Chapter 278: Trails of Light….



After Sophiel left I had to reiterate what had happened.

Sigh…!

Snow let out a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose as she shook her head in exasperation.

“That girl…is probably up to no good again,” she muttered, more to herself than to me.

Her voice carried a mix of irritation and resignation, like someone who had grown far too accustomed to dealing with a troublesome sibling.

“To think she’d show interest in you… Well, I can’t say I didn’t see this coming, especially with the amount of attention you’ve been getting from Father and Uncle lately. But judging by how deliberate she was acting… She’s warning me, isn’t she?”

“Snow-“

“In the first place, why did you even let her into the room?” she asked, her tone scolding yet inquisitive. Then she paused, her expression softening into one of realization. “No… since I left for the academy, I suppose the master key must’ve been left in her hands.” She tilted her head slightly, her voice laced with suspicion. “She didn’t do anything else, did she?”

“No,” I answered quickly, shaking my head. “Nothing else.”

“That’s good,” she said, though her relief was cautious at best. “But just in case…”

She raised her hand, and shimmering blue lights began to swirl around her fingers, a cool and precise mana radiating from her.

The air around me turned refreshingly crisp, almost invigorating, as the magic enveloped me.

Her eyes glowed faintly as she scanned me with practiced precision, her expression focused and meticulous.

Based on the familiar sensation whenever you use mana sense.

This is probably some sort of inspection spell.

A few seconds later, Snow let out another soft sigh, this one of satisfaction. She lowered her hand, the mana dissipating into faint glimmers before vanishing completely.

Snow let out a small sigh, shaking her head as if she were dealing with an exasperating child. “Looks like she didn’t leave anything behind. Listen, Riley,” she began, her tone firm but laced with concern. “I understand you were being kind and respectful towards her, but if she ever comes around and does something like that again, please push her away as hard as you can. Don’t worry, I give you my permission.”

“Pushing her away seems a bit-” I started to object, but she quickly cut me off.

Her eyes gleamed with a teasing edge. “Hoh? So you enjoyed her touch that much?”

“You know that’s not the case,” I replied, feeling heat creep up my neck.

“Then just take my advice,” Snow said, her smirk softening into something more serious. “Trust me, it’ll save you a lot of trouble in the long run.”

I hesitated for a moment, then decided to address the obvious tension. “Judging from the way you speak about your own sister, it’s safe to assume you’re not close.”

“Fufu,” Snow chuckled dryly, a hint of disdain creeping into her voice. “The sun and moon would literally have to switch places before I could ever get along with that spineless snake.”

Her words carried an unmistakable edge of bitterness, but they also revealed a deeper layer of complexity.

Snow’s feelings toward Sophiel weren’t purely antagonistic; there was a sharp awareness to her tone that hinted at a blend of disappointment and mistrust.

It was clear she wasn’t blind to her sister’s manipulations.

I mulled over her words, realizing just how much insight Snow seemed to have about Sophiel’s true nature.

In the game, it was often hinted that Snow was one of the few people who saw through Sophiel’s carefully constructed facade.

While she cared for her sister in her own way, Snow could never fully trust her. Sophiel’s consistent acts of deception and self-serving behavior only deepened the rift between them.

The recent incident certainly hadn’t helped Sophiel’s case either.

Snow’s eyes, sharp and discerning, would have picked apart every nuance of her sister’s actions.

In a way, this wasn’t entirely a bad thing. I had already been planning to warn Snow to be cautious around Sophiel, but it seemed she didn’t need the advice.

If anything, she was already more suspicious of her sister than I could have expected this early

on.

Though Snow was suspicious and doubtful of Sophiel’s intentions, it didn’t change the fact that she still cared deeply for her sister.

The complexity of their relationship was something only those close to them could truly

grasp.

“Looks like you’re already getting ready for the journey,” Snow remarked, her gaze drifting to the pile of items stacked neatly in the corner of the room.

Among the collection were a variety of supplies, including an almost excessive amount of healing potions.

It wasn’t like the Trails of Light inflicted physical damage, but I supposed the emperor, having experienced them himself, had reasoned that I might face the same curse he did.

It wasn’t surprising he’d overprepare, given his prior ordeal.

There were also several divine artifacts scattered among the provisions.

Judging from the faint aura of divinity emanating from them, it was clear they weren’t blessed by the church.

The emperor must have procured them from other sources, keeping the Holy Church’s influence at bay.

That wasn’t exactly shocking, considering the long-standing tension between the empire and

the church.

They never truly got along.

‘Especially with their dispute of the rights over the trails’

Snow’s eyes lingered on the items briefly before she turned back to me, her expression

contemplative.

“Are you here to prevent me from going?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“No,” she said with a small shake of her head. “You already made your point yesterday.

Besides, I don’t think I could stop you even if I tried.”

Her voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of concern that became evident when she paused and looked at me with a soft, worried smile. “Are you sure you can’t take me with

you?” she asked quietly, her tone almost pleading.

“Yes,” I replied firmly.

It wasn’t something I could compromise on.

Snow’s current level was far too low to face the Trails of Light. Unlike me, who was being guided down this path as if fate itself demanded it, Snow’s chances of survival were slimmer. While I had no doubt she could eventually clear the trials with enough preparation, the risk of failure wasn’t zero-and failure meant consequences neither of us could afford.

Snow let out a quiet sigh, her expression dimming for a moment before she masked it with a resigned smile. “I see,”

She stepped closer, her soft features illuminated by the faint light in the room.

Without hesitation, she leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on my lips.

Her touch was warm and fleeting, like a promise sealed in silence.

“Please return safely,” Snow murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Her usually

confident tone now carried a trace of vulnerability.

I smiled, lifting my hand to pat her head gently. “Don’t worry,” I said, trying to ease the tension. “I’ll be back before you even notice it.”

She smiled back, her expression warm but not entirely convinced. I could tell she wasn’t fully reassured, and I couldn’t blame her.

Her unease was valid. Snow knew better than most the risks of the Trails of Light.

The rumors surrounding it weren’t just cautionary tales-they were stark warnings.

Failing to complete the trials didn’t just mean losing the chance at an ultimate wish; it often

meant succumbing to mysterious, irreversible curses.

From debilitating sickness to simply not waking up one night, the consequences were as grim

as they were unpredictable.

The thought lingered in her eyes for a moment, a shadow of concern crossing her features.

But then she shook her head, visibly dismissing her worries.

She straightened, her demeanor shifting as she exuded confidence once more, masking whatever inner turmoil she felt.

Snow stepped closer again, her arms wrapping tightly around me in a warm embrace.

“Before I forget,” she began, her voice steady but tinged with something playful, “I’ve got

something to tell you, Riley.”

“Hm?” I tilted my head, curious.

“Uncle now knows about our relationship.”

“Huh?” My eyes widened as I processed her words. “What?”

“Fufu~” she giggled softly, clearly amused by my reaction. “Don’t worry. He’s already

approved of it, so we don’t need to hide it anymore~”

Her nonchalant tone did little to soothe my rising anxiety.

As the memory of her bold declaration to Sophiel earlier resurfaced, the pieces started to fall

into place.

Snow’s casual attitude earlier now made sense-

This was a situation that was bound to happen eventually but…

Announcing it to the duke this early on was already a problem in and out of itself…

[Warning….!]

[Warning….!]

[Fate: A dragon’s sacrifice is shaking!]

Fuck….

….

“Could you repeat what you’ve just said, Papa?”

Liyana’s voice was deceptively calm, a thin veneer of civility masking the tempest brewing

beneath.

Her words carried an unnatural weight, and the once-bright room-bathed in the golden glow of morning sunshine-felt suffocating.

The gentle breeze, a product of cooling magic carefully maintained by the servants, now

seemed inconsequential against the oppressive atmosphere bearing down on everyone

present.

The room’s tranquility had turned into a nightmare.

The servants, unable to withstand the overwhelming pressure, collapsed one by one.

Their hands clutched at their chests, desperate to hold onto some semblance of life as their

faces contorted in anguish.

Foam bubbled at the corners of their mouths, and their eyes rolled back, leaving only whites visible. The sound of their bodies hitting the floor echoed behind the duke.

“Liyana…”

The duke Luther Heavens, renowned as the strongest swordsman in the world, felt his breath

hitch.

Cold sweat trickled down his spine.

His throat tightened as he struggled to swallow, a lump of fear lodged deep within.

Even though her image appeared only through the holographic screen hovering in the air, the

suffocating presence of his daughter seemed to pierce through reality, engulfing the room in her unyielding rage.

The crackling energy radiating from her was undeniable.

Behind her, neatly stacked papers floated into the air, now caught in a storm of raw power.

One by one, the documents began to disintegrate, reduced to ash as the sheer intensity of her mana corroded them.

The elegant pen in her hand, a gift of rare craftsmanship, melted into an unrecognizable blob, dripping onto the desk with a soft sizzle.

Her red eyes glowed ominously, twin abysses of malice that seemed to hunger for destruction

and immediate answers…

He knew this was probably just an outburst of her mana, and his mind over playing things

but….

He hadn’t felt this sensation in decades-not since he faced death itself on the battlefield. “Tell me who’s going after my darling~?”

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