The journey to Luminara Academy was quiet.
The carriage rocked gently as it moved along the paved road. It was a magic carriage like he had gotten two days back, but this one wasn't imbued with wind magic.
Protective barrier magic runes were engraved on this carriage, sacrificing speed for safety.
While the wind carriages were efficient, they were easily intercepted.
Across from Ronan stood a familiar face.
She had pitch-black hair with deep, amethyst eyes. Her face was beautiful, far more beautiful than anything he had seen in his past life.
Her beauty was easily on par with Iris Lionhart's.
"You look better today," Ronan offered. "Not homeless."
Aura didn't look at him, keeping her gaze on the road.
"You have a strange way of complimenting girls."
"Oh, don't be like that. I felt bad calling you a disgusting, vile sewer rat."
Aura glared.
"You never even said that!"
A laugh escaped Ronan's lips, and Aura looked like she wanted to break his nose. If it weren't for the contract, she would have probably used all types of magic on him by now.
Aura clicked her tongue. "You are insufferable."
"Don't worry, I'm well aware. When we enter the Academy, you'll see. I don't have many fans."
"Looks like I'll have an easy time making friends, then," Aura muttered.
"I'm glad to see you have a sense of humor."
That was right, Ronan had her enter the Academy with him.
The plan was as such from the beginning. Sadly, the novel didn't mention any cheat abilities or artifacts that he could get his hands on early on.
No 'secret location where you have to enter a hidden phrase and an ancient god gives you a forbidden piece of armor.'
Ronan thought back to the black market.
Okay, maybe hidden phrases were used a bit, but that was besides the point.
There was another reason he didn't go with the slave contract. If he had signed a slave contract with her, he wouldn't have been able to bring her with him, as the contract would have been exposed very quickly.
That alone wouldn't have stopped him, of course.
He would just have had Aura do tasks for him outside of the Academy, but since she was a highblood demon, that path was blocked.
"You're staring."
Aura broke him out of his thoughts.
"Was I? Maybe I'm just admiring the beauty of a high-blood demoness."
Aura's eyes widened in panic, and she instantly turned towards the driver of the carriage, who was behind a glass panel.
Ronan chuckled at her expression.
"Don't worry, he can't hear us. Do you think I'm that stupid?"
Aura didn't laugh, nor did she relax. Instead, she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Don't say things like that so casually."
"Haha, why not?"
"You know why."
"Is it because it's dangerous?" Ronan asked. "Or because you don't like being reminded of your position."
Aura's eyes narrowed at him.
"Because it's dangerous."
With a shrug, Ronan said, "Fair enough."
The carriage suddenly slowed down, and it came to a stop.
The barrier runes slowly went down, a soft glow emanating.
Ronan looked out, and the scenery had changed. The roads were wider, there were more people, more carriages.
They were all converging towards one location.
Luminara Academy.
Even from a distance, Ronan could see it.
Countless white spires pierced the sky. It looked like a massive castle that only grew in size and grandeur the closer you got to it.
"Is that it?" Aura asked. Even she seemed slightly in awe, although she tried to hide it.
"That's right. That's Luminara Academy."
Aura frowned.
"The mana here feels unnatural."
"Well, that's the point. They regulate how the mana acts around the academy, so it's denser, and it allows easier purification of the core."
Aura's frown deepened even more.
"I don't like it."
"Well, get used to it. You'll have to."
Aura didn't say anything.
"You can stop here," Ronan said.
The carriage driver nodded, and Ronan paid him.
They were still quite a bit of distance away from the Academy, and no one would notice them out here.
Ronan stepped out of the carriage. Although the city Luminara Academy resided in was extremely busy, he had ordered the carriage driver to take them somewhere lowkey.
Aura stepped out of the carriage, her boots landing softly against the dirt road.
Then, Ronan spoke.
"From here on," he said calmly. "We don't know each other."
Aura didn't respond immediately, meeting his gaze.
"Why?"
"A few reasons. One, it would raise too many questions. You are strong; I am currently not. If I suddenly walk into the Academy with a beautiful girl who has enough power to take down even students in the upper years, it would definitely be suspicious."
Aura nodded. she understood that much.
"Also… the human academy is quite competitive. With my reputation and personality, I don't doubt I'll make many enemies quickly. Having an overpowered demon princess is definitely a plus, don't you think?"
Aura's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not a princess."
"Daughter of a duke, same thing."
"I'm not even surprised that you know that. What do you have, some type of mind-reading artifact?"
Ronan shook his finger.
"I don't want to tell you, princess."
Aura made an ugly face.
Ronan chuckled.
"Don't act like that. Also, I have one more reason I need to keep our relationship secret."
Aura's eyes moved up.
"It's because I want you to make lots of friends in the Academy! If everyone knew you were affiliated with me, you might have problems with that."
"Hah, good joke."
Aura fully thought Ronan was lying.
He actually wasn't lying, though.
Ronan did need her to make certain connections when the Academy started.
Sure, the reasons weren't as noble as he made them out to be, but that didn't mean he was lying.
Ronan's expression turned serious.
"You're smart, I expect you to figure the rest out. We will go through the entire entrance exam without seeing each other. Don't even look at me, understand?"
"Tch, ordering me like a dog," Aura sneered at Ronan and put on a mocking tone. "Understood."
Ronan grinned again.
"Great."