—who exactly showed you this so-called 'true power of dark magic'?"
She stressed the final words, her eyes locked intently on Alex.
She crossed her arms and leaned back.
"I can tell you hesitated a long time before saying that. Which tells me one of two things. Either: One—you trust me. Or two—you're simply desperate for a top-tier teacher."
She raised one finger, dismissing the first option entirely.
"We can safely rule out the first. If you trusted me, you would've told me the truth from the beginning, not some rehearsed story. That leaves only the second. Am I right?"
Her ruby eyes gleamed as she gave him a sly smile.
"You're right," Alex exhaled deeply and finally sat back down.
"A predictable answer," Krul said, taking a small sip of wine without breaking eye contact. "As you've already figured out, I value honesty in my relationships with students. Right now, you were honest out of desperation. But"—she set the glass down and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table—"I do hope that, with time, I'll earn your trust."
"So… does this mean…"
"That I'll be your teacher," she finished for him, narrowing her eyes. "But don't expect any special treatment. Like I said, you're not a demon—and that's a huge obstacle. Your first challenge will come at the very beginning. Darkness isn't just energy you conjure with a magic circle. It's a force that must live inside you, flow through your veins, become part of your essence."
Krul lightly tapped her temple with a finger.
"Demons are born with darkness inside them. It's their nature, their essence. Other races have to develop it artificially. And that's… to put it mildly, not easy. But we'll talk about that in the first lesson,"
her tone shifted suddenly, becoming relaxed and casual.
"No need to overload your head with information just yet."
She took another sip of wine, as though unwinding after a big decision.
"Thank you so much, Lady Krul!" Alex stood up abruptly and gave a small, respectful bow.
"You're very welcome," she replied with a mysterious smile. "Besides, I should be thanking you."
Alex looked up in surprise.
"Me?"
"You were the one who gave that angel a regeneration potion on the plaza, weren't you?"
"Yes."
"That's what I wanted to thank you for," Krul set the glass aside, and for the first time during the entire conversation, her voice lacked any trace of sarcasm. "If you hadn't stepped in, who knows how it all could've ended."
Alex shrugged.
"I wasn't alone. Adam Wolfengard helped too."
"What are you two even talking about?" Elizabeth interrupted, having silently listened to their conversation until now, her cheek resting on her hand.
"Let your nephew explain it to you," Krul stood up. "I'm afraid I have to run."
She glanced at her wineglass and added with a mischievous smile:
"Thanks for the wine, by the way."
"Can't you stay at least a few more minutes?" Elizabeth asked, a hint of sadness in her voice as she spun the glass in her hands. "It'd be a shame to let such good stuff go to waste."
Krul chuckled.
"You know I'd love to stay," her gaze softened, "but I still need to meet with Raphael and discuss today's situation. And it's better to do that with a clear head."
She turned her eyes to Alex, as if evaluating him one last time.
"Come to my office the day after tomorrow. Have a good day."
A magic circle flared beneath her feet, and a moment later, she vanished.
Elizabeth stared for a few more seconds at the spot where Krul had just stood.
"Well? What do you think?" she asked, not taking her eyes off it.
"Victory," Alex collapsed into the chair and reached for his wineglass. "With a catch, but a victory nonetheless."
Elizabeth snorted, shaking her head slightly.
"Don't celebrate too soon. I believe in you and all, but Krul doesn't say things she doesn't mean. If she says it'll be hard for a vampire to learn dark magic — it's going to be hard."
She took a sip and looked at her nephew with a faintly teasing expression.
"Victory will only come when darkness dances at your fingertips."
Alex smiled.
"Well then, I've long been ready to take on that challenge."
"Good. And Alex, I have one more piece of advice for you."
"I'm listening."
Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and rested her chin on her finger.
"Don't delay when answering her questions. If you hesitate too long, her curiosity will get the better of her, and she might simply stop teaching you. And not even I will be able to help you then."
"And what should I tell her?" Alex looked at his aunt.
"That's for you to decide," she replied with a sly smile. "If you were going to lie to her anyway, you should've at least spent five minutes preparing a story in advance instead of clumsily improvising."
She looked away for a moment, then refocused on her wine.
"You've chosen a serious teacher. You should've anticipated this."
Alex exhaled heavily and ran a hand through his hair.
"Alright, I admit, I should've been better prepared for that meeting," he said reluctantly. "But it's too late to regret that now. What would you have done in my place?"
Elizabeth fell silent for a while, thoughtfully gazing into her wineglass. She swirled it gently, watching the liquid ripple inside.
"You know, Alex, I would've spent a long time thinking it through," she finally said, setting the glass down. "But I probably would've just told her everything."
Alex looked up at her, surprise in his eyes.
"Why?"
"Because to me, Krul is like Adam is to you," Elizabeth explained. Her voice was soft but confident. "If we were at war, I'd trust her to guard my back without hesitation. And if I were sent back in time, I'd turn to her for support."
Alex mulled over her words in silence.
"But you have to decide that on your own," she continued. "It all depends on the opinion you form about Krul during your training. Don't look at her just as the headmistress or your teacher — see her as a person. Then you'll understand how much you can really trust her."
"There's truth in your words," Alex nodded.
He fell silent for a moment before asking another question.
"Can I ask one more thing?"
"Go ahead," Elizabeth allowed, picking up her wineglass again.
"Why does she value honesty so much?" Alex looked at his aunt. "Did something happen in her past that made her hate lies so deeply?"
Elizabeth smiled faintly, but there was bitterness in her expression.
"You're a terrible liar," she said. "But you're impressively perceptive."
Alex watched her closely, waiting for an answer, but Elizabeth only shook her head.
"Not this time, nephew. If Krul wants you to be honest with her, then you'll need to earn her trust in return. Just as she'll try to understand you, you'll have to try to understand her."
Alex merely nodded. He understood that his aunt wouldn't tell him anything more.
Clearly wanting to change the subject, Elizabeth leaned forward.
"Now, tell me about what happened in the plaza — the situation you and Krul were talking about."
Alex briefly recounted the events, starting from when he and Adam arrived at the plaza, and ending with Lilith's appearance.
As soon as he finished, Elizabeth suddenly burst out laughing.
Alex looked at her in surprise, not understanding what could have provoked such a reaction.
"What's so funny?" he asked once she had calmed down a bit.
She wiped away a tear from laughing and looked back at her nephew.
"Tell me, what do you know about Lilith?"
Alex frowned slightly.
"Not much. I know she's the head of the student council, but I'd never heard of her during the war."
Elizabeth smiled even wider, chuckling softly again.
"Sorry, Alex, it's just…" she paused, as if choosing her words. "Let's just say, when the time comes, you'll understand everything."
Alex looked even more puzzled but knew he wouldn't be able to get anything else out of her.
"Great, another mystery," he muttered, shaking his head.
"This is the Academy," Elizabeth giggled. "There's no escaping them here."
Still smiling faintly, she leaned back in her chair and changed the topic.
"By the way, how was your first training session with Aria?"
Alex crossed his arms over his chest and smiled slightly.
"To be honest, I was impressed by her progress. She immediately tries to correct the mistakes I point out. You can tell she's not just talented, but also genuinely dedicated to learning."
Elizabeth nodded, clearly pleased to hear those words.
"I told you she had potential."
"By the way," Alex said with a faint smile, "she even apologized to me for her behavior yesterday."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
"Well, that's unexpected."
"In her own way, of course, but she did."
Elizabeth laughed and crossed her arms.
"Well, what can I say… Aria's a good girl, you just have to find the right approach to her character."
Alex nodded, understanding that this was true.
"By the way," Elizabeth said, changing the subject, "I've got a day off tomorrow, and Aria still has classes she can't skip. That means we can head into the dungeon."
Alex looked up, his eyes lighting up with curiosity.
"About time."
"Then I'll book an A-rank one for tomorrow," his aunt said, picking up her wine glass again.
"Thanks, Aunt."
"Always a pleasure, nephew," she replied with a light smile.
Alex stood up from his chair.
"Then I guess I'll go get some rest. We've got a tough day ahead tomorrow."
"You've got a tough day ahead. I'll just be watching from the sidelines," Elizabeth smiled and reached for the wine bottle.
"No complaints here," Alex replied shortly, and a magic circle lit up beneath him. He vanished from the office.
Adam, who was sitting on his bed flipping through a book, looked up as Alex finally returned.
"You took your time," he remarked, closing the book. "What was going on?"
Alex collapsed onto his bed, folded his arms behind his head, and stared at the ceiling.
"Well, long story short, I'm officially Krul's student now."
Adam raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Seriously? She usually doesn't take on students. How'd you convince her?"
"Took some effort," Alex chuckled. "At first, she rejected me outright, but when I said I'd seen the true power of dark magic and needed that strength to protect the people I care about, she changed her mind."
Adam nodded slowly, digesting the information.
"Hmm, sounds like you found the right words."
"Or maybe she just wants to see how far I'll go," Alex shrugged.
"You think she figured out you're from the future?" Adam asked with a mysterious smile.
"Definitely not, but it feels like that woman sees right through people. I just hope the risk pays off."
"Either way, if you manage to learn that magic, you have to teach me," Adam said, crossing his arms. "At least try."
Alex smiled and turned his head toward his friend.
"If I manage to pull it off, then why not?"
Adam nodded in satisfaction, and then Alex suddenly asked:
"By the way, what do you know about Lilith?"
Adam tilted his head, thinking.
"Well… she's the student council president, straight-A student, and… incredibly beautiful. Other than that, not much."
Alex gave a short nod, then closed his eyes.
"I see…"
Adam watched his friend for a few more seconds, as if expecting him to say more, but hearing steady breathing, he realized Alex had already fallen asleep.
"Well, sweet dreams then," he said quietly and returned to his book.