Chapter 20 Prelude to Freshman Ball (3)

Words : 1658 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

"What are you doing here?" Rachel asked, her voice polite but carrying the distinct sharpness of someone bracing for trouble. Cecilia smiled, tilting her head just slightly. "Oh, just here to get a dress too. After all, I must uphold the dignity of a princess." I almost forgot—these two didn't get along. Not in the openly hostile, ready-to-duel-on-sight way, but in the silent, carefully measured, I'd-rather-be-anywhere-else-than-near-you way. They exchanged small talk when required, but beyond that? Nothing. They were polar opposites in personality. Rachel was bright and kind, effortlessly warm. Cecilia was dark, playful, and about as trustworthy as a cat staring at a glass of water on a ledge. And yet, they were eerily similar in other ways—both spellcasting prodigies, both daughters of power, both with too much talent to ignore. Which meant, naturally, that neither of them wanted to be outdone by the other. Rachel's eyes flicked over Cecilia, and then, to my absolute shock, she simply said— "You being a princess is a crime." There was no hesitation. No smile. Just an unfiltered statement of fact. Cecilia lit up instantly. "Finally showing your little claws, kitty?" she purred, delighted, as if she had been waiting all week for this exact moment. Rachel sighed. "Let's not fight, Cecilia. It's unbecoming of us." Cecilia pouted theatrically, but didn't press. For now. Instead, she tilted her head, eyes flickering with amusement, and changed the subject entirely. "Anyway, I actually wanted to talk about something else." I immediately felt uneasy. Because when Cecilia wanted to talk about something, it was never good. "It's about the midterms." Rachel and I both turned toward her at once. "What about them?" I asked, warily. Cecilia's smile sharpened. "A little birdie told me that for our midterms, we're going to have a very interesting test." She paused, clearly relishing the moment before saying, "A survival battle royale." Rachel's expression darkened immediately. "How did you even find out?" she demanded. Cecilia shrugged lightly, the very picture of innocence. "Oh, you know," she said airily, "I listen. I ask questions. I get answers." Rachel's expression shifted. Her mind was working now, I could tell. And then, as realization clicked into place, she stiffened. She turned to Cecilia, eyes narrowing with something between irritation and reluctant admiration. "Don't tell me…" Cecilia said nothing. Rachel exhaled sharply. Then, under her breath— "Crazy bitch." Cecilia's grin widened. "Hey now," she said, delighted, "a Saintess shouldn't have that kind of mouth." Rachel's brow furrowed deeper, but she said nothing. Because deep down, she knew Cecilia was right. Rachel hated that. "Anyway, a battle royale?" I asked, trying to redirect the conversation before it devolved into outright murder. "What kind of point system are they using?" "They'll use beasts, of course," Cecilia said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We hunt them for points." Sёarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, with a pleased little smile, she added, "And, of course, other students. Cute idea." She winked at me when she said the word cute. Like she was talking about kittens instead of a sanctioned bloodsport. Rachel exhaled sharply, already bracing herself for whatever came next. "So why did you tell us this?" she asked, her voice as wary as if Cecilia had just handed her a loaded trap. Cecilia gasped, hand over heart, expression full of wounded betrayal. "Do you really take me for the kind of girl who hoards information for herself?" "Yes," Rachel and I said in perfect unison. Cecilia's pout lasted a grand total of three seconds before she laughed. "Well, you're right." She clasped her hands together, smiling like an angel who had just set something on fire. "Which is why you both owe me now." Rachel's entire face shifted into something between disgust and deep existential regret. "Owe you?" "Uh-huh," Cecilia smirked, the kind of smirk that suggested she had already planned out exactly how this favor would be repaid. Then, with far too much satisfaction, she turned to Rachel. "And for what you owe me, let's have a proper fight. One where we don't hold back." Rachel's eyes narrowed immediately. "You won't win." Cecilia's expression didn't change. If anything, she looked even more pleased. "I know I'm behind in mana rank. For now." She said it casually, like it was a temporary inconvenience rather than a massive power gap between them. "But when I reach high Silver-rank, I'll be Rank 4." She tilted her head, eyes gleaming. "Fight me then. Not during the battle royale." Rachel considered this for exactly three seconds before scoffing lightly. "Well, I won't say no to beating you up." "In what world are you a Saintess?" Cecilia asked, genuinely baffled. Rachel folded her arms, tone completely matter-of-fact. "A Saintess beats evil." She pointed at Cecilia. "You are evil." Cecilia let out a soft, amused hum, as if she was seriously considering the statement. Then, before Rachel could react, she grabbed my hand. "Arthur!" she gasped, dramatically. "Look at how mean Ray-Ray is being to me!" I stared down at her hand, bewildered. 'Why is she grabbing me?' Rachel's shoulders twitched. For the first time in the entire conversation, she actually looked visibly rattled. Her eyes darkened, something dangerous flashing across her face. "Y-you," she stammered. "What did you just call me?" Cecilia tilted her head innocently. "Ray-Ray?" Rachel twitched again. "It's a much cuter nickname than Rach, don't you think?" Cecilia continued, her voice pure, unfiltered amusement. Rachel shuddered violently, like she had just been physically assaulted by the mere existence of those syllables. "Never. Ever. Utter that from your mouth again." Cecilia just smiled wider, because of course she did. "You can call me Ceci too," she urged, her tone far too encouraging for my comfort. "And you, Art." I blinked. "Art?" "It's cuter than Arthur," she shrugged, as if this was a well-established fact and not something she had just made up for the sole purpose of annoying Rachel. Rachel's jaw tightened slightly, but she said nothing. Cecilia grinned. "Anyway, Ray-Ray—" Rachel twitched violently, gripping the edge of the café table as if contemplating flipping it over. Cecilia continued, completely unfazed. "Why did you ask Arthur to go to the ball?" she mused, tilting her head, her voice just innocent enough to be suspicious. Her crimson eyes gleamed. "Is it just... kindness?" Rachel, to her credit, didn't flinch. "Of course not." Then, without hesitation, she looked at me, her sapphire-blue eyes clear and unwavering. "I wanted to go with him." There was no hesitation. No awkward fumbling. No doubt. Cecilia let out a low hum, her fingers tapping idly against her cup. "So you asked him out," she said, drawing out the words with just enough emphasis to make Rachel look like she had done something utterly scandalous. Rachel just raised an eyebrow. "Yes." Cecilia's grin widened. "How bold of you, Ray-Ray." "Don't call me that." "I think I will." Rachel sighed through her nose, visibly restraining herself. I cleared my throat, desperately looking for an escape from this particular battlefield. "We should probably get going," I said. Rachel, thankfully, took the out immediately. "Yes," she agreed, standing up with a swift, graceful movement. Cecilia, of course, took her sweet time, stretching slightly before following us out of the café. The streets of Maven City were just as lively as before, students moving between shops, restaurants, and entertainment centers, all of them enjoying their temporary escape from the Academy's ever-present rules. "Well," Cecilia said cheerfully as we neared the warp gate, "this was fun." "Fun isn't the word I'd use," Rachel muttered. Cecilia ignored her completely. "See you at the ball, Art." I sighed, already regretting the fact that this nickname was never going away. We stepped through the warp gate, the world shifting around us in an instant, and just like that, Maven City was behind us. Back to Mythos Academy. Back to reality. __________________________________________________________________________________ "Now that he isn't here," Cecilia said, latching onto Rachel's arm like a particularly persistent parasite, "tell me why." Rachel sighed heavily. "Are you a stalker or something?" Cecilia gasped, hand over heart, expression pure and deeply offended. "Me? A stalker?" she said, blinking innocently. "I'm just interested. Curious. Come on, don't be mean." "You are mean," Rachel muttered, attempting to shake her off. Cecilia whined dramatically, tightening her grip. "Fine, fine," Rachel finally relented. "It's because... he's different." Cecilia perked up instantly. "Different how?" Rachel exhaled, shoulders tensing slightly. "I just didn't want to go with Lucifer, okay?" she said defensively, folding her arms. Cecilia's eyes gleamed. "Ah ha," she giggled, clearly delighted. "So the Saintess is using Arthur then." Rachel's expression darkened instantly. "Cecilia." Her voice was low, her glare sharp. "I'm not using him." Cecilia waved a dismissive hand, suddenly serious. "Nah, I get it, don't worry." She tilted her head slightly, gaze drifting to the side. "Lucifer's a crazy bastard like that." Rachel blinked. Then blinked again. 'You are saying this.' Cecilia caught her expression and smirked. "Crazy in a very different way." Rachel narrowed her eyes. "Well, whatever," Cecilia continued, too casual now, too smooth, like she was leading the conversation exactly where she wanted. "So you don't really care about him, right?" Cecilia said, watching her carefully. "Other than your stupid, kind heart." Rachel's brows furrowed slightly. "Why are you saying that?" Cecilia didn't answer immediately. Instead, she folded her hands behind her back and smiled, her crimson eyes glinting with something unreadable. Rachel felt a cold chill run down her spine.

Chapter 20 Prelude to Freshman Ball (3)

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