Aris was strolling through the Heart Academy courtyard, where the green trees stood tall in calm dignity, beneath them soft patches of grass carefully trimmed into a green carpet that stretched endlessly. Benches were placed under the shade, and fountains flowed in scattered spots, their trickling water producing a melodious tune that sometimes harmonized with the chirping of birds. The scene was beautiful, soothing to the soul, and the cool breeze carried with it the scent of damp earth and fresh grass.
But the place was empty; no students were here yet, for the academic term had not begun, except for the noble students admitted through special entry, who regarded this tranquil scene as something ordinary and meaningless. As for Aris, he wasn't here to enjoy the scenery, though he thought that perhaps, after finishing his goal, he might sit for a while to savor the calm of this place before the time of the second test arrived.
He muttered to himself as he walked with steady steps, his eyes scanning the western side:
"I remember that the tree with the phoenix egg was near the western wall of the academy…"
A look of concentration appeared on his face as he recalled the information he had heard about the discovery of the phoenix egg. It was said to have been found in the nest of an ordinary bird, but what revealed its secret was the faint aura that emanated from it. At first, a girl thought it was a hidden magical artifact, only to be surprised when it turned out to be an ordinary-looking egg, except that strange engravings on its surface betrayed its true nature.
Aris quickened his pace, and before long he reached the western side, his sharp eyes searching between the trees for the nest. It didn't take long, for there were only a few trees there.
As soon as he approached a tree and saw a nest above it, a strange feeling overwhelmed him: the Chaos World within him suddenly released a massive surge of power, and the tree itself responded, especially the nest that held the egg.
"What's happening? Why is the Chaos World reacting to the egg?"
Aris leapt nimbly, climbing onto the branch that held the nest. The nest was rough to the touch, smelling of dry mud mixed with feathers. Inside it were three eggs, but only one caught his attention. It looked similar to the other two in shape, but its color was slightly different, and the mysterious markings etched onto its surface mesmerized his gaze with their strange beauty.
Aris smiled faintly and said:
"Hehe… looks like this is the egg."
He slowly reached out to pick up the phoenix egg. The moment he lifted it, he felt a faint connection slip from the egg into him, like a thread of energy brushing against his soul. Aris stiffened, muttering in surprise:
"Strange… why can I communicate with it? I should've at least expected a blood contract for that…"
While he pondered, a flash of light gleamed in his eyes, the reflection of a sudden current in his mind.
"Chaos energy… it must be the reason. After all, it's the origin of everything."
A thought struck him, and his body shivered slightly with excitement:
"And since chaos is the origin of everything, that means the nature energy elves use… I can use it in its chaotic form."
A small smile curved his lips; he felt as though he had discovered a new toy. His body was almost jumping with excitement, but he restrained himself, deciding it wasn't the right time or place to experiment.
He wrapped the egg carefully in a soft scarf, tucked it gently into his pocket, then leapt gracefully down from the tree, landing with ease as the air carried the scent of fallen leaves against his face.
He muttered in irritation as he walked with heavy steps, the echo of his footsteps resonating on the paved ground:
"Honestly… when will the system update finish? Four days, and it's still stuck in the same state!"
He lowered his head slightly, brows furrowed in frustration, the shadows casting a gloomy aura over his face. He couldn't help but think that if the system had been working, he could have used the King's Eye to see the phoenix egg's information clearly.
Aris let out a long sigh, his breath mingling with the cold air, then continued walking quietly, planning to sit for a bit before the second test.
But suddenly he stopped, turning his head lightly, his expression becoming colder as he spoke in a calm yet icy tone:
"How long do you plan on following me and hiding?"
Silence fell for a moment, as though the place itself had frozen. There was no response, making it seem as if he were talking to himself.
However, behind one of the trees, a small figure was hiding, her features resembling a painting brought to life.
She was a girl with pure white hair flowing like silk, shining under the sunlight with a cold radiance reminiscent of moonlight. Her eyes were sapphire blue, clear as crystal, carrying a serene depth like the sea on a summer day. Her skin was soft and pale as snow, pure as though untouched by human hands.
A faint fragrance surrounded her, like the coolness of icy flowers at a winter dawn.
She wore an elegant short dress that reached mid-thigh, made of soft woolen fabric in a refined base color, adorned with shimmering golden embroidery along the edges and sleeves. Small metallic buttons engraved with the academy's emblem—a heart crossed by a thin bolt of lightning—decorated it.
Beneath the dress, she wore dark tight trousers that granted her agility and elegance of movement, completed with a sleek leather belt fastened with a metallic clasp bearing the same academy emblem. Her long leather boots reached up to her knees, gleaming like mirrors that reflected sunlight with interrupted silver streaks.
Over her shoulders draped a dark green cloak, embroidered with fine silver threads bearing the number (1), adding an air of majesty and distinction to her appearance.
She looked as though she were the most beautiful girl in the academy; her beauty wasn't just in her form, but in her overwhelming presence that captivated anyone who saw her, slowing down time itself around her.
Aris glanced at the tree she was hiding behind and spoke in a voice tinged with restrained annoyance as he exhaled softly:
"Sigh… why don't you come out while I'm still speaking calmly and haven't lost my temper yet?"
But again, he was met with silence, so he turned away coldly, about to leave.
At that moment, the girl heard his heavy footsteps growing fainter as he walked away. Her lips trembled as she whispered softly, her voice carrying the chill of frost:
"He left… I didn't expect him to discover me."
But another voice suddenly struck her from the side, piercing the silence like a cold dagger:
"Yes, he left… but you haven't told me why you were watching him."
Her breath quickened, her heart pounding violently. With a swift motion, the girl spun around sharply to find the owner of the voice.
When her blue eyes met his, they widened in genuine shock.
Aris was standing calmly, his expression steady, his voice dripping with mockery:
"Oh… quick reaction."
But she remained silent again.
A heavy silence settled between them, the surrounding air seeming to freeze. She finally gathered herself, staring at him with cautious intensity. He, on the other hand, remained composed, though inside he had already recognized this girl: Selena Frostbane, daughter of the Northern Duke.
Her family was famous for their ice magic, and she was the youngest prodigy in its history—indeed, in the entire continent. But more dangerous than that, in the future she would become the leader of the Nine Evils Organization, bearing terrifying titles: The Scourge of Frost, the Winter Queen… and more.
She was a true catastrophe for the world. Even her defeat had only been possible by summoning Raphael through complex rituals to descend into the human realm, and even then, she hadn't been killed but sealed away with extreme difficulty.
This girl, who looked like a moving masterpiece, was in fact one of the greatest calamities of the future.
Yet Aris didn't care about her eventual turn to evil, nor did it matter to him at all.
While he gazed at her, she carefully studied his expression. What shocked her most was that he showed nothing! He didn't stare at her beauty, nor did he appear enchanted like everyone else. In his gaze there was no lust or fascination. That strange feeling unsettled her more than anything.
And when it seemed the silence would drag on, Aris decided to break it coldly:
"You still haven't answered my question… why are you watching me?"
His voice suddenly turned into an icy command that could not be disobeyed.
When she looked up, her eyes met his glowing violet eyes under the shadow of the tree, and for a moment she felt as though she stood before a true monster, the same feeling she had when facing her father.
Fear crept into her heart like ice, but she barely managed to compose herself and replied coldly:
"I wasn't following you."
He answered with a sidelong smile and a mocking tone:
"Oh, then what is a pretty girl doing here alone? Aren't you afraid of being taken advantage of?"
His voice shifted into a disgusting, perverse tone as he approached her slowly, each step audible over the grass.
This time, she didn't react quickly.
In an instant, Aris appeared right before her, leaning close to her ear until his warm breath mingled with the cold air.
He whispered in a deep voice:
"I wonder… how would it feel with you?"
Her body shivered, frozen in place. She shut her eyes tightly, wishing he would step away.
But then his cruel laughter burst in her ear, before he walked away with confident steps:
"Hahaha… it was fun messing with you, but I must go now."
Selena's eyes flew open as she gasped for breath, only to see Aris already walking past her, leaving without looking back.
Her face flushed red, her shoulders trembling as she whispered through clenched teeth:
"Rude…"
She puffed out her small cheek in childish anger, shame and embarrassment flooding her from his words—and from herself.