On the day Nora was still tied up with her own mission,
Prince Fury had an important task of his own — one that required his absence.
It was a group project to turn in to Professor McClaff, together with Rafinya St. Pauli.
He swept the hair out of his face in front of the restroom mirror, pressing a handkerchief to the back of his neck to dab away the sweat from running. Dan straightened his collar, left the public restroom, and walked through the academy gates straight toward Sheffield Library.
The library doors slid open—
He froze in surprise.
The place was jam-packed, students crammed into every corner, each frantically working on their own assignments. Every year level, without exception.
Apparently, the faculty had unanimously decided to pile on the assignments for this so-called “special holiday week.”
After weaving his way through the crowd, he finally had to head up to the fourth floor before he found her.
At the farthest corner of the library sat the short-haired girl, back straight, pen in hand—Rafinya St. Pauli.
She was lit by the soft yellow glow of the library lights, which contrasted with the crisp white of her Luminus training jacket. Some claimed she was even more beautiful than Nora. But, well, beauty was in the eye of the beholder.
The moment he stepped into her orbit, she knew he was there.
Those hard eyes flicked upward to meet his. Dan gave a polite nod and quietly sat down opposite her before pulling out his part of the work and starting to write. Today, at least, he felt no particular hostility radiating from her.
“What did you train?”
The bluntness caught him off guard. He’d barely been sitting for two minutes when she asked.
“Sorry?”
“Do I have to repeat myself?”
Rafinya wasn’t one to repeat things—unless the person asking was Dan.
“I asked, what did you train? What was that thing?”
The image still lingered in her mind. Maybe her memory had exaggerated it, but she could still see it: hundreds of fangs from his mouth crushing her blade to pieces. What the hell was it?
“Let’s just work,” he said.
Bang!
The desk shook from her fist. Students at nearby tables turned to look.
“I’ve never pressed anyone this much before. Don’t push your luck.”
“It doesn’t matter. I came here to work. That’s it. End of story.”
“Then where’ve you been? Why are you only showing up now?”
“I’m here now, aren’t I?” Dan tapped the paper. “And I’ve done my work. Here, take it.”
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
“And why should I?”
Rafinya went quiet for a moment. She didn’t change her expression, but it was obvious she was choosing her words.
“You’re in the sights of the great Pauli family now. Keep that in mind.”
…
Dan thought about it. Right—he’d heard someone from the Pauli family had been watching that day. That someone was—
“My father.”
She leaned forward, fists still planted on his paper.
“And you’re going to tell me right now whether it was magic or a fighting technique. Because if it’s the latter—and I’m sure it is—we’ll both be forced into an engagement.”
Snap!
The pencil broke against the paper.
Dan Burn looked up.
“Huh?”
The Saint Pauli family was one of the old, powerful noble houses of Luminus. Beyond wealth, influence, and prestige, they had one thing that surpassed all others: for generations, they had consistently produced heirs of exceptional strength.
If you carried the “Pauli” name, you endured a brutal training regimen on par with what Nora had faced in Snowhaven.
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Siblings fought fiercely for the right to lead the family, a cycle repeated to produce stronger and stronger heirs.
The Saint Paulis valued honor above all, pushing every child’s potential to its limits. Over the centuries, their methods had forged a unique status-enhancing magic, exclusive to Pauli knights.
Rafinya—youngest of three siblings—was the most ambitious heir. A prodigy so gifted it seemed heaven itself had sent her down. Her skill was beyond question.
But there was one… complication. Upon reaching adulthood, if she met someone stronger than herself, the Pauli leader would do whatever it took to bring that person into the family—and have them produce even stronger heirs through “engagement.”
“What kind of twisted natural selection is that supposed to be?”
“Watch your tongue. This tradition has been upheld for centuries. It’s what keeps us at the top, earning the King’s favor and the Pope’s blessing.”
“What you saw was magic I got from Velmount, plain and simple.”
“You think we’re stupid enough to see red magic and just assume it’s Velmount?”
“What do you even want from me?”
“It’s not me—it’s my father. Get the picture? They want you engaged to me. That’s what the family wants.”
…
Timing from hell—she said it just as the library went silent. Even the librarian on the sixth floor dropped a book.
“No.”
“I’m dragging you there on my father’s orders.”
“That’s your business, not mine. What right do you have to drag me anywhere?”
Dan dropped his assignment and stood to leave, but her grip was like a mooring rope on a ship, yanking him back down.
“Then tell me what your technique is. Where did you learn it?”
“Two hundred thousand credits, and I’ll tell you.”
“Being noticed by the Pauli family is the highest honor a commoner like you could dream of. Do you get that?”
“You’re the one who doesn’t get it. Casca sponsors me. Why should I care about you?”
That actually shut her up.
“Let me go. This is pointless. You’ll regret it yourself. What, you just follow orders without thinking?”
“My father’s orders are absolute. I don’t care.”
She really was a machine.
“Then tell them to take it up with Casca. Doing this is a direct insult. You think she’ll stand for it?”
“Casca’s just your sponsor. She doesn’t control your whole life.”
True—if only they knew she kind of did.
Dan pried at her arm.
“What are you doing?”
“Let go.”
Her grip tightened.
“Let go, and I’ll tell you the secret.”
…
She slowly loosened her fingers. Dan straightened his sleeve.
“The truth is… my technique comes fro—”
Fwoosh!
He bolted.
“You Zentinel bastard!!!”
Dan vaulted from the third-floor balcony onto a thesis table on the second floor, rolled down the main stairs, and sent a group of students tumbling in his wake.
Rafinya followed with terrifying speed. One glance away and she was right on him.
He burst out of the library doors, running flat-out.
A glimpse in the window reflection made his stomach drop—he’d have to push harder to outrun a super-soldier like Rafinya.
“Running away again? Won’t answer and you run? Cowardly selfish bastard!!!”
“You’re the selfish one!”
<< Aaaah! What is that?! >>
<< Move! >>
Wham!
An unlucky student went flying from the wind of Rafinya’s passing.
“Just like at the harbor! Ran then, too! I’ll break your legs!!!”
“Oh hell no.”
Dan slipped through the crowd, and his brain settled on one hiding spot—the lab building Freya used.
He darted behind a column, holding his breath, silent as possible.
Rafinya slowed out front, scanning.
Dan covered his mouth and nose, eyes on her shadow as she passed.
“I know you’re here somewhere.”
She walked past the pillar. Dan glanced after her—
“If you’re not an athlete, don’t think you can outrun me… enough games. I’m serious now.”
He was about to make a break for it, but she U-turned back, forcing him to flatten himself again.
“Even if you won’t come, my father will. Just refuse him straight to his face and be done with it. It’s not like I want to be engaged to some nobody.”
She moved off again.
“Nora’s not here to protect you. Lately I’ve seen her going into Anfield a lot—it’s gotta be about you. Only she knows your secret, huh? What do I have to do to get to you the way she can?”
“Uh… excuse me, do you need something?”
!?
Both Rafinya and Dan turned. A TA had stepped out of the lab building, book in hand, ready for a break from work.
Black-edged hair, glasses—Thomasin from the Department of Natural Sciences, paleontology division.
She spotted Dan behind the pillar, and he made a throat-cutting gesture and shook his head.
Rafinya stepped closer but was still behind the pillar.
“Seen a Zentinel pass through here?” she asked curtly.
“…A Zentinel?”
“Dan Burn. Seen him?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“…Really?”
She moved closer. Thomasin froze. Just two more steps and her line of sight would pass the pillar.
“Not at all?”
“No.”
“Do you even know who Dan Burn is?”
Thomasin’s eyes went wide—so did Dan’s.
If she knew Freya, she could’ve claimed she knew him through her, since he often came to pick her up. But caught off guard like that, only someone as quick-witted as Rafinya would catch on.
“Not good to lie like that, senpai.”
Suddenly, golden light flared from Rafinya.
She wasn’t about to fight—she used the magic’s glow to reflect in Thomasin’s glasses, revealing the edge of Dan’s shoe in the lens.
“Not subtle at all!!!”
Her arm swept around the pillar, clamping onto Dan’s neck in a chokehold.
“Ghhhk!?!?!”
“Knew you’d be behind one of these.”
“Hey! What are you doing?! Stop!”
“Stay out of this!”
“Ugh!”
Thomasin was shoved aside—she couldn’t match Rafinya’s strength. Dan was dragged away, her grip on his throat unyielding.
“Stop!!!”
Thomasin’s voice faded as Rafinya hauled him to the lawn and tossed him down.
“Enough pretending—show me! Your power! I don’t care anymore, just settle this right now!!!”
Dan clutched his throat, staring up at her.
Her pride had reached its breaking point. She had to see it again—his power. To understand it and close the gap. The red-velvet aura swirled like a storm.
Her hand went to her side, recalling the fractures in her ribs from their fight. They’d healed, but the pain had left its mark.
She’d never been hit so hard in her life. Never been sent flying into the ring edge like that. Hundreds of sparring partners, and not one had done it. A nick to the face was one thing—but breaking two ribs? She had to know what he was.
Images of her brother Rodrigo flashed—victory after victory, once intoxicating, now dull. Her mouth said she accepted it, but her heart didn’t.
She was unraveling.
“Show me!!! Fight me again!!! Come on!!!”
“There, professor—that’s the one causing trouble.”
!!!!
A boy’s voice behind them. Faculty from every department, alerted to the disturbance, were moving in.
“Rafinya! What on earth are you doing?! Drop your weapon now!”
!
She turned, eyes wide. The fire in her gaze was doused instantly.
“You’ve violated student discipline again!”
“…Urgh.”
Slowly, she lowered her blade. Thomasin rushed to help Dan up.
“Dan, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
He glanced back—
The one who’d saved him was none other than his new bodyguard, replacing the old one: one of the Four Demon Generals… ROMA.
“That’s her, professors. Go ahead.”
“Let me go!!! Hey!!! I have to fight him!!! I have to prove to my father I’m worthy!!! Let me go!!!”
Rafinya’s shouts echoed as security dragged her away.
Roma stepped up calmly, glancing at the other two.
“Damn… these kids… they’re all insane.”
“These kids?”
“I mean… spoiled-brat types,” he said.
“Ah.”
It was obvious Thomasin wasn’t buying it, but she nodded politely anyway.
