Zevien, Erica, Dan, and Vernisia arrived at Vernisia’s house.

Vernisia rang the doorbell, and her mother opened the door shortly after with a smile, “you have finally arrived. Come inside.”

“Hello, auntie,” Zevien smiled and greeted her, “thank you for having us.”

Dan and Erica also greeted her as all of them entered.

Susan lightly chuckled, “the dinner is almost ready. But before that, we also have another guest here, so let’s meet them.”

“Guest? Who?” Vernisia asked as they walked into the living room.

“Here they are,” Susan said with a smile, “my friend’s kids.”

Two people were sitting on a couch inside the living room—a boy and a girl, both seventeen years old.

The boy had short, dark orange hair and orange eyes. His body was fit like Dan and Zevien.

The girl had long wavy orange hair and brown eyes. She was also fit and had a well-developed figure.

Erica’s eyes flinched when she saw them because she recognized them.

Erica and Vernisia sat down on a couch, while Dan and Zevien sat down on a different couch.

Susan sat down on a single-seat couch as she smiled and spoke, “the dinner will be ready in thirty minutes, so before that, we can talk about some things.”

“Hello, my name is Galen,” Galen said with a smile as he looked at Vernisia, “I heard many things about you from auntie and my mother. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

Vernisia plainly smiled and nodded, “hello.”

“Nice to meet you, Vernisia. You can call me Sia,” Sia said with a smile, showing her dimples.

“Hi,” Vernisia nodded with a smile.

“These are Vernisia’s friends at the academy,” Susan said as he pointed her hand at Zevien and others.

Galen and Sia nodded at them with polite smiles.

Zevien, Erica, and Dan also introduced themselves before Susan stood up and went back to the kitchen.

“Galen Gio and Sia Gio,” Erica said with narrowed eyes, “it’s surprising to see you two here.”

“Oh? You know about us?” Galen was surprised before he smiled, “well, my mother and Vernisia’s mother have been school buddies, so that’s how we got this connection. Also, we will be arriving at your academy after six months.”

“Exchange students?” Zevien raised his eyebrows, “which academy are you from?”

“The second national magic academy,” Sia answered.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but why are you two here?” Vernisia asked, “mother didn’t even say anything about this and just told me to invite my friends here.”

“Of course, it’s because of your engagement with my brother,” Sia spoke with a smile, seemingly unaware of the magnitude of the bomb she had just dropped.

Zevien’s smile froze, but he composed himself while Dan stood up with a wide mouth, “what?!”

“Sit down,” Zevien said as he pulled down Dan’s hand.

“What engagement? I don’t know anything about that, “Vernisia was stunned and said before glancing at Zevien involuntarily.

“Ahh, haha,” Galen chuckled awkwardly, “I also found out about this just a month ago when you finally entered the academy. It seems that our parents had decided this. After hearing about you and seeing how beautiful you are, I also agreed.”

“But I disagree,” Vernisia frowned, “I have no intentions of participating in this.”

“I knew you would say that,” Galen smiled, “but it’s fine. We will be going to the Skyward academy together because I am sure you and I can get a spot. You know it’s a very common and good thing to get a partner early. It makes many things easier. Especially in the place where we will be going, the Skyward academy. All the students who get a spot in the Skyward academy will-”

“Cough…,” Sia coughed before her brother would speak more, “anyway, I am sure you will come to like my brother sooner or later. I can assure you that.”

Zevien was just silent with a deadpan expression.

“It seems that you know many things about Skyward Academy,” Erica spoke with narrowed eyes.

Vernisia stood up and went to the kitchen. Galen and Sia saw that as a glint passed through their eyes.

“Indeed, we know many more things than other people,” Sia said with a plain smile, “the Magic Guild holds more mystery, and the Skyward Academy is where the elites among elite magicians are born. If you can’t keep up there regularly, you will be sent back.”

“Ahem, so, Zevien, right?” Galen said as he smiled at Zevien, “I hope you throw away whatever thoughts or plans you had for Vernisia. She will become a part of the Gio family in the future.”

Dan fumed and snorted, “humph, that’s not for you to decide.”

“Come out for a bit; I want to talk to you,” Zevien smiled at Galen and stood up as he walked towards the balcony.

Galen raised his eyebrows, ‘well, since he wants to talk alone, then I’ll show him his place so that he can stop interacting with Vernisia.’

He then followed Zevien as both of them entered the balcony.

Dan, Erica, and Sia just stayed there and watched them leave.

“Well, it’s better that your friend stop being a toad lusting after a swan,” Sia said with a fake smile.

“Shut up, bitch,” Dan sneered, causing Sia’s face to turn red. Erica glanced at Dan with a surprise, ‘lol.’

“Low-class vulgar plebian,” Sia calmed herself before scoffing.

…

“Zevien, you better not have any thoughts about Vernisia because this has been decided. Once you go away, I can surely-”

“Zip it,” Zevien glanced at Galen, “you are here to listen to what I say.”

Galen frowned, but then he relaxed his eyebrows and scoffed, “alright, speak.”

“You have never met Vernisia before, and I am sure you must have had previous relationships with some girls, so why did you agree to this?” Zevien asked plainly, “I can already guess that Vernisia’s mother doesn’t like me. She must have invited you here to show me my place.”

“Heh, so what?” Galen grinned, “I have seen her photos, and she looks even more beautiful in the flesh. She is the most suitable to be my partner and a part of my family.”

“But you won’t have a family if you do that!” Zevien walked to and fro on the balcony while staring at Galen, “you won’t be fucking alive!”

Galen was startled at the sudden outburst.

Shaking his head, Zevien took deep breaths and calmed himself before looking at Galen with heated eyes, “leave her alone, and I will leave you alone. I can give up everything for her and can take everything for her. You are simply attracted by her beauty, but I… My whole fucking life is meaningless without her, do you get it?!”

Putting his head down, Zevien muttered something inaudible and shook his head, ‘idiots can’t even begin to comprehend how much I love her, and here they are, being blocks in my path.’

Galen burst out laughing and shook his head while clutching his stomach, “you can’t be real! Are you serious? Why the hell would I care about your feelings? I don’t even know you, man. Who are you?”

After a fit of laughter, Galen adopted a cold expression, “as for threatening me. Do you even know who you are threatening?”

Zevien icily uttered, “it seems that you can’t understand it. Well, if you want the hard way, then the hard way it is. As for your identity, I don’t give a fuck about that, but you will come to know about me very soon.”

After saying that, Zevien’s expression did a 180-degree turn as he smiled, “now let’s return and eat the dinner.”

He left the balcony without waiting for Galen’s response.

“Humph, bugger. Your threats ring hollow in my ear,” Galen snorted before a cold glint passed through his eyes, and he activated his Digi-watch and called someone.

“Sunderer, I want you to keep an eye on a person. I will send you his photo and other details tonight so before that, come to Starling City with your squad.”

…

“Mom, what is this crap engagement or whatever? Why did you decide that?” Vernisia uttered with a frown.

“Mind your language, brat,” Susan glared.

“Whatever, but I am not going along with this, get it?” Vernisia glared back before asking, “where’s dad?”

“He had to go for a two-day trip on a government project this noon,” Susan answered before she focused on the kitchen while saying, “anyway, you will stop hanging out with that Zevien, that’s decided. Also, Galen is a good kid. He is also very talented, and his family is very prominent. You will definitely live a happy life there with nothing lacking.”

Vernisia got angry, “No! I will not stop hanging out with my friends, including Zevien. I am also against this engagement thing!”

Susan sighed as she looked at Vernisia and said, “honey, I think for you. I don’t want you to have a hard life as I had. Anyway, what do you even see in Zevien? He may be a bit talented, but that’s it. The future is long, and we don’t even know what will happen. He doesn’t have parents, no proper home, no backing.

“He is not even focusing on studies. I checked in the academy, and he has been absent more than he attended. He will likely fail the first test after five months and won’t even be eligible to study further at the academy, let alone get a spot to enter the Skyward academy,” Susan shook her head, “how can I be relieved when you are with such person.”

Vernisia scoffed, “you don’t know anything about him, mom.”

“He is very, very, very impressive,” Vernisia said strongly, “I can’t even say certain things because I am not allowed, but he is different, and I…I am special to him! There’s something mysterious about him that I can feel, and it also feels like he had known me for ages.

“I can feel his love for me from miles away! Every time he looks at me, I feel like he is looking at someone he holds most dear! That look, It’s so similar. I remember you and dad looking at me like that!” Vernisia let out her feelings as her eyes welled up a bit.

“What?!” Susan was shocked, “don’t tell me you already got together with him?”

“No,” Vernisia shook her head, “I didn’t tell him what I feel, but….I am hopelessly attracted to him. I look forward to meeting him every day and spending time with him. Please, I want you and dad to support me on this. So, don’t force me on this engagement bullshit.”

Susan looked at her daughter’s eyes and sighed, ‘she has fallen for Zevien.’

“You hung out with Zevien every day this past month, so, naturally, you feel attracted to him, but that’s not love. I want you to keep a basic distance from Zevien or anyone, including Galen until you finish your studies. I invited Galen today to introduce him to you, and he will soon be attending the same academy. You two will also likely go to the Skyward academy, so you will naturally forget about Zevien.”

“You think Zevien won’t get a spot?” Vernisia raised her eyebrows, “anyway, I will do as you say and won’t make a decision. But if I still don’t change my mind after a year, then you won’t force me into this arranged marriage.”

“Fine,” Susan nodded.

Alas, things are going to get nasty soon…..but for the better.

…

After the dinner was ready, everyone ate it with pretense smiles on their faces and hollow talks.

Susan didn’t know Galen had put his people to keep an eye on Zevien, and naturally, how would she know about Galen? All she had heard were shallow words that Galen’s own mother said, and she took it at that.

After eating, Vernisia also left with Zevien, Erica, and Dan, while Susan sat down in the living room with Galen and Sia.

“What happened? Did he back off?” Susan asked.

Galen wryly smiled and shook his head, “he was very rude and full of himself. I hope Vernisia can see the true face of Zevien and that he is only with her for your wealth and her beauty.”

“Indeed, having in-laws like you two who are in government will also make things easier for him,” Sia sighed.