Finally, Professor Archeota's class came to an end. At least, for today.
Caelus strode through the crowded halls alone. Kain and Rosalina went off to their next class early, saying something about wanting to get some insight from Professor Lynn.
He couldn't stop thinking about how Kain put him in the spot like that. It was reckless, stupid, and entirely unnecessary, because now... there was a new headache to worry about.
Just up ahead, Ansel and a couple of his friends were leaning against the wall. Caelus planned to walk past them, but as expected, Ansel stepped in his way.
"You must feel real good about yourself after embarrassing me like that, huh?" he muttered. "Now you're favored by the professor. Are you happy now?"
"...No one told you to lie," Caelus sighed.
"And how the fuck do you know I was lying? I did exactly what I said I did. I fought that incarnation and stabbed it in the eye. Thereafter, it died. Are you saying what I saw was just my imagination?"
"At that point, it could've very well been."
In a fit of rage, Ansel grabbed Caelus by his collar, turned him around, and slammed him against the wall. Once again, another scene was unfolding, and the infamous fallen was involved.
"I could say the same for you, couldn't I? You're just a coward who spent the last five years hiding while your house died on the battlefield. You're lucky enough to be walking these halls, so do yourself a favor and keep your mouth shut."
Countless times, Caelus had held himself back. Countless moments spent weighing the same two choices: to walk away... or to let go.
Humans are such unruly creatures. Quick to judge without proof, and quicker still to act on those judgments, convinced of their own righteousness.
It was a demon who took his father's life, yet it is humans who drag his name through the dirt long after his death. With that, the truth unfurls — a harsh, twisted reality.
In this world, there is no mercy for the fallen. Here... there is only strife.
Just as Caelus was about to raise his hand, a sharp clearing of the throat cut through the tension.
They both turned to see a young lady standing there. Ansel immediately lost his breath as he let go of Caelus's collar, his eyes widening at the sight of shimmering pink hair. There, that perpetually drowsy gaze settled upon them. Even the spectators stopped to revel in her presence.
"Whoa... It's Lady Castorica."
"What's she doing here? Don't tell me she's about to step into this mess."
"Nah, no way. There's no reason for Lady Castorica to bother herself."
Ansel was quick to dash over and offer his hand.
"Lady Castorica! H-how do you do, my lady?"
But Castorica merely stared at his hand as one would when looking at a dirty rodent. Without a word, she walked past him while flipping her hair aside.
She approached Caelus, that confident smirk returning to her face.
"Breaking our promise already, Caelus? We were supposed to study together after Liberal Arts, but instead, I catch you having fun without me."
Jaws dropped. Even Ansel, who was watching in disbelief from behind.
"...Promise?" Caelus mumbled. "I don't recall—"
She cleared her throat, maintaining that lazy yet eerily sweet smile.
"The one we made last week. Don't tell me you forgot already."
Caelus tried to remember every instance where he interacted with Castorica. The first day of class, there was nothing. The second day, she greeted him. The third day, there was small talk about illusion magic. The fourth day... What happened on the fourth day?
Then, he noticed it. Castorica was looking at him with a folded brow, as if she were questioning his intelligence. That was when he figured out her intentions.
"Ah... Yeah, I remember now," he replied.
"Pfft, took you long enough. Now come on. We've wasted enough time,"—she turned back to Ansel with an extremely threatening scowl—"on this liar who thinks he can actually kill a greater incarnation."
Without warning, Castorica took Caelus' hand and dragged him off. The silence was quickly replaced by incoherent drivel.
Eventually, they made it to an empty path next to the Liberal Arts building.
Castorica let go of his hand, throwing her arms in the air for a stretch.
"Eugh~ Phew... What a stimulating encounter," she scoffed lowly. "Did you happen to see the look on Ansel's face? He was practically speechless."
"...Lady Castorica."
"Serves him right, though. He deserves nothing less than public shame for trying to lie right in front of my brother's face."
"Lady Castorica."
"I mean, seriously? Did he really expect him to fall for such an obvious lie? In no world would that method ever work. Believe me. I've tried many times."
Caelus ruffled his hand through his hair and sighed. Only then did Castorica realize that she had been ignoring him.
"Oh. My apologies," she said. "Was there something you wanted to say?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, there was. I appreciate the help, but was grabbing my hand like that really necessary?"
She poked her chin.
"Hmm~ Not really. The devil on my shoulder told me to make Ansel jealous, so I gave in and listened to it. You know that guy proposed to me a while ago?"
"I... can't say that I did."
"It happened before the news of your return blew up, so it makes sense that you didn't. Baffling, isn't it?"
"That he proposed to you?"
"That he believed himself worthy of me. That disgusting, perverted pigs who can only ever look at a lady's bosom when talking to her."
Her shoulders trembled as if she were recalling an unpleasant moment.
"Ugh. How disgusting. Take care that you don't find yourself mingling amongst those creeps. You'll learn that high society is riddled with the likes of them. That's why I would prefer to be in the presence of commoners instead."
"Uh... huh. Anyway, thanks for the advice. I'll be on my way now."
"H-huh? Already?"
He turned around, meeting her seemingly dejected eyes.
"Was there something else you needed?"
"Not necessarily, but I very much wanted an opportunity to speak with you, even if for a moment. Because, to be honest, Caelus,"—she leaned in far too close for comfort, her voice rasping ever so charmingly—"I'm rather interested in you."
His mind went completely blank. Years upon years spent in the wilds of Wyrheim trained him to expect the unexpected... but never would he have expected those kinds of words.
"...What?"
Unlike her usual lazy demeanor, Castorica backed away and broke into a small, theatrical performance.
"The heir to the legendary House Luvelaine returning after five years as if he dug himself out of the grave just to prove a point. Truly a tale to behold, don't you think?
"I—"
"How did you find the courage to stand up against that greater incarnation all alone? What gives you that drive?"
"Wait—"
"Not only that, you broke its arms off like it was nothing. Almost as if... it wasn't your first time. How did you know to do that? Where did you learn to fight it so efficiently? Honestly, I'm dying to know."
This time, she was looking to him for a response.
"Just like in Professor Archeota's class, when you spoke up in my defense," he muttered. "How did you know that I really killed one?"
She let out an exaggerated snicker.
"Hehe~ Who do you think helped you out when your skull was getting crushed? Sure, you would've been fine due to the nature of the test, but without me, you wouldn't have landed in the top class. Pretty cool of me, huh?"
Caelus recalled the exact moment when a sudden bolt of mana struck the incarnation. Not once during that encounter did he think about the test. He simply saw the monster before him and felt the need to fight for his life. Perhaps if it had been the real deal, he would've died. And subsequently, Castorica... would've been the one to save him.
"Why did you do that?" he asked.
"Hmm? You mean, why would I save a fellow student from a demon? Well, I suppose I've heard dumber questions before."
"You know that's not what I meant."
"Hah. Then, what? Why did I help you when you're just a fallen noble? A nobody? A useless swine who will never amount to anything, no matter what?"
Caelus kept his mouth shut, so Castorica stepped up, poking her face forward with an amused smile.
"My brother is our professor, Caelus, so you should've already guessed by now," she winked. "Lancinox doesn't care about your house. Only your capabilities. If you ask me, standing up against a greater incarnation to protect your friends? Heh... I think that's a pretty big tell, don't you agree?"
He couldn't help but find this situation strange. Ever since he had arrived back in the empire, he's been met with nothing but scorn and mockery. Nobles would sooner be in the presence of a commoner than a fallen noble, yet here she is — Castorica Lancinox, a big name in the college, seeking his attention.
Suddenly, she extended a hand.
"Castorica Lancinox," she greeted, as if this was the first time they'd met. "I come from a land you wouldn't know of."
Reluctantly, Caelus took her hand.
"Caelus de Luvelaine," he said. "A fallen noble, though I assume that matters very little to you."
"Hehe. I can see why Madam World Tree likes you so much."
A shiver rode up his spine.
"You... What did you just—"
Suddenly, Castorica lunged forward, planting a finger at his lips. He could only watch as a conniving, knowing smirk grew wider on her face.
"Don't be a stranger, Caelus," she whispered. "We're friends now, hmm?"
With that, she let go and skipped along the path all giddy before turning back to wink at him.
"See you in Professor Silva's class later. And drop the formalities. Just Castorica is fine."
He only lifted a hand as she disappeared around a corner, leaving him on his own to rationalize what had just happened.
It was common knowledge that the world tree exists, but only a select few knew the entity that is Madam World Tree.
"Castorica Lancinox..." he muttered under his breath.