Chapter 614: Ritual of Light 5.5

It didn’t take me long to arrive at the infirmary.

The halls were quiet, the soft morning light spilling through the glass windows and glinting off the polished floor.

The faint scent of herbs and antiseptic lingered in the air — familiar, sterile, and oddly calming.

When I reached Snow’s room, I turned the handle carefully and stepped inside without making a sound.

She was still fast asleep.

Her long silver hair spilled across the white sheets like moonlight, her breathing calm and steady.

The faint rise and fall of her chest was the only movement in the room, and for a moment, I just stood there watching her.

She’d fallen asleep early last night, and considering what she went through, it wasn’t surprising her body needed the rest.

It wasn’t just exhaustion either — her spirit, her energy, everything about her seemed drained after that fight.

My gaze drifted around the room.

A tray sat neatly on the small table beside her bed — freshly made breakfast, still warm, and a glass of fruit juice glimmering faintly in the morning light.

Someone must’ve brought it in just recently. The arrangement was precise, elegant — no doubt courtesy of the academy’s staff.

After all, Snow wasn’t just any student.

They even casted preservation magic on it…

For reference Snow had been transferred to the royal room within the academy infirmary.

A quiet, private space meant for nobles or visiting royals — courtesy, I assumed, of the principal herself.

Even though it wasn’t overly extravagant, it was definitely larger than the standard rooms; wide enough to host three or four more people comfortably.

Subtle decorations lined the walls — golden trims, clean white curtains, and a small crystal vase with fresh lilies sitting by the window.

I nodded to myself, satisfied. Everything seemed in order.

My eyes glimmered faintly as I extended my senses — a habit at this point. I scanned the room, both inside and out.

The flow of mana was stable, no foreign traces or disturbances anywhere nearby. Good.

“Everything seems fine…”

Still, I couldn’t let my guard down. After yesterday, we couldn’t take chances — not with her. For safety’s sake, Emilia’s ritual would proceed today as planned.

Touching a strand of her hair that had fallen across her face, I gently brushed it aside, my hand moving slowly—carefully—so I wouldn’t disturb her.

But just as my fingers grazed her cheek…

Touch—!

Her hand suddenly caught mine.

“…Good morning… Snow.”

Her eyes fluttered open, those familiar icy-blue irises meeting mine with a soft, sleepy focus.

For a few seconds she just looked at me, her gaze calm and unreadable, before a small smile curved on her lips.

“Sorry,” I whispered, “did I wake you up?”

“It’s fine…” she mumbled quietly, her voice still soft from sleep. “I usually… yes, I usually wake up quite early…”

She sat up slowly, her long silver hair falling over her shoulders like silk.

I noticed a faint tremble in her hands as she adjusted her posture, so I placed a hand on her back, helping her steady herself.

“Easy,” I said, “you’re still recovering. You should rest a bit more.”

She shook her head, smiling faintly. “I’ve had all the rest I need. Besides… this is an important day, isn’t it? I need to make some effort.”

Important day?

I blinked, thinking for a moment.

Well, in a sense she was right — we were heading to a powerful ritual later today, one cast by the saintess herself.

But I wasn’t sure if Snow even knew the details about that yet.

“You don’t need to push yourself—”

“It’s our first date in a long while,” she interrupted softly, looking up at me. “That’s why I need to put in some effort.”

Her words froze me for a moment.

A small smile tugged at my lips despite myself. I wanted to correct her — tell her this wasn’t exactly a date, just an important ritual — but seeing the faint blush on her cheeks and that spark of genuine excitement in her eyes… I decided to just let her have it.

Honestly, Emilia was probably still busy setting everything up, so there wasn’t any rush. If Snow wanted to come early and spend some quiet time together, I didn’t mind.

She looked at me again, her expression softening into something almost mesmerizing.

“And where,” she said, her voice carrying that gentle, teasing lilt I’d missed, “could you be planning to take me, my dear?”

For a moment, I forgot how to respond.

There was something different about her today.

A quiet confidence, a calm maturity that hadn’t been there before.

The way her gaze lingered on me—steady, affectionate—made my chest feel oddly warm.

My beautiful lover seemed… different.

More composed.

More radiant.

Almost as if overnight, Snow had bloomed into a version of herself that was even more breathtaking.

And as I looked at her in that soft morning light, I couldn’t help but think—

She’d never looked more alluring than she did right now.

….

Holding off against a relentless barrage of sword strikes, Kagami grit his teeth, mana flaring violently around him like a storm. The air trembled.

“HAAAAAH!!!”

He clenched his fist, the veins in his arm glowing faintly as he unleashed it—

a single, heavy punch that shattered the air itself.

BOOOOOM!!!

A comet-like wave of energy tore forward, crashing into the field and erupting into a massive explosion.

Dust and light swallowed everything in front of him.

But when the smoke cleared—

Not a single scratch.

Standing there, grinning as if it was all just a warm-up, was Lucas.

“That attack was amazing, Kagami!” Lucas said, eyes practically sparkling with excitement as he took in the devastation around them.

Kagami’s eyebrow twitched.

Amazing, huh?

That attack should’ve at least hurt someone at his level.

He clicked his tongue quietly. “Tch…”

Lucas had completely brushed it off—literally cut through it like it was nothing.

Seriously, Kagami thought bitterly, why do I keep ending up surrounded by monsters in this academy…?

“Did you say something?” Lucas asked innocently, tilting his head.

“Nothing,” Kagami muttered, forcing a half-smile as he exhaled.

Lucas might’ve looked clueless, but Kagami knew better.

Beneath that easygoing grin was the same kind of absurd talent Riley had—a natural born genius with a sword, one who made even the most grueling techniques look effortless.

It was infuriating.

After losing so suddenly in yesterday’s competition, Kagami had dragged himself out of bed at dawn to train—hoping to work off some frustration in the hidden training ground beneath Killian Hall.

But to think he’d run into another battle-crazed idiot here…

He rubbed his temple with a sigh.

“Just my luck…”

Meanwhile, Lucas smiled like this was the best morning of his life.

“Come on, let’s go another round! I still haven’t figured out how you channeled your mana that way!”

Kagami exhaled deeply, wiping the sweat off his brow. “Nah, bud. I’m done for now… haah…”

Lucas blinked, lowering his sword. “But we just started.”

They had been sparring for over thirty minutes straight, and to him, it felt like days of life-and-death combat.

Every exchange had been fast, sharp, and lethal—Lucas never once dropped his pace.

He might not have been going all out, but even half of his power was enough to push Kagami to his absolute limits.

He knew Lucas was strong—absurdly so, right up there with Riley—but this?

This was on another level.

The kid wasn’t even serious yet.

Kagami sank down onto one of the benches near the edge of the training ground, letting out a long sigh.

“Don’t worry, I plan to train again after a short break. So if you wouldn’t mind—I’ll just… take a few minutes off for now.”

Lucas tilted his head for a moment, then smiled and followed, setting his sword aside. “I see. Well, I guess I should take a breather too.”

The two sat quietly for a bit, catching their breath. The faint hum of the mana field echoed in the distance, the only sound between them.

After a few moments, Kagami glanced sideways at Lucas. “Hey… by the way, bud, I heard the princess got caught up in some kind of incident recently.”

Lucas’s expression shifted slightly. “Yes.”

“I also heard that you and Riley were somewhat involved…” Kagami added, taking a swig from his canteen.

Lucas hesitated for a second before replying, “Well, in a sense, yes… but it’s kind of hard to explain.”

Kagami leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees as he gave Lucas a tired look.

“Listen, I get it—the higher-ups probably told you to keep your mouth shut for now. Since it’s a matter involving the princess, the news was bound to spread, but right now everything floating around are just half-baked rumors and nonsense. So I can’t really tell what’s real and what’s not.”

Lucas blinked. “Is that so…?”

“Yeah,” Kagami said, sighing as he ran a hand through his hair. “That’s why I’m asking you this, man-to-man. And just so you know, I’m not trying to be rude or anything, nor am I questioning your preferences, alright?”

Lucas tilted his head. “What are you talking about…?”

Kagami took a deep breath, clearly struggling to phrase it right. “Are the rumors true…?”

Lucas frowned slightly. “What rumors…?”

“The ones saying,” Kagami said slowly, “that the reason Princess Snow got into that incident… was because of you?”

Lucas blinked again, his confusion deepening. “What do you mean?”

Kagami scratched his cheek awkwardly. “Well, people are saying that you somehow… got involved in their love life or something. Like, apparently there was some kind of argument that led to what’s happening now.”

“…Huh?”

“Yeah,” Kagami continued, looking a bit uncomfortable. “Look, bud, I know you’re close with Riley, and that you admire the guy—but even your weird obsession with him needs to be under control, right?”

Lucas just stared at him, completely blank. “…????”

Kagami frowned, thinking Lucas might’ve not heard him. “I mean—come on, people are saying Princess Snow found out about you and Riley—”

??????

Lucas was genuinely confused with the conversation…

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