章 20: Freshman Ball IV
The grin on Cecilia's face vanished the moment Seraphina spoke.
"Oh, my apologies," Cecilia giggled, her eyes glinting, "I think my hearing is acting up. Did I hear correctly? You won't give me Arthur?"
Before Seraphina could reply, I intervened.
"Wait, who's giving whom?" I interjected with mock confusion.
Both Cecilia and Seraphina turned to me, their expressions registering surprise as if it hadn't occurred to them that I might have a say in this matter. Look, ladies, I happen to be the one in question here.
Sure, the idea of two gorgeous girls vying for my attention might sound like a dream to most guys. However, I saw through the charade – Cecilia was playing games, using me as a pawn in her amusement against Seraphina, who, in turn, seemed to 'want' me more out of a desire for genuine friendship than anything romantic.
Adding to the mix, there was the impending threat of the Shadow Seekers attacking during the post-party. A powerful Shadow Seeker was slated to hold off Nero, preventing his timely arrival to help. According to the novel, the imperial knights from the Slatemark Empire would eventually come to our aid.
"Okay, both of you, chill," I sighed, addressing the absurdity of the situation. Turning to Cecilia, I said, "Sorry, Cecilia, but tonight I'm Seraphina's date. Catch you later."
She responded with a playful pout before leaning in to whisper, "My bed's gonna be so cold without you."
My cheeks flushed as she walked away with a seductive smile.
Honestly, who in their right mind made a princess with such a personality? The author clearly had a penchant for royal drama.
I let out another sigh, attempting to cool the warmth creeping up my cheeks. Seraphina's hand suddenly touched my face.
"Sera?" I questioned. Her eyes scrutinized me, and then she asked, "Are you feeling unwell, Arthur?"
"...."
We shared a silent exchange, no words spoken, before laughter bubbled up from me. She tilted her head in confusion, but I didn't elaborate.
"Let's head inside; we've lingered out here for quite a while," I suggested, placing my hand on the small of her back and guiding her back into the hall.
Despite the chilly outdoor air, the strengthened bodies provided by mana made the cold negligible for us. Nevertheless, being away from the main event for an extended period was bound to stir up some gossip.
As soon as we stepped inside, all eyes turned in our direction.
"....."
What on earth was going on here? The realization slowly dawned on me.
You see, Cecilia and I were the sole occupants of the balcony, and she had discreetly signaled the other students to make a run for it. That alone was suspicious, but then Seraphina entered the balcony. Some time passed before Cecilia left and Seraphina and I emerged together.
To the young minds in this room, it looked like the brewing of some grand royal-imperial drama!
'Annoying,' I thought as I ignored their stares and focused on the departure of the professors. It seems that they announced the beginning of the after-party before I was able to return.
"Hey, Arthur!" Ian greeted, flanked by two attractive girls. "What went down on the balcony?"
"Nothing much, just a chat with Cecilia," I replied, offering a casual smile.
"Didn't look like a typical chat," he teased, winking. "People don't turn that shade of red after ordinary conversations, you know."
My eyes widened, and I wondered if the blush was still evident. "And it wasn't just you," Ian continued with a chuckle, "The Princess looked a bit flushed too."
"He's not blushing, Ian," Seraphina interjected, her voice flat. "He's feeling unwell."
A sudden hush fell over Ian and the two girls on his arms. Unwell? In a world where medical technology had advanced to the point of near impossibility for anyone to fall ill, labeling someone as "unwell" was an unexpected conclusion. My shock mirrored their doubtful expressions.
Ian's crimson eyes locked onto Seraphina's crystalline gaze, his lips betraying a subtle twitch. However, after a brief internal debate, he chose to let the matter slide without uttering a word.
I couldn't shake the feeling that things might have taken a disastrous turn had he decided otherwise.
Our focus swiftly shifted to the after-party. Unlike the refined elegance of the formal ball, the after-party adopted a more traditional revelry atmosphere. The crowd danced with unbridled enthusiasm, despite the absence of any actual alcohol, to the pulsating beats of lively music.
The shift in musical genre from classical to pop marked the commencement of a night of unbridled celebration. In this world that seamlessly blended traditional nobility with the vibrancy of modernity, the nobles danced with the same fervor as the affluent partygoers on Earth. It was an intriguing juxtaposition that defined the unique dynamics of this world.
As the night unfolded into a kaleidoscope of rhythmic revelry, the after-party gained momentum. The dance floor transformed into a lively spectacle, with nobles and students alike moving to the infectious beats of contemporary tunes. The fusion of traditional and modern elements in the celebration was a testament to the cultural richness of Mythos Academy.
Amidst the swirl of dancers, I found myself caught up in the energetic atmosphere. Seraphina, although less inclined to the exuberant festivities, didn't seem entirely out of place. I guided her through the animated crowd, both of us succumbing to the infectious spirit of the party.
The lively atmosphere of the after-party had shifted into a chaotic frenzy. Amidst the dancing and celebration, Jin stood stoically at the periphery, his disinterest in the revelry now proving to be a strategic advantage. I had discreetly signaled him to keep a watchful eye on the bathroom, suspecting it to be the focal point of the Shadow Seekers' first assault.
The sudden, blood-curdling scream shattered the music's rhythm, signaling the initiation of the attack. The bathroom, a seemingly innocuous space, erupted in a violent explosion, its structural integrity shattered by the dark forces at play.
"AGHHH!"
The collective gasp of the partygoers echoed through the hall as the shadows manifested, revealing the malevolent intruders. The Umbravale Covenant, a notorious cult entwined with the Shadow Seekers, unleashed their contracted creatures upon the unsuspecting revelers.
The emergence of these black magic creatures, forged through unholy contracts, marked the beginning of a perilous confrontation. The Umbravale Covenant had established dominance after the decline of the vampires, wielding formidable power with their several <Immortal>-ranked entities.
I refocused my attention on the unfolding chaos, realizing that the fabricated world of the novel had materialized into a nightmarish reality. The once-vibrant after-party had metamorphosed into a battleground, with the students of Mythos Academy thrust into a fight against the encroaching shadows.
As the shattered remnants of the bathroom revealed the emergence of Shadow Seekers and their cult followers, a sense of urgency gripped the air.
The sudden onslaught of Shadow Seekers and cult members seemed oddly manageable in number, prompting me to question the narrative's fidelity to the novel's plot. However, before I could dwell too long on this incongruity, a potent force swept through the gathering, a suffocating pressure that left most students gasping for breath.
I shifted my attention to the source of this overpowering presence—the ominous figure of a two-meter-tall Shadow Seeker. True to its name, the creature embodied darkness itself, with only a pair of crimson eyes piercing through the shadowy silhouette. Its weapon, a black blade, hinted at the lethal capabilities it possessed.
Yet, the true revelation lay not in its eerie appearance but in its strength, a force equivalent to an <Integration>-rank mage. The disparity between the anticipated narrative and the unfolding reality struck me, questioning the chronological alignment of events. According to the novel, this formidable foe was slated to appear after the students had valiantly confronted the other Shadow Seekers, serving as a climactic testament to the challenges that lay ahead for Lucifer.
The untimely arrival of the formidable Rank 6 Shadow Seeker disrupted the carefully woven fabric of the expected narrative. This unexpected twist posed a serious challenge, not only to the characters within the story but also to the established pacing and anticipated character growth.
In the hierarchy of magical ranks, the chasm between <Integration>-rank and <White>-rank was vast, dwarfing even the disparity between <Silver>-rank and <White>-rank. This wasn't a mere incremental increase; a newly minted <Integration>-rank entity boasted a mana capacity and output nearly ten times that of a pinnacle <White>-rank being. While the potential for surpassing this gap existed, it required an ascent to the peak of <White>-rank with a high level mastery of Grade 5 and 6 arts, a feat far beyond Lucifer's current capabilities.
The looming confrontation painted a troublesome picture. Lucifer, still navigating the challenges of <White>-rank, faced an adversary whose power exceeded anything he had encountered thus far.
"Class 1-B, 1-C, and 1-D," I commanded with urgency, "Prepare to engage the cult members and the Shadow Seeker underlings. Keep a safe distance from the behemoth in plain sight."
Addressing Class 1-A, I continued, "Ready yourselves to confront and defeat the creature."
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