Happy Birthday!

Bolts of lightning thundered across the darkened sky. Heavy clouds loomed over Slidora Academy pouring rain upon the scarlet roof. Every brick and stone, soil and trees, nothing escaped the night shower in Zarronium Realm.

Regardless, the rattling noise failed to disturb the students' slumber. They remained bubbly in their little dreamland.

Except one, tucked away in a small cabin within the veil of Edelweiss Forest.

Kalliope Serphent had just finished drawing the last line of magic circle on the stone altar. And as soon as she did, the candles surrounding the circle lit up one by one in an orderly fashion.

Her ruddy lips curled up upon the luminous sight and the look on her face turned treacherous. The spell worked!

She moved one hand to the side. With a snap of her fingers, a flickering crystalline candle sitting on the stone table behind her pierced through the air, and landed accurately in her grip.

Her eyes glistened with sinister delight as she caressed the candle which had been imbued with diamond-class mana crystal. It was the last variable that she needed to ignite her beautiful "fireworks".

"My dear friends, you have all been enjoying the peace brought by the Serphent's blood," she muttered dispassionately. Though she was smiling, her eyes were ice-cold, glinting sharply against the burning fire.

She set the candle on the centre of the magic circle. "So, indulge me on this special occasion…"

The last candle lit up. The magic circle hummed into motion as the spell had been completely activated. The runes flashed in cyan light tearing through the dark cabin.

"After all…" Kalliope drew close to the burning candle in the centre. The mana crystal was sparkling gloriously amidst the glowing magic crest.

"A birthday only happens once a year."

She propped her chin onto her delicate palm. "Besides, wouldn't it be disappointing if I did not prepare such a grand surprise?"

Her devilish chuckles echoed through the hollow night. She glanced at the hourglass on the side. At the last trickle of the sand, midnight drawled, and Kalliope could not hide the inconspicuous grin that betrayed her innocent face.

"Surely, I have to live up to my nickname as the great devil, the disappointing poor b*tch who doesn't deserve the heroic name, Serphent." Her tone was full of mockery and every word dripped with sarcasm.

Her rose-colored iris started to glimmer in a brilliant golden hue. "Happy birthday, Kalliope."

Fffff…

She blew out the middle candle and the other candles were instantly snubbed out. The cyan light glowed even more intense as if it wished to swallow the whole cabin and its surroundings.

The wind suddenly picked up the pace and blew harshly towards the academy.

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Inside the principal's private chamber, the lights on the ceiling suddenly began to flicker.

Isadora Helliot, who was peacefully sleeping on the queen-size bed, flinched in respond. Not a second later, she jolted awake from her slumber as she felt an overwhelming wave of mana brewing in the air.

Just a mere graze on her skin and it already sent her into goosebumps. Her panic-stricken eyes glared at the lights.

They were flickering out of control. However, due to this sign, Principal Helliot knew she still had time. So, she hurriedly headed towards the door.

Unfortunately, she only got to touch the handle when the flickering suddenly stopped.

Ba-thump...! Ba-thump...!

Her heart pumped loudly against her chest. Cold sweat beaded down her spine. She slowly looked up and saw the glow of lights that gradually intensified. They continued to shine brighter and brighter, to the point that it blinded her eyes and the powerful lights baked the room with its volcanic heat.

Principal Helliot sucked in a deep breath. She gave up running and immediately recited a large scale of defensive spell, disregarding the amount of mana she would exhaust in the process.

No matter how pale her complexion became or frail her body turned, Helliot was determined to go on with the spell. Soon, a hexagonal crest with intricate runes covered the whole academy ground.

-------

(At the same time)

Whoosh!

A dark violet flame emerged out of nowhere, engulfing the air in a whirlpool motion before dispersing to reveal the enchantress.

Kalliope had swiftly teleported herself into the Hall of Twilight where students usually had their sabbatical ceremony. Her long coat fluttered softly before settling above the marble floor. Looking at the empty hall, she scoffed.

The only place where electrical lights did not exist was at this olden part of Academy which includes the great hall.

She looked up towards the high seats of councils and the grand throne on the platform. Her serpentine-like gaze glinted and her lips arched a venomous grin.

She strode over. The heels of her boots clicked onto the red carpet rhythmically. Her casual approach and the nonchalance gracing her every move was a display of dominance, a natural arrogance, most fitting for the crown.

With confidence, Kalliope sat herself on the throne. The grand seat immediately reacted to the royal blood flowing in her vein. A three-headed serpentine with twin swords clashing against each other, the Serphent family emblem, glowed on the head of the seat.

She languidly crossed her legs, propped her head on her hand, and closed her eyes to rest. When she felt a blinding light coming from afar nudging her eyelids, Kalliope Serphent smiled.

That was the cue. Her lips parted, "Boom…"

BOOM!!! BOOM!!! BOOM!!!

At the drop of her voice, a series of explosions ensued at every corner of Slidora Academy. What came after that, was echoes of shrill cries that terrorized the once peaceful night.