The entire trip was silent. No one spoke; the soft hum of the engine and the sound of the wheels rolling over the road filled the space. It was a strange feeling to leave the city—and even stranger to return. But at least this time, I could pass through the gates without fainting or experiencing any other unfortunate incident.
And yet, a peculiar excitement stirred within me. As if I could sense that this day still had more in store. A strange, unexplainable feeling settled inside me—one that, in hindsight, proved to be entirely justified.
Passing the massive blocks, crossing their shadows, we drove through the entire city.
Through the tinted window, I observed the houses, the streets, the people. The city was both naturally human and angelically mystical. I don't need to mention again that everything here shines in a strange combination. Modern buildings blended with rustic elements, as if standing on the border between another world and ours.
The streets were filled with angels… yet humans lived among them as well. Their coexistence seemed natural, as if it had always been this way. Of course, in many parts of the world, humans and angels lived together, but only in this city did my kind truly exist—our daily lives imbued with greater powers. Beyond the city's gates, things were different. Clara and John liked it this way. They enjoyed living among humans, pretending to be one of them.
Through the tinted window, we passed the training academy, where drills had been underway since morning. I watched the moving figures on the practice field, their focus unwavering as they carried out their exercises. As the road began to rise, I knew we were heading toward the castle. I had only ever seen this place from a distance—now, I was being taken straight there.
Someone was already waiting for us at the gate.
As the car stopped and I stepped out, I immediately recognized the dark-clad figure. For a moment, I had hoped never to see her again, but fate seemed to have other plans.
She was the arrogant woman I had previously had the displeasure of meeting.
This time, however, she wore black instead of white, as if preparing for battle. She watched me with her arms crossed, and when our eyes met, she smirked.
"When I first saw you, I knew it wouldn't take long for us to meet here," she remarked in a condescending tone.
It was clear she never believed I'd be a trouble-free recruit. I wasn't sure if she was trying to provoke me or if she simply found the situation amusing. Either way, I chose to ignore her, forcing a polite smile onto my face. I didn't want to make my situation any more difficult.
We stepped into the castle.
The interior was both grand and somewhat oppressive. The walls were adorned with massive, intricately detailed frescoes and towering stone statues that exuded both dignity and intimidation. Rustic elements mixed with modern features, creating an oddly cold yet strangely home-like atmosphere.
Eventually, we stopped in front of an enormous, ornate hall. Most of the convoy stayed behind, leaving only a few dark-clad escorts with me, along with the blond general and the arrogant woman, who stood a few meters away in quiet conversation.
I waited in silence.
Then, footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway.
A figure approached—dressed in black, with part of his face covered by a mask. It didn't conceal him completely, only partially, but his eyes…
A pair of emerald-green eyes flashed, and for a moment, I felt his gaze in my throat. My pale green eyes could have hidden in comparison—his glowed with a deep, almost unnatural shade. I had seen him before, when I first arrived.
At first, he glanced at the two dark-clad figures behind me, then at me.
But when he spoke, it was as if he wasn't even addressing me.
"The ruler will not receive you now," he said coldly.
His voice was quiet, yet it carried a heavy sense of menace. Just like last time.
Then he looked directly at me.
"I don't want to hear about a similar situation again. But considering that you're new, I'll overlook this incident," he continued. "Your courage is commendable."
I was surprised. I hadn't expected him to phrase it that way. It almost sounded like praise, even though the coldness in his voice hadn't faded.
Before I could say anything, he added,
"We don't have time for such minor matters right now. The ruler is not present."
As he spoke, a strange feeling crept over me.
Why was he wearing a mask? What was he hiding?
The two dark-clothed guards didn't seem surprised at all by his words. But I couldn't shake the thought. His gaze, his voice… there was something strange, an energy lingering around him. The matter itself no longer concerned me—Michael clearly wasn't angry, and my mind had already drifted elsewhere.
I didn't understand why, but I felt that this figure would still play a role in my life.
As he passed me, I instinctively turned to look back and saw a brief glance exchanged between him and the general. As if, in a single look, they had conveyed a message to each other.
What?
I wasn't sure.
Ugh, why am I always so terribly curious?
But in the end, we returned to the cars and set off.
By the time we arrived, all I could think about was that training was about to begin.
Everyone was already in the courtyard—people, exhausted and sweating, carried out their exercises with full concentration. For a moment, I just stood there, watching them, and I knew…
The real work was about to begin.
I watched the others as they moved, fighting in the courtyard. For a moment, I just stood there, then I stepped in among them. Since I hadn't arrived with the newcomers—who were only due to arrive in two weeks—I had skipped the introductions, if such a thing even existed here. I had no idea who the trainers were, what I was supposed to do, what was allowed, but I tried to follow the others' lead.
I noticed the small group who had sat with me at breakfast and dinner. They gestured for me to join them, and for some reason, I felt compelled to do so. After all, we weren't enemies. I walked over with a friendly smile, got in line, and the trainers acknowledged me with a nod. Just like that, I started training.