Chapter 56: Chapter 56 : Under the Blue Moon
Zeres sat quietly on a round table, drinking the glass of wine in his hands as his gaze occasionally drifted towards the center of the hall.
It was now fiilled with students dancing.
’Where’s the named characters? ’ he squinted his eyes, trying to locate them.
"Ahh fuck" he cursed under his breath.
It was too noisy.
The hall was too noisy.
The sound of hearts beating extremely fast echoed loudly on his ears.
’Tsk, if you’re nervous then you are! Your heartbeats is making it hard for me to focus.’ He clicked his tongue, putting down the glass of wine—he stood up.
"Phew, I’m finally out." A breath escaped from his mouth.
The noise behind him turned into background noise as he stepped out of the banquet hall.
The sound of heartbeats and the scent if blood was making him feel dizzy.
"I should just walk." He muttered under his breath.
The cold wind bit his pale skin as he trudged across the academy grounds.
He walked quietly, his expression serene—peaceful even.
"This place really amaze me." He mumbled, hands in his pocket.
The blue moon illuminated the pavements Zeres crossed until he arrived at a gazebo.
The gazebo stood quietly beside the lake, isolated from the distant noise of the academy.
Built from pale stone and dark oak wood, the structure had weathered countless seasons. Moonlight spilled through the open sides, painting the floor in shades of silver-blue. The carved railings cast long shadows beneath the glow of the blue moon hanging high above.
A cold wind swept across the lake.
It rustled through the nearby trees, making the leaves tremble softly while the vines coiled around the pillars swayed with the breeze. The chill carried the scent of water and damp earth, brushing against the skin like icy fingers.
Beyond the railing, the lake stretched beneath the night sky. Its dark surface reflected the moon overhead, broken only by the occasional ripple drifting across the water.
The academy grounds could still be seen from afar.
Lanterns glimmered faintly in the distance, their warm light a sharp contrast to the cold blue glow surrounding the gazebo.
Everything felt still.
No sound of heartbeats that always made him feel sick. No scent of blood that made his stomach churn.
Only the whisper of the wind and the gentle movement of the lake remained.
Under the blue moon, the gazebo looked almost unreal. Like a forgotten place hidden between reality and a dream, untouched by the noise of the world.
"So there’s a place like this here." Zeres mumbled, stepping inside the gazebo, he stared at the moon.
It shone radiantly amidst the dark night sky.
"Too many things have changed, it’s making me uneasy." He admitted.
"Fuck, this is why I hate times like these" he cursed under his breath, but it wasn’t a sharp one—just a self mockery.
Because he meant it, everytime he’s left alone with his thoughts.
It all drifted back to his previous life, an ordinary life of a man who worked himself to death for success.
The life of a man trying to survive with just him and his sister.
The moon’s radiance shifted, as if it’s telling Zeres that the moon itself knew of his struggles.
He sat there quietly, countless thoughts forming inside his head.
____________
"Lady Clezen, can I have the honor of having a dance with you? " a noble cadet asked, he wore a crimson suit adorned with dark embroidery.
He looked decent, a face people would consider good-looking. Yet Aeliz wasn’t looking at him.
Her gaze was fixed on a lone figure crossing the banquet until he reached the door.
He looked restless, though his hair looked good, effortless.
’Is it that again? ’ she thought, she wasn’t clueless enough not to notice that Zeres seem to be struggling everytime he’s in a big crowd.
And when she asked Keisha about it, she finally realized the reason.
She thought he had anxiety despite him acting all cocky everytime.
But it wasn’t.
He was battling with his own instincts, preventing himself not to lose his self-control in a place crowded with humans.
For him, it must felt agonizing.
He had to constantly supressed his beastly instincts.
"Lady Clezen? " the man asked, his brows lifted slightly.
"Sorry, I have something to do." She said flatly, lifting the hem of her dress, she stood up.
"Where are you going? " Keisha asked, her eyes narrowed.
"I’ll just get some fresh air." She replied before she hurriedly stepped out of the banquet hall.
The cold wind immediately met her, biting on her skin.
"Ahh shit, why didn’t I bring even a jacket?" She hissed, her slender arms embracing herself.
"Just where’s that bastard? " she mumbled.
After walking for a minute, she finally arrived at a gazebo.
It stood quietly amidst beside the lake, the blue moon illuminating the entirety of the gazebo.
And there, he sat there quietly.
His long white hair fluttering behind him, he had a calm expression—though Aeliz felt there was more to it.
Looking at him from a far, he looked quite lonely—as if he really didn’t belong into something.
’Tsk, why am I even bothered by this bastard?’ She rolled her eyes, annoyance flicking on her face.
But still, she walked up behind him, her hair fluttering behind her.
"Idiot, what are you doing here? " she asked, carefully settling beside him.
Zeres glanced at her, for a moment she had thought he’ll respond with a teasing remark—something that will make her snap.
"Nothing" he said quietly, his gaze drifting back at the moon.
"Looking at you, I might even thought you’re one of the students that got expelled."
"Is that so? "
"It’s cold, give me that." Aeliz grabbed the tailcoat hanging loosely on his shoulders.
"Dumbass, you should have bring a jacket; it’s cold out here." Zeres chuckled lightly.
They sat there quietly, the gazebo was quiet—save for the occasional sound of the howling winds.
Just then, the melody from the banquet hall reached the gazebo they rested at.
"It’s still not done? " Zeres mumbled.
"Bastard, do you know how to dance? " Aeliz stood up.
"No, why are you asking? "
"I’ve wasted my time going here, you should at least make it worthwhile."
