The Astral soul system-Chapter 148: Late

Freya and Lilith sat down at a table, Lilith adopting a more refined and royal posture while Freya looked more relaxed despite being just as elegant, however her’s was more of a natural elegance that she radiated even in death while Lilith’s was practiced.

"Your boys’ are quite a handful. Although this isn’t nearly as stressful as leading a kingdom of vampires in a primal era, it’s quite a lot "

Freya sighed, putting her elbows on the table and resting on it, causing her cleavage to spill out a little and somehow making even that look elegant.

"They weren’t always like that, and they weren’t always... they. It was easier back then, manageable. Then HE happened "

"Who?"

"Q"

"That doesn’t-"

"They used to be so cute and small. Always brushed the teeth before bed, spent most of his time studying,never took sugar after six pm... well,unless Riley snuck him some. She was always trying to upstage me and be the "fun mom", and honestly, she was. "

"..."

"Riley, she was his... their favorite. He’d never admit to it, but i knew. Probably why he barely listens anymore. Being the "fun mom" isn’t exactly my strong suit "

"Hmm"

"Do you... have kids, Lilith?"

Lilith was a bit caught off guard by the question but quickly recovered

"Well...no,i did foster a few strays, they grew up to be soldiers of mine"

Freya chuckled.

"We’re similar in that sense then "

Lilith was briefly reminded that Freya wasn’t their biological mother

"Lili? How would you feel if someone captured some of those soldiers you raised while they were young, and...did...things to them. Very bad things"

"I...."

It’s okay,you don’t have to answer. I just... feel like they don’t trust me anymore. Zen just...up and disappeared for a few years and the last time I saw him was when I... when I was about to die. He was running away from me though, didn’t even look back."

"...."

Looking at the expression on Lilith’s face, Freya suddenly burst out laughing.

"What’s with that look? Don’t worry, I’m not like most humans. I once heard that vampires don’t feel emotions as deeply as humans, but don’t worry, you can be as blunt as you want, everything that can be broken, already has,i share that unfortunate trait with my sons. We’re both empty"

"They all seem a bit...one dimensional "

"Hmm? How so?"

"Well, Zen, the indifferent one, Zaine, the angry one, Zyro,the happy one "

"Yeah,they really are sometimes, but you just don’t know them yet. They’re special, they reall are"

They both went silent for a bit before Lilith spoke up

"I still don’t know your story. What exactly happened? Why do you act like fugitivs among your own kind, and what about your family?"

Freya looked like she was thinking for a while before suddenly putting her hand over Lilith’s before replying

"Wanna trade? And no lies. I can tell when you do"

"... maybe some other time "

The two went quiet for a few more minutes, looking for something to talk about before Lilith suddenly spoke

"His friends are interesting, not sure if they’re trust worthy though. The way they look at him, suspicion written on their faces"

"Oh that "

Freya smiled

"That’s to be expected. People fear what they don’t understand. You know, the funny thing is while Zen wasn’t sent here on a mission. I was, infiltrate and destroy"

"Really? You said that while you were alive you were one of your world’s strongest, and I’ve seen your power through the boys, you’re magnificent, and I have no doubt that was true back then as well "

"Well I’m flattered "

"But...you said your mission was infiltrate and DESTROY. The academy is still standing "

"Hehe. Yep. In my entire career I’ve only failed one mission, and you can already get which one "

Lilith sensed a strange edge in Freya’s tone and asked

"Why? What changed?"

"..."

************

Jade woke up,her emerald green eyes glittering in the morning sunlight as she got out of bed.

"Looks like someone was tired from their little play date yesterday" Diane said, already dressed.

Jade looked at Zaria’s bed and noticed she wasn’t there.

"She’s in the shower. Like she’d let you in first"

Her eyes went down to the bottom bunk and noticed it was still empty.

"Yeah. She’s still gone. No clue what happened to that bitch,she must have gotten eaten or something."

"Hey"

Diane rolled her eyes when she got a pout from Jade

"What? It COULD happen. Besides, according to Zen, she’s bad news anyway "

"I thought you didn’t like or trust Zen "

Diane shrugged

"I don’t, and I’d rip the guys throat out if he actually tried anything, but he makes a lot of sense usually so... what the heck"

Jade didn’t know how to feel so she just let out a moan. Her eyes slowly dropped, looking a bit unfocused

"Hey! Not you too. First Zaria starts getting headaches, and now you’re zoning out on me? Or am i boring you"

"What? Nonononono. It’s just,i had a weird dream"

"Hmm?"

Diane sighed exaggeratedly, already regretting what she was about to say.

"Alright, spill it. What was it, baby"

"That’s it...i can’t...i can’t remember. But it felt important. Like something I forgot"

"Hmm?"

Jade suddenly smiled, remembering something else

"I remember seeing my mom though. She was in full armor and gear, ready to go out on another hunt. I can’t remember what was happening though"

Diane was a bit suprised. Jade never gave much detail about her mother, seeming uncomfortable whenever it was brought up. She went to their shared bed and climbed to the top bunk, sitting next to her.

"Your mom was a fighter?"

"Yeah, she did low level dungeons solo, and whenever she was home she helped with my dad’s shop."

Jade’s hand went to her unstrung bow she kept with her on her bed.

"In fact, she’s the reason I’m using this. She used a bow just like this one. Her’s was way cooler though, she always let me play with it but would never let me out of her sights."

Jade’s happy expression suddenly fell, turning dark. Her grip tightened around the bow as she muttered

"Sometimes, she’d be gone from home for so long, months or even weeks, but she always came back with a hug ready for me and showed off all her loot.... but one day-"

The bathroom door suddenly burst opened and Zaria walked out, fully dressed and with a towel drying her dual colored hair.

"I’m done, bathroom’s fr-"

Zaria suddenly paused as she realized something was wrong with the room’s atmosphere.

"Is something going -"

"Oh, thanks. I’ll be right there"

Jade loudly answered, dropping the bow and literally running into the bathroom before slamming the door behind her"

Zaria was a bit confused as she looked at the bathroom door and back at Diane who looked like she was frustrated with something.

"W-what was-"

"Nothing.....Fuck!"

Diane sighed and answered , disappointed written on her face.

Zaria just stood there still a bit confused. Although she’d tried her best to keep it contained, Zaria could feel a hint of annoyance in Diane’s voice, and it was obvious Jade was avoiding them,so...what exactly had she walked in on?

Diane sighed and dropped onto Jade’s bed, suddenly noticing something under the pillow. She checked to see what it was and realized it was a deck of cards.

"Doesn’t this belong to crazy boy? What’s it doing with Jade?"

She randomly pulled out a card and was suprised when she didn’t recognize it. Confused, she muttered

"Arcana?"

*******************

The doors opened and Zyro alongside his roommates walked into the class, drawing the attention of the entire class

Aurora sighed and looked at them.

Why was it always this group?

"I’m guessing there’s a good reason you’re all and hour late"

"Haha, well -"

Before they could give an excuse,Gemma suddenly appeared in front of them with a pout, wagging her finger disapprovingly.

"Oh, you’re all so frustrating. Go to your seats and don’t make any more trouble"

The four walked past Gemma who was pointing to the inside of the class with a stern expression.

They walked in, making sure to keep their heads down as she glared at them.

"What’s your excuse anyway?"

Aurora asked

"Well,we got into a.... fight last night and our room ended up almost totalled,so we...had...to make some repairs... ma’am"

Neo said, his voice getting lower under the weight of Gemma’s stare

"Oh,so fighting on school grounds,huh? Another offense!"

Xavier discreetly whispered to Zyro.

"She does realize this is a military academy right? Isn’t fighting encouraged?"

Gemma immediately glared at him, shutting him up and making it clear she’d heard him.

Aurora sighed and decided not to bother with them anymore. She was already exhausted enough as it was, and it was still morning.

"Alright, that’s enough. Get seated"

The boys walked towards the back of the class, Gemma’s stare weighing heavy on them. It was clear that Gemma considered the four of them the class delinquents, mostly due to Neo and Xavier’s classroom antics as well as Zen constantly napping during class, she’d also gotten the report of the mess they made in the city a few weeks ago so it was safe to say she had her eyes on them.

"This is all your fault"

Maximilian whispered to Xavier with an accusing look

"Oh,so it’s my fault classes are boring and need spicing up?"

Neo groaned.

"I don’t even know why I’m doing this. I didn’t even go to regular school"

They suddenly heard another harrumph come from Gemma and hurried to find seats in the class as Aurora continued the lecture