POV Dex:
'Wake up, Dex!!!'
"Ahhhhh!" Dex screamed as he was jolted awake by the ever-so-gentle Echidna.
Now fully awake and sitting up in bed, he grumbled. "Why the hell did you wake me like that, damned dragon?"
Between fits of laughter, Echidna replied: 'I tried to wake you gently, but you wouldn't budge, so I had to use more "violent" methods. And I must say, your little scream was hilarious.'
'I swear, one day I'm going to kill you, dragon.'
'Yes, of course… but I think you'd better worry about getting to the academy on time, don't you?'
'What do you mean by that?'
'Would you kindly look at that clock over there?'
When Dex saw the time on the clock, his face went completely pale. (06:37)
Ignoring the draconic creature's laughter, he threw on his uniform as fast as possible to make it to the teleportation hall.
By the time he was finished, only twelve minutes remained until the scheduled hour. He rushed out the door at full speed, running through dozens of decorated corridors until he finally reached his destination—only to find one of the people he hated most in this world.
"My dear little brother is running a bit late… but what else should I expect from trash?" Marcus smirked as he showed his wristwatch, which read 07:02.
Dex ignored him and stepped toward the teleportation platform.
"You think getting a little attention from Father gives you the right to ignore me?"
Dex, dripping with sarcasm, replied: "Jealousy eating you alive, brother? Or do you just want Daddy's attention?"
Marcus was about to snap back when an attendant interrupted.
"The teleportation system has been fully calibrated. Shall we activate it?"
Dex and Marcus, both still fuming, gave a silent nod in confirmation.
"3… 2… 1! Teleportation activated!"
The runes on the platform lit up in a dazzling array of colors, forming a shimmering curtain around them.
They felt themselves being pulled through space until they finally stopped moving, arriving at their destination.
As the multicolored curtain fell away, a new scene was revealed: the peak of a small mountain. At its summit stood two teleportation platforms—one beneath Dex and Marcus, and another where a young lady with crimson hair was waiting. In the distance loomed a grand medieval castle, with faint signs of modernity woven into its structure.
Dex walked toward the two receptionists awaiting them at the platform. Marcus, however—arrogant as always—ignored them completely and made his own way toward the academy. Honestly, that suited Dex just fine; not spending another minute with his brother was a blessing. Still, one of the receptionists stepped forward to greet him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Cadet Dex. I'll be escorting you to the Awakening Hall," said the elven receptionist, glancing at a magical tablet.
Without waiting for a reply, the elf turned and began leading the way.
Dex followed with a sigh. 'Would it kill him to introduce himself first?'
They descended the mountain path paved with stone until they reached a magical elevator, which would quickly take them to the base.
As they waited for the elevator to return—thanks to a certain arrogant brother using it first—the crimson-haired lady arrived with her own attendant.
Dex hadn't recognized her from afar on the platform, but now that she was standing so close, realization struck. She was Princess Selene Von Draculis, heir to the vampire throne—and, more importantly, the very catalyst of this world's downfall.
POV Selene:
'Why did Father send me to this place?' she thought bitterly as her elven attendant guided her.
Since childhood, Selene had been recognized as the heir to the vampire throne—the only daughter of the monarch. Thanks to the vampires' low birth rate, she was the Blood Pearl, the most precious jewel of the kingdom. To be forced into an academy where noble status meant nothing? That was an insult.
But something else irritated her even more.
'And why does this entire academy reek of that filthy sacred mana?'
For high-ranking vampires like her, dark mana was a fine wine. But sacred mana, produced by the World Tree on elven soil, was venom—and she had yet to develop resistance.
"Cadet Selene, we'll be using this magical elevator," said her escort as they joined another receptionist, who was standing with a human student sporting snow-white hair.
The boy seemed surprised to see another elf and glanced back, probably looking for the student the elf was meant to escort.
Selene studied him. Only one thought crossed her mind: 'Surprisingly handsome.'
But when her scarlet eyes met his violet ones, something stirred deep inside. It was as though the threads of fate themselves had wrapped around them, binding them together.
Without thinking, she moved closer. And the closer she got, the stronger the strange pull became, until she reached out and grabbed his arm. 'He smells so good!'
POV Dex:
When his eyes met hers, Dex felt something surge within him. She kept coming closer, closer still, until she clung to his arm and breathed in deeply, smiling before holding him even tighter.
Utterly bewildered by the vampire princess's behavior, Dex failed to notice the stunned looks on their attendants' faces.
"Why are you… acting like this??" he asked, dumbfounded. To him, this made no sense—in the game, Selene was always cold and distant, nicknamed the Blood Ice Queen.
"Because I want to, and that should be enough… my sweet blood honey," she said with a smile that revealed her fangs.
Dex's mind short-circuited at her words.
Ahem!
Thankfully, their guides intervened, announcing that the elevator was ready. The four of them stepped inside.
Upon reaching the base, the attendants resumed leading them toward Orubos Academy. Fortunately for Dex, Selene now clung only to his hand, not his entire arm.
Still, whispers spread through the corridors from older students who caught sight of them.
"Wait… she isn't who I think she is, right?"
"No way… impossible!"
That day, the academy was flooded with gossip and rumors about the so-called "couple."