Chapter 70: A Lie
[A/N: Day 1: (1/3)]
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’Fuck’
Cael inwardly cursed as he walked out of Seraphina’s house.
’She says this is punishment for not staying in the academy, and now she sends me out from the academy to find that girl.’
’This is so annoying.’
His cloning skill was totally exposed to Seraphina.
It was one of the three skills he didn’t want people to find out about.
And it’s only a matter of time before Seraphina connects the dots with the killer of Kaiser.
Since the council already noticed that the killer used black lightning and had escape skills, it wasn’t hard for Seraphina to connect the dots.
Cael took a deep breath, calming his state of mind.
Actually, Seraphina may have already connected those dots.
He shouldn’t underestimate her.
It’s better to overestimate her than underestimate her.
The academy was buzzing with activities.
And Cael was not interested in classes.
Just then, he saw Edwin walking absentmindedly.
Seeing Edwin’s dejected face, Cael felt curious and approached him.
Upon seeing Cael, Edwin immediately got excited and came to him and said,
"Cael, do you know why Kira is dropping out of the academy?"
Cael raised an eyebrow and shook his head,
"No, that’s impossible. Did you already forget? Once you join the academy, you can’t drop out."
Edwin nodded and said in an uncertain tone,
"I know that, but somehow Kira is dropping out."
Now Cael felt confused.
Because dropping out of the academy is not possible, unless...
The council was behind it.
But Cael threw away that thought. He knew full well how brutally the council dealt with vampires and wraiths.
Especially vampires.
Although wraiths posed a greater overall threat, vampires were the most hated race among humans.
Vampires use mana like humans and can even control humans and turn them into vampires.
Not to mention, they can easily blend in with human society.
But Kira was an anomaly.
’She has a natural element like humans instead of a vampire bloodline.’
[A/N: Cael didn’t know Kira was a dual Path user yet.]
’That said, Kira and Luke may have had a conversation.’
’After all, Luke won’t let a vampire stay in the academy.’
’Yes... that’s it. It must have been Luke’s doing.’
So, Cael considered meeting Luke before he went on the mission.
Edwin, seeing Cael silent for so long, called out,
"Cael?"
Cael came back to his senses, looked at Edwin, and answered,
"Hm! Yes, if she wants to drop out, she must have used her connections. There is nothing we can do."
Edwin nodded, his face completely gloomy,
"I see."
Seeing Edwin’s facial expression, Cael chuckled and said,
"Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for her?"
Cael jokingly asked as he laughed, expecting denial from Edwin.
But to his horror, Cael did not receive any denial.
Cael’s laugh stopped midway.
’Did he really fall for her?’
Edwin sighed, ignoring Cael’s comment, and said,
"That vampire incident must have taken a toll on her mind. Those despicable bastard vampires."
"If not for them, Kira wouldn’t have dropped out of the academy."
Cael didn’t know what to say, so he stayed silent.
After all, he couldn’t possibly say, "Haha, Kira was also one of those despicable bastard vampires."
Cael sighed and decided to change the topic, Or change Edwin’s thought process by diverting it.
So, he said while placing his arm over Edwin’s neck,
"Don’t worry, dude. There are plenty of pretty girls in the academy to pursue. It’s not like Kira was your girlfriend or anything."
Edwin took a deep breath and nodded,
"You are right, but..."
Edwin’s gaze sharpened as he said in a serious tone,
"A true man never backs down from his goal. I will definitely confess to Kira, no matter what."
Cael’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but feel amazed and comment,
"Edwin, I truly admire your resolve. You are a true romantic."
Edwin nodded, his confidence rising as he said,
"Throughout heaven and earth, I alone am the true romantic."
As soon as he said those words, his whole face turned bright red like a tomato, ready to explode at any moment.
Cael smiled while thinking,
’More like a flustered romantic.’
Then Edwin looked at Cael and said,
"Wish me luck, my good student. Your teacher is about to confess his feelings."
Cael smiled helplessly, already knowing how this farce was going to end, but he would not hold Edwin back.
"I pray for your success then."
After exchanging farewells, Edwin started going to Kira’s dormitory to confess his feelings to her before she left the academy.
Although Cael immediately wanted to know what Luke and Kira had decided to do.
But Cael held back his curiosity.
Unknowingly, Seraphina left a shadow on Cael, making him even more cautious with his actions.
Cael slowly walked toward his room.
After entering, he started packing the things he needed.
’I am running low on mana recovery potions and healing potions.’
Cael decided to make a trip to the alchemy store before finding that girl.
...
Meanwhile,
Cael’s Black Lightning clone, who was following the mysterious girl silently from a far distance.
For a long time, Black Lightning clone was pondering which name to call himself.
After all, if somebody asked for his name, he had no answer to give.
But strangely, no matter what, he wasn’t able to like even a single name.
As if something was stopping him from doing so.
He kicked the dust in annoyance as he looked at the girl who was walking carelessly into the forest.
He had been following her the whole night, and he was certain that she wasn’t in the State of Resonant.
That said, he was very confident in his stealth skills.
After all, his black lightning had shadow properties.
Giving him an edge in concealing himself from the girl.
That said, he had a feeling that the girl was already aware of him following her.
If not, why else would she enter the forest?
And he didn’t know why the main body wanted this; he had just received a command asking him to follow the girl.
Time passed as the sun rose high; it was midday.
But there was no sun in sight.
The sky was now covered with dark clouds.
The Black Lightning clone knew what place this was.
This was... Rainfall Forest, where rich concentrations of water mana, earth mana, lightning mana, and wind mana were located.
Then suddenly, lightning rumbled.
He looked at the clouds, which were illuminated by flashes of lightning.
Then suddenly, a surge of mana pulsed before him.
His eyes widened as he looked forward; the girl was nowhere to be seen.
’No way, I lost her.’
He immediately looked around and surveyed the area carefully while still hiding in the shadows.
But the girl was not found.
He sighed as he sent a message to the main body, saying he had lost track of her.
...
On the other side,
Edwin was standing opposite Kira.
"What is it?"
Kira asked while rechecking her things in her space pouch.
Hearing her question, Edwin didn’t know what to say,
"I- I.."
Kira then glanced at Edwin and said,
"Tell me quickly, I have an appointment to attend."
Edwin took a deep breath, steeling himself, and asked,
"Are you really leaving the academy?"
Kira nodded and said,
"Yes."
Hearing Kira’s answer, he immediately asked,
"Why?"
Kira smiled faintly and said,
"After the mission, I realized the academy was not for me."
"The killing and fighting..."
She left off her words, but her meaning was clear.
Edwin took a step forward and said, his voice cracking,
"I- I... Kira, I- "
Ultimately, he wasn’t able to say those words.
He lacked that one last bit of courage.
Seeing Edwin struggling to say something, Kira smiled and said, while shaking her head,
"There is no need to force yourself to say goodbye. It’s not like this is the last time we are going to meet."
Edwin’s eyes widened, and he nodded.
Indeed, Kira was just leaving the academy, and this was not their final meeting.
There was no need to rush.
A smile formed on his face, and a new plan emerged in his mind.
As an honored romantic, how could he not know what not to do?
Rushing into a relationship was a fatal mistake with less than a five percent success rate.
Thinking this, he nodded to himself.
Kira watched Edwin, who was lost in his thoughts, and smiled helplessly.
’I don’t want to leave either, but this place isn’t where I belong.’
’Those Elder vampires might have already found out I was in the academy.’
’To kill me, they might even reveal my identity to the academy.’
’I need to leave and find a safe place.’
But looking at Edwin, she inwardly sighed.
Once she left the academy, she would naturally discard many things.
And this might even be her last meeting with him.
She lied.
Edwin would never be able to contact her.
But this lie was a necessity.
For her survival.