"The Jester," Alex replied curtly.
The man in the black cloak turned to him. The smile never left his face, and his eyes gleamed with open curiosity.
"Oh, you even know my name. All the better," he said in a melodic, calm, even pleasant voice. "I'm glad we finally meet. The one who dealt with the Montameras… The one who managed to defeat an Academy professor."
He threw a quick glance at Elian, who was still lying on the ground, gasping, then turned back to Alex.
"You've drawn attention."
Alex tightened his grip on the sword hilt.
"What do you want?"
The Jester spread his arms as if inviting him to relax.
"Oh, nothing bad, I assure you. In fact..." He paused and then pulled something from his inventory. In his hand appeared a vial filled with a strange liquid. "...I might even help you."
Alex narrowed his eyes.
"What is that?"
"A potion. More precisely, something that can bring your friend back to normal."
Reiner tensed at the words, but Alex only gave a skeptical smile.
"And what do you want in return?"
"Ah, quick on the uptake," the Jester nodded. "It's very simple: you give me the professor, and I give you the potion."
Alex let out an ironic laugh.
"Seriously? After Elian tried a similar stunt, you think I'll just trust you?"
"Well, I missed the start of your fight, so I didn't know about that part," the Jester smiled slyly. "But if words aren't enough, I'll just have to earn your trust through action."
In the next instant, he vanished.
Alex didn't even have time to react. Just blinked — and the Jester was already behind Reiner, pressing something sharp to his neck.
"Good thing I brought a spare," he said casually.
Alex felt a chill rise inside him.
"What kind of speed is that?.. I didn't even see him move..."
Reiner jerked, his body trembled, then began to shift. The blood-red glow in his eyes faded, the claws retracted, his body returning to normal. Within seconds, he was just... himself.
The Jester patted him on the shoulder.
"Much better like this."
Alex didn't say a word. He only stared at the Jester, a storm of strategies swirling in his mind.
"I could finish off Elian and attack him... But would I make it in time? He's faster than anything I've seen before..."
"Well then, now that I've proven my goodwill..." The Jester began calmly walking toward Alex and Elian. "I hope you'll return the gesture."
Alex tensed. His gaze flicked between Reiner, the Jester, and Elian.
"Damn it... What do I do? He's toying with me, and I can feel it... He's not even afraid."
"Alex, don't act recklessly," Siren's voice whispered gently in his mind.
The young man inhaled deeply, clenched his jaw tightly… and lowered his sword.
The Jester smiled, as if that's exactly what he'd expected.
"Splendid."
He reached a hand out to Elian, who accepted it without a word. The Jester helped him up, then turned back to Alex.
"Thank you for keeping your side of the bargain."
Alex scoffed.
"What bargain? You left me no choice."
"Well, I doubt you'd have agreed otherwise… It benefited both of us."
The Jester extended his hand. In his palm was the same vial with the potion.
Alex narrowed his eyes.
"What does this mean?"
"We agreed: potion for Elian. And the fact that I decided to help your friend..." He chuckled softly. "Just a gesture of goodwill."
Alex took the vial, never taking his eyes off the Jester.
"Why are you doing this? You could've just killed us and taken Elian by force."
"Oh, I absolutely could have," the Jester nodded. "But you see… you're far too interesting a person to simply disappear."
Alex's blood ran cold.
"What do you mean?"
The Jester tilted his head, smile widening even more.
"I hope we'll get to speak again… in a more pleasant setting. And then, you'll get the answers you want."
His eyes gleamed.
"But for now… know this: I am not your enemy."
A glowing magic circle lit up beneath the Jester and Elian. A moment later — they were gone.
Alex immediately rushed to Reiner.
"You okay?"
"I'm… fine… Just a bit tired," the boy said, gently touching his neck.
Alex exhaled and smiled.
"Glad to hear it."
A magic circle lit up beneath the two of them.
"Time to return to the Academy," Alex whispered.
And they vanished.
Alex and Reiner reappeared at the Academy, in the garden near the girls' dormitory. There, on a bench among the flowers, Krul was already waiting for them. She sat with her legs crossed, her calm gaze drifting across the evening sky.
As soon as the boys appeared, she rose and quickly walked over. Without a word, Krul wrapped Reiner in a firm yet gentle hug.
"I'm glad you're back," she said softly, her voice filled with uncharacteristic tenderness.
Reiner froze, clearly not expecting this. His arms hovered awkwardly in the air, and his eyes darted between Alex and Krul.
"Um… yeah, I'm glad to be back too," he managed, giving a crooked smile. His eyes slid back to Alex, now full of a mix of confusion and helplessness, as if asking, "What the hell is going on?"
Alex only smiled in return, arms folded across his chest, choosing to stay out of it.
When Krul finally let Reiner go, her expression returned to its usual cold composure.
"You okay?" she asked, her eyes quickly scanning his figure, pausing on the torn Academy uniform.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Reiner said. He gave his outfit a quick glance, as if only now noticing the damage, and added, "Just a little tired, that's all."
"Then you can rest. You don't need to show up for classes tomorrow — I'll speak to the professors," Krul said, casting a brief glance at Alex. "There's someone else who can answer my questions."
Alex merely sighed, understanding the hint.
"You'll receive a new set of Academy uniforms tomorrow afternoon," she added.
"Thank you, Director," Reiner nodded.
Before leaving, he approached Alex and extended his hand.
"Thank you, Alex."
Alex shook his hand lightly and replied with a smile:
"Always happy to help. But I hope we won't have to deal with anything like that again."
Reiner gave a faint smile, nodded, and turned to head toward the men's dormitory.
Once he disappeared into the darkness of the alley, Krul turned her gaze to Alex.
"You took longer than you promised me," she said.
Alex just shrugged.
"Things didn't quite go according to plan toward the end. But the result — that turned out exactly how I expected."
His eyes shifted briefly in the direction Reiner had gone.
Krul crossed her arms.
"That's good… But I still have a lot of questions that need answers."
Without waiting for Alex to respond, she made a small motion with her hand, and a glowing magic circle appeared beneath their feet.
A moment later — they vanished, leaving behind only a soft stir in the air.
Alex entered his room just as dawn began to break outside. The air coming in from the window was cool after the quiet night, and the calm atmosphere inside stood in stark contrast to the chaos of the previous night.
Adam, who was just finishing putting on his academy uniform, immediately noticed Alex.
"Oh, look who finally showed up." He adjusted his cuffs and crossed his arms. "Where'd you disappear to all night again?"
Alex offered a tired smile and replied shortly:
"Just a little rendezvous with Reiner."
Adam raised an eyebrow.
"And how did it go?"
"All good. He's back to his normal form, which means that whole episode with him is finally over."
Adam gave Alex a more scrutinizing look, as if trying to determine whether he was hiding anything.
"Details?"
Alex chuckled softly.
"Won't you be late for class if you stand here talking to me?"
Adam waved him off.
"Not if you don't drag it out."
Alex sighed, sat down on the bed, and began recounting the night's events: the battle with Elian, the unexpected encounter with The Jester, and his conversation with Krul. Adam listened silently, not interrupting, though his facial expressions subtly shifted now and then.
When Alex finished, Adam leaned forward and asked:
"And now what? How are we supposed to take The Jester's claim that he's our friend?"
Alex paused for a moment before answering:
"I don't know what to make of it… But for now, I'll admit that The Jester helped us — even if not out of pure kindness. If I get the chance to talk to him again, I'll take it. Then we'll see where that leads."
Adam nodded.
"Well, what matters is that for now, it's over and no one got hurt."
Alex smiled and leaned back on the bed.
"Exactly. And I really hope there won't be any more interesting or unexpected events for a while so I can finally focus on training."
Adam glanced at him with a faint smirk.
"You say that like you don't attract trouble yourself."
Alex just rolled his eyes tiredly.
Adam checked the time and grabbed his bag.
"Time for me to go. And don't forget — I need you this evening."
Alex waved lazily.
"I remember."
Adam left, and Alex, finally feeling the weight of exhaustion, collapsed onto the pillow, allowing himself a few hours of peaceful sleep.
Alex woke up a few hours later, feeling a pleasant lightness in his body. He stretched, then glanced at the neighboring bed — Adam still hadn't returned.
Before getting up, he spoke to Siren in his mind:
"Siren, how's the analysis of those two potions coming along?"
Her voice responded immediately in his consciousness, calm and clear:
"My Lord, the analysis is complete. The first potion, the one you took from Elian, turned out to be an exceptionally powerful poison. Just a single drop would have instantly killed Reiner. In fact, based on its composition, it could easily take down an A-rank monster."
Alex winced, feeling a flicker of anger flare up again, but he let out a quiet breath and continued:
"Good thing we stopped it in time," he said, sitting up and running a hand over his face. "And the second potion?"
Siren hesitated for a moment — something she always did when the answer wasn't likely to please Alex.
"I… couldn't find anything, my Lord. That potion has no characteristics known to me. Its composition doesn't match any existing recipe. If The Jester's words are to be believed, it's something like a powerful medicine, but…"
Alex smiled faintly.
"I expected as much. In any case, I'm glad I received it from The Jester. He seems too invested in our survival to hand us something dangerous. And if it truly is a medicine… it might come in handy one day."
"My Lord…" Siren's voice shifted, a note of unease creeping into it. "That's exactly what worries me."
Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"What do you mean?"
"The Jester. His words, his actions… None of it matches the image we've had of him before. If he really is the one who started this war, then why is he helping you now? Why does he claim to be our friend?"
Siren rarely showed emotion like this, but Alex understood her perfectly. He didn't know what to think either.
"I'm not rushing to conclusions," he replied calmly, though a faint chill stirred deep inside him. "But I'll admit this: so far, The Jester has acted in our favor. I don't trust him, but if I get another chance to speak with him, I'll take it. I need at least some answers to figure out how to move forward."
"I don't like this…" she whispered.
Alex smiled gently.
"You're worried about me?"
"Always, my Lord."
He fell silent for a moment, feeling something warm stir inside him. Siren had always been his constant companion — ever present, ever loyal.
"Don't worry," he said, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling. "I've got things more or less under control. But there's one thing I've realized — I'm still not strong enough."
Siren remained silent, letting him speak.
"I've already reached level one hundred, and still… the Jester's speed showed me that he's far stronger. If I don't get better, if I don't push harder, then sooner or later…" He exhaled sharply. "Anyway, I need to train more."
"Training is important, my Lord," she agreed gently. "But shouldn't you also just enjoy student life a little?"
Alex gave a faint smile.
"You're right. The last few days have been too intense." He rose from the bed and stretched. "Seems like I have a bit of time now to live a little… not just survive."
He glanced at the clock and smirked crookedly.
"Or maybe not. Time's flying. Aria's already waiting for our training session."
The clashing of weapons echoed through the training hall. Alex and Aria exchanged rapid strikes — his blood-forged sword and her daggers reflecting the light, creating a shimmering dance in the air. Aria attacked aggressively, trying to break through his defense, but Alex evaded with ease, occasionally landing light counter-thrusts.
Finally, he stepped back and raised a hand, signaling a break.
"You're seriously impressive," Alex said, breathing a little heavily. "The speed at which you learn is amazing. This is only our third session, but the difference between you now and during our first duel is staggering."
Aria straightened proudly, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
"Well, obviously," she replied with a hint of smugness. "I'm a noble. Plus, I used to study with Miss Elizabeth."
Alex tilted his head and smiled.
"That all?"
She huffed, though her voice had lost its earlier confidence.
"Well… also because you're good at explaining where I mess up," she muttered, then quickly added in her usual tone, "But if you don't have any more corrections, I'm ready to continue."
She resumed a fighting stance, daggers aimed at Alex.
"Gladly," he said, taking a defensive posture.
The next round began. Aria was still on the offensive, while Alex countered rarely, focusing on dodging and delivering precise strikes that forced her to adjust her tactics.
Suddenly, Aria stopped and stared at him with a serious expression.
"You're not taking me seriously," she said firmly.
Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Even after all your praise, I don't feel your sincerity in the fight," she continued, irritation creeping into her voice. "I want you to not only dodge but to attack more!"
Alex nodded.
"Alright."
Aria launched into another attack. Alex deflected a few of her strikes, then, seeing an opening, struck. His blood blade flashed through the air and halted just millimeters from her neck.
Aria was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Alex lowered his sword and met her gaze.
"Whatever you might think, I've always taken you seriously," he said. "Right now, I'm focused entirely on teaching you not just how to attack, but how to immediately cover your weaknesses. To work with your body, stand firm on your feet."
He stepped back, letting her catch her breath.
"When I see you've mastered that, we'll move to the next stage. That's when you'll defend more while I attack — so you can learn endurance and how to handle pressure. And only after you've mastered that will we start the real sparring, where you'll use everything you've learned. As a bonus, I'll also teach you new blood magic techniques along the way."
Aria listened silently, then brushed her hair back from her face.
"You're my first student," Alex went on. "I don't have much teaching experience. Maybe I should combine the first two stages. But in my opinion, it's better to perfect one skill before moving to the next. If you want to change something, though, I'm open to suggestions. We'll decide together what works best."
She exhaled, then lowered her gaze.
"No need to change anything. I trust you."
She hesitated, then added, "And… sorry for what I said."
"There's nothing to apologize for," he replied. "You're my first student. That means you'll be the best."
Aria lifted her head and gave a more energetic nod.
"Then are you ready for the next round?"
"Always," Alex said, returning to his stance.
They clashed again. This time Aria looked more confident, her movements sharper, her strikes more accurate. Alex saw the progress, and it pleased him.
At that moment, the doors to the training room swung open, and Adam walked in.
"Oh, you're still at it?" he asked, stopping a few meters away.
Alex and Aria lowered their weapons.
"Looks like we're just about done," Alex replied, wiping his forehead.
"Perfect, I came to pick you up," Adam said, turning to Aria. "And don't forget, I'm expecting you tonight too."
Aria scowled and crossed her arms.
"I remember. No need to remind me."
Adam just smiled.
"Good."
"Hey, Adam, don't you think following me around is a little weird?" Alex chuckled quietly.
"Just today," Adam answered with a raised eyebrow. "Because without me, you're bound to get into trouble — and I don't need that."
"Fair enough."
Aria watched their exchange with amusement.
"Wow, Adam's your babysitter now?"
"Very funny," Alex sighed, sheathing his sword. "Want me to drop you off at the dorms?"
"I'm not you — I can make it there without a nanny," she said, looking away with a smirk hidden behind her hand.
"Good for you." Alex stepped up to Adam, and a magic circle lit up beneath them. "See you tonight," he added with a smile to Aria, and then the two vanished from the room.
Alex and Adam were walking through one of the Academy's corridors — a spacious hallway with pale walls, neatly aligned doors, and soft magical lights glowing faintly from the ceiling. Out of uniform now, they looked relaxed: Alex in a white shirt with the collar open and dark trousers, Adam in black, contrasting with his fair hair. They looked like two sides of the same energy — different shades of the same force.
Stopping at a massive door made of dark wood, Adam opened it without knocking and confidently stepped inside. Alex followed him in.
The Student Council chamber made an impression at once. A spacious room with a high ceiling, arched doorways, and shelves lined with scrolls, books, and ancient magical artifacts. At its center stood a long, oval table made of dark wood, large enough to host meetings for several dozen people. A window adorned with elegant curtains the color of the night sky looked out onto the western side of the Academy. The rays of the sun, already nearing the horizon, flooded the room with a soft golden light, creating a sense of comfort and, at the same time, a kind of significant quiet before the events to come.
Their arrival was immediately noticed by one of those present—an elf with long silver hair and piercing green eyes. Alex recognized him instantly: this guy had been standing beside Lilith during the incident in the square. His posture, like his gaze, was precise—without excess, but with a palpable nobility.
"At last, the man of the hour arrives," the elf said with a slight smile as he approached and extended his hand to Adam.
"And I'm glad to see you too, Kaelan," Adam replied, shaking his hand.
The elf turned his gaze to Alex, examining him attentively, though his tone remained friendly.
"And here's our eternally busy guest, the one Adam mentions almost more often than his own name. My name is Kaelan Elearis, vice president of the student council." He offered his hand.
"Alex," the boy replied, shaking it. "Nice to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine," Kaelan nodded slightly and withdrew his hand. "And we'll be glad for your help. An extra pair of hands won't hurt right now. Come on."
He turned and led them toward a door in the far corner of the chamber. Beyond it was a guest room—cozy and spacious. Several soft sofas and armchairs were arranged around neat little tables, and in the center stood a massive round table. At the moment, all surfaces were empty. On the opposite side of the room was a wide doorway leading to a balcony, from which opened a view of the distant forest darkening under the rays of the evening sun.
By one of the side tables stood Lilith—in a light, dark dress, focused on arranging snacks. When she heard the door open, she glanced at them briefly and nodded, not allowing herself to be distracted.
"This way," Kaelan said curtly and led the boys to the opposite end of the room, where two crates of wine stood on the floor. Next to them—a table with dozens of empty glasses.
"People will start arriving soon," the elf explained. "So your job is to pour the wine and place the glasses on the tables. Five per table. I'll go help Lilith."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and headed toward the girl.
Alex picked up one of the bottles, examined it closely, and looked at Adam with interest.
"So, what's this celebration all about?"
Adam took the second bottle and began twisting off the cork.
"I've been officially accepted into the student council," he replied. "They decided to throw a welcome party. But it's not just the council—there'll be a few guests too. Friends of the members."
"And you couldn't mention that earlier?"
Adam fell silent for a moment, giving Alex a serious look.
"Okay, I'll tell you. Just... please don't laugh."
He lowered his gaze to the bottle in his hands.
"I wanted to explain right away what this party was about and why I needed you here... But this stupid idea crept into my head. That you're so obsessed with training and dungeons that you might say no."
Alex didn't get a chance to respond—he only opened his mouth when Adam quickly added:
"I know how it sounds. Silly, ridiculous. But it got stuck in my head so hard, I couldn't shake it."
He fell silent for a moment, then added more quietly:
"I get it. You were sent here to save the world, and all that... But you shouldn't forget that you have a right to rest. And that you're not alone here. You have people you can rely on."
Adam sighed.
"You told me so much about your future. About how we dealt with the Montameras together, how we supported each other… And now, seeing you try to solve everything on your own—it honestly stings a little. I know it's just the situation with Reiner, but..."
He didn't get to finish. Alex placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled warmly.
"I had no idea you felt that strongly about it. You can toss that thought about my obsession with training and dungeons far away. Yeah, there's a bit of truth in it, but I didn't come back just for the mission—I want to have the chance to enjoy a peaceful life again, even just a little."
Then Alex's expression turned serious.
"But I wasn't brought back here for nothing. I have to do everything I can to fulfill the promise I made to Lumenia."
"I understand that perfectly," Adam said quietly. "Besides that promise, you basically hold the fate of our world in your hands, but just... just..."
He exhaled heavily and shrugged.
"I don't know how else to say it, so I'll be blunt. I want to help you. I want to be by your side. Not tagging along behind, but standing next to you as a loyal friend and strong ally. As your right hand."
"You were never behind me, Adam." Alex smiled gently. "I've always counted on you in hard times. It was that way before, and it'll be the same now."
He paused briefly, then added sincerely:
"Thanks for sharing this."
"I actually feel better," Adam exhaled in relief. "Didn't expect something so simple could help so much."
"Hey!" Kaelan's voice rang out from the other end of the room. "Are you two going to keep flapping your jaws, or are you finally going to get to work?"
Adam called back playfully:
"Lilith! Give him more work! He's got so much free time, he's eavesdropping now!"
"One more word and I'll give all of you more work," Lilith replied without looking up from the snacks. "I'll sit on the couch and watch you work if you don't start doing your job right now."
All three fell silent immediately. Kaelan went back to helping Lilith, and Adam and Alex got to work on the drinks.
The sun had fully set beyond the horizon, cloaking the Academy in the soft light of lanterns and the glow of the moon. The tables were already set with snacks and drinks, and the guests had begun to arrive.
The first to enter were a young man and woman. Alex immediately recognized the guy. He was another one of those who had appeared in the square with Lilith on the day of the first encounter with Reiner. The young man with auburn hair and brown eyes approached Alex, extended his hand, and smiled warmly.
"Finally got the chance to meet you in person," he said, confidently shaking Alex's hand. "I'm Edward Hale. Thanks for stepping in that day on the square."
"Alex," he replied, giving his hand a light shake. "Glad to help."
"We could use someone like you on the student council," Edward noted, shaking his head. "Ever considered joining?"
Alex gave a slight smile.
"Thanks for the offer, but I've got enough on my plate already."
"I get that," Edward replied briefly, then grabbed two glasses of wine from the nearby table. He handed one to Alex.
"Even though Adam's the star of the evening, I want to raise this first glass to you, Alex. To your courage and kindness."
His words caught the attention of a few nearby guests. Some glanced at Alex, seemingly sizing him up. Alex, as usual, remained calm—he simply raised his glass and clinked it lightly against Edward's.
"To good people," he added.
They each took a few small sips before Alex turned his gaze to the girl who had come with Edward. She stood slightly aside, talking with Lilith. Her light hair fell over her shoulders, and her blue eyes watched her conversation partner intently. She wore an elegant violet dress that emphasized her delicate features.
"I see you're not alone," Alex remarked.
Edward glanced in that direction and smiled.
"It's my girlfriend, Sophia."
His voice took on a slightly playful tone as he added:
"She's one of the strongest people in this academy… well, of course, after me."
Alex just snorted, offering no comment.
The doors opened again, and new guests entered the hall. Alex recognized Aria among them, who had arrived with Damian, as well as Mira and Liam. He gave a brief nod to his acquaintances as they passed by on their way to Adam.
"I'm going to say hi," Edward said, lifting his glass slightly, and walked off.
Only a few seconds passed before Damian approached Alex. They greeted each other, and then Alex asked:
"How are you?"
"I'm good," Damian replied. "These past few days, I've gotten better at controlling blood magic. Training with Elizabeth is paying off."
"Her training really does help unlock vampires' hidden potential faster," Alex nodded. "But don't downplay your own efforts. It's your work that bore fruit."
Damian held Alex's gaze for a moment, as if weighing his words, and then gave a slight smile.
"Thanks. How's your training with Aria going?" he asked.
Alex reached a hand to the back of his neck and replied with a light smile:
"She turned out to be much better than I expected. She can be difficult, but the main thing is—she listens to me."
Damian tilted his head, maintaining the same light smile.
"I'm glad someone her age besides Adam managed to get through to her."
He paused for a second, then added:
"She talks a lot about training. And about you."
Alex looked at him curiously.
"Oh? And what does she say?"
Damian had just opened his mouth when, suddenly, Aria appeared behind him—as if out of thin air. A flicker of barely concealed anger flashed in her eyes. With one swift motion, she covered her brother's mouth with her palm.
"If you don't stop talking right now… you'll regret it," she hissed in his ear.
Her gaze was firm, and her tone cold, laced with familiar notes of threat. Damian, not hiding the amused spark in his eyes, nodded silently.
Aria, still watching her brother carefully, slowly lowered her hand, then turned a calm gaze toward Alex.
"Forget everything he just said."
Alex smiled lightly.
"I only remembered that he spoke well of you. Everything else is already gone."
He offered her his glass.
"Relax and enjoy the evening."
Aria took the glass and, rolling her eyes slightly, muttered:
"Relax? In a room with you, Damian, and Adam? I'm afraid that's impossible."
Still, she took a small sip.
Adam approached them.
"Am I interrupting your fascinating conversation?"
"You? You're not interrupting anything," Aria waved him off. "But what are you doing here? You're supposed to be at the entrance greeting guests. The evening's in your honor, after all."
"I've already greeted everyone I needed to," Adam replied calmly. "Now I'd like to join you."
Aria crossed her arms.
"Let's hope joining the student council doesn't inflate your ego any further."
At the same time, she handed him a glass of wine. Adam accepted it with a smile.
"Not at all."
They all lightly clinked their glasses and took a few sips.
The evening went on, all the guests had arrived, and after a few minutes, Lilith gently tapped her spoon against her glass. The clear sound echoed through the room, and the conversations gradually died down. All eyes turned to her—Lilith stepped slightly forward, a gentle smile on her face. She glanced at the guests, keeping her effortless composure, and finally spoke.
"Friends, I'm so happy to see each of you here tonight. Thank you sincerely for taking the time to join us for this small, yet very meaningful evening."
She paused for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts.
"We've come together for a good reason—to celebrate the addition to our student council. And that, undoubtedly, deserves recognition."
All eyes shifted to Adam. He stood next to Alex, Aria, and Damian, holding a glass and smiling calmly.
"So, tonight is in honor of our new student council member—Adam!" Lilith announced warmly.
Applause followed, someone called out Adam's name, others nodded or raised their glasses. Adam, slightly overwhelmed by the attention, still maintained his calm smile, nodding in return.
"I'm confident that with his help, the Academy will become an even better place—stronger, wiser, and fairer. So, I propose a toast! To Adam!"
"To Adam!" everyone echoed. Glasses rose once more, clinking cheerfully, and guests took sips of wine or juice.
The celebration picked up. The tables gradually emptied, conversations grew louder, and laughter echoed from different corners of the hall. Guests moved around, got to know each other better, and some had already started dancing to the soft music. The atmosphere was light, warm, and it felt as though even the walls of the house were rejoicing in the evening.
Alex stepped aside, finding himself on a spacious balcony overlooking the evening garden. Holding a glass in his hand, he leaned his elbows on the stone railing and gazed into the distance—at the lantern-lit trees and the starry sky above them. A gentle breeze played with his hair. In this quiet, far from the noise of the hall, his thoughts began to settle.
At that moment, he heard light footsteps, and a familiar voice softly broke the silence.
"Enjoying the view?" the familiar voice sounded behind him.
Alex smiled slightly without turning around.
"I just like the quiet and the night horizon. There's a charm to it here."
"I hope you don't mind some company," Lilith replied and stepped closer, resting her elbows on the railing beside him. Her glass clinked softly against the stone as she got comfortable.
For a few seconds, they simply gazed silently into the darkness, into which the Academy was slowly sinking. Only the music and muffled voices from the hall reminded them that the party was still ongoing.
"I heard the situation with Reiner is over," Lilith was the first to break the silence, her eyes still fixed on the sky.
"Yes," Alex replied briefly.
"So… Elian, who helped him turn into a monster, just handed you the potion that reversed everything… and vanished? Without any explanation?" She turned to him, one brow slightly raised. "Did I miss anything?"
"No, you got it exactly right," he answered calmly.
Lilith smiled faintly—not with humor, but with the calm skepticism that said more than any words: she didn't believe a word of it.
"You seriously think that I—or my mother—would believe such nonsense?"
Alex finally turned his head and looked her straight in the eyes.
"Then what's your version?"
"I don't know. I wasn't there. But that's definitely not the truth. You're hiding something, Alex," her voice softened, but remained insistent. "Just tell me what really happened."
Alex sighed heavily, took a sip from his glass, and fell silent for a few seconds.
"Alright. Here's the real story. Reiner and I fought Elian. And we defeated him. I was already ready to deliver the final blow when… a mysterious figure appeared, watching everything from the shadows. In exchange for the potion that returned Reiner to his normal form, this stranger took Elian and then both of them disappeared."
He turned his gaze back to the view.
"Does that story suit you better?"
Lilith remained silent. Her gaze was sharp, a little cautious. Then, she spoke more calmly:
"That sounds even more absurd than the first version. Two students defeat an Academy professor? Seriously?"
Alex shrugged.
"So the first version stays official. I don't understand Elian's behavior. We didn't even have any joint classes. Maybe you can guess what he had in mind."
"I can't imagine what drove him," Lilith answered quietly, shaking her head slightly. "But something tells me that you're only telling part of the truth."
"That no longer matters. Reiner poses no threat to anyone anymore. The only downside is that the Academy will need to find a new 'History of Magic' professor."
"That's true," Lilith agreed, and her face finally brightened with a light smile. She raised her glass. "Then… shall we drink to you?"
Alex raised his glass in response.
"Why not?"
They gently clinked glasses, took a sip, and for a moment, a pleasant silence hung in the air again.
"We should return to the others," Lilith said, shifting her gaze from Alex to the guests.
"I agree," Alex nodded, and together they left the balcony, disappearing into the warm evening atmosphere.
The Jester slowly climbed the old spiral staircase leading to the second floor of the mansion. The corridor was silent, broken only by the soft sound of his footsteps. Approaching the dark wooden door with an ornate frame, he touched the handle — it yielded easily. The door opened without a creak, letting the Jester into the study.
Inside, there was a quiet, focused atmosphere.
Elian's study was not overly luxurious — yet every detail exuded elegance and status. A large writing desk made of dark polished wood stood opposite a tall window, through which the dim light of early evening filtered. On either side, walls stretched with bookshelves made of expensive wood, neatly filled with books.
Behind the desk sat Elian, attentively bent over papers.
"Glad to see you're on your feet again," said the Jester, casually and effortlessly, as if by chance, but with a barely noticeable smile.
Elian flinched, immediately putting the papers aside and rising to his feet. He bowed his head in a light, flawlessly executed gesture.
"Greetings, my Lord," his voice was calm and respectful.
The Jester took a few steps into the room, stopping near the desk.
"How do you feel?"
"I'm much better now. My body has recovered. Please, don't worry," Elian answered briefly, straightening his posture. "If you wish, I can show you to the guest room and prepare some tea."
"No need, I won't stay long," replied the Jester, shifting his gaze to him. "Tell me about your fight with Alex."
Elian took a sharp breath. He momentarily lowered his eyes, as if weighing each word, before speaking seriously.
"Alex... significantly exceeds the typical student of the thirty-fourth level. At first, during the fight, I didn't feel any real threat. Even with Reiner's support, the situation remained under control. I was calculating my strength, analyzing the course of the duel. But closer to the end..."
Elian slightly tilted his head forward, as if recalling something that troubled him.
"He suddenly changed. His movements became lightning-fast. The pressure — powerful, unexpected. The force and speed with which he acted in the final phase of the fight…" he inhaled carefully, "…they surpassed the limits even an elite vampire could demonstrate. I don't want to sound emotional, my Lord, but his level… it was higher than mine. Though, you saw that yourself," he added after a pause, his voice now carrying a faint trace of guilt. He did not lower his gaze, but there was a subtle hardness in him — the defeat touched his pride, which he did not show openly.
The Jester gazed thoughtfully out the window.
"To surpass a professor of level eighty-two. Interesting," his voice was calm, but there was a sense of attention. "You can rest for a few days. I'll send someone if I need you."
Elian bowed his head.
"My Lord…" his voice became even deeper, more serious. He briefly fell silent, gathering himself. "I've disappointed you, and I am ready to accept any punishment you deem appropriate."
The Jester merely waved his hand, dismissing the words.
"Your task was to check Alex through Reiner. You did that. Then — to dispose of Reiner, but instead, you personally fought the boy, and I was able to see for myself what he's capable of. This was invaluable information, so you did even better."
Elian lowered his head even further.
"Thank you, my Lord."
"Well, it's time for me to go. Until we meet again," the Jester said simply and calmly left the room.
As he descended the same stairs again, a slight, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his face. Thoughts swirled in his head.
"Alex… with each day, he becomes more interesting. It's impossible to predict what he will achieve tomorrow. I can't wait to meet him again. I want to find out where such strength comes from, I want to test him myself."
"I recommend not underestimating him," the Siren spoke in his mind, with a calm, almost gentle voice.
"I never underestimate the strong," he whispered with a smile. "And I must be the first to establish contact with him… before others get to him."