Lyra didn't even understand what happened. One minute she was rushing out of the library, trying to catch up with Echo and Hunter, and the next she had bumped into someone so hard she fell to the ground.
Her books scattered everywhere.
She blinked fast, her heart already racing. Before she could stand, she felt the temperature around her drop, like someone had opened a door to the underworld.
When she looked up…
Prince Kael was staring down at her.
Those cold, dark eyes.
They didn't look angry.
They didn't look annoyed.
They just looked… empty.
Like he was staring at something useless.
Everyone around them froze in fear.
Lyra quickly lowered her gaze.
"S–sorry," she whispered.
She tried to gather her books, but before she could touch them, Kael suddenly bent down a little. Not to help her… but to get closer. His shadow covered her completely.
Her breath stopped.
His hand came up slowly, and he touched her chin with one finger. Just one. He lifted her face gently, but the touch wasn't soft at all — it was cold, controlled, like she was being inspected.
Lyra swallowed hard, shocked.
She didn't even breathe.
People around them looked like statues.
Kael never touched anyone.
His eyes scanned her face like he was searching for something.
Her heartbeat became too loud she thought he could hear it.
Then he spoke quietly, but his voice held something sharp.
"Don't ever stand in my way again."
That was all.
He dropped his hand and straightened up like she was nothing important. He walked past her without even looking back, his cloak brushing the floor, his aura still cold.
Everyone started breathing again.
Lyra stayed frozen on the ground for a few seconds, her body shaking lightly. She quickly picked up her books and stood up, her heart beating so fast it made her dizzy.
She didn't know Kael had stopped a few steps away.
He wasn't looking back, but his jaw clenched slightly.
Her scent…
It was too pure… too warm…
Something his wolf side reacted to in a strange way.
He growled under his breath, annoyed with himself.
"I need to stay away from her," he muttered and walked off.
Lyra didn't hear any of that. She just held her books tightly and tried to calm her breathing, wondering why her whole body felt strange.
Sirena shot Lyra one last deadly stare before running after Kael, her long dress brushing the floor dramatically as she disappeared down the hallway. Lyra stood frozen, still feeling the coldness from Kael's eyes like it was carved into her skin. People around her slowly recovered from their shock and started whispering again.
Echo and Hunter appeared out of nowhere, rushing straight to her like she was a lost child.
"Lyra!, are you okay?" Echo grabbed her hand tightly. "You don't know how scared I was."
Lyra blinked, still confused. "Why… why are you scared?"
Echo placed a hand on her chest dramatically. "I can't believe you right now. Haven't you heard about Prince Kael before? Everyone knows him. The last person that bumped into him Kael sucked his blood dry in front of everyone. He didn't even blink. He is dangerous."
Lyra's eyes widened a little. "I… I didn't know."
Hunter stared at her like she had said something impossible. "Where exactly did you come from? How can you not know Prince Kael? Do you even know the other four?"
Lyra shook her head slowly, embarrassed.
Echo frowned at her softly. "It's okay, you're new… but gods, try not to die on your first day."
Lyra looked down shyly. "But I think… I think I have heard Prince Kael's name before. And… I think I will be cleaning his room."
Both Echo and Hunter stopped walking and turned to stare at her with wide, horrified eyes.
Echo gasped. "Why are you so unlucky?"
Hunter placed a hand on his forehead dramatically. "Poor girl. I hope you survive this."
Lyra didn't even know what to say, her heart already beating nervously.
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Meanwhile, Kael stood in front of the ancient door where the broken pieces of the heavenly pearl were kept. Thick shields of magic wrapped around the door like glowing chains, crackling with old power. He raised a hand and checked the shield, his expression unreadable.
Footsteps echoed behind him.
Sirena appeared, her face twisted with jealousy and bitterness.
"Why did you let her go?" she demanded, folding her arms. "She intentionally ran into you because she wanted your attention."
Kael didn't even look at her. He pressed his palm against the shield, checking its strength.
"The shield is still intact," he said calmly. "That means they haven't come in here."
Sirena clenched her jaw. She hated being ignored.
"Should I get rid of her?" she asked coldly. "She's just a lowly fairy anyway."
Again, he said nothing. He just continued inspecting the ancient markings before lowering his hand and turning away. His cloak moved like a shadow behind him as he walked off.
Sirena's nails dug into her palm. She hated the way he always dismissed her like she was nothing. She wanted his attention, but he never looked at her unless he needed something.
She started to run after him again, determined not to lose his presence, but someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.
She rolled her eyes instantly. "What now, Xavier?"
Xavier leaned against the wall, his eyes amused and cold at the same time. "Come to my room," he said lazily. "We can drink. Or spar. You know, something interesting."
Sirena gave him a slow, cold smile. "I am not interested."
He smirked. "You always say that."
Her eyes glowed golden, shifting like wildfire. She stepped closer to him. "You will leave me… and go to your room… and have a good sleep."
Her voice was soft, hypnotic.
Instantly, Xavier's expression changed. His eyes became unfocused, his face blank.
"Yes…" he muttered like he was in a trance. He bowed slightly and walked away obediently without another word.
Sirena smirked darkly. "Good boy," she whispered before turning and heading the same direction Kael went, her anger still simmering.
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Lyra was going to her room after class, dragging her feet slowly on the pathway. She was really tired. Today the fairies were taught how to bring out their wings and put it back in, and it was so embarrassing because everyone did it so easily, like they have been doing it since they were born. But she… she couldn't even make the smallest glow appear. The instructor had stared at her with wide eyes like he saw something unbelievable.
"It is the easiest thing for every fairy," he had said, but she still couldn't do it.
Lyra sigh as she walked, hugging her books to her chest. Her head was hurting from trying so hard. She just wished she could go home and sleep or maybe talk to her mum. She really missed her mum. Everything here was so new and strange.
Then she suddenly sighted a figure walking ahead. The long Silver hair and cold posture looked familiar. Lyra blinked and then smiled brightly. She started running toward the figure and tapped the person's back lightly.
The girl slowly turned, her icy purple eyes landing on Lyra with a cold, blank glare that could freeze someone. Lyra didn't even mind it.
"Remember me?" Lyra asked excitedly. "You're the one who told me how to enter the school on my first day. You're also the first person I talked to… aside my mum."
The girl just stared at her, no emotions on her face at all. Her expression didn't even twitch.
Lyra smiled more. "We could be friends, right? I think I like you. You're cute too."
She lifted her hand to touch her cheek playfully, but before her fingers could land, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist from behind.
Hunter.
He quickly pulled her hand down and bowed respectfully to the girl.
"She is new here," Hunter said quickly. "I apologize for her behavior."
The girl stared at him for a few seconds, her eyes sharp and unreadable. Then a slow smirk stretched on her lips.
"Maybe you should watch over her," she said coldly. "Not everyone will just stare."
And with that, she turned and walked away gracefully like the whole world belonged to her. Lyra watched her go, blinking, not understanding why Hunter was panicking.
"How can you talk to her like that?" Hunter asked, almost whisper-shouting. "You even wanted to touch her face!"
"What is wrong with that?" Lyra asked innocently, her eyebrow arching slightly.
Hunter ran his hand through his hair. "She is Juniper, Lyra. One of the highest ranks in this school. You can't just approach her like that. She could have… she could have hurt you or something."
Lyra didn't see anything wrong. "She is so pretty," she said with a big smile.
Hunter just shook his head because he didn't even know how to explain the dangers to her. Then he started walking away.
"Wait!" Lyra shouted and quickly ran after him.
Behind them, a pair of golden eyes watched.
Sirena.
She had been walking from the opposite direction and stopped immediately when she saw Lyra laughing lightly as she followed Hunter. Her jaw clenched, her nails digging into her palm. The hatred that burned in her chest was sharp and hot.
She remembered the way Prince Kael had touched Lyra's cheek the other day, the way he stared at her face, the way he didn't scold her.
Sirena's eyes darkened.
Just the thought of Lyra being near Kael again made her want to slice the girl's pretty face into pieces.
She whispered under her breath, "I should've ended her the first day…"
But she forced herself to walk away.
For now.
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The wind on the highest castle tower was cold, blowing Kael's dark hair backward as he stood there, arms folded, eyes fixed on the huge school ground below. From up there, he could see everything, the training field, the waterfalls, the garden paths, the forest line where the shadows looked a little too dark today.
He didn't blink. Didn't move. Just watched.
Damon stood beside him, resting his elbows on the stone railing, kicking his legs lightly like he had no single worry in the world. He was smiling as usual, bright and carefree.
"You know," Damon started, his voice playful, "we are supposed to be looking out for demons, but you're acting like someone dragged you here."
Kael didn't respond. His cold eyes kept scanning the students walking around below.
Damon sighed loudly. "Brother, seriously. You're so boring. We don't even hang out like normal siblings."
Still no reply.
Damon pouted cutely, leaning closer. "At least say something. You will not die if you talk, Kael."
The cold prince just continued staring at the field, not even a flicker of emotion crossing his face. Damon rolled his eyes dramatically.
"I swear sometimes I wonder if you are really my brother," Damon muttered. Then he laughed softly to himself. "We are complete opposite. I talk, you don't talk. I smile, you don't smile. I like fun, you like staring into nothing…"
Kael's jaw tightened slightly, but he still didn't answer. Damon smirked. That was already a reaction from him.
The sun was starting to set slowly, and a strange red shade began to fill the horizon. Damon looked up at it and sighed quietly.
"It's the red moon tonight," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "What are you going to do if your wolf side starts acting out again?"
Kael's face didn't change. But his fingers twitched slightly.
"You know how you get," Damon continued. "Last time… you almost burned the whole training field. And nobody slept. Everyone locked themselves inside because they know how dangerous you are that night."
Kael finally blinked once.
"I will tame myself," he muttered in a low deep voice.
Damon stared at him. "You always say that."
Kael didn't respond again, his cold gaze returning to the students below. His eyes shifted slightly toward the direction of the fairy dorm side… he didn't even know why. His wolf growled quietly inside him but he ignored it.
Damon exhaled sharply and stretched. "Well, I hope so. Because Master Gael is already panicking since morning."
Before Kael could say anything, a familiar figure appeared below, walking gracefully like she owned the whole place.
Juniper.
Damon's eyes lit up immediately. "Oh! There she is." He smiled proudly. "My favorite cold princess."
Without thinking twice, Damon climbed onto the edge of the tall castle, waved at Kael like nothing was wrong, and jumped down.
Just like that.
Kael didn't even look surprised. Damon always did things like that. From below, Damon landed lightly and already started walking toward Juniper with a big grin.
Kael remained alone on the tower, the wind blowing harder around him.