This day was like autumn had finally decided to show itself. The weather wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t great. The sun was looming behind white and thick clouds. It wasn’t raining, but the wind was strong and the leaves started to yellow.

  Inside the lecture hall, someone had tossed a lot of small notes folded in origami-like bows onto the table near the window. Kelit stood there, not yet sitting, only watching the notes. He took one and unfolded it: What does an orphan know of bloodlines? Yours rotted in the grave, don’t mess with ours. While he read, a snicker of laughter waved through the classroom. He unfolded another one, his face without any visible changes: Don’t stand out unless you want to join your parents. Street rat. His face still hadn’t changed. Peter laid his hand on his shoulder in a reassuring gesture as another wave of laughter swept the room.

  “Oh come on! My insults were more creative back in the day!” Iza looked more offended by the insulting notes than Kelit. Dante sighed. He woke up with a feeling that today’s gonna be just perfect in those sarcastic ways. And of course he was right.

  He slowly walked over to take his seat besides Kelit’s. He could’ve changed the seat to distance himself from all this, but he liked the view behind the window. Also, he wouldn’t ignore this start of bullying, may Kelit be as he is, but he was still the only living person who talked to him out of his own accord in the academy. While making his way to the seat, he didn’t even look at the notes.

  “Clean your trash, Mr. Merrin,” he just said, trying not to bump his shoulder with Peter, who stood in his way. The commoner shuddered as he heard Dante’s cold tone and avoided looking at him.

  “Great, you scared another one!” Izodora joked while floating to the window. Kelit suddenly smiled brightly, which gave Dante goosebumps. That really wasn’t a situation to laugh at, but for some reason, this guy did.

  “You're right. That’s just trash,” it appears that he caught the hidden meaning behind Dante’s words. He took his seat and nagged Peter to do the same. After that, he started folding back the notes he had unfolded with a smile.

  People around started whispering. Some ignored the situation completely, others, mostly commoners, looked at the handsome man in astonishment. It was like Kelit wasn’t bothered at all. He even started putting the notes together in some kind of big art piece. Dante rested his head on his hand, waiting for the professor and desperately trying not to look at what Kelit was doing. He ignored Iza’s chuckling and Peter's quiet whispers that maybe they should change seats. Soon, a paper swan was tossed at his desk. Those who were watching this scene suddenly became quiet. A commoner just tossed an origami made of slurs onto the infamous Crimson's desk.

  “And what is that, an ugly duckling?” he couldn’t help but look at Kelit after that nonchalant move. Those lavender eyes were daring and still sparkling with something Dante couldn’t put his hands on.

  “Ugly duckling turns into a swan, as beautiful as you.” At the same time, Izodora nearly laughed herself to yet another death, and Dante’s breath hitched. Kelit didn’t pause long. With even brighter smile than before he added like it was nothing else but small-talk: “Also, I made something beautiful out of their filth. That’s more than their parents ever managed.” It was good that classmates couldn’t hear them properly, as they’ve chosen seats far from Dante. Dante nearly cracked a smile at that, where in reality only corners of his mouth moved for a second. Too quickly to be caught. This reminded him of how the ghost of his great-grandfather used to insult nobles. It was true what the blond man said, but also unnerving. It didn’t match that perfect, cheery smile.

  “Kelit!” Peter tugged at his friend's jacket. “Maybe you should leave Lord Dante alone,” he said, his eyes yet again avoiding Dante.

  “Don’t be like that, Pete. I just started having fun,” he answered in a whisper, but loud enough for Dante to hear. He again wanted to see his reaction. Dante, in turn, was annoyed but didn’t let it show. He moved the origami aside, not tossing it off his desk, which made people whisper.

  “Oh, I can already hear the gossip! Monster Crimson is protecting the commoner! Is it love or not yet?!” teasing, Iza’s torso floated closer, visibly avoiding going near Kelit. She must have worried that something similar to yesterday might happen.“Or does Crimson have a soft spot for the weak? What is he scheming? Will Goldy live through it?”

  He would love to smack her with the books on law history from his major, so he decided to review during this lecture. He already knows the Andar Language; his mother was a lady from Andar, and he learned it before he even turned ten. So when the professor, a native Andar, arrived, Dante, without any more thoughts on that matter, opened the book. He was quite sure that Professor Bernadette, who was like a caretaker of the entire major, would question them on trade law, which got revolutionised in the sixth magic era, two centuries ago, and still stayed the same. The diplomatic major wasn’t a big one, so the chances that he would be the one questioned were rather high.

  The lecture slowly goes on, with the professor constantly correcting someone’s pronunciation. No one really liked this language; it was hard to learn, hard to pronounce, and structurally completely different from the Common Language they all were born into. But it was still mandatory, since the alliance between the two countries was created fifty or sixty years ago. Most people usually daydream about this subject. This lecture was no different.

  While Dante was writing notes, trying to remember emblems of the biggest trading companies, he heard a whisper next to his ear. A little too close for comfort.

  “I didn’t take you as one for the accessories.” he was sure that if he sighed, it would be a sigh loud enough to call upon all the dead in the area. So he only closed his eyes in defeat. “Do you secretly like shiny things?” Dante looked at Kelit, not sure what the man meant. The blond man was looking at his bracelet with interest. “It looks out of place on you, but also strangely fitting,” he was right, Dante didn’t wear colours like teal and violet. He wears shirts that complement his eyes, burgundy or red, with no accessories. As a noble, he looked plain compared to the rest without accessories, nor frills. This colourful bracelet was the single exception. Rose had given it to him, and he wore it without thought. How else should he applaud his sister’s considerate present? The fact that Kelit noticed and guessed it has some meaning, made his skin prickle. When Dante didn’t answer, Kelit added with a sly smile: “Maybe I should give you something shiny for you to warm up a little. All walls need some tempting cracks.”

  It was a moment when Dante realised that he had stopped addressing him as lord, like he was supposed to. They are not friends after all, and Kelit’s status was beneath Dante’s. Dante himself always disregards status as he only converses with ghosts, to whose status wasn’t a thing anymore. It was still unnerving and intentionally annoying, as Dante had guessed was the point. He wasn’t even sure when that man had stopped using it, so there was no point in dwelling on that.

  “I’m not a magpie, so don’t,” he turned his gaze back to the notebook. “Also, I’m doing something,” which could be translated to leave me the fuck alone.

  And surprisingly he really did leave him alone… But not completely. Those words stuck to him, like ghosts used to, and were too loud in their simplicity. Something shiny just for you. His skin still prickled where those lavender eyes had lingered on his wrist. He told himself it was irritation, nothing else.

  “Oh! He’s in your head already! But he can give you something, I like shiny things,” Dante wanted to retort ‘especially my brother’ but it wasn’t a time and place to talk to ghosts.

  Now that his peace was broken, he couldn’t concentrate on trade laws anymore. He gave up on revising for the next class. At least on it, he will be free of ‘harassment’ and lavender eyes that follow his movements. He would claim that he didn’t threaten Kelit yet, only because Ron wanted him to have friends, but in truth, it was nice that someone approached him, even if it made him annoyed.

  Thankfully, he was able to concentrate on the next classes, as neither Kelit nor Iza were around. His ghostly friend decided a long time ago that his major is boring, so during his favourite lectures, she was floating around gathering gossip. When the time for the longest of breaks came, he decided to wander around the library. Not many people were there; most students spent breaks in the clubs' activities rooms or canteen. The library gathered only nerds, those desperate not to fail subjects or the young eighteen-years-old first-years. When Dante entered, the latter escaped, scared because of his reputation. He scoffed quietly.

  Honestly, he just wanted some peace and quiet, but apparently, even in the library, it was impossible for him. As soon as he sat down in the most isolated corner, Iza found him.

  “Gloomy! You won’t believe what happened! Unless people already talked about it!” At that moment, she could be louder than ever before. The ghost that floated around the room approached. Each of them different, some with deformations, some without, but all hungry for gossip. “The floor was nearly wiped down with Goldy.”

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  “What? Start from the beginning?” Dante asked, curious despite himself. Her declaration didn’t sound good. It wasn’t that he was worried about the guy, but he never wished him worse than he had already.

  “Yeah, besides, who’s Goldy?” voiced one ghost in confusion.

  “That guy who approached our Gloomy here,” suddenly, each and every one of them knew who she meant. Was the gossip that strong this quickly? – Dante wandered. “So, during the practical magic training, the magic major was paired up. My guess is the professor was bribed. Our dear, nearly not magical at all Goldy, gets paired with that bigot Lord Antros. The one who made two students resign last year. You know, he's pretty good at that mana controlling stuff. While they were sparring, it was clear how unfair it was, but then Lord Bigot casts some spell, a big one I’m tellin’ ya! Miraculously, it totally missed Goldy! It was like it got deflected! Like it bounced off the air!” Dante didn’t know why, but the way she said it made it sound less like chance and more like intention. “And then bam! Straight into the professor!” she exclaimed, and the ghosts around them gasped in shock. Dante leaned closer, curious to hear what happened next. Iza always had that way of pulling him in with her storytelling.

  “The funniest thing is that Goldy missed it all as he was protecting his face!” ghosts laughed, but Dante realised that something wasn’t right with Iza’s expression. Even if her eyes were always in a state of shock, he knew she wanted to say something just to him. She continued her gossip despite it: “Professor screamed! Blood everywhere! Suddenly I have broken legs! Both of them! Bones out! Lady Alicia came running and screamed: “You can’t even aim at the right opponent?! Pathetic! And you call yourself a noble?!” man, what a sight it was! She healed the professor as much as her abilities allowed and took him to the infirmary. She’s going to report it! Lord Bigot is done for!”

  Ghost started applauding Lady Florent, or rather her dramatic impression made by Iza. For them, it was like the long-awaited climax of a play, when last season Alicia wanted to expel lord Bigot but failed without evidence. Now justice caught up to the bad guy. And if Iza’s guess was right that the professor took the bribe, he was done for, too. After some small talk, the ghost moved on to their wandering and people-watching routines. Izodora leaned in close to Dante’s ear and, in a half-whisper, said:

  “Now the real gossip. Goldy’s strange. I’m sure he was smiling while covering his face in fright. It was the kind of smile you make when pointing a revolver at someone. I saw it…” she said, though the uncertainty in her voice made it sound like she was second-guessing herself. “Don’t say I’m paranoid because of what happened yesterday. I swear I saw it.”

  “I wasn’t going to say anything like that,” he reassured her, and she hugged him. He knew that she became insecure when someone questioned her sanity. He guessed that it had to do with how she died. She never said what sliced her in half, but some people must have first assumed that she was crazy when she told them what she saw, and then she went to confirm if it wasn’t her imagination. And that’s what got her killed. It wasn’t hard to grasp the situation after four years of knowing her

  “Good, cause Hans did. Only because he didn’t see that from where he stood,” even though Hans and Iza were friends for much, much longer than Dante even lived, that ghost was surprisingly dense. Like the sword wasn’t sticking from his stomach, but from his head. “By the way, Goldy’s totally alright. No scratch in sight. Guess you would want to know, Lovebird.”

  Dante groaned. He did want to know; there was no denying that, but the reason was more practical than emotional. If he was alright, that meant even more harassment. Kelit would be insufferable after this. Dante didn’t need to be a sage to see it coming.

  The break was long enough for him to pick up the required book. Surprisingly, Madam Bernadette told them to read a historical novel. She did mention that it was a romance. Still, their job was to first answer why they actually read it as future diplomats or trade consultants, and their second assignment was to write about how they would improve all the laws in the story. Her teaching methods were always a little different from those of other professors. It could be that she actually spent half her life as a diplomat.

  Dante decided to look for the book. While he walked the aisles, Iza hummed some long-forgotten melody. When he finally found those books, stored neatly under a sign made by the librarian: Bernadette’s strange assignments, she got interested.

  “A forbidden romance!” She sounded delighted and started reading a description, “Lettuce is a diplomat from Andar, sent to the Kingdom Far Away, where she meets Princess Oil. Soon she realised that looming war and nobles' schemes are not the only things she has to worry about. Oil makes it twice as hard for her. Will their feelings stop the war? Or will they die together?... What is it?! What’s with those names?! Did the author raid a salad bowl while naming characters?! Bernadette is mad in the head!”

  Dante chuckled as no one was around. He had a feeling that he had already heard a similar story somewhere. Of course without the ridiculous names, but with Andar diplomats and peculiar princes. When he wanted to voice it, he suddenly heard a voice coming from the aisles next to the one he was standing in.

  “Why did I tell you he spends breaks here? He’s going to kill us. You especially,” the voice sounded terrified and familiar. Dante sighed. There goes his peace. “Didn’t you have enough for one day after what happened?! You're the worst room-mate ever, Kelit!”

  “He’s not that scary, Pete…” a warm and gentle voice answered, and soon the golden-haired man stepped into the same aisle, where Dante was now pretending to study the book with a blank expression. “Ah, there you are! What are you reading?”

  Peter tried to stop his friend from approaching, but failed miserably. Dante lifted his eyes at them, slow and cold. Peter flinched, his brown gaze darting away before mumbling an excuse and fleeing. Kelit, on the other hand, a contrast to Peter’s behaviour, peeked at the book in Dante’s hands.

  “Oh, I never would’ve pegged you as the type to read smut!” Wait, is it smut? – Thought Dante, glancing back at the book cover with an eighteen-plus sign. He didn’t answer, only pointed at the sign above the bookcase, now completely understanding its meaning. Even though he likes reading books like that, he would never admit it. “A peculiar professor, you have it there.” He sounded interested, “Maybe I should change my major?”

  “You could say that and don’t,” those rays of sunshine just reached for the copy of the book, standing even closer to Dante now.

  “What’s the juicy assignment for this hot book?” Dante's face nearly sank; his little sister’s puns were better, even Iza’s, her half-body puns, were funnier.

  “Rewrite the laws from that kingdom,” he just answered.

  “Sounds fun, can I try?” That was unexpected, but strangely on board with this guy. He probably wanted to have at least one topic to share with Dante.

  “Cute, he is interested in your things!” Iza blew him a kiss.

  “You can go to Madam Bernadette, she will be delighted to let you attend her lectures,” Kelit nodded his head, somehow content with himself. Soon, a sly smile rose on his face:

  “Will you tutor me?”

  “No,” the young lord answered without a change in expression. The blond man put a hand on his heart in a theatrical gesture and let out a quiet ‘ouch’

  “What an Iceheart,” he teased, and Iza laughed.

  “His puns are terrible, but he knows how to give nicknames.”

  “Can I call you that?” Dante shot him a glance, which was clear ‘no’, but he didn’t want to repeat the same word again and again. “I’ll take it as a yes! So do you usually spend your breaks in the library, Iceheart?”

  Dante wasn’t sure anymore whether he should laugh or cry. Out of all the people on the planet, this one must have approached him. Inside, his emotions were all over the place, but on the outside, the cold mask looked even more polished.

  “Do you usually annoy people?” he retorted, which made Kelit grin with his teeth. It was a charming smile, the most charming Dante had ever received. “And I heard the floor just got wiped with you.”

  “You heard?” the gold-haired man repeated, smile still in place.

  “You underestimate gossip around here. Everyone talks about how ‘miraculously’ a spell missed you,” he put an accent on the word ‘miraculously’, believing that some power was at play after what Iza had said. Kelit’s smile sank a little but only for a moment. Soon, he looked like a blessing was bestowed upon him.

  “Were you worried about me, Iceheart?!” Dante had a feeling that the entire library heard him. It was again a deliberate action. Iza eyed him, curious about something.

  “I’ll be worried for my sanity if you keep at it,” he snapped coldly. “Why are you screaming?” After taking a breath, he decided to walk out of the library. During the entire walk to the librarian, writing his name in the cards as he took the book with him, Kelit was right after him with that shit-eating grin, which made him only more annoyed.

  In the corridor, a blond man matched his pace to go arm to arm. It wasn’t like Dante minded really, but the glances that followed them were far too many. Iza was right, the gossip is gonna be wild… Lost in thought, he glanced around without realising. In the end, he locked eyes with a confident green gaze. Lady Alicia Florent stood there proud among peers, basking in their attention. Their gazes snapped simultaneously, and it was again, like they had never seen each other. It seemed that she avoided him all the same as he avoided her. He noticed Kelit’s curious glance, but neither of them spoke.

  They walked around the academy till the start of the next lesson. Besides constant flirting, teasing, and too many smiles, Kelit wasn’t so bad to listen to. And Dante had a feeling that if he were to refuse his attention, he would come at him twice as hard. Peter was waiting in class, surprised upon seeing them walk in together, and Kelit intact. Dante was still sulking within his cold mask, even though those rays of sunshine tried so hard to tear it down.

  The professor welcomed them with a test. The first this semester, and it was only the second day. Nothing too unusual, but still unwelcome, as exams were the start of the worst.