5:00pm. Jace drove to the nearest mall, and the four of them made it without Aubrey making a fuss.
They wandered around, searching for comfortable clothes to wear and equipment to use as they hopped from one store to another.
Eventually, the girls found a suit that was both comfortable and won't restrain their movements during combat. The clothes they purchased were from a high-end designer and a top-quality brand. Though the cost was exorbitant, the twins treated it as casually as buying candy from a store.
After purchasing their outfits, they moved on to finding accessories and equipment. This time, Hayden specifically handpicked the equipment: a hand knife for Grace, and an elegant pendant for Aubrey.
It was well thought as Grace mentioned her blessing prioritizes healing, which is why a knife for close combat could be a game changer when she's engaged by a rampaging demon.On the other hand, Aubrey already had a weapon that could reach from short to mid-range, so an extra weapon would be unnecessary.
Instead, Hayden chose a necklace with a pendant featuring a gorgeous stone that shares the color of the clear blue sky. This was no ordinary necklace; the pendant was imbued with magic. When the stone shattered, it would envelop the wearer in an indestructible safety bubble. Designed to withstand a single heavy blow from an opponent, the pendant's magic could only be used once. However, once activated, the bubble would last for five minutes, with only S-rank power capable of breaking it.
With the twins' shopping bag strapped around their bodyguards shoulder, they segued to a 5-star restaurant to grab a quick dinner before heading home. Once their plate was empty, Grace decided it was time to put her secret plan into action. She placed her utensils down with a decisive clink, signaling the start of what she had been carefully plotting.
"Say Hayden," she said, twirling her hair and pressing her knees together. "May I hire you as my bodyguard tonight?"
Bewildered, the three looked at her in disbelief. Grace was acting timid which contradicts her natural gentle demeanor, it's as if the meal she had eaten was ingrained with aphrodisiac.
Trying not to seem weird with her rather flirty approach, she justified her purpose and added, "I wanted to try a motel that opened recently. It's just right around the corner and they say the place has a sauna."
"Negative," Hayden responded.
"We have a sauna at home," Aubrey said, skeptical of Grace's sudden change of behavior.
"Nevermind," Grace threw her plan out the window. The disappointment in her face was about to spill out, but she got a grip of herself and fixed her composure, reverting back to her false nature that always wears a radiant smile. "I just thought of trying it, but it's fine, I can go alone."
"Negative," Jace responded firmly. "If you're going, I highly recommend taking me as your chauffeur. If that doesn't suit you, consider bringing Lady Aubrey along for company."
"Yea," Aubrey agreed. "I can tag along if you want."
"Negative," Grace replied jokingly followed by a soft giggle escaping her lips. "Besides, I'm just going to check their sauna out—I won't take long." She got up from her seat and hooked the shopping bag on her shoulder. "You can go home ahead of me, I'll catch a taxi when I'm ready to leave."
"Going by yourself would be dangerous, at least allow me to accompany you," Jace said, refusing to let her go.
"You are always so sweet and caring, Jace." She went on Jace's side and pressed her palm on his shoulder, gently caressing it to reassure him. "But c'mon, I'm a DH now. I'll give you a heads up once I finish."
Reluctantly, Jace allowed her to go as she proved a valid point. The ladies he once had to babysit had now grown capable of defending themselves. Aubrey is a different case, of course. Jace let Grace go by herself because he trusts her that she won't be in trouble, unlike Aubrey, who had a penchant for unpredictable antics.
"See you later," Aubrey said, slightly cocking her head as she kindly beamed at her sister. "Be safe."
"Yep, later then!" Grace returned the smile before walking out the restaurant, and outside the mall to head straight towards the motel she mentioned.
She walked along a quiet side road, where vehicles rarely passed. The path ahead of her was dimly lit, with streetlights spaced far apart, leaving patches of darkness between each pole. Amidst the darkness, the ambiance mirrored Grace's macabre countenance.
As she continued her walk, Grace noticed a lone figure leaning against the vending machine, casually sipping on an energy drink. The sight of him standing there, seemingly lost in thought, made her pause. Grace's accidental encounter with this guy felt oddly convenient.
Everyone that met Grace perceives her as an innocent and lovely princess straight out of a fairy tale. She carries herself with a gentle smile, and the way she moves is as graceful as her name. She's affable, warm-hearted, and speaks modestly. However, behind her angelic mien, lies a masochistic soul.
"Follow me," she commanded, her glare piercing through the guy as her iris turned blood red—an eye that bends a person's action on her will.
Unconsciously, the guy's drink slipped from his grip. The can tumbled down, clinking as it rolled across the ground with the liquid spilling out the rim.
The guy lost the color in his eyes. His cognition went blank and body left his control. His entire consciousness surrendered to the angel before him.
Grace led him to the motel, and booked a room. Without wasting a single second, she dragged him straight to bed, letting all her thirst out.
He was a subject—a toy for pleasure, as Grace relished the night in ecstacy, picturing a different face for the naked man beneath her.
After sufficing her temporary itch, she left the room alone, leaving the man wrung out of life.
~~~~~~~~~~
The day of the rank assessment soon came.
Under Hayden's supervision, the entire population of Class 1A gathered at the center of the loop of the academy's track field. Despite the scorching sun burning their skins, they stood steadfastly with their groupmates, all geared up for the assessment. Hayden and Pou stood at the forefront with Victor, the commanding officer, and several A-rank DH from the Twilight Guild and eleven fourth-year students.
Across the open expanse of the field, a formation of 11 helicopters gleamed under the sunlight, their metallic blades catching and reflecting the bright rays. They stood poised and ready, serving as the students' mode of transportation to their designated gates.
"Victor is here…!" a student thrillingly chirped to their group mate.
"Yea, dude, the powerhouse guild is observing us! I can't wait to show off," the other student silently exclaimed back.
As excitement brewed among the students for the assessment to commence, an unexpected delay emerged, prompting Victor and the instructors to discuss on how to address the issue.
"Supposedly, 11 DH from our guild is to come, me excluded," Victor said. "Unfortunately, two of them didn't make it due to an accident."
"That's a bummer," Pou replied, carrying his black cat like a baby in his arms. "I know! Hayden and I could replace their spots."
Hayden thought about it. The instructors were supposed to stay at the campus and have class with 1B, but it occurred to him that he could escape that duty.
"I concur," Hayden remarked.
Victor fixed his glasses, lifting it further up on the bridge of his nose. "No. I'll take responsibility for my squad's shortcomings," he replied, showing his reliable and calm demeanor as a commander. "Hence, I will fill the missing spot myself. I only need one of you to replace the last place."
"I volunteer!" Pou, always willing to help, raised his hand without a second thought. But Hayden instantly pulled him away and privately discussed something with him.
"Listen Cat," Hayden furiously whispered. "If you go, I'd be left in this hell teaching kids," he explained as if he would die if he stayed in the academy. "But if I go, it means you won't be able to teach because I'm the one who's supposed to be teaching, you know?"
"But I'm the students' guardian angel, I wanna go too!" Pou pleaded.
"Let's think rationally, Cat."
"Fine," Pou pouted, seeming mad with Hayden, but with his altruistic nature, it took only a second to forgive him. "Alrighty then, but if you're going, don't forget to take my cat with you."
After Pou agreed, Hayden took the black cat from his arms, so Pou wouldn't change his mind.
Later, Hayden was assigned to observe Klyne's group, while Victor deliberately took charge to personally assess Aubrey's group. They all boarded the helicopters with their respective teams, heading towards their assigned gates.