The chaotic little parade continued through Evie's first three days at the Imperial Academy. Still craving some peace and quiet, she tried her best to walk as fast as she could away from her talented twin brothers, her prodigy childhood friend, and apparently a crown prince hiding his true identity. But her little legs could only get her so far.
During the opening ceremony, after the Chancellor finished praising the academy's new protective barriers—tested by top S-rank adventurers. Welcoming new crop of talented students.
Elsan was next to give welcoming remarks as the top third-year student his speech ended with; "And if any of you first-years dare look at my precious little sister, remember..." He trailed off, delivering a threat so over-the-top and cringe-worthy.
To which Eleur chimed in, "And you'll also have to face my fist!"
Evie wished she could just disappear then and there.
Lemeric as the top student for the second-year students was no help either. He stared at her from the stage the entire three seconds he was up there. Then when he smiled over half the girls in the auditorium swooned and squealed.
After the ceremony, the crown prince—pretending not to be the crown prince—approached her, offering a bouquet of flowers clearly teasing the three. "Good luck on your first day, my lady."
This led to an immediate scuffle. Eleur grabbed him by the collar. "Hey, she's not your lady!"
Lemeric calmly set the bouquet on fire. "Ah kindling."
Meanwhile, Elsan wiped Evie's hands. "It's bad luck to touch something dirty on your first day."
On the second day, when Evie decided to tour the campus with Almira and Haelena, Eleur happily offered "Let big brother take you on this rickshaw!" and plumped her on a velvet plush rickshaw wanting pull it around.
Elsan countered the offer with "You can ride on this flying carpet. I enchanted it myself! You can get a view of the entire campus from above."
Of course, Lemeric joined the competition, summoning his dragon, Luna.
"Flying with Luna is safer."
Vince also jumped in, offering his hand knowing how to court anger from the three.
"I can personally escort you on a walking tour, my lady."
This led to another playful - not so playful brawl.
On the third day, Vince, finding all this highly amusing, continued to trail the twins, following them to the Makiling Hall gates.
"Strange, Lemeric isn't around today. I guess my rank should be moved up right?" Vince said, teasing.
"What rank are you blabbering about?" Elsan asked with a yawn, clearly having woken up early to wait for Evie.
"The ranking for Miss Evie's heart of course" Vince said, grinning.
"Stop joking and go follow Lemeric around like you usually do." Eleur pushed him away.
"I would, but I thought he was here... Ah, there he is." Vince spotted Lemeric and it seemed like he was not walking toward's them but towards the academy's main building.
"Lemeric, are you not joining us to walk Miss Evie to her classroom?" Vince yelled out.
"Hey stop inviting people to things you're not even welcome to!" Eleur said holding him in a playful choke hold.
Lemeric carried a bottle of chocolate milk. He didn't answer, just gave them a knowing grin and sprinted at the speed of light toward the building.
"I've never seen him run so fast before," Eleur said, tilting his head.
"I can't tell if he improved in teleportation magic or was that a physical run." Vince said trying to look for traces of mana.
"Oh no!" Elsan, ever the clever one, put two and two together. "Don't tell me... Eleur quick there at it again! Evie!" he said teleporting short distances to try and keep up with Lemeric.
"But we've been here since earlier! There's no way Evie could be in the classroom already!" Eleur ran at top speed after him.
"My, what vigorous exercise we're doing this early in the morning," Vince drawled, keeping pace at a leisurely jog.
By the time they reached Evie's classroom, Lemeric was already walking out—smug satisfaction written all over his face. Inside, Evie sat at her desk beside Almira, drinking the chocolate milk Lemeric had given her.
"That little... how did he...?" Eleur panted, doubled over.
Elsan, pale from overusing his teleportation, leaned heavily against the wall. "I should have placed a tracking spell on Evie."
"Ugh! It's just like when we were kids—she always appear and disappear so suddenly!" Eleur groaned, exasperated.
Elsan straightened, eyes burning with determination. "Eleur, we have to be here before lunch."
"Right!" Eleur barked, rallying.
"How interesting indeed..." unsure what they met Vince just followed along. Unknowingly entering a cat-and-mouse chase with Lemeric and the twins. Lemeric was the elusive mouse, mysteriously always a step ahead, while the twins and Vince scrambled after him trying to get to Evie first but they failed every time.
Every lunch time, Evie was already out of the classroom the second the bell rang. The twins only found Lemeric walking out from her desk smiling, holding a box of treats, and he would hold them up to the twins smugly "Treats from Evie"
During every dinner time, they searched the Dining Hall, shouting for Evie. When they spotted Haelena and asked if she had seen her, she pointed to the empty seat next to Lemeric and say, "She was here a minute ago." Lemeric would give them a smug smile as he ate the plate clearly filled by Evie.
During self-study, Evie was in the library one minute sitting next to Lemeric, and by the time the trio reached the table, he would shrug and say "She left." as he waved Evie's pastel pink quill to their faces.
All around the academy, Eleur and Elsan ran shouting their sister's name.
"Evie! Evie! Evie!"
It became a running joke among students;
"There goes the Caerwyn twins, looking for Evie it must be lunch time already."
"To have such a pretty little sister must be tough" Dominic said in passing.
"Can't they put a bell around her or something their being so noisy!" Angelique responded in a jealous fit of rage.
"Are we sure this Evie girl isn't lost somewhere?"
"Maybe I should change my name to Evie!" squealed some girls.
"Don't make eye-contact with her unless you want to face the wrath of the Caerwyn twins" a few boys murmured, unwilling to court the twins' wrath.
This went on for several days until Eleur finally had enough and shouted from the front of Makiling Hall. "Evie! Come down here now!"
"Eleur, we probably shouldn't..." Elsan began.
The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the academy. Some students walked to the dining hall and others headed to their accommodations. Many stopped to stare, whispers rippling through the crowd, captivated by the sight of the Caerwyn twins dashing about with Vince in tow, their chaotic energy impossible to ignore.
"No! That little twerp has been monopolizing Evie the entire week!" Eleur exclaimed, a little crazed.
"Well, you know how little sisters are," Vince teased. "One minute they're attached to you like glue, the next they're in love and won't spend time with you."
The twins froze. "In love? No... no not our sweet little Evie!"
Then Paps emerged from Makiling Hall, his wobbly figure approaching them while handing a letter to Elsan.
"What's this?" Vince wondered.
"That's Paps, Evie's Paper Butler," Almira said, appearing from behind.
"Hello there! It's nice to see you again," Vince shocked how she manage to hide her presence but quickly compose himself to flash his usual charming smile.
Almira met it with a scowl. "Pardon me but I'd like to pass," she said, side-eyeing the three boys and the group of girls secretly gawking at them blocking the entrance of Makiling Hall.
Vince smiled and waved at the onlookers that earned him a scowl from Almira. Then he noticed the book she was carrying. It was the same book Lemeric used to read.
"By the way that book - " Vince wanted to ask but Eleur abruptly interrupted. "Hey, you're Evie's friend, right?"
"Friend?" Almira repeated, feeling strangely warm at the words.
"Could you please tell her to come down? We want to have dinner together with her!" Eleur shook her desperately.
"Please unhand me," Almira said being shaken by Eleur.
"No use, Eleur," Elsan said, tears in his eyes. "I think our sister hates us." He handed the note from Evie to his brother.
"What? No... this can't be!" Eleur exclaimed, shocked at the contents.
"We have failed us brothers!" Elsan said collapsing to the ground.
"It's that little brats fault!" Eleur said punching the ground in defeat.
"Hey, it's alright, it's not that serious—" Vince tried to de-escalate, realizing his teasing might have gone too far.
"That's it! I'm going in! I'm marching up to her room and dragging her out to spend time with us!" Eleur shouted, running toward Makiling Hall—two steps in, and he went splat onto the ground under the barrier's weight.
"Idiot" Almira said under her breath passing him and the sign that read No Boys Allowed Beyond This Point.
"We're not allowed in there, don't you remember?" Elsan sighed and earnestly produced a mana circle with a flourish, neutralizing the protective barrier. "I'll go get her."
"Interesting! What's that spell?" Vince asked, astonished. Even his shadow guards couldn't pass the Baroness's enchantment—yet here was Elsan, walking straight through it.
"An advance nullification spell," Elsan replied.
"Why didn't you use it before?"
"It takes a lot of mana," he said, fainting before reaching the main door.
Paps, ever the patient and reliable Paper Butler, gently scooped the unconscious twins, his wobbly form surprisingly steady. With careful, deliberate steps, he carried them toward the infirmary.
Vince looked at the note Evie had written;
Stop yelling after me! You're both so annoying, go away!
He chuckled to himself indeed today was another interesting day.
He was about to trail after the twins wanting to study both Elsan's neutralizing mana circle and a paper butler when a figure caught his eye. Lemeric scurrying into a dark path behind Makiling Hall.
"To trap a mouse the most effective is not to chase it like a cat but to lure it with cheese. I wonder if this mouse will lead me to the cheese," Vince murmured.
Evie sighed at the sight of her brothers being carried off by Paps. She had been using the system map portals to escape them, trying desperately not to draw attention, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. Now the academy whispered about "Evie, the missing Caerwyn sister." It was bad enough dodging Lemeric, who seemed to know her every move, but the twins were relentless she could not run away from them forever.
"Great what did big brother Eleur do now - even big brother Elsan's not using his brains. Honestly they should be focusing on their ranking ceremony. All the seniors are so focus but all they do is keep bothering me." she muttered looking out the window, just as someone knocked on her door.
"Evie, I've come to return the book I borrowed," Almira's calm voice sounded from the other side.
"Almira!" Evie exclaimed, yanking the door open and pulling her inside. She guided her to the sofa. "Was that you with my big brothers earlier?"
"Yes. They were outside with that creep," Almira replied evenly, her tone controlled, revealing nothing.
"that creep? you mean the crown pri - I mean Vince?"
"Is that his name?"
Evie laughed cautiously "Yes that's his name. I think you should call him that from now on afterall he is a senior" and somebody who could order for your head.
"You're right I supposed."
"Remember Almira you have to make sure not to cross that guy okay?"
Almira nodded.
"Anyway I saw big brother Eleur shook you" She said gently touching her arm where Eleur had held her. "I knew it you got bruise didn't you? Show me your arm."
"My arm?"
"Yes—your arm." Evie rolled up Almira's sleeve and spotted a faint bruise. "That brute! I'm sorry he did this to you!"
Almira's gaze remained steady, she had not notice there was a bruise forming on her arm. "I'm alright,"
"No, you're clearly not. You're bruised. Stay right there—I have something that can heal that," Evie rummaged through her belongings and pulled out a small chest filled with potion.
"Honestly, ever since we were kids, my big brother couldn't control his strength. I'd get bruised from hugs or even just him yanking my arm. He's gotten a lot better at controlling it but sometimes he does tend to forget."
Almira placed the book on the table and stood to leave. "You don't need to. I'll just go to the infirmary."
"Don't be silly," Evie said, gently taking her arm. "My brother did this and you're my friend."
The word "friend" caught Almira's attention. She hesitated, a flicker of something warm passing across her otherwise composed expression. "Okay," she said finally, allowing Evie to apply a drop of the potion.
The bruise vanished as soon as a drop of the potion landed on Almira's skin. Her eyes widened slightly, an uncharacteristic sparkle of awe breaking through her calm exterior. "Fascinating. This must be a rare potion... and expensive."
"It's nothing special," Evie said, opening a chest filled with identical potions. "We got it from a traveling merchant who passes through Caerwyn every now and then." she lied in truth, it was a system potion worth one gold coin—an enormous sum for a commoner like Almira, but trivial for Evie thanks to her rebate system. To her, it was no more than a droplet in the ocean.
"This could really help Lady Haelena with her training for the ranking ceremony," Almira said, catching herself mid-thought.
"Then go ahead and take a few."
"Really is that alright?" Almira's eyes shone, just slightly.
"Of course! It's the least I can do. Haelena has been so kind to me."
"Do you mind if I take one to study?" Almira asked, her voice steady but her curiosity undeniable.
"Yes and you know what take these too" She handed a few more advance potions, the ones her mother had difficult recreating "but promise to share your findings with Caerwyn?" Evie thought that afterall Almira is a generational talent, and might succeed where others had not.
"Yes!" Almira said, holding a trunk full of potion as the door closed behind her.
Evie immediately laid down on her bed deciding the day had been enough. Sleep claimed her quickly.
As soon as her breathing slowed Lemeric entered the room quietly, his expression unreadable as he looked at the chest of potion "If you wanted to figure out how to make these you should have asked for my help" he said, pouting.
He then regarded her sleeping form. "Sleeping so soundly." he murmured, a rare, soft smile tugging at his lips.
Sol bounded out of the terrarium, Luna following in tow, now fully grown and flapping her wings. Panic prickled at Lemeric—he didn't want Evie to wake from the noise.
She stirred and hugged her pillow closer "Of course you won't wake up... you're such a heavy sleeper," he whispered to himself.
"Hey, I didn't ask you two to come out!" His voice carried the faintest edge of exasperation, though Sol and Luna gave him skeptical stares, as if questioning his intentions for being in Evie's room.
"Don't give me that look I'm just here to fix something! Sol, stand watch by the door. Luna guard the balcony. I won't be long"
The skepticism wasn't unwarranted.
On Evie's very first night at the academy, Lemeric had slipped silently into her room, telling himself that he was just there to check how secure her room was. The magical barrier made by Baroness Elowen on her window looked secure enough—but he couldn't trust appearances. A careful push or three shattered it, and of course he had to step inside to "explain" himself.
But when the paper butler tried swatting him away - Lemeric couldn't help but defend himself. That's why the Paper butler burnt to ashes. Of course then, without a barrier on her window and a paper butler to swat intruders away Evie was now left vulnerable.
That was his only reason for sleeping in her room. Sleep on the sofa had been uncomfortable so he had no choice but to sleep beside her - not because he wanted to, but because she couldn't be left defenseless. He repeated that lie to himself enough it felt like it was the truth.
He remembered lying next to her felt agonizing. The effort to maintain control and composure was not an easy feat. Every subtle movement, every quiet breath had been a test of his restraint, of his ability to endure being so close to her without crossing the line.
"Completely clueless" he sighed, remembering the night they had parted ways. They were children then—she was embracing the same silly sheep pillow. Back then her eyes and button nose were red from crying. He had pressed a soft kiss to her forehead in farewell. The gesture was almost painfully innocent, yet charged with all the unspoken affection his young heart could hold.
Now, he stood over her once more, watching her lie there so utterly defenseless. He paused holding his breath. For a moment, the room narrowed to the small rise and fall of her chest. Could he — once more — press a single, gentle kiss on her forehead?
The thought was absurd. Yet it felt exquisite. Years of childish closeness twisted with a sudden, fierce awareness that he wanted more than a farewell gesture. Every instinct pushed him forward. Memory. Promise. A wanting he refused to name.
The space between them felt impossibly small.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
And full of consequence.
His lips were an inch from her forehead and then ever so gently he pressed his lips —ZAAAAAAAAP.
A terrifyingly electric surge of power shot up from Evie's necklace, a ward reacting to the proximity and intention. Lemeric flinched instinctively, conjuring a fast neutralizing mana circle that flickered but held. It broke an enchanted protection gem Evie had given him. The shock would have fried an ordinary person.
He looked at Evie who was still sleeping soundly completely oblivious to the danger she was in. The danger being him that is.
"That was close," he muttered, rubbing his lips where the spark had kissed them.
In the corner of his eye, he saw Sol turning from the door to his master, tail flicking with judgment. Luna likewise perched on the balcony, eyes narrowing at him as if she was belittling him.
"I was.. that is... Okay that's it you two back inside" he whispered-shouted, frustration warring in his voice.
The two familiars exchanged knowing looks and jumped into the terrarium. The noise caused Evie to stir, she sat up and murmured and looked straight at him.