The news of the duel between the most powerful ice mage and the mint-green-haired elite spread like a wildfire inside the school grounds. Every student was looking forward to that day and there had been a lot of expectations for both parties. Some placed their bets on Carter since he was well-known and they were confident in his strength while others placed their bet on Dio who was like a dark horse that caused a commotion as soon as he set foot in the academy.
“You really did it this time,” Keila said with a grin on her face.
It was the night before the duel and Dio was in the backyard, watching the stars and thinking about how his life turned to how it was at that moment.
When Keila saw Dio outside, she went to accompany him and talk to him. She wanted to congratulate him for going that far. She felt so proud of him because she was one of the people who was given the privilege to watch his growth. From being the capricious adventurer to being one o
Dio had to admit, he somehow looked down on him. Did he really think that he could win without casting? His opponent was a caster so he should’ve fought him using his strengths. If he hesitate to use his vines, the floor would be covered in ice and it would be harder for him.“You talked about being arrogant but you were also looking down on me,” Dio smirked. He stood up and removed the dust on his clothes. “I guess it’s my turn to get a little more serious.”He twirled the daggers in his hands as he ran towards the ice golem. He jumped towards the golem’s arm as he clad his daggers with poisonous mana and slashed it. Everyone was in awe when the arm flew away as it was torn apart from the golem. The part that Dio’s daggers touched was smoking and it was continuously melting.Dio looked up at the head of the golem where Carter stood. “Should I cut its head?”Carter immediately jumped off the gole
Dio was about to turn his back on Carter when a large explosion occurred in the middle of the arena. His eyes grew wide when he saw the familiar black clothes but the person wearing the clothes was different.“So you’ve decided, huh?” The man in black said with a smirk. His dark brown eyes looked at Dio intently as if he was analyzing him. “You showed them a bit of your power.” It was a whisper only loud enough to reach Dio and the almost unconscious Carter.“What do you need?” Dio asked. The men they sent during the midterm exams asked him to follow them, but they should be aware that he wouldn’t just obediently follow them by now.“I came here to check whether you deserve the attention that the clan head and the commander were giving you.”Check? Dio felt offended. Who the hell did they think they were? They were just a bunch of criminals hiding in the shadows.He felt his rage rising up
“Shouldn’t we talk to him about that day?” Amery asked when Dio once again left the house to train.It had been a week since the duel and the people started to look at Dio in a different way. Some gave him looks of admiration while some still treated him with jealousy and contempt. On the other hand, Dio started acting differently since that day. For the past week, he would always go out after dinner to train like crazy and go back at midnight.Dio also started being serious and think about something deep most of the time. He was always staring into space and it was hard to talk to him, even for his siblings. They thought that they just needed to give him space, but as time passed by, Dio started acting more stressed.“I already tried but he would just change the topic.” Mika sighed as she started cleaning the dining table. “I don’t want to force it out from him. He’s been through a lot.”Even Kael loo
“Class dismissed.”Everyone stood up as soon as they heard the professor’s word. They were given early dismissal so everyone was excited to check out the shops and go on their different agendas. At the corner, the elite class was also preparing on going back to the house except for the Armani siblings.“I thought we’re going home today?” Mika said, annoyed by the sudden change in their schedule.“Yes, we are going home and we would still spend the day off at home. It’s just that Prince Andriel asked for Dio to spar with him today and I will be there to accompany him,” Kael explained.“Then what about me?” Mika pointed at herself. “What am I supposed to do if you suddenly changed plans?”“Brother Riguel is in the headmaster’s office,” Kael informed her. “Go home with him after his meeting with the headmaster.”Dio crouched and picked up
“You seem to be so happy,” Dio teased Kael who was smiling all throughout the carriage ride.“Well, I didn’t expect that to happen.” Kael grinned. “How about you? You looked so serious while talking to His Highness.”Dio smiled as he looked out the window. “Yeah. We were talking about something serious.”“Did he want you to be his knight?”Dio laughed. A knight? There would be no way that Andriel would ask him to be his knight. Of course, Kael wouldn’t know that.He saw the familiar houses, which signified that they were already near the house. Dio felt excited to see his family, but there was also a hint of anxiety caused by the conversation he had with the man in black.His heart suddenly started beating fast as he felt the link between him and his bond was established.‘Dio…’Dio’s eyes grew wide when he heard his
Blur entered the slums so Dio just followed him. The people living there eyed him suspiciously because of his bloodied academy uniform, but he chose to ignore them. Nothing was more important to him than the annihilation of the people who massacred his family. As long as those people wouldn’t stop him, he wouldn’t have anything to do with them.Blur entered a dark alley and Dio moved to follow him. However, a voice of an old man was heard before he could enter the alley.“What’s the business of a young man in there?”Dio stopped in his tracks and looked at the old man who was hiding in the shadows. He smiled innocently but there was a hint of danger in his eyes. “Someone indebted to me is in there so I came to collect the payment.”“Take care. That place is dangerous.”Dio nodded and continued to walk inside. He found Blur waiting for him a few meters away and as soon as their eyes met, Blur con
“Our master’s prediction was right. He really came.” A girl wearing black revealing clothes giggled as soon as he reached the second floor. “Hey, boy, do you want to play with me?” She even licked her lips after looking at him from head to toe.He smiled seductively and let the girl touch his chest before she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Was it okay to play with a boy like me?”He scoffed internally. How could she act so shameless right after they planned to kill his sister?The girl licked her lips and looked him in the eye. His eyes never left hers and soon enough, her lips touched his and he had no choice but to open his mouth so that her tongue could have her way.They were both panting when they finished the kiss. Dio smiled and whispered, “That’s one down for me.”The girl’s eyes widen as she held her neck. She was gasping and chasing her breath but the more she struggled
Dio and Kael went back to school after a few days of being on leave. It was so sudden and everyone was surprised to hear the news of the Armani Massacre and Mika’s death. Dio couldn’t even smile out of guilt. He couldn’t forget how he promised to go home early just to end up being late and not being able to save her.It was the afternoon lunch break and Dio chose to hide at the back of the building under the shade of the tree. He still couldn’t get over his sister’s death.How could he? All he did ever since he met her was to make her worried about him! Mika gave him a warm welcome, she made him feel that he belonged in the family and treated him as a precious little brother.He hadn’t done anything for her yet. He still had a lot more things to do with her. There were more memories to be shared, but it was too late. He couldn’t make her happy after all the love he received from her.Dio buried his face on his kne