Chapter 39: They Won’t Let Me Sleep
Kael hadn’t slept well.
That was already a bad sign.
The second bad sign was that every time he closed his eyes, a blue window appeared before him.
[Estimated arrival: 68 hours, 14 minutes.]
It was still there.
Unchanging.
Threatening.
Annoying.
He opened one eye.
The window was still there.
He closed his eye.
The window was still there.
He covered his head with the pillow.
The window was still there.
"I hate you."
The window didn’t respond.
The Little Fat King, curled up on his chest, opened one eye with evident annoyance.
"Meow."
"I know. I don’t know what’s going to appear either."
The cat closed his eye again.
Kael sighed.
He didn’t know what the Second Compatible Entity was.
He didn’t know if it would be dangerous.
He didn’t know if it would be another capricious creature.
He didn’t know if the Little Fat King would accept it.
And considering his usual luck, he wasn’t ruling out it being a catastrophe on legs.
He dragged himself out of bed.
He just wanted to do something normal.
Go to class.
Listen to the teacher.
Ignore Darius.
Survive the day.
Nothing complicated.
He left his room.
And knew his plans were dead.
The academy’s main courtyard was completely packed.
Elegant carriages occupied the entire entrance.
Enchanted horses.
Uniformed guards.
Merchants.
Guild representatives.
Minor nobles.
Magical journalists floating on light disks.
Everyone was talking at once.
Everyone seemed to be looking for someone.
And when they saw him, the noise exploded.
"It’s him!"
"Kael Veyron!"
"The summoner of the Fat King!"
"Over here!"
"Just one question!"
"We have an exclusive offer!"
Kael stood still.
He looked at the crowd.
Looked at the sky.
Seriously considered turning around and going back to bed.
The Little Fat King also observed the scene.
Then yawned.
Clearly approving the idea.
A man dressed in extravagant clothes appeared before him.
"Young Kael! I’m a representative of Imperial Feline Delights."
He took out a carved wooden box.
Opened it slowly.
Inside were perfectly prepared fish fillets.
The aroma was so intense that even Kael felt hungry.
The Little Fat King’s ears perked up.
The merchant smiled.
"Exclusive food for high-level creatures. Free for a year if you agree to be our ambassador."
The cat looked at the food.
Then at the merchant.
Then at Kael.
As if waiting for an answer.
Kael was too tired to think.
"No."
The merchant blinked.
"No?"
"I’m sleepy."
And he kept walking.
The merchant was petrified.
A middle-aged noble immediately took his place.
"Young Kael! My house would be delighted to fund your career."
Kael didn’t even slow down.
"No."
"You don’t want to hear the proposal?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I’m sleepy."
The noble stood frozen.
A guild representative appeared from the other side.
"Our organization offers preferential membership, access to exclusive resources, and elite missions."
"No."
"You don’t even want to know the conditions?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Kael sighed.
"Because I’m sleepy."
The man opened his mouth.
Closed it.
And slowly stepped aside.
Apparently, no one had prepared a strategy for dealing with someone too tired to care about money.
Kael walked a few more steps.
The crowd kept chasing him.
Questions came from all directions.
"Is it true you defeated the Church of Order?"
"Can your summon destroy cities?"
"Does the Fat King really devour souls?"
"How many entities can you summon?"
"Is it true you’re engaged to Seraphina Vale?"
Kael stumbled.
He looked at the journalist who had asked the last question.
"What?"
The journalist raised a notebook.
"Reliable student sources."
Kael felt a headache forming.
Every day he understood his own life less and less.
A hand landed on his shoulder.
"Good morning, Kael."
Aurelion appeared smiling.
As always.
Relaxed.
Amused.
As if chaos were a private show.
He looked at the crowd.
Then at Kael.
"This is incredible."
"It’s not."
"Of course it is. A week ago, no one knew who you were."
"I miss those times."
Aurelion burst out laughing.
"I don’t."
Behind him, Darius appeared.
And surprisingly, he looked annoyed.
Very annoyed.
He watched the crowd with a frown.
"This is ridiculous."
Kael looked at him.
"What are you doing here?"
"I’m going to class."
"I thought you skipped classes."
"I do. But I also need to maintain my ranking."
Aurelion smiled.
"He’s angry because no one asks him for autographs."
Darius crossed his arms.
"I’m not angry."
A journalist ran past him.
"Excuse me! Do you know where Kael is?"
Darius clenched his jaw.
"I’m a little angry."
Kael nodded.
That was surprisingly reasonable.
He tried to keep walking.
The crowd closed in on him again.
Then something strange happened.
People began to step aside.
One by one.
In silence.
As if a dangerous creature had just appeared.
Kael turned his head.
Seraphina was walking beside him.
He didn’t remember seeing her approach.
He never saw her approach.
She just appeared.
Like a natural phenomenon.
She held a small lunch box in her hands.
Her expression was the usual one.
Completely serene.
Completely expressionless.
And yet, the crowd took several steps back.
No one tried to approach.
No one asked questions.
No one breathed too loudly.
Kael looked around.
Then at her.
"Seraphina."
"Hi."
"Were you here a second ago?"
"Yes."
"You weren’t here."
"I was walking."
"That doesn’t answer anything."
She tilted her head slightly.
"I know."
She handed him the lunch box.
"Breakfast."
Kael opened the lid.
Inside was rice, meat, and vegetables perfectly arranged.
He blinked.
"Is this for me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Seraphina watched him for a few seconds.
"You look tired."
Kael felt like part of his brain had stopped working.
Aurelion smiled as if he had just witnessed something wonderful.
Darius rolled his eyes.
The Little Fat King sniffed the food.
Then looked at Seraphina.
And for the first time all day, he didn’t look annoyed.
Kael took a bite.
And discovered something important.
The food tasted incredible.
More importantly, Seraphina’s presence kept everyone away.
It was perfect.
No.
It was better than perfect.
It was a human problem-repellent.
Kael had never appreciated another person’s existence so much.
They walked together toward the main building.
Aurelion kept watching the chaos with a smile.
Darius muttered something about social injustices.
And Kael, for the first time that morning, felt like he might actually make it to class.
Then it happened.
A black carriage stopped in front of the academy.
It wasn’t flashy.
It didn’t have excessive ornaments.
And precisely because of that, it was much more intimidating.
On one of its sides, a silver shield gleamed.
An emblem Kael didn’t recognize.
But everyone else did.
The crowd fell silent.
Aurelion stopped smiling.
Darius frowned.
Even Seraphina looked away toward the carriage.
The door opened slowly.
A woman descended with elegance.
Dark hair.
Black dress.
White gloves.
A calm smile.
She looked at the crowd.
Ignored the journalists.
Ignored the teachers.
Ignored everyone.
Her eyes stopped directly on Kael.
And she smiled.
As if she had just found exactly what she was looking for.
