Amber glided through the campus lobby, her steps light yet brimming with confidence. Raiden trailed behind, his gaze occasionally flicking to Amber's shapely, tantalizing ass, perfectly contoured and starkly contrasted by her slender waist. Her curves seemed to dance beneath the tight outfit that flaunted every inch of her figure with breathtaking precision.
Amber was fully aware of Raiden's stare. She could feel the heat of his eyes on her, but she merely flashed a sly smile, choosing to ignore it while strutting forward with her head held high. If it had been any other guy—not Raiden, with his chiseled good looks and magnetic charm—she might've rewarded their audacity with a sharp slap or a biting retort. But Raiden? He was the exception. A man with a flawless face, a commanding aura, and an allure that was damn near impossible to resist.
*Hmph… typical guy!* Amber mused to herself, secretly pleased by Raiden's attention. She stole a quick glance over her shoulder, her movement subtle enough to seem casual but deliberate enough to confirm he was still following.
As they navigated the corridor, other guys' eyes latched onto her relentlessly. A few bold ones tried to strike up conversations with cheap, rehearsed lines. Amber brushed them off with icy responses, her sharp words sending them retreating with flushed faces. *Fucking losers,* she thought, exasperated. *Even if you're good-looking, it's pointless without Raiden's charm and dominant aura.*
She could've been harsher—maybe even tossed a light spell to teach them a lesson—but Amber restrained herself. She didn't want to tarnish her image in public, especially not in front of Raiden. Something about him made her want to appear more graceful, more composed.
After five minutes of weaving through the campus corridors, they arrived at the entrance to the Empyrean Phoenix University's administrative office. Amber pushed the door open with an elegant flourish, gesturing for Raiden to enter first before closing it politely behind them.
Inside, the office buzzed with the monotonous rhythm of clacking keyboards and clicking mice. The staff were engrossed in their tasks, oblivious to Amber and Raiden's arrival. Ignoring the humdrum chaos, Amber led Raiden toward a grand door at the far end of the room, clearly leading to a more exclusive space.
Without knocking, Amber pushed the door open and once again motioned for Raiden to step inside. Behind a desk sat a stunningly mature woman, exuding an almost otherworldly charm. She wore a white blouse adorned with delicate floral patterns, paired with a knee-length skirt that hugged her curvy, undeniably sexy figure, even in its formal elegance. Her chestnut hair was neatly tied back, with a few loose strands of bangs framing her face perfectly. A pair of glasses perched on her nose, enhancing her air of intelligence, while her striking pinkish-red eyes locked onto Amber with a piercing gaze.
"Amber, what a surprise to see you here. What's up?" the woman asked, setting aside a letter she'd been reading. Her voice was soft, but there was a hint of curiosity in her tone.
Amber, usually so poised, seemed slightly flustered—rare for the silver-haired girl. "Mom, um… I brought a prospective new student," she said, her voice catching just a bit.
Virelia, Amber's mother, furrowed her brow in momentary confusion. New student registrations were typically handled at the general counter, not in her private office. But as her eyes shifted to Raiden, her puzzlement vanished. The silver-haired young man radiated an extraordinary presence—striking good looks, a calm yet captivating demeanor, and something deeper, something powerful. As a high-level magic user, Virelia could sense the immense strength lurking beneath Raiden's serene exterior, like a storm restrained behind a tranquil facade.
A small, knowing smile curved Virelia's sensual lips. She shot Amber a meaningful glance, as if piecing together her daughter's intentions. Amber caught the look and flushed, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment as she turned away, pouting but unable to hide her nervousness.
Virelia herself was captivated. She'd met plenty of handsome men, but none compared to Raiden. His aura, his composure, and the hidden power within him set him apart. With graceful poise, Virelia rose from her chair, smoothing her skirt before approaching Raiden. She extended her right hand, inviting a handshake. "Hello, I'm Virelia, Amber's mother. What's your name, young man?" she asked, her voice warm and melodious.
But before Virelia could react, Raiden did something unexpected. With a gentle yet confident motion, he took her hand, raised it to his lips, and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it. Her skin was smooth, carrying a faint, intoxicating fragrance that teased his senses.
Virelia blushed, her cheeks faintly pink, but she didn't pull her hand away. Instead, she let Raiden hold it a moment longer, savoring the gentle touch before he released it with impeccable courtesy. "Oh…" she murmured, a soft gasp escaping her, though her eyes sparkled with quiet approval.
Amber, witnessing the exchange, felt her heart skip a beat. She wasn't sure whether to be jealous or awestruck by Raiden's boldness. One thing was certain—this guy was utterly unpredictable.
"Hello, Big Sister, my name's Raiden, Raiden von Heliosbane," Raiden greeted with a warm, confident smile, his voice brimming with self-assurance as he addressed Virelia, the mature woman standing before him. His eyes sparkled with an innocence that clashed strikingly with the weight of the illustrious name he had just declared.
But the reactions of Virelia and her daughter, Amber, made Raiden furrow his brow. A sudden tension thickened the air. Virelia's eyes widened briefly, while Amber seemed to hold her breath, her face paling. Their palpable nervousness puzzled Raiden. *What's wrong?* he wondered, confusion swirling in his mind.
Virelia's brow creased as she studied Raiden's face, as if searching for answers to unspoken questions. After a moment of silent contemplation, she spoke, her voice calm yet heavy with meaning. "Raiden… so, you're the young master of the main Heliosbane family, the one who recently awakened at an older age, aren't you?"
Her words made Amber flinch. The girl's eyes widened, staring at Raiden with a mix of awe and fear. *The young master of the Heliosbane family? The heir to that terrifying lineage of sorcerers?* Amber's mind reeled, unable to reconcile the casual young man before her with the towering figure his name evoked.
Virelia let out a long sigh, her gaze shifting to her daughter with a blend of relief and firmness. "Thank the stars you brought him here, Amber. If you hadn't, this could've sparked a massive, unnecessary uproar."
Raiden remained baffled. *What's so special about being the young master of the Heliosbane family?* He knew his family was extraordinary—after all, he'd often leveraged the Heliosbane name and power to get what he wanted, including claiming the entire Lunarian girl group as his own. But at Phoenix University, an elite institution supposedly immune to external influence, why was his status causing such a stir? He had never truly grasped the full extent of his family's influence, never studied the vast web of power and capabilities the Heliosbane name commanded.
Noticing the confusion on Raiden's face, Virelia offered a faint smile, as if she could read his thoughts. "You might think that because Phoenix University is impervious to outside forces, your status as the young master of Heliosbane wouldn't cause a ripple, even if it spread among the students, right?" she asked, her tone laced with meaning.
Raiden nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on Virelia, waiting for her to elaborate.
Her voice lowered slightly, each word deliberate and clear, ensuring it reached Raiden's ears. "The Heliosbane family is infamous for their ruthless tyranny. They're above the law, Raiden. Illegal activities—whether small or large—committed by the main family or its branches always evade accountability. Even the branch families wield extraordinary privilege and political influence in this country." She paused, observing Raiden's reaction. "It's clear from the way you carry yourself that you have no idea just how deep the Heliosbane family's power runs. You act as if it's all just… normal."
Raiden shrugged, his demeanor casual but tinged with slight awkwardness. This revelation was eye-opening, painting a picture of how terrifying the Heliosbane name was in the eyes of the world. But to him, it wasn't something to dwell on too seriously. As long as everything went smoothly, what was there to worry about?
Virelia sighed again, her expression a mix of pity and resignation. "Would you like your identity as the young master of Heliosbane to be kept secret?"
Raiden blinked, slightly taken aback. "Isn't my identity already public knowledge? I mean, I just registered with the association. Don't they usually spread that kind of information openly?"
Virelia shook her head gently. "No, the association would never do that. They only share information about you with specific parties—other prominent sorcerer families, high-ranking officials, political elites in the capital, and renowned sorcerer clans from other nations. It's done to prevent unnecessary conflicts. Imagine if major powers clashed over a misunderstanding? It would be absurd and cause immense damage, not just to the nation but to ordinary people as well."
Raiden fell silent, mulling over Virelia's words. After a moment, he nodded. Keeping his identity hidden made sense. Virelia continued, her tone softening. "By concealing your status, you can interact with other students more naturally, without the weight of your family's name bearing down on you. You can live here like an ordinary person—at least for a while."
Raiden glanced at Virelia, then at Amber, who still gazed at him with a mixture of awe and trepidation. For the first time, he realized that the Heliosbane name wasn't just a source of pride—it was also a burden he'd never considered before. With a small smile, he said, "Alright, keep my identity hidden. I want to see what it's like to live without the shadow of Heliosbane looming over me."
Virelia nodded, a hint of relief crossing her face. "A wise decision."