Chapter 0.52 Crimson eyes and Silver Eyes

Rina, cheeks still burning from her mother's teasing, stormed into the grand dining hall of the rochey estate. The light from the enormous crystal chandeliers spilled like stardust over the long, obsidian table, where breakfast was already set. Her golden eyes scanned the room—and then froze.

There they were. jin 

Naoko Rochey sat at the head of the table in her usual place, regal and unmoved, dressed in an elegant black gown that shimmered faintly like a starless sky. Her long silver hair flowed like moonlight, her matching silver eyes calm yet sharp—an embodiment of cold majesty.

But what truly startled Rina was the presence of Jin.

He was sitting beside his mother.

That never happened.

Even more peculiar—his white cat, Nyx, was perched casually on his shoulder. The moment Rina entered, the cat leapt gracefully from Jin to Naoko's lap, curling itself comfortably on the obsidian queen's gown, purring softly.

Naoko barely moved. She ran a hand down the creature's fur with absent precision, her gaze still fixed on her son.

"Well," she said, her voice like winter wind—smooth, frigid, and piercing. "You're here unusually early. Should I prepare myself for the sun to rise from the west today?"

Jin leaned lazily against the table, resting his chin in his gloved right hand, his posture relaxed, his scarlet-red eyes glittering with mischief.

His black hair—slightly messy—framed his face, and on his left wrist, tied beneath the leather glove, was the crimson-black ribbon that once belonged to his sister.

"No reason in particular, dearest Mother," he said, voice dripping with faux innocence. "Unless, of course, you're nervous I might do something... *unexpected*."

His grin widened, sharp and teasing. "Ah, Mother. You wound my poor black heart. You must learn to trust me. I *promise* I'll be on my best behavior. No chaos. No blood. Just sunshine and daisies."

Naoko's lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile—cold and amused. "You don't like sunshine. Or daisies."

"Details," Jin shrugged, his eyes flickering with an impish light.

Rina stood awkwardly in the entrance, watching the bizarrely intimate exchange unfold like a dark comedy. It was the first time she'd seen Jin so talkative… and it was with *her*. His terrifying, powerful mother.

And the way they talked—it wasn't quite warm, but it wasn't distant either. It was something stranger. Something sharper. Like the teasing of wolves.

Naoko finally spoke again, eyes narrowing slightly. "Get to the point, Jin. What do you want?"

Jin drummed his fingers on the table.

"I want to go to the Academy."

That silenced the room.

Even Nyx flicked her tail.

Naoko's silver gaze darkened slightly. "Why?"

Jin smirked. "Rina said there are strong people there. I want to meet them."

His tone shifted—lighter, but dangerous.

"I want to break their pride. Crush it beneath my boot. I want them to remember my name when they bleed."

Naoko blinked slowly. "Charming."

He grinned wider. "I'll go, cause some damage, then come home after classes. Simple, right? Of course, I know it's far—so I'll just open a long-distance spatial gate. I'm sure you're familiar. Element of space. One of the lesser-known branches, but elegant in its efficiency. What do you think?"

Rina's heart beat faster.

He really was going.

He wasn't just teasing her last night.

He meant it.

Naoko leaned back in her chair, her gaze calculating. She looked at Jin for a long moment, then finally—slowly—gave the faintest nod.

"Fine," she said. "But if you break too many bones, I expect you to heal them yourself. I'm not wasting mana on your arrogance."

Jin chuckled darkly. "Oh, Mother. That's the most love you've ever shown me."

Naoko gave a dry smile, then turned her gaze to Rina, who was still standing by the doorway.

"And you," she said coolly. "You seem to have brought chaos into my home."

Rina straightened instinctively. "I—I didn't mean to—"

"She didn't," Jin interrupted, smirking. "I chose to go. You should thank her."

Naoko raised a brow. "Thank her?"

She stood, her silver eyes boring into Rina like a blade of moonlight.

"I don't thank people, Jin. I remember them."

Then, without another word, she turned and walked past Rina, her heels silent on the polished obsidian floor, Nyx still curled in her arms like a living symbol of aristocratic menace.

Only when Naoko vanished through the arched doors did Rina exhale.

Jin leaned back in his chair, stretching lazily. "Well… breakfast?"

........ 

Note: Nxy is the name of Jin's cat and this is no ordinary cat,