18. The Boy Who Rides The Wind

The new semester had arrived, and the boys of the Ruthwilfer line were summoned back to the estate. Curiously, the girls were not.

Carriages lined the cobbled front yard of the grand Ruthwilfer estate, each ornate and gilded with the sigil of noble houses. Boys of varying ages stepped down one by one, clad in cloaks bearing their house colors, their boots echoing off the polished stones. At the front steps, Patriarch Will Ruthwilfer stood with arms behind his back, nodding curtly at their return.

But it wasn't just the Patriarch waiting. Lady Diana, second aunt to the ruling family, stood gracefully beside him, her presence as regal as ever. When the children saw her, they instantly bowed and greeted her with respect.

Her smile was warm—until she noticed something… or rather, someone was missing.

"Wait… Where is Dante?" she asked, her voice cutting through the crowd like a sudden chill.

One of the carriage drivers stepped forward, clearing his throat nervously. "Apologies, my lady. His name… it wasn't on the list to be picked up."

Diana's expression shifted. A cold fury welled in her eyes.

"By Mera's grace… How long are you imbeciles going to treat that boy like this?" she snarled, voice sharp with fury. The tension in the air thickened.

From behind, a smooth voice spoke up, dripping with quiet amusement. "Seems to me you've taken quite the liking to the boy, Second Aunt."

Lady Diana turned, her gaze landing on Evan Ruthwilfer, her nephew, flanked by his son, Taka. Now fifteen, Taka stood tall, his physique already muscular and imposing for his age. His eyes glinted with mockery.

Diana lifted her chin defiantly. "So what if I have?" she snapped. "I see hidden potential in him—genuine fire. And I won't stand by while that spark is wasted."

Before anyone could respond, a low, strange rumbling filled the air—an unnatural growl that seemed to ripple through the stone beneath their feet.

A puff of smoke barreled toward the estate gate. Heads snapped in its direction. Dust swirled violently.

"What the—?!" Taka's eyes widened. A strange, two-wheeled contraption was speeding toward them, trailing smoke and magic-infused steam.

"TAKE COVER!" one of the elders shouted. Chaos erupted as children and nobles alike scrambled. Guards unsheathed weapons, forming defensive circles. Even Avabel leapt to the front line, hand on her blade.

Only one person remained still—Lady Diana. She stood at the center of the storm with a calm smile on her lips.

"Second Aunt! What are you doing?!" Evan shouted in alarm.

"There's only one person crazy enough to pull something like this," Diana said with a smirk, folding her arms.

The strange vehicle screeched to a stop, mere inches from Diana. Smoke hissed from its core. The humming of a foreign forge pulsed like a heartbeat.

The rider removed his helmet with a smooth pull.

Dante.

Fifteen now, he had changed. His frame had lengthened, hardened. Confidence radiated from him like heat from a forge. Leather adorned his body—functional, rugged, yet stylish. His once-boyish face had sharpened, and his eyes gleamed with clarity and mischief.

"Sup, beautiful," he greeted, flashing a grin at Diana.

She chuckled, fluttering her fan before her blushing face. "Oh hush, boy. You'll make this old lady swoon."

"But it's working, isn't it?" he teased, stepping closer.

"Bold one, aren't you?" she replied, voice soft and amused, folding her fan with a playful snap.

Dante's smile faded the moment his gaze swept upward—and locked eyes with her.

Avabel.

"Well, well," he said coldly, tone like steel on frost. "If it isn't the bitch herself."

Her eyes flared with fury. "Arrogant mongrel!"

She unsheathed her blade in one swift motion and pointed it at him. "You dare speak like that to me, mudblood?!"

Dante smirked. "Pssh, as if. You get angry over everything. Might wanna check the mirror—those wrinkles are getting worse."

"Burn…" Diana muttered beneath her breath, barely suppressing a grin as the other teens laughed nervously behind her.

"Enough!" Will Ruthwilfer's voice boomed as he stepped forward, commanding silence.

He held a scroll in hand, his expression grave. "As you all are aware, your days at the academy are nearing their end. You will soon take on appointed tasks—missions to shape your identities and test your worth."

He gestured to Avabel, who opened the scroll and read aloud. "You will operate under false names—aliases forged to protect your noble line. Whether you rise as a hero, sink as a criminal, live as a beggar, or thrive as an adventurer, your deeds must echo across Valekoris."

Will continued, "From these deeds after two years, the top fifty will be chosen. Those fifty will battle for the right to become the next Patriarch—or Matriarch—of Ruthwilfer."

"Any questions?" Avabel asked coolly, rolling up the scroll.

Taka raised his hand with a mocking smirk. "Does trash count?"

Avabel's lips curled. "Yes. Even failures can join the competition. They'll just make the rest look better."

Diana sighed in frustration. "These two…" she muttered. She looked toward Dante, expecting rage. But he remained still, completely unbothered.

What is he thinking? she wondered. What will he do?

"Worried, my lady?" Fina teased gently from behind.

Diana's stern mask cracked. "Alright, fine. I'm worried sick, okay?!"

Fina laughed softly. "It suits you."

Later, as the carriages prepared to return to the academy, Dante straddled his mysterious vehicle. With a flick of his wrist, he inserted a shimmering mana crystal into a slot near the handle. The engine purred to life, roaring like a beast hungry to be set free.

"My, you continue to surprise me, my boy," Diana said, stepping beside him, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

"What do you call this wondrous thing?" Diana asked, stepping forward with grace.

Instead of replying, Dante held out a helmet to her. "Wanna feel the wind?"

She hesitated—but her curiosity got the better of her. Dante adjusted the helmet for her, gently lowering the visor.

"Why cover my face with this… transparent shell?" she asked.

"To make sure bugs don't smack that beautiful face of yours."

"Eh?"

Before she could protest, Dante gently nudged the bike forward. She instinctively placed her hands on his shoulders.

"Hold lower—my torso. And hold tight," Dante instructed.

She complied, blushing faintly.

Then they took off.

The vehicle accelerated, smoothly at first, then faster—faster than any carriage she had ever known. The wind roared in her ears, and her hair, tucked beneath the helmet, began to whip around her face as the back visor opened. The breeze embraced her fully.

They sped past the carriages on the road. Taka stared from the window, mouth slightly open in disbelief.

"Ready for the best part, my lady?" Dante shouted.

"What is it?!"

"This!"

He activated another rune. The bike surged with power. Diana shrieked with laughter as they rocketed forward. She raised her arms high into the sky, laughing, free.

"For the first time in my life… I feel alive!" she cried into the wind.

When they finally returned to the estate, the sun was beginning to dip toward the horizon.

Diana stepped off, breathless. "Take care, my boy," she said softly, placing her palm on his cheek before kissing his forehead.

"See ya, Diana," he replied with a wink and rode off toward the academy.

Fina approached, chuckling. "Hehe… how was the ride, Lady—?"

She stopped.

Diana was weeping softly.

"Lady Diana?"

Diana turned to her with eyes full of tears, yet glowing with something else—love, perhaps. Wonder.

"Sorry… It's just…"

She looked at the path where Dante had vanished.

"Is this… how all mothers feel, Fina?"

"Is this… motherly love?"

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Chapter 18 — End.