Arvin strolled out casually past the debris of the door he had just destroyed. The cold night air hit his face. He looked up and was surprised to see the moon already high in the sky.
"Is it this late? No wonder I'm hungry," he muttered. "This must be because I was too absorbed in learning magic and robbing graves earlier."
Without caring about academy property damage, Arvin walked quickly along the quiet academy corridor, heading toward the boys' dormitory located not far from the main building.
However, misfortune seemed to be in love with Arvin tonight.
Arriving in front of the towering dormitory gate, he found the iron gate was also closed tight and padlocked with a magic chain.
"Ha?" Arvin stared at the gate in disbelief. A vein in his temple began to twitch. "Not only the library door, but even the dorm gate is locked? Is this academy a prison?"
His patience ran out. Drowsiness and the ache in his waist shortened his emotional fuse drastically.
"Open or be destroyed?" he growled.
He didn't wait for an answer. The mana in his body exploded out.
BOOM!
A massive explosion shook the dormitory area. A fireball mixed with wind slammed into the iron gate until it was blown off its hinges and landed with a loud thud in the middle of the dorm courtyard.
The silence of the night shattered instantly. Dorm room lights turned on one by one. Shocked screams were heard from various directions.
Dozens of students ran out of the dormitory building, some still wearing pajamas, some carrying magic wands thinking there was an enemy attack. They gathered in the courtyard, staring in horror at the gate that was now twisted scrap metal.
And there, amidst the billowing smoke, stood Arvin Vedegra. His uniform was dirty with soil, his hair was messy, and his face radiated a thick murderous aura.
"W-What??? Arvin?" muttered one of the students with a trembling voice.
Arvin stared at the crowd of students blocking his way with a savage gaze. He was tired, he was hungry, and he wanted a shower.
"Bastards! The library locked, the gate locked, and now there are so many ants blocking my way!" Arvin growled, his voice low but clearly heard by everyone. "Get out of my way before I blow up this dormitory too!"
The threat didn't sound like a joke. The students, knowing how crazy Arvin's power was (especially after seeing the destroyed iron gate), immediately parted like the gate was opened. They stepped back in fear, opening a wide path for the 'Demon King'.
Arvin walked through the crowd with long strides. The students whispered in horror seeing his condition.
"Look at his uniform... full of dirt. Did he just fight an earth monster?"
"Or did he just bury the corpse of his new victim?"
As Arvin walked, his eyes accidentally caught a figure standing in the front row of the crowd.
Allen.
The pink-haired protagonist stared at him with wide eyes, a mix of worry and confusion.
Arvin's heart fluttered seeing Allen. He felt like greeting him, 'Hi Allen, I just found some strong medicine for you.'
But not now. Not with an appearance like a zombie and this killer aura. Arvin had to keep his distance so Allen wouldn't be suspicious. He had to remain the 'cold' Arvin.
So, with the remnants of his acting energy, Arvin returned Allen's gaze with a sharp, arrogant glare. He scoffed loudly, then turned his face away and walked past Allen as if the young man was worthless.
Allen flinched. His body stiffened upon receiving that sharp gaze. Cold. Piercing.
Arvin continued walking into the dormitory building, leaving Allen and the other students still frozen in confusion.
Silence slowly returned to the dormitory after Arvin disappeared behind his room door. The students began to disperse while whispering, still shocked by the recent event.
However, Allen was still standing there, staring at the door where Arvin had vanished. The night wind hit his face, but he didn't feel cold. Instead, it was his heart that felt frozen.
What is wrong with him? Allen thought, his hand squeezing the hem of his pajamas. Is his brain damaged? This morning he healed me, then in the afternoon he ignored me, and now... he looked at me as if I were trash.
Allen turned around, walking wearily back to his room. His mind was a mess. He thought Arvin was very angry with him for some reason he didn't know.
What is my mistake? Is it because of the incident in class this morning? Or because I stared at him too long in the corridor? Why was his gaze as if he wanted to kill me?
Those questions spun in his head like a broken record. Allen entered his simple room, closed the door, and immediately threw himself onto the bed.
He stared at the dark ceiling. The image of Arvin's dirty but still handsome face, and that terrifying sharp gaze, continued to haunt him.
"Why does he always look at me like that? Does he hate me that much?" Allen whispered to the emptiness of his room.
The sound of the gate explosion still rang in his ears. Arvin's power was truly terrifying. If that hatred was directed at him... what could Allen do? He was just a weak scholarship student.
On his bed, Allen felt restless. He turned his body to the left, trying to find a comfortable position. He couldn't. He turned to the right. Still couldn't. His bed sheets became wrinkled due to his restlessness.
That night, anxiety gripped his chest. He worried that something bad would happen to him the next day. Would Arvin bully him again? was the kindness this morning just a trap?
Until morning came and sunlight began to peek from behind the curtains, Allen still couldn't close his eyes. Dark circles began to form on his cute face. He was constantly haunted by that sharp gaze, harboring thousands of unanswered questions.
Oh my, I can't sleep at all, Allen complained while covering his face with a pillow. I'm always thinking about him. I also have a bad feeling about today.
He sat up, his pink hair messy.
Should I just not go to class? he thought desperately. If I'm sick, I don't need to meet Arvin.
However, he shook his head strongly.
No, I can't! I'm here on a scholarship. I can't skip class just because of this silly thought! I have to be strong. For my late parents.
With heavy steps, Allen dragged his feet toward the bathroom, preparing to face a day he believed would be hell, unaware that the 'demon' he feared was actually busy planning how to give him the most beautiful gift.