The wind stopped.
The world returned to a deathly silence.
Bell slumped on the cracked, scorched earth, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath. The relief of surviving and an even deeper fear intertwined wildly in his heart.
Had he won?
No, it was the man behind him who had won.
Leovite turned around, looking down at him with sharp eyes that betrayed no emotion.
“So, can you give me a proper explanation now?”
Bell opened his mouth, but his throat was so dry it ached, and he couldn't squeeze out a single word. What could he explain? That his sister was a monster from another world with a perverted, obsessive possessiveness?
Who would believe that?
He simply stared with hollow eyes at the spot where Cecilia had vanished and asked a single, neurotic question.
“Is she... dead?”
“I don't think so.” Leovite shrugged, sliding his hands back into his robe pockets and returning to his usual lazy demeanor. “She just used some kind of space magic to escape. That brat is even more slippery than I imagined.”
“I see...”
Bell’s body went limp, the last of his strength draining away as he fell backward.
The expected impact with the scorching ground never came.
Leovite caught him.
Bell’s body stiffened for a moment, but he didn't resist.
On the other side, Lilian struggled to her feet. The horrific cavity in her chest, where the holy light had pierced through, was already mostly healed. Though her face remained pale, she could move without much trouble. She walked to Bell’s side and knelt on one knee, keeping her head low and remaining silent.
She had lost.
She had failed her master’s command.
Leovite glanced at the silent vampire girl, then at the nearly exhausted boy in his arms, and let out a click of his tongue.
“You really know how to cause trouble for your teacher.”
He didn't press further, instead taking off his instructor's robe and draping it directly over Bell. The oversized robe was just enough to completely cover his battered body.
“Let’s go. This is no place to linger,” Leovite said, half-carrying and half-supporting Bell without giving him a choice.
Lilian immediately stood up and silently followed behind them.
The three of them left the completely devastated hillside.
Leovite didn't speak again during the journey.
Bell’s mind was a complete blank. Supported by Leovite, he moved his legs mechanically.
It wasn't until they returned to the familiar tree-lined path of the academy that Leovite finally spoke.
“How do you plan to handle what happened today?”
Bell’s footsteps faltered.
Handle it?
Cecilia was the daughter of Duke Lucas, the most brilliant genius in the kingdom’s history, and the hope for the future. And he was just an older brother with mediocre talent.
If today’s events were exposed, no one would believe him. Everyone would only think that he, a jealous brother, had conspired with outsiders to maliciously slander and attack his young sister.
The wrath of House Lucas and the public opinion of the entire kingdom would crush him into powder in an instant.
“This matter...” Bell’s voice was weak and hoarse. “It cannot be spoken of.”
“Oh?” Leovite seemed to have expected this answer. “That might be a bit difficult. After all, it doesn't seem like your sister intends to let you go.”
“I will find a way.”
“With just you?” Leovite sneered. “Or with this little vampire maid you just bought, who can't even beat me?”
Lilian’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Bell fell silent.
It was true. On his own, he had absolutely no chance of winning. His only reliance was the man standing before him.
Bell stopped walking. He pulled away from Leovite’s support, turned around, and faced him.
“Professor Leovite.” He took a deep breath, and then, to this man he had only met a few times, he gave a solemn, deep bow. “Please, help me.”
Leovite watched him.
“Help you? What’s in it for me?” Leovite asked lazily.
“I...” Bell was momentarily at a loss for words. All he could offer was money or future favors from House Lucas. But to this unfathomable man, those things likely held no attraction.
“I don't know,” Bell finally answered honestly. “But as long as you are willing to help me, everything I can give you in the future, I will give.”
Leovite smiled.
“Fine.” He agreed with surprising readiness, as if he were simply deciding what to have for dinner. “I’ve found that brat annoying for a long time anyway. Using holy magic and shadow magic so fluently is practically an insult to the purity of the elements.”
Bell was stunned.
Was it really that simple?
“However, I have one condition.” Leovite held up a finger.
“Please, say it.”
“From now on, you are mine.” Leovite’s words carried a natural, overbearing authority. “Your training, your classes, all your actions—you must listen to me.”
He paused for a moment before adding.
“And that includes your little maid, of course.”
His gaze shifted to Lilian, his sharp eyes seeming to pierce through her soul.
Lilian lowered her head and said nothing.
Bell didn't hesitate for a second.
“Alright.”
“Then it’s settled.” Leovite nodded with satisfaction. “As for today, we’ll act as if nothing happened. I’ll clean up all the traces. Just remember, you simply ran into a blind bandit while you were out, and I happened to save you.”
It was a clumsy excuse.
But it was the only explanation for now.
Bell nodded.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you back to the dorms.” Leovite supported him again and walked toward the Terra House dormitory building.
The night was deep.
The academy was silent.
Leovite brought Bell to the dormitory entrance and tossed him the badge engraved with the character for Victor.
“Take this. Your little maid will be able to come and go freely from now on.”
“Thank you, Professor.”
Leovite waved his hand and turned to leave.
“Professor!” Bell suddenly called out to him.
“Something else?”
Bell looked at Leovite’s back and asked a question that had been buried deep in his heart for a long time.
“Why... why did you notice me?”
Leovite stopped in his tracks.
He didn't look back, only turning his head slightly as the amber streetlights cast flickering shadows across his face.
“Because, on the day of the opening ceremony...”
“The way you and your sister looked at me... your expressions were exactly the same.”
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