Chapter 15

  The Next Day

  Princess Nora Ophilis’s Bedchamber

  “And then His Majesty said to me, mocking tone ‘Oh, please, Freya, don’t be ridiculous. I didn’t know I’d run into that religious lunatic at the banquet.’ No! I know they planned to ditch me and run off together!”

  “You shouldn’t say that, Miss Freya.”

  “Little miss… one day, when that hag drags you to a cross, you’ll remember me.”

  “Okay…”

  Nora nodded vaguely, confused, as Zeedee popped a grape in her mouth.

  “By the way, what’s up with Mr. Fury? He seems… different.”

  Nora was referring to the figure in the corner of her bedchamber, hunched over her study desk, lost in his own world, not talking to anyone… just like Nora.

  “What happened? Did you two fight yesterday?”

  “Ever since he met that girl at Building 3, he’s been obsessed with that damn book.”

  Zeedee shrugged, shaking her head.

  “Don’t know if he slept last night. I was stuck at the lab; he went home alone.”

  “Really?”

  Nora rose from the tea table and approached Prince Fury.

  “Mr. Fury, ten minutes until afternoon class. We should get going.”

  “It’s already almost time for afternoon class?”

  “You’ve been rereading that book nonstop. Keep this up, and two weeks will pass without you noticing.”

  The prince’s face showed a childlike reluctance to leave, like a kid Nora had to drag away.

  He closed the book and tucked it into his bag.

  “Humans are looking back to find their origins.”

  He ran his hand across the desk’s surface.

  “If we use the same method… why can’t we Diablos do it too? If this theory holds, we Diablos evolved from something too. Something older than your family’s lineage. Something gone longer than we can imagine. You’re searching for your ‘them.’ I’ll search for my ‘them.’”

  “That’s the concept of this book, right?”

  “Maybe you and I share an ancestor.”

  “If you say that, I believe you, Mr. Fury… someone as kind as you.”

  Nora touched her left palm, reminding Fury of the tattoo on his hand—a secret he’d let slip to her.

  “You haven’t seen my ruthless side. Don’t flatter me.”

  The young man slipped on his black gloves.

  “You don’t really know me.”

  Sound of a notebook opening.

  “Studying through mana flow patterns…”

  “Ah?! My notebook!”

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  Nora set it down, smirking at him.

  “You’ve taken a lot of notes, Mr. Fury.”

  “I’ve got some ideas.”

  “What ideas?”

  “Not telling.”

  Knock knock.

  Nora turned to the door, interrupted.

  Zeedee lowered her legs from the tea table.

  “Come in.”

  At Nora’s command, a maid entered, glancing briefly at Dan and Zeedee before delivering news.

  “Your Highness, the schedule from the palace has arrived.”

  She handed Nora a long letter.

  “I suggest Your Highness read it in private.”

  Dan and Zeedee’s presence made the maid wary—understandable, given state secrets.

  The maid bowed and left.

  (Door closes.)

  Rustle.

  “This… it’s the schedule.”

  Nora looked at Dan first.

  “Mr. Fury! It seems Snowhaven and Diablo have agreed on a meeting date!”

  “Really?”

  Dan slid closer to the princess.

  Freya joined in.

  Important Meeting: 7th of the Lower Fire Month

  Five Kingdoms Assembly Hall, Allianzport

  We will welcome the Diablo delegation here.

  On that day, all government offices will halt operations, the port will close for maximum security, and Artheris Academy will suspend classes for the entire week of the summit.

  This was the biggest diplomatic event in ten years, since the peace treaty signing, and the Diablo delegation would attend.

  “The Five Kingdoms Assembly Hall, huh?”

  Fury had glimpsed it at the banquet, deep in Allianzport’s heart.

  Freya: “This works out. We don’t have to travel—they’ll come to us, Your Majesty.”

  “The summit’s next week… Mr. Fury.”

  “News probably spread already, right?”

  “Most likely.”

  Classroom, Magic Class, Professor McClaff

  “Ten years ago, the peace treaty was signed in Mathema, but now it’s moved to the port city… Guess they don’t want us snooping on their secrets.”

  “What do you mean, Mr. Fury?”

  Nora’s mana flow faltered, distracted by Dan.

  “You’re overthinking, aren’t you?”

  “Still green, Nora.”

  Dan, twirling a fireball in his hand, said,

  “Every diplomatic move can be read. It’s all messaging. Even the date can be interpreted.”

  “Really?”

  “Even your clothes send a message. Diplomacy’s delicate, Nora. It’s all about calculated poise.”

  He continued,

  “Holding it in the port city means it’s the shortest route for Diablo to travel. Notice—they didn’t let us set foot in Luminus, even though it’s between Diablo and Artheris.”

  “Like… calling a meeting but keeping you Diablos at their doorstep.”

  “Quick learner, Nora. Exactly.”

  He snapped his fingers.

  “Bet they wanted Snowhaven, but they fought hard and settled on this neutral ground. No one wants demons stepping on their soil. They’re all scared of me.”

  “True… If only they knew you better.”

  “Forget it. I made peace with it after your ice spear.”

  “Mr. Fury, don’t! Don’t bring that up… Are you still sulking?”

  << “Hey! What’s that chatter over there?” >>

  Nora and Dan snapped back to their magic, flustered.

  “Remember this, students… Keep an eye on your buddy. Watch and learn from them, got it?”

  Professor McClaff’s voice carried over. Nora turned to Dan.

  “Watch and learn from your buddy, got it, Mr. Fury?”

  “Just watch.”

  (Sfx: Ice.)

  Ice sprouted from Dan’s glove. Nora’s eyes widened.

  “That’s level 3 ice magic!”

  “Surprised? I’ve been practicing.”

  “You did it, Mr. Fury!”

  “Watch and learn, got it?”

  “Wow.”

  “Heh, easy.”

  “You must be up to level 4-5-6 by now, Mr. Fury!”

  “My blood’s lizard, not Cryomancer. Can’t climb that high.”

  “There you go sulking again. You’re really hung up on the lizard thing.”

  “Think what you want!”

  “You’re being funny again, Mr. Fury.”

  “Where?”

  As class neared its end, Professor McClaff dismissed them.

  “This week’s assignment is special.”

  He grabbed chalk and wrote three problems on the board.

  “Since we’re off all next week, solve these three problems. Fair warning: I made them extra tough.”

  After reading, the class paled.

  “And one more thing. TA, please.”

  “Thank you, Professor~”

  TA Claire Palmer stepped up.

  “Since this week’s problems are especially hard, you’re allowed to form groups of three for this assignment!”

  The method for forming these trios? Random draw.

  A jar of names was set out. The TA waved her hand, and the names swirled in a magical current, spiraling like water down a drain for transparency. Finally—

  Pop!

  The papers shot out, forming a circle before halting, then splitting into sets of three for each student trio.

  “The draw’s done. Names will be displayed now.”

  The trio names appeared all at once.

  Dan scanned for his group and found…

  Dan

  Nora

  “Hell yeah! We’re still together!”

  The prince let out a quiet cheer. Nora smiled politely, secretly thrilled.

  “Nora, we’re inseparable. Dream team, for real—random draw and all!”

  “It’s a tough assignment, but with you, Mr. Fury, I’m at ease.”

  He high-fived the princess and turned back.

  “Let’s see who’s the third—”

  Rafinya.

  “What?”

  Dan shook his head, rubbing his eyes.

  Rafinya.

  “Nora, read it for me. My eyes must be failing. You might see through high-level magic better.”

  “No, Mr. Fury… I see the same thing.”

  Both gaped, slowly turning to the rows below, where Rafinya stared back up at them.

  Group 7: Nora, Dan, Rafinya.

  “Damn… I’m screwed…”

  Zeedee’s words flashed in his mind.

  Your Majesty, you’ve always had rotten luck. Can you handle this?

  “Mr. Fury…”

  “Damn it… Why her of all people?”

  Why?! There were so many others! Why?!