The breaking dawn scattered the darkness, ushering a new day for the land.
The gentle rays of the rising sun peered their way through the light curtains and provided a serene light in the room.
Alex woke up, he was feeling refreshed.
''Morning master, how do you feel? Did you sleep well?" Silveria greeted him with a smile.
Smiling in turn as he could feel her concerns through the way she was looking at him. She must have stayed awake watching over all night.
''Morning, Nemesis. I slept well. Thank you.'' he said.
''Great,'' Silveria said before leaving.
After taking bath and doing some light exercise, Alex decided to check his status.
Even though he had trouble remembering last night's nightmare, no, he had the feeling that it was more than a nightmare. Maybe a premonition? He shuddered just by imagining this possibly.
'I need to get stronger to never experience the feeling of losing someone.' he thought before thinking if it was a premonition than it related to my eye? He wondered before he decided to check his status and at the same time use the unused BP.
『[Alexander Kael Touch]
Class: Magic Gunslinger
Age: 17
Male
Race: High Human
「 Rank 7」
Level 64
Experience Value (XP): 800/18700
Magic Power: 5010
Magic: None
Attack: 1010
Defense: 890 (+10 BP) ✒ 900
Agility: 985 (+25) ✒ 1010
Intelligence: 890 (+10 BP) ✒ 900
Luck: 690
BP: 0
SP: 0
Gift: Two Guns * Semi-sealed*
Skills: [Advanced Appraisal Level 1] [Item box Level 2] [Swift Fingers Max] [Divine Sense Level 4] [Throwing knife Level 5] [Dark Vision Level 2] [Dual Wielding Level 2] [Accel Level 3] [Knife Art Level 4] [Link Level 3] [Gun Art Level Level 10] (New) [Normal Regeneration Level 5] [Mana Recovery Level 5]
Special Abilities: [Language Comprehension][Danger Sense] [Overdrive] [Death's Eye] [Envisage] {Erase} {Magic Bullet} {Snatch} [Hellsing] [Xerox]
Titles: [Otherworlder] [The one who can't use Magic] [The one whose fingers are faster than Flash] [Goblin Slayer] [The Reborn]』
[Death eye: A special eye with numerous abilities.
1st lock: Fear: You will be able to induce fear into your enemies just by looking at them in the eyes. Makes them relive their deepest fear.
Create an illusion and makes your enemies experience hell.
Cost: 500 MP.
Note: Does not work on enemies two Ranks higher.
2nd Lock: Premonition: ???????? Sealed.
3rd Lock: Sealed]
''As I thought. Why it's sealed?" Alex wondered.
〖It's for the own good. Remember what you experienced last night. Your mental strength is lacking, the second seal is too strong for the current you. The true ability of the second seal it's not Premonition but prediction, the ability to predict your opponent's attacks to some extent. Premonition is just a side effect and its apparition is random you can't trigger it, you can't control it.〗Silveria explained.
''I see. I need to become stronger I'm still too weak.'' Alex said thinking about how to quickly increase his strength. It was a good thing that he accepted the third princess's offer to escort her into the dungeon.
〖It's good to think like that but you ought to know that you must not be too hasty. You should consolidate your current level, familiarize yourself with it to perfectly display your current level to its full capacity. You're a brute diamond that needs polishing. Intense training is what you need at the moment, not a crazy leveling.〗Silveria suggested while licking her lips.
Alex shivered, however, he still accepted her suggestions, ''I understand.''
〖Great, we shall intensify the training a little starting from tonight.〗
Hearing the she-devil instructor's words Alex could only smile helplessly. He decided to switch the subject.
''It's you who sealed my eye?"
〖No, it wasn't me. It's my Big sister.〗Silveria answered.
''I see. I must thank her later then.'' he decided.
Silveria did not say anything she only chuckled.
Meanwhile, in the black space, the woman chained against the obsidian throne titled her head to one side while wondering why would Alex thanks her?
Unaware of what happened after he said those words, Alex went to take a bath. After he finished, he joined his sister and Silveria to take breakfast before leaving for the academy.
•••••
Imperial Magic Academy, Alex's classroom.
Just after Alex and Gracier walked into the classroom, they did not have the time to properly greet their friends before Chris their teacher came in.
''Good morning everyone. Today, two new students will join us. Please come in.'' Chris announced.
Everyone was curious about the two newcomers, however, when they saw the persons who entered, they were surprised beyond belief. Especially, Alex, it was then he understood what she meant by 'see you tomorrow.'
Two beautiful girls entered, it was Artemia, the third princess whose beauty was renown through the world and another great beauty not less than her, she had long black hair and purple eyes, it was unusual pair of eyes.
''I'm Artemia Eretria Von Havens. You all know me but I'm not here as a princess but as a student so no need to act tense in my presence. Please take care of me.'' Artemia introduced herself with a smile.
Most of the men's eyes shone with the desire to possess this girl. Leonardo, Kevin, Dodolus, Damien, even Ferris were no exception. Only Alex and Leon did not react like the others. Not because they were not interested but because they knew how to control themselves.
After her introduction, Artemia exchanged a glance with Alex for a moment, her eyes seemed to be conveying 'Didn't I say we will see each other?' before selecting a seat in the middle.
Alex smiled not saying anything, this exchange goes unnoticed by most of the students, unfortunately, Leon saw it.
Nudging Alex's shoulder, Leon said, ''Bro, aren't you too quick? You just arrived and yet you are already acquainted with the third princess? You're not to be underestimated.''
Alex's lips twitched before explaining to him it was just for a mission, an escort.
''Just? Ah! I quit. You don't understand at all do you?" Leon said with a helpless sigh.
''Understand what?" Alex asked amused.
''Woman's heart, it's what I'm talking about. She must be interested in you to have specially chosen you over dozens of other excellent men. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying you're not excellent just you've not fully blossomed yet. There are stronger people than you, more fitting people than the current you. If she was not interested in you? Why would she select you over others?" Leon questioned.
''Who knows,'' Alex said not saying anything else. Alex couldn't tell him what the two talked about, it what a private matter. Not even the emperor and the royal family knows that Artemia was the reincarnated goddess of humans. She shared this secret with Alex because she wants to gain his trust, a solid and durable relationship is based on trust, it's what she thinks.
Sharp as he is, Leon knew that there was something his friend wasn't telling him. He could only sigh, it was understandable for Alex to behave like that, Leon would have done the same thing if he were in his shoes. He just has to earn his trust for him to share some of his secrets, some of his burden. Leon couldn't deny that he had an ulterior motive approaching Alex, it is just that his motive was not something nefarious like plotting to use Alex. Leon became friends with Alex because his intuition told him that by being beside Alex he will experience thrilling things, he won't be bored, there will be a fight, being battle maniac there was no way he would let go of such occasion and above all his personality was compatible with Alex, Alex seemed to be the type of person unconcerned by his status.
''Who is the second beauty? I've never seen her, nor heard about her.'' Leon said, switching the subject.
''I don't know either,'' Alex responded, his eyes zero in on the black-haired beauty with purple eyes. Somehow, he had the feeling that he knew this girl, that he had seen her somewhere. Unfortunately, he couldn't remember where it was no matter how hard he tried.
The black-haired girl with purple eyes advanced to introduce herself, her eyes were cold as ice, ''Morning, I'm Lilith E. Astaroth.''
It was all she said before sitting near Artemia, however just before sitting she looked in Alex's direction, her lips curled up into a grin just for a second before she returned to her cold persona.
Alex did not notice this as he was too focused on thinking about something at the moment, however, Artemia noticed it and she flicked Lilith's forehead, the latter glared at her as if she could not wait to swallow Artemia. Artemia giggled while Lilith harrumphed.
There was a commotion the moment Lilith introduced herself, her eyes aside, her family name was something most people heard about. The Astaroth's Family, the current ruling family in the demon continent. Even though the demon and the rest of humanity were not at each other throats, nobody expects someone from the Astaroth Family to appear here, as student nonetheless, they were surprised.
People started wondering what she was up to? She seemed pretty close to the third princess and the latter did not show any repulsion being near her, she even flicked Lilith's forehead.
'What is their relationship?' most people were curious.