Chapter 95: The Principal’s Office
Lucien and the others walked as he headed for the Principal’s office. He couldn’t lag behind, not with the weight of everything pressing down on him.
The academy grounds stretched around them, vast and unfamiliar. Students walked past, some glancing at his group with curiosity, others quickly looking away when they caught sight of Seraphina and Lilith. The two wives walked on either side of him, their presence a constant reminder of the chaos that had become his life.
Cupcake remained perched on his shoulder, its tiny body warm against his neck. Alexia followed silently behind, her golden eyes scanning their surroundings like a silent guardian.
Every student they passed had their gaze on them. They all wore dark uniforms, deep navy, midnight black, or royal purple, each with different colored trims. Silver. Gold. Some had intricate embroidery, others simpler designs. Lucien couldn’t tell which year they belonged to or what each color meant. It was all new to him, a system that hooked his curiosity.
It was only Lucien and his gang that looked like outcasts as they wore no uniform, and it sparked the curiosity of the students. Lucien and the girls were young like them in appearance, and the most captivating was the beauty of the girls. It attracted their gazes, some even swallowing their breath.
Lucien noticed all of this. He whispered to Seraphina, "Is there no other way we can reach the Principal’s office without this?"
It was Seraphina leading then, as he didn’t know the way to the Principal’s office.
Seraphina also noticed the attention they were garnering. She nodded, and their figures disappeared, leaving the students stumped.
The crowd of students froze. One moment, the group had been there, the mysterious young man, the two breathtaking women, the tiny Qilin on his shoulder, and the silent figure behind them. The next moment, they were gone. Vanished into thin air.
For a beat, silence.
Then the crowd erupted.
"Who were those?!"
"Did you see them? They just, poof, gone!"
"The women... they were gorgeous. Like goddesses."
"Did you see the one with golden hair? I think I forgot how to breathe."
"The silver-haired one too. So small but so... intense."
"And the guy! He had two of them flanking him like bodyguards."
"Lucky bastard."
A young man with gold-trimmed purple robes stepped forward, his eyes still fixed on where the group had vanished. "I don’t know who they are, but I intend to find out."
A girl beside him giggled. "You just want to get close to those beauties."
The young man grinned. "Can you blame me?"
Another student, a burly guy with navy blue uniform, cracked his knuckles. "I’m going to introduce myself. Properly."
His friend snorted. "You? They’d eat you alive."
"Says you."
The crowd buzzed with speculation and excitement. Some were already plotting how to approach the newcomers. Others were simply in awe of the beauty they had witnessed.
One student, a girl with silver-trimmed sleeves, whispered to her friend, "Did you see the way they moved? They’re not ordinary. We should be careful."
Her friend shrugged. "Careful? I want to know who they are. Especially the guy."
The murmurs continued, the students’ curiosity ignited. And somewhere among them, a few bold ones had already decided to make their move, to toast the newcomers, to welcome them, to get closer to that mysterious beauty.
---
Meanwhile, Lucien blinked.
His surroundings had changed instantly. One moment, he had been standing on the academy path, surrounded by curious students. The next, he was standing in front of a massive door, carved with ancient symbols that pulsed with a faint, rhythmic glow.
Seraphina smiled beside him. "We’re here."
Lilith stretched casually. "Much better than walking through that crowd."
Cupcake chirped, its tiny body still warm against Lucien’s neck. Alexia stood silently behind them, her golden eyes fixed on the door.
Lucien let out a slow breath. "That was convenient."
Seraphina giggled. "I have my ways, darling."
Lilith smirked. "She’s not the only one."
Lucien ignored them and looked at the door. The symbols on it seemed to shift when he focused on them, rearranging themselves into patterns he couldn’t quite understand.
"Does he know we’re coming?" Lucien asked.
Seraphina nodded. "He’s been waiting for you."
Lucien took a slow breath. Whatever awaited him inside, he was ready. Or at least, he hoped he was.
Lucien pushed open the doors and stepped inside.
The office was not what he expected.
It was large, but not grand. Warm, but not opulent. The walls were lined with bookshelves that stretched from floor to ceiling, filled with ancient tomes and scrolls that seemed to hum with faint energy. A large wooden desk dominated the center of the room, its surface cluttered with papers, maps, and a few peculiar trinkets that glowed softly. The desk itself was old, worn smooth by time and use, its edges carved with runes that pulsed faintly.
A fireplace crackled in the corner, casting a warm, golden glow across the room. The flames danced lazily, casting shifting shadows on the walls. Above the fireplace hung a painting, a landscape of mountains and rivers, the colors so vivid they seemed alive.
The room felt lived in. Comfortable. It smelled of old paper, wood smoke, and something faintly herbal.
Behind the desk sat the old man. The Principal.
The way he looked mortal still stirred Lucien’s curiosity, making him wonder when he would reach such a realm. He might look like a mortal too, but he knew this was due to his aura and something innate that he gave out. But the Principal was as if he had reached such a realm, the realm of simplicity.
"Haha, welcome, Young Lucien." The Principal laughed as he waved his hands, as if he and Lucien were long-lost brethren.
Lucien blinked, surprised by the warm greeting. He hadn’t expected such familiarity from someone of the Principal’s stature.
"Thank you, Principal," Lucien said cautiously.
The Principal’s sharp eyes then moved past Lucien, landing on the two new presences he hadn’t noticed when he visited Lucien last. His gaze lingered on Cupcake on Lucien’s shoulders. When the principal visited, it was tucked between Seraphina’s breasts, hibernating. Its aura was minimal, concealed by Seraphina, as it was a flame-type Volkoid which made it escape the principal’s sense. The Principal’s eyes then shifted to Alexia, who was scrutinizing him just as closely.
The Principal could sense how strong Alexia was, and it surprised him.
What luck does this young man have?
He laughed softly at the thought, shaking his head.
"You certainly keep interesting company, Young Lucien," the Principal said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "A Qilin cub, a rare Volkoid, and an almost extinct Volkoid, the Swallowing Phyton. Not to mention..." He glanced at Seraphina and Lilith, his smile widening. "These two troublemakers."
Seraphina huffed. "We are not troublemakers."
Lilith nodded. "We’re protectors."
The Principal chuckled. "Of course you are. That’s what makes it entertaining."
Lucien’s expression didn’t change as the Principal identified Cupcake and Alexia. It was expected from someone of such stature. He was a man of great knowledge, and also familiar with Seraphina and Lilith. Of course he would know.
He simply nodded. "The volkoid are my pets. They are loyal to me."
The Principal’s sharp eyes studied him for a moment. "Loyalty is a rare thing, young man. Especially from such powerful beings." He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. "You’ve gathered quite a group around you."
Lucien met his gaze. "I didn’t gather them. They came to me."
The Principal laughed again, a warm, genuine sound. "And that, my boy, is what makes you interesting."
Seraphina smiled proudly. Lilith smirked.
Alexia remained silent, her golden eyes fixed on the Principal.
Cupcake chirped softly, still nestled against Lucien’s neck.
The Principal waved his hand, his expression turning serious. "Sit, sit. All of you. We have much to discuss."