It was mid-afternoon, the time of the day when the sun was bright and warm enough to suppress the cold and chilliness of the winter. Walking through the winding path shaded by the outcropping of trees and illuminated by the light that manages to peek through the canopies, Vincent had a silly smile on his face, unable to get Leila's image out of his head. Like a thirsty man walking in the Sahara, about to find a pond of clear cold water.

"Emerald! Hey, wait for me!" A seductive and deep sexy manly voice sounded in Emerald's and Vincent's ear.

"Stop shouting, Damien. I can hear you just clearly even if you don't shout at the top of your lungs,' said a female student wearing a jacketed uniform and knee-high socks that didn't shy away from exposing a few traces of her smooth skin. She had silky black hairs and eyes that were green in color, acquiring her gorgeous pale features from her mother, "Why are you chasing me in board daylight?"

"It's a coincidence which occurred due to us going the same way," said Damien blinking his eyes, expressing his innocence. With a chiseled jawline, slim, swan-like neck, pale skin, deeply sunken hazel eyes, and rosy lips, he looked like a precious creation of Adonis, crafted precisely throughout hundreds of years. Immediately after, he flashed an amiable smile towards Emerald, "I hope we can go together."

Vincent turned to look at the source of the voices, only to see a gorgeous girl being followed by a handsome man sharing a few striking similarities to himself, both walking on a road with a few up and down bumps intersecting with the winding path he was on. After a single glance, Vincent turned his attention away from them as to not come off as a rude person that stares at strangers intensely.

"You will follow after me even if I am to refuse."

Emerald rolled her eyes, allowing Damien do to as he pleases as she didn't want to bicker with him.

Damien's eyes glowed subtly in crimson as he looked at her back with a loving gaze showing an emotion beyond common obsession.

"I am so happy. My wife knows me the best."

"Who said I am your wife? I am not your wife!" Emerald said in a loud tone emphasizing the fact that she wasn't his wife with a stern look.

"It's your father that has already given me your hand in marriage," Damien said, looking at her with a generous smile containing hints of sincerity and dominance.

Emerald's father, the northern duke of the Avalon Empire, had officially sold her to this mysterious person that has been pestering her ever since she participated in the grand ball held in the world of three moons to pay off the deep debts of the dukedom owed.

"Ugh, I can't be bothered with a person like you," Emerald said in a disgruntled tone before hurrying her steps. Damien followed in tow.

While walking through the winding path with flowers and trees on each side, Vincent happened to unintentionally eavesdrop on the conversation of the two students walking near him.

"There are too few newly enlisted students this year, but most of them are nobles are royals, and even the descendants of great royalty are here," Emerald said once she was in the mood to talk with the handsome but annoying man who walked by her side.

"It's clear as day that the royals aren't here to study as they can obtain better education in their homelands. I am sure they are here for the rumored purpose that the other students have been talking about." Damien replied, a thoughtful look glittering in his hazel eyes that were crimson a moment ago but turned hazel before Emerald could notice.

"Do you mean the rumors are true?" Emerald asked in a surprised tone after she turned to look at him.

"Yup, I am certain that the academy plans to produce the sixth great hero," Damien said with a smile forming on his face.

"The sixth great hero?! I thought they were planning to nurture a few talented and hardworking students to become the next-generation pillars of the federation, just like the 13th grand generals fighting at the front lines. It's shocking to know that the academy's ambition is far greater than I thought." Emerald said, feeling flustered as she looked at his face, a handsome face that could steal the heart of any girl with ease.

Only a few circles of students knew that the academy has established a nurturing plan to nurture the sixth great hero. Damien was part of one such circle called the Crimsons Palace.

She looks cute even when she is flustered, Damien thought.

"What do you think? Will our academy be able to produce the sixth great hero?" Damien asked as he turned to look at the teenager who was wearing a uniform worn by newly enlisted students.

"Are you talking to me?" Vincent asked as he turned to look at the man with a voice carrying the power to hook one soul, be it a man or a woman.

"Ah right… I haven't introduced myself yet. I am Damien Crimson. As you can see, I entered the academy to chase after my wife."

"Nice to meet you, I guess," Vincent said, deciding against shocking hands with this mysterious and suspicious stranger.

"Would you like to answer me now?" Damien said, staring into his eyes with a look of anticipation

Vincent also discerned that this person was excited to see him for some reason

"There is a slim chance, but I hope that it will become a reality," Vincent said as his eyes squinted subtly. Birds nestled in their nests, feeding worms to their hungry babies who were chirping seeing their mothers.

"If such a person arises in the next few years, the tides of the war will shift in our favor, and we will be able to fend off the creatures from hell and send them packing within a decade," Emerald said, anger and the detest she held for the inhumane invader reflecting in her clear emerald eyes.