The deadly gaze of the mysterious gray-haired girl crosses the hall and fixes on Theo, making him wonder why she seems to hate him with all her heart when he has no idea who she is.
"Yeah, she still hates me," Sarah sighs, staring at the girl as well. But Sven smiles gently at Sarah. "No, she never did, you know that. You were like sisters and she feels like you betrayed her, but we know that's not true."
Sarah's expression also becomes gentle and Sven smiles even more. "We were just children eight years ago, but we are not anymore and now we are all together again. Things can be like before, no, actually, they can be even better."
Sarah lets out another sigh and gives Sven a sorry look. "No, Sven, things cannot be like before, not even close. I made my choice eight years ago and now I am making another choice that may disappoint you." When she finishes speaking, she holds Theo's hand again, making Sven's expression turn sad.
Theo feels happy with Sarah's action and his lips naturally curl into a confident smile. Sven seems sad for a moment, but then he glances at Theo and a spark appears in his light blue eyes. "I have nothing against you, Theo, so I'm sorry for this, but we are going to be rivals."
"Oh?" Theo is surprised by Sven's boldness and confidence, but in a way, that guy does not seem like a bad person, not like those arrogant nobles around. Sven turns his gaze back to Sarah and she laughs. "You haven't changed at all."
Sven shakes his head. "I made you a promise eight years ago, to you and to our parents. And I won't give up, I will never give up on you and everything we can build together." Despite Sven's warm words and Sarah smiling, she does not let go of Theo's hand.
"You are an honorable warrior, Sven." Sarah speaks with admiration in her voice. "I know you would do anything to protect your people and those you love, and I would never ask you to change, not even for me."
"I know," Sven smiles even more at Sarah and then glances at Theo again. "I just wanted to make my intentions very clear, but I won't disturb your night any longer…" Sven pauses and extends his hand to Theo again. "You understand, right? I won't go easy on you and I won't stop until the very end."
Theo keeps holding Sarah's hand and extends his other hand to shake Sven's. "I understand, and I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do." Theo is genuinely excited, and now he can feel Sven squeezing his hand with the same enthusiasm.
"Boys…" Sarah lets out a loud sigh, and Sven laughs. "Don't you want to try talking to Skae now? I know you can work things out again." He says in a gentle tone, but Sarah shakes her head. "Maybe another time, now I need to register for Nocthera."
"Alright," Sven looks toward the line at the veterans' table and then focuses back on Sarah and Theo. "Nocthera? Then we will compete for real…" His gaze looks excited, but Sarah laughs provocatively. "Afraid to face me?"
"Hahaha!" Sven laughs confidently until his gaze turns affectionate. "I will show you, Sarah Lysenne Malveryn, how a man of the north gets a wife." Sven looks back at Theo with shining eyes. "Be ready, Theo, next time we meet, things won't end well for you."
"We'll see," Theo comments in a calm tone, and Sven turns around, going back to his companions. No matter how much Theo tries to find something bad about the spirited man from the north, Sven seems excellent in every way.
Yet, the one standing beside Sarah, holding her hand, is Theo, who looks at her with a curious expression. "What just happened?" He tries to hold back laughter, but Sarah laughs as well. "Exactly what he said. Sven is a very direct and honest guy. He made me a silly promise when we were kids, and he won't give up on it."
"A promise, that's all?" Theo cannot help but feel a bit concerned, and Sarah smiles gently while caressing his face. "Aww, are you jealous? That's cute." She says in a teasing tone, making Theo sigh.
"Of course I am, you scare every man away from you with shouting and death threats, but this guy shows up, and you even let him hug you." Theo does not try to hide his feelings, and Sarah stops laughing, making a serious and affectionate expression.
"Sven's sister was very important to me, like my own sister, so he was like a brother to me. Of course, I like him." She speaks in a calm and neutral tone, then Theo stares at her in silence for a few seconds. "And? Isn't this the part where you say I don't need to worry about him?"
"Hahaha! No, not at all." Sarah laughs provocatively. "If there is one man in the four kingdoms and beyond that you should worry about, it's Sven, no doubt. He is a man of integrity, very strong, talented, intelligent, kind…" As Sarah lists Sven's qualities, Theo's expression becomes darker.
"Hehe~" She giggles and winks at Theo while holding his hand and placing it on her face. "No matter how impressive Sven is, I don't think he has what it takes to get me for real… And you? Do you have it? I'm looking forward to finding out."
"I see," Theo smiles at Sarah. "You're using your childhood romance to make me jealous, fair enough." As soon as he says that, Sarah smiles. "Sven won't be an easy rival to deal with, that I guarantee. But he is a good person and would be a great friend for you, much better than any idiot noble around here."
Theo does not deny that he admires some of Sven's traits, yet he shakes his head. "I wouldn't want a friend who wants to steal my girlfriend." He says in a direct tone, and Sarah blushes slightly when she hears that word. "Girlfriend? I don't remember hearing a formal proposal…" She gives Theo a charming look at the end.
"Heh…" Theo also looks at Sarah with a mysterious expression, making her eyes shine, but then he looks around again. "Speaking of idiot nobles and friends, I have a rescue to make." He glances at Hermes and asks. "You said he went to the north of the castle, right?"
Hermes nods, and Theo looks back at Sarah. "You can come with me or wait in line, or join your old romance, if you prefer." Before he finishes speaking, she grabs his hand firmly. "I'm going with you, of course."
Theo cannot help but smile, then leads Sarah toward the stairs to the north of the hall, leaving the line to search for Lorien. On the other side of the hall, Sven reaches his sister's side, and both watch the couple with distinct looks.
Sven seems to feel a mixture of affection and sadness in his gaze while the mysterious Skae looks cold and deadly, making her brother sigh. "You're going to scare her if you keep looking at him like that." He speaks kindly, but the gray-haired girl shakes her head.
"She rejected us and abandoned us, all for this? Now she walks around showing off that guy?" Skae speaks in an annoyed tone, but Sven smiles. "He doesn't seem that bad, maybe a bit skinny and with that strange aura… But if she chose him, he can't be bad, right?"
"No," Skae says with certainty in her voice. "I saw that guy yesterday, covered in blood, and there is something very wrong with him. He may be strong, but there is that shadow around him…" Skae's eyes follow Theo from afar, shining coldly. "It is the shadow of death, it is all over him."
Sven looks at his sister with a concerned expression. "A shadow of death at such a young age? Are you sure?" As soon as he asks, Skae nods. "It's not just that, he is hiding something very bad. I can understand why Sarah would feel attracted to someone dark like that. She must want to experience something different and dangerous, to defy her father, and even make you jealous, brother."
"I don't think she—" Sven tries to say something, but Skae interrupts him. "How can you be so popular with girls and still understand nothing about them?" She asks sarcastically, and Sven makes a sorry expression, then she continues. "My foolish little brother, I understand you, you waited eight years to see your beloved again, so it must be hard to see her with someone else…"
Sven's expression becomes more depressed, but Skae smiles gently and caresses his face. "Did you forget your promise, brother?" As soon as she asks, he shakes his head. "Of course not! I just made it clear that I will fight for her. But look at how she lets him hold her hand… she never let me get that close. Maybe this is already a lost battle."
Skae lets out a sigh. "Foolish brother, he has no chance against you." When she says that, Sven looks confused, and Skae begins to smile confidently. "She may find him interesting now, but she will soon realize that he is just like all those arrogant and selfish nobles."
"And if she doesn't think that?" Sven asks, and a cold glint appears in Skae's eyes. "She will, whether on her own, or maybe I will need to show her that guy would never be as good and loyal to her as you. This is not about me and my duty, but about her happiness, and yours, dear brother."
Sven looks at his sister with a confused and even concerned expression, then she reveals a confident smile. "Just keep being exactly what you are, a gallant and kind warrior; fight for her as your honor allows, and when she realizes that the right choice was always obvious, everything will turn out well."
"Sometimes I'm afraid of you, dear sister." Sven caresses Skae's face before looking at Theo and Sarah disappearing into the corridor on the second floor. "It doesn't matter whether he would be good or bad for her; in the end, I am sure that no man could love her more than I do."