"T-Tyler!" Lea knelt in front of Tyler, who was engulfed in dark blue fire. She cried out in pain when she attempted to touch him, feeling the intense heat.
The surrounding crowd stood frozen in shock, the sudden turn of events catching them off guard.
"Move!" Davis rushed forward and used his water manipulation abilities to extinguish the flames, preventing Tyler from sustaining further injuries. However, Tyler's body was swollen and charred in certain areas.
"T-Tyler…!" Lea cried out as she held Tyler's injured form in her arms.
Azeliah's voice broke through the tension, her anger barely contained. "What was that, Colton...? We are guests here, did you forget?"
"Tch."
"Your Highness, your father will not be pleased with your latest mistake," Alexander stated coldly before turning to Davis. "Is he going to be alright?"
Davis nodded solemnly. "He's stable for now, but he requires more advanced medical attention."
"Please, allow us to take care of him," Alexander requested, seeking to make amends. Davis agreed, acknowledging the need for better healers for Tyler's condition.
"Tyler?!" A familiar voice rang out, accompanied by hurried footsteps.
Milleia and Jayden rushed over, concern etched on their faces. They had been spending time together on this special day when something unexpected occurred during a brief separation.
"M-Milleia... Jayden... Tyler is..." Lea sobbed, finding solace in Milleia's embrace.
Over the past month, the surviving first-year students had formed a bond, having endured the nightmare together. Milleia and Jayden, who had been friends with Tyler, quickly grew closer.
"L-Lea? W-What happened..." Milleia asked tearfully as she observed Tyler's horrific injuries.
Silence hung in the air as Milleia and Jayden attended to Lea and Tyler. The Arvatra siblings remained speechless, their initial astonishment fading into the background.
Colton, the first to recover, stared at Milleia in awe. She was absolutely stunning. He had never seen such a captivating girl before, setting aside his own family members. Her light blue hair cascaded down her back, interspersed with delicate pink strands. Her teary, radiant pink eyes and her expression of sorrow held an enchanting allure that left an indelible impression on everyone, including Colton.
"Hey—" Colton tried to reach out to Milleia, but Azeliah grabbed his arm, stopping him.
Colton furrowed his brows and turned to Azeliah. "What are you doing, Azeliah?"
"Don't do anything rash. She is Raphiel's daughter," Azeliah cautioned.
Colton's eyes widened as he gazed at Milleia once again.
Over the past month, various shocking revelations had intentionally been leaked by the Celesta Kingdom, including the fact that Milleia Sophren was the daughter of Raphiel. Another revelation concerned...
Azeliah cast a curious smile at Jayden, sensing that both Milleia and Jayden were anything but ordinary.
"This one is likely the Apostle of Lumen, Your Highness. Please conduct yourself accordingly," Alexander stated firmly.
They were facing individuals of immense importance.
Despite being commoners, their true status far exceeded that. They were the chosen ones of Eden.
"Did you cause this?" Jayden asked coldly as he stood up, confronting Colton.
Colton, momentarily shaken by his sister's revelation, quickly regained his composure and forced a smile. "And if I did? What are you going to do about it?"
Jayden clenched his fists, and sparks of lightning crackled around him.
"Lightning?" Both Colton and Azeliah were taken aback by Jayden's display of power.
"He truly possesses the Legacy of the Olympian God King..." Alexander's eyes narrowed, a mixture of surprise and admiration in his gaze.
"Princess Azeliah," Karen interjected, positioning herself in front of Azeliah protectively. However, her eyes widened slightly as she caught sight of Milleia. She recognized the girl. Milleia was among the three individuals they had encountered during the Golden Grasses incident.
"Enough, Jayden Rayena. He is a royal of the Arvatra Empire," Davis stepped forward and firmly spoke.
Jayden was taken aback by Davis' words, but he couldn't deny the truth. "He hurt Tyler..."
"Tyler will receive the best possible treatment. Today is an important day, Jayden," Davis emphasized, raising his voice.
pandasnovel.com "Jayden... don't..." Milleia pleaded, shaking her head.
"Fine..." Jayden reluctantly nodded and took a step back.
[ϟYou need to calm your emotions, boy.ϟ]
"I know..." Jayden acknowledged Zeus' advice.
Ever since his brother's tragic death, his temper had worsened, and he found himself easily consumed by anger.
"Are you truly the Apostle of Lumen?"
Jayden turned around at the sound of the voice. He was immediately taken aback by Azeliah's ethereal beauty and found himself stumbling over his words.
Azeliah smiled, clearly amused by Jayden's reaction. "Jayden?"
"Oh, yes. Yes, I am," Jayden replied, feeling a mix of embarrassment and awe.
"In that case," Azeliah gracefully pinched the hem of her dress and bowed courteously. "It is a pleasure to meet the Apostle of Lumen and the Daughter of Raphiel."
"Oh, um... yes! It's a pleasure!" Milleia stuttered, still adjusting to the new way people addressed her. Three weeks ago, the King himself had revealed to her and Jayden their importance. She learned about her rare bloodline and that she had been blessed by Raphiel personally. It was still awkward for her to witness the way people now looked at her, with some displaying clear jealousy and animosity towards her sudden rise in nobility.
"Shall we proceed to the palace together?" Azeliah kindly offered.
Jayden and Milleia glanced at Tyler and Lea, feeling torn, but Lea shook her head with a faint smile.
"Tch, I'm going ahead," Colton stormed off, followed by several guards.
Jayden let out a sigh and smiled. "It would be my pleasure, Princess-"
"Azeliah is fine. I cannot allow an Apostle to show formality towards me. The same goes for you, Milleia. Please, call me Azeliah," she requested.
"Um... okay..." Milleia nodded nervously, while Jayden gave his agreement.
...
A dozen meters away…
"Papa, I don't see anything!" The voice of a cute blond haired girl caught the crowd's attention. The nine years old girl was acting spoiled while shaking the hand, which she was grasping of the man, seemingly his father.
The people around couldn't help but turn away their attention from the royal sibling to the pair of the adorable girl of the hooden young man.
"You don't see anything then…hop!"
"Ah!" Annabelle yelped in fear when she was suddenly lifted but upon landing on her 'father' shoulders she felt safer though she coiled her thin arms around his neck.
****
"Are you alright now?" I asked, flashing a grin.
"Um!" Annabelle beamed at me, still clinging to my side.
While holding Annabelle, I made my way out of the crowd and glanced at the commotion.
"Oh."
There they were—Jayden, Milleia, Lea, and Tyler, who seemed to be seriously injured.
And then, two other individuals caught my attention—people my age.
At first glance, I almost mistook them for being the older ones, but upon closer inspection, I realized they were younger ones of my age.
Jayden appeared stronger, and Milleia had a certain resilience about her, despite her tears for Tyler.
[<You're late, Amael.>]
"Yeah... I just wanted to avoid that old man," I grumbled.
[<Didn't you want to talk to him before?>]
"Not anymore," I sighed.
I hadn't even wanted to attend this birthday party, but...
('I... need you...')
That's what she had asked me back then—to come to her birthday and help.
She had been certain that something was going to happen, and she wanted the assistance of someone inconspicuous like me.
She had expressed her fear that someone close to them was a traitor, and she had been right. Her uncle, Walter Celesta, was extremely cautious in all his actions.
He had orchestrated the Iris Project, aiming to harm Aurora, but he had left no traces and never raised any suspicions.
"Whatever. It's just a birthday," I muttered, dismissing the importance of the event.
Nothing serious should happen to me.
Only to Jayden if I remember.
….
….
"I'm here, old man." I arrived at the designated location, a place beyond a clothing store, just as he had instructed me in the message Aunt Belle passed along.
After a moment, a familiar golden light enveloped me, transporting me to a luxurious bedroom.
"Huh?" I blinked my eyes open and found myself in an opulent setting.
Weird...
Another beam of light appeared, and this time, the old man emerged from it.
It was none other than Geoffrey Higer Eden, the headmaster of the Royal Eden Academy and the grandfather of Seraphina and Maria.
Geoffrey frowned upon seeing me casually sitting on the bed, Annabelle peacefully sleeping in my arms. "Who is she?"
"Oh," I gently patted Annabelle's blond hair and smiled. "She's my daughter."
"..." Geoffrey's frown deepened. "You adopted her?"
I nodded in response, continuing to stroke Annabelle's hair.
"Something seems different about you, brat," Geoffrey said suddenly scanning me.
I ignored him and spoke "Then, old man, you seemed to be enjoying yourself quite a bit while we were on the brink of death in that dungeon," I remarked, a tinge of sarcasm in my voice.
Geoffrey's expression turned sour at my words. "I had important matters to attend to."
"More important than saving us from Brandon Delavoic? The psychos of the Iris Project and Caishen?" I retorted.
"Yes," surprisingly, the old man nodded. "More important."
I stared at him dumbfounded before snorting. "Whatever. Why did you call me?"
"Jayden, Milleia, Carla, Miranda, Kleah, and Elona—they all reported the same thing. They encountered someone with the strength of a monarch who bears a striking resemblance to you, and they were all defeated by him."
"..." I fell silent, mulling over his words.
"I believe you may know something," Geoffrey continued. "Charles wanted to question you directly, but I took it upon myself. So, do you have anything to say?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "That guy possesses a means to alter his appearance. He's trying to frame me for some reason."
I lied.
There was no way I could explain everything to them, and divulging my past life would only further complicate matters. It was best to keep it a secret for now.
Geoffrey narrowed his eyes, sensing my quick response. "Are you lying?"
"No," I replied firmly.
Geoffrey sighed, realizing that I wouldn't divulge any further information.
"Is that all?" I asked.
"No," Geoffrey shook his head. "This is a personal request. Whether fortunate or not, Maria and Seraphina have grown closer to only one young man, and that's you."
"And?"
"And... I want you to keep an eye on them. At the birthday celebration, there will be plenty of young men, and I worry for their safety."
"You won't be there?" I inquired, furrowing my brow.
"No. That's why I'm entrusting you with this task."
I chuckled at his request. "Last time, you seemed to want nothing to do with me being near them."
"I'm only asking you to 'keep an eye' on them, Edward Falkrona."
"Count on me," I assured him with a smile.
Another opportunity presented itself to manipulate them and turn them against that corrupt bastard of a Pope.
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