The soft rattling of the carriage wheels accompanied their quiet journey. Asrial sat comfortably, his gaze shifting between the passing scenery and the girl resting beside him.
Therisia's curiosity finally broke the silence.
"Asrial… tell me more about the church. Their powers… they're not normal. I've seen knights, mages, even relic users… but what we faced… it felt like something that shouldn't exist."
Asrial's eyes darkened. He leaned back, his voice heavy with the weight of memory.
"They aren't bound by the rules of this world. That bishop… I couldn't even scratch him. Not without using the dragon's rage."
Therisia blinked in surprise. "Dragon's rage? You never mentioned this before."
He gave her a small, tired smile.
"Yeah. It's a power I don't fully understand. It's like… a storm inside me, waiting to be unleashed. But I know one thing for sure—" he placed a hand gently over hers "—I'll use it whenever I have to, especially to protect you."
His words were sweet, reassuring. But deep within, Asrial knew it was a lie. He didn't fully control it. He didn't even know if the dragon's rage was truly his or something far more dangerous. Some truths are better left unspoken.
Therisia seemed satisfied with his answer. She rested her head on his lap, her breathing softening as sleep claimed her. Asrial sat in silence, his fingers gliding through her hair. He didn't know why, but in these simple moments, when his hand gently combed through her long strands, he felt a fleeting sense of peace.
The carriage gradually slowed, the rumbling wheels finally coming to a stop.
They had arrived.
The capital city stood as grand as Asrial remembered it from five years ago—brilliant marble walls, golden spires piercing the heavens, streets bustling with vibrant life. The city of beauty. The city of the gods' light.
But Asrial's sharp eyes caught more than the grand facade. He remembered what lay beneath the shimmering surface. The shadows. The rot. The hidden corruption that the common eye would never see.
The carriage weaved through the grand avenues, eventually halting before a colossal structure that dwarfed the surrounding buildings.
The Academy.
Their battlefield for the next three years.
Asrial stepped down first and, with a faint smile, opened the door for Therisia. He offered his hand, which she took with elegance. She descended from the carriage like royalty, her movements so graceful that onlookers paused, mesmerized.
The scene was picturesque, worthy of canvas and fame. If an artist captured this moment, it would surely become the most cherished painting of the age.
As they walked side by side—Therisia leading, Asrial following closely—murmurs rippled among the gathered students.
"Who is she? A noble?"
"She's stunning… And that's her knight? I heard he defeated a bishop."
"Is it true? At his age?"
The whispers didn't reach their ears, but the weight of attention was unmistakable.
Suddenly, a gentle shimmer of light descended from the sky. Two figures emerged from a magical transport circle—one, a young boy adorned in radiant armor that shimmered like starlight; the other, a breathtaking young lady with flowing white hair and golden eyes.
Elenor of the priest family.
And her knight—Yuu, the Twilight Sword.
The pair walked towards the academy gates with an air of nobility, ignoring the buzzing crowd. But fate had its own plans.
Asrial and Yuu's gazes locked.
For a fleeting second, time seemed to stop. Their souls, unfamiliar yet oddly intertwined, clashed in that instant. Like mirror images standing on opposite sides of a battlefield. Equal. Opposing. Fated.
Neither flinched, neither spoke.
The two young ladies, unaware of the storm quietly forming between their knights, approached one another.
Elenor offered a polite smile.
"You must be Lady Therisia. I've heard much about you from the capital."
Therisia, with poise and subtle grace, returned the gesture.
"Likewise, Lady Elenor. Your reputation precedes you."
The noble banter began as expected, but the knights remained rooted, still locked in that silent challenge.
Finally, Therisia and Elenor noticed their brooding knights and exchanged a playful glance.
"You two should at least try to get along," Therisia said with a teasing grin.
"Please, don't make enemies on your first day," Elenor chimed in with a soft giggle.
Reluctantly, the knights introduced themselves.
"Asrial."
"Yuu."
No titles, no pretense—just names.
They each followed their respective ladies into the academy halls, their steps heavy with the weight of unspoken rivalry.
Little did they know, their fates were already entwined.
Little did they know, their paths would soon collide again—this time, not as strangers, but as something much more complex.