Through all those weeks, Naro never forgot to return to his castle. Though much of his time was spent scheming and feeding the vampires their livestock, the castle still remained his silent refuge. And within it, the purple-eyed fairy awaited.
She had grown noticeably better since Naro's arrival. The once withered glow of her wings had returned, faintly shimmering in soft light, and her fragile body carried less weakness than before. Whenever she saw him enter, her expression lit with excitement, as if his presence alone was a charm.
Yet there were moments that puzzled her. Naro had begun bringing countless animals back to the castle, instructing her to slaughter them each night until a pool of blood remained ready outside the gates. Though confusion clouded her purple eyes at such an order, she did not refuse him. Quietly, she obeyed, never daring to question the reason.
This time, however, the air was different. Naro knew it. The break was ending. His academy life was waiting, and the moment to bid farewell had arrived.
The fairy sat by the balcony window, legs dangling, wings faintly stirring the dust particles in the light. She turned when she heard his footsteps echo in the hall.
"You're leaving soon, aren't you?" her voice was soft, almost resigned.
Naro stopped in the doorway, offering her his usual calm expression—the one that concealed more than it revealed.
"Yes. The academy won't wait forever," he said, stepping closer. "I've lingered here longer than I should."
Her gaze fell to the floor. "You've done so much for me, Naro. The silence here wasn't so empty anymore. I… I'll miss that."
Naro chuckled gently, moving to stand beside her. "You'll be fine. You're stronger now. Haven't you noticed? The glow in your wings has returned. You're not the same fragile little fairy I found caged up by loneliness."
Her purple eyes shimmered with something that looked like hope, but beneath it, sorrow lingered. "But will you come back?" she asked, her voice trembling just slightly.
For a brief moment, Naro let the silence stretch. He looked out across the gray forest beyond the balcony, ravens perched and waiting, the wind carrying their cries. Then he placed a hand on her shoulder, his tone perfectly measured.
"Of course I will. You'll see me again. Trust me."
She smiled faintly at that, though a tear formed at the corner of her eye. She tried to hide it, brushing it away quickly, pretending it was nothing.
"Then I'll wait," she whispered.
Naro gave her one last nod before turning. The ravens flew away the moment he stepped outside, black wings beating as if waiting for his departure. The fairy watched him from the balcony, her small figure silhouetted against the morning light, fragile and uncertain.
As Naro descended the castle steps, he did not look back. His thoughts had already shifted to the road ahead, to the kingdom, to the schemes that never left his mind.
On his way back to the Radiant Kingdom, he made a careful stop at a shaded grove. The forest floor there was dotted with pale, fungi—it was sedative shrooms. With a practiced hand, he plucked the most potent among them, tucking them neatly into a pouch. Tools for later use.
The road stretched onward, the kingdom drawing near. Behind him. Back at the castle, the fairy's lonely eyes remained, and in front, opportunity awaited.
After a long way's travel, Naro finally stood at the golden gates of the Radiant Kingdom. The guards eyed him briefly, but when he produced his academic badge, they waved him through. The gates parted, revealing radiant streets lined with white stone buildings, arching towers, and lanterns of polished glass. The kingdom gleamed with order and beauty, so different from the blood-soaked forest paths Naro had left behind.
The academy's opening ceremony was still two days away. For most students, this break had been filled with laughter, reunions with family, and warm days with friends. But for Naro, it had been a season of bloodshed, of manipulation, and of lies so carefully wrapped in kindness that even the damned believed them.
Now, with time left before classes began, Naro decided to spend these two days with Elara and Markus. Trust was a currency more precious than gold, and he intended to strengthen it.
He found them near the kingdom's bustling market square, where colorful banners fluttered and the smell of baked bread drifted through the air. Markus, always the competitive one, greeted him with a clap on the back. Elara, glowing with her usual warmth, smiled like she had been waiting for him.
"Naro! You're finally back!" Elara said. "How was your visit?" Her words followed.
Naro answered with the perfect mask of honesty. "Busy" he said with a seemingly annoyed expression. "My aunt had me buried under house chores. Cooking, cleaning, even tending to her garden. I must have told her a hundred stories about you two. She insisted on knowing who I spent my time with at the academy."
Elara laughed, cheeks warming. Markus raised a brow, chuckling. "I bet you exaggerated all our victories."
"Only a little-" Naro replied smoothly, the lie rolling off his tongue as naturally as breath. In truth, he had spent those weeks tearing families apart and leading them to slaughter, but no one would ever guess.
The next two days passed in the comfort of fabricated normalcy. Together, they wandered the kingdom's radiant streets.
They spent an afternoon at the training fields where Markus challenged Naro and Elara to sparring matches. Naro held back just enough to let Markus boast and Elara laugh, hiding his true strength beneath his playful laugh.
later on.. At the market, Elara dragged them to stalls selling sugared fruits and shimmering trinkets. Naro pretended to be indecisive, letting her choose for him, and praised her choice so she felt valued. Then they visited the great fountain plaza at night, where lanterns floated on the water and children chased each other through the spray. Elara leaned against the railing, eyes wide at the glowing lights, and Naro stood beside her, smiling faintly, carefully placing himself as the silent protector. Markus, never content with peace, suggested games of chance with dice and cards in a crowded tavern. Naro played along, deliberately losing a few rounds, letting them laugh at his "bad luck-" while in truth, every move was calculated to weave their trust tighter.
Through it all, Naro played the role flawlessly: the dutiful nephew, the loyal friend, the honest companion. He listened intently when Elara spoke about her aspirations. He let Markus rant about wanting to prove himself stronger than Lloyd. He nodded, laughed, encouraged, and never once let the shadows of his true nature bleed through.
But beneath the surface, as he watched their smiles, a quiet, cold thought coiled in his mind: If they knew the truth, if they saw what I had done with my time away… would they still look at me like this? Would they still call me friend?
He buried the thought quickly, letting their laughter fill the silence. The mask had to hold.
And when the two days came to an end, the three of them walked together toward the academy gates, their bond seemingly stronger than ever. None of them noticed how tightly Naro's hand lingered in his pocket, brushing against the pouch where he kept the sedative shroom.
For them, it was friendship. For Naro, it was preparation.
…
The academy was brighter than ever under the morning sun. Golden banners swayed from the towers, and the air hummed with the voices of hundreds of new students flooding in for the entrance exams. The courtyard bustled with excitement, nervous laughter, and whispered dreams of glory.
Naro walked calmly with Elara and Markus at his side, his academic badge pinned neatly to his uniform. He kept his expression mild, blending into the atmosphere of hope and eagerness around them, though his eyes, cold and calculating, scanned every corner of the campus.
Ahead, a familiar group stood out from the crowd — Lloyd and his friends, a small cluster of trainees already radiating confidence.
"Lloyd!" Elara called, waving brightly as she hurried over.
Lloyd's stern face softened as he saw her, though his eyes immediately darted past her to lock on Naro. His gaze was sharp, filled with determination that almost felt like a challenge thrown into the air.
"Elara!" Lloyd greeted, his voice steady. "Good to see you again."
"You too" she replied warmly, falling into quick chatter with his group about their break, outings, and training routines.
Markus gave Naro a side glance, smiling. "He's staring at you like he's about to drag you into the sparring ring right here in the courtyard."
Naro's expression was cold, his calm mask never faltering. "Let him stare. If he wants to test himself, the contests will be soon enough."
Eventually, Lloyd broke away from Elara's chatter, stepping closer to Naro. "I don't know what you've been doing over the break," Lloyd said quietly, voice low enough that only Naro and Markus heard, "but I'll surpass you this year. That's a promise."
Naro tilted his head slightly, his tone smooth, almost disarming. "Then I look forward to seeing how much stronger you've become. Let's both make this year interesting."
Something in Lloyd's expression shifted — still determined, but edged with respect. After a moment, he nodded and turned back to his group.
By evening, students were settling into their dorms, the academy's lively energy settling into a quieter rhythm. The halls glowed with crystal lamps, laughter muffled behind closed doors as friends reunited and newcomers bonded.
But when the campus finally sank into silence, and the moon cast its pale light over the towers, Naro stirred. He slipped from his dorm, steps soundless, cloak trailing like a shadow behind him. His eyes roamed over the vast grounds, searching for a hidden passage, an overlooked chamber, any trace of the place where the academy might be hiding the Light Travel Nyx.
Hours passed. He walked the perimeter of the outer walls, through empty training fields, across marble courtyards, and even past the sealed gates of the restricted archives. Yet nothing revealed itself.
They've buried it too deep, he thought, his expression flat but his mind restless. No matter. All secrets have doors. And doors can always be opened.
The following morning, the academy woke to another bustling day. Classes resumed, sparring rings clashed with shouts and steel, and the atmosphere thickened with rivalry and ambition.
But elsewhere, behind closed doors in the highest spire of the academy, the real conversations were taking place.
The old principal, draped in layered robes of deep emerald, sat at the head of the round table. Her eyes, ancient and sharp, swept over the gathered instructors. Thalgor was present as well, his presence cold and commanding, his voice the first to cut through the silence.
"The trainees are growing restless," Thalgor said. "They need blood, not just lectures. We must test their strength."
The principal nodded slowly. "The time has come, then. A month from now, the Battle Royale Tournament will be held."
A murmur ran through the gathered staff. One instructor leaned forward. "A whole month of preparation… will it be enough for them?"
Thalgor's gaze sharpened. "Those who are too weak to prepare in a month will not survive long in the future anyway. Better they be weeded out now."
The principal raised her staff lightly, silencing the whispers. "So it is decided. The announcement will be made at the end of the week. Until then, no word leaves this chamber."
The room fell silent, the weight of the decision pressing on every instructor present. Outside, the academy carried on in blissful ignorance — students laughing, training, dreaming of a future none of them knew would soon be shattered by the merciless test awaiting them.