"Tomorrow," Alectra said softly, her hand still resting on my cheek, "we'll go meet her. Belle. Your new teacher."
Her golden eyes stared into mine, no trace of the fear from earlier, only determination. "So get some rest tonight, little star. You'll need it."
I swallowed, but oddly, my throat was dry. Tomorrow I'd be face-to-face with Belle Ardent, the reaper herself. Such a charming title, for a charming woman, and now she'll get a charming student.
Alectra leaned closer, pressing her forehead lightly against mine, a gesture that carried both comfort and command. "No more thinking yourself into exhaustion. Sleep. Whatever weight you're carrying… let me bear it for now."
I almost laughed at that. If only she knew the truth. But instead of answering, I gave a small nod.
My body was heavy, my mind still drained from the overuse of my will, and honestly? The idea of sinking into unconsciousness didn't sound so bad.
"Good." She stood, smoothing down her uniform, the mask of the unshakable Student Council President sliding back into place.
"Tomorrow will change everything for you, Sebastian. But no matter what happens, you're not alone. Remember that."
Her words lingered even after she left the room, the door closing with a soft click.
I lay back against the sheets, staring at the ceiling. My hands trembled faintly, though whether from exhaustion, anticipation, or dread, I couldn't tell.
Tomorrow I would meet Belle.
Bastard's voice broke the silence like a crack of thunder. {Oh, this will be fun. You're meeting death's second-favorite child first thing in the morning. Try not to get killed before breakfast, alright?}
I closed my eyes. Sleep didn't come easily, but eventually, it came.
---
The sunlight bleeding through the curtains dragged me out of sleep. For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, half-wishing I'd never woken up. But the smell of something warm and familiar pushed me out of bed.
A splash of cold water across my face jolted me awake. The stranger in the mirror, Sebastian Nekros, stared back at me with messy black hair and golden eyes rimmed with fatigue. This was the first time I had actually seen myself, and I still wasn't accustomed to this new version of me.
A quick shower followed, steam filling the small room. By the time I dressed in a plain shirt and trousers, I almost felt… normal. Almost.
The scent of sizzling eggs and toasted bread grew stronger as I walked toward the kitchen.
Alectra was already there, standing over the stove, her hair tied back in a loose knot. She glanced at me over her shoulder and smiled. "You're up. Sit down, Seb, breakfast is ready."
I sat at the small wooden table, its surface worn from years of use. No servants, no polished silver trays, no luxury here, just my sister humming softly as she placed two plates down.
The food wasn't extravagant. Just eggs, bread, and a slice of meat. But compared to my past life, it looked like a feast.
"You've gotten thinner," Alectra said, her golden eyes narrowing in that way only an older sister could manage. She set her own plate down but didn't touch it right away. "Eat. Don't argue."
I muttered something under my breath but picked up the fork anyway. The first bite hit harder than expected, simple, warm, real. For the first time in a long while, I felt like maybe I understood why people say food is the biggest joy of life.
Alectra finally sat across from me, watching until I'd eaten enough before speaking again. "After breakfast, we'll head out. Today, you're meeting Belle. Until then…" she gave me a teasing smirk, "you're stuck with me."
I leaned back in the chair after another bite, letting out a dramatic sigh. "You know, Alectra, it's almost unfair how good I look this early in the morning. I mean, look at me."
I gestured vaguely at myself with the fork. "Fresh out of bed, showered, and already radiating with perfection. If I were anyone else, I'd be jealous."
Alectra froze with her fork halfway to her mouth, then slowly set it down, raising a brow. "Perfection? That's what we're calling uncombed hair and dark circles now?"
I smirked. "These aren't dark circles. They're marks of mystery and depth. Women would kill for eyes as soulful as mine."
{Oh, I'm actually impressed,} Bastard's smug voice echoed in my head.
{Not because you're right, don't get me wrong, you're still a narcissistic brat, but because you've managed to convince yourself of it. That's real talent.}
'Shut up,' I muttered inwardly, still keeping the grin on my face.
Alectra rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might actually get stuck. "Oh, please. You sound like one of those arrogant noble brats who can't stop staring at their own reflections."
"I mean, can you blame me?" I grinned, leaning forward on the table. "When the gods made me, they clearly went all in. I'm basically a gift to humanity."
{Heh. A gift, huh? You're not wrong, you are a gift. A cursed one. Wrapped in arrogance and tied with a bow of stupidity. But still… a gift.}
'Funny. You're awfully chatty for a parasite who does nothing but insult me.'
{Insults? Please. This is praise coming from me. Don't get used to it.}
I ignored him, focusing on the way Alectra pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering, "Saints save me…" But despite her exasperation, a small laugh escaped her lips.
"There it is!" I pointed my fork at her triumphantly. "That laugh. Proof that deep down, you agree with me. Don't deny it, Sis, you know I'm handsome."
She shook her head, finally taking a bite of her food.
"Handsome, maybe. Annoying? Definitely. Seb, the only destiny you're heading toward is getting smacked on the head by me if you don't finish your breakfast."
I pretended to gasp. "How dare you. Belle Ardent herself will be honored to meet me. She'll take one look at this face and realize destiny has sent her the perfect student."
{You actually believe the Reaper of Death will swoon over you. Gods, I almost hope she does smack you it'd be the highlight of my existence.}
'You'll see. She'll respect me.'
I chuckled, stabbing another piece of egg and tossing it into my mouth. "Fine, fine. I'll eat. But only because this masterpiece you cooked deserves the attention of someone as great as me."
She muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, "Unbelievable…" but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her.