Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Absence and Doubt

Winter mornings at the Imperial Academy of Valon had a way of sharpening the senses—but today, Noel’s mind was anything but sharp.

He stood alone on the frost-covered training grounds, sword in hand, breath visible in the chilled air. His training uniform was heavier now, lined with subtle enchantments against the cold, but the extra warmth did nothing to steady his distracted mind.

He took a step forward, swung his sword—and nearly lost his footing.

’Focus, damn it.’

He reset his stance, exhaled slowly, then struck again.

His blade wavered, sluggish, imprecise. Frustration edged his movements. He knew exactly why:

Elyra.

Since that conversation, her words had echoed endlessly in his mind, a gentle but persistent question that never faded entirely away.

Noel paused, sword lowered, his breath misting into the morning air as he stared blankly at the frost-rimmed trees that bordered the grounds.

’Is it even right? I’m not even from this world. If I actually succeed—if I save this place, then what? Do I just leave?’

His eyes narrowed slightly, discomforted by the thought.

’And even then… here, polygamy’s normal. Hell, my father had three wives. But back home, on Earth? It would be unimaginable. How could I justify something like that? Would it even be fair?’

He gripped the sword tightly, shaking his head once.

’No. Stop. Think clearly. You don’t have to decide now. You have time. She said she’d wait.’

He sighed, seeing his breath curl into the air, dissipating slowly.

His grip softened.

But the tension remained.

Noel raised the sword again, adjusted his stance carefully, and forced his focus back onto the blade.

Even if his mind wasn’t fully here, the world wasn’t waiting.

And he couldn’t afford distractions—not yet.

Noel finished training sooner than usual. It wasn’t productive anyway—his mind was still miles away. With a sigh, he left the training grounds and made his way toward the central wing, determined to find Elyra and, perhaps, finally clear his thoughts.

Yet, something felt off as soon as he entered the main hall. Students gathered in clusters, whispering quietly. Even by academy standards, something was clearly unusual.

Before he could ask anyone, Seraphina appeared from around a corner, her long pink hair neatly tied back, her presence calm yet somehow grave. She immediately noticed Noel.

“Noel,” she greeted softly, approaching him without hesitation. “Good timing. I was looking for you.”

Noel slowed his pace. Her tone alone was enough to make him cautious. “What’s going on?”

Seraphina stopped directly before him, her pale eyes carefully measuring his reaction. “It’s about Elyra.”

Something twisted sharply in Noel’s stomach. “What about her?”

“She took a leave of absence from the academy,” Seraphina said quietly, her voice gentle but firm. “Her mother has fallen seriously ill. She’ll be away for at least a month—maybe two.”

Noel stared, momentarily frozen.

That never happened.

’This… isn’t right. Elyra’s mother was never mentioned in the novel, much less her illness. Something’s off… or did my interference cause this?’

He composed himself quickly, shaking off the surprise just enough to nod slowly. “I… see.”

Seraphina studied his face carefully. “You didn’t know?”

“No,” Noel admitted quietly, eyes fixed on nothing in particular. “I didn’t.”

Seraphina seemed to sense the depth of his uncertainty and softened slightly. “She’ll be alright. Elyra’s stronger than most.”

Noel nodded absently. “I know she is.”

But that wasn’t the point. He knew Elyra would be fine—she always was. But a new uncertainty now loomed heavily over him.

’If this isn’t following the original story anymore, then what else is about to change?’

Noel exhaled slowly, looking back up to meet Seraphina’s steady gaze. “Thanks for telling me.”

She nodded quietly, turning to leave but glancing back once more.

“Noel?” she said gently. “If you need something, just let me know.”

He gave a short nod, watching as she walked away.

He stood motionless for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

’This changes everything. I need to find out what’s really going on—and fast.’

Night had settled over the Imperial Academy, bringing with it an uneasy silence. Noel was seated alone in the academy library, at a table covered in scattered notes, parchment maps of Valon, and a hastily sketched list of names.

He traced his finger over the names carefully.

Four students. Two civilians. All vanished within the past week.

’This never happened in the original novel,’ Noel thought, frustration rising sharply in his chest. ’The timeline’s off. And Elyra’s sudden leave—this isn’t just a coincidence.’

He leaned back, staring up at the library’s vaulted ceiling, dimly lit by enchanted lamps. Elyra’s absence, the disappearances… It was as if the very fabric of the story he knew had begun to unravel.

’Ever since Dior lost, something changed. Is that the trigger?’

He shook his head slowly, refocusing on the names. All of them were somehow involved in thwarting the terrorist attack from months earlier. Someone was targeting them deliberately.

But who? And why now?

He scanned the names again, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

’Whoever’s behind this is erasing anyone who might interfere again.’

Noel paused, a subtle unease spreading through his chest as he considered the scale and precision of the disappearances.

’This isn’t just random revenge. It’s organized. Methodical. Someone who knows exactly who to target and how to do it without leaving traces.’

His mind flicked briefly to the image of Dior’s defeat, but quickly dismissed it.

’Not Dior. He’s impulsive and angry, and he is not in the academy anymore for now. This is something else. Something more dangerous.’

He stood abruptly, gathering the papers into a bundle. The sudden urge to act sharpened within him like a blade’s edge.

’Whoever it is, they’re moving fast. And I need to be faster.’

Noel strode toward the exit, the library doors quietly shutting behind him. He moved swiftly into the night, heading toward Valon’s streets, where the answers awaited him—whether he was ready for them or not.

Valon’s streets were shadowed beneath the pale winter moon, its glow reflecting off frost-slick cobblestones and dim street lamps. Noel walked swiftly, his coat tightly wrapped around him, alert to every shadow and movement around him.

He hadn’t gone far when he noticed a familiar figure standing quietly at the edge of a narrow street. The delicate frame, long platinum hair catching the faint moonlight—there was no mistaking her.

“Elena?” Noel called softly, approaching slowly. She turned her head sharply toward him, amber eyes flashing briefly with surprise before quickly softening.

“Noel,” she said quietly, pulling her cloak tighter around her slender shoulders. “What brings you here at this hour?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” he replied, coming to stand beside her, his voice wary yet calm. He glanced down, noticing the distinctive silver badge pinned discreetly to her cloak—the mark of the newly restructured student council. “I see you’ve joined the council.”

She nodded softly, eyes thoughtful.

“Seraphina offered me a place. I thought it was time to take on a more active role.”

Noel arched an eyebrow, slightly amused despite the situation.

“Politics never struck me as your thing.”

“You’re not wrong,” she admitted softly, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

“But neither is sitting idly by while people vanish.”

Noel felt his shoulders relax just slightly, recognizing a similar determination in her quiet voice. “Then you’re also investigating the disappearances?”

She glanced around the darkened street cautiously before responding. “Yes. And I’m beginning to think it goes far deeper than random kidnappings. Students, civilians—it’s all connected somehow.”

Noel frowned slightly. “That’s what I’ve been suspecting too.”

Elena looked at him again, her gaze steady, confident. “Then perhaps we can help each other.”

Noel hesitated briefly—he wasn’t used to trusting easily. But something about her calm determination and steady presence made his choice simpler.

“Alright,” he finally agreed. “Where should we start?”

Elena turned her eyes toward the darkened alley behind them, her expression hardening slightly. “This way. There’s something I need to check.”

They moved quietly toward the narrow street, the darkness ahead suddenly feeling heavier, more tangible. Noel found himself quietly grateful—at least he wasn’t alone in this.

Noel followed Elena into the shadowed alley, his eyes adjusting quickly to the scarce lighting. The cold seemed more intense here, wrapping around them like a cloak.

He glanced briefly at Elena, noticing the subtle tension in her posture, the tightness around her eyes. Her usual composed demeanor held an edge he hadn’t seen before.

“Elena,” he started carefully, his voice quiet. “You’re not doing this just for the council, are you?”

She paused mid-step, turning slowly toward him. For a moment, hesitation flickered in her amber eyes, then faded, replaced by a quiet, steady determination.

“No,” she admitted softly. “One of the missing students is a friend of mine. Her name’s Aria.”

Noel’s expression softened, understanding dawning on him. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she responded quickly, pushing away the brief flash of vulnerability. “Just help me find her.”

He nodded firmly. “Do you have any leads?”

She shook her head slowly, frustration clearly etched into her graceful features. “Not much. But there’s been strange activity around these streets—small bursts of mana, traces of magic that aren’t easily recognized.”

Noel frowned thoughtfully, crossing his arms. “Do you think this could be Dior’s doing?”

Elena hesitated, considering it briefly, before shaking her head firmly. “No. It couldn’t be him. Since he left the academy, no one has seen or heard anything about him. Only Seraphina knows his whereabouts, and she’s not talking.”

Noel glanced away, troubled. “Then we’re dealing with someone else entirely.”

Elena nodded quietly, her eyes scanning the alley once more. “Someone much more careful—and dangerous.”

Noel exhaled softly, his breath visible in the chilly air. “We should hurry, then.”

Elena moved forward again without another word, and Noel followed, their steps quickening as they ventured deeper into the uncertain darkness ahead.

The alley narrowed as they moved deeper into the district’s older quarter—where cobblestones were cracked, and frost clung stubbornly to the stone walls. The moonlight barely reached here. Every sound echoed with an edge.

Noel’s senses were sharpened, his mana subtly pulsing beneath his skin.

Then he saw it. A smear of dried blood, barely visible along the edge of a wall, half-concealed behind a rusted barrel. He stepped closer, crouching down.

“Elena.”

She was already beside him, her breath visible in the cold air as she leaned in.

“Fresh enough to be from this week,” she whispered.

Noel traced the smear with his eyes. It trailed toward the corner—stopping abruptly where it mingled with something else.

Another trail.

But this one was different. Darker in color, thicker in texture. Not quite the same hue.

Noel stood slowly.

’There were two.’

One trail looked like it belonged to someone being dragged or trying to flee.

The other— He narrowed his eyes. —was more scattered. Drops spaced at irregular intervals.

“One of them was injured,” he muttered.”And it wasn’t just the victim.”

Elena nodded, her gaze hard.

“If they were strong enough to take someone… and still leave a blood trail…”

“Then they’re not invincible,” Noel finished.

The two stood there for a moment, the silence heavy.

Something was happening in Valon—something deliberate. And now, they had proof.

Noel turned his head slightly toward Elena.

“We need to track this. Quietly and carefully.”

She nodded. “I’ll inform the council and the director, this matter is bigger than it looks. ”

Noel’s jaw tightened.

’Whoever’s behind this isn’t afraid of the academy or even the royal family. They’re sending a message.’

Together, they turned and slipped back into the fog-draped streets, one lead heavier—but still far from the truth.

The system resound in his mind.

[New Mission, Save the Students and undercover the truth!]

’What a pain in the ass.’

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