The air was thick with dust, the scent of burning wood and debris lingering after the explosion. The ceiling had partially collapsed, sending students screaming and scattering. Evelyn had barely processed what had happened when she felt herself being pulled away—firm but controlled.
Lucien.
His grip was steady, his eyes scanning the destruction with razor-sharp focus.
Evelyn coughed, still in shock. "Lucien… what just—"
But Lucien wasn't listening. His gaze had already shifted toward one person.
Caius.
The taller boy adjusted his cufflinks lazily, barely seeming fazed by the chaos around him. His sharp amber eyes flickered toward Lucien with a smirk. "Well, that was a bit much, don't you think?"
Lucien's expression darkened. "Tell me you had nothing to do with this."
Caius raised his hands in mock innocence. "Now, now. I may enjoy stirring things up, but this?" He gestured at the ruined hall. "This is someone else's mess."
Lucien wasn't convinced. But before he could press further, a deep, distorted voice crackled through the speaker system.
"Still the same as always, aren't you, Vermilion Oath's finest?"
Lucien's entire body tensed. That voice…
It had been years since he last heard it.
"I see you're still pretending to be normal, Falkner."
Caius let out a low whistle. "Damn. Someone's got a grudge."
Lucien ignored him. His mind was already working—whoever was behind this knew him. This wasn't a coincidence.
Red Fang.
Lucien turned sharply toward Evelyn. "We need to leave. Now."
Evelyn, still shaken, nodded. But before they could move—
A dozen figures emerged from the shadows, blocking their exit. Their movements were precise, tactical. They weren't ordinary thugs.
They were hunters.
Lucien's eyes narrowed. These men weren't here for the students. They were here for him.
Caius sighed dramatically. "You know, I was actually enjoying tonight." He rolled his shoulders, then glanced at Lucien. "What's the plan, oh great Falkner?"
Lucien didn't even hesitate. He tossed something toward Caius.
Caius caught it midair. A butter knife.
For a second, silence. Then, Caius let out a laugh. "You've got to be kidding me."
Lucien's gaze didn't waver. "You in or not?"
Caius twirled the butter knife between his fingers, grinning. "Oh, I'm so in."
The two of them stood side by side—two prodigies trained under rival mentors. One raised by Vermilion Oath. The other by its greatest enemy.
Yet tonight, they fought together.
A Red Fang operative lunged forward.
Lucien moved first—his fist connecting with the attacker's jaw before twisting his body into a sharp counterstrike. The man barely had time to react before being knocked unconscious.
Caius, meanwhile, had somehow turned the butter knife into a deadly weapon, dodging attacks with precise footwork, his movements almost playful.
Evelyn watched in awe.
They were monsters.
But they were monsters fighting for her.
One by one, the hunters fell, but more kept coming.
Lucien's breathing was steady, but he knew they couldn't keep this up forever. They needed an escape.
"Caius," Lucien muttered.
Caius, mid-swing, raised a brow. "Yeah?"
"Cover me."
Caius smirked. "Always."
Lucien surged forward, breaking past the remaining enemies. His target? The fire alarm.
He smashed his elbow into it.
Instantly, sirens blared. Water rained from the sprinklers, dousing the chaos in artificial rain.
The sound of approaching footsteps filled the hall. Security was coming.
Red Fang had no choice. They retreated.
Lucien exhaled, his fists still clenched. He turned toward Evelyn. "Let's go."
She nodded.
Caius dusted himself off. "So… that was fun."
Lucien shot him a look. "You were enjoying that way too much."
Caius shrugged. "Hey, you started it."
Lucien ignored him.
With Evelyn by his side, he walked toward the exit.
Caius watched them for a moment before grinning. "You really are serious about her, huh?"
Lucien didn't answer.
Caius chuckled. "Relax. I was just testing you."
Lucien stopped. "What?"
Caius grinned. "All that flirting? The teasing? I wanted to see if you'd actually do something about it." He smirked. "Guess I got my answer."
Lucien stared at him. Then, without a word, he turned away.
Caius laughed. "See you around, lover boy."
And with that, he disappeared into the night.
Lucien and Evelyn were alone now.
Lucien walked beside her in silence. The weight of everything still lingered in the air.
Finally, he spoke. "I'll take you home."
Evelyn hesitated, then nodded. "…Okay."
And so, they walked.
Through the empty streets, through the quiet night.
Lucien, for once, had no idea what to say.
Because there was still one question left unanswered.
Evelyn's answer to his confession.
But for now, that could wait.
Right now, all that mattered was keeping her safe.
And so, he walked her home—silent, but unwavering.
The night air was cool, but the tension between them was undeniable. Evelyn walked slightly ahead, her mind still replaying everything that had happened—Lucien's confession, the fight, the unexpected alliance with Caius.
Lucien, as usual, was silent. But there was something different about him tonight. He wasn't just his usual unreadable self—there was a quiet weight to his presence.
As they approached Evelyn's house, the warm glow of the front porch light illuminated a familiar figure standing outside—Richard Mercer.
His sharp blue eyes locked onto them the moment they stepped through the gate. His arms were crossed, his usual composed demeanor slightly cracked with visible concern.
"Evelyn." His voice was calm, but firm. "Are you alright?"
Evelyn nodded. "I'm fine, Dad."
Richard's gaze shifted to Lucien, scanning him carefully. Lucien, as always, remained unreadable, his expression neutral.
"I heard about the chaos at school," Richard said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And I assume you were involved."
Lucien didn't deny it. "Yes."
Richard's stare was piercing. "And?"
Lucien met his gaze steadily. "I protected her."
A heavy silence followed.
Evelyn glanced between them, her heartbeat quickening. Her father had always been perceptive—but he had no idea what really happened tonight.
Then, for the first time since they arrived, Lucien spoke with a shift in his tone.
"There's something I need to tell you."
Richard raised a brow.
Lucien inhaled slightly, then exhaled. "At the school event earlier… I confessed my feelings to Evelyn."
Evelyn's breath caught.
Richard's expression didn't change immediately. He simply observed Lucien, processing the words.
"I see," Richard finally said, his voice unreadable. His gaze flickered to Evelyn for a moment before returning to Lucien. "And what do you expect from me?"
Lucien didn't hesitate. "Nothing."
Richard's brow lifted slightly.
"I just thought you should know," Lucien continued. "Because I'm not someone who plays around with words. I meant what I said."
Evelyn swallowed. The way he said it—calm, unwavering—made her chest tighten.
Richard studied him for a long moment. Then, surprisingly, he sighed.
"…You always were straightforward."
Evelyn blinked. She had expected her father to be more skeptical, maybe even give Lucien a warning.
But instead, Richard simply turned to Evelyn.
"And?" he asked. "What's your answer?"
Evelyn stiffened.
Lucien remained silent, his gaze still steady, but there was something almost unreadable in his eyes—something patient, but expectant.
She had known this moment was coming.
But now that it was here—she wasn't sure she was ready.
She hesitated.
"…I…"
Richard exhaled. "You don't have to rush your answer. But if you're going to make him wait, at least invite him inside."
Evelyn swallowed. Then, finally, she turned to Lucien.
"…Come in."
Lucien didn't move for a second.
Then, he nodded.
And followed her in.
TO BE CONTINUED.....
End of Chapter 45.