Chapter 65 - Deviated future

"Let's hurry up," Irvin urged, practically dragging him along.

"Why are you so excited?" Ray asked, though the smile tugging at his lips gave him away.

"The second-year seniors are coming back! You know... the seniors. We can learn a lot from them," Irvin said, eyes gleaming like he was imagining some legendary heroes.

{Why do you need the guidance of brats still wet behind their ears, when you have the great me?}

It's not like you remember anything useful.

{Hmph, foolish mortal. Even a speck of my memory is worth more than—}

Alright, alright, I get it. And it's not really about guidance, it's just...

{Just... what?}

{Hah, even you don't know why you're excited. Brat.}

Shut up.

"Hey! Spacing out again?" Irvin called out from ahead.

"Yeah yeah, I'm coming."

Ray and Irvin walked together toward the growing crowd near the Academy's main gates.

Students stood on both sides, leaving the center path wide open, like a stage waiting for someone important.

It felt more like a ceremonial welcome than a student gathering.

The air buzzed with excitement, curiosity, and a tinge of unease.

"Did all thousand first-year students come here?" Ray asked, glancing at the massive crowd that stretched down both wings of the courtyard.

"I don't know," Irvin muttered, trying to count heads, "but it sure looks like it."

"Hey, look! The gates are opening!" someone shouted from the front lines.

The heavy black gates groaned as they parted slowly, the ancient symbols on them glowing faintly with magic.

On the rooftop of a nearby building, Ash stood still. His eyes were locked on the academy gate, which was slowly opening with a heavy groan.

Students began to pour in, dressed in Black uniforms, carrying the pride of returning after completing their first year.

His eyes followed their movements, but his mind was drifting elsewhere,

I just hope nothing's different from the novel…

That quiet thought hadn't even settled when something sharp pierced through his body.

SHRIEEEEEEEEEKKKK!!!!

It felt like ice crawling across his skin, like a warning deep in his bones. His breath hitched, and every muscle in his body stiffened. He turned his head toward the direction of that strange, cold sensation.

He couldn't explain it, but something felt wrong.

What the hell... was that?!

Hundreds of students were walking through the gate, smiling and chatting, some waving at their friends. On the surface, everything looked normal, but that uneasy feeling kept digging deeper into him.

His eyes darting frantically.

Where is it coming from? Where?!

Fucking fate!!!

Not once had he read about anything that felt this ominous during the second-year return.

It is demonic energy... but something's off—Why I can sense it while others can't.

But no matter how hard he searched, he couldn't find the source.

Biting down on his lip, Ash tried to calm the rising anxiety, but his heartbeat grew faster. The whispers of students below reached his ears, but none of it registered clearly.

"Hey, those are the second-years, right?"

"Yeah, the first-year evaluation is done, so they're officially seniors now."

"The third-years will move up too, and the fourth-years will graduate soon."

I need to calm down.

Ash took a slow breath and closed his eyes, focusing all his attention on the strange sensation crawling beneath his skin.

Inside his body, his Primordial Cores pulsed like a second heartbeat, and the runes etched within flickered faintly.

But Ash didn't focus on them, his mind was preoccupied with something far more important.

Found them.

But at the very back of the moving crowd, just as the massive gates began to shut, two figures stepped through.

Ash's breath caught in his throat.

That's not right. There were supposed to be two? No... in the novel, there was only one.

Ash clenched his fists, a wave of unease tightening his chest.

The future has deviated, and I don't know if it is good or bad.

But the most troubling part of it all was that Ash had no idea who those two were, or what kind of power they held.

The most dangerous thing in any battle is going up against the unknown.

Neither of them looked suspicious. Their faces were calm, their movements natural, just like the rest of the returning students. And maybe that was exactly what made it so unsettling.

I can feel it—this dense, overwhelming demonic energy. It's like a storm buried under calm waters. But the instructors aren't reacting at all. Does that mean… only I can sense it?

The thought struck deep, unsettling something within him.

Is it the Primordial Core again? Another of it's effect?

He couldn't be sure, but his instincts whispered a quiet yes.

It must be because my body has finally adapted to the core, and now it's beginning to reveal its other effects.

Whatever the reason, it was helpful, if he could sense this kind of threat from so far away, he wouldn't need to wait for the demons to reveal themselves.

His eyes stayed fixed on them, unwilling to blink.

And then, without a word or sign, the two figures paused.

Almost at the same time, they slowly turned their heads upward, as if sensing the weight of his stare.

Right toward him.

"Brother," Miraak whispered, his voice barely louder than the wind, "I felt it… someone was watching us."

Zerak didn't answer immediately. His eyes darted towards the rooftop before returning to the path ahead.

"I sensed it too," he finally said with a calm and steady voice, "But it vanished almost as soon as we looked at it."

Miraak's brows furrowed slightly. "Could they have noticed something? Did someone sense us?"

"There's no need to panic," Zerak scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "These filthy ignorant creatures are weak. As long as you don't reveal your energy, they won't sense a thing."

"But still," Miraak muttered, his voice darkening, "I don't like that someone was watching us. I'd like to dig the eyes out of whoever it was."

Zerak let out a slight chuckle and said, "You do that, but even if they sensed something off, it won't matter. Instincts mean nothing when dulled by weak blood. We've buried our demonic energy deep. There's no way they'll pick up on it. Relax."

Miraak finally nodded, falling back into step beside his brother. "You're right. It's almost disappointing, honestly. Getting past their detection was way too easy."

A faint smirk played on Zerak's lips, "Exactly. That's why I can't stand these filthy bloods—acting so high and mighty when they're nothing but insects."

Miraak snorted, "They were all smiling, looking so eager to welcome their precious prodigies back, grinning like idiots."

"Let them smile," Zerak murmured. "It'll make their screams more satisfying."

His voice dipped lower, his next words spoken with the gravity of a promise.

"We'll kill the golden boy first. Then, every strong one after that. Snuff them out before they even realize the nightmare's begun."

Miraak's eyes gleamed, a twisted delight creeping into his expression.

"This time," he whispered, "let's make it slow. I want to see what their fear tastes like."

"Hehehe hehe"

Did they see me?

Ash's mind raced as he hurried down the building.

I hope they didn't. I don't want to confront something unknown…

His thoughts swirled, Should I inform the instructors?

Before he could decide, a voice called out from in front of him.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

Ash froze, then cursed inwardly.

Shit, again... she always shows up at the wrong time.

Ash sighed and looked toward her. "Why are you here again? I already told you, I'm not who you're looking for."

Few moments before...

"Where is he going," Elysia muttered, eyes narrowing as she watched Ash quietly walking toward the guest building in the distance.

Wait… isn't this the perfect opportunity?

He's not training for once… maybe I can finally catch him doing something suspicious. I know_ he's hiding something._

She turned to the others and casually said, "Hey, I'll be back in a little while."

"Where are you going? The seniors are about to arrive!" Grace asked with a dramatic pout.

"I forgot something important. Won't take long."

"Fine, fine, go," Grace said, crossing her arms. "At least I still have Lyra and Melissia with me."

"Yeah, come back soon!" Lyra added, smiling.

"Yeah~"

Before she turned to leave, Elysia gave Melissia a lingering glance.

She's still not over it, huh…

For the past three weeks, Melissia had been a ghost of her usual self—quiet, distant, not even getting angry like she usually did.

Others might not have noticed. But Elysia?

She felt it.

Did Ray really reject her? Tch, that blind idiot… he probably doesn't even realize.

But it's not something I can fix. Some things you have to go through alone… heartbreak makes you grow.

With that thought buried under a sigh, she moved, slipping through the crowd, trailing after Ash like a shadow.

And now, here she was.

"Why are you here again? I already told you—I'm not who you're looking for."

Ash asked in a cold and indifferent voice,

"Who, me?" Elysia raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, playing it off with a smirk, "I wasn't here for you, you know. I came here first—I had something to do."

Then she grinned mischievously.

"Wait… don't tell me. Are you stalking me?"

Ash clenched his fists and tried to walk past her, ignoring her like usual.

She caught that and giggled. "Ah! See? It's fate! We've run into each other again. Why don't we—"

"I'm busy," he said, flatly.

Elysia glanced at the floating window and pouted.

Idiot.

"What are you busy with?" she asked, tilting her head.

"It's none of your business," he muttered.

"Come on, just tell me. If you don't, I'm sticking with you. All. Day."

"...What are you, a ki—"

"Hehe~ Of course I'm a kid," she said without missing a beat, flashing him a cheeky grin.

"I already told you to stay away from me."

"Yeah, yeah, you did. And yet here I am. You really don't scare me, y'know," she said with a scoff.

"I have to train, alright? Just leave me alone."

{A/N: Changing False to lie}

That's a lie, she thought, side-eyeing the floating message window. He's not training. Then what's he really doing?

Still, she kept her tone light.

"All you ever do is train, train, train. It's like you think the world's gonna explode if you stop for a second."

Ash didn't stop walking but still replied, his voice was quieter this time, but held unusual coldness.

"Yeah… the demons and angels will flood the world if I don't train and stop them. So stay away from me—it's for your own good."

"...What kind of jok—"

Elysia stopped mid-sentence.

She couldn't finish.

Because right then, the system window appeared again.

Ash kept walking, not even glancing back.

But Elysia just stood there, her breath caught in her throat as her eyes locked onto those glowing, undeniable words floating in front of her.