Emily Cronus. Students called her The Princess. This was not a compliment. It was a fact. This academy was her board.
Her father was a founder. He was one of the most powerful men in the whole academy. Emily was his perfect daughter. She was the class topper for three years straight. She was a beautiful singer. Her voice could charm anyone. But it was her aim that was fearful. She was the best archer in the school. She had... an almost inhuman aim. She could fire a bow and arrow like no one else. She never missed.
But Emily Cronus was cold. Her mother was killed when she was three. After that, her father never left his mansion. He became a ghost. Emily grew up alone. She spent her time in the one place no one would bother her. The library. Rumors are that she has read the whole library twice already.
This was the girl now standing in front of Eiden. Eiden already knew her name. Charlotte had given him files. He knew her father's reputation. He knew she was the most powerful student in the school. He knew she could come handy in the near future.
He reached out his hand. He did not care about the boys groaning on the ground. "My name is Eiden Killian." Emily looked at his hand. She did not take it. She just... smiled. A cold, tiny smile. She stepped closer. Her voice was low. "You should be careful, Eiden Killian. I do not like too much noise in my academy."
Eiden dropped his hand. He was not impressed. "It's not your academy. And I'm not noise. You shouldn't worry about me."
Her eyes narrowed. No one talked to her like this. "Oh? You have a big mouth." "And you have a big territory," Eiden shot back. "I'm just passing through."
The other students were watching. They thought this new boy was crazy. This looked like a fight. But to Eiden and Emily, it felt... different.
Emily almost laughed. "I like dogs. Especially dogs that bite. I will make you my pet." Eiden said nothing. He just turned and started to walk away. She smirked. "Have you accepted defeat already, dog?"
Eiden stopped. He looked back over his shoulder. "You might own this whole school, princess. But you cannot afford me." He left. Emily watched him go. Her smirk was gone. She was... interested.
Later that day, Emily was walking to her dorm. A girl walked past her. The girl was muttering under her breath. "...thinks she owns the place... cold..." Emily stopped. She did not turn. "What did you say, Margot?"
The girl, Margot, froze. She was pale. She was just terrified of Emily. Margot hated Emily. Emily had everything. Margot had nothing. "I... I said nothing, Miss Cronus!"
Emily turned slowly. Her eyes were like ice. "You know I can have your head for that. I can have your family removed from this country." Margot was shaking. "Please! I'm sorry! It won't happen again, I can do anything for your forgiveness!" "Anything?" Emily thought for a second. "Good. You want forgiveness?" "Yes! Anything!"
"Then you will do something for me. There is a new student. The one in the courtyard today. His name is Eiden Killian." "The... the brawler?" Margot asked. "The one who beat Balthazar?" "That's the one. He is... interesting. I want to know why. You will keep an eye on him. Follow him. Tell me where he goes, who he talks to, what he eats for breakfast. Tell me everything. Do you understand?" "But... why me?" "Because you are invisible, Margot. And because you are desperate. Now go." Margot nodded, terrified. "Yes, Miss Cronus."
The next morning. Eiden left his dorm. He knew he was being followed. He knew in less than ten seconds. The footsteps behind him were clumsy. They were too fast. They stopped when he stopped. They tried to hide behind a... thin lamppost. Eiden sighed. This was almost an insult.
He walked into the library. He hid behind a tall shelf. He waited. Margot ran in. She was looking around. "Where did he go..." Eiden stepped out. "Looking for me?" Margot screamed. She dropped all her books. "You!" she gasped, her face bright red.
"Me," Eiden said. He leaned against the shelf. "You're not very good at this. Who are you?" "I... I'm Margot! And I... I'm not... I'm just going to the library!" "You were following me. Who sent you?" "No one! I... I think you're cute!" Margot blurted out. It was a terrible lie.
Eiden raised an eyebrow. "I'm cute. That's why you were hiding behind a lamppost." "Yes!" she said. Too loud. "Okay, Margot. I'll play. You think I'm cute." He smiled. "Then you must know me so well. But I don't know you. Or anyone. I'm new, you see." He was fooling her. She was desperate to keep her cover.
"Oh, I... I know everyone!" she said. "Great. Then you can help me. Who is the meanest teacher here?" "Oh, that's Sir Nikal. The chemistry teacher. He hates everyone. Especially Balthazar." "Good. Good. And Balthazar. He's the leader of the bullies, right? Who are his friends?" "He has no friends. Only followers. They're all afraid of him." "And who is he afraid of?" Margot's eyes darted around. She whispered. "Her. Emily Cronus. Everyone is afraid of her."
Eiden pretended to think. "Right. Emily. The one at the piano. I heard she's a great singer." "She's... okay," Margot said. "But Madam Sirisha, the music teacher, likes her best. It's not fair!" "And what about the headmaster? Madam Cullin. What's her story?" "She's never here! She just... travels. Sir Edward (Science) basically runs the school. He's nice, I guess. But... weird. And Madam Elizabeth (English) is... well... everyone has a crush on her."
Eiden kept asking. He asked about the students. He asked about the schedules. He asked about the guards. Margot, trying to seem 'helpful' and not 'a spy,' told him everything. She was a nervous wreck. She just wanted to leave. After ten minutes, Eiden had a full map of the school's social life. He smiled. A real smile this time. "Thanks, Margot. You've been a big help." She was confused. "I... I have?" "Yep. But one tip." He leaned in. "Next time you follow someone? Don't wear such loud shoes." Margot's face went bright red again. She grabbed her books and ran away. Eiden watched her go. He had a new map. She just didn't know it yet.
That day in the cafeteria, Eiden ate alone. He watched like a hunter ready for his hunt. He knew how to read people. However, his eyes locked on Emily. She was sitting with her "friends"—Sasha, Luna, Sophia, and Eva. They were all talking and laughing. But they weren't talking to Emily. They were talking at her. They were performing for her. Emily wasn't part of the conversation. She just poked at her food. She looked... worried. Or maybe she was just thinking hard. Her eyes were distant. She was building walls around herself, even as her friends chattered away. Eiden watched her for a few seconds. He saw the tension in her shoulders. He saw her grip the fork too tight. She was a predator, like him. But she was a predator in a cage. And something was rattling that cage. Something was wrong.
He didn't think about it. He had a mission. After lunch, he pulled out the small diary Charlotte had given him. It was Oliver's. Every Wolf carried one. They noted where they had been. Eiden looked out the window. The sky was turning a dark, heavy gray. It looked like rain was going to hit soon.
He followed Oliver's steps. The pub. The barmaid. The bombed-out building. He asked about Oliver. No one remembered him. "A tall, clumsy lad? Sorry, sir. See a hundred of those a week. The war's shuffling everyone around." The trail was cold. He felt frustration build. Oliver was in a comma for this. The least Eiden could do was find the next step. He finally got to the last place. The spy's apartment near the river. As he got close, he heard voices from an alley. "Knives are ready?" "Got the rope. And I got this." A man flashed a gun. "Easy job. No one's at the library this late. Just 'her.' The old lady's a bonus. We grab her, we get paid." Eiden froze. Library? Her? Old lady? He thought about it. They were street rats. They couldn't get into the academy. He dismissed it. He went into the spy's room. He searched. He found some papers. Bit most of them were useless. Still he picked them up and got out of there.
He walked back to his dorm. He thought about the goons. Could they mean the school library? No. This place was a fortress. They could never get in. But... he felt off. Something was wrong. His gut was screaming. He changed direction. He walked towards the library.
The path was dark. The lamps were all off. His gut was right. He moved faster. He opened the heavy library doors. Inside, the lights were on. It was warm. "A-hem. A bit late for a student, isn't it, boy?" Eiden turned. An old lady with a kind, sweet smile stood behind him. It was Martha, the librarian. "Sorry, ma'am," Eiden said. "I just... felt like a walk." Martha smiled. "I like you. You're quiet. Not like the others." She lowered her voice. "Usually, it's just me. And, of course, the angry but sweet young lady. She's upstairs. In her world." "Angry but sweet?" Eiden asked. "Oh, yes. That's her." Martha pointed up. "She thinks she's a porcupine, all spikes. But she's just a kitten. Don't tell her I said that."
Eiden was curious. He went up the winding stairs. He was silent. He peeked over the rail. He saw Emily. She was lying on her back on the floor. She was surrounded by books. She was staring at the ceiling. "And then," Emily said out loud, to no one. "The prince will ride in. On a white horse. No, a black one. White is too cliche. He will say, 'My darling! This fortress cannot hold my love!' And... and... I will be so shocked." She sighed. "Oh, Prince. Take me far away from here. And... and bring my goat. Sir Reginald. He is a very important goat. He must have his own carriage. And a little hat."
Eiden couldn't help it. A small chuckle escaped him. Emily froze. She sat up. She saw him. He was leaning on the rail, watching her. Her face went from pale to bright, burning red. "You!" she screeched. "I... I was just practicing!" she stammered. "For the... the school play!" "The play," Eiden said. His face was blank. "About the important goat. Sir Reginald. And his hat." "GET OUT!" She grabbed the nearest book. It was heavy. She threw it at his head. Eiden caught it. One-handed. He didn't even flinch. He opened it and read in a high, dreamy voice. "'Oh, Prince! Your muscles are so... muscular!'" "I HATE YOU!" Emily yelled. She was totally embarrassed. She jumped up and chased him. Eiden just laughed. He ran down the stairs, dodging her. It was... a different experince. "You are banned!" she shouted as he left. "Banned for life! Do you hear me?!"
Eiden was still laughing as he walked outside. He felt... relaxed. The first drop of rain hit his face. Then the sky opened up. The gray clouds from earlier. It was a heavy, cold rain. He ducked under the arch of the main building. He heard it. A man's scream. From the front gate. It was cut short. He looked. He saw them. The goons from the alley. They were inside the grounds. They were running... to the library.
Eiden tensed. He started to move. And suddenly he stopped. This was bad. They had knives. They had a gun. He could stop them. He knew he could. But... he could not stop them as like he would do at any time back home. He would have to stop them as 'Eiden, the Wolf.' He would have to be the Devil. If he did that, his cover was blown. He could hear Master Durai's voice. The mission comes first. Always. He thought of Oliver, lying in a coma. He thought of the 16-year hunt for Evergreen. This was his one chance. He couldn't blow it. But... he thought of Martha. The sweet old lady. He thought of Emily. The "angry but sweet" girl who talked to her imaginary goat. He was stuck. His mission... or her?
Inside the library, the goons burst in. "Where is she?!" Martha stood up. "The library is closed!" The leader grabbed her. He put a knife to her throat. "We'll do this the hard way." He dragged Martha up the stairs. "Cronus! We know you're here! Come out, or the old woman gets it!" Emily stepped out from the shadows. Her face was ice. She gave them a warrior-like stance. However, she saw the knife at Martha's throat. She could not save Martha and fight. Her choice was made. "Let her go," Emily said. Her voice was cold. "It's me you want."
They tied her hands. Roughly. They dragged her out of the library. They pushed her into a dark, shallow alley between the buildings. The rain was pouring. "Stupid girl," one man muttered. "Easy money." Emily fell to her knees in the mud. "Get up, princess."
"I believe the lady would prefer not to."
The voice was calm. It came from the alley entrance. It was Eiden. He was standing in the rain. He held a simple, black umbrella. "Who the hell are you?" the leader sneered. He pulled his gun. "Just a friend," Eiden said. "You're ruining our walk."
Emily, still on her knees in the mud, felt a strange warmth rush to her face. Friend?
The leader sneered. "Our walk? You're dead, friend." He pulled the trigger. Click. The rain had soaked the gunpowder. The gun misfired. Eiden moved. He was like a storm. He closed the distance in a second. The umbrella snapped up. A hard, sharp jab with the metal tip to the leader's wrist. A crack of bone. The gun flew. Eiden's other hand, a blur, hit the man's throat. (One.) A man with a knife ran at him from the side. Eiden spun. The umbrella, still in his hand, opened with a whoosh. The man, blinded, ran right into it. Eiden used the umbrella's handle to hook the man's neck and slam him into the wall. (Two.) A third and fourth man came at him. Eiden was... dancing. He was the River. He dropped the umbrella. A foot sweep. An elbow. A disarm. He broke one man's wrist. He dislocated another's shoulder. It was fast. It was brutal. It was 5% of his power. The last man grabbed for Emily. Eiden stopped. "Don't touch her." The man froze. Eiden was in front of him. The man didn't even see him move. Eiden hit him once. In the chest. The man just... dropped. (Five.)
Silence. Just the sound of the rain. Eiden stood in the downpour. He was completely wet. He looked at Emily. She was on the ground, tied up. She was staring at him. He walked over. He picked up the umbrella. He opened it. He held it over her head. The sound of the rain on the ground was gone. It was just the patter-patter on the umbrella. He knelt in the mud. His fingers, fast and sure, worked on the wet ropes. "Are you hurt?" he asked. His voice was calm. She was stunned. She was not the Princess. She was a girl. She was cold, scared, and... happy. The ropes fell away. She did the one thing she could not control. She lunged forward. She wrapped her arms around his neck. She buried her face in his wet coat. She started to cry. Real, shaking sobs. Eiden froze. He was still holding the umbrella over them. He was... confused. This was not in any mission plan. "It's just rain," he said. "You're not melting." She sobbed harder. But it sounded like a laugh. He hesitated. Then, he slowly put his free arm around her. He patted her on the head. It felt like patting a strange, wet cat. "It's okay," he said. "You're okay." They stayed there. Two people in a dark alley. Hiding under one small, black umbrella.