4.14.

'This is stupid.. I thought he would care about me.. in the end it's all about himself..'

Leticia stared up towards the sky, her eyes swollen, glistening in tears. Sequencee sat beside her silently. The day was already dark, stars could be seen subtly past the clouds. The view of the night campus came to light at this sort of time, bringing life to the gloom.

The beacons arranged on the streets glowed in a subdued orange, creating a humbling ambience.

She wiped her tears using her sleeves.

"I'm not going back.." Leticia said, sniffling.

"I don't think you should go back either."

"Who.. do you think is wrong.." she asked.

"Both of you are right, from your own perspective. His actions are justifiable, just as your's would."

'That's one way to put it..'

"He still prioritized himself. He said he was worried, yet he's telling me to go back home. He's telling me that I shouldn't be free to run away. What's wrong with what I did? Because he's jealous I got the freedom he couldn't?"

"Likely."

"I don't know.. what I should do with him.."

"Hey, Leticia. I know it's really late bringing this up but.. if you'd like, maybe talking about what happened in the past can help. It's just a suggestion.. I don't mean.."

"I was a fool.." Leticia began, croaking.

"What happened?"

"After we lost everything.. we were taken in by the count. No, my brother suggested that we be sheltered under that damned place. The military family that was supposed to have sent aid to fight against the demon army– they said they wanted to atone for their failure. I was almost raped by the count's first son, from then onwards I acted alone, avoiding everyone."

"..."

"And then one day I met this.. magic instructor. She said she can help me get out of the house. She told me to become an adventurer. What did you think I did? I was desperate.. I wanted out. I was sick of having to put up with these people, sick of having to live in fear.. so I took her hand."

This was the first time Sequencee was hearing the story.

"And when the day came, the day of this party to announce his engagement bullshit, I trusted her and left the house.. who would've thought I'd become a slave.." Leticia said, almost laughing.

"So that's how you ended up.."

".. I'm not pure anymore.."

"What do you mean?"

"I've.. already.."

'.. lost my virginity..'

Leticia swallowed those words back, tears replacing the crushing sorrow in her heart. If he had thought about it more, he would've come to the same line of thought– except he didn't– even though he clearly watched it happen that night he saved her.

Sequencee edged closer to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Just ignore him from now on. Until you're ready to face him again."

"But what if I don't want too.." Leticia's voice cracked.

Sequencee grabbed her shoulders and pulled back a little. He looked at her squarely.

"Because he's your brother, you should try to reason with him at least. If it doesn't work, only then do you call it quit.. though, that's just coming from me. If you really don't want to then.. don't then."

"So you two are here huh?" Lancet's voice echoed from afar.

"So, what will you do?" Sequencee asked.

"In the name of the order, I challenge you to a duel," Lancet demanded.

"Alright.." was Leticia's response, "Protect me."

Sequencee created an invisible barrier between them.

"Are you listening to me, huh?!"

Lancet rammed into the barrier.

"Fucking hell!!"

"Sequencee.. you can let go of my hand.. I'll go myself.."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Keep the barrier up."

She walked up to him. He glared at her with a menacing scowl. Under the dim lights of the beacons around them, they stared at each other.

Years of difference between when they were once children of the disaster– three years since the day their lives changed for the worse.

"Brother Lancet. I'm sorry. Just give up on me. Don't try to find me, don't try to talk to me. Just leave me alone, alright..?" Leticia's voice quivered.

"What in the world are you saying huh? How can I just leave you alone!"

"You have your life to live. I'm only going to cause you trouble. Assume that I'm dead.. because that's what I already am."

".. What?"

"Goodbye."

"Leticia!"

She turned around and looked at Sequencee, tears filled her eyes.

'Well..'

"Talk to me Leticia! I didn't come here for nothing!"

"Let's go," Leticia wiped her tears.

Sequencee nodded.

The two of them went, their figures fading.

It was only after a couple minutes had passed, did the dome barrier shatter around Lancet.

He slammed the ground, causing some of the paver tiles to break beneath him.

"My condolences," Azaleas said, stepping out of the shadows.

"Bitch, I don't need you to console me."

"You're being rude."

"You don't need to tell me that.."

"You told me you don't want to be like my sister. I'm merely trying to rouse your awareness. Say something rude like this to me one more time, I won't hesitate to break off our deal."

"..."

"Though, that man sure has some incredible magic prowess. I can see why your sister would fall for him. Rejoice, at least she's in good hands. Isn't that what you've always wished for her?"

".. you're right.."

Azaleas stood before him and stretched out her hands.

"Her life is her's to choose. Why bother with her when you're already tied caring for your own?"

Lancet grabbed her hand. Azaleas's soft smile curled a little more.

===

Light leaked through the cracks of the door as footsteps echoed around. The sounds of twisting gears followed by the heavy movements of a vault door.

"It's in here," the follower said.

The man with willowy gray hair stepped into the vault.

Various rare items had been kept here. The heart of a dragon, feathers of a True Phoenix, eyeballs from guardian gargoyles–

The man approached the blue box laying on the pedestal in the center of this vast room. He gazed at the box, the surface reflecting a leather-blue luster, mithril alloy rimmed the edges holding the frame of the box in place.

He unfastened the lock and opened the lid. His followers stood beside him, also interested to see what was hidden inside.

– Demon lord horns.

Only one of the three horns were completely developed. The other two looked like they had been cut before having had the chance to grow fully. It was as if someone had harvested these from a single demon over the ages.

Despite the incomplete development of the horns, these were all genuine products that could be used in many crafting recipes.

The man took out a glass cube from his pocket, reinforced with many layers of protection magic. Carefully, he took out the smallest horn, the completely developed one, and using something like a forcep, dropped it inside the glass cube. Reacting to the presence of an object, the hole in the cube sealed itself.

He closed the blue casket, and left it back on the pedestal.

"Let's go."

"Sir, are you sure it is alright to provide an additional reward like this? It should be satisfactory that the winners received the large sum of prize money and the award certificate.. would it not?"

"Sacrificing this much for this year's performance is necessary."

"However sir, it's unlikely the magic concert would show anything of interest.. or have you taken fancy to the sport?"

"It is important that both competitions receive a prize equal or similar in value. If the winner of the tournament acquires the chance to become the hero's accomplice, what would the winner of the concert receive that's equally enticing? Let's not forget how important it is to bring a good image to the heroes."

"I understand sir."

The vault was locked up once more, a complex magic array shone on the heavy door before fading.

===

The New Dawn Series and The New Dawn's Grand Magic Showdown. Both competitions garnered the attention of not only the students, but the populace.

For the tournament, third year students get the chance to participate. Naturally, there was a selection process to it, but anyone was free to register.

At a mountainous region far from Rika Nation, a girl with black hair and gold eyes rushed into the tent. The news had just reached her ears after returning from the Lozo Mine Network Dungeon, piqued her interest.

"Oh, is there any reason you're here, student Reese?" her instructor who was reading a report like a newspaper asked. A tea had been set on the side table beside her.

"The winner of the tournament gets to spend a night with the hero, is that true?" Reese's golden eyes sparkled.

Reese, by day a prodigious student in Riestallia Academy, by night a cardinal spreading the Savior's religion to the world.

"Don't say something so misleading! The prize is to become an accomplice, an accomplice!" her instructor complained.

"Oh. But as long as it's a woman, it's likely she would be laid, no?" Reese said calculatively.

"Reese. Be respectful.."

"It's a privilege to be embraced by the hero, no?"

"Reese.."

"Isn't it the truth? Who doesn't want to be laid?"

"Are you motivated by being laid?"

"Yes," Reese's smile reached from ear to ear.

"..."

If she could win the hero's heart over, perhaps she might gain a clue to the prophecy?

As someone who worships the late Hero Rika in the Savior's religion, Reese held great respect for the hero. While she had plans to intercept the hero sometime in the future, she hadn't expected that a chance like this would present itself. Her original plan was to establish a base to support him in the shadows, then when the opportunity presented itself, she would reveal herself to him.

There was no guarantee of this plan working as she hadn't a clue how she would come up with a coincidence to build their first contact. However, with the competition, everything settled in place. It was as if someone had just served her the hundred year old wine she ordered.

If not for the prize, Reese thought she would pass on the competition and let the other top students eat dirt. After all, as the cardinal of a cult, revealing her hand here in the public may lead to her identity being exposed.

Her instructor heaved a deep sigh.

As amazing of a student Reese was, her biggest flaw was her obstinacy. Trying to convince her was like pulling an elephant.

"So you came here to tell me you want to join, is that correct?" the instructor crossed her legs.

"Yes," Reese said sternly.

"I permit. Pack up and get ready to go back. You're the academy's ace, don't let us down."

"Yes. I will do my best."

If she could win the hero over, then many of her problems would be solved. Connections with him would prove beneficial in spreading the 'cult'. More so..

Leaving the main tent, Reese went to her lodging to prepare for her trip back. Thinking about the possibilities that would come if she won the competition..

"I want the hero's child," she rubbed her itchy belly, a delirious expression behind the darkness of the veil.