บท 67: Like Father, Like Daughter

Esdeath and Maruti were walking through the bustling streets, Maruti's curiosity getting the better of her as she eagerly asked, "What happened after that?"

Esdeath, instead of answering, came to a halt and glanced up at the sky for a moment, a subtle smirk playing on her lips. "We've arrived," she said, her voice calm and composed, "Let's continue this story another time."

Maruti followed her gaze to see they had reached the station. The platform was crowded, bustling with people in expensive clothes, clearly from wealthy backgrounds, as they prepared for their respective journeys. Mixed among them were groups of slaves, bound in chains and being escorted onto different trains. Slavery was still a common sight, as long as it followed the legal boundaries of society.

What truly caught Esdeath's attention was the massive board at the entrance of the station. Written in bold letters were the words, **"Use of magic and essence stones is prohibited."** It was a clear reminder of the strict regulations that kept the power of magic in check within certain public spaces.

They stepped onto the station grounds, weaving through the crowd as they searched for the platform where their train would arrive. Esdeath had been practical, already prepared with their tickets, which she had bought in advance. They would be traveling in second class—not as luxurious as first or business class, but it was what they could afford for now. Money was tight, and Esdeath knew every coin mattered.

After few minutes they arrived at their plateform and started waiting for their train.

As Esdeath and Maruti stood at the station, waiting for their train, something unexpected happened. A folded paper appeared, fluttering in the air before them. The paper was crimson with golden borders, clearly something of great importance. It hovered in front of them, gently spinning in the air.

Esdeath's eyes widened slightly as she recognized it immediately. "A Golden Flying Letter Essence," she thought, noting its rank. It was a powerful, rank "B" essence stone used for sending messages over vast distances.

For a brief moment, a sense of unease crept over Esdeath. "Have they already found us?" she wondered, her thoughts racing. But then, she quickly dismissed the idea. "To use a Golden Flying Letter, the sender would need something personal—like hair or blood of the recipient. Or, they must have a blood relation," she reasoned. "There's no way the academy has my blood or hair, so why would this letter be here?"

The letter began attracting attention from the nearby crowd, something Esdeath wanted to avoid. Her sharp eyes tracked its movements as it floated near her. She reached out to grab it, wanting to stop the commotion, but to her surprise, the letter evaded her hand and floated backward, refusing to be touched.

"What?" she muttered under her breath, confused. "Is this letter not meant for me?"

Before she could think further, the letter drifted gently toward Maruti and came to rest on her shoulder.

Maruti's face was a mix of surprise and confusion. "Is this letter for me?" she whispered, bewildered by the situation. She reached up, took the letter in her hands, and immediately unfolded it to read the contents.

Her expression shifted from curiosity to complete disbelief, her lips twisting into a strange, half-amused, half-annoyed smirk. "What the hell is this?" she muttered under her breath, shaking her head as though she'd just read the most ridiculous thing.

Esdeath, still puzzled by the situation, raised an eyebrow. "What's in the letter?" she asked, but before she could say more, Maruti interrupted.

"If the train arrives, go ahead and board. I'll be back before it leaves," Maruti said quickly, her voice unusually serious. Without waiting for a response, she turned around and hurried away, leaving Esdeath standing there with more questions than answers.

Esdeath stood at the station, waiting and waiting, but there was no sign of Maruti. She had even tried looking around a bit but couldn't find her anywhere. The train, an old-fashioned steam engine with clouds of white smoke billowing from its chimney, finally arrived, its loud whistle echoing across the platform.

Looking around one last time, Esdeath sighed and made her way into the second-class carriage. "I'll just find our seat and wait there," she thought to herself as she entered the train, hoping Maruti would return soon. The carriage was modest but comfortable, filled with passengers ready for their own journeys.

Meanwhile, from the business class section of the train, two women stepped out. The first was a striking figure—dressed in a black blindfold and a matching black dress, she held an open umbrella despite the clear sky. This was none other than Meldia, the Dark Nun. Her calm and eerie presence immediately drew the attention of those nearby as she waited patiently for someone else.

Moments later, another woman exited. With silver hair cascading down her shoulders, a red dress hugging her elegant figure, and sunglasses shielding her face, she was just as stunning. Even through the sunglasses, the sharp glint of her crimson eyes was noticeable, glowing in the bright daylight. This woman was Lortell, regal and commanding. In mere seconds, they became the center of attention, heads turning to catch a glimpse of them.

"When will Verdes and the others arrive?" Lortell asked, her tone clipped as she adjusted her sunglasses.

"Probably tomorrow. We came in such a rush that you didn't even bring your academy uniform," Meldia replied, suggesting they head to the palace and rest for a few days.

But Lortell shook her head firmly. "No, we're going to the academy right now." Her decision was final, leaving no room for discussion. Meldia simply nodded in agreement, silently following her lead.

Unbeknownst to both of them, Esdeath had boarded the same train moments earlier. Despite being so close, neither of them realized the other's presence. As Lortell and Meldia departed for the academy, Esdeath settled into her seat, waiting for whatever was to come next.

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Inside the office, Lilith sat behind her large, imposing desk, her small hands resting on top of neatly stacked papers. Despite her youthful appearance, which made her look no older than a 13-year-old girl, her serious expression told a different story. She had the kind of authority that commanded the room, making it clear that she was no ordinary child.

The door suddenly creaked open, and Lilith's secretary entered with a stack of files in her arms. "Vice Principal, here's the report on all three of them," she said, her voice calm as she handed over the files to Lilith.

Lilith picked up the files, listening intently as the secretary continued. "I checked their backgrounds several times, but there's nothing unusual about Ethan and Esdeath. They seem like ordinary students—no hidden secrets or extraordinary history to explain their impressive skills," she explained before her tone shifted, becoming more serious. "But this girl, Maruti... she's different." A sly smile crept onto the secretary's face.

Lilith raised an eyebrow in curiosity and opened Maruti's file. Her eyes quickly scanned the document, and as she read, her lips curled slightly in surprise. "Oh… well, this certainly explains her raw power," she thought, feeling a mix of intrigue and frustration. She placed the file down on her desk and let out a soft sigh, pressing her hand against her forehead.

"Like father, like daughter," Lilith muttered under her breath, exhaling deeply. Her thoughts raced, already forming strategies. She glanced up at her secretary, her face returning to its usual serious demeanor. "You're dismissed," she ordered calmly.

Without a word, the secretary nodded and exited the room, closing the door softly behind her.

But just a few moments later, the door swung open again. The secretary hurried back in, her face slightly tense. "Vice Principal, Lady Mariette has returned from the monster subjugation mission. She requests to see you," she announced.

Lilith nodded immediately, her sharp eyes showing no hesitation. "Bring her in," she commanded firmly, her voice filled with authority.