Azrael left the amphitheater, his footsteps echoing on the stone floors. The gardens stretched out before him, sunlight streaming over the fountains and flowers. The breeze brushed his skin, carrying the scent of blooming plants and freshly cut grass.
He wandered through the pathways, his eyes scanning the perfectly trimmed hedges and ornamental fountains. Birds sang from the trees, water splashed softly in the fountains, and the sunlight reflected off the glass windows of the academy buildings.
"I don't even know where I'm going. Where is that Class-V01?"
He rounded a corner and spotted a group of students dispersing in the distance. He was momentarily unsure of which direction to take.
He decided to ask for directions and moved toward the first person in sight. It was then that he saw her: Selena. Alone. The princess of Ardenthal.
Azrael froze, unprepared for what he saw. She wasn't surrounded by guards or aides, just standing quietly. Her silver hair shimmered under the sun, falling perfectly around her shoulders. Her eyes, a clear, piercing blue, seemed to see everything at once. Her figure was elegant, long-limbed, refined, and yet commanding.
He lowered his gaze, stepping forward as he had been taught to show respect. But before he could reach her, a hand landed on his shoulder.
He spun around instinctively, fist raised, ready to strike.
Azrael: "Don't touch me."
He expected some student, another fool trying to assert dominance or insult him. He had trained himself for this, had lived through worse. Beatings paid for by wealthy men who used him as a human punching bag.
Yet when he opened his eyes, it wasn't a student. It was Violette, smiling at him in a way that was… unsettlingly charming.
Azrael: "What do you want?"
Before he could finish, he noticed a figure beside her. Selena. Up close, in the sunlight, her presence was overwhelming. Her silver hair sparkled, and her azure eyes were sharper than any blade he'd ever seen. He understood now why the royal family commanded such attention. Most people would be helpless in front of her, but not him. Not yet.
He lowered his head slightly, about to bow in deference. Something ingrained by the old caretaker he had lost.
Violette intercepted the movement, gripping his shoulders firmly.
Violette: "Ah, still unaware, aren't you?" she teased. "Come closer. Look at her."
Azrael hesitated, wary and confused, but approached nonetheless. He examined Selena carefully. Her expression was sharp, almost disgusted, though it seemed familiar in a way he couldn't place.
After a long silence, she finally spoke.
Selena: "If I see even the slightest desire or lust in your eyes, I will condemn you to death."
Azrael responded calmly, almost indifferently.
Azrael: ""I would never get aroused by a woman, let alone by you."
Selena: "What??"
Violette rapped him lightly on the head, smirking.
Violette: "She's wearing the same black uniform as you. Just a little treat I allowed myself."
A realization hit him.
Azrael: "You made me stop and waste my time… just for that?"
Selena's eyes narrowed slightly.
Selena: "Quite arrogant for a young man from the slums."
Azrael: "We're the same age. Call me Azrael."
Selena: "No need to introduce myself. You already know mine."
Violette: "To make it short, I've taken the liberty of recruiting you as a soldier for my squad later! Basically, we'll be like a family—we'll fight together, eat together, and even… sleep together! But for now, that black uniform only serves to mark you as mine."
Azrael processed the words coldly, his face a mask of disgust.
He gave them both a curt nod, turned to leave, his steps deliberate and slow
Azrael: "…"
Violette's hand shot out again, grabbing the collar of his uniform.
Violette: "Where are you going?"
Azrael: "To class."
Violette: "Then stay with me. We're going to look for the other students."
He paused, hearing her words, and muttered under his breath.
"What… she's my teacher?"