Meli’s demeanor and the way she addressed Dorothy utterly stunned the latter. Pushing herself up onto one elbow, Dorothy scanned the room, yet found no sign of the Princess Consort Meli had spoken of.
Could it be…
Her gaze settled on Dorothy, and upon seeing the demonic sigil on the back of Dorothy’s hand, Starshimmer’s eyes widened with a mixture of horror and bewilderment.
“Meli, what is your relationship with Starshimmer?”
Ignoring Starshimmer’s reaction, Dorothy pressed Meli for an explanation. After a brief hesitation, Meli bowed again and replied, “Reporting to Your Highness, Starshimmer is my subordinate. I was the one who revealed my true identity to her and groomed her to become one of the Seven Braves.”
Just as Dorothy had suspected, Meli was the one who had altered Starshimmer’s perceptions. It was precisely because of Meli’s existence that Starshimmer found herself in such agonizing conflict between humans and demons.
“Master, you are… the Princess Consort of the Demon Race?”
Only then did Starshimmer slowly begin to process this truth. Deep down, however, she still couldn’t quite believe that the kind, gentle mentor of her childhood was, in fact, the Princess Consort of the Demon Race.
Such disrespectful words, however, infuriated Meli, who was already vexed. She cast a cold glance at Starshimmer and snapped, “Silence! Is this how you address Her Highness, the Princess Consort?!”
As a demon, to speak with such disrespect towards the Princess Consort was something she, as a trusted confidante of the Demon King, found impossible to overlook.
Dorothy, however, paid no mind to it. She merely shook her head at Meli. “It’s alright.”
Meli was petite, like a young maiden who hadn’t quite blossomed. Dorothy couldn’t help but reach out and gently pat her head, repeating softly, “It’s alright.”
Her anger inexplicably soothed, Meli gradually calmed down. She lowered her gaze, her small hands intertwining at her waist, and suddenly, her entire demeanor shifted to one of shyness.
“Understood, Your Highness…”
Her voice had softened considerably, sounding almost sweet and endearing. This drastic change left Starshimmer, who had known Meli for many years and was intimately familiar with her temperament, utterly dumbfounded.
‘Was this truly her cold, ruthless superior?’ she wondered.
Seeing that Meli had quieted, Dorothy turned to Starshimmer, a faint smile gracing her lips. “It’s as you suspected. I am the Princess Consort of the Demon Race. You only need to know this much.”
With Dorothy’s direct admission, Starshimmer finally accepted the truth. Yet, a torrent of thoughts surged through her mind.
‘Wasn’t Master the strongest Brave? How did she suddenly become the Princess Consort of the Demon Race? Was she always the Princess Consort from the beginning, and the Silverbloom Sword Princess merely a disguise?’
‘Or perhaps…’
She suddenly recalled the defeat at Silverbloom Demon King City, and a sudden realization dawned on her.
‘It must have been then that Master was forced to become the Princess Consort of the Demon Race. No wonder her reaction was so calm when I told her I wasn’t human but a demon. Master had already experienced the same suffering I did.’
‘Compared to her, I am still too young. Human or demon? Master must have already found her answer long ago.’
Looking up, Starshimmer gazed at Dorothy with eyes full of adoration. What Dorothy was about to say next would fill her with even greater gratitude.
“Meli, what is the cost of granting Starshimmer her freedom?”
Her Master wanted to restore her freedom, to free her from the burden of mandatory orders. This was akin to rescuing her from an abyss, granting her a new life.
For a moment, Starshimmer was at a loss, unsure how she could ever repay her Master’s immense kindness.
Meli cast a fleeting glance at Starshimmer, then looked at Dorothy with a hint of fondness. “There is no cost. Your Highness’s words are commands and will naturally be obeyed. However, the current situation is critical…”
As she spoke, a cloud of worry settled upon her pretty face. Dorothy’s heart sank, and she quickly commanded, “Tell me everything that has happened here, including Sophia’s purpose in sending you to the academy.”
Curtsying again, Meli held nothing back, recounting everything in detail. “His Majesty the Demon King wishes to obtain the Seed of Sin within the academy and destroy it. That is why I was sent to infiltrate the academy and carry out this mission.”
The familiar specialized term brought back unpleasant memories for Dorothy. Her brow furrowed, and her nose wrinkled slightly.
“The demon you mentioned, Naba, grew from a Seed of Sin. Its strength has reached the astonishing peak of the eighth rank. If it were to fully awaken, it could likely enter the ninth rank, and then humanity would face a catastrophe.”
Now, hearing that there was also a Seed of Sin within the academy, even Dorothy couldn’t help but feel a surge of tension.
“Where is the Seed of Sin?”
“In Edith’s body.”
“What?”
Edith was the Dean of Ruin Academy. How could she be carrying a Seed of Sin? Dorothy was perplexed.
Seeing her confusion, Meli recalled something and sighed. “Edith is a vessel for the Seed of Sin, but it wasn’t her choice. She was coerced by the Hel Organization into agreeing to become the seed’s vessel.
Over the years, the Seed of Sin within her has matured, and it is almost ready to erupt. Yet, Your Highness arrived at the academy at this time, offering her a glimmer of hope in her desperation.”
At this point, Meli’s gaze flickered away from Dorothy’s direct stare. “It’s just that Your Highness’s health is poor, and your strength is not what it once was. So she bought time for Your Highness to recuperate…”
Edith’s actions had undoubtedly put Dorothy in danger as well. This was where Meli felt guilty. As a confidante of the Demon King, she had unknowingly used the Princess Consort as a pawn, watching her fall into peril.
“Isn’t she an eighth-rank councilor? How could she be coerced by that organization?”
Dorothy’s delicate brows furrowed. She recalled Chiling mentioning that the Hel Organization consisted of madmen who made deals with demons, all depraved individuals who had lost their humanity.
“She only ascended to the eighth rank because of the Seed of Sin. Moreover, whether human or demon, once they have a weakness, they become vulnerable.”
“Is that so?”
At the mention of weaknesses, several vibrant figures flashed through Dorothy’s mind, including Celia’s smiling face.
She clenched her fists slightly and asked in a low voice, “What is the current situation?”
“After learning that Starshimmer intended to send you out of the academy, Edith prematurely activated the Seed of Sin within her. Soon, the entire academy will be enveloped in demonic aura, and no one will survive this catastrophe…”
Meli glared at Starshimmer with hatred. Her injuries had been inflicted by Edith; upon discovering Starshimmer’s plan, the Dean had rushed to the library, intending to kill them.
Unfortunately, she had not succeeded.
“Where is she?”
What was Edith planning to do? Meli froze at Dorothy’s question, remembering the figure she had killed in the library.
“You don’t know where she is?”
“She’s dead. I killed her,” Meli said softly, her eyes filled with apology.
Realizing Dorothy’s intent, Meli urged, “Your Highness should not push yourself. Although the Seed of Sin has not fully matured, Edith, who activated it, has already touched the brink of the ninth rank. No human Brave will be her match. The teleportation array out of the academy is still operational. Please, Your Highness, seize this opportunity to escape quickly. We will also find a way to leave the academy later…”
Deeply aware that she was the culprit behind all this, Starshimmer also echoed, her face full of shame, “Yes, Master, you are only at the seventh rank now, and your body is still very weak…”
She didn’t know how her Master had performed miracles in Vidona, but replicating that now was simply impossible. After all, even at her peak, her Master had only been at the peak of the eighth rank.
But Dorothy did not agree with them. She stubbornly walked past Meli, pushed the obstructing Starshimmer aside, then opened the office door and left.
Just like Edith, she also had people she had to protect.
They were her weaknesses too.
****
Meanwhile, after finishing her breakfast, Celia found Aurora and Isha, having read the note Dorothy left for her.
They seemed more studious than she was; even on a weekend, they carried books and headed to a classroom for self-study. However, it was more accurate to say that Aurora was studious, while Isha was merely dragged along.
Celia curiously circled Isha, and after noticing that her mood was completely different from the past few days, Isha asked with curiosity, “Celia, where did you go yesterday? I didn’t see you all day.”
Recalling yesterday’s experience, Celia’s lips curved into an inexplicable smile.
“I went on a date for two,” she hummed.
“Eh? With whom?”
“Lena, in her younger days.”
Upon hearing that she had gone on a date for two with Lena, Isha’s eyes widened, and she exclaimed, “Cheating! Celia, you little greedy cat, you’ve been cheating on us again!”
This truly made her jealous. She had lived with Sister Lena for so long but had never experienced a date for two. Moreover, whenever she tried to get close to her alone, Aurora and Celia would always appear at her side at the most inconvenient times.
“How infuriating!”
“Hmph!”
Celia did not reveal the fact that she and Lena were mother and daughter. Instead, she let out a childish huff, prompting Isha to charge at her, playfully brandishing her claws.
Watching them laugh and play, Aurora wore a helpless expression. Everything seemed to have returned to the past, to when they were striving in Vidona.
From Vidona to Ruin Academy, no matter what happened, their friendship would never change.
Lost in thought, she unintentionally brushed past a student. Realizing something was amiss, she turned back and noticed the student’s peculiar gait.
They walked like a zombie, as if their soul had been stolen.
Dark circles rimmed their eyes, and veins bulged on their face, as though they carried immense pressure daily.
Celia, who had been playfully bickering with Isha, gradually calmed down. A hint of unease surfaced on her face.
“What’s wrong, Celia? Are you starting to repent your mistakes?!”
Hands on her hips, Isha stood before Celia like a victor. The latter subconsciously bit her lip, not responding.
After a moment of silence, Celia clasped her hands behind her back, looked up at the sky, and then asked Isha, “Do you hate demons?”
“Demons? Hmm…” Isha tapped her finger on her lip. “Of course I hate them. Books say they are bloody and cruel, sworn enemies of human Braves. When you meet one, it’s a fight to the death and all that…”
“Is that so?”
Celia’s hands, clasped behind her back, intertwined tightly, seemingly disappointed by Isha’s answer. Aurora, however, saw through it all and sighed.
“Demons are actually no different from humans; it’s just a matter of different standpoints. Didn’t stories exist in the past about humans and demons becoming friends? So, I actually have no prejudice against demons.”
“Eh? There are such stories?”
She rubbed her eyes. Although Isha didn’t fully grasp the meaning of Aurora’s words, she sensed Celia’s low spirits. So, she leaned closer to her and rubbed her cheek.
“Move aside! I still have Sister Lena’s floral scent on me; you’ll rub it off!”
“Nonsense! Sister Lena’s scent has already faded!”
Seeing them push each other, Aurora let out a chuckle.
Although Celia hadn’t told her, Aurora knew that half of Celia’s bloodline came from demons. She also felt that Celia’s worries were excessive; given Isha’s personality, even if she knew Celia was a demon, it was impossible for her to dislike her.
Moreover, now was not the time to be thinking about such things.
Stepping forward, Aurora grabbed their wrists, stopping them from moving further. The two looked back at her in confusion, but Aurora simply lifted her chin, signaling them to look ahead.
On the path ahead, near the fountain plaza, a scattered group of people stood. Most of them wore student uniforms, academy students.
At first glance, there seemed to be nothing strange about them, but upon closer observation, one could see their eyes were vacant, as if their souls had been snatched away by something.
Aside from the rustling of leaves, the surroundings were eerily silent; no conversation could be heard from them.
“What’s wrong with them?”
“I don’t know, but we should escape quickly.”
A sinister premonition filled Celia’s heart. No matter what happened, high-ranking mentors within the academy would handle it. Therefore, their priority now was to protect themselves.
After saying this, she pulled Isha and Aurora’s small hands and ran towards an empty corner. Fortunately, these seemingly soulless students did not pursue them.
Celia had intended to go to the academic affairs office today to receive her academy punishment, even preparing herself for expulsion. Now, it seemed completely unnecessary.
Something major had likely happened at Ruin Academy.
“Those people just now…”
“They’ve lost something.”
Aurora’s expression was grave. Being exceptionally knowledgeable about demons, she could observe more than Celia and Isha. These people gave her a feeling of incompleteness; their souls were not even whole.
Just as she pondered what they had lost, a blood-red figure suddenly appeared before them, accompanied by a hoarse, taunting voice, “Oh, how thoughtful of you. Waiting in such a secluded spot to be caught by me?”
Broken bat wings spread to both sides, blocking their escape route. A foul stench permeated the air, and sharp fangs and claws were revealed at that moment.
“A sixth-rank demon?”
Celia’s pupils constricted the instant she saw it.