A loli tied with ribbons appeared!
Dark instinctively wanted to close the door, but after a moment's thought, he pulled her inside instead.
Eudora was only eleven years old, her height barely reaching his nose bridge. Though clothed, her attire was very thin—a transparent, pink nightgown with lace trim.
On such a cold day, she was clearly not well.
Her cheeks were flushed, but it looked more like an unhealthy glow.
Her slender limbs trembled slightly, clearly indicating she felt cold.
If he left her standing outside, she might catch a severe illness from the cold.
Dark pulled her into the warm room and casually untied the bow ribbon from her head—he truly hadn't expected to see someone present themselves as a gift in real life!
"Merry Christmas!"
Only then did Eudora look up slightly, timidly humming a sound.
Dark's face was filled with helplessness, but he still said, "Alright, Merry Christmas."
The thought of Principal Cynthia still perched atop the cabinet behind him filled Dark with intense embarrassment.
He had only just managed to reverse his "bad boy" image; if he didn't do something, wouldn't he just repeat his mistakes?
"No, even if it's just an act, I must state the facts and reason with her, making Eudora realize how unreasonable, wrong, and unhealthy her behavior is!"
"Eleven or twelve is a crucial age for reshaping values. She might have these current notions due to family factors."
"But I don't know much about her. Perhaps I can find out something from Principal Cynthia later..."
After a brief thought, Dark changed his strategy and invited Eudora further inside.
Eudora, who had no idea how she mustered the courage to come over, became timid once she was inside the room.
Dark beckoned to Eudora, and she timidly followed.
Unbelievable!
It was increasingly resembling a scene of a bad boy coercing an innocent girl!
Dark's face darkened slightly. He pulled out a chair for her to sit, then rummaged through his wardrobe for a jacket to put on her. Only then did he pour a glass of apple juice and offer it to her.
Eudora took the apple juice, instinctively tightened the jacket around her, and took a small sip.
Only then did Dark say, "Eudora Envy, that's your name, isn't it?"
Eudora inexplicably smiled and nodded like a chick pecking rice, saying, "Mm-hmm."
Dark tapped the table, deciding to clarify things here and now: "How did you, well, I mean, how did you come to fancy me?"
Eudora avoided his gaze and whispered, "At first sight."
Dark was startled: "What do you mean, first sight?"
Eudora looked up as if recalling, "I saw you at the Sorting Ceremony. You were just like the prince in a picture book."
Dark: "Uh..."
Did she read too many picture books and go silly?
Anyone with golden hair and platinum eyes is a prince?
That's not right, though.
Maybe I really just have too much charisma?
Dark stroked his chin, thinking this reason wasn't too far-fetched.
But Eudora didn't stop narrating: "At first, it was just a fantasy. You were like a prince who stepped out of a picture book, making people unable to help but notice. But because you always sat in the back corner of the classroom, I couldn't see you very clearly. I just thought you were exceptionally serious and exceptionally handsome. Until that day you subbed for Professor Lily... then there was the first in-class competition, the masquerade ball, the second in-class competition... You could always easily do things we couldn't! Every time I saw you, I couldn't help but want to follow you, to be close to you!"
Dark instinctively felt he couldn't let her continue and quickly interrupted: "Perhaps that's just your one-sided impression. I mean, you haven't actually had close contact with me. And distance creates beauty; people's eyes always come with their own filters. I'm nowhere near as excellent as you imagine, nor can I be your sun, so..."
Eudora, however, suddenly insisted stubbornly: "No, you are my sun! I can see you glowing! It's so bright and ardent!"
She put down the cup, cupped her hands over her heart, and for the first time since entering the room, looked up to meet Dark's gaze, her eyes unwavering.
Just like when she handed that letter to Dark.
For a moment, Dark noticed something unusual.
There was clearly something contained within Eudora's eyes!
He recalled her situation: being brought into school early due to uncontrolled magic.
Dark felt as if he had understood something...
This also made him realize that he had to treat Eudora cautiously!
Dark raised his hand, gripped her shoulder, and looked straight into her eyes as she became slightly flustered, saying seriously: "You're only a first-year! Your time should be mostly spent on studying, not anything else."
Although flustered, Eudora still couldn't help but bravely retort: "B-but, facing your desires and acting on them—you said that!"
Dark: "..."
He vaguely remembered saying something like that.
After winning the in-class competition, he had indeed said such a thing.
But there was a context, wasn't there?
In any case, he absolutely couldn't go soft now!
He immediately said, "I remember you wrote in your letter that you would work hard to make yourself even more excellent. I actually agree with that point; studying should be your main focus. You're still too young now. Future matters can be discussed in the future. Can you do that?"
For some reason, Eudora suddenly softened. She said softly, "I-I'll do my best!"
Dark sighed slightly in relief, stood straight, adjusted his collar, and said, "Then I'll take you back to your dorm first."
Eudora reluctantly stood up.
As Dark led her out of the dorm, he glanced back at the cabinet top and indeed saw the griffin spirit's piercing gaze.
...
Tonight was, after all, the Christmas holiday. Ten o'clock was hardly enough to send students to bed. Sounds still emanated from the common room, and one or two people occasionally passed by in the corridor.
Dark could only be grateful that Eudora's arrival earlier hadn't been witnessed by anyone.
After being escorted back to her dorm, Eudora, still wearing the jacket, clutched it tightly at the doorway, looking very unwilling to take it off.
Dark, however, knew that if he left this jacket with her, something terrible would likely happen.
So he resolutely pulled the jacket back, leaving her with a final, "Good night."
And walked away without looking back.
Eudora leaned against the doorway, slumping down as if utterly drained of all strength.
She hugged her knees, enduring the breeze, watching Dark's retreating figure, and subtly gritted her teeth.
...
Upon returning to his dorm, Dark immediately looked at the top of the cabinet: "Principal, could you come down and have a chat?"
The griffin spirit hiding on the cabinet top chirped twice, took flight and circled twice in place, then transformed back into Principal Cynthia's appearance.
She said, slightly surprised, "'Demon, it seems your charm is considerably greater than I realized.'"
"Ahem!" Dark averted his gaze and cut straight to the chase, "Principal, as you can see, this isn't what I wanted. In any case, is there anything you can tell me about Eudora's background?"
Principal Cynthia pulled a nearby chair over and sat down casually: "It's no secret. Eudora comes from a minor noble family, but her bloodline can be traced back to Shally, the 'Star-Eyed Witch,' a pure noble lineage. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the Star-Eyed Witch's bloodline has awakened within her. Although not yet mature, with her Star Eyes, she can already perceive trajectories that ordinary people cannot."
Upon hearing this, Dark suddenly recalled his knowledge of "Star Eyes."
It was information he had stumbled upon while researching the symbols on the Sins' Emblems.
What are called "Star Eyes" are also known as the "Eyes of the Stars."
Records state that those with Star Eyes can perceive the trajectories of the stars and, through them, peer into fate.
Therefore, every wielder of Star Eyes is a born astrologer!
Eudora clearly possessed an extremely high talent for becoming an astrologer.
And the reason she could see the sun—that was literally what it meant!
She had genuinely seen the "sun" radiating from Dark!
It was the manifestation of [Pride], a sun like fire!
...
Dark took a deep breath. When he first saw Eudora's letter, he never imagined that the words within it could hide such profound meaning.
Eudora could actually see with her bare eyes his [Pride], so dense it overflowed his body!
To this day, his [Pride] still maintained an exceptionally high level.
However, Eudora was clearly not mature enough; the fact that her eyes only saw the sun and no moon was clear evidence.
Yet, the passage of time would help her gradually mature.
One day, she would be able to see all the "stars" operating within Dark.
As for whether she could decipher the meanings behind those stars, that would be another matter entirely.
"I see, I think I understand now."
Dark looked up at Principal Cynthia and said, "Eudora's eyes can see fate, and my future is destined to be as brilliant as the sun. From now on, please call me Manjoume!"
"Mm-hm~"
Principal Cynthia couldn't help but laugh out loud, watching Dark's perfectly serious boasting.
She then said, "'One sign has a hundred interpretations. It's the same with astrology. The same astrological reading will present different fates in the eyes of different astrologers. Since you choose to believe this, then firmly believe it!'"
Dark interlaced his fingers and smiled, "I've always been curious: if astrologers can peer into the trajectories of fate, why don't they divine daily and receive fortune every day?"
Principal Cynthia: "Because they have to pay a price for it!"
...
The so-called astrologer is by no means such a convenient profession.
Generally, divination is divided into two parts.
① Peering into Fate.
② Interpretation.
Astrologers are a type of diviner who deduce the trajectories of fate by observing the movement of the stars.
For them, peering into fate is peering into stars.
And after peering into stars, interpretation is needed!
The same starmap trajectory can even be interpreted to yield completely opposite conclusions in the eyes of different astrologers!
Therefore, divination is not about definite events.
Prophecy doesn't directly tell you how much money you'll pick up after casting your monthly pass; it only tells you that after casting your monthly pass, there's a high probability you'll trigger a lucky event.
Even such vague answers require a considerable price to be paid.
And the price each astrologer needs to pay also varies.
Some people experience a slight decline in vision after each precise divination, until they become completely blind.
Others suffer mental stimulation after each precise divination, gradually descending into madness.
In short, enough said.
In most cases, astrologers do not easily divine.
...
Dark broadly understood the gist of it. He and Principal Cynthia chatted for another half an hour, until finally, the Principal herself couldn't bear it anymore!
It seemed her true form needed to focus on some matter, so she feigned a glance at the wall clock and said, "'Is it really this late? I almost forgot I was here to deliver a gift.'"
Dark, however, had long since shifted from his initial strong anticipation to a state of indifference.
Professor Claire had told him the day before she left the academy.
She had entrusted the Christmas gift she prepared for him to Principal Cynthia!
It was just that there had been too many things to think about recently, and Dark had accidentally forgotten.
It wasn't until Principal Cynthia appeared that he suddenly remembered, but who would have known the Principal was such a chatterbox?
It was almost eleven o'clock, for goodness sake!
Dark could only silently complain in his mind.
He saw Principal Cynthia beckon, and another sphinx-like imp flew in, carrying a gift box that looked distinctly cheap.
Principal Cynthia took the gift box from its mouth and handed it to Dark.
Dark took the gift box and weighed it in his hand, immediately realizing it was unusually light, like an empty paper shell!
But since it was a gift from Claire, there was no reason for it to be empty.
"It's probably something unusually light, then?"
He thought for a moment, then looked up at Principal Cynthia again.
...
The two of them—stared at each other for a while.
Dark spoke first: "Principal, it is indeed quite late."
Principal Cynthia: "So unwrap your gift quickly!"
Dark: I just don't want to open it in front of you, can't you tell?
Cynthia: I just want to see what gift Claire gave, can't I?
Their thoughts clashed repeatedly through their exchange of glances.
Ultimately, Dark was slightly outmatched, unable to win in terms of thick-skinnedness!
Experience truly tells!
Left with no choice, Dark had to open the gift box in front of Principal Cynthia.
The small box was filled with soft padding.
Dark reached in and felt around, pulling out a Christmas card and a... Magic Guide Card!
"What's this?"
Dark first picked up the Magic Guide Card and examined it carefully, only to find that it had no card face.
This meant that this Magic Guide Card was not yet a finished product!
Dark then picked up the Christmas card, wanting to see what message Claire had left.
But Principal Cynthia suddenly frowned and said, "Claire actually gave you this?"
She clearly saw through the true nature of this Magic Guide Card.
And she did not support Claire's actions.
Dark continued to look at the Christmas card.
▼
Dear Dark:
I'm sure you must be very reluctant about my departure.
After all...
Without me at night, you always find it hard to sleep!
But it's alright, Auntie has prepared a big surprise for you.
But you must...
▲
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