Chapter 9: Stealing the Letter
At that moment, neither of them noticed a sinister bandage slithering in the corner of the classroom.
A blood-red eye protruded from it, glowing with an eerie light.
The eye blinked, as if recording everything.
Elsewhere, in the academy’s corridor, Eric walked thoughtfully, a bandage covering one eye.
“Boss, what’s with your eye? Why not just heal it with magic?” his friend asked, scratching his messy hair.
Eric frowned, replying impatiently, “It’s nothing. Don’t ask.”
Inwardly, he muttered to himself, “Let’s have some fun.”
A creepy smile curled his lips, made even more sinister by the bandage’s shadow.
After the practical magic class, Angus thanked Lily.
“Lily, thank you for helping me,” Angus said, her voice tinged with gratitude.
“Don’t be so formal, Elena. You trust me so much—I’ll do my best to help,” Lily replied with a smile.
Among the ancient buildings of the Royal Academy of Magic and Battle Aura, sunlight filtered through dappled leaves, scattering like fine golden sand over a group of hurried figures.
Lily, accompanied by dozens of friends, moved quickly toward the academy gates.
Their faces brimmed with excitement and anticipation, their laughter echoing in the air.
Yet, Lily’s eyes occasionally flickered with caution, out of place in the cheerful atmosphere.
Her petite frame moved in the middle of the group, her light blue robe swaying with her brisk steps.
She clutched the letter tightly to her chest, as if it were the world’s most precious treasure, terrified of any mishap.
Her friends, surrounding her, chatted animatedly about upcoming adventures or teased each other, oblivious to Lily’s taut nerves.
Lily’s ability to rally so many friends stemmed from her well-earned popularity.
At the academy, she was known for her kind heart, always ready to help anyone in need.
Her sincerity and warmth had won the trust and affection of her peers, so when she asked for help, they agreed without hesitation.
But just as they neared the academy gates, a dark figure emerged from the shadows.
A bandage shot from Eric’s hand, swift as a serpent, wrapping around Lily’s wrist.
With a gentle tug, the letter was effortlessly snatched away.
“My letter’s been stolen!” Lily cried, her voice filled with panic and fear.
Her classmates froze, their cheerful expressions turning to shock before they sprang into action, frantically searching the area.
“Where is it? Who took it?” a tall classmate shouted, scanning the surroundings.
“Split up and look!” another called, voice firm and resolute.
The group erupted in chatter, the atmosphere growing tense.
Eric, now holding the letter, remained expressionless, his calm eyes betraying no emotion.
He slowly opened it, scanning its contents.
The letter detailed his secret acts of torture and expressed intent to report him to the authorities.
Yet his face showed no change, as if this was all within his expectations.
Only he knew the storm raging within him.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the academy, Angus hurried toward the teacher’s office.
Her heart pounded with each step, sweat beading on her forehead.
She knew this was a gamble, but to escape Eric’s shadow and reclaim her freedom, she had to act.
As she walked, she silently prayed for her plan to succeed.
Memories of her time with Eric—days filled with fear and unease—haunted her like a nightmare.
Every tortured scene, every helpless sob, fueled her resolve to end it all.
[Here, a twist in the narrative unfolds.]
Initially, Angus had intended to write to her father, but realizing he wouldn’t believe her, she changed her plan to expose Eric’s abuses.
She deliberately wrote the letter to mislead Eric, making him think she was only trying to report him, not contact her family, to dispel his suspicions about her identity.
But then she saw Eric torturing someone who’d only killed one person—a clear crime.
Angus thought, The heavens are helping me!
She decided to hand the letter to the police.
If they arrested Eric, she’d be free to do as she pleased.
Yet, to her shock, Eric was even torturing criminals—his moral line was shockingly low!
Angus resolved to accelerate her plan, instructing Lily to take all her friends and the letter out of the school.
She had Lily bring friends to protect her, fearing Eric might kill her, given his low threshold.
Then, Angus went to report to the teacher—a diversionary tactic.
This was a foolproof plan.
How could she lose? It was impossible.
But if she did, she’d be doomed, perhaps worse—condemned to a life as Eric’s plaything, subjected to both his “love” and his cruel hobbies.
At that moment, Eric, having read the letter, had already formulated a plan.
Through the bandage with an eye, he saw Angus heading to the teacher’s office and instantly understood her scheme.
“What a cunning woman,” Eric said softly, his tone devoid of anger or joy, only a deep resignation and a faint, imperceptible admiration.
He wanted to rush back to stop her, but he was too far from the academy to reach the office before Angus.
There was no anger in Eric’s heart, only calm calculation.
He gripped the letter tightly, his knuckles whitening, crumpling the paper.
He knew this time he’d need to rely on wit, not brute force, to resolve the crisis.
Lily and her friends were still frantically searching, their eyes filled with anxiety and worry.
“Could it be that mysterious cloaked figure?” one classmate whispered.
“Stop guessing and find it!” another snapped.
Unaware of what was coming, they felt as if they’d been swept into a terrifying storm.
Eric, unhurried, glanced at them faintly before strolling back toward the academy.
His figure moved leisurely under the sunlight, exuding an enigmatic aura.
Each step was calm, yet it seemed to conceal endless schemes.