Loraine Eleanoir:
"Wein is truly extraordinary."
Director Claudia startled Loraine before she could turn around and look at her. Her expression was teasing as she finally took the empty seat beside Loraine.
"W-What do you mean, Director?" Loraine stammered slightly, her face beginning to heat up, turning her once creamy white skin a temporary shade of pink.
"I'm just joking—but he really is amazing." She moved her hand, her thumb pointing toward Wein Arcveil, who had just entered the room from outside.
He walked in as the door behind him slowly closed on its own. Wein stood tall and confident as he made his way to the table.
He grabbed a glass bottle in front of him, took a pitcher filled with grape syrup, poured it, and soon after, tasted the drink.
Loraine, who had been frozen, snapped back to focus. She tilted her head slightly to access the system research, but her face turned even redder as she looked back at the Director.
"A man too strong to be an enemy and too incredible to be an ally. Who knows what he'll become in the future... I'll take my leave. Tonight is quite busy."
Director Claudia stood up and walked away. Before leaving the room, she greeted Wein Arcveil and gestured subtly toward Loraine, leaving behind an amused glance before departing.
Wein looked toward Loraine afterward. He raised the glass filled with grape syrup again to divert his gaze.
Loraine couldn't take it anymore and immediately looked away. She then began to ponder what the Director had said about Wein—about him being an ally and the rest.
At his core, he was indeed someone strong, but even so, Loraine was still uncertain about Director Claudia's words. She narrowed her eyes slightly as she thought.
Wein remained standing, staring at Loraine with a confused look, until he finished the last sip of his grape syrup—right before the real trouble arrived.
Not long after he set the glass back down, several girls appeared in front of Wein—around four of them began to surround him.
He acted calm, at least until a few seconds later, when Loraine became aware of the commotion and quickly looked over.
Loraine's gaze was sharp. She then turned her head the other way and let out a playful scoff.
"Impressive. So what about vampires?" – "Are vampires strong?" – "You're incredible." – "What's it like to duel a vampire?"
He tried to manage everything, even as his body showed signs of discomfort. Loraine didn't care and quickly left the area—she truly left Wein behind.
This was normal behavior because Wein was nothing to Loraine. She left the room simply to get some fresh air, even if it was amid the fog.
"Phew!" Loraine let out a long sigh. She tucked her hair behind her ear before continuing up the next set of stairs.
To her, what Director Claudia said wasn't something worth dwelling on. From alliances to wars left unspoken—it all confused her.
But as she stepped on the final stair, her heart pounded before her mind replayed the events of just a few seconds ago in the dining room.
She knew this feeling, and what had emerged in her emotions was something completely normal—yet she forced herself to move on and think clearly.
Damn, why am I jealous of that? Calm down, Loraine. He has every right to be happy, and he's not yours...
Loraine quickly scolded herself and tried to calm down for a moment before reaching the balcony.
Taking a deep breath in and out, she stood on the top floor's balcony—one of the last floors not yet consumed by the fog.
"Phew, this is the last floor before the fog reaches the peak."
She sighed again, moving closer to the railing to lean on it and look down.
---
"Wein!"
Aria raised her hand as she greeted Wein Arcveil. He returned the greeting and immediately approached Aria.
"What is it?"
"Wein, we've been invited as dorm representatives to investigate this mysterious fog."
Wein's face looked surprised, though he tried to stay composed.
Investigate the fog? For what reason, he wondered.
Wein immediately thought of something else. He figured they'd be taken outside as representatives to scout the area—but this could easily be a trap.
But if that was the case, then Lucas would definitely be present. There was no way he'd miss such direct information. Yet it was all so complicated.
"Is there a location?" he asked, confirming before opening his mouth again. "Or is it just within the dormitory?"
"No!" Aria replied, taking a deep breath before opening her mouth wide. "We'll be sent to the city of Aetheris—or even the lower city that's already affected."
Wein looked for a place to rest his hand on the table. He wasn't surprised anymore, and his expression began to reflect deep thought—Lucas would surely join if this were the case.
This was becoming his favorite part, because if Lucas truly was behind it, he would use the opportunity to spread the fog further. At the same time, it could be Arcveil's move into investments.
"Are you coming?" Aria asked.
"I'll go. Oh, by the way... who else is going?"
"Maybe... you, me, and Glen. The rest will come from other dorms. Each dorm can only send three representatives."
Three representatives—that was quite remarkable.
"Alright, I'm in," he confirmed again.