Chapter 7: The Quiet Academy

The sun hung bright in a clear sky, its warmth a gentle caress on Ian’s skin as he walked toward the villa district.

His mood was buoyant, though it would’ve been brighter without the morning’s brush with Eserina.

The wound in his left shoulder throbbed faintly, a nagging reminder of her silver blade.

“Damn that Proud Dragon,” he muttered under his breath.

The streets of Saint Roland Magic Academy stretched before him, eerily silent.

A faint unease prickled at Ian’s senses.

“Why’s it so empty?” he wondered aloud.

The absence of students wasn’t just unusual—it was unnatural.

A glance at his communicator confirmed the time: eight o’clock.

Even on a class-free day, the campus should’ve been alive with chatter and footsteps.

“This is wrong,” Ian murmured, scanning the deserted street.

“Did I miss something?”

He shook off the thought.

Whatever was amiss, his priority was Lillian.

He quickened his pace toward her villa, but a neutral voice cut through the stillness behind him. “Classmate, didn’t you get the notice? Why are you out here alone?”

Ian turned to face the speaker—a figure clad in the student council’s uniform, unmistakably a fox clan member.

White hair cropped short, crimson eyes gleaming, a fluffy tail swaying, and pointed fox ears perked atop their head.

The student exuded an air of quiet authority.

Sensing Ian’s wariness, they offered a disarming smile. “I’m Chiya, a student council officer.”

Ian’s mind clicked.

Chiya—one of the heroines from The Dragonblood Rose and Her Poem of Fate, a late addition to Eserina’s circle of admirers.

In the novel, she didn’t appear until the Sacred Trials, a grand competition among races to hone students’ skills against demons.

The trials included solo and team events, the latter requiring five-member squads.

Eserina had dominated the solo matches, earning a legion of devotees, Chiya among them.

So why was she here now, and in a male student council uniform, no less?

“It’s dangerous out here,” Chiya said, stepping closer. “If you’ve got business, better handle it later.”

Ian frowned, puzzled.

Dangerous?

At the academy?

He racked his memory for any hint of such a plot point but came up empty.

“What’s going on?” he asked cautiously.

Chiya tilted her head, studying his confusion. “You didn’t get the notice? A demon infiltrated the academy. The council’s advised everyone to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary.”

A demon?

Ian’s heart skipped a beat.

He didn’t recall any such event in the novel.

Then it hit him—the “demon” was him.

The two boys who’d spotted him that morning, cloaked in his blanket and radiating demonic aura, must’ve reported it.

Cold sweat beaded on his back.

If they traced it to him, he was as good as dead.

But then he steadied himself.

“They’re looking for Iana, not Ian,” he thought.

The orb had masked his aura, restoring his human guise.

He was safe—for now.

“Thanks for the heads-up,” he said, forcing calm into his voice. “But I’ve got something important to do, so I won’t head back just yet.”

Chiya’s brow furrowed, her crimson eyes narrowing. “Important, huh?” She paused, considering. “Fine. For your safety, I’ll go with you.”

Ian didn’t argue.

Refusing would only draw suspicion, especially wandering alone on a locked-down campus.

Together, they headed toward the villa district.

At the district’s gated entrance, the emptiness of the streets gave way to the faint hum of security wards.

Ian turned to Chiya. “Thanks for escorting me.”

“It’s the student council’s duty to keep students safe,” she replied with a nod. “The villa district’s security is tight, so I’ll leave you here. I’ve got other areas to patrol.”

“See you,” Ian said, waving as Chiya departed.

“Take care,” she called back, her tail swishing as she vanished down the street.

Stepping into the villa district, Ian couldn’t help but marvel.

Lush greenery bloomed vibrantly, the air crisp and fragrant, a stark contrast to the academy’s main grounds.

“Money really buys paradise,” he mused. “Live here long enough, and you’d probably add years to your life.”

He reached Villa 105, a two-story residence that, while luxurious, paled beside Veronica’s opulent estate.

Ian knocked. “Lillian? It’s Ian.”

“Coming!” Her voice rang from within, and moments later, the door swung open.

Lillian stood framed in the doorway, clad in a yellow-and-white off-shoulder dress, her golden hair tied into twin tails.

Her dark red eyes sparkled with relief. “I thought you were going to stand me up,” she said, patting her chest dramatically.

“Me? Never,” Ian replied with a grin. “I’m a man of my word. Just got held up a bit.”

“No big deal. Come in.”

Lillian didn’t pry, and Ian was grateful.

Everyone had their secrets, after all.

He stepped into the villa, immediately struck by the grandeur of a dazzling crystal chandelier dominating the spacious living room.

The space dwarfed his modest dorm, with plush sofas arranged around a table laden with expensive candies, chocolates, and fruits.

Lillian plopped onto a sofa, patting the spot beside her. “Sit.”

“I’ll pass, Second Miss,” Ian said, shaking his head. “Time’s tight. Let’s get to work.”

Lillian leaned forward, eager. “So, what’s the plan?”