February 16, 12:15 PM
Asura Academy — Cafeteria
Perspective: Elfina Lunaris
No.
Please tell me this is not happening...
Kaiser!!!
I turned to look at him smirking and enjoying his sandwich.
Please say something, Kai!
Don't just stand there like an idiot!!!
The strikingly handsome boy from Class A stood before our table, his long, wavy golden-blonde hair tied in a loose half-ponytail. His sapphire-blue eyes were warm, and his custom white-and-gold uniform made him look like a prince from a fairy tale.
"Um, actually, no." I stammered, waving my hands. "The table is already occupied, and we're just having a quick lunch..."
"I see," the boy replied, his smile not fading for a second. "But surely a table meant for 4 can easily accommodate 3? Unless, of course, your companion prefers total isolation. I assure you, I do not take up much space."
I blinked, completely confused by his quick redirection.
Before I could say anything else, I noticed the sudden silence that had fallen over the surrounding tables. Dozens of girls from the other classes were staring at us, their eyes filled with pure jealousy and shock.
"Forgive my lack of manners," the boy said, bowing slightly with perfect noble grace. "I am Aurelius. Aurelius Vaelcrest. Heir to House Vaelcrest. You might have heard of my family's name in Asura. We hold the southern light domains."
Aurelius Vaelcrest?
The Vaelcrest family... even I know that name from the textbooks.
They are one of the most powerful and wealthy noble houses in the entire empire.
Knowing I couldn't escape this situation without causing a massive scene, I let out a defeated sigh.
"Fine," I muttered. "You can sit."
"Thank you, Lady Elfina," Aurelius said, pulling out a chair.
I took my seat next to Kaiser, while Aurelius sat directly across from us.
Aurelius looked at the boy sitting beside me, his sapphire eyes evaluating.
"And who might this be?" Aurelius asked, his voice polite.
"This is Kaiser." I said, leaning slightly closer to Kaiser. "He is my best friend."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Kaiser." Aurelius said, offering a polite nod.
"Yo." Kaiser muttered, not even looking up as he munched on his sandwich.
Aurelius blinked, a slight flicker of surprise crossing his face at Kaiser's casual, commoner response, but he quickly recovered his perfect smile.
"I should probably go get my order first." I said, starting to stand up. "The line is getting long."
"Do not worry about that," Aurelius said, gesturing for me to stay. "I've already arranged it. My allies will bring us a meal shortly. In the meantime, I would appreciate your time."
I slowly sat back down, feeling incredibly awkward.
"Why did you want to talk to me?" I asked, deciding to be direct.
"I was fascinated by your display on Valentine's Day," Aurelius said, leaning forward. "The blackout over the capital, followed by the star cascade... it was a spell of celestial magnitude. I heard from Rose that you were responsible."
"Oh... that," I said, my face warming. "It was just a small experiment with gravity and light refraction. I didn't think it would cause such a fuss."
"A small experiment?" Aurelius chuckled softly. "It halted the capital's electricity and mana-based lighting for miles. In Class A, we are taught to value efficiency and output above all else. But your magic had something else. It had beauty. Sincerity."
"Sincerity?" I repeated.
"Yes," Aurelius said, his sapphire eyes bright. "Most mages build spells for destruction or political leverage. But that cascade felt like a genuine gift to the city. I wanted to see the girl behind that magic."
"Well, it was a gift." I said, glancing at Kaiser, who was still chewing his sandwich, completely ignoring the conversation. "But it wasn't just me."
"Perhaps," Aurelius said. "But you were the creator. And that is why I am here. In the noble circles, everything is a transaction."
"A transaction?" I asked, tilting my head.
"Indeed," Aurelius explained, his tone turning slightly serious. "In our world, nobility is bound by contracts. Even as teenagers, marriages are arranged and fiances are decided. My own father has presented me with dozens of alliances from powerful houses."
"Really? At our age?" I asked, my nose wrinkling. "That sounds awful."
"It is," Aurelius agreed, his eyes narrowing slightly. "They are cold investments. The girls are taught to wear perfect attire, to act polite, and to seek status. But when I saw your display, and when I saw how you carry yourself... you don't wear a mask, Elfina."
"I don't?"
"No." Aurelius said, a warm, genuine smile returning to his face. "You are completely sincere. You do not care about southern light domains or family crests. You are just you. And that makes you the only girl in this academy who has ever caught my attention. I've rejected every noble alliance so far."
He is saying all of this so directly.
He's a prince from a legendary family, and he's looking at me like I'm some sort of rare find.
But... he doesn't even know me!
I'm just a commoner who likes sweets and clings to Kai.
And honestly, hearing a boy talk about marriages and alliances makes my skin crawl. It's too much.
"You don't even know me, Aurelius." I said, trying to find the right words. "We just met."
"I am aware," Aurelius said, his voice steady. "That is why I intend to spend our time here, graduating together, to know you. If you are truly worthy, I will pursue you."
I sat speechless, my mind completely blank.
If I am truly worthy...?
He is so confident, so noble... and so completely overwhelming.
Just then, 2 Class A students approached our table, carrying large, silver trays.
They set the trays down before us, revealing a meal that looked like it belonged in a royal palace.
There was glazed venison with a rich Moonberry reduction, golden-crusted royal pies filled with truffled forest mushrooms, and sweet honeyed pastries dusted with edible gold leaf and vanilla orchid cream. Chilled sparkling nectar was served in crystal goblets.
Kaiser stopped chewing his sandwich, his eyes widening slightly as he stared at the venison and gold pastries.
I was too shocked to speak.
"I wanted to pay for your time with this meal," Aurelius said, gesturing to the food. "Please, enjoy. And your friend Kaiser is welcome to partake as well."
"Thanks bro." Kaiser said, immediately reaching out and grabbing a royal mushroom pie, biting into it with zero hesitation.
"Thank you, Aurelius." I said, my voice quiet as I stared at the luxury before us.
Aurelius smiled, looking genuinely pleased.
I picked up a fork, my thoughts swirling.
He is definitely Class A material.
The confidence, the eloquence, the sheer presence... he has all of it.
I respect his honesty, even if it is completely overwhelming.
But as I looked at him, I couldn't help but look at Kaiser, who had gold-leaf pastry crumbs on his cheek.
Aurelius was like a blinding sun—bright, flawless, and distant. He represented a perfect sky that demanded you look up at it.
But Kaiser... Kaiser was like the earth. He was quiet, ordinary, and dark, but he was the only ground I had ever stood on.
The sun is beautiful, but I don't want to fly into it.
I just want to hold onto the earth.
"By the way, Lady Elfina," Aurelius said, breaking my thoughts. "Would you mind if I added you to my contacts? I would love to have a direct line of contact for the future."
I hesitated, glancing at Kaiser. He was too busy inspecting the texture of the mushroom pie to care.
"Um, I guess that's fine," I said, pulling out my phone. "My username is elfie_lunaris."
"Thank you," Aurelius said, his fingers gliding over his screen. "I've sent the request. Mine is Aurelius_Vaelcrest. I appreciate your grace."
"So," I said, trying to change the subject. "What do you nobles actually do in your free time? Besides setting up alliances, I mean."
"Poise is everything in our circles," Aurelius explained, leaning back. "Most noble ladies spend their afternoons practicing the light-harp or riding high-breed stallions to maintain their posture. Poise is everything in our circles. Tell me, do you not find doing nothing... unproductive?"
"Unproductive?" I blinked, genuinely confused. "Isn't resting the whole point of free time? If you're working during your free time, it's not free time."
I nudged Kaiser with my elbow.
"Kai, is doing nothing unproductive?"
"Photosynthesis is a full-time job, Elfie," Kaiser said, swallowing his bite of pie. "You're converting oxygen into carbon dioxide. That's heavy responsible work."
Aurelius stared at Kaiser, his perfect smile faltering for a fraction of a second.
"Responsible work...?"
"See?" I said, puffing my chest out. "I'm working very hard."
"I see," Aurelius said, recovery quick. "A unique perspective. And what about your studies? A Rank 0 must have a rigorous routine. What is your favorite branch of magic theory?"
"I don't really have one." I admitted. "I just... cast what feels right. Theory is too wordy."
"Fascinating..." Aurelius said. "In Class A, we memorize hundreds of formulas. If we make a single mistake, we have to accomidate it by training twice as hard. My trainers once locked me in a shadow-chamber for 3 days just because I misunderstood a magic circle."
"Locked in a chamber for 3 days?" I gasped. "That's child abuse!"
"In noble houses, it is called discipline," Aurelius said. "We are investments, as I said. If we fail, our house's status drops. It is a constant pressure."
"I'm glad I grew up in an orphanage then," I muttered. "At least we only got yelled at when we sneaked out."
"Orphanage?" Aurelius tilted his head. "You grew up in an orphanage?"
"Yeah." I said. "With Kaiser. It was small and drafty, but we had fun."
Before Aurelius could reply, a cold shadow fell over our table.
"It seems the Vaelcrest family's definition of 'discipline' is as outdated as their magic." a quiet, measured drawl echoed.
I looked up.
A slender, tall boy with midnight-blue hair styled in a sharp, asymmetrical bob stood there. Neat, rimless silver spectacles sat on his nose, and through them, his mismatched eyes—the left a calm violet, the right glowing with a faint cyan—looked down at us. He wore a serene, polite, yet unsettlingly perfect smile.
"Do you mind if I take a seat, Lady Elfina?" he asked.
"Oh. Sure, I guess..." I stammered, completely clueless about who he was.
He pulled out the remaining chair and sat down with quiet, academic elegance.
"Um, why did you sit here?" I asked.
"I merely wanted to ensure you do not become Vaelcrest's property so soon," he explained bluntly. "It would be a tragedy if you fell for the sunburn prince's superficial charms before evaluating the actual intellect in this academy."
"Xylar Vesperis." Aurelius said, his sapphire eyes turning sharp. "I should have known you would crawl out of your dark library the moment something of actual value appeared. I assure you, my charms are far less sunburned than your cold, lifeless void."
"Typical emotional retort." Xylar replied, his voice remaining level. "Very Vaelcrest."
Why do I regret letting him sit here?
They're all so weird...
Xylar turned his mismatched eyes to me, ignoring Aurelius completely.
"I have been studying the entrance exam questions..." Xylar said. "Specifically, your Celestial Magic paper. According to my research, the Level 1 Celestial Paradox is mathematically impossible to solve with the formulas we are taught, even with advanced Elvian sorcery. Yet, you scored a flawless 100. How did you create the recursive mana-loop?"
I broke into a cold sweat.
Oh no.
I can't tell him Kaiser did it!
"Um... I just... drew what felt right?" I lied, playing with my fingers. "You know, you just let the mana guide the flow..."
"Instinctual casting," Xylar murmured, his spectacles gleaming. "It defies all known laws of mana dynamics. To rely on feelings rather than calculations is inefficient, yet your output was S-rank. I must understand the anomaly."
"Must you analyze everything, Xylar?" Aurelius interrupted. "She is a person, not one of your dissected specimens."
"Analysis is the only path to truth, Aurelius," Xylar said. "Unlike you, I do not seek to possess her for status. I wish to understand her."
"Understand?" Aurelius scoffed. "Or isolate in one of your dark research labs?"
"A crude exaggeration," Xylar said. "My research is perfectly ethical."
"You guys are classmates in Class A, right?" I asked, looking between them. "But it sounds like there's... really bad blood between you."
"Bad blood? Oh, not at all, Lady Elfina," Aurelius said, his perfect smile returning. "We are simply representing our respective houses. The Vaelcrests hold the southern light domains, while the Vesperis clan controls the northern shadow spires."
"A diplomatic way of saying our families have been trying to assassinate each other's heirs for 3 generations," Xylar added calmly. "But of course, inside the academy, we maintain a polite facade."
"Indeed," Aurelius said. "We are civilized. By the way, Xylar, I heard your family's dark-hex crops failed again this winter. I feel sorry for you."
"A minor setback," Xylar replied. "At least we do not rely on solar mana that fluctuates with the weather. I heard your house had to buy fire-crystals from the dwarves just to keep the domains warm last month."
"It was a strategic trade agreement," Aurelius said, his eye twitching slightly. "We value dwarven relations. Unlike the Vesperis, who prefer to isolate themselves in mage towers."
"Isolation breeds clarity," Xylar said. "Socializing breeds... whatever it is you do."
"I build connections," Aurelius said. "It is how kingdoms are run."
"Kingdoms are run by power, not smiles," Xylar countered.
I sat there, watching them trade insults that could start a small war, all while maintaining their polite, smiling faces.
They are literally smiling.
This is terrifying.
Is this what they call noble etiquette?
I leaned toward Kaiser again.
"Kai, is this normal?"
"It's like dogs barking through a fence, Elfie," Kaiser said, reaching for a honey pastry. "Just with bigger words."
Xylar's violet eye narrowed as he looked at Kaiser.
"A crude but structurally accurate analogy." he murmured.
"I assure you, Kaiser, our conversation is much more refined than that." Aurelius said.
I looked around the cafeteria.
Dozens of girls were still staring at us, their eyes practically shooting daggers at me. The golden Sun Prince and the mysterious Dark Scholar—the two most popular boys in Class A—were sitting at my table, fighting for my attention.
Why me?!
I just wanted to eat cake and relax with Kai!
How did my peaceful academy life turn into this?!
Aurelius was a blinding sun, too bright and loud. Xylar was a freezing void, too cold and analytical.
Neither of them made sense to me.
I looked back at Kaiser, who had vanilla cream on his nose.
Yeah.
Earth is definitely the best.
The lunch finally ended, though I had no idea how I survived it.
Aurelius and Xylar spent the rest of the meal throwing polite insults at each other while I practically stuffed my face with pastries just to avoid talking.
The rest of the day was exhausting.
Classes went on, but I couldn't focus on a single word the instructors were saying.
Normally, I thought attention was a good thing. It meant people cared about you, right?
But I don't understand.
Why me?
Am I really that special?
I'm just Elfie. Just a girl who wanted to be near Kai...
Once classes were over, Leena and Rigel were packing their things in the classroom.
Leena looked over at me, the sling of her bag over her shoulder.
"Elfie, what are your plans for the afternoon?" Leena asked.
"Rigel and I are going to practice some melee combat in the clearing," I replied.
Leena pouted, crossing her arms.
"You two are always busy training lately. Can't we just hang out?"
"I have work at the tavern," Kaiser said, not even looking up as he zipped his bag.
Rigel gave a quiet shrug.
"We need to be ready, Leena. The next exam isn't going to be easy." Rigel said.
We walked out of the classroom together, heading toward the main gates.
But as soon as we stepped into the open air of the courtyard, our phones vibrated simultaneously.
Bzz.
A sharp, synchronized chime rang out from every student's pocket in the vicinity.
I pulled out my device.
A notification from an anonymous sender was pinned to the main academy feed.
It was a video file.
I tapped it.
A quiet, elegant voice began to speak. It was the soft, melodic tone of an elf, carrying a deep, heavy gravity that felt like a sermon.
"Beloved children of the Eternal Stars," the voice began, rich and steady. "We are the Chosen Vessels of the Celestial Light, crafted by the stars themselves to be perfect conduits of grace, beauty, and magic. It is simple logic. If you mix a cup of pure starlight water with mud, you do not clean the mud. You only dirty the water. This is what the academy is doing to us. They force us to share classrooms with soot-spawn demons and mortal clay, slowly draining our divinity to feed their own empty souls. The scriptures of the Lumin Codex warn us: 'Beware the shadow that walks beside thee, for though it smiles, it devours thy light.'"
The screen showed a photo of Scarlet Hearst walking next to Kaiser.
Then, a photo of Leena Grelynn sitting close to Rigel in the library.
"Look at what has already begun," the voice continued, dripping with manipulative sorrow. "Scarlet Hearst and Leena Grelynn—once graceful daughters of our blood—now crawl in the dirt with impure humans who are unworthy of our grace. Leena spends her time with Rigel, a commoner brute who cannot even use basic magic and relies purely on physical violence like a beast. And worst of all, both of them are companions with Kaiser. The magicless insect. A boy who is not just a commoner, but a literal void of mana. He is the anchor behind Class C's failures, the worst of the worst, yet our sisters walk with him. Their light is dimming. Their beauty fades. The stars are turning away. If we do not restore the Sacred Veil of Purity, we will all fall into the same shadow. Unite, pure bloods. Keep your distance from the corrupted. Elyndra Starveil, a concerned sister."
"To all pure elves of Asura Academy, we must cleanse our light. Keep your distance from the earth-bound humans, the chaotic beastkin, the barbaric demons, the metal-grimed dwarves, and the deceptive fairies. They are all shadows meant to drag us down. Avoid them, ignore them, and let us meet under the starlight, where only pure blood may speak. Join the Pure Star Covenant. We must wash away the stain of this academy and return to the grace of the Eternal Stars. Elyndra Starveil, a concerned sister."
I stood frozen, the phone heavy in my hand.
My chest tightened, a cold horror creeping up my spine.
This is...
This is horrible.
Around us, the courtyard went dead silent.
Dozens of students were staring at their screens, then slowly raising their eyes to look at Leena.
Leena was staring at her phone, her green hair falling forward, covering her face. I could see her hands shaking, her fingernails pressing so hard into the metal frame of her phone that they turned white. Her name... her name had been broadcast to the entire academy as a fallen, corrupted sister.
Scarlet, who was walking nearby on the path, stopped in her tracks. Her eyes were wide, a visible shock freezing her features.
"This isn't wrong," a cold voice broke the silence.
I turned.
Novenol Dexus stood a few feet away, his arms crossed, a mocking smirk on his lips. Beside him, Rinsha Giesto was nodding, her arms folded as she glared at Leena.
"It was a matter of time," Novenol said, his tone arrogant. "The Lumin Codex is clear about the Sacred Veil. We cannot mix our light with mortal shadow."
"Novenol, stop!" I yelled, my voice cracking. "This is wrong! It's just trying to turn us against each other!"
"I respect your concern, Representative," Novenol countered, stepping forward. "However, you're in no position to judge our traditions. You are not an elf. You do not understand the weight of Corruption. Leena's influence and impurity are a disgrace to our bloodline."
"That's enough! Shut up!" Rigel snapped, his voice laced with fury. "Leena is a victim of this! Stop spreading lies!"
The surrounding elves and classmates watched in surprise, whispers breaking out in the crowd.
"I'm fine..." Leena whispered, her voice barely audible. "I... I'm going back to the dorms."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and sprinted down the path, her head low.
"Leena!" Rigel called out, immediately chasing after her.
I watched them disappear, my heart heavy with a strange, dark dread.
Slowly, I turned back.
Kai was just staring down at his phone, his face completely unreadable.
I grabbed his arm as he turned to walk away.
"Kai, wait!" I said, my voice shaking slightly. "Why are you walking away so fast? Did you see that video?"
"I saw it." Kaiser said, stopping and looking back at me.
"It's horrible!" I said, my grip tightening on his sleeve. "Someone is targeting Leena and the Elves! Why would anyone do something so cruel?"
"Because it works, Elfie." Kaiser replied, his voice calm. "It was a calculated attack. They weaponized their own religion to target them."
"Weaponized their religion?" I blinked. "But why target them? Leena has done nothing wrong!"
"In their scriptures, walking with human commoners is the same as staining their light," Kaiser said. "The author of that video knows elven culture to a fault."
"It's horrible," I whispered. "We're classmates. Who would want to turn us against each other?"
"Go back to the dorms, Elfie," Kaiser said, gently pulling his arm away. "You're worked up. We'll talk more about this tonight when I get back."
"Fine," I muttered. "But you better not take this lightly."
I watched him walk away, his hands in his pockets, his posture as relaxed as ever.
How can he be so calm?
Someone is literally poison-feeding our class, trying to tear our friendships apart.
We are supposed to be learning together, but now... it feels like everything is breaking.
Two days passed.
It was now the 18th of February.
Classes continued as usual, and the academy administration did not take any action against the malicious campaign.
As the hours dragged on, that anonymous account continued to message all of us. No matter how many times we blocked the sender, a new account would immediately appear on our screens.
At first, some of the students took the posts as a bad joke. But as time went on, a cold distance began to grow.
The elves in the academy slowly stopped talking to other races. They sat only with their own kind, avoiding the beastkin, the demons, the humans, the dwarves, and the fairies. It was a silent, creeping separation that infected every class.
Leena had become gloomier and sadder with each passing day. The elven students looked at her with even more disdain and hatred, whispering words like "corrupted" and "veilless" whenever she walked past. Even Scarlet, whom I didn't have a warm bond with, was facing the same cold shoulders from her own kind.
On the afternoon of the 18th of February, during the lunch break, a fight broke out.
I was returning to the classroom when I heard a commotion in the main hallway.
Milo Sterling had Novenol Dexus grabbed by the collar.
Novenol stood completely still, his passive gravity skating keeping his posture perfectly straight. His jade-green eyes looked down at Milo with a cold, aristocratic calm. Milo's green eyes were wild with anger, his grip on the noble's collar tightening.
"Hey!" Milo barked, his face red. "You think you can just bump into me and walk away without saying a word, you silver-haired freak?"
"I did not run into you, roach." Novenol replied, his voice quiet and dripping with condescension. "You simply failed to move your bulky frame out of my path. Why should I apologize to a brute?"
"You think you're better than us because of your pointy ears?" Milo growled, raising a fist. "I'll beat that smug look right off your face!"
A large crowd had quickly gathered in the hallway.
The elves in the crowd stood together, their faces cold, their mana faintly swirling. The humans and other classes gathered behind Milo, muttering angrily.
"Physical violence," Novenol murmured, not even glancing at Milo's raised fist. "How typically crude. You humans truly are closer to beasts, relying on muscles because your minds are too shallow to grasp the elegance of mana."
"At least my 'muscles' can break your bones, you arrogant coward!" Milo shouted. "Draw your magic and fight me!"
"I decline." Novenol said. "I do not engage in mud-wrestling with commoners. It would stain my uniform."
I pushed through the crowd, my heart racing.
"Stop it, both of you!" I yelled, stepping between them. "We are in the middle of the hallway! Milo, let go of him right now!"
Novenol looked at me, bowing his head slightly.
"If the Representative requests it, I shall comply." Novenol said, his voice smooth. "I have no desire to waste my energy on this creature anyway."
Milo released his grip, shoving Novenol back slightly, but then he turned his glare toward me.
"Why do you always defend these guys, Elfina?" Milo spat. "He just insulted our entire race, and you're letting him walk? And you, Dexus—why do you listen to her? She's a human too!"
"She is the Class Representative." Novenol answered calmly, adjusting his collar.
"So what?" Milo mocked.
"She possesses the strength of a Rank 0, a feat even high-born elves must respect." Novenol continued, his eyes narrowing. "She does not hide behind excuses; she proved her worth in the dungeon exam. Unlike you, she commands respect through capability, not wild barking. To respect a leader of power is elven culture. To respect a rabid dog like you is impossible."
The crowd whispered in surprise at Novenol's blunt words.
The fight eventually broke, and we returned to our classes, but the atmosphere was getting worse and worse.
The anonymous campaign was working.
The fear of "Corruption" was too deeply rooted in elven culture to be ignored.
By targeting visible figures like Leena and Scarlet, the writer had made every ordinary elf self-conscious about their own purity.
The constant daily messages created a wall between the races that grew taller with every post.
Even the academy's silence on the matter made the rumors feel like an unacknowledged truth.
That night, I went to Kai's room.
He was sitting at his desk, studying some complex engineering diagrams on his screen.
I opened the door and walked in without knocking.
"You know, this is my room, Elfie." Kaiser joked, not looking up. "You should at least try to knock."
"I don't want to." I said, closing the door behind me and locking it. "Kai... can I sleep here tonight?"
"I'm going to be up late studying these engineering guides," Kaiser said. "You'll just get bored."
I walked over and sat down next to him on the edge of the bed.
"I don't care about the guides," I said quietly. "I just don't want to be alone with my thoughts."
"Still thinking about the fight between Milo and Novenol?" Kaiser asked.
"Yes," I sighed, hugging my knees. "Why is everything falling apart so quickly? It's only been 2 days..."
"The person behind this knows how elven psychology works," Kaiser explained, turning his chair to face me. "They used cult-like tactics to exploit their fear of losing their starlight, and the fight today is just the natural result."
"I hate this..." I said, burying my face in my knees. "I hate seeing them look at Leena like she's a disease. What can I even do to stop it?"
"Nothing," Kaiser said bluntly. "You cannot change a tradition or a culture by yourself."
"Can't you help me fix this?" I asked, looking up at him. "You always know what to do."
"No." Kaiser replied. "If a magicless human like me tries to intervene, they will only hate us more and use it as proof."
"Leena is getting gloomier every day," I murmured, my voice cracking. "I tried to cheer her up by leaving some cheerful drawings on her desk, and I even tried to sit next to her in class, but she just hid her face and ran away."
"Because she doesn't want you to get dragged down with her," Kaiser said, his tone softening slightly.
"But she's our friend!" I said, my eyes stingy. "Do you really not care about our classmates at all? You're taking this so lightly!"
"I do care, Elfie," Kaiser said. "But I am realistic about what can be solved with words."
"It doesn't feel like you care," I sniffled. "You're always so detached."
"You've changed since we came to this academy." Kaiser noted, reaching out to pat my head.
"What do you mean?"
"Before, your entire world was just keeping me safe," Kaiser said, his eyes quiet. "Now, you look at all of your classmates and feel like you have to protect them."
"Because they rely on me," I confessed, leaning into his hand. "They chose me as their Representative. When Leena looks at me with those sad, hopeless eyes, I feel like I'm failing them."
"You're taking on too much weight, Elfie." Kaiser said gently. "A leader who bleeds for everyone doesn't last long."
"Maybe..." I murmured, my eyes feeling heavier. "But I'd rather bleed than watch my friends suffer alone."
"I know." Kaiser whispered.
"Then promise me you'll think of something... please, Kai..."
My eyelids felt so heavy.
The warmth of his room, the steady rhythm of his voice... it was all too comforting.
I wanted to help Leena... I wanted to stop this... I wanted our class to go back to normal...
And I wanted to stay next to you forever...
I drifted off, my head resting on his lap as he gently stroked my hair.
Kaiser looked down at my sleeping face, the faint light of his screen illuminating the room. He gently touched my cheek, a cold, sharp smile playing on his lips.
"Sleep well, my princess." Kaiser whispered, his voice quiet and chilling.
"If their tradition demand separation... I'll just have to drag the stars down from the sky and manufacture the light myself..."
"Which will end their superiority."