(Vael’s POV)
It’s finally time.
It’s been two months since I got to this world, and right now—the main story is about to begin.
Two long, agonizing months, hiding and training to the absolute limit. I had memorized every detail of the lore, mapped out the upcoming events in my head, and trained my abilities until I fell ill. All of it led up to this single morning.
I’m about to enter [The Star Academy].
The grand institution that served as the primary setting for the entire game story. It was the only place in this entire country where the authority of the Frostguard Elders couldn’t easily reach, a massive sanctuary protected by high-ranking heroes and strict international laws. If I could just set foot inside those gates, I would finally gain a breathing room.
"Good luck on your first day, you two."
Ahri said.
Me and Cindy are on the door, about to head at the academy—she’s going to see us off.
She was standing right by the entryway, holding the wooden door open with a gentle, supportive expression. The morning air was crisp and cool, carrying the faint scent of fresh dew from the garden outside.
"Thank you."
I said with a smile, bowing politely at her.
"Really, thank you for taking care of me until now."
Then I followed with that, my words were genuine.
There wasn’t a single grain of falsehood in what I told her. Dropped in a world with no one I know, Ahri helped me adapt comfortably in here.
She took me in without demanding anything in return, feeding me, giving me a safe roof over my head, and treating me like family when she had every reason to turn me away to protect herself.
Her kindness was so warm that in just 2 months; her and Cindy became important to me.
Ahri looked at me with a smile, the one she always have on her face—
"Take care of yourself there, good luck."
Then with a sweet voice, she told me that; patting my shoulders.
Her touch was soft and warm, brimming with genuine care. After that, she hugged me and Cindy.
She pulled both of us into a tight, protective embrace right there on the porch.
It took me by surprise, I was embarrassed—but I didn’t push away.
My arms hung awkwardly at my sides for a second before I gently leaned into the hug, feeling a sudden lump in my throat. Cindy was visibly shy as well, her face turning slightly red, but she didn’t say anything.
After all, I know that she loves her older sister very much.
"You two will do great at the academy."
Ahri whispered to us before letting go.
She stepped back, resting her hands on her hips as she looked at us with bright, hopeful eyes.
"I will do my best."
"I will too."
I replied and Cindy followed.
And after that—the two of us left to head to the academy.
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*****
The Blackthorne residence is near the academy, but Cindy and I still need to ride one rapid train to get there.
The morning sun was gradually rising over the horizon, painting the sky in soft shades of orange and gold. The quiet residential streets were just beginning to wake up, with a few early commuters walking toward the main road. We kept a steady pace, taking the side paths to avoid unnecessary attention.
"Stay close to me, but not too close either."
Cindy said.
She glanced over her shoulder at me, her eyes scanning the surrounding alleyways with sharp vigilance. She had her hand resting casually near her side, ready to draw her weapon at a second’s notice.
The elders of the Frostguard Family that are after me know that I plan to seek protection inside [The Star Academy].
They were not stupid. They knew Vael’s personality, and they knew that an elite academy with strict security forces was the only logical place to go to survive. So by now, they’re probably loitering around the academy; searching for me.
They would have scouts stationed at every transit hub, every major intersection, and every entrance leading to the campus grounds, waiting for me to show my face.
They already suspected the Blackthorne sisters; Ahri and Cindy of hiding me. Fortunately—they came before the original Vael asked them for help out of desperation.
But the point is, the Blackthorne sisters are already suspected.
There’s a high chance they will keep an eye on Cindy who is also going to attend [The Star Academy].
"I have a map on my phone—I can go alone."
Knowing this, I suggested splitting up with her.
I pulled out my smartphone, tapping the screen to show her the navigation map I had downloaded and memorized over the past week.
"Sis told us to stay together, don’t be ridiculous."
Cindy replied to me with a smile on her face.
It was an easygoing smile, but there was an unmistakable stubbornness behind her eyes.
We became really close these past two months, we talked and sparred a lot, and she already opened up to me.
She wasn’t the distant girl on my first day anymore. We had bled together in those daily backyard spars, shared theories on magic, and eaten meals at the same table. She considered me a comrade now.
That’s why—
"I don’t want you to get caught up with my own problems. I promise you, we’ll meet at the academy."
I followed with that.
I stopped walking on the sidewalk, turning my head to address her directly.
"..."
Cindy stopped walking and looked at me, it looks like she really had no intention to leave me alone.
Her brow furrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line as she crossed her arms over her chest. I could read her mind as clearly as an open book. I can try and run, but she’s way faster than me, and doing that will just make her worry, that will make me feel bad.
If I tried to dash off into an alley right now, she would simply use her blink skill to instantly cut me off and drag me back by my collar. Running away without her consent wasn’t an option, and it would only cause a scene in public.
So instead—
"I’m suggesting this with a plan in mind."
I declared that.
I kept my voice calm, steady, and entirely serious, looking directly into her eyes to show her I wasn’t just acting out of foolish pride or suicidal self-sacrifice.
"Hm? What do you mean?"
Cindy asked.
She raised an eyebrow, her posture relaxing just a fraction as she waited for my explanation.
"You and Ahri are already suspected by the elders; there’s no way they wouldn’t send people to tail you on the way to the academy, Cindy."
I stated.
I pointed a finger toward the busy main road just a few blocks ahead of us, where the transit station was located.
"If I follow you, no matter how far away I am; they will still discover that we’re together. There’s no way the elders will send some idiots, after all."
"They will surely catch me, and worse—the suspicion on you and Ahri hiding me will be confirmed, the elders will not hesitate to eliminate the two of you alongside me if that happens."
I explained to her.
If they caught me walking anywhere near Cindy, they wouldn’t just capture me—they would classify the Blackthorne sisters as accomplices and wipe them out to close all loose ends.
"..."
Cindy just remained silent, but she knows that my words are true.
She stared down at the concrete pavement, her knuckles tightening slightly. She knew the dark, unforgiving nature of the noble families far better than I did. She knew I wasn’t exaggerating the danger at all.
"You and Ahri had been kind to me, I don’t want to put you both in trouble."
I added with that.
I wasn’t about to let the only two people who had cared for me get slaughtered just because I was too afraid to walk a few streets alone.
"So what am I supposed to do? Leave you alone?"
Cindy asked, clearly not wanting to do that.
Her voice had a sharp edge to it, laced with frustration and genuine concern for my safety.
"Yes."
I replied straight. There was no hesitation in my answer.
"But I want you to keep looking behind you, as if you’re making sure someone is still there."
Then before she could even say anything, I followed with that.
"Huh?"
She blinked, thoroughly confused by the strange request.
"Basically, I want to use the elder’s suspicion on you against them. We will make them believe that you’re hiding someone, and in doing so—they will keep an eye on you more."
I explained.
I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice so no passersby could overhear us.
"If you glance behind you nervously every few minutes while heading to the main train station, any spy watching you will immediately assume that I am sneaking along behind you in the crowd. They will focus all their attention, personnel, and tracking magic on your route, trying to spot me."
Then after a small pause—
"And as that was happening; I will be going on a different route, away from you. This will give me a better chance reaching the academy unseen."
I ended with that.
It was a simple decoy strategy. By using her natural anxiety as bait, we could draw the majority of the enemy’s eyes toward the main transit line, leaving the smaller, less obvious back paths completely open for me to slip through.
"...!"
Cindy was surprised by my plan, she was thinking about it—and she saw a possibility of it working.
Her eyes widened slightly as the logic of the strategy settled in her mind. It was a clever manipulation of the enemy’s expectations. But it seems like leaving me alone was still weighing on her mind, and so—
"I will be fine."
I said that.
My tone was grounded, devoid of any panic or doubt.
Cindy looked at me in the eye after hearing this, searching my face for any sign of fear or hesitation.
And looking back at her with a resolute look on my face—
"I don’t plan to die after surviving until now—I will survive this one again."
I declared that, giving her a confident, unyielding stare. I hadn’t spent two grueling months sweating and pushing Vael’s body to its absolute limits just to get caught before even the story starts. I was going to make it inside those academy gates, no matter what stood in my way.