The Loneliest Soul

Colen's every step was deliberate, calculated—as if each movement had been planned a thousand times in advance. His eyes never focused on anything for more than a second, darting constantly, absorbing everything.

His face was as pale as moonlight, smooth as polished marble. Not a trace of facial hair touched his skin, giving him an eerily pristine, almost artificial beauty. His hair, white and impossibly well-kept, bounced slightly as he walked—commanding attention without effort.

He looked like the villain in love with a reincarnated heroine—the kind who stood in the background, exuding a presence colder than ice.

And he encapsulated cold in every possible way.

Colen's voice was as measured as his steps. "So, Maxi, tell me—why are you here so early?"

Maxi smiled awkwardly. "Because I love the library that much."

Colen's eyebrow lifted slightly, but his expression remained otherwise unchanged.

"So, I assume your useless teacher let you go early?"

Maxi nodded. "Yeah, but you know, you really shouldn't call him trash. He put up quite a fight against Techxin."

Colen scoffed.

The air grew colder.

He moved with effortless grace, taking a seat in a way that was so immaculately noble, it looked almost divine. Then, with a tone that could freeze the blood of a demon, he said, "You actually believe he could not only touch me but defeat me? That is… quite humorous."

Maxi hesitated. "D-Did we not watch the same match? It was close, wasn't it?"

Colen shook his head, his gaze filled with disappointment. "No. Not even in the slightest. Did you not notice that Techxin never used blood magic?"

Maxi's mouth opened slightly. "Wait, he didn't?"

Colen sighed. The temperature dropped even further. Small flakes of frost began forming in the air.

"You don't even know what blood magic is, do you?"

Maxi crossed his arms. "Nope. But can you stop sighing? You're going to freeze me to death."

Colen's expression remained unreadable.

"Blood magic is granted to those blessed by the Blood God, or by wielding one of his sacred relics. Techxin is the strongest blood mage in the realms—even stronger than me."

Maxi's eyes widened. "Then why didn't he use it?"

Colen leaned back slightly.

"Because nearly all of his blood magic spells are instant-kill techniques. Let me give you an example."

His voice remained cold, but there was a faint trace of amusement.

"Once, he fought a vampire—one who was controlling Techxin's body with blood magic.

Techxin didn't resist. He didn't even move.

The vampire smirked. Thought he had won.

Then, suddenly—he dropped dead.

Because Techxin had already cast a spell at the start of the fight.

A spell that made a single blood clot form in the vampire's body.

It traveled through his bloodstream… moved silently… until it reached his brain.

The moment it did—he died. Instantly."

Maxi stared. His brain was still trying to process it.

"Oh… I see why he didn't use blood magic now."

Then, a thought struck him.

"Wait… does blood magic control blood vessels? Or just blood cells?"

For a fraction of a second—so quick Maxi almost missed it—Colen's lips curved into a smirk.

It was barely noticeable, a mix of surprise and something else.

Pride?

"Lucky for you," Colen said, returning to his usual ice-cold tone, "I already studied that phenomenon. I can say with absolute certainty—it controls both. But primarily blood cells."

Maxi's grin returned. "That's amazing! How did you figure that out?"

Colen gave him a look, as if the answer were obvious. "Ice magic, of course."

Maxi blinked. "You say that like it's common knowledge."

Colen frowned slightly. "Is it not?"

Maxi shook his head.

Colen sighed again.

The temperature plummeted.

Maxi screeched, his voice hitting a high-pitched, inhuman note. "STOP!!"

Far away, in the heart of a storm, a man sat on a throne.

His piercing blue eyes glowed beneath the shadows, his golden hair gleaming even in the dim candlelight.

Before him stood a knight—clad in silver and iron armor, the insignia of a thunder bull etched across his chest, the design spreading out like the roots of a great tree.

The knight spoke, his voice steady but strained.

"My liege. Princess Ariea still refuses to cooperate. She fights back at every turn, even when we try to be kind to her. It seems… the truth still isn't settling well with her. Even after all these years."

The man on the throne nodded slowly. Then, in a voice that rumbled like thunder itself, he said:

"She will have to accept it. Whether she likes it or not.

She must be strong.

Far worse things are coming.

But let's set that aside. Tell me—are the preparations for the Forest of Zarkia complete?"

The knight bowed. "Yes, my liege."

The man's eyes gleamed. "Good. We will perform the ritual. And we will announce my intentions to them.

They will accept it—whether lying down… or fighting back.

It will not change the outcome."

The knight bowed again.

But just beyond the doors of the throne room…

A girl stood, her nightgown brushing against the cold stone floor.

Her head was pressed against the door, listening.

Hearing everything.

Her fingers trembled. Her breath quickened.

She whispered, voice shaking. "No… no… I can't let this happen."

Then—

A bolt of lightning cracked outside.

The flash of light illuminated the corridor—

And for just a moment—

She saw his face.

The man on the throne.

His piercing blue eyes. His golden hair.

She clenched her fists.

Then, she turned and ran.