Chapter 132 — A Night of Secrets

Kael stepped away from the growing banter between the Student Council and the Disciplinary Committee and decided to explore the crowd.

The two groups had remained relatively civil, but Kael could tell there was a quiet rivalry underneath their polite conversations. Neither side wanted to openly challenge the other, especially during a celebration, yet their occasional remarks made it obvious that the competition between them had already begun.

Kael had no interest in getting involved.

He had already spent enough time listening to people compare the Student Council and the Disciplinary Committee. Besides, tonight was supposed to be a celebration.

He wanted to enjoy himself.

The audience hall had become considerably livelier as the night progressed. Students from different years had gathered together, with some dancing while others sat around tables filled with food and drinks.

Even students who rarely interacted during normal school hours were laughing together.

Kael wandered through the crowd, observing everything with a faint smile.

He spotted Hulk almost immediately.

The massive student was surrounded by several of his fellow devotees, who were cheering loudly as he attempted to chug down an entire bottle of beer.

"Come on!"

"Finish it!"

"Hulk! Hulk! Hulk!"

Kael shook his head as he kept walking.

"Idiots."

Hulk slammed the empty bottle onto the table, causing his companions to erupt into another round of cheers.

Kael simply continued walking.

He wasn’t particularly interested in getting drunk.

At least, he wanted to tell himself that.

He continued exploring the crowd until he spotted someone familiar.

Verdia.

She stood slightly away from the larger groups, watching the celebration with a calm expression. Several students had already spoken with her during the evening, but she appeared to be enjoying the party from the sidelines.

Kael smiled.

He decided to approach her.

"Hello there, how’s your evening going?" Kael asked with a smirk.

Verdia noticed him.

For an instant, her face brightened.

The expression disappeared almost immediately, replaced by her usual composed demeanor.

"If I exempt Felix, who came earlier to flirt with me—obviously drunk—I’ll say it has been somewhat pleasant. If I include the piece you played, I didn’t know you played, throughout our childhood. You never took classes."

Verdia paused, observing Kael carefully.

"Are you some kind of savant?" Verdia asked.

Kael gave her a charming smile.

"Well, I am a genius, but I’m not focused on one respect like a savant," Kael replied with a charming smile.

Verdia shook her head.

Somehow, Kael could turn almost any question into an opportunity to compliment himself.

Yet she couldn’t deny that he had earned the right to be confident.

The Kael standing before her now was completely different from the boy she remembered.

The boy who once spent most of his childhood inside the Draven manor had become the top-ranked student of the academy.

He had defeated people who should have been far beyond his original level.

And then, as though all of that wasn’t enough, he had casually sat at a piano and played a piece that had silenced the entire hall.

Verdia folded her arms.

"It’s just one question. Which are you joining? Student Council or Disciplinary Committee? I’m sure you’re someone’s protégé at this moment," Kael asked.

Verdia smiled faintly.

"Well, I guess you could say that, but you already know my choice," Verdia replied.

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I guess you’re that predictable," Kael muttered.

"Hey, what do you mean by that?" Verdia stated.

"Well, I’ll take it as a good thing. So I know you joined the Student Council," Kael replied.

"Answering that doesn’t make me predictable. It’s an obvious answer," Verdia countered angrily.

"Whatever makes you sleep at night," Kael replied.

Verdia rolled her eyes.

The conversation was strangely familiar.

It reminded her of the years they had spent together before everything between them had fallen apart.

There had been a time when talking to Kael had been effortless.

Then the engagement had ended.

Kael had withdrawn.

And now, somehow, they were standing together again as if nothing had happened.

"So what do you plan on doing this holidays?" Verdia asked, glancing at Kael.

Kael’s smile immediately weakened.

He already knew exactly what was waiting for him.

Training.

Relentless training.

And if he was unlucky, something far worse.

Verdia continued.

"I find it strange that you take training seriously now because you didn’t want to lift the sword. Throughout your childhood, much less train, you just watched me," Verdia stated.

Kael looked at her.

"Is that why you broke off the engagement?" Kael asked curiously.

Verdia’s expression immediately stiffened.

"Will you ever stop asking that question?" Verdia asked back, clearly wanting to quell the question.

Kael shrugged.

"Well, I guess it’s because you haven’t given me the reason, but I won’t blame you for that. A girl has got to keep her secrets."

Verdia stared at him.

Kael paused.

A dreadful thought passed through his mind.

His holiday.

He could already imagine it.

Xavier.

Brutal training.

And probably some completely unreasonable demand that would involve him being thrown into a situation where his survival depended on his ability to improve.

"And about training, I’m not. I’ll make it to the second semester," Kael stated, shivering a bit.

Verdia immediately noticed.

"Well, I guess Madam Draven will lock you up, I guess," Verdia said, obviously knowing how Madam Draven treated Kael.

Kael sighed.

"Oh, yeah. She’s obviously going to be angry with my future decision. Maybe I’ll write her a letter," Kael murmured.

Verdia couldn’t help laughing.

The thought of Kael trying to explain his holiday plans to Madam Draven was almost amusing enough to make her feel sorry for him.

Almost.

"I’m surprised she even let you come to the academy, but I guess even the Black Butterfly gets to fly," Verdia said with a smirk.

Kael sighed, shaking his head.

The nickname had followed him for years.

He had once hated it.

Now he had almost accepted it.

"I guess that nickname is going to stick," Kael muttered, taking the last sip of his drink.

He looked down at the empty bottle.

Then at the table where several more drinks were waiting.

"Now these things are really delicious. I’ll get another one," Kael stated.

Verdia immediately frowned.

"You better be careful about your intake. Or you’ll end up like Felix over there," Verdia said, pointing at Felix, who had fallen lumped on his table.

Kael glanced toward Felix.

The boy was completely unconscious.

His face was buried against his folded arms while several empty bottles surrounded him.

Kael stared for a moment.

"Nah, I’d adapt," Kael commented.

Verdia sighed.

"You’d adapt to alcohol?"

"I’ll adapt."

"That’s not how alcohol works."

"I’ll figure it out."

Kael began walking toward the table to get himself another bottle.

Verdia watched him leave with a helpless expression.

"Some things never change."

Kael reached the table.

His hand was just about to grab another bottle when he noticed someone standing nearby.

Black lucious hair.

Pink eyes.

A familiar presence.

Kael paused.

"Lilith."

She turned toward him.

Her expression immediately changed.

"Oh, Lilith. What a coincidence meeting you here, I guess," Kael said with a smile.

Lilith’s cheeks immediately became flushed.

For a moment, she simply stared at him.

Then she stepped forward and hugged Kael.

Kael’s expression softened.

"Well, this party is the only place I can meet you without attracting much attention, considering your position in the academy at this moment," Lilith explained.

Her voice was quiet.

She couldn’t help drawing herself closer to Kael.

Her arms wrapped around him.

"I’ve missed your touch," Lilith said silently, resting her face on Kael’s chest.

Kael hugged her back.

"Of course I miss you too, and you were the closest student to me, so it won’t be strange," Kael replied.

Lilith remained there for several moments.

To anyone watching, they could have simply looked like two close friends enjoying the party.

But Kael knew better.

Lilith wasn’t someone who could afford to attract attention.

Not with the secrets surrounding her.

Not with the Velvet Gang becoming increasingly active.

And certainly not with the strange connection between her and the people Kael had already encountered.

Lilith finally lifted her head.

Her expression had changed.

There was concern in her eyes.

"Kael—Charlotte found out about me," Lilith murmured silently to Kael.

Kael raised an eyebrow.

His expression immediately became serious.

"It’s strange for you to get caught. How did it happen?" Kael asked.

Lilith stared at him for a moment.

She seemed to be contemplating how much she should reveal.

"It was because of a meeting between the Velvet Gang, although it’s classified. It’s concerning a planned attack in the second semester."

Kael’s expression hardened.

"The Velvet Gang."

Lilith nodded.

"The candidates plan on starting acting in the upcoming semester," Lilith said, before looking up at Kael with a reassuring smile.

"And don’t worry. I’ll protect you," Lilith said.

Kael shook his head.

He gently patted her head.

"I’m meant to be the one saying that. I’ll take care of you. I am the top-ranked student," Kael commented.

Lilith smiled.

"I guess you think you’re stronger than me," Lilith said.

Kael gave her a challenging look.

"Well, if we actually fight, I can’t decide that yet," Kael replied as he gave Lilith a challenging glance.

Lilith’s eyes narrowed playfully.

"Are you challenging me?"

"Maybe."

"You’d better remember that I have more tricks than you know."

Kael smiled.

"I wouldn’t expect anything less."

Lilith’s expression softened again.

But beneath that smile, Kael could sense her concern.

The Velvet Gang wasn’t simply planning another small incident.

Something was coming.

And Lilith knew more than she was telling him.

Kael glanced across the hall.

The Student Council was gathered near one side.

The Disciplinary Committee occupied another.

Auriella stood among the students, quietly observing everything.

Zion was nowhere in sight.

Charlotte had also disappeared from his immediate view.

Everyone was enjoying themselves.

Yet beneath the celebration, several pieces were already moving.

Kael looked back at Lilith.

"Whatever happens during the second semester, don’t do anything reckless."

Lilith smiled.

"You’re telling me that?"

"Yes."

"You?"

"Especially me."

Lilith laughed softly.

For a brief moment, the tension disappeared.

The music continued.

The party continued.

And nobody around them knew that one of the academy’s biggest secrets had just been whispered beneath the noise of the celebration.

Kael finally released Lilith.

"We should probably separate before someone starts asking questions."

Lilith nodded.

"You’re right."

She took a step away before looking back.

"Kael."

"Yeah?"

"Be careful during the holidays."

Kael smiled.

"I’ll try."

"That’s not reassuring."

"It wasn’t supposed to be."

Lilith shook her head.

Kael turned toward the crowd.

He had come to the party expecting nothing more than food, music, and a little relaxation.

Instead, he had learned that the Velvet Gang was preparing to act.

He had no idea exactly what they were planning.

But he knew one thing.

The second semester wouldn’t be peaceful.

Not for him.

Kael picked up another drink from the table and looked toward the celebration.

He smiled faintly.

"Well..."

He took a sip.

"At least I got a good Info tonight."