Kaen followed two figures who were talking. They were of unparalleled beauty, Azriel and Solvane, of course. They chatted about this and that, and as they walked, everyone made way for them, like knights clearing the path for their lords.
Kaen followed them, keeping a distance of about a meter to give them time to celebrate their reunion; they were heading to a café nearby that was well-known for its delicious coffee and pastries.
While she was talking to Solvane, Azriel glanced at Kaen from time to time, but she usually did so so discreetly that Kaen would have noticed—except he was mentally exhausted.
"What happened to make you change so much?" Azriel wondered.
Of course, no one knew yet that Kaen had lost his memory.
"Look, Solvane, we're almost at the café," said Azriel, still holding the umbrella she'd raised over her head
They walked into the café. A woman gave them a slight nod and asked what they would like to eat or drink. They all ordered the same thing: black coffee, and sat down at a table Azriel had reserved in advance.
They were quietly enjoying their coffee when a group of people also entered the café.
One of them whispered, "Isn't that the failed prince of the Celestain family?"
She was the daughter of a high-ranking noble family and approached them with an elegant smile, greeting them, "Have a nice day, Princesses Azriel and Solvane, and Sir Kaen."
Kaen didn't even look at her. Solvane was always polite and kind to everyone.
Azriel, on the other hand, lowered his cup and set it gently on the table, then stood up and walked slowly; you could sense a certain pressure, but nothing hostile, just the pressure of someone of higher social standing coming to meet you.
She shook his hand, and just as she did, the lady looked him in the eyes.
Kaen watched Azriel and saw something, a hidden intent to kill, but one that was very well controlled, honed by years of experience. Of course, he didn't know what it was; it was just a gut feeling.
***
The coffee had vanished from the woman's mind.
"Where am I?" asked the young woman, sitting in an uncomfortable position.
She looked from side to side and saw a crowd of people who kept repeating the same thing over and over.
DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD!
"Huh, what's going on?" she gasped in panic.
She finally looked around to see where she was; she was in a square. She tried to lift her head, and the only thing she saw was a large blade leaning dangerously over her head.
"WHAT! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!" she shouted, desperately trying to pull her head out from under the guillotine.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, and giant red slit eyes, like those of a predator, appeared in the sky.
That gaze meant: stay where you are, or you'll end up regretting it.
***
The young woman, finally back at the café, took a trembling step backward, her tear-filled eyes fixed on the spot as if she had just seen something beyond human comprehension.
Her friends tried to catch up with her, but her once-confident smile had completely vanished, replaced by something her arrogance could do nothing against: fear—a fear so wild and raw that she lowered her eyes as she looked at her.
Azriel looked at her for one last second, then headed in the opposite direction toward her table and sat down in her chair.
Then she drank her coffee as if nothing had happened, while the little groups scattered.
She took a sip, then another.
"Solvane, Kaen, tell me what really happened—it's not just a matter of change, is it?" Azriel asked calmly, savoring his coffee
"Actually..." Solvane began.
But Kaen cut her off.
"Tell us first what you did to that girl," he asked calmly, mimicking Azriel's gestures.
"Okay, I'll tell you if you swear you'll tell me what happened on your end," said Azriel, setting his cup down seriously on the table
Kaen nodded
"It's very simple. What I used is called the 'intention to kill.' As the name suggests, it allows us to project our will to kill our opponent. If the enemy's will is much weaker than yours, then they might hallucinate and catch a glimpse of death—or simply die outright," said Azriel in a strangely calm tone.
'She's really strange; she talks about killing people as if the death of her fellow humans doesn't affect her at all… I've killed too, and what did I feel at that moment… I felt nothing. Who am I to judge?'
"I see. So listen carefully to what I'm going to tell you, Azriel," Kaen took a breath. "I recently lost my memory. I don't remember who I used to be, the relationships I had when I was younger, and so on."
"I see," Azriel replied without elaborating.
She remained silent, set her cup down on the table, and stared at it strangely for several long minutes.
...
"Hey, Kaen, tell me,do you... remember the lake?" Azriel asked.
Kaen didn't answer right away. He didn't know what she was talking about. The lake? What lake? He had no memory of that lake, or of anything else, for that matter.
He glanced at his sister, and she looked away.
"She definitely knows something about this," Kaen thought, but didn't press his sister.
She took the last sip of her tea.
"Okay, I see," Azriel replied.
She said nothing more and let the information she had received hang in the air
When a major announcement echoed throughout the academy
PLEASE GATHER IN THE HALL. EXAMS ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN!