"Prove it."
Her eyes trembled, the faint shimmer of light catching in them. Her ears turned red — a small, betraying shade of warmth she couldn't hide.
"B–But… I have a boyfriend," she stammered, taking a step back. "I can't."
I stared at her silently, my expression unreadable.
"Don't tell me you don't remember your promise," I said.
Her lips parted slightly. "Promise…?"
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. "You really forgot, huh? Figures."
Her brows furrowed. "Wait… what promise are you talking about?"
"The one you made before you confessed to me," I said, voice low and sharp. "You said — no matter what happens, you won't leave me alone."
Something flickered in her eyes — recognition, guilt.
"Raze… that was—"
"Just childish words?" I cut her off, tone calm but cold. "Maybe. But you broke it anyway."
She looked away, guilt washing over her face. The silence between us stretched — heavy, suffocating.
Outside, the wind rattled against the old library windows. The pages of open books fluttered softly, as if whispering forgotten memories.
"You know," I said after a pause, "I don't hate you for it."
Her eyes widened a little.
"I just can't forget it."
"Raze…" she murmured, her voice fragile. "If I could go back, I'd—"
"Forget it," I said, my tone softer this time. "If you don't want to, then it's fine."
She hesitated, clutching her arm. Then, almost in a whisper—
"I… remember now."
What, There was actually some kind of promise? I thought that was just something I made up.
My gaze shifted slightly toward her.
Her words trailed off, caught somewhere between regret and fear.
But then, something flickered in her eyes — a memory.
"I… remember now," she whispered. "That day, when I confessed to you…"
She hesitated, fingers brushing her lips unconsciously. "I said… if you protect me, I'll give you a kiss as a reward."
Her voice trembled. "And you did protect me, Raze. You always did. But after that… I…"
She stopped herself, guilt tightening her chest.
Raze's gaze stayed fixed on her, calm but unreadable.
"So, what happened?" he asked softly. "You gave the promise. I kept mine."
Mia looked down, hands curling at her side. "I broke mine."
The silence that followed was heavy — not anger, but something deeper.
Regret.
Raze took a slow breath, his tone quiet. "Then maybe it's time you kept it."
She hesitated for a moment, her breath shaky.
Then she nodded softly. "…Yes."
Slowly, she began to close the distance between us — one hesitant step at a time.
Her face was flushed red, eyes trembling yet determined, as if forcing herself to prove she wasn't afraid anymore.
Her hand brushed against my chest.
And then, gently, she leaned in — her lips trembling as they neared mine.
A faint smirk formed on my face.
My goal was never Mia's kiss.
It was the monkey who had been watching us intently from the very beginning.
'Don't tell me you thought I wouldn't notice you, Kail,' I thought, without breaking eye contact with Mia.
He was there — just beyond the bookshelves — his presence loud even in silence.
Anger, jealousy, hatred… I could feel it all pouring out of him.
He was shaking, his teeth clenched, fists tight enough to draw blood.
Perfect.
That's exactly what I wanted.
When Mia's lips were just a breath away, I could sense it — the shift.
The sound of footsteps fading into silence.
Kail left.
Quietly. Wordlessly.
But the rage he carried… I could feel it burning like fire on my back.
I let Mia come closer — her lips almost brushing mine — before I raised two fingers between us, stopping her just before contact.
She froze, her breath catching, eyes wide.
I looked at her — calm, detached — and whispered,
"...That's enough."
"What? Why?" she asked, confusion flashing in her eyes.
"You don't have to," I said, shrugging. "I was just testing if you're still afraid of me or not."
Her smile faded, disappointment flickering across her face.
"But if you really want to do something for me," I continued, "there's something you can do."
Her eyes lit up, curious. "What is it?"
"To become stronger," I said, meeting her gaze. "And learn how to use your archery skills properly."
She straightened, determination flashing in her expression. "Leave it to me! I'll become stronger and protect you—just like you did back then."
I sighed quietly. "I didn't say to protect me," I muttered under my breath. "Ah… just forget it."
Next Morning – Training Grounds
Morning light spilled across the training grounds, the air humming faintly with mana. The summoned students stood in neat lines, most still half-awake — except Kail. His glare hadn't left Raze since the moment they arrived.
Seraphina Vale stood before them, crimson hair glinting under the sun, silver armor catching every glimmer of light.
"Listen well," she said, her voice cutting through the morning air. "You were summoned as heroes. That means you'll learn to control your power — or die trying."
Her gaze swept across the group. "Each of you holds a rare class. Holy Knight, Illusionist, Guardian, Beast Tamer, and more. If you put in the work, standing out at the academy should be simple."
Leon lifted his chin proudly. Tamao remained calm, eyes distant. Mia's grip on her bow trembled slightly.
"Now," Seraphina said, crossing her arms. "Show me what you can do."
Leon stepped forward first, divine light spilling from his blade. Suzu healed a cut from his test strike with a shimmer of green glow. The others followed — spells flashing, runes crackling.
Then, silence.
Raze hadn't moved.
Kail's voice cut through the air, low and cold.
"What's wrong, extra? Lost your power? Or still pretending you don't have one?"
Raze didn't answer, his eyes half-lidded, unreadable.
Kail took a step closer, frost gathering faintly around his boots. "You think you're better than us because you embarrassed Borden yesterday?" he hissed. "Try doing that to me."
Raze sighed softly. "You really don't learn, do you?"
The temperature dropped instantly. Crystals of frost began spreading under Kail's feet.
Mia's eyes widened. "Kail, stop—"
But he didn't. His focus was locked entirely on Raze.
Kail's glare sharpened, frost crackling louder beneath his boots.
"And don't you dare get close to Mia again," he said coldly, his voice trembling with barely contained rage.
Raze tilted his head slightly, expression unreadable. "Oh?" A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "So you saw us yesterday, then."
Kail's jaw clenched.
"Tell me," Raze continued, voice calm but cutting. "Did you see our kiss too?"
The air froze around them — literally. A sharp gust swept through the grounds, scattering frost over the dirt.
"You bastard!" Kail shouted, his composure cracking. "How dare you—"
Mia stepped forward quickly, panic flashing across her face. "Kail, stop! It's not what you think—"
But he wasn't listening. His eyes burned with fury, his voice shaking. "I didn't say anything before because I respected that it was your past with her. But now…" He raised a hand, mana pulsing violently from his palm. "…now I won't let you near her again."
Raze's tone stayed calm, almost bored. "And what if I do?"
Kail froze for a second, caught off guard.
Raze's eyes met his — cold, sharp, unflinching. "You know she doesn't love you," he said softly. "You're just a stand-in. My replacement."
Mia gasped quietly. "Raze, stop—"
But it was too late.
Kail's expression went blank — then twisted into raw fury. The ground beneath him cracked as frost exploded outward, blue light flashing in his eyes.
"You think you can talk to me like that?" he snarled. "Fine. Let's settle this now."
The temperature plummeted. Ice began forming around his hands, spiraling into jagged blades.
Raze exhaled slowly, his calm gaze unwavering. "Tch. Figures."
Mia's voice trembled. "Stop it! Both of you!"
But neither moved.
The space between them vibrated with killing intent.Leon stepped forward between them. "Stop. Both of you."
But Kail didn't move. His eyes stayed locked on me, sharp and burning. "Why didn't you stop Borden yesterday when he tried to pick a fight?" he snapped. "You only interfere now because you think your rare class makes you better."
Leon frowned. "That's not—"
"Save it," Kail cut him off. "You think you can stop me?"
He drew his ice blade, frost swirling from his hand. Leon's holy sword answered with a glow of golden light. The ground cracked beneath their feet as they clashed — frost and light tearing through the air.
Leon's movements were precise and measured, but Kail fought like a storm. Ice spears formed with every swing, forcing Leon back until one sharp burst of frost froze his foot to the ground. Kail's blade grazed his arm, drawing a thin line of blood.
Kail smirked. "Looks like I win."
Before he could press forward again, Seraphina appeared between them, her presence alone halting the fight. A faint ripple of energy pulsed from her hand, shattering the ice instantly.
"Enough," she said firmly. "You two call this control? If this is how you act now, you won't even survive the entrance exam."
Kail clenched his jaw but said nothing.
Then he turned to me. "See that, Raze? I even beat Leon. If she hadn't interrupted, I'd have crushed you."
I stepped closer, voice calm. "No, you wouldn't have."
He scoffed. "You talk big."
"Leon held back because he's kind," I said. "That's who he is." I paused, my eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm not like him."
For a moment, silence. Then I added coldly,
"And about Mia… I'll come close to her — whether you like it or not."
Kail's expression froze, anger flickering in his eyes, but he didn't speak. His fists tightened until his knuckles turned white.
Seraphina broke the tension with a sharp tone. "That's enough. Both of you — dismissed."
The sound of cracking frost faded as everyone began to leave. But even as I turned away, I could feel Kail's glare burning against my back — silent, but far from over.
When sun set
I walked into the abandoned wing of the castle — dark, silent, and far from anyone's sight.
The moonlight slipped through a cracked window, faint and cold.
"You made my job easy," a voice came from behind.
Kail stepped out from the shadows, wearing a dark cloak, his face twisted with anger.
"I'll kill you here," he said, his tone sharp and certain. "No one will know. You're the extra, remember? Once you're gone, Mia will be mine."
I looked at him, silent. "You're still obsessed with her."
Kail's lips curled. "That's the only reason I ever got close to you. I became your friend, spread those rumors — all so no one would come near you. So you'd be left alone."
I smirked slightly. "I know."
He froze. "What—"
Before he could move, a sharp sound cut through the air.
Thwip.
An arrow flew from the darkness and pierced his chest cleanly.
Kail stumbled back, his eyes wide, confusion replacing fury
Kail's breathing grew shallow as he fell to his knees, eyes flicking between me and her — disbelief carved into his face.
I stepped forward, my gaze calm. Then, without a word, I smirked.
And said "good job mia"