Evelyn drifted to my side, her presence graceful as always. She nudged me lightly with her elbow, a teasing smile dancing on her lips. "That's quite the change, Cassius… especially for you."
I turned to meet her gaze, flashing her a confident grin. "People evolve, Evelyn. I suppose I just decided to stop being the background character in my own life."
She let out a soft laugh, lifting her hand to partially hide her face—an oddly elegant gesture, almost flirtatious. "Well, it suits you. This version of you—confident, assertive—it's a good look."
Then her tone shifted. Her gaze sharpened, laced with curiosity. "Even the way you carry yourself changed. You don't shy away anymore. You used to avoid eye contact like it burned."
I raised a brow and tilted my head slightly, smirking. "You've been watching me pretty closely, huh? Am I your secret crush or something?"
Evelyn's eyes widened in brief surprise before narrowing with a sly grin. She stepped in closer and laid a hand lightly on my shoulder, her fingers cool and steady. "What if you are?" she asked, her voice lowering just a notch. "What would you do then?"
Without missing a beat, I placed my hand over hers. My other hand silently found it's place near her waist, closing the distance between us. I leaned in, my breath grazing her ear. "That depends… What do you want me to do?"
She tensed for the briefest second, a subtle shiver running through her frame. And then, just as quickly, she stepped back—composure regained, but not before a faint blush had bloomed across her cheeks.
"Careful," she murmured with a slight smirk, "you're getting good at this."
Before I could press further, a loud gasp broke the moment.
"Wowww," Lilith drawled, practically sliding into the scene like a cat catching her prey mid-pounce. "You two sure are getting freaky, huh? Right here in front of everyone? Scandalous."
Art was right behind her, mimicking the same over-the-top gasp. "I didn't know you became such a playboy, Mister Cassius. You been hiding your talents?"
Lilith shot him a look and then jabbed her thumb toward the far side of the room. "Don't forget, you've got a fiancée, buddy. And she's literally right there."
I turned slightly—my gaze drawn to where Amelia stood beside Zyon. Her hands were delicately clasped in front of her, fingers interlaced in that familiar manner she used to steady herself when uneasy.
She'd been watching.
And now, slowly, she stepped forward. Her movements were soft, calculated. Her crimson eyes locked onto mine, filled with something unreadable.
"Did you forget about me during all this time?" she asked, her voice just above a whisper. There was no accusation in her tone… only quiet hurt.
I scratched the back of my head, awkward but honest. "I forgot our engagement, that's for sure. I don't even remember when or why it happened."
Amelia laughed—but the sound was dry, brittle around the edges. "Of course you did. It was forced, after all. You never had a say in it."
'Ohh, another hidden lore.'
The Amelia I remembered from the game had always been bright—charming, full of energy, sometimes to the point of being reckless. But the girl standing in front of me now? She wore sorrow like a second skin.
A ghost of a smile tugged at my lips, faint but genuine. I leaned in slightly, voice low. "Seems I'm not the only one who's changed."
She glanced up, surprised. I stepped just a bit closer and added, softer, "You seem… sad. Like something inside you cracked."
Her breath hitched. Just barely. Her expression trembled, then steadied behind a smile that looked practiced.
"You notice too much," she whispered.
Before I could respond, a sharp voice broke the moment.
"Cassius."
I turned around.
And there he stood—tall, dark-haired, and composed as ever.
Zyon Gilance.
His gaze pierced through me like a sharpened spear. Not with hostility, but something more complex. Curiosity. Suspicion. Calculation.
"You haven't just changed," he said, his tone as direct as always. "You seem like a different person entirely."
If only you knew how true that was…
I offered him a lopsided grin. "Is that a compliment, Zyon?"
He smirked faintly, a rare thing. "It is. You've grown. So yes… a compliment."
I gave a mock bow. "Then thank you, Your Majesty."
He narrowed his eyes, amused. "You've got a sharp tongue now, too. That's new."
I raised an eyebrow. "And you've got more words. I think that's the biggest change of all."
Zyon blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then, to my astonishment, he chuckled. "Touché."
And then, of course, the chaos had to return.
Art practically lunged into the frame, throwing his hands up like a betrayed clown. "Cassius!! Are you trying to steal my spotlight as the resident funny guy?"
I turned to him, deadpan. "Wait… who told you that you were funny?"
I placed a hand dramatically over my heart, wiping away invisible tears. "This… this is worse than I thought."
Then, shifting my hand to his shoulder, I gave him a pitying nod. "Don't worry. Even if your brain finally melts from all that delusion, we'll still be your friends."
Lilith burst out laughing. Evelyn covered her mouth, trying and failing to hide her amusement. Even Zyon's lips twitched, ever so slightly.
Art dramatically staggered backward like he'd been pierced by an arrow of betrayal, clutching his chest with exaggerated agony. "This is it… my final arc… I die not from battle, but from emotional trauma!"
Lilith rolled her eyes and kicked his shin, none too gently. "You'll be fine, drama queen. Walk it off."
Art dropped to his knees with a loud thud, clasping her ankle in faux desperation. "Tell my story, Lilith…"
"Yeah, yeah," she sighed, prying him off with a practiced motion. "You were a clown till the end. Got it."
The room rippled with laughter. Even Amelia's expression softened—her smile faint but real this time.
I caught it.
That fleeting moment where she looked like herself again.
But just as quickly, it passed. She turned away slightly, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her shoulders subtly tense.
"Amelia," I said quietly, stepping beside her.
She looked at me, her expression unreadable.
"Do you want to talk?" I asked. "Properly, I mean."
'I need to know the juicy lore girl.'
Her lips parted, a pause lingering on the edge of her tongue.
Then—
"Later," she whispered. "When it's just us."
I nodded once. "I'll wait."
Before anything more could be said, Zyon moved past us, arms crossed as he walked toward the center of the room. He didn't speak right away. He didn't have to—his presence naturally drew attention.
"We've all changed," he finally said, his voice calm and firm. "But we're together now. And another chapter of our life is opening, with all of us together."
After a dramatic pause which wasn't intentional from his side. "I hope we can all be friends again like the good old time."
A silence followed. Not uncomfortable, but thoughtful.
Freya was the first to speak. "That's surprisingly poetic for you."
Zyon smirked faintly. "Don't get used to it."
Celeste folded her arms, eyeing him with narrowed eyes. "Still. He's right."
"I hate agreeing with the pretty boy," Art muttered under his breath, before raising his hand. "But I agree."
Then he added next. "The academy is going to be real fun with all of us childhood friends together."
Everyone present here nodded, in sync.
But another question lingered in my mind. 'Was Leon not a part of this childhood group? Was my hypothesis wrong?'
It could be, it was merely a guess at best. 'I guess, I need to wait until Leon get's closer to them to influence him.'
I guess the plan was going to take longer than expected.