End of Year Festival II

The Sovereign's Tournament was just one part of the larger End of Year Festival, a grand celebration marking the close of the academic year at Mythos Academy—the most renowned institution in the world. With the Academy situated on its own secluded island, the festival was an internal affair, attended only by students, faculty, and select dignitaries from afar.

The festivities were truly a sight to behold. The Academy grounds were transformed into a vibrant display of lights, banners, and music. Students wandered through sprawling courtyards where intricate stalls offered rare goods, magical trinkets, and food from distant lands. Performances from talented students and visiting performers filled the air with excitement, while laughter and conversation echoed throughout the island.

As for the tournament, Lucifer had claimed Rank 1 after defeating me in the finals. I would remain at Rank 2, as expected. The only ranking change was between Rachel and Jin. Jin's performance secured him Rank 4, leaving Rachel to fall to Rank 5.

Yet, amidst the grandeur of the festival, the shifts in rankings felt like mere whispers. The true focus was the celebration itself, a reminder of the Academy's isolation, power, and its role in shaping the future of the world.

I wandered from shop to shop, Luke by my side, though my mind wasn't really on the festival. The vibrant stalls, the enticing aromas of foreign foods, and the lively music felt distant, like background noise to the thoughts that consumed me. All I could think about were Cecilia's words.

"That's why I can't take my eyes off you," her voice echoed in my head, as if she were whispering it directly into my ear.

But as much as those words tugged at me, my thoughts soon drifted elsewhere—toward the mess that was the Slatemark Imperial family. It was hard not to. They were, without a doubt, the most dysfunctional family in the world, and it all stemmed from one man: Emperor Quinn Slatemark.

Despite being the ruler of the most powerful force on the planet, a force that even had a moon base, the emperor was constantly insecure—especially when it came to the Archduke, one of his own subjects. His insecurity led him to foster a bitter competition between his own daughter, Cecilia, and the Archduke's daughter. As if that wasn't enough, he arranged for the Archduke's daughter to be engaged to his son, the crown prince.

In Volume 5, the cracks in the empire would be revealed for all to see. It was going to come out that the crown prince had abused the Archduke's daughter. The fallout would be catastrophic, leading the Archduke to rebel and execute the crown prince in a bloody coup. That rebellion would weaken the Slatemark Empire, and it was one of the reasons their precious moon base would later fall so easily to the demons.

The whole situation was a mess—a mess I'd eventually have to deal with. And as if the empire's dysfunction wasn't enough, there was still Jack Blazespout, the main antagonist in all this. He was currently stronger than me, a looming threat I couldn't ignore.

The real issue with Cecilia Slatemark wasn't just that she was part of Class 1-A; it was that she wasn't exactly a good character. She was obsessive, manipulative, and had a twisted habit of playing with people's emotions. That's what made her so difficult to read.

Were her actions towards me genuine? Or was she just messing with me like she did with everyone else? I hated not knowing. The uncertainty gnawed at me.

And yet, whenever I thought about Cecilia, my mind drifted to Seraphina. What did her words mean? When she called me her prince, was it just because I told her about her Gift and helped her out of Sun's shadow? Or was there something more behind it?

'This world makes no sense,' I sighed inwardly, drawing Luke's attention.

"Why do you look so worried?" he asked.

"Life," I muttered, glancing at him. At least he didn't have to deal with this tangled mess.

He gave me a strange look before shaking his head. "Don't talk like an old man."

"Then tell me, how's your love life chasing a princess?" I teased, watching as Luke nearly choked, his cheeks flushing bright red.

'Wow, he really does have a full-blown crush on Rachel, doesn't he?' I thought, amused at his reaction.

Rachel Creighton. Out of everyone, she had endured the most during her childhood, even more than Cecilia. Her family might not have been as twisted, but Rachel suffered because of her mother, Isolde Creighton.

That's why, despite her kindness, Rachel never truly opened up to anyone. The warmth she showed was just a mask, a way to shield her real emotions from the world.

Honestly, Luke didn't stand a chance with her—not in the way he hoped. Even if her past hadn't shaped her into who she was, he idolized her too much, never really getting close enough to talk to her like a real person. He was chasing an idea, not the real Rachel.

But he was still young. Given time, he'd figure it out on his own, and there was no need for me to address it now. Having an ally like Luke by my side was more than enough.

"Arthur, Luke!" a melodious voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I turned to see Rachel waving at us, dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans, her striking blue eyes practically glowing under the sunlight. Beside her stood Seraphina, whose face immediately flushed red the moment our eyes met. She quickly looked away, avoiding eye contact.

Luke straightened up beside me, clearly trying to act cool, but I could see the slight tension in his shoulders.

"Hey, Rachel. Seraphina," I greeted, keeping my tone casual.

Rachel flashed a smile, her usual easy charm in full force. "Enjoying the festival?" she asked, her gaze flicking between the two of us.

"Yeah, it's been good," I said, though my thoughts were still tangled in everything that had happened recently. Luke, on the other hand, looked like he was struggling to form a coherent response, his crush on Rachel painfully obvious.

Seraphina, still blushing, shifted awkwardly beside Rachel, her silence speaking volumes. She had barely spoken to me since... well, since that conversation. I wasn't sure what to make of it.

"So," Rachel continued, her eyes sparkling with amusement, "are you two just wandering around or do you have plans?"

I shrugged. "No plans. Just seeing where the day takes us."

"Perfect!" she said brightly. "Why don't we all grab something to eat? There's a stall nearby with some great food."

I glanced at Luke, who nodded a little too eagerly, and then back at Seraphina, who seemed to relax slightly at the suggestion.

"Sure," I agreed, feeling a strange mix of tension and ease as we all started walking together. Rachel chatted effortlessly, keeping the mood light, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more beneath the surface with both her and Seraphina—more I hadn't quite figured out yet.