CHAPTER 54: ALEX’S MOTHER

Professor Theodore said in his thick voice, "That’s all for today."

As everyone began leaving the class, Alex stood up to leave. Hati, his ever-loyal companion, jumped down from the desk and followed him toward the door.

When Alex reached the hall, he saw two girls standing restlessly, anxiety clear on their faces as they stared at the classroom door.

As soon as they saw him, they rushed forward and stopped in front of him.

"Hey Alex! Hi Hati!" Rina greeted excitedly, waving her hand. She then looked at the black wolf pup beside him.

"Woof," Hati barked, nodding in greeting.

Alex stopped and looked at them with narrowed eyes. His voice turned sarcastic as he extended his hands slightly.

"I’m not of any use to you here."

Both girls took a step back.

Rina, flustered, stammered, "W-We’re n-not here for anything..." She looked toward Selene with hesitant eyes. "R-R-Right, Selene?"

Selene exhaled and then spoke in a calm, confident tone. "Yes, we’re not here for anything. We... I mean, I came to ask for your forgiveness."

Alex’s expression shifted subtly. In his mind—

White Alex pointed excitedly in the air.

"Look, look! She’s asking for forgiveness! Our goddess is asking for forgiveness!"

Black Alex shook his head in disappointment.

"You’re hopeless. How can we trust someone who’s already betrayed us once? What’s stopping her from doing it again?"

Returning to the moment, Alex asked Selene in a measured tone, "For what?"

Selene faltered, her confidence slipping. "I-I-I..."

She then inhaled deeply, steadied herself, and spoke with resolve, "I should’ve helped you at the camp. You saved my life, and I didn’t repay that when you needed it most. I want to apologize—and ask for a chance to make things right."

Alex sighed, pausing to think. "And how exactly would you help me?"

"Ah— I can give you credits!" Selene replied immediately.

Rina quickly added, "I-I can do that too!"

Alex looked at the two girls, both standing before him with pleading eyes.

In his mind, Black Alex’s voice echoed:

"We can’t trust them. They’ll abandon us again. They’re just here to clear their conscience—"

White Alex interrupted,

"Hey hey, that’s not it! We should at least give them one chance, right? They’re offering credits, and we need those."

Black Alex replied sharply,

"That’s even more insulting. They owe us life debts—and they’re trying to repay it with credits? That’s like saying our actions didn’t mean much at all."

Alex nodded slightly to himself, then looked at the girls and said firmly, "No. I’m not accepting that. I’m tired from today—so I’m leaving first."

With that, he turned and walked away.

The two girls stood frozen, eyes wide, watching as Alex vanished behind the door to the staircase. Only when the sound of his footsteps disappeared did they snap out of it.

Tears welled up in both of their eyes.

"I’ll make him forgive me," Rina whispered, her voice trembling with resolve. "I-I’ll follow him from tomorrow until he does."

Selene slapped her forehead and muttered, "This idiot..."

Unbeknownst to them, instead of helping Alex, they had unknowingly created a new problem for him.

From the corner of the corridor, Kaelan Ignis stood silently, having heard everything. His fists clenched, fury burning in his eyes.

I knew that bastard had his eyes on Selene. I’ll teach you your place, you commoner trash.

He gnashed his teeth with hate as he turned away.

Alex headed to the cafeteria on the first floor and ate his second meal of the day with Hati, using the last of his bonus credits. As he ate, his mind lingered on the things he’d heard in class.

After finishing, he made his way toward his cave.

By the time Alex reached it, the full moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft, warm glow and forming deep shadows among the trees. He took out his staff and began training. He started with slow, precise jabs aimed at the cave wall, gradually turning them into faster, sharper thrusts. Soon, he mixed in feints, strikes, and combining feints and jabs.

The rhythmic sound of wood striking stone echoed through the forest clearing. Hati lay a short distance away, silently watching his partner with his piercing purple and grey eyes.

Despite the island’s frigid air, sweat began to form on Alex’s skin. He trained relentlessly until exhaustion finally overtook him.

Collapsing onto the cold, green grass, he lay on his back and stared up at the moon.

I need to learn a movement technique, he thought. Right now, I don’t know a single one. I should check the library... maybe I’ll find something there.

Elsewhere in the academy, in a luxurious room adorned in emerald green and gold, a tall girl with black hair and sharp emerald eyes sat behind a desk.

Serene Seraph looked at the boy standing in front of her and said in an authoritative voice, "I’ll be leaving tonight."

The boy bowed slightly. "Yes, my lady."

"Keep an eye on Alexander," she added, her eyes narrowing. "And don’t do anything."

"Is that necessary, my lady? He’s just a commoner," the boy replied, still bowed in respect.

As Serene reached for the door, she suddenly paused. Her gaze snapped toward the boy—and in an instant, her eyes turned to slits, reptilian and cold like a serpent’s.

A crushing pressure descended upon the boy. He dropped to his knees, trembling.

On the wall behind her, a massive shadow of a serpent unfurled—its fangs bared, its gaze fixed on him like a predator sizing up its prey.

Her voice came cold and venomous:

"Do as I say."

Slam.

She left, and the oppressive weight vanished as suddenly as it came. The boy gasped for air, tasting iron in his mouth. Blood dripped from his nose to his lips.

He stood shakily and wiped it away, muttering with a rough, raspy voice, "Damn, that was too close. I’m the vice president, but her power... it doesn’t make sense. Why is the gap between us so huge?"

Serene appeared in the teleportation chamber, bathed in a soft green glow. At the exit, two guards stood watch—dressed entirely in black, faces masked with only their eyes visible. Daggers were tucked at their waists.

They immediately bowed and said in unison, "Princess."

Serene gave a curt nod, her face unreadable.

"I’m just here to visit my sister. I won’t be long. You may inform the Patriarch."

Still kneeling, the guards nodded solemnly, then stood and opened the door for her, stepping aside in silent respect.

Serene stepped out onto the plain green lawn. A small cobbled path stretched before her, leading to a towering castle. Under the light of the moon, the emerald-green fortress seemed cloaked in shadows. Banners bearing the image of a golden, feathered serpent fluttered in the wind—almost as if they were alive, their eyes scanning the surroundings.

As Serene moved forward, the sound of her heels echoed in the night.

Click—Clack. Click—Clack.

The night was utterly still.

She descended into the castle’s basement—a cold, windowless space illuminated only by faintly glowing green stones embedded in the walls. The corridor was narrow and silent. At the end stood a thick wooden door, hidden in darkness.

Through a small opening in the door, moonlight filtered in from the single window on the opposite side of the room, falling upon a girl sitting in a meditative position. Her long white hair shimmered in the moonlight, and her flowing white garments gave her an almost ghostly, celestial appearance.

She slowly opened her glowing emerald eyes and spoke in a voice both ethereal and otherworldly:

"Serene... why are you here?"

Serene offered a warm smile and replied with gentle affection,

"Hello, sister. How are you?"

Vireya Seraph didn’t respond—only stared at her, waiting.

Serene sighed softly. "I’m here to talk about your son."

Vireya’s eyes widened. Her fists clenched, but she quickly steadied her breath and said in a calm, neutral tone,

"What about him?"

"You don’t have to hide your emotions from me, sister," Serene said, her voice laced with sorrow.

Vireya remained silent, her gaze steady.

Serene understood. Even when alone, her sister wouldn’t let her emotions show.

Stepping closer to the door, Serene tucked her hair behind one ear and whispered,

"He’s at the Academy... living as a commoner."

Vireya’s eyes widened again.

A commoner?Why? Did Jack... abandon the family name to protect the children?

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

I must stay composed. They’re always watching.

When she opened her eyes again, her face was a blank mask. She simply nodded.

Serene’s voice dropped, trembling with guilt.

"I think... he hates you."

This time, something inside Vireya snapped.

Her emerald eyes turned blood-red, and her pupils narrowed into abyss-like slits. A crushing pressure surged from her body. The green stones along the walls cracked, and the wooden door groaned—then splintered and fell apart.

Serene dropped to her knees. Her own eyes glowed emerald, slits appearing as she felt a hot trickle run down her cheeks. Blood.

In the shadows behind her, two watching figures burst like overripe fruit, exploding into nothing.

Vireya’s gaze fell on her sister, kneeling and bleeding. Realization struck her. She shut her eyes, and her power slowly receded. Her pupils turned back to normal.

Why am I angry?

He has every right to hate me.

I abandoned him. I abandoned my family... I have no right to expect love or forgiveness.

Tears began to fall, silently striking the cold stone floor.