After Valencia disappeared from the site of the monster's attack, the Headmaster and the Royal family searched for clues on who stopped it. Valencia attended classes regularly, despite knowing her final grade would be… an F-rank guide.
As years went by and no secrets had answers, Valencia stood in the middle of the Academy's campus, staring at every student who had just graduated.
"Look, Mother!" a girl screamed happily, flapping her gown around.
The two noble couples smiled and nodded.
"Congratulations. Now, make sure you partner up with your Esper," the lady stated. She turned to her husband. "Do well as a guide to protect the world."
Valencia listened, her heart aching a little. She looked at her hands… covered by black gloves. Mother, I did it. As you asked me to… hiding my powers, and now everyone thinks I'm a failed guide. Her lips slowly curved into a grin. She looked up and walked out of the Academy's grounds.
"Excuse me, Miss!" a squeaky voice screamed.
Valencia paused and turned around. An errand boy panted as he handed her a notebook.
"What's this?" Valencia asked, taking it.
"It's your mother's… late mother's journal…" he replied. Then he stood after steadying his breath. "Dame Lupis said that you'll need this and maybe… you'll rank up!"
Valencia stared at the book, then returned her gaze to the errand boy. She smiled, but those who looked into her eyes would see a quiet defiance instead.
"Thank you… but I think I will be the proudest rank F guide."
She spun on her heel and walked out of the Academy, a grin tugging at her lips. The errand boy's jaw literally dropped.
"Wh-what? She would prefer being F her entire life?"
Valencia hummed a little tune as she strolled through the bustling marketplace, arms swinging freely. Being an F-rank meant… finally, people would leave her alone. Her heels clicked against the cobblestones. She even hopped once, caught in a burst of joy. Freedom feels pretty good, she thought, spinning once on the spot.
Then—
"Ah! It's Kael!"
A lady squealed, barging into her and sending Valencia stumbling. She barely caught her balance, head snapping up, and froze as her green eyes met his. His hazel eyes.
He looked at her with a smile. A fake smile of care.
"Ladies, ladies… calm down. I've come to congratulate the guides who graduated…" he said kindly.
Valencia gagged, looking away. I need to escape… being close to any nobles would be my loss. She snuck away from any prying eyes.
Kael looked at every lady who threw their head out to see him. He searched and observed, passing over Valencia. Will I finally get a Guide? Are any of you compatible with me? His lips twitched agitately, yet he remained composed.
Just as he took a deep breath and slumped—
A lingering—unseen—purple aura flew through his nostrils, calming his heartbeat in an instant. He froze.
He darted his head back and searched. What was that? Something I… never felt before! Kael's eyes rolled left to right hastily as he panted.
"Where… are you?" he muttered.
Suddenly, his personal knight, William, stretched his arms to divide the ladies and Kael. He glanced at Kael.
"Lord Kael… is everything alright?" William asked.
Kael, still lost in his thoughts, bit his lower lip.
"I… let's return. My head hurts," Kael declared.
William nodded and followed him back home.
Meanwhile, Valencia bought a bouquet of flowers, passionflowers. She placed it atop a tombstone after arriving at the graveyard.
PERSAI ELYANE
-S Guide to S Esper Eureon Luvoise-
| Your wit, his drive. Your drive, his wit. |
"Mother… I will be starting tomorrow. They will be checking if I match any Espers…" Valencia explained. The wind brushed against her skin, pulling her hair behind her ears. Valencia smiled. "Once it's confirmed that no one is compatible, I will live in the countryside away from the palace. I will make sure no one knows… especially the Royal Palace."
Her eyes turned hollow… purple. Her gaze remained vacant.
"They are the reason why Father was set on the mission alone, as you were giving birth to me."
Valencia sat down in front of the tombstone, leaning her cheek against her knees. She rocked herself back and forth as she stared at her mother's famous words. "Your wit, his drive. Your drive, his wit." She tightened her jaw, clutching her legs tightly.
"Who will be my wit and drive?" she solemnly asked. Just as she closed her eyes—
CRASH. Rumble…
Screams exploded through the kingdom.
"The kingdom is under attack! There's a monster two miles away from the kingdom!" a scout in the tower screamed. "Call the Imperial Knights!"
Just then, a blue cape flew by.
"Where?" Kael asked suddenly, turning to the scout.
The scout gasped, falling to his knees. He pointed in the middle of the forest.
"East… the monster is throwing trees at the kingdom."
Kael's feet lifted into the air with bright light. He turned to the scout.
"Go get backup. I will do whatever I can to prevent further damage!" Kael ordered.
The scout stood and bowed.
"Yes, Lord Kael!"
Valencia watched from below, heart thudding, Kael no larger than an ant as he struck the monster.
ROAR.
Kael's first strike barely scored a scratch. The monster's massive arms seized a thick tree, swinging it like a club. Kael twisted midair, aura flaring as he glided, sliding through the assault as though his feet never left the sky.
From the kingdom's gate, ladies cheered for Kael, hoping that he would subdue the monster before the backup.
Valencia's eyes stayed fixed on the monster. Her ears rang as the world blurred and seemed to slip away with each passing second. She felt herself falling while she stood, hands trembling.
"Valencia…" a faint voice called.
She froze—her head wouldn't obey her command to turn. A dark hand reached for her wrist and pulled her toward the creature.
"Boom…"
The word left her lips—or perhaps it was the Void itself—but in her mind, she saw the explosion in perfect detail: the trees ripping apart, the ground shaking, the monster thrown backward. The vision snapped into reality.
BOOM.
A purple Void erupted between Kael and the beast. His eyes widened before he could react. The explosion echoed in the forest that surrounded the kingdom. Kael swiftly plummeted toward the kingdom gate, barely controlling his descent, aura flickering wildly.
Valencia wrenched free of the hand and spun around, gasping. There was no one—only tombstone. She fell to her knees at her mother's stone.
"Mother… who was that? What was that?" Her hands shook as she closed her eyes and counted to steady herself.
When she calmed, she stood and picked up her mother's journal, then returned toward the kingdom gate, pretending nothing had happened.
A groan stopped her.
She froze and moved silently, then saw him—Kael, wounded, blood trickling down his temple, slumped against the gate. Valencia raced to him, watching sweat fall and his heart hammer.
"Oh… hello?" she managed. "Are you okay?"
The moment her hand touched his chest—
GRAB.
He opened his eyes through the blur and pulled her closer without seeming to realize. He panted.
"Who…?" he muttered. The pounding in his skull eased; the wild light inside him quieted as if it had finally found something to hold onto. I feel… at ease. The thought hit harder than the pain. Why?
Valencia jerked her hand back.
"Uh… the kingdom is that way," she said, pointing awkwardly. This pervert just grabbed my hand. If he weren't injured, I'd have tossed void-balls at him. She hid her frown.
Kael's vision cleared for a beat. He saw her purplish hair, the black gloves. He reached out, then sagged.
"Lord Kael!" William's voice rang through the trees.
Valencia flung her hands up and stumbled back, glancing at Kael before scrambling away. I must not get caught—must not be questioned. She pulled her hoodie over her head and hurried to hide, not realizing she'd left her mother's journal beside Kael.
William rushed from the tower and inhaled sharply at the sight of Kael.
"Lord Kael! Are you—"
Kael had already slipped into unconsciousness. No… I must stop her. I need her! His vision… went black.
William tightened his jaw, scooped Kael up, and gathered the journal as he carried him away.
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