Alex appeared in the women's dormitory wing. The magic circle beneath his feet faded, leaving him in a dimly lit corridor.
His gaze immediately fell on Lilith, who stood nearby, speaking with Krul and another man.
Lilith was the first to notice his arrival. Her eyes widened sharply, and in an instant, she was beside him, scanning him carefully.
"Are you unharmed?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.
Alex nodded with a warm smile.
"I'm fine. No need to worry."
She studied his face for a moment longer, as if trying to ensure he wasn't hiding any injuries, and only then did she relax a little.
Alex turned his attention to Krul.
"Director, what are you doing here at this hour?"
Krul, who had been calmly observing them until then, pushed off the wall and crossed her arms.
"I sensed Reiner's weakened aura, so I came to check what was going on," she explained. "But when I arrived, I only found Lilith, who told me what had happened."
Alex nodded, accepting her answer. Then his focus shifted to the third person present.
Light, almost white hair flowed down the man's shoulders. Sharp, refined features framed his face, and his calm, sky-blue eyes shimmered faintly as if filled with light. He looked young, but there was a noble restraint about him—one that only those who had lived for centuries seemed to possess.
"Professor Elian. I didn't expect to meet him under such circumstances."
The angel caught his gaze and smiled gently.
"Alex, I'm glad to finally meet you in person," he said in a melodic voice. "I'm Elian, one of the Academy's instructors."
Alex inclined his head slightly.
"You're here because of Reiner's aura as well?"
"That's right," Elian nodded. "I sensed it almost immediately and came to see if everything was alright."
Krul interjected.
"So, where is Reiner?"
Alex met her gaze calmly.
"He escaped."
Silence fell over the room for a moment.
"What do you mean, escaped?" Krul narrowed her eyes.
"I teleported with him outside the Academy to talk," Alex explained evenly. "But the conversation didn't go well, and he managed to get away."
Krul stared at him in silence, scrutinizing every subtle change in his expression. Alex held her gaze, perfectly composed.
Eventually, she sighed and turned away.
"In the morning, I'll speak with Irida and Elizabeth. Reiner can't be left unsupervised—he's still dangerous."
"Makes sense," Alex agreed.
Elian looked over everyone present and gave a slight bow.
"Well, if it's all over, I'll return to my quarters. Have a good evening." With those words, he vanished within a magic circle.
Lilith glanced at Alex once more, then gave a short nod and silently disappeared into her room.
Krul was the last to remain.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"I am," Alex replied with a smile.
Krul tilted her head.
"Good. I'll expect you at noon."
With that, she too disappeared, leaving Alex alone.
The boy sighed and slowly made his way to the garden near his room.
Alex lay on the grass, gazing into the boundless night sky. Sleep had completely abandoned him, and he simply enjoyed the peace that blanketed the garden. A gentle breeze brushed against his skin, rustling the leaves in the trees, and the night air was cool and fresh. The Academy slept, and for the first time in a long while, Alex felt true silence.
The sound of footsteps made him tense slightly. Someone was approaching.
"Mind if I join you?" a familiar voice asked.
Alex didn't even move. He simply raised his hand and waved in her direction without looking.
"Sit down."
Lilith lowered herself beside him, tucking her legs under and resting her hands on her knees. Her eyes scanned the garden, now fully restored after yesterday's chaos.
"This might be our first conversation in a peaceful setting," she said with mild surprise.
Alex chuckled.
"Yeah, usually someone's trying to kill someone."
Lilith smiled.
"I've been meaning to thank you for stepping in during the incident in the plaza," she said, her voice softer, almost warmer. "But after everything that happened afterward… now I owe you thanks for saving me twice."
She turned to him and, after a brief pause, added,
"Thank you, Alex."
He smiled in return.
"If you ever find yourself in a similar situation again, you can always count on me."
Lilith quickly looked away, but not before Alex caught a faint blush on her cheeks.
A moment later, she composed herself, turned back to him, and asked,
"What level are you?"
"Thirty-four."
Lilith raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
"You're kidding, right?"
Alex sat up and opened his main interface, showing it to her. Lilith scooted closer and saw: Level 34.
"How did you manage to stand your ground against Reiner?!"
"Training," Alex replied calmly. "My father and aunt worked hard on that."
Lilith crossed her arms.
"So your family's insanely strong, huh?"
She leaned back and opened her panel in front of him.
"I'm level forty-eight, and even so, Reiner blocked my strongest attack without any effort."
Alex glanced at her stats but simply replied:
"Level is just artificial enhancement. What really makes you stronger is training."
"I know that already," she nodded. "I started training at the age of ten under my mother's guidance, and by fifteen, I was already going with her into E-rank dungeons... But still, the fact that Rayner didn't take any damage from my magic makes me doubt myself."
Alex looked at her with curiosity.
"Your mom must be a powerful sorceress?"
Lilith smiled mysteriously.
"Well, you could say that... Her name is Krul."
Alex froze for a second, and then pieces of the puzzle began falling into place in his mind. His thoughts were interrupted by Lilith, who noticed his reaction and asked:
"Why are you smiling like that?"
Alex shook his head.
"I just didn't expect you to be Krul's daughter."
Lilith looked slightly worried and quickly said:
"Just don't tell anyone, okay?"
"I wasn't planning to," he assured her.
They stayed silent for a few seconds, and then Alex decided to change the subject.
"By the way, I've become her student too."
"Seriously?" Lilith leaned forward, intrigued. "How's it going?"
"I managed to create a core of darkness."
Lilith's eyes widened.
"You're joking?"
"Not at all."
"But..." she looked at him, confused. "You're not a demon."
"I know. And yet the core exists."
Lilith fell into thought.
"You're probably the first vampire who's managed that."
"Seems like it," Alex said.
They talked for a while longer. Alex spoke about his first lesson with Krul, and Lilith shared stories of her training with her mother. Eventually, he noticed that Lilith was starting to doze off. She was still trying to keep the conversation going, but her voice grew quieter, and her replies shorter.
"You should get some sleep," Alex said gently.
Lilith mumbled something, but Alex stood up and offered her his hand.
"Come on, I'll walk you back."
She looked at him with slight surprise but sighed and accepted his help.
A moment later, they were standing in front of the girls' dormitory.
"Well then," Lilith looked at him, "thanks for the pleasant conversation."
"Likewise."
Lilith took a step back but then looked him in the eyes once more.
"And... for everything else too."
Alex simply nodded.
"Good night, Lilith."
She smiled faintly, turned, and went inside.
Alex teleported back to his room and immediately collapsed onto his bed, stretching his arms behind his head. A soft breeze from the open window brushed across his face, carrying the coolness of the night air.
Then his eyes suddenly shot open.
"Damn..."
He raised a hand and smacked himself on the forehead.
"I wanted to ask her about that moment in the garden..."
But instead of frustration, a soft smile appeared on his face.
"Well, I can ask her during the day. Besides, the conversation was so pleasant, I wouldn't have known how to bring it up anyway."
A faint, almost imperceptible chuckle echoed in his mind — the Siren.
Alex glanced to the side.
"What?"
...
"Seriously? That's it?" he raised a brow, but there was no reply.
Alex simply waved it off and closed his eyes.
"Good night, Siren."
"Sleep well, my Lord."
With those words, he finally drifted off into a deep, well-deserved sleep.
Alex was sitting on a familiar couch, leaning back a little, relaxed. Opposite him, on the same couch, sat Krul. She watched him closely, arms crossed over her chest.
"Try creating something using darkness," she said calmly.
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't we agree today was about forming new mana channels?"
Krul smiled lightly.
"I remember that perfectly. But I still want you to try."
The boy shrugged.
"Alright."
He turned his palm upward, focusing on his core of darkness. He imagined the darkness flowing through his mana channels and forming something simple. He tried to guide the energy through his body... but nothing happened. A minute passed. Then two. Then three.
Alex opened his eyes and sighed.
"Nothing's working. The darkness just won't move."
Krul simply nodded.
"That's exactly what I expected."
"Then why ask me to try?"
"I wanted to be sure the standard method wouldn't work. After all, you're not a demon. I had hoped the darkness could still flow through your channels, but..."
She paused briefly.
"So, we'll have to return to the plan we discussed earlier."
"Creating new channels?"
"Exactly."
Krul shifted slightly, crossing her legs.
"Last night I spent hours looking for information. There's not much out there, but I managed to find something useful."
She touched her chin, thinking about how best to explain it.
"You need to create entirely new channels. They should run parallel to your main ones. You'll be forming them from scratch, starting at the core and extending them through your whole body. I'll just be holding back the darkness from your core so it doesn't spread chaotically."
"And after that, it's all on me?"
"Exactly."
Krul placed a hand on his chest.
"Ready?"
Alex closed his eyes.
"Yes."
He dove inward. His consciousness sank deep into his body, toward the very center. There, in the dark, he felt the presence of the core. It looked like a black sphere, pulsing with a deep, dark glow.
Alex approached it. He needed to begin creating the channels. He imagined them as thin paths stretching from the core throughout his body, and slowly began to draw out small fragments of darkness, carefully shaping them into threads that extended outward.
The darkness slipped away. He tried again. And again. The more he attempted it, the more he realized how temperamental the process was. The darkness seemed to have a will of its own, refusing to obey his control.
But Alex didn't give up. Slowly and cautiously, he gathered the particles, forming thin streams of darkness. At last, the first small fragment of a channel began to extend from the core.
Alex decided to test it. He tried channeling darkness through the new path.
Crack.
The channel immediately fractured. He watched as the structure he had built collapsed, and he had to start piecing everything back together.
"Slower," Krul whispered.
Alex continued silently.
He began forming the channel again, this time stronger. Inhale. Exhale. Focus. The particles of darkness settled one after another, gradually taking shape.
The first segment of the channel was complete.
Alex moved on. The process was slow and exhausting. He had to constantly adjust his work, repair fractures, and rebuild unstable sections. Sometimes the darkness resisted stubbornly, forcing him to spend even more time regaining control.
Hours passed. Alex no longer thought about time. He was completely focused on the task.
And finally... the darkness flowed. The channel he had created was solid and stable. Darkness moved slowly but freely from the core toward his right arm.
Alex opened his eyes.
Krul still had her hand on his chest, but now she was watching him closely.
"You felt it?"
Krul nodded.
"I did."
She removed her hand.
"You've done more than I expected."
Alex smiled.
"So you underestimated me?"
"I simply assumed it would be even harder than creating the core."
She paused briefly.
"But this is only the beginning. You'll need to extend those channels throughout your entire body. And today..."
Krul glanced at the clock.
"You've been working for almost four hours."
Alex ran a hand across his face.
"I can feel it."
He relaxed his shoulders a little and looked at Krul.
"How did the meeting with Irida and Elizabeth go?"
Krul crossed her arms.
"They're planning to inform the other Directors about the situation with Rainer. The three of us couldn't figure out how or where to find him."
"They still don't know?"
"Right now, it's just the three of us at the Academy. The others are handling their own matters."
Alex nodded, thinking over her words.
"By the way..." he asked casually. "Do you happen to know what class Lilith had during my fight with Reiner?"
Krul stood up and walked to her desk. She picked up a document and quickly skimmed through it.
"'History of Magic.'"
Alex narrowed his eyes.
"With Professor Elian?"
"Yes." Krul looked up at him. "Why do you ask?"
Alex gave a slight smile.
"Just curious."
He stood up from the couch.
"I think we can deal with Rayner without needing the other Directors involved."
Krul gave him a suspicious look.
"What are you planning?"
Alex only smiled mysteriously.
"It's just a hunch. Might not work. But still..."
Alex sat on the edge of the Academy's rooftop, elbows resting on his knees. From here, he had a clear view of the familiar garden and the girls' dormitory building. The night was quiet, with only a light breeze rustling the treetops, adding a rare calm to the moment.
But inside his head, there was only chaos.
"Elian..."
He whispered the name, gazing down at the dorm.
"He was teaching Lilith when I was fighting Reiner... And yesterday, he got to the dorm even faster than Krul."
Alex narrowed his eyes.
"And he was the first one to visit the room where Rayner had been — but only found the unconscious guards..."
His fingers tapped lightly on the rooftop.
"And why didn't I remember this sooner? During the war, Elian just disappeared. No one knew where. No trace, no word..."
Alex leaned his head back, gazing up at the starry sky.
"Too many coincidences... too many strange details..."
He didn't want to suspect Elian. The man was a good teacher. His lessons were always captivating, and his calm demeanor and intelligent manner of teaching made him one of the best professors at the Academy.
But...
"He needs to be checked."
Alex exhaled heavily and shifted his gaze back toward the garden. And suddenly, he noticed movement.
"Reiner."
The demon was carefully sneaking between the trees, silently moving toward the girls' dormitory. His aura was faint—almost undetectable.
Alex clenched his jaw.
"Will it work or not?"
Reiner stopped. He stood still, as if sensing something. Then he took another step toward the building—and it all happened in a second.
Light flashed around the demon, and a barrier instantly snapped shut around him. A glowing sphere compressed Reiner's body, paralyzing him.
Alex's eyes widened sharply.
"What?! I was so focused on Reiner's aura that I didn't even notice another one."
And there he was. A figure emerged from one of the corridors into the garden, walking slowly and calmly. A glowing magical ring shimmered in his hand, emitting a soft blue light.
Alex clenched his fists.
"Professor... Elian."
Elian slowly approached the immobilized Reiner, a gentle, almost fatherly smile playing on his face.
"You've caused me quite a lot of trouble," he said softly, leaning toward the demon. "But you've completed your task. Which means... I no longer need you."
He pulled a small vial from his inventory, filled with dark violet liquid.
"Sleep well, boy," Elian whispered, raising the vial to Reiner's lips to pour the liquid into his mouth.
But at that very moment, a crimson gleam flashed between them. In an instant, a blade of pure blood sliced through the air—and in the next, it severed the professor's hand.
Alex caught the severed limb mid-air and clenched his fingers around it, not letting it fall to the ground.
Elian jumped back several meters, and at last, the expression Alex wanted appeared in his eyes—surprise.
"You..." the professor looked down at his severed hand, blood dripping from it. "How—"
His body flinched from the sharp pain, but he quickly regained composure. A glowing magical circle appeared on his intact arm, and the wound began to close.
"Damn it, I didn't even sense his aura. And where the hell did this brat come from? Okay, calm down, Elian. He's just a student, and I'm a professor, which means I've got several times more power."
"Alex," Elian said, trying to maintain a calm tone, as if nothing unusual had just happened. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, you know, professor," Alex twirled the severed hand between his fingers like a simple souvenir. "Just passing by... and couldn't help but intervene after seeing such a sight."
His gaze dropped to the vial still clutched in the severed hand's fingers.
"Sirena, what do you say?"
"Already searching for information."
"Excellent," Alex said aloud, storing the vial in his inventory.
Elian sighed softly. His expression remained pleasant, but his eyes—cold.
"Alex, I'll explain everything. Just step away from Reiner," he asked, extending his restored hand forward, as if trying to de-escalate the situation. "He's still dangerous, and he could break free from my barrier at any moment."
Alex only smiled wider.
"Great idea. Let's talk."
And at that very moment, a magic circle appeared beneath their feet.
"Just not here."
Light spread around them, and in the next second, Alex, Reiner, and the professor vanished from the garden.
As soon as the teleportation light faded, they found themselves in a familiar forest clearing. Above them stretched the starry sky, and the only source of light was the moon, casting its soft glow over the surrounding woods.
Alex remained alert, standing close to Reiner, who was still bound by magic.
Elian, on the other hand, appeared perfectly calm, as if everything was proceeding according to plan. He took a few steps forward, approaching Alex, and once again spoke in the same friendly tone:
"Alex, step away from him. You understand he's still dangerous."
The young man looked at him carefully.
"I know that better than you do, professor. So let me ask once again—what were you planning to do with him?"
Elian sighed lightly, as if tired of unnecessary questions.
"Return him to Irida. Obviously, only her magic can restrain him."
Alex crossed his arms over his chest.
"Then allow me to ask—what was in the vial you tried to force down his throat?"
Elian's eyes narrowed slightly, but his face remained composed.
"Oh, that? Just a strong sedative, to make sure Reiner didn't resist. Even now, though he's immobilized, I wanted to be cautious. It's a matter of safety."
Alex pretended to ponder, while mentally addressing Sirena:
— What's the analysis say?
— The diagnostics aren't complete yet, but I can confidently say the potion contains several components commonly used in potent poisons, — she replied.
Alex smiled subtly.
— So, he's lying.
Meanwhile, Elian slowly stepped toward Alex, casually closing the distance.
"Let's make a deal," he said gently, as if speaking with a friend. "I'll overlook your little stunt with my hand. In fact, I'll tell the Directors that you helped me catch Reiner. You might even get a reward."
Alex looked at him, as if considering the offer. Then, with a quiet sigh, he relaxed his fingers, and the blood sword dissolved into a fine spray of crimson droplets.
"Alright, I admit—I may have overreacted," he took a few steps toward Elian, then stopped and offered a slight bow. "Apologies for the hand, professor."
Elian silently watched the boy.
"Did he believe it?" Alex wondered.
When only two meters remained between them, Alex noticed the professor's pupils slightly dilate, and his hand twitch sharply downward. In an instant, Elian drew a dagger from a hidden sleeve, its blade glowing with light magic, aimed straight between Alex's ribs.
However… a blood barrier flared to life around Alex, and the blade struck it without leaving so much as a scratch.
Elian's eyes widened, but he instantly leapt back. Alex spun around, and his fist—coated in a layer of blood—lashed out toward the professor's chest.
Elian managed to block the strike with his dagger, then retreated several more meters, eyes locked on Alex.
"Seems I have no other choice," he said with feigned regret.
Then, with a flick of his hand, the glowing circle beneath Reiner vanished.
"Kill him," he commanded coldly.
As the binding magic lifted from Reiner, he slowly raised his head and looked directly at Alex. His pupils glowed red, and a magical ring had already formed in his palm, aimed at the young man.
But instead of attacking Alex, a sharp black spike erupted from the ground—beneath Elian.
The professor reacted with lightning speed, stepping aside just in time. The spike shot past him, grazing his cloak and leaving a deep crater in the earth.
His face twisted in disbelief.
"What is the meaning of this?!" he shouted, staring at Reiner as if he couldn't believe what he saw.
The demon slowly raised his head and smiled.
"It means that I now have full control over my actions and thoughts… and I no longer intend to follow your orders."
Elian shifted his gaze from Reiner to Alex, who stood with a calm smile.
"Well then, Professor," Alex said, summoning a blood sword in his hand and pointing it directly at the man. "I think I have every reason to consider you an enemy. But first, I suggest you surrender—peacefully."
Elian gave a sharp smile.
"Oh, boy… Do you think mere students can threaten me?"
He conjured a magic ring in his palm and fired a magical arrow at Alex. It tore through the air with incredible speed.
Alex prepared to deflect the attack with his blade, but Reiner stepped in, summoning a wall of spikes that absorbed the impact.
"Focus on the offense. I'll cover you," the demon said, forming more razor-sharp spikes around him.
Alex nodded and dashed forward, his sword slicing through the air. Elian backed away, his fingers glowing white as he conjured a radiant barrier in front of him.
The blade of pure blood struck the shining wall. Though it couldn't pierce the defense, the force of the blow caused the professor to stagger slightly.
"And you call yourself a professor?" Alex mocked, raising his sword with a sharp motion that kicked up a cloud of dust.
Elian narrowed his eyes. With a swift gesture, his barrier disappeared and was replaced by a volley of radiant spears aimed directly at Alex.
"Let's see how you handle this!"
But before they could reach their target, dozens of dark spikes burst from the ground, intercepting each spear mid-air.
Reiner stood a few meters back, his arms at his sides, yet his dark magic was working at full strength.
"Did you forget there are two of us?" the demon said with a sly smile.
Elian clenched his teeth, his eyes darting between Alex and Reiner.
"I need to eliminate the demon first."
His aura expanded, and the light around him flared so intensely that the ground cracked beneath his feet from the magical pressure.
Alex sensed the buildup of power, but before Elian could complete his spell, the young man closed the distance with a leap and swung his blade.
Elian deflected the strike with a thin, hastily summoned barrier. Seizing the moment, he whipped a stream of light—like a glowing lash—at Reiner.
The demon thrust his hand forward, and massive dark spikes erupted from the ground, stopping the attack. But for a few seconds, he was left completely exposed.
Elian seized the opportunity, lunging at him with his magic-charged hand raised for an attack.
Alex was already there. His blood sword whistled past Elian's throat, forcing the professor to retreat.
"Focus on me if you want to win," Alex said with narrowed eyes, lifting his sword to chest level.
Elian stared at him with a cold, unreadable expression.
"Then I'll have to get rid of you first," he muttered, locking onto Alex.
He extended his hand, and pure light flared around his palm, forming an arc from which three powerful beams shot forth, tearing through the air.
Alex barely managed to summon a blood barrier, but one of the beams pierced through and slammed into his chest. The force and speed of the impact were so great, even Reiner, standing several meters away, felt the ground vibrate.
Alex rolled, dropping to one knee. As the beam faded, he pressed his hand to the wound, a glowing ring of magic lighting up as the injury began to slowly heal.
"You okay?" Reiner asked, keeping his eyes on Elian.
"I'll live," Alex exhaled heavily.
Elian tried to take advantage of the moment, aiming to finish him off, but Reiner stepped forward—and the ground beneath the professor cracked open as dozens of sharp spikes erupted. Elian dodged, though one managed to slash his cloak and graze his shoulder.
"I must admit, you're holding your own well," the professor said, ignoring the wound. "I'd play with you a bit longer, but I'm afraid it's time to end this."
He straightened, inhaled deeply, and pulled a sword from his inventory—a classic knight's blade. Its edge immediately shimmered with the glow of light magic.
Alex rose to his feet and wiped blood from his lips.
"Took the words right out of my mouth," he said with a grin and charged Elian once more.
They clashed at the same moment. Swords collided, and sparks of light and blood flew in every direction. Alex felt the pressure—Elian was fast and skilled with a blade. But Alex was no amateur, either.
He darted to the side, dodging a vertical slash, and countered with a sweeping strike. Elian blocked it, then lunged forward, forcing Alex to step back. Their blades met again, every strike precise and powerful. Alex's muscles tensed; his heart pounded faster.
Meanwhile, Reiner wasn't idle. While Alex and Elian fought in close combat, the demon intermittently launched spikes from the ground, trying to pierce the professor's defenses. But the two moved so fast that many of the spikes simply slashed through the air, and those that did hit were deflected by Elian's barrier.
"You two are really starting to piss me off," Elian growled.
Alex took advantage of the moment and lunged forward, swinging his sword from below upwards. Elian managed to dodge, but that was exactly what Alex expected. He abruptly changed the direction of his attack, spun in place, and delivered a horizontal slash. The blade of the blood sword cut through the professor's chest, leaving a bloody line on his cloak.
Elian leapt back, grabbing the new, deeper wound.
"You call that the moves of a normal student?" he muttered, and his body lit up again, healing the cut. "Now I see why 'HE' is so interested in this boy."
Alex stepped back toward Reiner, breathing heavily.
"Damn. I almost forgot how much harder it is to fight people than monsters. They always manage to surprise you."
"He's wearing us down," Reiner said, eyes still locked on the enemy.
"I see that."
Elian stood tall again. His eyes were colder now, and the wound on his chest was completely gone.
"He regenerates faster than I do. Strong in close combat, decent ranged attacks... It's a shame we're on opposite sides."
"So what now?" Reiner glanced at Alex.
"Finish it," Alex said and rushed forward. The blood sword in his hand glowed like heated metal.
Elian began to retreat, already forming a barrier that covered him from head to toe. But it didn't matter. Alex struck. The first wide slash cracked the shield. The second shattered it like brittle ice. The third sent Elian flying back, barely staying on his feet.
"What the...?" the professor began, but Alex was already in front of him.
"I can't keep up with him," both Elian and Reiner thought at the same time.
The angel managed to raise his light sword just in time, ready to take the blow. But Alex struck from above. The young vampire's sword slammed into the light blade with such force that a shallow crater formed beneath Elian, and the air exploded with a magical pulse. He buckled under the pressure.
"Where did this spike in power come from?"
Alex didn't stop. Blow after blow rained down. Elian barely blocked them.
"Is this really the same student from before?"
He kept trying to use barriers, but Alex shattered them with one or two strikes each time.
"He won't even give me a second to breathe. I can't focus on a proper defense."
Elian blocked one of Alex's swings and tried to counter, but the young man caught the sword with his blood-covered free hand and kicked him hard in the chest.
"At this rate, I could actually lose." The thought hit him like thunder. "No. I can't fail 'HIM.' Not after all HE did for me. I'll end it with the next strike."
Elian poured all his light magic into his sword and charged. Alex did the same. Metal howled as their blades clashed. The angel's sword shattered.
The next moment, the blood sword slashed across Elian's chest, leaving a long, deep wound. He staggered back, but Alex swept his legs from under him. Elian fell. The young man planted his foot on the professor's chest and aimed his blade at his throat.
"You lost, Elian."
Elian was gasping, fingers clawing at the ground.
"I admit... defeat," the professor said between breaths. "But tell me... why is it, for the second time, you begin a fight without using your full... strength?"
Alex was about to reply when he heard a sound. Soft. Barely audible.
"Clapping?"
He looked up, searching for the source.
A man stepped out of the shadows beneath the trees. He wore a black cloak, his face hidden by a dark mask. Only a strange smile and the gleam of sapphire-blue eyes were visible. He walked forward slowly, calmly, still clapping.
"That was..." He paused. "Quite the spectacle."
A chill ran down Alex's spine. His fingers tightened around the sword hilt. His heart pounded harder than ever before.
"No way..."
The man stopped a few meters away.
"I'm glad we finally meet," he said in a smooth voice, bowing slightly. "I am—"
"The Jester," Alex said flatly.