Chapter 5: The Enigmatic Figure with the Cross

Hearing footsteps approaching, Anran quickly turned around to see a security guard jogging toward her. "I heard some noise from upstairs. What's going on?" he asked.

The guard, who patrolled the building, must have heard the commotion caused by Anran when she had thrown the boy to the ground.

"Sir, I'm not sure what happened. A student suddenly went berserk and then… collapsed. Let me show you," Anran replied, omitting the part where she had been the one to subdue him.

Prioritizing the situation, Anran decided to deal with Aislyn later and instead led the guard to the unconscious boy.

Unseen by anyone, a shadowy figure lingered in the classroom they had just left. Clinging to the ceiling like a giant bat, the man waited until Anran and the guard had stepped out before silently dropping to the floor. His landing was so smooth it made no sound.

Bathed in the fading light of the sunset, the man's appearance was striking. His pale skin contrasted sharply with his jet-black hair, perfectly styled. His sharp brows and deep, amethyst eyes, darker than the finest purple crystal, gave him an almost ethereal look. His nose was tall and proud, and his thin lips curved into a subtle, enigmatic smile.

"Heh… such sharp instincts. I was almost discovered," he murmured to himself.

Despite appearing to be a high school student, the man exuded an air of aristocratic elegance and charm. His presence was magnetic, almost otherworldly. He wore a black shirt, the top buttons undone, revealing his defined collarbone. Around his neck hung a platinum chain with an antique pendant—a silver cross adorned with a rare pigeon-blood ruby, the size of a thumbnail, glowing with an inner fire. The cross was intricately engraved with vine-like patterns.

The man walked over to Aislyn, who was still seated and unresponsive. He bent down and whispered something into her ear. Though his words were inaudible, Aislyn's previously lifeless expression softened, and a faint smile spread across her pale face.

Outside, the sky had darkened, even though it was barely past six o'clock. The nights in Rosetown seemed to arrive faster than expected.

The security guard shined his flashlight on the unconscious boy, revealing foam at the corners of his mouth. "Damn kids! They're using drugs in school again!" the guard exclaimed angrily.

"Drugs? What kind of drugs?" Anran asked, confused.

"Some kind that makes people violent and crazy. I don't know the specifics. This town never used to have such harmful things. I don't know who brought it here, but this is the first time I've seen this kid using it. What a waste!" the guard ranted, his frustration evident.

So the boy's behavior wasn't part of a prank after all. Anran felt a pang of guilt for assuming Aislyn had been involved.

"By the way, are you new here? I don't think I've seen you before," the guard said, turning to Anran. "You should head home before it gets too dark. It's not safe for a girl to be out alone. I'll take care of this guy."

"Yes, I'm a new student. Today's my first day. Thank you, sir," Anran replied with a polite smile, grabbing her bag and heading toward the stairs.

After a few steps, she remembered Aislyn was still in the neighboring classroom. She turned back, but when she returned, the chair where Aislyn had been sitting was empty.

At that moment, a dark figure darted past the classroom window. Anran rubbed her eyes, wondering if she had imagined it. Peering out the window, she saw nothing but empty ground below. This was the third floor, after all.