As the first class of the semester wrapped up, Headmistress Seren walked the grand, empty corridor alone. Each step of her heels sent a crisp clack echoing through the silence. She paused at a tall window, gazing down at the courtyard below, where students bustled with careless youth.
"What a beautiful sight," she murmured. "Those children down there... the future of this empire. Brilliant minds, sharp swords, and yet... there should have been more. Much, much more."
A soft sigh escaped her lips.
"But alas, the greed of man seldom allows us peace, does it... Little Kitten?"
Just then, a figure shifted from the shadows of a nearby curtain. A hooded girl leaned against a pillar, arms crossed. Pale cyan hair framed her face, feline ears flicking irritably, while a thin tail swayed behind her. From beneath the hood, a pair of sharp violet eyes gleamed.
"The greed of man is what built this world of hatred," Alune replied coldly. "Your kind clings to a goddess that demands light without acknowledging its shadows."
Seren chuckled softly.
"Heh... Indeed. Humanity will never stop fighting. Even if only one remains, they'll find something to blame for their sins. After all, sin never belongs solely to the sinner. Egocentrism is our greatest legacy. To this day, I wonder why your master hasn't burned this land to ash."
"Do you truly believe that's what he wants?" Alune asked.
Seren held her gaze for a long, silent moment. Then, a rare softness crossed her face.
"No," she admitted. "Arkus de Vellum may be the Ego of Strife, but he possesses a restraint that would serve our emperors well... including the one who sits upon the throne now."
"Then why do you still serve them? You know what they are. What they've done. They take and take. Without remorse, without mercy. Even the fallen have no peace, their corpses still weighed down by the avarice of man."
"And yet, here you are. Still clinging to him."
Alune stiffened.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about."
"Pfft~ Little Kitten... I raised you, remember? Did you really think I wouldn't see through your lies?"
At last, Seren turned to face her fully. That same smile — not mocking, not cruel, but filled with a warmth Alune hadn't seen in years — made her chest ache.
"He's different," Alune whispered, barely meeting her gaze.
"Quite," Seren scoffed, smooth and almost fond. "An enigma. Caelus de Luvelaine... heir to a house that no longer exists. Do you know what they call him? Coward. Deserter. A fallen noble with no merit. A nobody. And yet, he survived the Erinel Forest. Stands among the top. Walks these halls as if he's always belonged."
The smile on Seren's lips lingered, but the warmth in her eyes had vanished.
"And none of them realize what truly matters. That Arkus de Vellum took him in, and with that, placed him squarely in line to inherit the Ego of Strife."
Alune's throat tightened. She had always known Seren to be meticulous and calculating, her every word measured to deliver precisely what she wanted to say. And yet, even with that knowledge, those words still landed.
Seren took a step closer.
"You knew that, didn't you? You knew the Ego would find him. That if Arkus falls, and Caelus claims the title... the Cycle of Strife will begin anew."
Her icy voice weighed heavily, and Alune felt herself sinking beneath it.
"And still, you stand by. Watch him continue down this path, knowing exactly what awaits the one you claim to care for so much. Knowing... that one day, he will fall—"
"Stop!" Alune shouted, spinning away.
Her voice echoed through the empty corridor, brittle and desperate, carrying the guilt she'd buried for years.
The truth was, she had known. She'd known all along. And chose to ignore it.
Why?
"I don't mean to hurt him," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I just... I want to stay with Cael."
There was no pity in Seren's narrow eyes. Only inevitability.
"Even if it means watching him fall the same way Arkus did?"
Alune said nothing. She didn't have to. The answer was obvious, and she couldn't bring herself to speak it.
Seren gave a slow sigh, then turned back toward the window, admiring the shifting clouds above.
"The child of humanity's greatest enemy... attending a college full of students who are trained to hunt him down," Seren scoffed. "That's quite an alarming situation, don't you agree?"
"...So, what? Are you gonna expose him?"
"That depends entirely on you."
"Me?"
Seren turned to look at her again, but the warmth had completely faded. It was instead replaced by a sharp cold capable of petrifying even this demon commander.
"What is Caelus' goal?" she asked. "For what reason did he return to the empire after mingling with demons for five years?"
Unable to answer, Alune shriveled up and began fidgeting with her fingers. But Seren wasn't willing to give her time to hesitate.
"Answer me honestly, Little Kitten," she muttered dangerously. "You know that lies and deceit seldom work on me. If the Ego of Strife has set his eyes on this place, I will be the first to know. And if I must... I will eliminate any and all possible threats to protect my students. That includes you and Caelus."
The pressure she emitted was enough to make Alune cower. Those cautious and threatening words left an impeccable impression, sharp enough to cut stone. It was clear where she stood on this matter, and it wasn't a kind stance.
"It's... personal matters," Alune said as steadily as she could.
"I'm not liking where this is going."
"I-it's not anything bad! I swear! I'm just... not sure if I should say it in his place."
"Is that so?"
She shut her eyes in a moment of pondering.
"Let me him stay, Seren," Alune mumbled, almost to the point of begging. "I promise you, he's not gonna do anything to harm the college or its students."
"And what reason do I have to believe a member of the Malevolence?"
This time, Alune didn't have a rebuttal. It was already enough that Seren was tolerating her presence here. Asking for a favor was far out of reach, but she had to try. For Caelus' sake.
"Goodness gracious..." Seren said, her voice dropping. "You know that I'm already taking a huge risk by allowing this, don't you?"
"...I know."
"And yet, you would still ask me to stand idly by?"
Again, Alune didn't reply, so the only thing that Seren could do was study her body language. It was stiff, and her shoulders scrunched forward. Her tail was wagging without aim, a sign that she was anxious. Never had she seen this wild, carefree girl restraining herself from causing utter chaos, so this was rather perplexing... and convincing.
"Well, as long as your presence doesn't bring harm to my students, then I shall allow it." Seren sighed, then softened her gaze on Alune. "Little Kitten... You really care about that boy, don't you?"
She only gave the faintest nod.
Seren chuckled lightly and reached out, brushing a hand over Alune's head, her fingers trailing through pale hair and twitching ears. The gesture was gentle, but carried the weight of years.
"I see. Then I suppose I'll have to keep a careful eye on him."
Her silvery gaze sharpened.
"I wouldn't want my adorable furball causing a scene should something happen to him."
"You won't have to worry about that," Alune grumbled. "I'll keep him out of trouble."
Seren raised a brow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "You? Keeping someone out of trouble? Perhaps you should learn to do that for yourself before entertaining the idea of managing someone else."
"I-I can handle it!"
"Mm. Of course you can." Seren chuckled, gesturing toward the corridor. "Now off you pop, Little Kitten. I imagine Caelus's first class is letting out, and I'd hate for you to miss your opportunity to be obnoxious."
Without another word, Alune pulled away. She gave Seren one last look before disappearing into the shadows.
Once again, Seren was left alone. With a small sigh, she turned her gaze back to the window. The once-empty courtyard had come alive, students bustling about as they hurried to their next class, laughter and idle chatter spilling into the air.
Her eyes, though tranquil, carried a distant, knowing gleam.
"An old child of mine... a demon walking these halls in secret. The one touched — or perhaps burdened — by the Ego of Strife. So many notable names, from proud houses and imperial bloodlines alike, weaving their petty games into my college."
She exhaled slowly, then let a soft, amused giggle slip from her lips.
"Oh, dear... what an interesting year this will be."