Nebula spent her first day in Merasca wandering the cobblestone streets alone, with her maid trailing dutifully three steps behind. However, this did not last long, as students were not allowed outside without special permission.

  She had to return to the lodging at the Gilded Arrow Inn—a respectable establishment that the Academy had arranged. It had polished wooden floors and actual privacy, unlike the dormitories back at Waybound. The management reserved entire floors for student groups, segregating them by year and gender, as if they were still children needing supervision.

  She found it amusing how quickly students formed their usual cliques, though.

  Even here, thousands of miles from the Academy, the social hierarchies reasserted themselves within hours. The nobles clustered together in the common room while scholarship students found corners to whisper in.

  She belonged to neither group, preferring the solitude of her room, where she could practice the circulation techniques Iskandaar had taught her and train the vampire spells her mother had taught her.

  Night fell quickly in Merasca, the city's lanterns casting long shadows across narrow streets. Nebula had just finished her evening meditation and was hungry for dinner when a knock interrupted her concentration.

  “I’ll see to it,” her maid said as she moved toward the door. She opened the door and began to chat. Nebula tried to eavesdrop, but there was no need since she turned to face her a moment later. "Lady Nebula?" her maid called from the door. "Some students are here to see you."

  Nebula frowned. "Students? What students?"

  Walking over revealed three girls from her year—Elise, Tanya, and Meridia—wearing expectant smiles that immediately set Nebula on edge. She didn't recall speaking more than ten words to any of them during the entire semester.

  "Nebula!" Elise chirped, her voice sickeningly sweet. "We're heading to that famous Merasca coffee house everyone's talking about. They say they serve high-grade monster fluid drinks. Great for our bodies, both strength and beauty-wise. A Mage will benefit from it greatly." She winked knowingly. "We thought you might want to join us?”

  Nebula's eyebrow arched skeptically. Since when did these girls care about her interests? She hadn't exactly gone out of her way to befriend anyone at the Academy. Most students avoided her, intimidated by her cold demeanor or the fact that the Prince didn’t have a good impression of her and her fiance.

  The few who approached usually wanted something. Nebula had a feeling this was no different. "I appreciate the invitation," Nebula replied coolly, "but I'm rather tired from the journey."

  The girls exchanged looks. Tanya stepped forward, her honey-blonde curls bouncing with each movement. "Oh, but you can't say no! Prince Orion specifically asked for you to come!"

  Nebula's expression hardened instantly. Of course. Prince Orion… This wasn't a friendly invitation—it was a summons. She should have known.

  "I must decline," she said, her voice dropping several degrees. "Please convey my regrets to His Highness."

  Meridia's pleasant facade cracked slightly. "You might want to reconsider. The prince doesn't take rejection well, and he's particularly interested in speaking with you tonight."

  "And what exactly will he do? Report me to the Academy for declining a coffee date?" Nebula scoffed. “Didn’t I remind him last week that I have a fiance? As the future Emperor, shouldn’t he respect his noble subject’s engagements?

  “....” Elise leaned closer, her smile tight. "Your fiancé isn't here to protect you, Carlstein. Refusing the Crown Prince could have... consequences. For your family's standing with the Empire."

  Her maid’s eyes flashed red behind her.

  Nebula felt a surge of irritation, but she gestured for the woman to stay calm. I wish I could let her deal with these girls, ugh… That idiotic prince sure doesn't know when to give up. It's funny he's only trying these when he knows Iskandaar isn't around.

  She sighed heavily, recognizing the futility of refusal. Political games were inevitable for noble families, and sometimes the smartest move was to participate long enough to end them. "Fine," she relented, not bothering to change out of her simple black dress. "Lead the way."

  The girls brightened immediately, chattering among themselves as they escorted her down the inn's staircase and into the cobbled streets of Merasca's merchant district. Lanterns illuminated storefronts and taverns, which were still bustling with activity despite the late hour.

  Nebula tuned out their incessant babbling about the prince's latest achievements, the "dreamy" way he'd looked during sword practice, and speculation about which nobles would receive royal favor at the Summer Festival.

  Such trivial concerns seemed especially meaningless given what she knew about the world's dangers—demons, cultists, ancient artifacts capable of destroying cities. Could she really bother to fancy over a man while knowing all that? Well, certainly not if the man was Prince Orion.

  They turned down a narrower street where the buildings leaned toward each other like gossiping old women. Shadows pooled in the spaces between lanterns, and the group passed a particularly dark alleyway that reeked of stale alcohol and something faintly metallic.

  “You know what he did then?!”

  “Yes! He—”

  Nebula couldn’t hear the next word. A hand shot out from the darkness, wrapping around Nebula's wrist and yanking her sideways before she could register what was happening. Another palm clamped firmly over her mouth, stifling her instinctive cry as a solid body pressed against her back, pulling her deeper into the alley's shadows.

  Panic surged through her as her vampiric instincts kicked in. Her eyes adjusted instantly to the darkness, blue going red, her muscles tensing to strike, fangs lengthening behind her lips. She twisted in her captor's grip, ready to tear into whoever dared touch her—only to freeze at the sight of a golden mask gleaming in the faint moonlight.

  The figure wore dark robes that blended perfectly with the shadows. For a terrifying moment, she thought she'd been targeted by some sort of cultist. Her hand was already glowing with blood magic when the figure reached up and lifted the bottom half of the mask just enough to reveal familiar lips and a strong jaw.

  A finger pressed against those lips. "Shhh."

  Shock rendered her momentarily still. Iska?

  Well, it sure was some cultist, she supposed.

  Her palm, which had already ignited with a pulse of crimson energy, ready to tear through her assailant, calmed down as she relaxed a little.

  Relief, fury, and desire crashed through her in rapid succession. His grip eased as she noticed the recognition in her eyes. Without another thought, Nebula grabbed him by the collar of his ridiculous costume and crushed her lips against his, the heat of reunion overwhelming her senses.

  Her teeth caught his lower lip deliberately, breaking the skin. The taste of his blood—so intoxicatingly familiar—filled her mouth, and she heard him make a muffled sound of surprise and pleasure.

  When she finally pulled back, his blood staining her lips, she fixed him with an icy red stare that belied the fire coursing through her veins.

  "Next time you decide to disappear and play dress-up," Nebula whispered against his mouth, "remember that I bite harder when I'm kept waiting. Especially when you taste of other girls."

  Iskandaar chuckled, thumb tracing where her lips had bitten. Gods, he looked tasty right there. “Jealous already? I was going to say hello first.”

  ****

  I pulled my golden mask back down and led her deeper into the shadows, away from where her "friends" would eventually notice her absence. Using a nearby drainpipe, I scaled the building with practiced ease, then reached down to help Nebula up.

  Nebula scoffed at my offered hand, saying how she wasn’t some helpless damsel, but I ignored it. With fluid grace that reminded me of her vampiric heritage, she leapt and climbed up beside me.

  The rooftop provided perfect seclusion—a flat section surrounded by higher peaks of tile and chimney stacks that blocked us from casual observation. Moonlight bathed the space in silver, catching Nebula's dark hair and making her pale skin almost luminous.

  I removed my mask completely and set it aside. "I'm sorry for the dramatic entrance, but I couldn't exactly walk up to you in the inn."

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  "Why not? And what's with this ridiculous costume?" she demanded, gesturing at my dark robes.

  So I explained everything—the cult persona, our hideout in the abandoned mansion, my plans for Nevaramis, and most importantly, why I couldn't be recognized. I wasn’t here as Iskandaar Romani but as Cheonma.

  "You're planning to kill Victor?" she whispered, eyes widening slightly. "Right under the noses of all those professors? I… I don’t think that’s a good idea." The atmosphere darkened a little.

  "If the opportunity presents itself, it is," I said. "He's becoming too dangerous to ignore, and the Academy setting gives him too much protection. But on Nevaramis? With no witnesses? Perfect."

  Nebula processed this silently, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "And the disguise? You're calling yourself... Cheonma for real?"

  "It means 'Heavenly Demon' back on Murim," I explained, rubbing the back of my head. "If I'm going to start building my reputation in this world, I might as well do it properly."

  She snorted, but I could see her trying not to smile. "You're absolutely mad."

  "Says the vampire who loves drinking demon blood," I countered with a grin.

  We settled into a comfortable silence, sitting side by side on the edge of the roof. The city of Merasca stretched below us, an artwork of glowing windows and lamplit streets. In the distance, I could make out the skyport where airships docked, their lanterns like fireflies against the night sky.

  "So," I said eventually, "Prince Orion, huh?"

  Nebula's shoulders tensed slightly. "What about him?"

  "There's a high chance that Victor was in that coffee house too, and it was all just a trap. I'm glad my timing was so nice." I leaned back on my hands, gazing at the stars. "Hah, my [Class] should have been Knight in Shining White or something."

  "More like dark black," she replied dryly, her eyes traveling across my body. Since I'd taken off only my mask, no other flesh showed beyond my face, yet her gaze paused at my neck for a brief moment.

  I caught her lingering stare and laughed. "You've been eyeing my neck for a while now," I said, amused by her hunger. "You just have to ask, you know?"

  Nebula crossed her arms defensively. "...No? You are supposed to offer it, being a considerate fiancé and all."

  “Um…”

  Her tone shifted to accusatory. "Don't you feel a tad bit bad about leaving me alone for two whole months? I was suffering, while you were fooling around with girls. I heard from the chancellor that you'd gone to the Princess of Goryeo's place as a guest and canceled her engagement?"

  I laughed, recalling Ha-Yun's grateful face when I'd helped her claim her rightful position. "Ah, no, it's not like that between us. She's a friend, I just helped her out."

  "Sounds to me you were having fun, while I was ignoring the prince." Her lips curved into a sly smile. "Maybe I should have taken his offer for a dance at that local noble's party last month. He looked fine in that—"

  I moved before she could finish, pulling her close by the waist. Our noses brushed as I leaned in, feeling her cool breath against my lips. "It's not wise to make me jealous, madam. I might just kill him out of spite."

  She giggled, her usually cold expression softening. "You're the only man who'd dare to joke about killing the future Emperor just to impress his fiancée," she said.

  "Oh, I am not joking."

  "Oh, I am incredibly sorry then to Prince Orion for he has to pass away for my mistake," she teased. "How terrible."

  "How terrible, indeed." I played along, enjoying the warmth of her body against mine.

  Her eyes flickered to my neck again, more insistent this time. "...Can I have your blood?"

  She just had to ask. "Yes," I said without hesitation, moving my collar to expose my neck to her.

  Nebula didn't waste any time. She leaned forward, her lips brushing against my skin first—a deceptively gentle prelude before her fangs sank into my flesh. I inhaled sharply at the initial sting, but that quickly transformed into something else entirely.

  The sensation of her feeding was intoxicating—warm waves of pleasure rippling outward from where her mouth worked against my neck. Her body pressed flush against mine, and I let my hands wander, tracing the elegant curve of her spine down to her slim waist.

  She made a soft sound against my neck as my palms slid lower, cupping and squeezing the firm roundness of her ass. I felt her wiggle in response, her body arching into mine. The combination of her feeding and our bodies pressed together sent heat coursing through me, pooling low in my abdomen.

  My fingers dug into the fabric of her dress, pulling her impossibly closer as she continued to drink. Each pull of her lips sent a fresh wave of desire through me. I knew she could sense it too—her own breathing growing heavier, small moans vibrating against my skin as she fed.

  When she finally pulled back, her lips were stained crimson, eyes glowing with satisfaction and something more primal.

  She smiled, running her tongue slowly across her bottom lip to catch a stray drop. "You have no idea how I missed this," she whispered, leaning in to say more, when a throat cleared loudly behind us.

  A mature woman wearing a maid outfit was standing right beside us on the roof. "I hate to interrupt but-"

  "What the FUCK?!" I shouted, whirling around to find the craziest woman I knew. Recognition hit me like a bucket of ice water. "What are you doing here, Mun— ah, mother-in-law?!"

  She smiled placidly. "I am Mirella."

  "Like hell you are?? Just because both your hair is white doesn't mean I won't recognize you!" I snapped, my heart still racing from the shock. “Why’re you pretending to be Mirella?!”

  She shrugged, completely unbothered. "Well, your professors didn't catch it, so it was worth a try. I came because I didn't want to miss out on Nevaramis."

  Nebula’s face flushed deeply, her elegant composure slipping away. "Mother," she groaned in embarrassment. She sighed heavily on top of me, covering her face with her hands in embarrassment. "Please..."

  Munera—or "Mirella" as she was pretending to be—smoothed her maid's skirt with practiced precision. "The Obsidian Clan has interests in Nevaramis as well. Ancient artifacts, forgotten knowledge... things that could benefit us greatly."

  "And you just happened to show up right now?" I asked suspiciously.

  "I've been keeping an eye on my daughter, of course, in case that Victor child tried something. Weren’t you worried about him, too?" she replied, as if that explained everything. "Though I must say, your methods of... extraction... were rather efficient."

  Nebula made a strangled sound beside me. "Can we please change the subject?"

  “Awh, love birds. It must feel so great to be young,” Munera giggled before her expression shifted to a bit more serious. "I actually interrupted for a reason. The professors are searching for missing students, including you, Nebula. Not the prince and his little entourage, of course—they had permission. But you need to return before suspicions rise."

  I guess that makes sense. We’ve been here for hours. I looked at Nebula, disappointment settling in my chest. Our reunion had been far too brief. "I'll walk you back," I offered, already reaching for my mask.

  "No need to risk exposure," Munera said. "I'll ensure she arrives safely."

  Nebula turned to me, hesitating. "When will I see you again?"

  "On Nevaramis," I promised. "The island is supposed to appear within days. Try to get assigned to a smaller group—it'll be easier for us to find each other that way."

  She nodded, then leaned in for one last kiss, her tongue flicking teasingly against my lips. "Don't make me wait so long next time," she murmured.

  "I won't," I promised, squeezing her hand before letting go.

  Her mother stared at us amusingly, but we just ignored her.

  Weird woman. Despite her assurances, I couldn't help but follow them at a distance, keeping to the shadows as they made their way back to the inn. I watched until they were safely inside, noting the professors standing at the entrance, before finally turning away.

  I really missed her. Incredibly so.

  Hopefully, I get to group up with her like how I just promised to, I thought, almost about to disappear into the night. Just then,

  – Shingggg…

  A strange sensation spread through my body. It started as a gentle hum in the air and traveled beneath my feet, vibrating up through my boots. I paused mid-step, and every sense suddenly alerted.

  The night air, normally filled with the sounds of a busy port city, fell into an odd, ringing silence. The city cats stopped their prowling, birds ceased their calls, and even the constant Merasca wind stilled entirely.

  It was as if the world itself had taken a breath and held it.

  I wasn't the only one who noticed. Doors creaked open all around as students and locals stepped out of inns and taverns, their faces turned upward in confusion and wonder. The streets were filled with people, their gazes locked on the night sky above.

  "Feel that?" I heard someone ask, the person twitching nervously from a nearby group of adventurers.

  "Yeah," his friend murmured, feathers bristling along his avian arms. "It feels like the world's humming."

  I nodded in agreement as I stared upward, transfixed. The sky above Merasca began to change, the dark blue canvas gradually shifting into strange, swirling mixtures of violet and gold. It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

  Then I saw it—a distortion high above the city. The sky twisted as if reality itself was warping, rippling visibly like the surface of a pond disturbed by a falling stone. My breath caught as I watched the phenomenon unfold.

  Without any dramatic noise or sudden crash, the ripples in the sky parted like curtains, revealing something that had been the stuff of legends until now.

  The Ghost City of Nevaramis.

  The floating island materialized through the tear in reality, vast beyond anything I'd imagined, suspended by forces I couldn't comprehend. Clouds wrapped around its edges like a scarf, while streams of golden energy wove intricate patterns through the sky around it. The island seemed to pulse with ancient magic that made the air thick with potential.

  After appearing, it gently drifted closer, halting high above Merasca. From its underside, massive ornate stone platforms detached and began their slow descent toward the city. Each circular platform looked easily large enough to hold dozens of people.

  Nevaramis hovered impossibly above us, immense and dream-like. Towers of ivory stone rose high into drifting clouds, cascading waterfalls flowed off the island's edges, dissolving into shimmering mist before touching the earth. It was as if an entire lost civilization had returned from oblivion to visit briefly before it’d later vanish again.

  I stood frozen, more in awe than I cared to admit. My heart thundered in my chest. All the preparations, planning, the disguises—everything felt trivial in the face of something so ancient and powerful.

  My eyes dropped from the spectacle to scan the crowd below. Nebula, standing outside the inn with Professor Katheran and the others, was tilted upward in naked wonder. Her crimson eyes reflected the golden sky.

  As if sensing my gaze, she turned her head. Our eyes locked across the distance, and a current of understanding passed between us. She gave me a slight nod, which I returned.

  As the moment passed, I focused and melted into the shadows. I melted into the shadows immediately. Nevaramis had come earlier than anticipated, leaving no room for error. Solara and Lilian needed to be beside me—right now.

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