Left alone in the middle of the street, Nyx stood blankly, staring ahead without purpose.
"I should have asked her for directions," she muttered, her tone edged with annoyance. "Though... I do still remember where the dorms are," she added more quietly, almost under her breath, "...at least in the game."
Letting out a long sigh, she turned back toward the grand hall reserved for S-rank students. Her steps, however, carried reluctance. The thought of meeting someone she knew made her stomach twist. To her, they were nothing but trials—awkward silences, forced conversations, and hidden motives she had no desire to face.
She walked quietly, her steps light, scanning the halls from left to right in search of familiar faces from the game. And speak of the devil—she spotted exactly who she expected. Tressa walked with Lirien trailing beside her, though it was clear the latter was merely following along. One thing was certain: they were searching for someone, their eyes sweeping the corridor with the same intent as Nyx’s.
The grass-colored haired girl spoke first. "Still nothing?" Tressa asked.
Lirien shook her head. "Nothing. Truly, where did my rival go?" she said, puzzled. Then she turned to her companion. "By the way, Tressa, why were you late earlier? I thought a quick gesture would be more than enough to greet Professor Theron."
Tressa mused with a deadpan expression as she replied, "Hmm, master said that homeroom offered nothing of importance..." Tressa said though, her brows furrowed, "But that's clearly not the case, because of that I wasn't able to sit besides Sister..." Tressa said, though it seemed like her mouth turned round as she was clearly pouting.
"Hm, speaking of seating, it seemed like there was a rather curious commotion just earlier..." Lirien said.
Though for someone farther away, Lirien and Tressa's words were now a blur. Nyx had briefly listened to the conversation, rather curious about who they were looking for. But the second they mentioned someone—a person's name, a rather familiar name—everything clicked.
'Nyx,' she thought. She had already felt chills just listening to the first part of the conversation, but then a sudden realization struck her. 'Oh wait, that's me.'
She was the very Nyx they were talking about. Which also meant that the “rival” Lirien and Tressa were searching for… was her.
‘Wait, wait, since when did I become her rival? More importantly, why are they looking for me…?’ Nyx thought, her head spinning as panic set in.
One thing was certain: if they found her, she was done for.
A slow, drawn-out torture awaited her—every package of suffering neatly bundled and waiting.
So, Nyx did the only sensible thing. She slowly backed away, trying her hardest to keep her steps silent. Unfortunately, marble tiles were terrible at muffling sound, whether by design or cruel coincidence. Still, she crept back carefully, so focused on escape that she didn’t notice the presence behind her until it was too late.
She bumped lightly into someone’s bossom and bounced back with a curious elasticity.
A calm, graceful voice called out.
“Hmm… Junior Nyx, is it not?”
Nyx froze. That voice was far too familiar. She turned, and standing before her was none other than the Student Council President, the princess herself—Seraphine.
“Y-yes, that’s correct…” Nyx stammered, stiff as a board. She swallowed hard, for this seemed an even greater problem than she could have imagined.
“Junior, are you well?” Seraphine asked, her tone soft yet tinged with genuine concern.
“Yes. I’m completely fine, umm… President,” Nyx replied awkwardly.
Those words seemed to stir something within Seraphine, as though Nyx had touched upon a title she quietly favored.
"I see. Then I shall wish you a pleasant day. Unfortunately, I am pressed for time," Seraphine said, her words polite yet rushed, the formality clear in her tone. "Should you encounter any difficulties, do not hesitate to seek counsel from a professor." With that, she began to step away.
But before she could fully depart, someone moved to block her path. A man with striking features stood there—it was Cael.
Seraphine stopped in her tracks. From Nyx's vantage point, she could not see the princess's expression, but it was unmistakable that it was far from pleasant. Cael, meanwhile, passed by with calm indifference, heading straight toward Nyx.
"Aldyvorn," Seraphine's voice rang out, her tone now sharp as steel. "Are you the one troubling this girl?" Her gaze, once warm, was now as cold as ice. "I wondered why Junior Nyx appeared so reluctant to approach the halls... and it seems the cause lies with you."
The chill in her words sent goosebumps racing down Nyx's skin. But beyond that, one thought struck her most of all:
'What on earth happened between these two...?'
__________________________________________________
Royalty. In this world, they stood as the highest authority in the kingdom, much like in any other story, or even back on the blue planet. Yet here, things were just slightly more different. When the blood of gods flowed directly into mortal veins, everything changed. Those born of such lineage carried not only prestige but also the potential to become the strongest, destined for greatness. Naturally, they were blessed with unique traits beyond ordinary comprehension. That said, the same went for their personalities.
However, the girl standing before Nyx was different. She was a benevolent individual, as if completely detached from those of the same bloodline. Yet the reason behind it spoke volumes in itself.
But that only made Nyx more puzzled. Why would such a kind individual openly dislike someone? Nyx gazed at Cael with eyes full of disbelief. 'Truly, what did you do to make such a person hate you so much?' Nyx could only wonder. But that wasn't what was important right now—this would only lead to an even more annoying situation.
"No. It's not because of Cael, President," Nyx said, though it didn't seem to work. Seraphine's brow furrowed as she gazed at Nyx, her expression registering something completely different.
'A commoner and the son of a duke...' Seraphine thought as she looked at both of them. "Please, Junior Nyx, there is no need to protect him out of fear. If the young lord has wronged you in any way, you have every right to speak freely."
Nyx could only look on in absolute bafflement. 'Wait, she thinks I'm covering for him?' After all, Nyx was officially something akin to a benefactor to the Dukedom. But it seemed like it wasn't being acknowledged by anyone. 'Oh wait' —Nyx had pleaded for it to be kept quiet. She could only sigh as she tried again.
"No, truly, Your Highness, I'm not being coerced or pressured. We simply—"
But before she could finish, Cael's response cut through the air like a blade. "Why do you care?" His gaze fixed on Seraphine, his tone filled with annoyance.
Seraphine's expression hardened, her composure cracking just slightly.
"How insolent. Just as when you crossed blades with my brother. I even extended to you a personal invitation, an honor few receive, and yet you dared to spurn it without even the courtesy of a proper refusal. And now, you dare coerce a fellow student into hiding? Your insolence truly knows no bounds, Aldyvorn."
Nyx's gaze darted between the two, her head spinning. What had begun as a simple attempt to return to her room had turned into a political minefield. The tension was so thick she could barely breathe.
So, left with no choice, Nyx coughed heavily before tugging at the cuff of Cael's uniform and pulling it sharply down, forcing him to bend slightly toward her.
"Ahem. Your Highness, I don't know what conflict exists between the two of you, but I assure you—this man isn't forcing me into anything. I was simply trying to find my way back to the dorms since I don't even know where they are," Nyx said firmly. Then, glancing at Cael with a pointed look, she added, "More importantly, why are you even here? Didn't you say you still had something to do?"
Seraphine watched the scene with widened eyes. After all, Nyx, a commoner, had just grabbed Cael as she spoke those words. A duke’s son being treated that way by a commoner without hesitation seemed utterly unbelievable. Yet because of that display, Seraphine realized something.
"...Junior Nyx, are you perchance the one who was announced to have saved the young lord from his affliction?" Seraphine asked, though a note of skepticism still colored her words.
Nyx nodded quickly. "Yes, Your Highness. That's exactly who I am. So please, there's no need to worry about me being coerced by him." To emphasize her point even more, Nyx reached up and ruffled Cael's hair without ceremony. Cael seemed taken aback by the gesture but made no move to resist.
Seraphine's expression shifted. "I see. It appears I have judged the situation too hastily. I apologize for my assumptions, Junior Nyx." Though her tone softened toward Nyx, when her gaze turned to Cael, disdain was still clearly visible. "Well then, I apologize for the interruption. I shall take my leave."
With that, she turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing down the hall.
**
"..."
Once she was gone, Nyx let out a breath of relief before turning to glare at Cael. "Hey, what was that for? You nearly made everything worse!" Annoyance edged her voice.
"I apologize," Cael replied simply.
Nyx waited for more, but it seemed that was all she would get. She let out a heavy sigh.
“Haah, I don’t know where the girls’ dormitory is… Actually, I do know, but I’m not sure,” she admitted. After all, in the game, entering the girls’ dormitory was strictly forbidden for males. Then, as though realizing something just then, she added, “Wait, do you even know where it’s located?”
Before she could take another step, her eyes went wide and her body stiffened. Standing in front of her were the very two individuals she had hoped to avoid.
It was Tressa and Lirien. They too were staring at Nyx, shock written across their faces.
'I messed up,' Nyx thought, her throat tightening... After all..
She had just asked a man to guide her to the girls’ dormitory.
A bigger storm was approaching.
__________________________________________________
| Chapter 38 - How Not to Find a Dorm