Nobilitas Lapsorum: Servant of the Abyss

The moon hung high in the sky.

There, atop a lofty balcony, a young girl stood, gazing out toward the distant, beautiful garden.

Her chestnut hair swayed gently in the calm breeze.

Years ago, she would have gazed at that same night sky from the impoverished alleys of the capital. But now, she wore a simple yet elegant evening gown.

She did not belong to the world of nobles.

No one knew her real story. She had lived in miserable conditions, and her parents had died, consumed by long days of labor.

And then he appeared, the Headmaster of the Royal Academy. Everything had happened so quickly that she could barely process it. It was like a dream she never wanted to wake from.

In the blink of an eye, she had gone from sleeping beneath damp walls and rusted beams to overlooking the city from the balcony of a mansion bathed in silence and scented candles.

Now, she was about to take the entrance exam for the Royal Academy, the same institution where the sons and daughters of nobles and wealthy merchants studied.

No one was to know that the headmaster himself had taken her in. Even the mansion's staff had been instructed to address her only by her name, without titles or formality. She wanted to prove she deserved it. That she could reach the top on her own.

Once she entered the Academy, perhaps she would finally begin to write her own story.

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine.

It was a sensation she couldn't name. Something had changed. It was as if the world itself had briefly twisted into something unnatural.

She brought a hand to her chest.

"Again…"

No one else seemed to notice.

Only her. Just like eight years ago.

Since childhood, she had been highly sensitive to mana. While others needed years of training to manipulate it, for her it came as naturally as breathing.

And now, someone else was manipulating it in a way she couldn't comprehend

She closed her eyes, concentrating. But whatever it was, it had already vanished.

Her fingers brushed against the stone frame of the balcony.

She looked back out over the garden. Everything was seemingly peaceful.

Part of her wanted to ignore it, pretend it was just her imagination, but another part of her knew it wasn't.

She looked up again at the starry sky. For a moment, she felt a strange urgency. A need to go out, to search, to understand.

But search for what?

And then, as if the world itself answered her, a shooting star streaked across the night sky.

She watched it until it disappeared.

-----

Somewhere far beyond the borders of the kingdom, a solitary figure stood, surrounded by mutilated bodies littering the ground. Some still retain human form. Others no longer did.

Her breathing was slow, savoring what had just occurred.

Then she felt it.

Something that should not exist.

A rupture in the balance of all things.

"Ah…" she whispered, almost in reverence.

Her body arched back slightly, as though a pleasurable shiver had run down her spine.

"Again... after all these years..." Her voice was soft, almost sweet. "Eight years… It's been eight years since I last felt it."

A dangerous smile crept across their face.

She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath.

"So dark… so deep… like the abyss itself."

Her hands, still stained with blood, reached up toward the night sky.

"I want to meet them… I want to see… the being who can cause this."

She would find them.

And when she did, the world would tremble once again.

Just as she lowered her gaze, something flashed across the sky.

A shooting star streaked through the night. She smiled.

As if the heavens had confirmed that her hunt was about to begin.

-----

"Do you plan on explaining yourself?" Cedric finally asked, his voice sharp.

Celica opened her mouth, but no words came out.

The blonde young woman rose gracefully and walked toward her.

"Father is very worried about you, little sister," she said. "And rightfully so, you joined the guild like some common adventurer… and now you show up covered in blood."

"I gave you freedom, Celica. Perhaps too much. But now it's time to put an end to this nonsense."

Lina lowered her head, uncomfortable, and stepped forward.

"It was my idea," she said quickly, her voice trembling. "I was the one who suggested it to Lady Celica. If anyone should be punished, it should be me."

"No, Lina," Celica interrupted, raising a hand to stop her. "It was my decision. I take full responsibility."

"Do you have any idea the scandal it would cause if word got out that the youngest daughter of House Vallenwood was out playing adventurer among commoners?" His tone grew harsher. "You are a noble, Celica. That means duties, status… and limits."

Celica kept her gaze fixed on her father but said nothing.

Arkhiel couldn't help but feel like he'd been dropped into a cheap novel.

Cedric had already passed through the expected stages, disappointment, and the stern reminder of her lineage. All that remained was the inevitable comparison to her perfect sister.

Cedric sighed, not in disappointment, but in pure frustration.

Arkhiel counted silently.

3… 2… 1…

"Your sister Isolde was admitted to the Royal Academy with top marks. She graduated with honors, as is expected of someone of our blood. You should aim for the same."

5 out of 10, lacking originality, Arkhiel thought.

"I will," Celica replied without hesitation.

Cedric nodded and turned to Arkhiel, evaluating him for a moment.

"I trust you won't allow her to risk her life so recklessly again," he said in a neutral tone, though it carried weight.

Arkhiel simply gave a slight bow.

"I'll do whatever is necessary to protect her, my lord."

For a moment, he almost couldn't hold back a laugh.

Then he remembered.

He wasn't trapped in a cliché novel; he was in an otome game.

Though honestly, it was practically the same thing.

"Go take a bath, Celica. You reek of blood," Cedric said, trying to maintain composure despite the stench.

Celica nodded slightly. She took a step, ready to leave, but her father spoke once more.

"The entrance exam to the Royal Academy is nearby. Starting tomorrow, you'll begin intensive preparation. I've hired the best tutors available. I won't accept excuses or distractions."

"I understand. I won't disappoint you."

Cedric gave no reply. For him, the conversation was already over.

Celica turned and walked. Lina and Arkhiel followed in silence.

Just as Celica was about to climb the stairs, Cedric stepped forward. She stopped when she felt his hand on her shoulder.

"Do it right," he murmured, without looking at her.

Celica didn't reply. She simply nodded in silence.

"Lina. Arkhiel."

Both stopped immediately. Celica glanced back briefly, but her father wasn't looking at her.

"I will place my trust in you," he said, not raising his voice. "Make sure my daughter is ready every morning. I won't tolerate delays."

"Yes, my lord," they both responded in unison with a bow.

"You've proven yourselves competent and trustworthy, but do not mistake trust for freedom. I will not tolerate further irresponsibility or improper conduct. You'll receive the same education as Celica. If you're to accompany her to the Royal Academy as her servants, you must meet its standards."

Cedric gave them one last look.

"You may go."

Arkhiel and Lina bowed once more and continued their way.

Arkhiel couldn't stop thinking about the obvious. If Isolde were back, then it could only mean one thing.

Harriet had returned as well.

Harriet wasn't just the head housekeeper of House Vallenwood; she was its shadow. And without a doubt, the most dangerous person Arkhiel had ever met so far, second only to Cedric himself.

She had taught him everything, from etiquette and a butler's duties to a trained killer's skills. And when Lina arrived, Harriet welcomed her with the same discipline.

But when Isolde was accepted into the Royal Academy, Harriet left. Cedric had assigned her to accompany his eldest daughter. After all, Isolde was the legitimate heir.

And then, as if in response to his thoughts.

Two daggers flew toward Lina and Arkhiel.

They weren't meant to kill, but to test.

Both reacted instantly. They drew their daggers in a flash and deflected the attack.

Lina grinned widely.

"Harriet!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with barely restrained joy.

From a shadowed corner, Harriet stepped out. Her gait was silent and graceful. Her black hair was tied in a tight bun, and her eyes were as sharp as ever. The uniform she wore was pristine.

"You've grown more than I expected." Her gaze swept over Lina and Arkhiel gently.

"I missed you, too," Arkhiel whispered.

"I hope you don't disappoint me," Harriet said at last, before vanishing back into the corridor's shadows.

Lina kept smiling, comforted by her presence.

Arkhiel, on the other hand, was already thinking about the inevitable.

The story of the game was about to begin.

And his mere existence had already altered the course of the script, though he still didn't know how much.

The worst part was that he didn't know how much of what was to come he could truly control.

As the pieces began to take their places, Arkhiel understood the inevitable; the board was already set. All that remained was to see who would make the first move.

In the end, all he could do was hope the protagonist would make the right choices.