Bam!
Esdeath came from behind and kicked Maruti lightly. "Stop your antics...!" she said.
Maruti only chuckled, scratching her head, and stepped aside.
As soon as Charlotte saw Esdeath, a wide smile spread across her face as she opened her arms and hugged Esdeath tightly.
"Owww... my precious daughter, I missed you so much!, Do you know how worried I was from the moment I heard the news, I was dying to come here" she said happily, hugging her even tighter and showering Esdeath's face with countless kisses.
Even Maruti narrowed her eyes as she watched the flood of kisses. "She really got one hell of a parent..." she mumbled.
Meanwhile, Esdeath kept a blank face but was regretting deeply inside. "I forgot just how clingy my parents are..." she thought helplessly.
After a while, Charlotte finally withdrew with a satisfied look. "You've grown taller... you're even looking more mature... Woah, you even started wearing your uniform properly!" she said, speaking nonstop. "And you made a friend too, I'm so happy!"
"Yes... yes... Now let's go to my dorm, you must be exhausted from the long journey," Esdeath proposed.
Charlotte nodded warmly.
But Maruti quickly interjected, "You guys go, I'm going outside of the academy to a restaurant to eat more stuff. There's a sale going on there too!" she said, already running toward the gate.
Actually, the real reason Maruti wanted to eat so much was because, during the academy chaos, she had been on the verge of death. Elara's sword had stabbed directly into her abdomen. She had regretted not being able to taste all the dishes at her favorite restaurant. But luckily she survived, and now she wanted to eat every single item.
Esdeath didn't say anything. It was better that Maruti wasn't with them.
Both Esdeath and Charlotte then made their way to the dorm room.
However, without them knowing, someone else was secretly watching over them.
----------------
From a balcony that looked over the academy garden and the academy gates, the whole scenery of students coming and going could be seen clearly. Lortell stood there quietly, her silver white hair dancing softly in the breeze, her eyes locked onto Esdeath and her mother below.
She clenched her fist close to her heart and took deep breaths. "It's alright... it's alright... there's no need to be jealous," she whispered to herself, trying to calm down. "She is her mother... of course she can kiss her... I'm not jealous... I'm not jealous at all..."
Her heart still felt tight, but after a moment, she managed to calm herself down a little. Then she thought about something else and smiled brightly. "Well, now that I think about it, for Esdeath's marriage, I have to take permission from her parents too!"
She puffed her chest proudly. "A light work! Her parents are just too easy," she said to herself with full confidence.
Her confidence wasn't baseless. For Lortell, persuading Esdeath's parents was easier than drinking water. She knew it clearly in her heart.
Just thinking about it made her start daydreaming. She imagined the day of their wedding... Esdeath in a beautiful white gown with a soft veil, a bouquet of roses in one hand while tightly hugging Lortell with the other. Lortell herself would be wearing a shining white suit, standing proudly beside her.
As the sweet dream filled her mind, a gentle smile appeared on her face, and her Crimson eyes shimmered softly. But her happy moment didn't last long.
"Ohoho... so the merciless vampire kiddo starts blushing when she falls in love!" a mischievous voice teased from nearby.
It was Verdes, walking towards the balcony with a big playful grin on his face.
"Stop teasing the mistress! Anyone can fall in love!" said Meldia, the dark nun, who was sitting lazily at a corner with her usual calm voice.
But Verdes didn't stop at all. He laughed louder, pointing at Lortell. "Just look at her! The vampire kiddo's done for! She's totally trapped in pudding girl's love spell!"
"Stop embarrassing me!" Lortell's face turned completely red from anger and embarrassment. Without even turning to look, she swung her fist straight at Verdes's face.
The punch hit perfectly, sending Verdes flying out of the balcony like a shooting star.
No one really knew where he landed.
Legends says he is still flying.
----------------
Meanwhile, at Esdeath's dorm room, Charlotte was completely baffled when she saw Selene sitting there.
But Esdeath quickly made up a story on the spot and somehow convinced her mother without much trouble. Her original plan for bringing Charlotte to her dorm was to introduce her early, so it wouldn't cause a big mess later.
As always, her mother was just too easy to deal with. One sweet and shy smile from Selene was enough to melt Charlotte's heart completely.
However, Esdeath didn't talk about her relationship with Lortell yet. She had already planned to explain everything later when the right time came.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was afternoon turning into evening. It was almost time for the ceremony. Because the academy was still under repairs, the ceremony was being held outside, in the academy garden, and it was made small and simple.
The people who were attending were only a few teachers, Vice Principal Lilith, the students, and the parents who had come to visit.
Esdeath and Charlotte started walking towards the garden together. Charlotte couldn't stop praising her daughter along the way.
"I even heard you got first place in the competition! I still can't believe you only awakened your powers just about a month ago! I always knew my daughter was a genius!" Charlotte cheered excitedly, her face full of pride.
Esdeath could only smile quietly at her mother's endless praise, feeling a little embarrassed but warm inside.
After a while, they finally reached the academy garden. Most people had already arrived, but the place didn't feel crowded. Because of everything that had happened, only a small number of students, teachers, were left and rest were parents of the students that came to visit them.
In the middle of the garden, there was a small stage where three teachers were standing. At the side, there were a few tables with cloths covering the rewards.
Soon, Lilith stepped onto the stage and took the lead. Her serious and calm voice filled the garden.
"So, we all already know the tragedy we have been through," Lilith began, her silver eyes scanning the crowd. "Students, the future of the kingdom, have died a merciless death. And the teachers were no exception. I myself survived by luck. It was a terrible disaster that will not be forgotten easily."
As she spoke, a heavy silence fell over the garden. Students lowered their heads with sad expressions. Teachers also looked down, remembering the nightmare that night.
"But still," Lilith continued, her voice growing stronger, "just like every time before, we will stand tall again. We will recover and face the future together! As long as hope remains in our hearts, no one can bring down the kingdom!"
Her words brought a flicker of light into the heavy atmosphere. The students raised their heads, their eyes burning with a new kind of determination.
"But today is not just a day of sadness," Lilith said, her tone softening a little. "Today, we honor those who stood strong in the darkness. Those who showed courage, loyalty, and heart. It is time to reward them!"
Her final words brought a small wave of cheers and claps among the students and parents, and the ceremony moved forward.
One by one, the students were called up and rewarded. Some got gold coins, others received shiny trophies or sparkling essence stones. A few lucky ones even got new weapons, especially those who had fought bravely against the monsters.
But there weren't many students left to reward, so the ceremony was moving quickly.
"Next is Ethan Rothslayer!" Lilith announced loudly.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Everyone clapped warmly. Some girls, especially Sylvania, Emma, and Violet, even cheered excitedly for him.
Ethan smiled softly and walked up to the small stage.
Lilith looked at him with a proud expression. "Ethan saved many students, especially his classmate and friend, Violet. Not only that, but with his amazing fighting skills and courage, he fought against the traitor Elara's clone and stopped him from causing more damage!" she said.
She handed Ethan a beautiful box with fine carvings all over it. It looked very special and important.
"There's a Rank B essence stone inside this box," Lilith announced, her voice ringing clear. "Not only that, but also the property papers for a mansion that will soon be given to you, along with the details of the surrounding land!"
The crowd gasped in surprise. Everyone's eyes widened at the news.
This was the biggest reward anyone had received so far.
"Details of surrounding territory?" Ethan repeated, looking a bit confused.
Lilith chuckled gently. "Of course. Because from today, you are no longer a commoner. You have been granted the title of Baron! You are now part of the aristocracy," she declared proudly.
Gasps and whispers filled the air. Ethan stood frozen for a second, but then a huge smile grew on his face. He bowed politely and accepted the box.
Lilith continued speaking, "I know you can't take care of your territory yourself right now because you're still a student, but your family members can manage it for you."
Ethan's heart filled with pride and excitement. "Mother will be so happy when she hears this!" he thought cheerfully.
But then another thought crossed his mind. "Wait, where is Mother? I thought she would come to see me today?" he wondered, scanning the crowd.
He didn't find his mother's face among the people, but instead, his gaze stopped on Esdeath.
"Esdeath..." he thought deeply.
His mind flashed back to the night when she had told him about her true form — deep blue eyes, green hair, and a kind, righteous face.
"It's exactly the same appearance as my star constellation. How could she know? Is she really my constellation? Was she already knew that I wasn't going to die and actually gain power up?"
Ethan's heart raced, but he quickly shook his head and forced himself to stop thinking about it. "No, not now. Focus on the ceremony first," he reminded himself and walked back down toward Emma and the others, who were waiting for him with big smiles.
Lilith called out from the stage, "Next is Maruti, from Class A!"
Everyone waited quietly, looking around to see where Maruti was. But even after a long pause, she didn't show up.
The whole garden was filled with silence and confused looks.
"Don't tell me... she got too busy eating and forgot to come here," Esdeath muttered with a sigh, narrowing her eyes in disappointment.
Since Maruti didn't come, the ceremony had to move forward. But Lilith still had to explain why Maruti was going to get a reward.
"Even though student Maruti isn't here," Lilith began, her voice steady, "she made a great contribution. She saved me."
Her words caused a stir in the crowd.
"She took a stab that was meant for me. She risked her life to protect me. If Maruti hadn't been there, I would have died that night," Lilith said seriously.
Gasps spread through the students and parents. Saving the great dragon queen? That was no small thing—it was an incredible feat.
"Your friend is really amazing!" Catherine whispered to Esdeath, her wide eyes blinking in shock.
Esdeath wasn't sure how to feel. Should she be happy for Maruti? Or angry that she went missing again?
Before she could think more, Lilith's voice rang out again.
"And now, the second last person... Next is Esdeath Crimson!"
As soon as Esdeath's name was called, Charlotte almost jumped out of her shoes.
"That's my daughter! YAHOOO!" she shouted loudly, waving her hands and cheering without care for how others looked at her.
Esdeath's face turned slightly red from embarrassment, but she walked calmly to the stage.
On the stage, Esdeath and Lilith faced each other. There was a clear tension between them — they didn't like each other much from their very first encounter. But no one could deny that Esdeath deserved her reward.
Lilith spoke clearly so everyone could hear, "Esdeath played a big role in killing a Rank B beast. She fought bravely beside Ethan against Elara's clone and achieved many other feats. Especially—she has the highest monster kill count among all students, only slightly ahead of Maruti."
The crowd clapped loudly, and many students looked at Esdeath with respect.
Lilith paused for a moment and then continued, "Although I couldn't prepare a physical reward today, the authorities have made a decision regarding her status."
Everyone held their breath, wondering what it would be.
"From today onward, you are no longer a baron," Lilith announced. "You have been promoted to an Earl. You are now Countess Esdeath!"
More gasps filled the air.
In the noble rankings, Baron was the lowest, then came Viscount, Earl, Marquess, and finally Duke. Earl was a male title, so for females, they were called Countess.
Esdeath had jumped two full ranks higher.
—
Down below, Charlotte swayed on her feet, holding her head with both hands. "Ohhh, it feels like a dream... Husband will be so happy to hear this!" she mumbled, feeling dizzy from excitement.
Her eyes shined with happiness, and she looked like she could faint from joy any second.
Esdeath quickly made her way down from the stage and went to her mother's side, worried she might actually collapse from being too excited.
"Mother, calm down," Esdeath said softly, holding her hand.
Charlotte just smiled like a fool, completely over the moon.
Meanwhile, Lilith returned to the stage and started talking about other matters. Since the reward ceremony was over, she didn't call up other people who had also helped greatly, like her own daughter, Kaelith.
Everyone knew if Lilith had rewarded her own daughter, people would accuse her of favoritism. Besides, Kaelith herself didn't care about rewards at all.
Now, it was finally time for the last and most important announcement.
Lilith stood at the front, looking around at the students. Her eyes were calm, but there was a little sadness hidden in them.
"So lastly," Lilith said, her voice clear, "I have two announcements to make."
The whole hall went quiet. Everyone leaned forward, listening carefully.
"First," Lilith began, "we are going to start enrollment for new students. Normally, we only accept around 800 students each year, divided into Class A, B, and C. Some even get picked for special subjects that focus on one thing."
Lilith paused for a moment, letting her words sink in. Then she continued, her voice a little stronger.
"But this time... we'll be enrolling 1500 or more students to fill the loss that we suffered."
There was a soft murmur in the crowd.
"And also," Lilith added, "the syllabus will be made easier, so the new students can catch up to you all!"
She gave a small smile, but inside, her heart felt heavy.
This was the first time in the academy's history that they were increasing the enrollment numbers. The academy had always been very strict about this matter. But after that terrible night, when 90% of the students had lost their lives... there was no other choice. The halls and classrooms now felt empty. The laughter, the noise, the life — it was all gone. They had to fill the academy back up.
Some students in the crowd lowered their heads, remembering the friends they had lost. The air became heavy with sadness.
And then, Lilith took a deep breath. It was time for the final announcement.
"And now," she said, her voice steady, "the last announcement is… I am going to resign from the position of vice principal."
For a second, no one understood what they had just heard.
Then —
"What?! The vice principal is resigning?"
"At such an important time?!"
The whole crowd exploded in noise. Students whispered, shouted, and looked at each other with worried faces. It was a shocking decision. Many couldn't believe it.
Lilith raised her hand, asking for silence.
She spoke again, her voice serious and full of sadness.
"After the life and death battle, my body and spirit have taken a heavy toll. I am no longer qualified to protect you all. I do not have the strength to stand at the top anymore."
Her words were heavy, like stones dropped into a river.
Lilith wasn't lying. She had been wounded two hundred years ago, and even though she had hidden it well all this time, her strength was slowly fading away. Now, after the last battle, she was weaker than ever. She couldn't even match her own daughter anymore.
The students listened quietly, some with wide eyes, others with tears gathering in their eyes. Lilith had been a symbol of strength for so long. Seeing her step down felt like watching a mountain fall.
"But do not worry," Lilith said, her voice a little brighter. She raised one hand high. "I have chosen someone even more capable than myself for this role!"
She smiled warmly and called out:
"Please welcome — Lortell Mariette!"
Suddenly, like magic, Lortell appeared on the stage, standing tall and proud. Her silver white hair shone under the lights, and her crimson red eyes glowed sharply.
The crowd went silent.
Nobody complained. Nobody doubted the choice. Lortell's power and commanding presence were clear. She was more than qualified.
Lortell waved lightly at the students, her face calm but serious. She didn't smile, but she didn't need to. Her aura was enough.
"Lortell will be stepping down as students and be vice principal from now on, She is also retiring from third division commander And as for the principal's position..." Lilith said with a small laugh, "we will choose someone capable very soon."
She took one last look at the crowd before giving a deep bow.
"And with this, the ceremony is over!" she announced, wearing a warm smile — but inside, her heart was filled with frustration.
"She wanted to become the principal,"Lilith thought bitterly. "But I did everything I could to push her down and only make her vice principal. Let's just hope she doesn't do anything stupid!"
Meanwhile, Esdeath was standing among the students, feeling totally shocked.
She stared at Lortell on the stage, her mind spinning.
"I never thought... she had interest in these kinds of things," Esdeath mumbled to herself, frowning. "Why would she want to become the vice principal?"
She didn't know the full story behind it, but one thing was clear—
It was the end of second arc.
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Yes! The second arc has ended, So please give an review on how was it? I had said that don't drop the book until the second arc and take decision after the second arc....So what do you think was it worth it?
We have 400K plus views but only 9 reviews, So pleasure waste your precious time...🥺 Pleaseee....
And also there's time till arc 3 stars, They have so much to do, Allocat their resources lik essence stone and other things that they gained and become stronger...and also introduction of new characters YOHOO!...
Don't forget to give an review...