"Henny? It's really you!"
"What are you doing here?"
Erica was pleasantly surprised. She hadn't expected to run into someone she knew while wandering behind the academy's back mountain.
However, she was also a bit curious about what Henny was doing here, on this deserted mountaintop.
When Henny saw Erica, the cold aura around her instantly faded by more than half. Her eyes dodged slightly, and her voice came out hesitant and stammering.
"N-nothing… I just came here for a walk, that's all."
Erica didn't know that Henny had been expelled, and Henny didn't plan to tell her either, she didn't want to make Erica worry.
Still, Erica's sudden appearance surprised her. She asked curiously, "What about you? Why are you here?"
"Why haven't you been coming to the academy lately?"
At Henny's question, Erica puffed up her cheeks angrily and explained, "Father must've gone crazy or something. When he came back, he locked me up for days!"
"And yesterday, he went even further, out of nowhere, he decided to hire me several private tutors!"
In truth, Duke Levi had also warned Erica to stay away from Viktor. It was only because of that warning that Erica learned Viktor had returned.
By royal decree, both Viktor and Henny had been declared innocent.
But that was something she couldn't tell Henny.
Feeling irritated, Erica kicked a small rock near her foot. The pebble rolled down the cliff, tumbling noisily against the stone face.
"I just couldn't take it anymore today. While Father's not home, I snuck out. I wanted to come see if Professor Viktor was back at the academy."
She had planned to sneak into the school from the back mountain, but instead, she ran into Henny.
When Henny heard Viktor's name, her heart trembled slightly.
She recalled what that Professor Devon had said, "Professor Viktor most likely died in the volcano."
Henny thought of that but didn't tell Erica. It seemed Erica still didn't know, and Henny intended to keep it that way.
Watching Erica breathe in the fresh mountaintop air, Henny spoke calmly, "Professor Viktor hasn't returned yet. These past few days, I've been helping to fill in for his classes."
Hearing that, Erica's expression dimmed a little.
She'd really wanted to ask Viktor what exactly had happened that day at the volcano.
But after sneaking out with such effort, Viktor wasn't even at work.
She could only accept reality helplessly. "All right then, I'll head back first."
"If Father finds out I sneaked out again, he'll definitely lock me up at home and not let me leave."
Henny opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but Erica hesitated for a moment, then added, "I'll come back again tomorrow. If Professor Viktor returns, please let me know."
Henny nodded lightly in agreement.
She watched Erica smile brightly, her eyes full of hope, then quickly turn and leave.
'How nice… she…' Henny's gaze was filled with envy.
She envied Erica.
She had a noble family background, astonishing talent, and flawless beauty.
She could live carefree, full of hope for the future.
But herself?
She spent every day in fear and anxiety, living through hopeless days.
Maybe that professor had been right after all.
'Trash… only fit to stay in the garbage heap.'
In a daze, she looked again toward the direction Erica had left, but that dazzling figure was nowhere to be seen.
Henny shook her head and let out a bitter laugh at her own misery.
'Tomorrow, huh.'
'Fine.'
Then she wouldn't have to expect anything more from the future.
Everything, her life included, would come to an end tomorrow.
"Let's continue."
———
A burst of scorching flames suddenly erupted beneath Professor Devon's feet. The intense burning sensation shot up through his soles, searing him awake.
Professor Devon felt his whole body covered in searing pain.
"Ahhh!"
He woke up instantly, screaming in agony from the pain.
Then, he became aware, his body was tied up, dangling unsteadily from the ceiling.
As the flames subsided, his vision cleared.
The first thing he saw was Viktor, sitting calmly in a chair, wearing a cold, indifferent expression.
Immediately, fear filled Devon's eyes.
"Viktor! What are you trying to do?!"
"You'd kill me over an assistant? Are you insane?!"
"Do you really want to make enemies with the Lesser family?!"
Sitting in the chair, Viktor looked at him coldly and asked lightly, "Have we not already been enemies?"
Devon froze, stammering, "N-no… not before. Believe me, Viktor, there's no hatred between us."
"Then why, knowing Henny was mine, did you do what you did?"
Devon's eyes widened. "You… you already know?"
"No! Believe me, Viktor, at first I just didn't like you! I never meant to take it out on that… that Hen-whatever…"
BOOM!
A fireball, fierce as a charging tiger, shot straight at him, slamming into the wall behind him.
Devon trembled all over in fright, hurriedly shouting, "Henny! I remember! It's Henny! That girl, yes!"
"I was jealous! I was jealous that a mere assistant could teach Class One! Do you know? After you left, many professors were envious of that class. The instructor who leads Class One gets great pay and prestige!"
Viktor stared at him emotionlessly. "All because of jealousy?"
"How disgusting."
"Yes! Yes, disgusting! I'm disgusting, I know, I know! Please, Viktor, let me go! There's no hatred between us!"
Devon looked utterly pathetic, like a fat pig struggling in a slaughterhouse, so ridiculous it could almost make someone laugh.
He kept babbling frantically, as if making promises, "I'll apologize! I'll apologize to that girl!"
"I'll compensate her too! I can even grant her a noble title! A young baroness, how about that? Our Lesser family has that kind of power!"
"Believe me, Viktor, if you let me go, there's no irreconcilable hatred between us… right?"
A hopeful expression spread across Devon's ugly face.
Viktor's cold voice cut through the air, "What was the first thing you said?"
Devon froze, trembling as he tried to recall, "'You're killing me over an assistant, are you crazy?'"
Viktor nodded approvingly. "Good memory. And the second thing?"
"'Do you really want to make enemies with the Lesser family?'"
Devon wasn't stupid, he suddenly realized what was about to happen.
At that moment, he completely abandoned his dignity and begged desperately, "No! Viktor! That was just me speaking without thinking!"
Viktor stood up, his long coat shimmering faintly with a dangerous red glow.
"You don't like me because you know me."
"And since you know me, you should always remember what kind of man Viktor Clavenna is."
Devon's whole body trembled uncontrollably. He was terrified now.
'Madman. Viktor, he is a complete madman!'
"Viktor! Don't, don't!"
BOOM!
A scream like a pig being slaughtered burst from Devon's mouth, mingling with the sound of cracking bones.
He felt every limb shatter, the pain unbearable.
He remained conscious only because Viktor had layered magical restraints over his mind, ensuring he could feel everything, but never faint.
"You said we hadn't made enemies before," Viktor said quietly.
"That's fine."
Then, Viktor smiled, a bright, almost dazzling smile.
He leaned close to Devon's ear, voice soft as a devil's whisper. "Now, we're enemies."
"Kill me! Viktor! Just kill me!"
Devon's voice was raw with pain. He wanted to die, anything would be better than this agony and humiliation.
But now, even death was beyond his reach.
"Someone else might take your life," Viktor said, pulling out a white handkerchief and wiping his hands firmly. Though he hadn't even touched Devon, his hands still felt filthy.
After wiping them clean, he tossed the handkerchief onto Devon's face, covering that mucus-streaked, tear-stained mess.
He released the restraints. Devon immediately fell unconscious.
Silence filled the room once more.
Viktor narrowed his eyes and walked out of the mage's tower.
With a teleportation spell, he appeared outside the academy. Looking up at the darkening sky, he took a deep breath.
The magical elements around him seemed slightly disturbed.
Just then, Vega's voice echoed in Viktor's ear.
"There's a hidden magic array beneath the academy. Someone put it there on purpose."
"Maybe the demons' doing."
Viktor wasn't surprised at all, so Vega didn't continue.
It knew Viktor would handle everything. The bird simply opened its beak again and asked another question.
"If that girl really has had her consciousness corrupted by a demon, what will you do?"
Viktor thought for two seconds, then answered, "Henny's a very capable assistant. With her handling things for me, I feel at ease."
"She's a fragile little ghost, but she doesn't deserve to keep living pitifully."
Vega ruffled its feathers on Viktor's shoulder. "I like the way you put that."
———
Night fell swiftly, like a curtain being drawn. Countless tiny, glittering gems climbed across the dark sky.
By the time Erica returned to the manor gates, the house was already brightly lit inside.
Her heart skipped a beat. Could her dear old father already be home?
"Don't be scared, don't be scared. If I act cute enough, Father will definitely forgive me."
Erica took a deep breath and was just about to step into the courtyard, when suddenly, the main doors opened.
Her father, Duke Levi, was walking out with a beautiful woman with purple hair. He was smiling politely, his manner refined.
"Uh???"
Erica froze.
Her dad was already sixty, where had this strange woman come from?
Was he planning to… have a second spring?
Erica puffed up her cheeks in protest. She absolutely couldn't allow that.
She did not want to suddenly end up with a stepmother out of nowhere.
Just as she was about to rush forward, she overheard their conversation.
"I hope Duke Levi will keep an eye out for those 'filthy things.'"
"I understand the gravity of this matter, Miss Kefra. I'll use every resource I have to investigate."
Erica froze on the spot. Wait, this… wasn't quite what she thought it was?
But her sudden appearance had already drawn their attention.
Duke Levi glanced at her, raised an eyebrow, and introduced with a strained smile, "Miss Kefra, this is my youngest daughter, Erica. You must be meeting her for the first time."
Kefra looked at Erica, her beautiful brows lifting slightly as her eyes narrowed into a seductive smile.
"Yes, it's our first meeting, but…"
The corners of her lips curled up. The next instant, she was already standing right in front of Erica.
Her movement was so fast that Erica couldn't even catch a blur.
"Pretty girl," Kefra said softly, "can you tell me, where exactly did you go today?"
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