Sunlight filtered through the tree branches, making every corner of the garden clearly visible. Len's golden eyes looked even larger now. He had forgotten to blink.
The deep creases on Len's forehead and the slight quivering of his lips clearly spoke of his profound confusion. He was watching Eric so minutely, as if trying to read a hidden truth upon his skin.
Eric sat still as well. His gaze followed every expression flickering across Len's face. There was a strange stillness in the quiet afternoon air.
"On your neck..." Len's voice came out like a faint whisper, as if he were questioning himself. "There is... no bite mark at all. Nothing."
Len's fingers still lingered near Eric's collar, but he didn't have the courage to touch that clear skin again. Eric kept his gaze locked with Len's—a deep and unbreakable connection.
Then, a very faint, mysterious smile emerged on Eric's lips. With great ease, he raised his index finger and placed it right in the center of his lips. The gesture called for silence, but it held a deep sense of trust.
"It's a secret," Eric said in a very low tone.
There was a glint in Eric's eyes that was beyond Len's comprehension. He was smiling, but the depth in his eyes instantly calmed the storm of questions rising within Len.
Eric removed his finger from his lips and, taking a deep breath, stood up quickly. That familiar playfulness had returned to his face. "Come on, let's go eat now," he said with a smile, extending his small hand toward Len. His open palm was a trusting invitation.
Len stared at that hand for a few moments. The storm inside him was finally subsiding. He took a long breath, calmed himself completely, and gripped Eric's hand firmly.
As he stood up, a faint smile blossomed on Len's face as well. "Yes, let's go," he said. The two children began walking toward the massive palace gates with their small steps.
On the other side, Ethos stood on a high vantage point, his cold and sharp gaze fixed on the backs of the two children. He continued to watch them until they began to vanish into the palace shadows. There was a strange emptiness on Ethos's face, as if he were lost in deep thought.
Just then, a man standing near Ethos sensed his silence. He smiled and placed his hand on Ethos's shoulder, as if pulling him back from his world of thoughts.
Ethos slowly turned his head and looked at the man. Without saying a word, he turned his gaze back toward the soldiers who were practicing with their swords and shields in the courtyard. The 'clink-clank' of weapons echoed in the air, and Ethos's attention returned once more to that game of discipline and power.
🛡️ VALTHORIN INSTITUTE OF HUNTERS
called out loudly, "Luka! Come on, let's play for a while!"
Haru stood right next to Yuki, watching Luka expectantly. Luka didn't put his sword back in its scabbard; instead, he carefully rested it on a side stand. He cast a brief glance toward the boys and said in a calm tone, "Alright, wait... I'm coming."
Luka headed toward the exit of the room where a security barrier of blue light beams stretched from wall to wall. As Luka crossed through the laser-like security field, a faint 'beep' sounded, and he entered the main corridor. He began to stride quickly toward his room.
On the way, a girl appeared from the opposite direction, smiling. A spark lit up her eyes when she saw Luka. "Luka! Do you have any plans to head out with me today?" she asked hopefully.
There wasn't a hint of hesitation in Luka's pace, nor did he lock eyes with her. "No, I don't want to go out," he answered flatly and kept walking.
The girl's face fell instantly. She puffed out both her cheeks, looking thoroughly annoyed by Luka's indifference. "Fine! Go then, I'm going alone!" she shouted after him, stomping her foot in anger.
By then, Luka had reached the heavy metal door of his room. He pulled a smart card from his pocket and tapped it on the scanner.
A mechanical 'click' followed, and the door slid aside on its own. As Luka stepped into the silent, dark room, he was cut off from the noise outside.
The noise outside was left behind, and Luka was now in his private domain. The interior of the room was stark and perfectly organized. Deep blue light seeping from the wall panels illuminated every corner, making the entire room feel filled with a cool aura, much like a modern laboratory.
In this blue glow, everything—from the edge of the table to the sheen of the floor—was clearly visible.
Luka's steps moved without hesitation toward a sleek wardrobe built into the wall.
He pulled open a drawer without making a sound. From the pile of clean clothes kept inside, he took out a pair and held them in his hand.
The blue light emphasized the contours of his calm face even more. He turned and walked straight toward the shower area. The door slid aside as he approached, and Luka stepped inside. Within moments, the faint echo of falling water began to resonate through the silent room bathed in blue light.
Refreshed from the shower, Luka emerged with a completely different appearance. He had discarded his heavy training uniform. In its place, he now wore a simple white shirt and black trousers. On the right side of the shirt, the distinct Valthorin Academy emblem caught the light and gleamed.
He walked over to the full-length mirror in the room and stood still. He fixed his gaze on his reflection. His wet hair was scattered across his forehead, which he quickly and neatly slicked back using his fingers.
After a final look to ensure everything was in order, he headed for the door. As he moved his hand toward the door's sensor, the heavy metal panel slid aside soundlessly.
Luka left the cool corridors of the academy behind and stepped outside. As he moved out of the main building, the golden afternoon sun and the open air greeted him. A vast field stretched out before him, where the greenery of the velvet grass offered a soothing sight for the eyes.
Luka's gaze came to rest on a wooden bench at the corner of the field. Yuki and Haru were sitting there quite comfortably, looking as though they were waiting for Luka to arrive. Without pausing, Luka's steps began to move directly toward them.
Luka's steps moved silently across the grass, coming to a halt directly in front of the bench. His white shirt gleamed even brighter in the sunlight. Seeing him standing there, Yuki tilted his neck back and knit his brows with a hint of annoyance and anger.
"Do you really never get tired, Luka?" Yuki asked, adding a bit of firmness to his voice. "Even after class ends, you keep yourself locked in that closed room. Do your bones not know the meaning of exhaustion?
" He stretched his arms out, taking up more space on the bench. "It's important to actually play in this sunlight sometimes, you know?"
Haru, sitting nearby, nodded in agreement, as if he too had been waiting for this point to be made.
A calm, faint smile emerged on Luka's face, one that was slightly softer than his usual demeanor. He shrugged his shoulders and replied casually, "I had plenty of free time left."
He looked down at his hands, which had been gripping a heavy sword just a while ago. "It felt better to practice some swordsmanship for a bit rather than just sitting alone. It keeps the mind steady."
Yuki let out a heavy sigh and rolled his eyes, as if he knew that convincing Luka was no easy task. A cool breeze swept across the field between them, causing the collar of Luka's shirt to flutter slightly.