Chapter 155: Unexpected Reunion

Lilith walked through the academy corridors, following the familiar mana signature she had been searching for.

Kael.

After everything that had happened over the past few months, she finally had the opportunity to see him again. She had spent far too long away from him. Even after returning from her mission and speaking with Madam Draven, Lilith had barely been able to contain her excitement. She had been given a simple task: protect Kael. To Lilith, however, that was hardly a task. It was something she had wanted to do for years.

She eventually reached the dormitory where Kael’s mana signature was strongest. Lilith stopped at the entrance and looked around.

"Seems like Kael’s new room is much farther from my own than before," she muttered with a slight frown.

She had expected to find him much sooner after returning to the academy. But Kael hadn’t visited her. He hadn’t even come looking for her to ask about demonic techniques or to discuss what had happened during the tournament. Lilith’s expression became slightly sad.

"It’s been a long time since we’ve actually been together."

She lowered her gaze.

"But at the very least, I get to see him now."

A small smile returned to her face as she stepped into the dormitory. After only a few steps, however, Lilith suddenly stopped. Someone was standing nearby. She turned. Her eyes immediately settled on a familiar face.

"Auriella."

The girl paused and turned toward Lilith, her expression slightly puzzled. This was the first time the two had physically met. Auriella had heard the name Lilith before, but she had never actually encountered her.

"Who are you?" Auriella asked.

Lilith gave her a polite smile. "No one important."

Auriella stared at her. There was something about the woman standing in front of her that immediately felt unusual. Lilith wasn’t wearing the academy uniform. Instead, she wore her usual black attire, which made it impossible for Auriella to determine whether she was a student, an instructor, or someone else entirely. Auriella quietly observed her. There were barely any obvious weaknesses. More importantly, she couldn’t accurately gauge Lilith’s strength.

*She’s strong.*

Auriella’s eyes narrowed slightly. *But how strong?* She couldn’t tell. That alone made her cautious.

"Are you an upperclassman?" Auriella asked.

Lilith shrugged. "Something like that."

Auriella remained skeptical but eventually decided not to pursue the matter. She had somewhere else to be. "Alright." She turned and continued toward her dormitory.

Lilith watched her leave. She didn’t move immediately. Instead, she focused on Auriella’s eyes.

"Those eyes of hers are seriously dangerous." Lilith’s expression became thoughtful. "Eye of Ruin."

She had heard about Auriella’s abilities. Of all the students in the first year, there were very few people Lilith considered capable of being a genuine threat to her. Kael was one. Auriella was another.

*She’s definitely not ordinary.*

Lilith continued watching until Auriella disappeared around the corner. Only then did she sigh.

"Thankfully, she didn’t pay too much attention to me."

Lilith remembered the events of the previous semester. There had been an incident involving a massive amount of paperwork and the disciplinary committee. Auriella had apparently believed Kael was hiding somewhere inside the dormitory. The disciplinary committee had eventually intervened and stopped her from causing more trouble, only to discover that Kael wasn’t even at the academy.

Lilith shook her head. "She’s certainly persistent."

She turned her attention back toward Kael’s mana signature. Her expression immediately softened.

"Anyway... I have someone else to see."

Several minutes later, Lilith finally reached Kael’s door. She stood in front of it for a moment. Her heart began beating faster. It was ridiculous. She had completed dangerous missions without fear. She had killed people without hesitation. She had stood before members of the Creed and remained completely composed. Yet standing in front of Kael’s door made her nervous.

*He’s right there.*

Lilith smiled. She raised her hand and knocked softly. A few seconds passed. She heard movement from inside. Lilith’s smile widened.

The door opened.

Kael stood there. His expression immediately changed when he saw her.

"Lilith—"

Before he could finish, Lilith stepped forward, cupped his face with both hands, and pressed her mouth to his. The kiss was hungry, immediate, and thoroughly unapologetic. Kael’s surprise lasted only a heartbeat before his hands found her waist and pulled her closer. Their mouths moved together with the ease of people who already knew every angle that made the other melt.

Lilith’s tongue slipped past his lips, tasting him, claiming him. She felt the way his breath hitched, the way his fingers tightened against the small of her back. Heat bloomed low in her stomach. She had missed this—missed *him*—more than she had allowed herself to admit.

Without breaking the kiss she walked him backward into the room. Kael somehow managed to kick the door shut behind them. The moment it latched, Lilith’s hands slid under his shirt, palms gliding over warm skin and the hard planes of his abdomen. She pushed him until the backs of his knees hit the couch. He sat heavily. Lilith climbed onto his lap in one smooth motion, straddling him, her knees bracketing his hips.

Her pupils had already shifted into soft heart shapes, glowing faintly in the low light of the room.

"I missed you," she breathed against his mouth, then kissed him again—deeper this time, slower, letting the heat build. One of her hands threaded into his hair while the other tugged at the hem of her own blouse. She pulled the fabric up and over her head in a single motion, tossing it aside. The cool air kissed her bare skin for only a second before Kael’s hands replaced it, sliding up her sides, thumbs brushing the undersides of her breasts.

Lilith arched into the touch with a quiet, throaty sound. She rocked her hips once, deliberately, feeling the growing hardness beneath her. Kael’s breath left him in a low groan. His mouth left hers to trail along her jaw, then lower, pressing open kisses to the sensitive skin of her throat. Lilith’s fingers dug into his shoulders.

"Kael..." she whispered, half plea, half demand.

She reached between them, fingers slipping under the waistband of his pants, and that was when the sound of running water in the adjacent bathroom abruptly cut off.

A feminine voice called out, bright and unconcerned.

"Kael! Where exactly do you keep the spare clothes? I can’t exactly put mine back on after what we did together."

Lilith went completely still.

The bathroom door opened. Charlotte stepped out, hair still dripping, skin damp and faintly flushed. She wore nothing but one of Kael’s oversized academy shirts; the fabric clung to her in places, transparent enough that the shape of her body was unmistakable. She held a towel in her hands.

"Kael, where exactly—"

She stopped. Her eyes landed on Lilith.

Silence.

Charlotte’s expression froze. Lilith stared at her. Kael stared at both of them. Charlotte slowly looked down at the shirt she was wearing. Then back at Lilith.

"...Oh."

Lilith’s eye twitched. "When did you get back?" Charlotte asked nervously.

"Recently."

"I see."

Lilith’s gaze shifted toward Kael. Then toward Charlotte. Then back to Kael.

"Why is she wearing your shirt?"

Kael immediately raised both hands. "Before you misunderstand—"

Lilith smiled. It was a very calm smile. Far too calm.

"Don’t worry, darling." Her voice was sweet. "I won’t misunderstand anything."

Kael’s expression became nervous. *That smile is dangerous.*

Charlotte looked between them. "It’s not what you think."

Lilith’s smile remained. "Then what exactly am I supposed to think?"

Charlotte opened her mouth. Nothing came out.

Kael sighed. "Charlotte came here after training. She was exhausted and took a shower."

Lilith stared at him. "And you allowed that?"

"I didn’t exactly plan for it!"

Charlotte raised a hand. "For the record, I wasn’t trying to cause any problems."

Lilith looked at her. "Of course."

Charlotte could feel the tension in the room. She slowly stepped backward. "I’m just going to..."

Lilith’s eyes followed her. "Stay."

Charlotte froze.

Kael immediately stood. "Lilith."

She looked at him. "Yes, darling?"

"Let’s not do anything stupid."

Lilith smiled. "I wasn’t planning to."

Kael didn’t believe her.

Charlotte, meanwhile, suddenly raised both hands. "Hey, wait. I’m in Class A!"

Lilith’s smile vanished. "That doesn’t help."

Charlotte’s eyes widened. "Kael!"

Kael sighed. "Why are you calling me?"

"Because she’s scary!"

"I know!"

Mana suddenly surged through the room. Charlotte instinctively activated Mana Emphasization. Sparks began flying. Kael looked around his living room as the atmosphere quickly descended into chaos. A cushion flew across the room. Charlotte moved. Lilith moved. Kael stepped backward.

"Not my furniture!"

Neither woman listened.

Kael watched them for a few seconds. Then he slowly sat back down on the couch. He pulled a cushion behind his head.

*I’m exhausted.*

Another burst of mana shook the room. Kael closed his eyes.

*I just got back.*

He sighed.

"Exhausting."

And with that, Kael decided that whatever happened next was officially none of his business.