Prelude to the Long Night

"Don't you think that's something I should be asking? Why are you even concerning yourself with trivial matters?"

Under the glimmering cerulean moon, a monolid pair of amethyst eyes were chillingly reflecting. With her long platinum hair cascading, with its hue contrasting her fair, flawless touch, the heir of the Alperion Foundation seemed to scold the female student in curiosity.

Meanwhile, even when his heart was filled with wrath and desire for revenge, with the mind momentarily fogged by the irrationality of no return, the Argos Patriarch instinctively halted his movements at the sudden appearance of this intimidating presence.

Was it because she's the heir of the Alperion Foundation?

Or he was aware that this woman was something else?

Now, hearing such a question, he noticed the peculiarly-formed female student falling into contemplation; it was the first time, considering how she tended to open her mouth about a thing or two.

That being said, before the female student who terrorized his family could act, Yura addressed the Argos Patriarch.

"Sir Reid of Argos Family, how are we doing?"

Reid Argos felt a sense of relief, inexplicably so.

Yura then walked past the female student, who still remained in her place, drowned in her unspoken thoughts.

Reid didn't know if what he was seeing was different than what this intimidating woman did, but considering the approach, he surmised that these two had an incomprehensible connection with each other.

'This is my chance…' he thought to himself.

"Do you want to fix your deceased child and wife? But you know the law, it will cost you dearly."

Reid prostrated in front of Yura, comprehending that the latter could pull a few strings to grant what he wanted at the expense of what was necessary.

"P-Please, Miss Yura! S-save my family!"

If one would see this begging man atop of witnessing the state Abel experienced that led to his demise, would he be deemed a madman?

In this day and age, was death really the end?

Or was it merely a way to attain true peace?

Letting out a sigh, without looking at the female student standing behind, Yura mumbled, "Hmm, what should I do-…?"

It was at that moment that Reid's auricular sense seemed to betray him.

'Wh-what did I just hear…? The way Miss Yura addressed that student- it doesn't make any sense! N-No!!'

For some reason unfathomable, his mind began to be clouded with something; it became a sandcastle demolished by the ocean waves.

Reid Argos began to scratch his very face until he tore his own flesh, from cheeks to eyes, and to ears, which he continued to slap with his now bloodied hands along with his muffled screams.

It was similar to feeling something crawling into your soul and doing everything to get off the annoying feeling.

Whatever his ears heard, it was rapidly taking a toll on his sanity.

"Wh-what… what! N-No! Argh!"

Writhing on the floor, he began to do whatever he could to undo the curse of knowledge, ripping his own ears and plunging a metal or two on either side, eventually reaching his skull.

It was the scream of a madman who wanted to cease to exist.

Witnessing this, the female student behind couldn't help but sigh.

"I guess I'm the one being considerate. Why would you do that, Yura? I thought I was the one being random here."

She then approached her and tapped her shoulder a few times; the two of them then looked at the now-dead figure of the Argos Patriarch, who stabbed his own skull in an attempt to get rid of parasitic knowledge that seemed to eat his mind.

"Some things are far worse than death; this is my way of showing mercy at the expense of temporary suffering," Yura responded to her question, at the same time, she sensed an embrace from behind; it was not sexually malicious similar to how this mysterious female student ramble about having rough sex with a certain mercenary. Rather, it was inexplicably comforting and friendly.

"The work here is done, I believe." The female student's whispering voice echoed.

In Yura's eyes, what was behind the abstract facial features of this entity was ordinarily seen. But she did not look behind to see her countenance while receiving a warm embrace; only a smile of longing painted her face.

In this time of cold, the main family consisting of a child named Abel Argos, the mother, Dana Argos, and the patriarch, Reid Argos, up to the third generation of the entire Argos Bloodline was serenely culled according to the Summit Rules.

After that, Alina received the news of the job being done, which was then passed to Aeon and Asahina later on.

***

A few days passed; the day of Godent Assessment arrived.

"What's with your face? Are you sulking? You, really?" Yuri Belserion teased, her gaze fixated on Yura as they walked side by side towards the Godent Assessment Hall of the academy's Western Peak.

"Ahh! That damn Alina's getting on my nerves! I offered my help in eradicating the Argos Bloodline's second and third line yet she's mad?!"

After her interference came to light, at least for the ears of those with similar status, Yura was rebuked for her actions, which Alina didn't understand at all.

"Offer…? More like you acted on your own. Seriously, it's been a few days already!" Yuri snorted.

"Well… never mind. You wouldn't understand." Yura quickened her pace.

"Hey! What the hell does that mean?!" Yuri seemed intrigued by Yura's unusual demeanor and followed behind as they reached the assessment hall filled with hundreds of students.

It was a spacious laboratory filled with necessary apparatuses dedicated to evaluating the godents… and soon-to-be-one.

***

"Are you going to be okay?" Alina looked at Aeon; it was not because the latter had any problems to begin with, physically speaking. Rather, it's what it meant to be assessed in front of numerous people.

Even though she didn't know the extent or true nature of Aeon's godent ability and the fact she was not aware of it, Alina was worried about how they should proceed with this.

"If you want, I can exempt you from taking the assessment; it's not that important anyway. It's either the one being assessed will be delighted or despaired."

"Why did you call me?" Aeon cut off her nonsensical mumblings; his back behind the door as he entered Alina's personal space – her luxurious bedroom.

"Just because." She curtly responded, her eyes fixated on the computer-like projection of a screen.

As she remained seated at the study table, funnily enough considering her status, Aeon spoke, "If there's nothing else, then I'll take my leave."

"Did I tell you to leave?" Her words halted his tracks in almost an instant.

This time around, Alina raised her body, faced his gaze, and said, "Couldn't I be worried? It'll be troublesome if your assessment goes awry."

"I'll be fine. But if there's a concern, it's Yuridika. Knowing that I work for you-"

Before he could finish, Alina usually cut him off.

With her arms crossed, she said, "Don't worry about her. If she intended to reveal that I'm being protected by my classmate, who happens to be a mercenary, it would only inconvenience her. After all, the less someone knows, the better for her to move freely. You know what I mean… that if the unrelated students begin asking questions about why I have an exclusive security detail, the noise will hinder her from acting."

It would not make sense that the heir of the Eurasia Grand Agency possessed a bodyguard within the Summit Academy; at least, that's what almost everybody would think.

If she had one… why the other heirs had not?

"What about the others? You know very well, even if it's highly confidential information, that a considerable dozen hostile individuals are aware of the M-Rev File's existence. What I'm saying… is the Summit Banquet will be a long night." With his back straightened, Aeon appropriately reasoned.

It was then that Alina was momentarily at a loss for words.

Because one thing's for sure-

"Let them come and get it."

…it would spark irreversible consequences.