Three days after the confrontation with Master Roderick, the academy felt like a battlefield that had yet to begin. Aeris walked through the corridors with his head down, trying to avoid the curious stares and whispers of the other students. What made him even more uncomfortable was the presence of Seraphina who almost never left him alone.
"Aeris," Seraphina's soft voice sounded right beside her, "you haven't touched your breakfast."
They were sitting at the academy's dining table, but Aeris had no appetite at all. Ever since the incident that night, the system had been giving his constant warnings that were making him uneasy.
[SYSTEM UPDATE: TIMELINE DEVIATION CRITICAL]
[ORIGINAL PLOT: 67% ALTERED]
[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE]
[WARNING: FAILURE TO COMPLETE MAY RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES]
"New quest?" Aeris muttered softly as he stared at the system notification that only he could see.
"What?" Seraphina leaned in with her violet eyes full of concern. "Did you say something?"
"Ah, nothing. Just... thinking about Professor Helena's assignment," Aeris lied with an awkward smile.
Seraphina smiled sweetly, her hand moving to touch Aeris' arm in a gesture that looked innocent but possessive. "Don't think too much about it. I can help you with any assignment."
Before Aeris could respond, Elena and Leon approached their table. Elena looked tired with dark circles under her eyes, while Leon... there was something different about his expression. Leon's blue eyes looked harder than usual.
"Morning," Elena sat down heavily across from them. "Have you heard the rumors?"
"What rumors?" Aeris asked, though he had a bad feeling about her answer.
Leon sat up with a tense posture. "About the noble families who are starting to... take an interest in our situation."
Seraphina's violet eyes narrowed dangerously. "Which noble families?"
"House Blackthorn, House Silvermere, and..." Elena hesitated for a moment, "House Ravencrest."
The last name made Aeris tense. In the original novels, House Ravencrest was one of the most ambitious and dangerous families in the kingdom.
"They heard about the dungeon incident," Leon continued in a slightly bitter tone. "And about... unusual taming abilities."
[QUEST DETAILS UNLOCKED]
[MAIN OBJECTIVE: Prevent original timeline collapse]
[SUB-OBJECTIVE 1: Maintain balance between major noble houses]
[SUB-OBJECTIVE 2: Prevent Leon's corruption arc]
[SUB-OBJECTIVE 3: Control Seraphina's yandere escalation]
[REWARD: System upgrade + Timeline stabilization]
[FAILURE PENALTY: Complete narrative collapse]
Aeris felt his head spinning as he looked at the complex quest. Each objective seemed nearly impossible to achieve, especially with Seraphina growing more possessive by the day.
"And there's something else," Elena said in a low voice. "My father sent a letter last night. The Guild Association will be sending an official delegation to the academy today."
"Today?" Aeris almost choked.
"They want to conduct 'formal interviews' with the students involved in the dungeon incident,"
Elena looked at Aeris with worry in her eyes. "Especially you."
Seraphina suddenly stood up, her eyes blazing. "I won't let them."
"Seraphina—"
"No, Aeris." Her voice was cold but quivering with intense emotion. "They won't touch you. Not while I'm still breathing."
Leon watched their interaction with an unreadable expression. "Valencia, you can't go against the entire Guild Association."
"Really?" Seraphina turned to him with an unfriendly smile. "Have you forgotten who I am, Leon Ashford?"
There was a sudden tension between them. Leon—who in the original timeline was a main character with a hero complex—looked... frustrated. Even a little angry.
"I haven't forgotten," Leon replied in a louder tone than usual. "But I also haven't forgotten that I'm the one who's supposed to protect our friends."
[ALERT: LEON ASHFORD PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE DETERIORATING]
[HERO COMPLEX CHALLENGED]
[CORRUPTION ARC: 23% PROGRESSION]
"Supposedly?" Seraphina laughed, but her laugh was devoid of humor. "And where were you when Aeris nearly died in the dungeon? Where were you when he faced the Ancient Basilisk alone?"
Leon clenched his fists. "I—"
"You're useless," Seraphina cut him off cruelly. "Do you think you're a hero? You can't even protect someone important to you."
"Seraphina, enough," Aeris pulled her arm away. he could see the pain in Leon's eyes.
But the damage had already been done. Leon stood up with a dark expression. "Maybe you're right, Valencia. Maybe I am useless."
He walked away with heavy steps, leaving an uncomfortable atmosphere at the table.
Elena stared at Seraphina with angry eyes. "That wasn't necessary, Seraphina."
"Whether necessary or not, it is the truth," Seraphina replied coldly. "Leon Ashford is too weak to protect anyone. Aeris needs someone more... decisive."
A few hours later, as Aeris was walking towards the library to find a way to solve his system quest, he came across someone he did not expect.
"Ah, so you are the famous Aeris."
A platinum-haired young man with emerald green eyes stood in the hallway, surrounded by several students who were clearly bodyguards. His clothes were expensive and he bore the emblem of House Ravencrest on his chest.
"Damien Ravencrest," the young man introduced himself with a charming but calculating smile.
"I have wanted to meet you for a long time."
Aeris sensed danger from the figure before him. In the original novels, Damien was one of the main antagonists who was manipulative and ambitious.
"Nice to meet you too," Aeris replied cautiously.
"I heard you have a very... interesting ability," Damien stepped closer with a glint in his eyes.
"Ancient Taming Magic, is it? It is very... valuable."
[WARNING: DAMIEN RAVENCREST DETECTED]
[THREAT LEVEL: HIGH]
[KNOWN OBJECTIVES: Acquire rare magical abilities for House Ravencrest]
"I don't know what you mean," Aeris tried to sound innocent.
Damien laughed softly. "There's no need to pretend. House Ravencrest has a vast information network." He leaned in close enough to whisper. "And we're interested in forming... a partnership with a talent like yourself."
"A partnership?"
"A marriage alliance," Damien said bluntly. "House Ravencrest is willing to provide full protection, unlimited resources, and a very high position in noble society. All we ask is... your loyalty and ability."
Aeris took a step back. "I... I need to think about it."
"Of course. But don't take too long," Damien smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "There are many who are after your abilities. And not all of them are as friendly as we are."
He turned to leave, but paused. "Oh, and Aeris? Be careful of Valencia. That family is known for their... unhealthy obsession with the things they consider theirs."
After Damien left, Aeris stood alone in the corridor, his thoughts a jumbled mess. A marriage proposal from House Ravencrest, a warning about Seraphina, and an increasingly complex system quest.
[ANALYSIS: SITUATION ESCALATING RAPIDLY]
[MULTIPLE NOBLE HOUSES NOW INVOLVED]
[SERAPHINA'S REACTION TO RIVAL SUITORS: UNPREDICTABLE]
"Aeris?"
A familiar voice made her turn. Seraphina stood at the end of the corridor, her violet eyes glowing strangely. From the look on her face, it was clear she had seen the entire conversation with Damien.
"Who is it?" Her voice was calm, but there was a dangerous undertone to it.
"Just... a student introducing himself," Aeris answered, trying to sound casual.
Seraphina walked closer with measured steps. "A student? With the emblem of House Ravencrest?"
Aeris swallowed. "Seraphina—"
"What did he want from you?" Her violet eyes were unblinking as they stared at Aeris.
"Nothing important—"
"DON'T LIE TO ME!" Seraphina suddenly shouted, a dark aura exploding from her body. Several students who passed by immediately ran away in fear.
Aeris stepped back, shocked by the sudden outburst. "Seraphina, calm down—"
"Calm down?" Seraphina's eyes were glassy but still burning with terrifying intensity. "How can I be calm when another man is trying to take you from me?"
"No one is trying to take—"
"I saw the way he looked at you!" Seraphina stepped forward, pinning Aeris against the wall. "I saw the way he smiled! He wants you, and I WILL NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!"
[CRITICAL ALERT: SERAPHINA PSYCHOLOGICAL BREAK IMMINENT]
[YANDERE LEVEL: MAXIMUM]
[VIOLENCE PROBABILITY: 89%]
"Seraphina, listen to me," Aeris said in a voice that tried to soothe. "No one is going to take me away from anyone. I'm not... nobody's."
Seraphina's eyes widened in hurt. "No one's?"
"I mean—"
"You're saying you're not anybody's?" his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "After everything I've done for you? After I've protected you, cared for you, given you my whole heart?"
Seraphina placed both hands on the wall, trapping Aeris completely. Her violet eyes stared straight into him with an intensity that left him unable to move.
"You. Are. Mine," she said, emphasizing every word. "And if anyone else tries to take you..."
The smile that appeared on her face was both the most beautiful and the most terrifying smile Aeris had ever seen.
"Then I will make sure they can't do it again. Forever."
That night, in his luxurious private chambers, Damien Ravencrest was writing a letter to his father about "target acquisition" when he heard a strange noise outside the window.
When he turned his head, all he saw was darkness. But something was wrong. The air felt... cold. And there was a faint scent of roses, but mixed with something darker.
"Who's there?" he asked, reaching for his wand.
There was no answer. Only an eerie silence.
Damien walked to the window and looked out. The academy grounds looked normal, with crystal chandeliers lighting the path.
He was about to turn away when he caught a glimpse of a shadow moving through the trees. A shadow with violet eyes that glowed in the darkness.
"Valencia," he muttered with a mocking smile. "Trying to scare me?"
But when he turned his head again, the shadow had disappeared. All that was left was silence and the scent of roses that was getting stronger.
And in the darkness of his room, Damien didn't realize that there was someone standing right behind him, with a beautiful smile and eyes that burned with murderous intent.
"Good night, Damien," a sweet voice whispered in his ear. "We need to talk about the proposal from this afternoon."