The Novel's Professor

On the roads of the Royal Capital, an extravagant car suddenly stopped infront of a large and tall building. Everyone walking stopped, staring in wonder at the car.

Click—!

The car door opened, a feminine hand pushing it out. From the driver's seat, a man nervously spoke. "Miss Amber! Please calm down!"

"Don't worry, Gerald. I am calm," Amber said, her body leaving the car. Her long black hair cascaded behind, flowing elegantly. Her eyes were covered by a thin black sunglasses, blocking the light from her pupils.

"Haa..." Gerald sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, Miss. Just don't do anything rash, or else your father would fire me.."

"I told you, Gerald. I am calm," Amber said cooly, emphasizing the last sentence. She was calm—just a different type of calm. She shifted her gaze to the building.

Royalé Enclasse Hospital.

...This was the hospital that was currently taking care of both Eugene and Arcuied. Amber thought as she weakly clenched her hand. She didn't know what happened to both of them... the next thing she knew it; they were featured in the news as possible casualties from the cataclysmic event in the past few days ago.

In the past days, all she felt was nervousness and terror at what happened to Eugene. Thoughts of his death made her weak. Only yesterday could she relax herself as a confirmation of her friend's health was brought to her.

Eugene was safe and sound; but she still wasn't fully relieved yet. She wanted to see him in person.

"...I'l be going on ahead," Amber said, her body taking a step forward as she walked inside the building. Behind her, Gerald's faint long sigh echoed.

—

Inside a luxurious, extravagant room, a blond-haired young man frowned as his back relaxed on the cushion bed. He grabbed the glass of water from the table next to him.

Eugene cooly sipped at the water, removing the frown on his face as he shifted his attention to his latest visitor... The visitor was someone he knew well. He asked, forcing a smile on his face.

"What brings you here, brother?"

The man beside him nodded, a smile gracing his lips. His features were similar to that of Eugene's, but more mature and refined. He answered. "What do you mean? Isn't it normal for an older brother to visit his injured...sick younger brother?"

Eugene frowned, internally clicking his tongue in distaste. That deceptive innocent act. He never liked it. But who was he to hate it when he himself was versed at it? He continued. "It is normal, but not for the Pendragon siblings."

"Hahahaha... brother...you jest," The man chuckled, waving his hand in dismissal. "In any case, you sure made a ruckus this time, huh? Did you know Father's reaction when he saw the news?"

"What? Furious?" Eugene asked calmly, his hand putting the glass of water on the table. "You don't have to worry about that. I'l handle Father myself."

"It seems you're mistaken, brother." The man chuckled darkly, the corner of his lips curling into a smirk. "Father had already made a decision. He had decided to revoke of your heir status until you graduate from the academy... as a Star Scholar."

Crack—!

Eugene clenched his hand tightly, breaking the glass of water. The sharp thin fragments of the glass littered over his hand, inflicting small cut wounds. He muttered, shocked.

"What... did you...just say?"

"Oh? Did you not perhaps hear me right?" The man asked, the smirk on his face widening. He continued. "I'l repeat it again then. Father had decided to revoke you of your heir position until you gradu—"

"Did you have a hand in this..?" Eugene asked, his eyes coldly staring at his brother. His hand clenched the bedsheet beneath. From his body, magical energy suddenly gathered and hovered around him—amplifying the pressure in the area.

"Now, now. How could you say that...?" The man asked, waving his hand. The smile on his lips never leaving. "Why would I do that? That would just be downright cruel and pathetic. Do you really doubt your brother that much?"

Eugene closed his mouth, his eyes never leaving the man's face. If only... he released his clenched hand, sighing. No, if his brother was the heir now, he couldn't act as recklessly anymore. He forced down his pride, averting his eyes as he apologized. "...I'm sorry, Eldric."

"That's better," Eldric said, his smile widening as his eyes colored in glee.

Knock—!

Suddenly, a knock resounded in the room. Eugene blinked, staring at the door in confusion. Who was it?

Eldric turned his head to the door, nodding. He stood up, shifting his gaze to Eugene as he spoke. "Well, I hope you work hard to take it back, brother. After all..."

"Eugene!" A feminine voice resounded outside the door.

"...Go out, now. Brother." Eugene said, anger seeping in his voice.

"Alright, alright.." Eldric pursed his lips. He turned his back as he approached the door. Before he left, he added in a few words. "I should warn you with caution, however... The status of Star Scholar isn't as easy as you think it is to obtain."

Eugene frowned, his mouth opening. However, before he could ask the man what that meant, Eldric opened the door—leaving as a new, beautiful, familiar figure entered.

"Oh, Amber!" Eugene said, a smile blossoming on his lips. He straightened his back, staring at Amber. "What brings you here?"

Amber blinked, her eyes alternating between the leaving Eldric and Eugene. She asked, confused. "...Who was that, Eugene?"

"Come on in, Amber." Eugene said, his hand removing the littered fragments of glass on the table.

Amber held the doorknob, closing in the door.

Click—!

"So... mind telling me who was that?" Amber asked as she approached Eugene. She sat in one of the chairs in the room, staring at Eugene.

"...That was my brother," Eugene muttered, his voice strained. He didn't really want to introduce that man to Amanda. "Eldric, my older brother. I didn't tell you of him because it wasn't necessary."

"Oh, well...nevermind that," Amber sighed, shaking her head. Her friend seemed so uncomfortable. She would just ask again in a later time "...How are you? And why were you there in the Harrowing Lands to begin with?"

"Oh, it seems I'm getting interrogated now..." Eugene chuckled, his gaze returning to Amber. His hand ran down to his hair awkwardly. "Well..."

"Well, what?" Amber asked sharply, a frown plastering on her face.

"Uh, why are you angry...?" Eugene asked, his face twitching. Suddenly, as soon as his words dropped—Amber's face turned into one of disappointment.

"Really? Are you really going to ask that?" Amber sighed.

"Eh, I'm sorry...?" Eugene said awkwardly. Did he perhaps do something wrong?

"..I'm your friend, Eugene." Amber uttered, disappointed. "Do you not know how worried I was when I heard you were one of the possible casualties...? Sure, you always get in danger... but that situation... It was different. You could have died!"

Eugene turned silent, unable to respond. He averted his eyes from Amber. Inside him, he felt his heart get crushed.

? "...Please, next time..." Amber said, her eyes almost begging. "Tell me, or at least do me a favor and don't try to risk your life so recklessly."

"...I'm sorry," Eugene lowered his head, apologizing. He weakly clenched the bedsheet, feeling angry at himself. Not only was his heir status removed—worst of all, he made the woman he love disappointed.

"...Don't worry about it," Amber sighed, shaking her head. "For now, I'm glad you're safe and sound."

Eugene nodded, unable to respond. He released his clenched hand—feeling the soft cushion of the mattress. He shifted his attention to Amber. In close distance, he could see the visible worry and disappointment in her eyes—striking his heart internally.

...Amber was the woman he love. His eyes shifted to the ceiling above. And yet, he left her disappointed and worried. He left her feeling weak and helpless.

Eugene chuckled mockingly. What heir of the duke? What most talented noble...? The memories of Aza's torture on his body passed through his mind. His body twitched, feeling the imaginary pain. ƒ𝗿e𝘦𝚠𝗲𝚋n𝚘ν𝙚𝗹.𝑐o𝙢

..He had been far too overconfident. Far too self assured on himself. Because of that, he had led him and Arcuied both to a death trap—almost dying, if not for a miracle.

That proved he was nothing but a weak, helpless... overconfident trash. Trash, that was him. There was nothing else to call to a man like him; full of vain arrogance and flaunting pride, but couldn't amount to anything.

...If that was not trash, he didn't know what.

Eugene fell to the mattress, his body feeling the soft cushion. He stared at the ceiling blankly. The feeling of his own weakness and helplessness disgusted him.

How could he protect Amber if he couldn't even protect himself? How could he even be with her...if he was this...weak and helpless?

In that matter, now that he had lost his heir status—he was no longer qualified to be with her. He couldn't even be together with her anymore... all of it was because of his foolish mistakes and weakness.

...Perhaps it was time to change that. He shifted his eyes to Amber staring at her emerald green eyes that were shining in beauty.

'Brother...'

Eugene thought, his hand clenching in the mattress. His eyes closed. After a while, he opened it; a change occurred. A great change. His eyes were full of resolve and determination.

'...Enjoy that heir position for the time being. It wouldn't be long before I take it back from you...'

—

In another room similar to Eugene's, except this one had lights turned off. The darkness enveloped the room as it covered the body of a snowy, white haired man.

At that moment, the young man's body shuddered. Arcuied abruptly woke up, panting as sweat poured down behind his back. His clothes were drenched in sweat.

"Haa..." Arcuied panted, putting his hand to his chest. His heart was beating rapidly, nervous and afraid... The nightmares had come back again, and this time with a change.

The entity he had always seen merely slumbering... suddenly awaken as it opened its large maw, devouring everything. As in everything. In its maw, the essence of anything turned to nonexistence as nothingness took over the whole universe.

Arcuied turned his head to the ceiling, trying to calm his nerves down. But alas, even as he tried—the innate fear within him remained. He could feel the hairs on his skin go erect in terror.

That entity...he knew it was somewhere in the universe. He knew it was connected to him. And...in someday, at some point, it was going to come for him. No, not only him. It will come for the entire universe.

All the while, he wouldn't be able to do anything. He would just die much faster than had Aza defeated him. He couldn't die yet... he still needed to find the answer to his past.

Arcuied clenched the bed sheets, muttering. "I need... to get stronger fast."