CHAPTER 52- Struggle

"For some reason, life is easier as a cat," Edwin, the sleek black cat with fur that shimmered like polished obsidian under the sunlight, leapt gracefully through Selentia's open window.

His gaze fell upon her, still asleep, her arms wrapped tightly around her pillow. He glanced at the clock and sighed. "What a lazy student! Sleeping at 9 AM," he muttered under his breath, his voice a soft, velvety purr.

With graceful steps, he padded toward the bed, his black fur glistening like polished obsidian under the sunlight. His luminous blue eyes, framed by long, delicate lashes, fluttered beautifully with every blink.

Edwin hopped onto Selentia's bed and settled near her head. A twisted pang of guilt tugged at his heart as he gazed at her peaceful, sleeping face.

Gently, he placed his soft paw on her forehead. A soft, blue mana began to emanate from his paw, weaving itself into Selentia's body like a warm, protective blanket.

She frowned in her sleep, her expression tightening momentarily before relaxing. Though unconscious, she felt the comforting warmth enveloping her, as if shielding her from the world.

It was a sensation so soothing that she drifted deeper into the land of dreams.

"She won't wake for the next six hours. My mana will resonate with her aura in the meantime," Edwin said, withdrawing his paw. His gaze shifted to the figure seated on the sofa across the room.

Xavier.

His amethyst eyes were dark and unreadable, swirling with a demonic energy far more potent than before. Edwin's expression hardened.

"Did you consume Death Qi?"

Xavier remained silent, though no explanation was needed.

Edwin sighed, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on him. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined Sylvester impersonating Zaphery—an enemy far more powerful than Selentia.

"You must have felt it, didn't you?" Edwin leapt down from the bed and approached the sofa, settling beside Xavier. His tone was calm, but his eyes were sharp, probing.

Xavier gritted his teeth, veins of dark energy snaking up his neck. The pure hatred in his eyes was the darkest expression Edwin had ever seen.

*Foxy doesn't know,* Edwin thought, *but Xavier is just two steps away from becoming a full-fledged demon. The power within him is so immense that, if he wished, he could take on twenty supreme demons at once. She doesn't know the dark, real side of him… not yet.*

"Sylvester…" Xavier's voice was cold and brutal. "He is here in Nyxveil Mansion."

Edwin nodded. "To be more specific, he's been impersonating Zaphery long before Foxy was born."

Xavier's eyes widened. "Wait, what? The Zaphery Nyxveil I met was Sylvester? But I didn't sense any demonic energy from him."

Edwin frowned, equally puzzled. Despite Sylvester's masquerade, it seemed unlikely he could conceal his demonic power so completely, especially from someone like Xavier, who had been groomed to be a vessel for Belhier.

"I don't know much either," Edwin admitted. "But I followed him to the hidden dungeon beneath the Nyxveil mansion—the Prison of Dead Hope."

His gaze drifted to Selentia's sleeping form, a flicker of sadness in his eyes.

"Inside, there are around twenty high-ranking elves imprisoned, along with the real Zaphery. Just as your blood was used to create powerful demonic energy, their combined blood generates a force so strong and dangerous…" Edwin paused, a shiver running through him as he recalled the oppressive darkness of that place.

"It twisted my very core. The difference is, your blood created demonic energy that you consumed to grow stronger. Their energy is locked within a chamber, sealed behind a powerful barrier."

Xavier nodded, his expression grim. "Sylvester is the one consuming that energy. But wouldn't it be more beneficial for him to kill the real Zaphery? I haven't met the real one, but given how strong his imitation is, I can only imagine how powerful his true self must be."

Edwin raised an eyebrow, impressed by Xavier's reasoning. He had expected rage, a burning desire for vengeance. Instead, Xavier was calm, analytical, and disturbingly rational.

"I think it has something to do with the fact that he's perfectly hidden his demonic energy beneath the imitation of Zaphery's power," Edwin mused, rubbing his chin with a paw.

"Do you think the Emperor or the others know Sylvester is masquerading as Zaphery?" He asked in confusion.

Xavier shook his head. "Sylvester never appeared in any ritual dressed as Zaphery Nyxveil. Everyone in the demon cult believes he only visits the mortal world for the annual rituals and returns to the Demon World immediately afterward."

Edwin's eyes widened in surprise. "That makes sense. If the Emperor knew Sylvester was impersonating Zaphery, he wouldn't have dared to provoke Nyxveil."

"In that case," Xavier said, his voice icy, "how and why is he pretending to be Zaphery? As far as I know, demons can't leave the Demon World without a vessel. The seal may have weakened over six thousand years, but its effects haven't completely faded."

Edwin licked his paw thoughtfully, his tail flicking. "That's the question, isn't it?" He glanced at Xavier, who was staring at him intently. "What are you looking at?"

"Why are you walking around in that shape?" Xavier asked, his tone laced with irritation.

Edwin scoffed. "A baby dragon like you wouldn't understand."

Xavier's eyes darkened, but Edwin paid him no mind, continuing to groom himself. "If you turn me into a dragon one more time, I'll blow up your mansion," Xavier threatened, though the words lacked their usual bite.

Edwin smirked, his blue eyes glinting with amusement. "You think you stand a chance against me now?"

Xavier pressed his lips together, unwilling to admit the truth. He was strong—perhaps the strongest twenty-year-old in the world—but compared to Edwin, he was still weak. With his mana and aura sealed, he was even more vulnerable.

"When are you going to unseal my aura and mana?" Xavier asked, his voice low.

Edwin shrugged. "It's not that simple. You lack harmony between mind and body. If I unseal your powers now, the demonic energy within you will mix with your mana, and you'll go on a rampage. The chances of you becoming the second Mad Dragon will increase."

Xavier bit his lower lip, frustration evident in his expression. He summoned a dark purple aura blade from his demonic energy, the weapon humming with raw power. "So, what must I do?"

Edwin paused, his gaze flicking to Selentia. "Before I answer that… do you plan to tell her that destroying your demonic core means killing you?"

Xavier stiffened, his shoulders tensing.

He looked at Selentia, his expression unreadable. He couldn't quite name the feelings he had for her—intense, protective, almost possessive.

He wanted to be the one she relied on, the one who shielded her from harm. But he also feared showing her his true self, terrified she would turn away.

"Not yet," Xavier murmured. "Or maybe… never."

Edwin's eyes widened. "You… don't tell me you've decided to master the demonic energy and accept it?"

Xavier met his gaze, his resolve unwavering. For years, he had rejected the demonic energy within him, determined to destroy it and end his life.

But now, for the first time, Edwin saw a flicker of desire—a will to live, to harness the darkness rather than be consumed by it.

It was a dangerous gamble. Demonic energy was corrupting, eroding self-control and reason.

Yet Edwin couldn't help but feel a spark of hope. Xavier was different. He had resisted the temptation for so long, even slaughtering hundreds of demon worshippers who tried to force him into submission.

"Hmm," Edwin mused, a sly smile playing on his feline lips. "I think I've gotten myself into a more troubling situation than I expected."

Despite his words, there was a glint of excitement in his eyes. The curious, mad mage within him was thrilled.

"You should join the Academy too," Edwin suggested suddenly.

Xavier narrowed his eyes. "I can't get caught. Have you forgotten that?"

Edwin smirked. "Leave that to me. You might not know this, but the Academy is full of crazy mages and swordmasters who would gladly ignore your demonic energy if it means nurturing a talent like yours."

Xavier stared at him in disbelief. "Why would they do that?"

Edwin leaned back, his tail swishing lazily. "Because nothing is more thrilling than watching potential unfold. The professors there care little for politics. They're obsessed with seeing how far someone can go."

Xavier was stunned. *I thought Edwin was the only mad one,* he thought. *But there are others like him?*

He pressed his lips together, his mind racing. "Is going to the same academy as her a good idea? What if I bring harm to her?"

Edwin glanced at Xavier, who was watching Selentia with a mix of anxiety and longing. *Did this baby dragon imprint on my Foxy unconsciously?* Edwin thought, a hint of disbelief coloring his mind.

*I don't like the idea of my cute Foxy being imprinted by this mad baby dragon.*

He shook his head, dismissing the thought. *No, that's impossible. How could a dragon be drawn to someone in just three days?*

At that moment, Edwin had no inkling of how the relationship between Xavier and Selentia would unfold. Had he known... Would he have been able to stop those two from---?