Lucas had barely begun piecing together his thoughts when a shift in the air caught his attention. It was not the wind. This was something else.
A ripple of hushed whispers spread across the academy courtyard like wildfire, creeping into every corner with growing intensity.
"No way… Is that really her?!"
"Why is she here?"
"Wait—she's walking toward Lucas?!"
Lucas exhaled slowly. He already knew what was coming.
Across the courtyard, striding with a purpose that defied the delicate grace of her steps, was Elaine Mythrandis.
Her very presence was a declaration. Every movement she made was composed, yet commanding. Long, flowing silver hair cascaded past her waist, catching the sunlight like woven moonlight. The distinct color of her hair and the sharp brilliance of her silver eyes marked her lineage beyond question. She was a Mythrandis, and there was no mistaking it.
Her academy uniform, though similar in design to the rest, bore distinct modifications. The tailoring was flawless, its fit effortlessly elegant in a way that only wealth and status could achieve. The deep navy fabric was embroidered with platinum threads, and the sigil of her lineage was stitched at her collar. It was not ostentatious, but its presence was undeniable.
However, it was not merely her appearance that had drawn every gaze in the courtyard.
It was her aura.
Elaine carried herself with the effortless confidence of someone who had never encountered refusal. She was a storm wrapped in silk, an unstoppable force concealed beneath aristocratic refinement. Every step she took seemed to command attention, whether those around her wished to give it or not.
And she was walking directly toward him.
Lucas remained seated beneath the tree, arms lazily folded, expression unreadable. His indifference was absolute.
A billion years of existence had stripped most things of their novelty. This moment was no different.
The same could not be said for the other students.
The instant Elaine entered the courtyard, the academy seemed to hold its breath.
She was Elaine Mythrandis—the only princess of the Mythrandis Empire, the ruling family of the Mythrandis Lower Plane. The very same plane from which both NOX and Lucas had originated.
Her presence alone would have been enough to stir excitement. The fact that she had chosen to approach Lucas, in full view of the academy, only intensified the whispers.
Some students whispered in awe, others in disbelief. A few, those with family ties to the noble houses, exchanged uneasy glances. If Elaine Mythrandis was making a move, it was not just gossip.
It was politics.
Before the gathered audience of stunned, gossip-hungry students, Elaine stopped in front of Lucas. She placed her hands on her hips, her silver eyes locking onto his.
Lucas, however, barely acknowledged her presence.
Elaine was accustomed to admiration. She was familiar with intimidation.
What she was not accustomed to—was indifference.
For a brief moment, her lips pressed together in thought. However, her expression remained poised.
"I see the academy is just as dull as I expected," she remarked, her voice smooth, carrying just the faintest lilt of amusement. "Though I must admit, I didn't expect to find you wasting time beneath a tree."
Lucas said nothing.
He simply looked at her, his gaze unreadable.
Elaine, unfazed, continued. "I suppose I should be flattered. Normally, you would have disappeared by now."
Lucas still did not respond.
The surrounding students, however, reacted with growing disbelief. The courtyard was practically quivering with tension.
"She's talking to him like that?!"
"Is she out of her mind?!"
"Why is Lucas not saying anything?! Wait, no—why is she still standing there?!"
Elaine ignored them.
Their opinions were irrelevant.
All that mattered was Lucas.
She studied him carefully, taking in the minute shifts in his posture, the way his eyes—so distant, so detached—barely reflected the world around him.
A lesser woman might have been thrown off by it—might have let the weight of his indifference dictate the flow of the conversation.
But Elaine was not a lesser woman.
She had spent her entire life maneuvering through a court where words were both armor and dagger. Where a single misplaced syllable could cost a minister his rank, a noblewoman her life, and a princess her claim to the throne.
If there was anything she had learned from the palace, it was patience.
Still, she could not ignore the slight, unfamiliar sensation creeping at the edges of her composure.
Her plan was proceeding smoothly—but still, something about Lucas's silence unsettled her.
He was supposed to react. Challenge her. Anything but this maddening stillness.
She took a step closer, lowering her voice just enough to be intimate without being obvious.
"You know who I am, don't you?"
Lucas blinked and exhaled slowly.
Of course, he knew her. And if he valued his brain cells, staying as far away from this woman as possible would be the wisest choice.
He had met tyrants. He had met warlords, emperors, and gods.
None of them annoyed him as much as this woman.
He could already predict what she was going to say. The best way to navigate this situation was to remain silent—annoyingly silent.
Silence had power. Lucas had learned that long ago.
If he spoke, he would be playing her game. If he did nothing, the next move would have to be hers—and that was far more entertaining.
Elaine saw his blink as subtle confirmation that he remembered her.
Her smile widened slightly.
Her plan was proceeding smoothly.
"That saves me the trouble of introductions," she said, tilting her head slightly. "I wonder, though—have you ever considered the… advantages of an alliance between our families?"
Dead silence.
Then—
"HUH?!"
The courtyard erupted into chaos.
Gasps. Shouts. Someone dropped their book. Another person outright collapsed. The scene was bordering on pandemonium.
"SHE SAID PROPOSE!!"
"DID SHE MEAN MARRIAGE?!"
"IS SHE OUT OF HER MIND?! THAT'S LUCAS!!"
Elaine kept her expression poised, but inwardly, she was amused. The fools could whisper all they liked. This wasn't some impulsive, lovestruck gesture. This was strategy.
Lucas and NOX were the heirs of the Celestial Heaven Clan and Dark Heaven Clan, the last remaining Empyrean Clans in the entire Lower Realm.
Their status surpassed not only Elaine's but even that of her family. Even her father, the Emperor of Mythrandis, always humbled himself before these two clans.
Elaine had approached Lucas with a purpose, while she had always deliberately avoided NOX. It was not out of hatred but simply because he belonged to the Dark Heaven Clan—a Demonic Clan.
Though the world respected their power, and even the Emperor feared them, it did not change the fact that they did not follow the Dharma Path. Suspicion and prejudice against them ran deep.
Elaine had no desire to stain her reputation by associating with NOX. Even the slightest connection would be enough to make her a target of public scrutiny. It would also provide the imperial court and palace factions with an excuse to question her, giving them leverage over her.
And so, she had always ignored NOX, though she was well aware that he had never once acknowledged her either.
Given all these factors, Lucas was her most strategic choice for an alliance. As a member of the Celestial Heaven Clan, a righteous and influential force representing the entire Lower Realm, he aligned perfectly with her plans. More importantly, his clan maintained strict neutrality, with no deep political ties to any faction within the palace—making him the safest and most advantageous option.
She had observed him for years, since childhood, and judged him to be kind and composed. She had never seen him act out of anger or pettiness.
That made him the ideal partner—loyal, trustworthy, and unlikely to betray her.