Chapter 7: A Dance of Shadows and Flames

Belial knew little about Emperor Baldr and the necromancer Abyss. 

Though her grandfather and father, both dukes of Alfheim, wielded the Parliament like their personal playground, and her mother hailed from an esteemed noble lineage, her adoptive mother, Lilith, was but a commonerordinary and powerless. 

Thus, Belial had never lived in the grand castles of elven dukes nor been privy to the intricate power plays within the empires upper echelons. 

She had only heard whispersrumors that the necromancer Abyss had infiltrated Sky City and gravely wounded the emperor who resided there. 

The great emperor, the very one who had led the empire to an era of prosperity and peace, fell into a deep coma. With his iron grip loosened, the Parliament and the ever-watchful Light Church factions across the land began to stir with restless ambition. 

Yet, no one knew how the necromancer had bypassed Sky Citys formidable defenses, nor whether he had escaped after striking his blow. 

Some even doubted the truth of the tale. If Abyss had truly committed such a heinous act, why had there been no public verdict? If he had been captured, he should have been executed. If he had escaped, a bounty should have been issued. 

But there was nothing. 

Sky City, suspended above the imperial capital, sealed itself off from the world. And the necromancer, Abyss, vanished without a trace. 

A shroud of mystery cloaked the entire affair, save for one undeniable factEmperor Baldr remained comatose. 

Compared to this imperial intrigue, Belial was far more familiar with the stories of her parents school days, for there were always teachers eager to share them with her. 

What those teachers didnt know was that Belial had been abandoned in an orphanage from childhoodthe only child in the entire orphanage who had living parents but no home. At school, everyone assumed she was the esteemed daughter of a ducal house, and the teachers delighted in recounting tales of her parents youthful misadventureshow they had once been at constant odds, how they had embarked on thrilling adventures together, and how their animosity had, against all odds, blossomed into love. 

And without fail, they would conclude with an affectionate sigh: *Who would have thought that those quarrelsome youngsters would end up together and have you?* 

Their tone carried an unquestioned certainty, as if Belial had, of course, grown up steeped in boundless parental love. 

Over time, fewer teachers spoke to her this way. Not only because stories, eventually, reach their end, but also because they came to realize that Belial had another nameBelial. Just Belial. No surname. 

Neither of her noble-born parents had deemed her worthy of their family name. 

On more than one occasion, when they returned to their alma mater for official business, teachersassuming they would want to see their daughteroffered to arrange a meeting, given that the school was a boarding institution. Each time, her parents refused. 

Through those long-buried school anecdotes, Belial learned that the necromancer Abyss had once been her parents classmate. More than thather father, Frey, and Abyss had a relationship that could only be described as... mutual loathing. 

Rivals, through and through. 

Belial gaze flickered between Frey and Abyss. 

As they exited the headmasters office together, Headmaster Gullveig lifted her chin, fixing Frey with a stern gaze. "You should be in the infirmary right now, Mr. Bright." 

"I know, Headmaster," Frey admitted, not daring to flaunt his noble status before her. "But I have more pressing matters to attend to." 

It was evident that he was referring to Belial. This was a family matterone not meant for prying earsso he hesitated only briefly before making a request. "May I speak to her alone?" 

The "her" was, without question, Belial. 

Gullveig refused without hesitation. 

Firstly, she would not indulge a students disregard for his own wellbeing. Secondly, she was not entirely convinced by Belial earlier claimsthat the attack on Frey had been a reckless accident rather than a deliberate assault. 

If Belial *had* intended to harm Frey, then allowing them to speak alone would place him in danger. And should Frey, in his youthful arrogance, lash out first, Belial would have every justification to retaliate. 

For now, the headmaster decided to separate them. They could speak once Belial had taken the mandatory oath that bound all faculty members, ensuring she posed no threat to the students. 

As for whatever "urgent matter" Frey had, Gullveig resolved to personally escort him to the infirmary. If he was willing to confide in her, and she determined it posed no risk to the school, she would not interfere further. 

Before doing so, she intended to assign a teacher to help Belial familiarize herself with the campus. 

At that moment, the long-silent Abyss spoke, his voice unexpectedly offering, "No need to trouble anyone else. I can show her around." 

"No!" Freys reaction was instant and vehement. If Belial truly was his estranged sister, he would never allow Abyss near her! 

"Why not?" 

For the first time, Belial addressed Frey directly. The headmaster and Abyss both noticedher tone was different from before. Flat, devoid of warmth, as if speaking to him was nothing more than an obligation. 

But Frey, having never heard her voice before, assumed this was simply the way she spoke. He answered her with the certainty of someone stating an irrefutable fact: "Because hes undead!" 

"Mr. Bright," Gullveigs tone carried clear disapproval. 

The First Academy of Magic and Warfare stood apart from the conflicts of the outside world. It treated students of all backgrounds equally, even admitting dark creatures that society feared and shunnedAbyss himself being proof of that. 

Discrimination, though inevitable, was rarely so blatant. 

Belial response remained as unperturbed as ever. "I know." 

Frey frowned. "You know?" 

"So?" Belial asked. 

A realization began to dawn on himthe same cold indifference that had accompanied their first encounter, the same detachment with which she had sent him to the infirmary. 

For the first time, Frey felt uncertain. 

Gullveig intervened. "Enough, Mr. Bright. I will take you to the infirmary now." 

"But I" 

She silenced him with a look. 

Reluctantly, Frey followed her, throwing glances over his shoulder every few steps, his friends scurrying behind him in mute compliance. 

Once they were gone, Belial turned to Abyss. "Lets go." 

Abyss hesitated. "...Alright." 

He had never given anyone a campus tour before. For a moment, he struggled to find the right words. Then, remembering his manners, he introduced himself. "Im Abyss." 

Belial, whose mood was inevitably soured by any mention of her parents, replied perfunctorily, "Belial." 

Abyss rolled the name over in his mind, recognizing the Eastern cadence of it. Having studied numerous languages, including those of the Eastern continent, he knew that in her homeland, the surname came first. 

"Lin?" he tested. 

She shook her head. "Just Belial." 

Abyss repeated it, hesitating when he sensed her distant tone. 

She was deliberately keeping him at arms length. 

And yet, despite knowing that Frey was her blood, she had kissed *him* that night. 

His heart had been a fool to hope. 

*Abyss,* Baldr sneered from within him. *Havent you grown used to being shunned? And yet, you still dare to hope?* 

Abyss forced himself to let go of that fleeting desire, his expression growing cold, distanta chill that made Belial fingers itch with temptation. 

She *liked* that look on him. 

Why should she let her wretched parents dictate whom she was allowed to enjoy? 

It was, she decided, utterly irrational. 

Her mood brightened instantly. 

And, as they stepped into a deserted hallway, she turned to Abyss and smiled. 

"Abyss," she purred, pressing him against the wall, her breath a whisper against his lips. "You taste... divine."