"You know, Avaris, one day I want to travel the entire universe with you."
"That sounds terribly exhausting."
"Haha! I knew you would say that."
The girl softly ran her fingers through the boy's black hair.
"Still, doesn't it sound wonderful? The universe is massive, and it keeps expanding with every passing second. I mean, just you and me... A life where we are together from nothingness to eternity."
The boy yawned and murmured in a sleepy tone.
"Hmm, it sounds exhausting. Aren't we much more peaceful right here under this tree?"
"You could be a little more romantic, you idiot!"
The boy opened his pitch black eyes and gazed deeply into the girl's golden eyes.
"As long as I am with you, it does not matter where I am. Whether in nothingness or in eternity... The only thing that matters is being by your side, Uriel."
A shy blush crept across the girl's cheeks.
"I love you, Uriel."
"I love you, Avaris."
***
As sunlight filtered through the window and strained against my eyelids, I sat motionlessly on the edge of my bed.
The silence in the room was so profound that the only sound echoing in my ears was the rhythmic thudding of my own heartbeat.
Taking a deep breath, I stood up and reached for my uniform.
First, I began to put on my undergarments. My movements were slow and deliberate as I settled the delicate lace bra against my skin.
The moment I fastened the clasp behind my back, a faint shiver rippled across my skin. My reflection in the mirror might have been pale, but my body was toned and graceful, standing as a testament to the ruthless training that had prepared me for this day.
Next, I slipped on my crisp white shirt. As my fingers found the buttons, I noticed they were trembling slightly.
I refused to let them shake. I fastened each button with the solemnity of a knight donning armor for battle.
Next came the pleated navy skirt. As I slowly pulled the fabric up my legs, the soft rustle of it brushing against my smooth thighs echoed through the room.
When I secured the zipper at my waist, the material wrapped tightly around my slender waist and perfectly accentuated the curves of my hips.
For the final touch, I sat back down on the edge of the bed. Parting my legs slightly, I picked up my long, silky black stockings.
Starting from my toes, I rolled them upward slowly. Over my ankles, past my shapely calves, and all the way over my knees.
When the delicate lace bands gripped the soft flesh just above my knees, the silhouette of the perfect student was complete, putting the length and smoothness of my legs on full display.
I stepped in front of the tall floor mirror.
The reflection staring back at me belonged to someone whose beauty would normally win the adoration of all, yet she carried the hatred of the entire Empire upon her shoulders.
My crimson hair, as vivid as fire and as red as blood, tumbled down my shoulders in a waist deep waterfall. And those eyes. Deep, ocean blue eyes.
Raising a hand, I gently swept my bangs from my forehead. As I tucked a loose strand behind my ear, I caught the emotion lurking in the depths of my pupils. Pure fear. Mixed with a frantic excitement.
Suddenly, I raised both hands and slapped my own cheeks hard.
SLAP!
The sharp sting cleared my mind. With my cheeks flushing red, I pointed a finger at my reflection.
"No matter what happens today," I whispered, the determination in my voice drowning out any lingering tremble.
"Today, I will force every single one of them to shut their foolish mouths."
I slipped on the mask I had perfected over the years, a fake yet flawlessly cheerful expression.
My lips curled upward, and the bright blue of my eyes sparkled. Opening the door, I stepped out into the hallway.
The atmosphere at the Academy today was as tense as the calm before a storm. The buzzing chatter in the corridors was louder than usual. That was because today was a monumental day for the first year students. It was Soul Bond Day.
In this world, every individual blessed with mana veins had the right to summon an entity that resonated with the depths of their soul, a Contracted Beast, just once in their lifetime.
This was far more than a simple blessing. It was the physical embodiment of our potential, our souls, and our destinies.
Most people managed to form contracts with average creatures of C or D Rank and considered themselves lucky. They were reliable and useful, yet entirely dull beings.
On the other extreme were the divine entities spoken of only in legends. The S Rank and EX Rank beasts capable of bringing entire kingdoms to their knees singlehandedly.
And then there was the F Rank. The ultimate symbol of shame, inadequacy, and absolute despair. Entities far more useless than a mere slug.
The great irony was that summoning an F Rank beast was even less likely than summoning an EX Rank. An F Rank was simply the universe telling you that you were completely worthless.
You might be wondering why I am studying as a summoner despite being a witch.
The reason is quite simple. Following my mother's death, my mana core was sealed. Because of this, no matter how hard I train or how strong I become, I will never be able to reach my true potential.
But I have been given a second chance. If Contracted Beasts truly respond to the call in perfect harmony with a summoner's hidden potential...
This pushes my chances of summoning an SSS Rank or EX Rank beast right to the absolute peak.
In a way, I am gambling my entire future on today.
Because the moment you summon a beast, you permanently sacrifice a portion of your own mana.
***
Walking along the stone paved path toward the main building, my footsteps were heavy and brimming with confidence.
My skirt fluttered gently in the wind, and my crimson hair billowed behind me like a magnificent cape. Yet, the world surrounding me was filled with a gloomy darkness that stood in stark contrast to my radiant display.
The crowd parted like the sea as I approached. But this was no gesture of royal respect meant for a princess. It was the frantic reflex of people fleeing from a plague victim.
"Just look at her," I heard someone whisper. A noble boy standing off to the side nudged his companion. "How can she walk with her head held high like that? Has she no shame?"
"What did you expect?" the other boy replied, his face twisting in disgust. "She is an Emberlune. The cursed blood of a Witch flows through her veins. Treachery is baked right into her genetics."
I pretended not to hear them. Firing back would be pointless anyway, as I was nothing but a monster in their eyes. I had learned many years ago that I could never fix this reality with words alone.
The Emberlune Family. One of the oldest and yet most universally despised bloodlines in the entire Empire.
My family had been shunned for centuries simply for being Witches. Eventually, they were accused of treason and brutally executed.
I am the sole survivor left behind by that bloody history. Ever since my mother passed away, the world has taught me one absolute truth. If you lack power, you are nothing but a target.
A female student intentionally raised her voice just as I walked past. "I hope she summons a demon during the ritual so the Temple Knights can execute her on the spot. She is polluting the very air of our academy."
I did not break my stride. My blue eyes continued to gleam brightly even amidst the suffocating hatred.
I tilted my chin up a fraction higher. Their hatred and disgust changed absolutely nothing.
Look at me, I thought to myself. Look at me with all your disgust. Do it while you still can.
When I reached the door to my classroom, the chaotic noise inside instantly died down at my arrival. Every single pair of eyes locked onto me.
Wearing an unshakable smile, I took my first step into the room.
No matter what happened today, my destiny was about to change forever.