The Zephyrus cafeteria was still busy that afternoon, but Damian's table felt different. He simply stared at the cold bowl of soup in front of him, as if not really seeing it. The image of the ancient mural glowing because of Kaien continued to haunt his mind.
Rin sat beside him, looking down slightly. "Damian, are you okay?" she asked softly.
The question made Damian jump. He quickly reached for the spoon, but almost spilled the soup on his own lap. "Oh, yeah, yeah," he exclaimed in surprise.
Liam instinctively grabbed the bowl before it fell. "What's wrong with you? Your mind keeps wandering," he said, his tone more worried than angry.
Elric, sitting across from him, laughed loudly. His voice echoed, causing several other students to turn their heads. "HAHA! The cool Master Damian can be quite the idiot when he's in a daze!" he said, slapping the table.
Damian simply let out a long sigh, then lifted his head. His gaze shifted from Elric's face, then to Liam, Rin, Tessa, Lucien, and Nero sitting at the table. Slowly, he spoke. "Elric, Lucien, Nero… I… want to talk to you about something. Tonight. All of us gather at the school practice field, okay? Kaien included."
Elric raised an eyebrow, his tone languid. "Why would I get involved in this strange business?"
Before Damian could answer, Lucien turned quickly, his eyes serious. "If it's related to that… we all need to know," he said firmly, though his voice still trembled.
Lucien stared at Damian for a long moment, as if to confirm his sincerity. Nero didn't speak, only glancing briefly with his dark eyes.
Damian lowered his head briefly, then raised his head again. "This is important," he said quietly but firmly. "Trust me."
The table fell silent for a moment. Outside, the sounds of other students laughing and joking could still be heard, but for the group, the weight of the ancient painting's secret felt heavier than ever.
The training field was illuminated by the soft glow of the lamps and the moon at night. The reflection made the empty field seem quiet, but Damian stood in the middle of it, his heart beating faster than usual.
The schoolyard gate suddenly swung open. Elric strode in, carrying a sandwich. "Hey! If you're going to have a secret meeting, don't leave your stomach empty. I brought snacks."
Lucien immediately slapped his forehead and let out a long sigh. "Seriously, Elric?"
"You have to be serious, so you don't get hungry." Elric grinned with satisfaction, then slumped back into his chair.
Damian suppressed a small smile, but quickly straightened up. His face became serious. "Alright, let's begin. Kaien… there's something you need to explain."
Kaien leaned against the wall, his arms folded. "Explain what?" he asked calmly, but his eyes glinted faintly.
Damian stepped forward, his voice firm. "That ancient painting reacted when you unleashed the immense power of your summon. That's not normal. We know because we've experienced it ourselves."
Silence suddenly filled the room. Liam stood alert, as if preparing for something unexpected. Nero remained in the corner, his body half-swallowed by shadow, but his eyes watched Kaien intently.
Kaien chuckled softly, trying to distract himself. "Maybe the painting likes the animals I summon. Who wouldn't be charmed, right?"
Elric, his mouth full of bread, immediately retorted. "HAHA! That's right. If I were that painting, I would react too."
"ELRIC!" almost everyone protested in unison, prompting him to shrug innocently.
Damian sighed, then looked at Kaien more intently. "This isn't the time for jokes. You know something. So… tell me the truth."
Lucien added, his tone calm but firm. "We don't mean to bring you down. But we need the truth. Are you a part of this or not?"
Kaien fell silent. His smile slowly faded. He looked down briefly, took a deep breath, then raised his head again. His eyes, gleaming gold, no longer carried any trace of jest.
"Finally… I can't hide it any longer, huh?" he said quietly.
Damian stiffened, his heart pounding. Nero took a half step forward, his gaze sharp.
Kaien swept his gaze over the food, looking at each of them in turn. "Okay. If you really want to know… I'll tell you."
To be continued…