The world had turned warmer.

The golden hues of late afternoon bathed the academy grounds in a soft glow, yet despite the tranquil setting, the air around Lucas crackled with an undeniable tension.

He had arrived earlier than expected, intending to take a brief rest after his practicals, but a fire burned deep inside him—one that refused to let him stay idle.

SWOOSH!

SWISH!

His white sword cut through the air with a sharp, resounding force, each movement so swift and precise that the very air seemed to hum in response.

The students lingering nearby instinctively took several steps back.

Even those further away, who had only caught glimpses of him in action, remained wary of stepping too close.

“Senior Lucas is seriously built different…”

“The week for the seniors’ practicals has barely started, and he’s already back?”

“I heard some fourth-years and even third-years aren’t back yet…”

“He’s seriously a monster.”

“Hey, don’t you think he got stronger?”

“Wow…”

Whispers filled the training field, a mixture of awe and disbelief rippling through the spectators.

But Lucas?

He ignored all of it. The hushed murmurs, the admiring glances—none of it mattered.

It’s not fast enough…

SWOOSH!

His blade blurred as he pushed himself harder, his footwork becoming sharper, more relentless.

I need more strength…

SWISH!

His sword carved through the air, each strike fueled by an insatiable hunger for power.

More speed…

WOOSH!

Faster. Stronger. More precise. It still wasn’t enough.

VOOOOM!

With a final, downward slash, a thunderous shockwave erupted from his sword, sending a powerful gust outward.

The force alone was enough to send dust and loose debris scattering in all directions, while the ground beneath him trembled under the sheer kinetic energy of his movement.

Though his blade never made contact with the earth, the lingering mark left upon the field was proof of his relentless pursuit of strength.

Haaah… Haaah…

Lucas’s breaths came in ragged gasps, his chest rising and falling heavily. His muscles screamed in protest, his body drenched in sweat, yet despite the lingering fatigue, a subtle smile played on his lips.

Slowly, he straightened up, swiping a hand across his forehead to wipe away the sweat.

“Looks like my body is still healing…” he muttered under his breath.

Even now, the aftereffects of yesterday’s battle still clung to him.

The reckless choice to push himself beyond his limits—burning through every ounce of mana and then forcefully reigniting it to face the golem boss—had left its mark.

He had known the consequences, but in that moment, there had been no other option. It was an emergency.

A choice he had made willingly.

Even so… the toll was undeniable.

He flexed his fingers, stretching his arms before opening and closing his hands. Carefully, he focused inward, sensing the state of his mana veins.

Damaged, but not beyond repair. The flow of mana within him was sluggish, far slower than usual, but it was recovering. It would take time.

Lucas knew he should rest. He had only just returned. His body needed to recover.

But—

“Lucas… can you reach my sword?”

Riley’s words echoed in his mind, his voice steady, unshaken.

Lucas exhaled, his grip unconsciously tightening. He could still see it—the sharp intensity in Riley’s gaze, the weight behind his question.

And just like that, the thought of relaxing felt impossible.

But Lucas also understood that there were certain limits to one’s stubbornness.

Training mindlessly in his current condition wouldn’t benefit him in any way—his body was already hurting, and pushing himself further might only worsen things.

“I should probably take some rest before Janica finds out…” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

He had promised to go on a little date with Janica tomorrow, and he knew that if he wanted to enjoy their time together properly, he needed to be in top shape.

The last thing he wanted was to show up looking half-dead. But considering the soreness spreading through his body, he wasn’t entirely sure he’d even be able to move properly by then.

And if Janica caught wind of how recklessly he had been pushing himself… well, that was a whole different problem.

She was already overprotective when it came to his health, and her sheer fury whenever he neglected himself was downright terrifying.

Lucas could already picture her scolding him, arms crossed, eyebrows furrowed, that sharp glare of hers drilling into his soul, like the usual…

“…Yeah, I really don’t want to deal with that.”

Letting out a sigh, he hurriedly stepped off the training grounds, grabbed his uniform, and slipped on his blazer.

He wasn’t completely satisfied with his results today, but there were still plenty of days ahead for that.

For now, his priority was preparing for tomorrow—making sure Janica had a good time. And part of that preparation meant taking care of himself.

“Riley said I should get that Fruhling Flower…”

Lucas muttered to himself as he walked through the crowd of students around him…

The recent incident with her cooking still weighed on his mind.

Even though she had already accepted his apology, a part of him remained unsatisfied.

He knew he had hurt her feelings back then, and just saying sorry didn’t feel like enough.

That was when Riley had given him a suggestion.

“If you want to make Janica a bit happier during your date tomorrow, you might want to buy her some Fruhling flowers.”

“Hm?”

“You’re going on a date tomorrow, right? Trust me, it’ll make things much easier when your partner is happy.”

Lucas had been skeptical at first.

Why did Riley know about something like this? And why was he so confident that it would work?

It wasn’t as if Janica openly expressed the things she liked. If anything, she was the type to keep those details to herself.

Yet Riley—who wasn’t nearly as close to her as Lucas was—had suggested a flower that seemed to hold some kind of significance.

Lucas wasn’t exactly well-versed in flowers, but for some reason, he had a gut feeling that Riley was right. That if he gave Janica this particular flower, it would really make her happy.

“…Is Riley into flowers as well?”

He mused absentmindedly, slipping his hands into his pockets as he continued walking.

If Riley knew about things like this, maybe it was worth studying flowers himself.

It might be a hobby he’d come to like—or at the very least, something that could help him understand Janica better.

Either way, he had already made up his mind.

Tomorrow, before their date, he’d find a way to get that Fruhling Flower.

…..

“Is this the shop…?”

Lucas muttered as he stopped in front of a quaint-looking store.

The sun had already begun its descent, casting a golden twilight that stretched across the sky.

The warm hues of orange and purple blended together, illuminating the streets of the commercial district with a soft glow.

The air carried a lingering scent of baked goods and the faint chatter of merchants closing up their stalls for the day.

After taking a much-needed short rest, Lucas had woken up just in time—before the day fully ended.

His body still felt a little sluggish from training earlier, but the thought of his goal kept him moving.

He lifted his gaze toward the wooden sign hanging above the shop’s entrance:

[Florencia]

Unlike most shops in the bustling commercial district, which were often larger and more extravagant, this flower shop had a more modest charm.

It was smaller, leaner—almost delicate in its presence—but in a way, that made it feel… cleaner, more refined.

The storefront was well-kept, with not a single stray petal or fallen leaf disrupting its pristine appearance.

It made sense, given that it was a flower shop, yet there was something oddly serene about it.

What struck Lucas as strange, however, was the lack of people.

Despite the district being packed with evening shoppers, none seemed to be heading toward this particular shop. It stood there, almost isolated, like a forgotten gem amidst the sea of busy streets and rushing pedestrians.

His eyes wandered to the flowers displayed outside.

Vibrant petals in every shade imaginable bloomed in carefully arranged pots and hanging baskets.

Roses, lilies, violets—each one looking almost unnaturally perfect, untouched by the dust and grime of the city.

The contrast between the liveliness of the shop’s floral arrangements and the emptiness of its surroundings made it seem even more out of place.

“I guess flowers aren’t really a thing for people inside the academy, huh…”

Lucas mumbled to himself, glancing around.

The absence of customers made it obvious—most students at the academy likely didn’t bother with flowers.

Perhaps they were too focused on their training, their studies, or their ambitions to appreciate something as delicate as a bouquet.

Now that he was here, a strange nervousness settled in his chest.

Normally, when he visited places like this—or even just regular shops—Janica was always by his side.

She handled most of the talking while he simply stood beside her, letting her enthusiasm fill the space. But now, he was alone.

The Fruhling Flower—that was what he had come to buy.

But there was a small problem.

He had no idea what it looked like.

Lucas sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Well, this is a flower shop.

The florist should be inside.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and pushed open the door.

A soft chime rang out as he entered, and the scent of fresh flowers immediately enveloped him.

The air inside was cool, carrying a refreshing mix of floral fragrances that washed over him like a calming breeze.

He paused for a moment, blinking in surprise.

The shop’s interior… seemed larger than its exterior.

Despite its modest appearance from the outside, the inside was spacious, almost like stepping into a different world.

Sunlight filtered through small glass windows, casting golden hues across the carefully arranged rows of flowers.

Vibrant petals and lush greenery decorated the space, blending harmoniously with wooden shelves and woven baskets.

There was something enchanting about it all—something that made him feel at ease.

Then, he felt it.

A faint energy lingering in the air.

“…Mana?”

He mumbled, narrowing his eyes as he tried to focus on the subtle waves of power flowing through the shop. It was gentle, barely noticeable, but undeniably there.

“Hoho, you noticed, child?”

A soft, melodic voice cut through the stillness.

Lucas turned sharply, his eyes widening at the sight before him.

A woman stood near the counter, her emerald-green eyes shimmering with quiet amusement.

Her long, silvery-white hair cascaded over her shoulders like strands of moonlight, and her pointed ears peeked through, confirming what he had just suspected.

“An elf…?”

The woman let out a small chuckle, her delicate features curving into a teasing smile.

“Hm? Is this your first time seeing one of my race, child?”

Lucas quickly shook his head. “No, not really…”

“Fufu~ Then why the surprised look?”

In all honesty, he had expected an old man or woman to be tending a flower shop like this.

The last thing he anticipated was meeting someone so breathtakingly beautiful in a place like this.

‘But since she’s an elf, maybe…’

He suddenly froze as he noticed the way she was looking at him. Her piercing gaze held a knowing glint, as if she had just read his thoughts with ease.

“Are you perhaps thinking something rude, child?”

“N-Not at all!”

“Is that so?”

She giggled softly, clearly unconvinced, before gesturing toward the flowers behind her.

“Well then, tell me, young one… What brings you to my humble shop?”

“Ah, yes… Do you perhaps have any Fruhling flowers in stock?”

The florist hummed thoughtfully, adjusting her glasses before tying her long, silver hair into a ponytail.

She stepped out from her corner, her light footsteps barely making a sound on the wooden floor as she walked past Lucas.

‘I really can’t sense her presence properly…. Are the flowers interfering with my mana sense?’

Lucas wondered in slight awe….

“Fruhling, hmm… We do have some in stock, but I can’t say I can actually sell you one.”

Lucas furrowed his brows. “Why not?”

The florist glanced at him with a small, knowing smile. “Is Fruhling some sort of trend among kids these days?” she mused, almost as if talking to herself.

Lucas tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

She let out a small sigh, resting a hand on her hip. “You’re not my first customer looking for Fruhling today, kid. Right now, there’s someone else down in the cellar storage—she’s already claimed all of the exotic flowers I have in stock, including every last Fruhling flower.”

Lucas exhaled through his nose.

‘Just my luck…’

“So, if you really want one, you might have to talk it out with her.”

“I see…”

“Come along then,” she said, waving him forward. “I’ll guide you there.”

With a nod, Lucas followed her through the shop, weaving past shelves filled with neatly arranged bouquets and floral arrangements.

Eventually, they reached a wooden staircase that led down into the cellar.

The air grew noticeably cooler as they descended, the scent of fresh flowers lingering even in the dimly lit space below.

Once they reached the bottom, the florist gestured toward a door at the end of the corridor. “This is where you’ll find her.”

Lucas turned back to her. “You’re not coming?”

The florist shook her head with a small chuckle. “I still have things to take care of up here. But be nice and try to talk it out with her. Since you have a pretty good-looking face, who knows? She might just sell you a flower or two.”

Lucas let out a dry chuckle. “Haha—I’ll keep that in mind.”

With that, he stepped forward, reaching for the door handle. Whoever was inside had taken all of the Fruhling flowers for themselves…

Now it was up to him to convince them to part with at least one.

Step by step, Lucas descended deeper into the cellar, and with each step, he felt the mana in the air grow heavier.

It was thick and dense, wrapping around him like an unseen force.

It was clear that the flowers stored down here were on a completely different level from the ones displayed in the shop above.

‘Why do these flowers emit mana?’ he wondered.

Flowers naturally contained some mana, but this—this was something else entirely.

He made a mental note to ask the florist about it later.

Just as he reached the bottom, faint voices reached his ears.

‘Huh? I thought the florist said there was only one customer… but it sounds like there’s more than one person down here?’

He stopped for a moment, listening.

“Ahh, Vanessa… are you sure you want to buy all of these?”

“Yes.”

“I understand you like flowers, and the presence of nature and all, but don’t you think this is a bit overkill? Even for you?”

“Fufu~ You don’t have to worry, Enna. I have more than enough budget to buy all of these safely. Besides, it’s not for nothing. My race tends to sleep better when surrounded by these flowers, and… they remind me of home.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes. Now, choose a flower you like.”

“Eh? But I told you, I don’t really need any—”

“Fufu~ So you won’t accept my gift?”

“I-It’s not like that…! Okay, okay, I’ll choose one, alright?”

“Fufufu~”

Lucas, still standing near the entrance of the cellar, hesitated.

He wasn’t sure when to step in, especially now that he was witnessing this unexpected scene.

The hooded woman, presumably Vanessa, had just patted the black-haired woman—Enna—on the head with an air of amusement.

Lucas exhaled slowly.

Well… guess I should make my entrance sooner rather than later.

With that thought, he took a step forward, clearing his throat lightly to announce his presence.

“Ahem…! H-Hello.”

Lucas cleared his throat, forcing his voice to stay steady as he stepped forward.

The two girls turned toward him in sync, their expressions shifting from mild surprise to silent scrutiny.

They didn’t respond right away. Instead, they simply stared at him, their gazes assessing, as if trying to piece together who he was and why he was here.

The black-haired girl, in particular, caught his attention. Her eyes flickered—no, gleamed—shifting subtly between shades of blue and white. It was an unusual phenomenon.

“…Are you two perhaps the ones who bought all the flowers here? Uhm… if it’s not too much to ask, could I trouble you to sell me at least one specific flower?”

Silence.

Neither of them replied. They just kept staring at him, their expressions unreadable. The longer it lasted, the more awkward it became.

“Uhm—” He was about to call their attention again, but before he could, a voice interrupted him.

A familiar voice.

One that sent a jolt through his entire body.

“Hm~? Well, isn’t this a familiar-looking face?”

Lucas stiffened.

That voice…

A part of him didn’t believe it. It was too soft, too smooth, too unreal—like something conjured from a dream.

But at the same time, it was clear as day, resonating in the air with an unmistakable presence.

Slowly, almost hesitantly, he turned his head toward the source.

And then, his breath caught.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

The moment felt surreal, like a long-forgotten dream had suddenly materialized before him.

There she was.

Golden-blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing a face so breathtaking it seemed almost otherworldly.

Deep blue eyes—striking and mesmerizing—held an ethereal glow, effortlessly drawing in anyone who dared to stare for too long.

And in her delicate hands, she held a small tray.

A tray carrying a set of radiant golden flowers.

His gaze dropped to the tray, where an inscription was elegantly carved into the wood:

Fruhling.

He barely registered the words escaping his lips.

“L-Lady Evelyn…?”

He mumbled her name unconsciously, unable to tear his eyes away.

Evelyn’s lips curved into a soft, knowing smile.

“It’s been a while, Lucas.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep