Chapter 648: Rose’s Revelations Interlude

Where…?

With a hazy, unfocused vision, Stacia slowly pushed herself up from what she thought was a bed—only to realize the ground beneath her palms felt nothing like sheets.

It was coarse, brittle… ash-like.

She blinked hard.

Once.

Twice.

The world that came into view was desolate and unfamiliar.

Charred earth stretched endlessly in every direction, as if flames had swallowed an entire forest and reduced it to a blackened graveyard.

The sky above was dim, clouded by drifting dust and soot.

There was no wind, no sound—only a heavy stillness that pressed against her like a weight.

What… happened?

Her mind scrambled through the last clear memories she possessed.

Facing Flamme—yes.

The overwhelming presence of the Water Spirit King—yes.

Her trying to force her mana to withstand both forces at once—barely.

But after that… everything dissolved into a blinding haze.

Did I… win?

This place certainly wasn’t the academy infirmary.

Not even close.

There was no warmth of healing magic, no scent of herbs, no soft lights or soft voices.

Only ruin.

Hello? Are you there?

She called out inwardly, instinctively seeking the calm guidance of her future self—the presence that had always answered, always nudged her, always whispered.

Silence.

A slow dread crept into her chest.

Why wasn’t she responding?

Why was it completely quiet?

Trying to steady herself, Stacia placed a hand over her lower abdomen and sank her awareness inward, tracing the flow of her own mana.

There—deep in the core of her being—she felt it.

A vibrant, glowing sphere.

A small sun burning fiercely within her.

Her blessing.

Still radiant.

Still alive.

A wave of relief washed over her, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly.

So… the connection must have been severed temporarily. Not lost.

She exhaled, finally able to breathe properly, though the ominous landscape around her still loomed with unanswered questions.

Where am I… and why am I here?

[It seems you’ve awakened…]

Stacia’s entire body shuddered at the echoing voice—heavy, deep, and scorching, as if every syllable carried the weight of a sun.

A blistering heat pressed against her back, so intense it nearly suffocated her.

Yet strangely… she could feel no malice in it. It burned, but did not scorch her. It oppressed, but did not crush her.

Her breath grew ragged.

Sweat trickled down her neck.

Even her vision wavered with each exhale, the air shimmering like a mirage.

I… I know this presence…

She didn’t need to turn around. Her instincts screamed the name.

The very same overwhelming pressure she felt right before she lost consciousness in the fight with Flamme.

Takal…

The Primordial Spirit of Fire.

The Burning Wolf.

The one whose existence embodied every flame, every spark, every inferno that ever lived in the world.

His presence alone felt like standing before a living volcano.

[I had suspected it… but seeing you up close removes all doubt.]

The air trembled with his voice.

Stacia’s knees weakened further. Her fingers twitched as the heat seeped into her bones.

She felt her body giving way, her mind spinning.

This was beyond divine pressure—it was the presence of an ancient concept, a being whose existence predated her kingdom, her ancestors… perhaps even humanity itself.

Yet despite this unimaginable force—

—he wasn’t hurting her.

[My presence is still too much for you,] Takal rumbled.

[But undeniably… you and I are far more compatible than most. Far more than I expected. Even Lavine lacks the resonance you hold.]

Stacia’s stomach twisted at the sheer weight of his words.

Just hearing his voice sent waves of nausea rolling through her.

Compatible…? With him?

Her legs finally buckled.

“T-The water… spirit king…” she tried to speak, but her voice came out a fragile whisper, swallowed by the heat surrounding her.

[Do not strain yourself.]

His tone held a strange mixture of curiosity and command—like a beast king observing an intriguing creature rather than a threat.

[We don’t have much time. So I will satisfy my curiosity with just this—for now, child.]

Her vision blackened at the edges.

The ground tilted. Her breath caught as her consciousness slipped.

And just before everything went dark—

The heat touched her back like a single warm breath.

[**Next time… you will answer why you carry my blessing. **]

Her vision washed into black before she even felt the ground.

The last thing she sensed was Takal’s echoing voice fading into the flaming void.

….

Ugh…!

Stacia gasped awake, her entire body throbbing as a sharp jolt of pain forced her upright.

Her breath was uneven, trembling as she clutched at her chest and looked around in confusion.

Where…?

This time, the scenery was unmistakable.

The white ceiling, the clean white sheets, the faint scent of healing potions drifting in the air—she was back in the academy infirmary.

Was that… a dream?

The question lingered in her mind, but she immediately shook her head.

No. Absolutely not.

The burning pressure on her skin, the weight of his presence, the overwhelming heat—none of it was something a dream could produce. It felt too vivid, too real, too… divine.

Her heart raced as she tried to process what she had experienced, but her thoughts scattered every time she moved.

Her mana flared violently inside her, raging like an untamed inferno.

“Hah… ah—”

She winced as the heat surged again, too intense, too wild—almost as if her own power was trying to tear her body apart from the inside.

What’s happening to me…?

’It seems he noticed…’

Huh?

Her eyes widened, the familiar mature voice echoing through her mind like a warm, stabilizing breeze.

You’re back…

As soon as she heard her other self, the chaotic heat inside her gradually settled—still scorching, still painful, but no longer overwhelming.

She could feel her inner self suppressing the worst of the backlash.

’I can only help you this much… your body isn’t ready to handle his influence yet.’

Thank you…

She whispered the words weakly inside her mind, grateful as the pain slowly dulled to a tolerable burn.

’I had hoped to let you meet him properly later… when you were stronger, when you could stand before him without collapsing. But—’

A soft sigh echoed.

’—it seems fate had other plans. Still, take this chance. It may become the greatest leap in your growth.’

Stacia tightened her trembling fists, listening carefully.

’For the next few days… whatever happens, do not resist him. Not me, not him. Let the change flow through you. This is the only way your body will adapt.’

Her mind was still hazy, still spiraling from what she had seen—Takal’s burning form, the way the air itself bowed beneath his existence, the way he looked at her with ancient curiosity.

She swallowed, nodded slightly, and exhaled a shaky breath.

“…I understand.”

Even as her abdomen still throbbed with the remnants of his flame, even as her mana simmered like molten gold inside her, she knew one thing clearly:

This encounter… would change everything.

…

It was already late into the night when everyone finally gathered inside Riley’s dorm room, the exhaustion of the long competition day hanging faintly in the air.

The warm aroma of Yui’s carefully prepared dinner lingered even after she had left, creating a comforting atmosphere around the dining table.

“By the way,” Rose said casually as she sliced into her meal, “the emperor seemed quite amused that we’re all living together.”

The room froze for a heartbeat.

“W–What… what did you just say?”

It was Snow who reacted first, her eyes widening so dramatically it almost looked painful.

“I said the emperor was amused about our living situation,” Rose repeated, still calm, almost oblivious to the chaos she had just dropped into the room.

“……”

Snow’s spoon and fork nearly slipped from her hands. Her face reddened in a way that made even Seo pause mid-bite.

“Is him being aware a problem…?” Rose tilted her head, genuinely curious.

“N-No, not at all… it’s just that…”

Snow trailed off, her expression twisting as she tried—and failed—to form the words. She could not say it.

Not out loud.

The promise she made to her father to keep her relationship with Riley proper, reserved until marriage… considering how overprotective and worry-prone he was, there was no telling what kind of over-the-top reactions he might be having right this moment.

Knowing him, he was probably already interrogating half the imperial guards for information.

Snow rubbed her temples. “Sigh… forget it. I’m sure things will work out in the end…”

She said that, but everyone knew she was counting on one fact alone:

If it’s Riley, her father would have to accept it eventually.

He wouldn’t like it—but he’d accept it.

“The emperor is your father, right Snow?” Seo asked, still chewing quietly on her piece of steak.

“Yes,” Snow replied, trying to compose herself.

“Should we go meet him?” Seo asked, utterly unfazed.

“Fufu~ I’m sure he’ll try to meet all of us eventually,” Snow said, a soft, awkward smile forming. “Though I am wondering why he only asked for you specifically, Rose…”

It was true.

Her father had informed her beforehand about the grand surprise visit he planned for the academy, but nowhere in that message was there any mention of him requesting Rose alone.

That detail… even Snow didn’t know.

“Who knows,” Rose shrugged. “But he did ask me for my thoughts about my experience here so far.”

“I see…” Snow murmured, still processing everything.

She assessed it was probably a more personal evaluation her father wanted than anything else.

If that was the case, then she should be hearing something from him soon—if not, then maybe it was simply another one of his subtle schemes.

Knowing him, that was always a possibility. After all, he had not only summoned Rose, but also called in Duke Raymond and even the principal for their lunch. There had to be a reason.

“No need to overthink it, Snow… the emperor and I only discussed mundane matters. I can assure you, it’s nothing complicated.”

Rose reassured her, her tone calm and soft.

Snow exhaled with a small smile.

“I guess so…” she mumbled with a faint chuckle.

Honestly, with how well she knew her father, it was practically instinct to dissect his motives and prepare for the worst.

But inside the academy… she didn’t have to be the ever-perfect crown princess who handled politics at a moment’s notice.

Here, she could breathe—at least a little.

“Aside from the casual talk,” Snow continued hesitantly, “did you speak about anything else with my father? Uhm… in particular, did he… say something about our relationship with Riley?”

“He never said anything specific,” Rose replied, “but I could tell he was favorable toward us. He gave us his blessings early on, after all.”

“That’s… good.” Snow let out another sigh. “I was planning on telling him slowly about how much our relationships have progressed. Especially about Seo as well…”

“I also talked to him about our future children.”

Clatter!

Snow’s spoon and fork hit her plate as she stared at Rose, eyes wide and soul almost leaving her body.

“I-I beg your pardon?”

“Yes,” Rose nodded seriously, almost cheerfully. “Although I didn’t get into the details, his majesty should now be aware that he might have future grandchildren soon.”

She seemed so blissfully proud saying that—too casual, too calm, too Rose.

If Riley or Alice had been in the room at that moment, they probably would’ve choked on air from the shock.

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