Al walked out of the dining room like someone who had just escaped an interrogation chamber.
The moment his bedroom door shut behind him, he let out a quiet sigh and collapsed onto his soft bed.
Finally, it was over…
"Pointless family drama," he murmured, pulling the blanket over himself.
Sleep.
That was the one thing he looked forward to today.
The simplest, yet most meaningful thing.
But then—
GRUARRR... GRUARRRR...
His phone vibrated on the nightstand, accompanied by a custom ringtone: rumbling thunder—reserved only for specific people.
Al opened his eyes slowly. No irritation, just slight reluctance.
He reached for the phone, looked at the caller ID, and smiled.
He answered.
"Master," came a woman's voice from the other side. Soft. Firm. With a hint of playfulness hidden behind formal tones.
"I'm leaving for Indorosia tonight."
Al paused, then gave a small smile.
"All right," he replied briefly. "Safe flight."
Click.
The call ended.
But on the other side of the world, things were just beginning to move.
---
Elsewhere…
Uni-states of Ameria
A towering skyscraper stood proudly in the heart of Neo York's business district. On its top floor, inside a sleek modern office with glass walls overlooking the skyline, a young woman stood with her back to the massive window.
Her long, glossy black hair cascaded down her back. Her figure—though wrapped in a formal black suit—couldn't hide the striking curves that far surpassed even Nayala's.
But that wasn't what stood out.
Not her body.
It was her aura.
Graceful. Commanding. Captivating. Yet... dangerous.
Her face was still partially shadowed by the evening light filtering in.
But a smile began to form—soft, and full of longing.
She stared at the now-dark phone, then turned her gaze to the dusky sky beyond the glass.
"Soon, we'll meet again, Master..." she whispered. "I've missed you."
She held her phone tighter, as if hugging something she deeply cherished.
On the holographic display beside her desk, a company logo floated clearly:
ALASIA GROUP.
The screen then switched to a quarterly financial report. The company—partially private—showed growth charts surpassing Wapple and Lesla.
With a single flick of her finger, she closed the display.
"I'll bring gifts… and a few things Master likes. And after that… I want to hear all about your fiancée."
Her smile changed slightly—still gentle, but with a sharp edge.
Soft… but unmistakably piercing.
---
Back to Al...
He closed his eyes again and whispered under his breath:
"One by one, they return... The world will begin moving again."
And this time, he smiled.
But not the smile of an ordinary person.
It was the smile of a king in slumber... knowing his queen had begun to return to his side.
---
Heat.
That was the first thing Al felt when he woke up that early afternoon.
Sunlight streamed through the small window in his room, and the air inside felt like a steam chamber.
It was the end of March.
Dry season had begun in Indorosia, and Eastern Indorosia was one of the hottest regions—hot enough to make any normal person curse every five minutes.
Unlike the luxurious rooms of the other Virellano family members in the main house, Al's room was in a small building outside.
No AC. No fan. Just natural wind—when it decided to show up.
Al wasn't the type to rely on magical energy for every comfort.
"If everything can be solved with magic, I'll forget what it means to be human," he muttered, reluctant to peel off the blanket stuck to his sweaty skin.
He got up, stripped off his shirt, and went straight to the small outdoor bathroom.
---
After a shower...
His body felt refreshed, but the day was still scorching.
He had just put on a black t-shirt and light pants when his phone rang.
Normal ringtone. Unknown number.
He almost ignored it. But curiosity won.
"Yes?"
"Al! It's me, Rina. Vice captain of Dojo Palaka. Remember?"
"...Rina?"
"Yes! We're in the same school, same grade—I helped you out that time. Don't pretend you forgot!"
Al exhaled slowly.
The girl's voice was way too enthusiastic for such a hot midday.
"What is it?"
"Can you help me out today? We're preparing for the School Festival. You're not busy, right? I'll be waiting at school."
"Pass... I feel weak. Don't wanna move. The sun's like a frying pan."
"But it's important, Al! There are barely any boys helping. You—"
"No."
"Al... The planning room's on the third floor. There's AC.
And a fridge full of cold drinks."
Al paused.
No answer.
But a lazy smirk tugged at his lips.
"And cold watermelon," Rina added.
"Okay. What time?"
"As soon as you can."
---
30 Minutes Later...
Al wore casual clothes, backpack slung over his shoulder.
His steps were lazy, but steady.
He took a taxi to school—he couldn't borrow the family car anyway.
When he arrived at Hazandeen International High School, the school wasn't too crowded, but the administration building was bustling with activity.
Some students were walking around in sportswear, others were putting up banners for the upcoming School Festival (a week-long competition of sports, arts, science and technology).
On the third floor, in a large room with a digital whiteboard and the school's emblem on the wall, Rina sat hugging a bottle of cold water.
When she saw Al enter, she immediately stood up.
"Finally, the most mysterious guy in our grade shows up."
Al grabbed a bottle from the fridge without saying a word.
He sat in a corner, leaned back, and calmly opened it.
"Okay. What do I need to do first? Let's get this over with."
"That's the spirit!" Rina replied.
She turned around and eagerly introduced Al to the School Festival Organizing Team—mostly juniors and morning-class students who had barely, if ever, seen Al before.
Most looked at him with curious expressions.
Some nodded politely.
Others started whispering after hearing his full name.
"Wait, isn't he that orphan… who got into Hazandeen with a scholarship from the Alasia Foundation?"
"Orphan?... Yet he acts so chill."
"So he's not from an elite family?"
"I didn't know this school even offered scholarships to non-elites."
Rina paused.
This was the first time she'd heard people talk about Al's background from a school social perspective.
But when she glanced at him to see his reaction, what she saw was...
Al's trademark lazy smile.
"Sorry… I'm from a rich family now. Gotta wake up early every day."
Al replied to their whispers in a deadpan tone—too serious to be a joke, yet too weird to be offensive.
The room burst into laughter—some mocking, some amused.
Rina, meanwhile, let out a short sigh with a faint smile.
Somehow, she found Al… interesting.
Funny in his own way.
Brutally honest, without expression.
---
Though lazy at first, Al quickly showed his abilities once he started working.
With a single instruction, he reorganized the booth layout and decorations with high efficiency—far better than the original plan created over months of committee meetings.
Rina gaped.
"Are you... some kind of genius?"
"Not really. If I work fast, I get to rest faster."
Rina burst out laughing.
She couldn't deny it—Al made this hot afternoon feel a bit lighter.
But not everyone shared that feeling.
Jogo, a senior from the martial arts club and Rina's old friend, observed them with sharp eyes.
Rina's closeness to Al clearly made him uneasy.
Still, the day ended peacefully… for everyone, including Al—who finally got to enjoy cold watermelon, soda, and an air-conditioned room.
And while chewing a small slice of tart, Al's cheeks puffed out slightly.
His usually blank expression turned into something… innocent.
Even cute, according to some of the female committee members whispering among themselves:
"He's... kinda cute when he eats."
"Uwahhh, so adorable."
"Can I pinch his cheeks?"
---