Chapter 197: Diana's Turn
Pandora's question was actually quite casual.
She didn't really care whether Dark had another appointment.
Although they enjoyed each other's company, it hadn't reached the point where such things mattered.
Dark was so outstanding that it would be strange if no one had invited him to the Christmas ball; he probably turned down countless invitations to keep his promise to her, right?
Pandora could guess as much with just a little thought.
But some people, and some things, simply couldn't be turned away.
For example, Diana, who was always clinging to Dark.
She figured he would still have to deal with that clingy little imp for the second half of the ball.
How pitiful.
...
Facing Senior Pandora's question, Dark didn't hide anything: "Yes, I still have to dance a round with Diana later."
This was clearly a bonus point.
Women, even if the relationship wasn't deep, paid special attention when a man lied to them for another woman.
Senior Pandora smiled faintly and said, "Then let's go back, I'm actually a bit cold."
Her dress wasn't designed for warmth, and she would feel cold once she stopped moving.
It was just that they had been chatting so amiably earlier, she hadn't noticed.
Dark couldn't help but show a hint of apology: "I was negligent."
Pandora raised her hand, as if to tap his forehead, but stopped midway. She nodded, "Don't say it as if you're taking care of me. I'm your senior."
"Alright, Senior," Dark raised his arm, offering his elbow.
Pandora naturally slipped her arm through his, preparing to go downstairs.
...
When they returned to the auditorium, at least a third of the people were gone.
Not all of them were couples, though.
Some people couldn't stand the atmosphere of the ball and wanted to go for a walk, often inadvertently stumbling upon "dog food" (public displays of affection) and sometimes even choking on it.
Others would take advantage of the atmosphere to ask out someone they liked and confess.
If they succeeded, they probably wouldn't come back.
If they failed, then they certainly wouldn't come back.
The quiet spots outside the auditorium were like a demon with an open maw, swallowing and digesting students one after another.
But if you thought you could find peace inside the auditorium, that was clearly a big mistake!
Inside, there would only be more "dog food"!
...
The first half of the ball was from nine to ten.
The second half was from eleven to twelve.
The hour between the two halves was more relaxed.
If one liked, they could even go onto the stage alone and do a tap dance or something.
Of course, more people would find a corner offstage, eating and drinking while chatting.
But some were restless, unable to find joy in it.
Virt Gold was one of them.
He and Robert had set up a Magic Guide Chessboard on a table, with a few classmates watching.
But Virt frequently made mistakes during the game; he would always get distracted when there was movement at the door, clearly not focused on the Magic Guide Chess.
Robert felt Virt's chess skill plummet and was deeply disappointed in his close friend for not taking Magic Guide Chess seriously.
After Virt made another extremely poor mistake, Robert finally couldn't help but accuse him: "Magic Guide Chess has a soul! If your heart isn't in it, then don't play!"
This was the first time Virt had been accused by Robert, and he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
He pulled his hand back, sighing, "I want some peace and quiet."
Robert shook his head: "Don't panic so much, Virt. There's a three-year difference between them!"
Virt wanted to agree with him for a moment, but then he remembered that he himself was part of that "three-year difference," and he became speechless again.
His first Christmas ball had largely been spent in a state of anxiety.
It wasn't until the second half of the ball was about to begin that Virt finally saw Senior Pandora and Dark enter through the main entrance.
The two walked hand-in-hand, following etiquette.
Dark in black, Pandora in white, they were surprisingly well-matched.
But Virt's gaze noted the height difference between them, which gave him a slight sense of relief.
He had heard more than once that girls didn't like boys shorter than themselves.
Perhaps Senior Pandora and Dark's relationship was slightly different from what he had imagined?
"Just as Robert said, I shouldn't always think the worst."
Virt patted his cheeks to clear his head.
Then he saw Dark and Pandora approach Diana and Rose.
...
Pandora boldly sat down on Rose's other side.
Dark, meanwhile, sat down on Diana's other side.
The four sat in a row.
Diana beamed with joy when she saw Dark return.
Rose, on the other hand, became reserved when Pandora sat down.
Pandora proactively extended her hand and said, "Hello, I'm Pandora Dragon, Magic House, fourth year."
Rose quickly took her hand and introduced herself, "Rose Flotly, Noble House, first year."
Diana, not to be outdone, leaned over: "And me, Dianna Greatbear, Noble House, first year!"
And so, the three became acquainted.
From this scene, it was hard to imagine how isolated and unsociable Pandora once was.
In three years, she had grown so much.
This was thanks both to Madam Bella's care and to her work as a librarian, which gave her opportunities to interact with people.
The current her.
She just usually preferred not to talk much, but had actually become very talkative.
Therefore, after just a few sentences, she and the two younger girls were chatting away.
Diana had a naturally outgoing personality and soon forgot any reservations, asking the question that had been on her mind for a long time: "Senior, where did you two just go?"
Pandora knew she was asking about her and Dark's whereabouts, so she replied, "We sat outside for a bit, then stood by the window on the third floor where you can see the bridge."
Diana: "That's it?"
Pandora offered a gentle smile: "What else?"
Diana: "Nothing, nothing else!"
Rose, caught in the middle, had three lines on her forehead.
Soon.
Eleven o'clock arrived.
The second half of the ball began with a sudden surge of piano music.
Diana excitedly jumped up: "Now it's Diana's turn!"
Dark, who had been listening quietly on the side, slowly stood up as well.
He felt a little helpless at Diana's boundless energy.
In fact, he was already quite tired.
Nevertheless, he allowed Diana to link her arm with his, and they walked towards the stage.
Not a few students had been waiting for this moment.
Almost simultaneously, couples of students ascended the stage.
Diana's excitement was palpable.
She could feel that the atmosphere this time was different from Halloween.
The separation of the first and second halves also reduced the feeling of "taking over."
Seemingly influenced by the atmosphere, a slight blush appeared on her cheeks, and the hand gripping Dark's trembled a little.
She was nervous!
...
This meant that she cared more about dancing with Dark than she had at Halloween!
Sometimes, constant companionship could lead to gradual weariness.
But sometimes, that same constant companionship could make people increasingly captivated as their understanding deepened.
Diana clearly belonged to the latter.
Her unusual affection was evident.
Dark, with renewed focus, tried his best to guide her to step correctly, but her stiletto heels became an obstacle.
After that, Dark simply ignored the footwork and slowly, slowly spun in circles at Diana's rhythm.
Diana had a lively personality, but when she danced, she moved slowly.
Time, like water, quietly slipped away.
The two gradually found a rhythm in their slow and leisurely dance.
After one song, came another.
It wasn't until after three songs that Diana's dance steps were severely distorted, and her stiletto heels looked like they could break at any moment.
Dark then guided her off the stage.
Handing the stage over to those who needed it more.
Walking off the stage, Diana gradually came back to herself; in her eyes, besides excitement, there was an infinite sense of savoring the moment.
Tonight's Christmas ball would surely leave the most important mark in her memory.
...
The two returned to their previous seats.
Diana, looking satisfied, started playing "bouncing" with Rose.
Dark's gaze passed over them, connecting with Senior Pandora, from whom he could discern the words "you worked hard."
Actually, it wasn't that hard.
If Diana had changed her high heels, he might have been immersed in that slow dance, feeling the passage of time.
It really had a unique charm.
...
After sitting down this time, Dark originally thought he would get a long rest.
Unexpectedly, it wasn't long before he saw another girl approaching.
It was Emma.
She was looking down, her lips moving rapidly.
If one were closer, one would probably hear complaints.
"I spent so much effort putting on makeup, wouldn't it be a waste if I don't get to wear it?"
"Just this once, if I get rejected, there won't be a next time!"
She was fidgety and completely lacked her usual crispness.
Pandora glanced at Dark: "Your business is here again."
Dark scratched his head.
This was another dance he had to accept.
...
"Don't misunderstand, I just wanted to try the feeling of dancing at a Christmas ball, and I couldn't find a suitable partner..." Emma mumbled.
Dark smiled faintly in response: "Of course, madam, it is my honor to be chosen by you."
Then the two simultaneously ascended the stage.
A second half of the ball without a swan princess and a human prince always felt like something was missing.
But this didn't prevent the students from being immersed in it.
Emma's dance steps were very standard, almost like a template.
Dark followed her lead and finished one song.
At the end of the song, Emma hesitated, wanting to dance again, but not wanting to bother the other party too much.
Just as she was thinking about it, Dark had already walked off the stage.
...
The second half of the ball quickly came to an end.
After stepping off the stage, Emma felt as if a heavy stone weighing on her heart had suddenly been lifted.
She didn't return to the Knight House crowd, but instead sat down on Dark's other side.
The twelve o'clock bells quietly came and went amidst their casual chatter.
"Dong—"
Unbeknownst to them, Christmas Eve had passed.
...
When the solemn bell rang.
Couples nestled in corners, heartbroken people weeping in shadows, boys and girls strolling and enjoying the breeze, all gradually returned to the Grand Auditorium.
The last event of the Christmas ball was announced after Principal Cynthia ascended the stage.
Little spirits flew from her hands, delivering various Christmas stockings to everyone.
This was the academy's unique wish-granting device.
It was said that if one could resist opening the stocking until after five in the morning on Christmas Day, they would receive this year's Christmas gift—which was usually quite surprising!
Dark looked at the zebra-striped stocking in his hand, suppressing the urge to open it immediately.
"Almost time."
Senior Pandora weighed the stocking in her hand and said to Dark, "I have to go."
Dark blurted out, "I'll see you off."
...
Without any elaborate speeches, the Christmas ball simply ended.
Students who had received their stockings gradually left the Grand Auditorium. Many had endured until now, and upon returning to their beds, would surely collapse into sleep.
Dark also felt physical and mental exhaustion, but he still insisted on seeing Senior Pandora back to Magic House.
"Have a safe trip!"
Watching Senior Pandora run across the bridge, skirt swaying, Dark took a slight breath.
The winter night air was cool, clear as water.
Senior Pandora suddenly turned around and said, "See you next semester!"
"See you!"
Dark waved and then turned back.
On his way back, Diana and Rose, who had been waiting against a wall along his usual path, joined him.
A familiar smile appeared on Dark's face as he softly said one word: "Let's go."
Diana and Rose then giggled and moved to either side of him.
The three walked together towards the Noble House tower.
...
Pushing time back to just before the twelve o'clock bell was about to chime.
In the depths of the secret passage, a hidden place.
A blood magic circle had been carved into the ground at some unknown time, and countless bats, like swarms of bees, flew towards the magic circle, crashing into it one after another. Even the splashing blood was absorbed by the magic circle.
Then, a blood-red light emanated outwards from the magic circle.
After midnight was Christmas.
It was the time of the "Holy" birth.
It was the time of all things to revive.
...
Everything was proceeding silently.
At first, a single bat entered the secret passage.
That bat was not the Halloween event's BOSS, the Vampire Count.
It was merely one of his thousands of avatars!
Theoretically, the Vampire Count could be reborn in any bat. This was its most troublesome aspect, and the main reason no one could catch it during the event.
But at the moment the event ended, the Vampire Count had already been annihilated.
Its true form was a one-time Magic Guide Spirit card, a masterpiece by Professor Kazel, and it was impossible for it to cause any lingering harm.
With the annihilation of the Vampire Count, all its bat avatars also disappeared one by one.
Except for the bat that first accidentally entered the secret passage!
It was the only bat that survived.
The reason for its survival was unknown.
But since it hadn't disappeared, it meant it was no longer an ordinary creature.
...
After that.
News of the secret passage spread.
Groups of students flocked into the secret passage.
Less vigilant first-year students became its targets; students bitten by it would become fatigued, which led to student tardiness.
The bat, having successfully absorbed student blood, began to change. It gradually learned to split and vaporize, and more bats appeared in the secret passage.
...
By now, the bats had even absorbed the blood of the Hero's Son!
The final transformation was thus produced.
The bat that absorbed Virt's blood transformed from an instinctively predatory creature into a true self-aware vampire!
It recovered some fragmented memories.
...
"Dong—"
As the twelve o'clock bell chimed, a human body flowing with blood emerged from the blood magic circle.
When Dark's trio returned to the dormitory.
Virt Gold was still outside.
He and Robert had had a slight disagreement, and the two did not return to the dormitory together after the ball.
Virt walked alone inside the castle, subconsciously lingering outside.
There was no curfew during the holidays.
Golems would not issue warnings.
It didn't matter even if he wandered until one or two in the morning.
He gradually walked onto the familiar external bridge, where he had once awakened the pink mist dormant in "Into the Abyss."
This made him instinctively take out [Forbidden Love].
He looked at the blurred human figure on the card face, wanting to transform it into Senior Pandora's image, just like using a flower card.
But as magic power was injected, the human outline began to deform, and he pulled his finger back.
Meaningless!
Doing so was utterly meaningless.
Instead, there was a pathetic feeling that even he could sense!
He remembered that a long time ago he had thought of using [Forbidden Love] to check Senior Pandora's favorability.
But later, for various reasons, it never materialized.
So much so that he almost forgot about it.
"After I give her the Christmas gift, I'll find a way to secretly check it. After all, I gave a gift, so the favorability shouldn't be too bad..."
As he thought, Virt grew increasingly frustrated.
During the second half of the ball, he could have mustered the courage to invite Senior Pandora to dance, but in the end, he just watched.
And Dark Demon, who had already gotten the chance to dance with his senior, was still not satisfied, and even invited other girls to dance in the second half of the ball.
That was simply too enviable... too despicable!
Virt felt indignant, growing angrier the more he thought about it.
If he didn't lack alcohol, he would quickly evolve into a rotten drunkard on this occasion.
Emotions gradually piled up to their extreme, and Virt leaned on the bridge's railing, roaring at the sky!
Unknowingly.
When he stopped to catch his breath, a hand rested on his shoulder.
Noble House, Tower.
After Dark returned to the dormitory, he forced himself to wash up despite his mental fatigue, then fell asleep directly in the bathtub.
He was suddenly woken up half an hour later by the cold, quickly got up for another quick rinse, and burrowed into his warm bed.
Early the next morning.
Dark woke up naturally.
He stared at the wall clock for a long time before finally uttering, "It's Christmas."
Christmas had arrived.
He wondered how Senior Pandora, who was rushing overnight, was doing?
How did Claire and Alvit spend Christmas Eve last night?
After sorting through his various thoughts, Dark suddenly remembered the Christmas stocking hanging at the foot of his bed!
Although he knew there wouldn't be anything too expensive in the stocking, Dark still opened it with anticipation.
The surprise of opening a treasure chest, indeed, only comes from the process of unlocking it.
Dark's Christmas stocking actually contained an apple!
"Christmas Eve is over, and they're still giving apples?"
However, this disposable Christmas stocking could be kept as a collectible.
"Woo~"
DemiDevimon, woken by Dark's movements, suddenly leaped up after a brief moment of confusion!
"Damn it, it's Christmas!"
"The great DemiDevimon actually forgot today was Christmas!"
It scrambled out of the covers, flapping its wings, and flew to the corner piled with gifts.
After enduring for so long, it was finally time to unwrap presents!
Since it checked once or twice every day, DemiDevimon already knew exactly where its Christmas gifts were.
It directly grabbed a gift box with its claws and dragged it out, tearing open the wrapping in a few quick motions!
Then, it closed its eyes and prayed for a moment, tearing open all the packaging with a yank.
Immediately, a thick, brown scarf appeared in view.
DemiDevimon grabbed the scarf with its claws, then fluttered to Dark, pointed at the scarf with its other claw, and then stared at Dark expectantly.
Dark took the apple from the Christmas stocking and placed it on the table. Then he turned, took the scarf from DemiDevimon's claws, and using the base of its wings as support, wrapped the scarf around its chin.
Although wearing the scarf this way would cause some inconvenience to its wings, DemiDevimon clearly preferred the scarf and didn't care at all about the slight inconvenience to its wings.
It began to strut around proudly in front of the Cat Grass, Fox Grass, and Cow Grass, walking in circles again and again, like an old general showing off his new sword.
"Alright, stop messing around."
Dark reached out from behind and picked up DemiDevimon.
"Next, the job of delivering chocolates is yours."
DemiDevimon, upon hearing the instruction, not only didn't resist but its eyes lit up, nodding vigorously: "
No problem, leave it to me!"
→ This was clearly a good opportunity to show off its scarf!
...
Besides the chocolate gift boxes for each of the Noble House students, Dark had many other gifts to give.
He wasn't in too much of a hurry.
Instead, he first ate breakfast in his dormitory, rested for a while, and then went out.
It was already eight in the morning, so most people would be awake if he knocked now.
Dark carried a "Christmas Candy Gift Pack" he had bought at the candy store last time, a beautifully packaged signed edition of "Claire's Travels," and "Buttons for the Plush Bear's Eyes"!
He soon arrived at Diana's dormitory door and knocked.
"Who is it?"
Diana was half-sitting on her bed; she had just been woken by DemiDevimon, who had come to deliver chocolate gift boxes, and had wanted to go back to sleep for a bit...
It was a few minutes later when she finally managed to pry open her eyes and open the door.
"Oh? Dark!"
Diana, dressed only in a bear-themed pajama, instinctively tried to close the door.
But Dark stuck a foot in the doorframe.
He squinted at Diana, teasing: "The sun's already high, aren't you getting up yet?
"
Diana: "But I can't get up!"
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