Eternal Undying Chronicles

The sun bathed a secluded mansion in soft, morning light. Pale lilac hues streamed through the large windows of a luxurious room, illuminating a king-sized bed draped in fine linens.

The bed, however, was unoccupied. Its owner, Alicarde, had just stepped out of a spacious walk-in closet. Explore more stories with empire

He was dressed sharply in a designer outfit: a dark, tailored jacket over a crisp white shirt, paired with slim-fit jeans that perfectly accentuated his lean frame.

Slung over his shoulder was a black guitar case, worn with a casual confidence.

He walked out of the room, his attention drawn to his phone. A recent text from a certain lady had just buzzed on the screen.

Though her messages were frequent, they were far from welcome. His fingers itched to block her, but he hesitated. She was a cop, and blocking her would undoubtedly raise suspicions, especially given her increasingly probing questions.

'I really wish she'd just leave me alone. If she ever finds out who I really am, things will plicated.'

The thought of Jessica West, the detective, lingered in his mind. The possibility of her discovering his true identity sent a chill through him, though he quickly dismissed the fear.

'It wouldn't matter. I'm stronger than all of them. They don't have the firepower to take me down, and it's not like I'd just let them catch me.'

While thinking about that, the only real problem would be his family. He didn't want to become a public pariah, especially if he ended up as public enemy number one. It would affect them too much. Being the parents of a wanted criminal would be a great stigma, one he didn't want to burden them with.

His mother still called occasionally, but the more persistent one was his older sister. Every time something happened in Evergreen City, she'd be on the phone, interrogating him.

As the elevator doors opened, he stepped out and headed to the pavilion. The crisp air hinted that winter was fast approaching.

"Winter isn't far. I wonder why we keep eating breakfast outside."

Carrisa and Argint were already enjoying a sumptuous spread of what appeared to be a French breakfast.

The table was adorned with freshly baked croissants, delicate pastries, rich butter, assorted cheeses, and an array of seasonal fruits.

A pot of steaming hot tea, accompanied by elegant cups, added a touch of warmth to the brisk morning. Amena stood to the side, dutifully fulfilling her role as a maid, her expression serene.

Carrisa seemed to have heard his words as he approached the pavilion.

"The morning air is fresh, and the cold, paired with the warmth of the tea, creates a rather delightful contrast."

Argint held a fork in her hand as she delicately picked at her food.

"He's not wrong, though. It is getting cold, and the Winter Fest isn't far off now."

Alicarde scowled when he heard talk of the Winter Fest.

"Ahh, I can't say I'm looking forward to it this season."

Amena tilted her head curiously.

"Why not? Isn't the Winter Fest a grand celebration in this world, with decorated trees, gifts, and even Santa Claus?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"I have no reason to be. I have a feeling this season is going to be a complete shit show."

Argint rolled her eyes, smiling mockingly.

"You're such a downer."

"Yeah, whatever. I see Elly isn't here yet. I suppose she can fly herself to our classes."

As if on cue, a misty cloud appeared, and from it emerged a stunning young woman with silver hair and piercing grey eyes.

She was clad in a seductive red dress that clung to her figure, accentuating her curves, while long, ornate earrings dangled from her ears, adding to her captivating aura. She exuded an air of elegance and seduction that was impossible to ignore.

"Good morning, everyone. It's a pleasure to see that I've made it on time for breakfast."

"Speak of the devil," Alicarde muttered.

Argint glared at the vampire.

"The devil would be better company."

Sensing the brewing tension, Carrisa interjected, her voice calm but authoritative.

"Now, ladies, it's far too early to be at each other's throats."

Elizalina shot Argint a cold glance, which was promptly returned with equal intensity. Alicarde could already see where this was going, the two about to engage in yet another verbal battle.

"Can you two just eat already? Elly, I'm not going to wait for you if I finish eating first."

Surprisingly, breakfast passed without further incident. With the meal over, Alicarde and Elizalina headed off to campus.

Alicarde arrived at the faculty library with Elizalina behind him, quickly spotting a dark-haired young man. Akimitsu, one of his friends, approached them, a stack of papers in his arms. Dark circles under his eyes revealed the exhaustion from the grueling punishment of transcribing Malefica's lectures, a task that had worn him thin.

"Boss," Akimitsu greeted, stopping in front of Alicarde before turning his gaze to Elizalina.

"And the boss's girlfriend."

Elizalina's eyes narrowed slightly as she whispered to Alicarde, her voice laced with disdain.

"Does this insolent human not realize I possess a name?"

Alicarde responded with a gentle smile.

"That 'insolent human' is my friend, Elly, so try to be nice."

Elizalina inclined her head gracefully.

"Very well," she conceded.

Akimitsu, now slightly flustered, by the sight of Elizalina, tried to recover while stealing glances at her cleavage.

"You… you look as suave as always, boss, and with a nice flower in hand too."

Elizalina's cold smile, however, was an ominous sign. Sensing her patience wearing thin, Alicarde grabbed her hand, playing the part of a sweet boyfriend.

"Babe, don't you have somewhere you need to be?"

Elizalina raised an eyebrow, not used to his unfamiliar way of addressing her. With Alicarde, she would normally expect something more sarcastic. But since he wanted to play, she would indulge him.

"I shall see you later, my darling. We can become more intimate when prying eyes are no longer upon us."

The room fell into an almost tangible silence as every head turned toward Alicarde, eyes wide with shock and jealousy. The library had been quiet to begin with, but now he found himself surrounded by hateful stares, even from his own friends.

"That lucky bastard."

"If he dropped dead today, I'd dance on his grave."

"He always gets the hottest girls on campus."

"I hate him so much right now."

"Don't worry, bro. He'll die soon."

"I hope he becomes broke."

"I wish he'd reincarnate as a helpless village girl in the world of goblin slayer."

"I pray he spawns in the goblin cave from the get-go."

Alicarde clenched his jaw, struggling to maintain his composure.

'These bastards. She's talking about drinking my blood, goddammit.'

The misinterpretations buzzing around him were both amusing and mortifying, and he couldn't help but wonder how much worse it could get before the day was over.

'Women are so much trouble.'

"And shut it, Akimitsu. I can hear your hateful whispers."