Chapter 254: Tutorial 3



‘Do you like me, junior?’

That simple yet profound question had haunted Alice ever since she met Riley.

It was a burden-a weight on her mind that refused to leave.

Riley, an existence she felt was destined for her, was also an anomaly she struggled to accept.

He possessed the very thing her mother had once told her to trust, the thing that would guide her through the storm ahead. And yet, it was the same thing Alice had grown to doubt most in her life.

Feelings.

Trust.

Relationships.

These were foreign concepts to Alice.

Despite the mature, composed front she always presented, deep down, she was still a young, inexperienced girl-lost in a world of emotions she barely understood.

But she knew.

She knew that one day, she would have to confront it all: her fears, her doubts, and the tangled mess of her emotions.

Destined to face the White Apocalypse, Alice understood that she needed something, or rather someone, she could truly trust.

Without it, she knew she couldn’t survive what lay ahead.

And that was why, on that day, as she was embraced by the young man she was fated to meet -the same man she feared would be lost to great danger-her resolve wavered.

“Senior…”

The soft call of her title made her heart jolt.

“Riley?”

Her voice quivered slightly as she turned to face him.

Beneath a pile of fallen professors, in a world that seemed to have frozen in time, Riley stood.

His hazy gaze, clouded with exhaustion and pain, suddenly locked onto hers with surprising clarity.

And then, he smiled.

“You look lovely, senior-” he murmured, his voice tinged with an almost playful warmth. “Huh?”

Alice blinked, her mind swirling with confusion. Her golden eyes scanned his expression, trying to piece together what he meant.

It was a moment fraught with questions and uncertainty, but despite it all, one thing was clear. The emotions shining in his eyes, the unguarded sincerity in his voice-they were genuine.

And in that instant, Alice saw it. The pink radiance within him, a pure and untainted light, radiated so brightly it was almost intoxicating. It was real.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Riley reached out and pulled her close, catching her off guard with a sudden, fervent kiss.

Her mind spun, a thousand questions bubbling to the surface, yet she couldn’t find the will to push him away.

Because in that brief, electrifying moment, something clicked within her.

All her doubts, all her confusion-they seemed insignificant.

And for the first time, Alice realized that perhaps, the answers she had been seeking weren’t found in overthinking or endless questioning.

THUMP-! THUMP-!

They were found in him.

…..

“What are you doing here?”

Snow’s voice cut through the air, cold and sharp as her blue eyes locked onto Alice.

Suspicion swirled within her gaze, and though her tone remained calm, the undertone was unmistakable.

Her emotions bubbled beneath her composed demeanor-worry, doubt, annoyance, and even a flicker of anger.

It was unusual for her to feel so rattled, but seeing Alice here, of all places, had ignited something unfamiliar.

Alice had always been beautiful-Snow couldn’t deny that. But today, there was something different. It wasn’t just her usual allure; it was as though she’d somehow grown even more radiant.

Snow’s instincts screamed at her, her “woman’s sense” tingling with a mixture of unease and jealousy.

Riley and Alice had always been close. Snow was aware of their bond, even if she didn’t like it. But there were boundaries-unspoken yet understood-that hadn’t been crossed.

So why was Alice here now, casually teleporting into Riley’s room as if it were the most natural thing in the world? And looking like that?

“I…” Alice hesitated for a moment, her golden eyes shifting toward Riley, who remained unconscious and suspended in midair under Snow’s telekinetic spell.

Her gaze softened briefly as she assessed him, scanning for injuries.

“I came to visit Junior, as promised…”

“Visit as promised…?” Snow’s eyes narrowed and repeated the words, her tone laced with skepticism. “What exactly do you mean by ‘promise,’ Senior?”

There was no mistaking the threatening edge in her words. Snow wasn’t one to let things slide, especially when it concerned Riley.

Alice’s attention snapped back to Snow, her golden eyes meeting her icy blue ones with equal intensity. There was no hesitation now, no wavering as she matched Snow’s energy.

“A promise Junior and I made,” Alice replied firmly, her tone carrying a quiet but undeniable strength. “It has nothing to do with Your Highness. And,” she added pointedly, her gaze flicking to Riley before returning to Snow, “why are you here?”

This wasn’t the first time Alice and Snow had crossed paths.

They had met on several occasions-whether through formal introductions or casual

greetings.

As prominent figures within the student council, their interactions were inevitable, especially during the brief period before Snow assumed her position as president.

Just yesterday, the two had even collaborated to shield Riley from the academy’s higher-ups,

a rare moment of teamwork.

But despite their shared responsibilities and occasional cooperation, Alice and Snow were far

from friendly.

Their relationship could best be described as neutral-cordial enough on the surface but laced with underlying tension.

“Whatever my reasons maybe, It has nothing to do with you now does it?” Snow said casually “So why the sudden ‘unexpected and illegal’ visit Senior~?”

“I believe my presence here has nothing to do with you either, Your Highness,” Alice said smoothly, her tone respectful but carrying a subtle edge. “And i already told you right I’m

here because of my promise with Junior~”

“Hm~” Snow’s gaze sharpened, her blue eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “That may be true,” she replied, her voice steady, “but for such a well respected senior from the magic department to suddenly visit a fellow student secretly, and in the boys’ dorm no less-“

Alice interrupted with a soft, knowing smile. “Aren’t you essentially doing the same thing,

Your Highness?”

Snow’s composure faltered briefly, but she recovered quickly. “I have my reasons,” she

countered coolly.

“And I have mine as well,” Alice retorted, her voice dripping with a polite yet challenging

undertone.

“…”

The silence between them was deafening. The room seemed to hum with unspoken tension,

the very air charged with invisible sparks of rivalry.

Though they stood still, their gazes locked, it felt as though a battle was unfolding.

Their differing approaches clashed-Alice’s calm, almost playful demeanor against Snow’s

icy precision.

Yet, beneath their contrasting exteriors, their goals aligned.

Both of them were here for the same reason.

Riley.

Neither spoke the name aloud, but it hung heavily between them.

Their instincts told them as much; their womanly intuition, finely honed by their respective relationships with Riley, made it impossible to ignore.

But the specifics of their intentions remained unclear, even to each other. Were they here out of concern for Riley’s safety? It made sense as he was probably still recouping form his earlier incident… or was it to protect him from something-or someone?

Or was there something more personal, more vulnerable, driving their actions? Though they couldn’t yet unravel the other’s true motives, one thing was certain: this wasn’t

just about Riley’s well-being.

It was about their connection to him, their roles in his life, and the unspoken competition that

now simmered between them.

Though in this entire exchange, Snow held a clear advantage.

Regardless of whatever justification Alice tried to muster-whether Riley’s supposed promise

or her own personal reasons-nothing she could say would hold up against Snow’s solid

position. Snow was not only Riley’s girlfriend but also someone directly tied to his current well-being, making her claim far stronger in this delicate standoff.

Watching Alice’s gaze flicker repeatedly between herself and Riley, Snow couldn’t help but let

a confident smile tug at the corners of her lips.

“You don’t need to worry so much about Riley, Senior,”

Snow said smoothly, her tone laced with polite dismissal, though her words carried an

unmistakable sting.

“As long as I’m here, there won’t be any problems. As you can see, he’s resting right now, and

I’m ensuring he gets the care he needs. So, if you’d kindly excuse yourself~”

Her tone turned almost sweetly mocking.

“I’m sure whatever promise you and Riley made can wait, no? Surely it’s not so urgent that it

needs to disturb his well-earned rest.”

“That’s-“

Alice opened her mouth to argue, her voice faltering as she tried to form a coherent response.

She wanted to say she hadn’t expected Riley to be in such a state, that her visit wasn’t

intended to intrude but rather to follow through on his specific request.

After all, Riley had personally asked her to meet him after his release from the academy’s -cells. But the words died in her throat.

Her eyes widened slightly as Snow, with an air of casual ease, adjusted Riley in her arms.

Before Alice could blink, Snow had pulled Riley closer, cradling him like a cherished treasure.

His head rested against her chest-far deeper than what might be considered necessary-her slender arms wrapping around him protectively.

“H-Hey, what do you think you’re doing?” Alice’s voice trembled slightly, a mix of

indignation and embarrassment as red mana surged around her, enveloping her figure like a protective aura.

With a precise flick of her wrist, she used her telekinesis to gently pull Riley’s head away from

Snow’s chest.

She wanted to snatch him away completely, but the firm grip of Snow’s own mana proved unexpectedly strong.

Forcing her way in might risk waking him up, and she didn’t want to disturb his rest-yet.

Blushing furiously, Alice glared at the princess. “Y-You might be a bit close with Junior,

Princess, but there are certain boundaries you need to respect! You can’t just… press your chest on his face like that!”

“Oh my~” Snow’s voice carried a teasing lilt as her lips curled into a playful smirk.

“But as his girlfriend, I don’t think I need to worry about those boundaries, right?”

Her tone was saccharine sweet, but there was an unmistakable sharpness beneath it. Alice froze. “G-Girlfriend?”

“Mm-hmm~ Girlfriend,” Snow repeated, her expression equal parts smug and amused.

“Although we weren’t exactly planning to announce it openly yet… I suppose a close friend of Riley, like you, deserves to know~”

Alice’s mind reeled, her golden eyes widening as she processed the words. Before she could

muster a response, Snow continued, her voice becoming even more syrupy as she leaned into the moment. “And really, as his girlfriend, Riley doesn’t seem to mind when I’m a little close

to him. In fact, he quite enjoys it~ Most of the time, he’s sneaking glances at my chest when The thinks I don’t notice~”

Alice’s blush deepened, her face practically glowing red. “T-That’s-!”

“And then there’s his kisses,” Snow interrupted, placing a delicate hand over her lips as if

reminiscing. “I think he enjoys my lips the most, considering how intense he gets sometimes. Oh, Senior, if you could only see him when he really lets himself go-it’s absolutely

adorable-“

Alice’s jaw dropped, her mind momentarily going blank as Snow’s words bombarded her senses. Each casual revelation felt like a direct hit to her composure.

“Y-You’re lying,” Alice stammered, though her voice lacked conviction.

“Am I?”

Snow’s tone turned mockingly innocent, her icy blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Well, it’s not my fault Riley and I have such a special bond~ It’s natural for us to be close,

don’t you think?”

For a moment, Alice was at a loss.

Her mana wavered, flickering faintly as the weight of Snow’s declarations pressed down on

her.

She clenched her fists, trying to steady her thoughts.

Was this really true?

Was Riley truly that close to Snow?

Was their relationship real? And if so… where did that leave her?

The questions spiraled through Alice’s mind, gnawing at her composure.

Her thoughts drifted to her convictions, the unwavering belief that Riley was her destiny.

It wasn’t mere infatuation or baseless hope-she had felt it.

That day, the emotions radiating from him, the undeniable connection they shared-it was

real. Her golden eyes, once bright with confidence, began to dim, their shine clouded by doubt and

frustration.

The weight of Snow’s words bore down on her like an anchor, pulling her into an abyss of uncertainty.

“…There’s no way that’s true,” she mumbled, her tone firm but chillingly cold. The room

seemed to drop a few degrees as her mana instinctively swirled around her, an unspoken declaration of her disbelief.

Snow, noticing the subtle but palpable shift in atmosphere, didn’t back down. Instead, she responded in kind, raising her own mana.

Golden and red sparks filled the air, dancing and clashing as if echoing the tension between

them.

“Oh my~” Snow cooed, though her expression hardened. “I don’t know what you’re imagining, Senior, but Riley and I have been together for quite some time now. I’ve no reason

to lie, especially to someone like you.” Her words were a dagger wrapped in silk, her calm yet

cutting tone designed to provoke.

Alice’s fists clenched, her red mana flaring brighter, painting the room in a vivid crimson hue. Her lips pressed tightly together before parting with a sharp inhale.

“I don’t know why you would say such indecent lies, Princess,” Alice spat, her voice trembling

not with fear, but with barely contained fury. “But I’m Junior’s real lover!” She jabbed a finger

toward Snow, her golden eyes now blazing with determination. “After all… he already took my first!”

||

The room fell deathly silent.

“Huh?”

Snow blinked; her icy composure momentarily shattered. Her elegant demeanor faltered as

she stared at Alice then at the sleeping Riley, processing the unexpected declaration.

“Took your… what?”

Her blue eyes darkened matching Alice.

…

Waking up, I found myself staring at yet another unfamiliar sight.

It wasn’t the usual disorienting view of a foreign ceiling, the kind I had reluctantly grown

used to.

No, this time, it was something entirely different-a vast, foreign sky.

The expanse above was streaked with hues of twilight, a mixture of golds, purples, and blues

that seemed almost too serene to exist in reality.

My body felt… different.

Refreshed?

Stronger than usual, as though the very air around me had revitalized every cell in my being.

‘Looks like Snow’s spell did wonders…’ I mused silently, flexing my hands and stretching

lazily.

Maybe I should ask her to do this for me more often… though she’d probably lecture me about overworking myself first.

I shifted slightly, feeling the soft tickle of grass beneath me.

The meadow stretched as far as the eye could see, the blades swaying gently in rhythm with

the wind’s caress.

The crisp scent of the earth mingled with the floral undertones of nearby wildflowers.

“Where… am I right now?” I muttered aloud, my voice breaking the quiet stillness.

Had Snow taken me to a park or some secret location to help me relax?

It wasn’t really beyond her to orchestrate something like this; she always had a way of making

her actions seem both grand and subtle.

And yet, something about this place felt… off.

Just as I began to piece my thoughts together, a soft, lilting voice sounded behind me.

“Hmm~ You’re up~”

My body froze.

Every instinct, every nerve screamed at me, a primal warning system that sent shivers

coursing down my spine.

Goosebumps prickled my skin as the voice resonated, sweet and familiar, yet laced with something… dangerous.

“You know,” the voice continued, its tone playful yet intimate, “you could rest a bit more…

Darling~” Before I could react, a soft tug at my shoulder pulled me slightly backward, and I felt the unmistakable warmth of someone pressing against me.

The gentle but firm pressure of a pair of arms wrapped around me from behind, the sensation

of her chest against my back impossible to ignore.

I turned my head slowly-too slowly-like a creaky machine reluctant to function. Every

motion felt weighted, as if my body was resisting the very act of facing her.

A young woman, radiant and hauntingly beautiful. Her features were ethereal, almost too perfect to belong to this world.

White hair cascaded down her shoulders, catching the fading light of the sky and shimmering

like diamond’s.

Her eyes glowed with an unnatural crimson vibrancy, reflecting a mixture of amusement and

something far darker.

Her smile was soft but predatory, as though she already owned everything she desired-and I

was no exception.

Her beauty wasn’t just captivating; it was terrifying. It was the kind of beauty that could stop

a heart not with affection, but with sheer dread.

The future cause of my death.

“…Liyana?”

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