The nightlife in Knight Academy City was particularly vibrant and exciting, rivaling even the Central First District. Straight, level boulevards glowed under bright lights, while man-made canals murmured with flowing water and meticulously landscaped greenery added charm. Above all, the Eiffel Iron Tower twinkled with multicolored lights, infusing the eclectic city with a youthful energy.
The title of City of Equality might have been a bit of a stretch, but at least they put on a good show on the surface.
Looking back now, the Northern Region’s Wembuni—territory of the Hill Family—might have been the true City of Equality. Unfortunately, the frozen tundra ruined it all, and the Hill Family was far too low-key, with no knack for promotion.
It was a harsh thought, but in many cases, hype mattered more than the real deal.
Along the way, vendors and shops lined both sides of the street, their wares dazzling in variety.
Of course, some establishments hung signs reading “Blood Race Only.” What did they sell inside? Blood, perhaps, or other goods humans had no use for—or maybe they just didn’t want human customers.
The streets teemed with young people. Some still wore their academy uniforms, while others had changed into casual clothes, especially the noble offspring, who dressed in the most extravagant finery.
Their destination this time was a semi-open-air dessert shop by the canal. Though Sang had suggested desserts, it was Aisha Hodhua who led the way.
Perhaps because she had already bathed, Aisha Hodhua wasn’t in her maid outfit. Instead, she wore a light pink Lolita-style dress. Sang remained his usual self: blue hair, mask, and light gray academy uniform.
Once they sat at an outdoor table, Sang realized it was an excellent dessert shop. Plenty of students patronized it, and its location was perfect—stars overhead, the towering Eiffel Iron Tower at their backs. The ambiance felt utterly romantic.
However.
Aisha Hodhua gazed at the High Tower with little interest, her expression complicated.
Sang immediately caught the shift in her face. This girl was probably reminiscing about her days in the Heavenly Key. He said, “Seeing you like this reminds me of the old days too. Back in the Heavenly Key, there was that time you got locked in the Reflection Chamber for my sake. When you got out, I asked if you hated the True Ancestor. You told me you’d never hate her…”
The Pink-Haired Little Lolita bowed her head in silence, biting her lip. She replied, “The Heavenly Key wasn’t a happy place for me, but it was still better than the Hodhua Family manor. I really don’t hate the True Ancestor… But ever since I met you, my life finally gained some color…”
Hearing this, Sang propped his chin on one hand and teased, “You’re hopeless. Come on, call me Watermelon Brother.”
“No way… I’m dozens of years old, and you’re just some pink-haired teen punk…” Moments ago, Aisha Hodhua had been quite touched; now, it all vanished.
Watermelon truly was an infuriating guy.
Aisha’s feelings for Sang weren’t the clichéd romance you might imagine. The little Lolita didn’t even understand love. As a child, she’d only known bullying; after entering the Heavenly Key, there hadn’t been a single male there.
Thus, her emotions toward Sang leaned more toward familial and friendly affection.
Perhaps infected by the Pink-Haired Little Lolita’s mood, Sang grew nostalgic too. He sighed, “Back at the orphanage, there was a girl just like you—always refusing to call me brother…”
“I kind of want to hear about your past…” The Pink-Haired Little Lolita was as tsundere as ever.
“Sang and she were picked up by the orphanage on the same day and grew up together. She was a timid yet spoiled brat. By day, she played the big sister to the kids; at night, whenever something scared her, she’d sneak into my room. She wasn’t one for conflict and dreamed of becoming the orphanage dean someday… Life there was tough, but we were all happy. I once hoped it could go on forever.”
As he spoke, more memories flooded Sang’s mind, and a faint smile curved his lips.
“Did you like her?”
“I did… in all sorts of ways. Friendship, family, and even… Look at that gossipy face. You mean romantically, right? Honestly, we spent so much time together, and with the age gap, a lot got blurred. I couldn’t even sort out those lovey-dovey feelings…”
Truth be told, while movies loved childhood-sweetheart romances, real life worked the opposite way. Too much familiarity—from cradle to teens—made it hard to spark that spark, like with a sister or family member. You lost the ability to see them that way.
As he spoke.
Sang’s gaze flickered evasively, his thoughts drifting far away to that Summer Festival night, when the girl had surprised him with a soft kiss…
From age zero to thirteen, Sang had always seen Luna as family… But that night, that kiss—it had truly stirred his heart.
Aisha Hodhua asked again, “It’s been over a year now. You haven’t gone back home once, have you?”
Sang gave a wry smile. “No helping it. The True Ancestor won’t let me. I did think about sending you, but four or five weeks round trip is too far… Ah, whatever. I know they’re all fine and doing well enough.”
Sang did know the orphanage folks were thriving; Liyou from the Hunting Organization had reported as much.
There would be time enough in the future. He’d get back eventually.
“What’s her name?”
The boy slowly raised his eyes to the gibbous moon overhead and smiled faintly. “Luna… Someone very important to me…”
Just then, an early autumn breeze swept through from the outdoor seating into the shop.
Inside the dessert shop, a golden-haired, blue-eyed girl was buying treats at the counter when the wind lifted her long azure locks. It was as if she’d heard something; she glanced back but saw nothing. Raising her eyes again, she spotted the gibbous moon in the night sky.
Adel, beside her, asked, “Luna, what are you looking at?”
The golden-haired, blue-eyed beauty kept staring at the night sky outside. She murmured, “Tonight’s not a full moon…”
On Full Moon Nights, it was time for reunion.
…
After leaving the dessert shop.
Luna and Adel headed toward the tavern in the city center—the one the Mutual Aid Society always used for gatherings. Their meetings were monthly, and tonight wasn’t scheduled, but the president had sent an invitation to that Class A transfer student, Shuade Buyaobuyaude, and called in the core members to meet him.
It was clear this mattered not just to the lower grades, but to the seniors too.
“Luna, have you met Shuade Buyaobuyaude?”
Luna thought for a moment at Adel’s question. “Saw him from afar once… He wasn’t in uniform, so I thought he was a tourist and didn’t pay attention. Who knew…”
Adel had a bold, heroic personality. She said bluntly, “A mere human joining Class A surprised me plenty, but I took a look at him. Pretty ordinary. Not tall, and I doubt that mask hides anything special… Adolf’s still more my type.”
“Sweat~”
Luna felt a bit helpless. Her roommate, classmate, and best friend fawning over her own childhood friend felt weird.
Speak of the devil.
At that moment, Adolf and the other Mutual Aid Society students approached from the opposite direction, their faces all off-color.
“What happened?” Luna asked, puzzled.
Adolf’s face darkened. “Shuade turned down our invitation… I just found out—he’s got a Blood Race attendant with him. He’s definitely a Blood Race lapdog…”
Adolf had already slapped a label on Shuade Buyaobuyaude: some lackey doing the Blood Race’s bidding for perks, or the spawn of one…
Only that explained how a human could enter Class A.
Lately, Luna had sensed changes in Adolf. The usually calm guy was growing more volatile… When had it started? Oh, right—ever since Iyefut Cape transferred in…
Ever since he’d seen the Red Lycoris, Adolf had been spiraling a bit out of control…
Who knew if it was for better or worse…
