Chapter 216: Chapter 216 – Is This Afterlife?

Darkness.

Luca drifted in it, weightless, neither sinking nor rising. His eyelids felt heavy, his vision murky—blurred as if water pressed against his eyes.

“Hm…? Where… am I?” His voice cracked in the void, thin and uncertain. “Is this… the afterlife?”

Something warm pressed against his forehead. A touch—gentle, steady.

A voice followed, soft as a lullaby brushing through the silence.

“Are you awake?”

Through the haze, strands of violet hair shimmered faintly, glowing against the dark. They tickled his cheek as they fell forward, brushing his skin. Slowly, a face formed before his blurred eyes.

“Y-you…?” His breath hitched, chest tightening.

The woman tilted her head, a teasing smile curling at her lips. “What? Can’t you recognize me anymore?”

Despite the exhaustion dragging every word, a faint smile tugged at Luca’s mouth. “W-where… am I? And w-what am I doing here?”

She leaned back a little, her eyes softening. “Can’t you see? We’re in the academy infirmary.”

Light spilled in, peeling the darkness away. Luca blinked hard, his vision clearing. He lay on a clean bed, white curtains swaying with the breeze. The faint scent of herbs and medicine clung to the air.

“The infirmary…” Relief flickered in his voice, quickly shadowed by urgency. He tried to push himself up, ribs burning in protest. “Then… the Saintess? And Big Bull? W-what about—”

“Calm down.” Her hand pressed firmly against his chest, pushing him back into the pillows. “You’re still injured.”

He coughed, chest rattling, the effort leaving him sprawled back in defeat. She adjusted the blanket around him with quiet care, her fingers smoothing the wrinkles almost absently.

“Don’t think about anything right now,” she murmured, gaze lowered. “Just… rest.”

That was when he noticed it—the faint tremor in her voice. Her lashes shielded her eyes, but not enough to hide the wet shimmer gathering there.

“You…” His brows knit together, crimson eyes fixed on her. “Why do you look… sad?”

Her lips pressed tight before curving into a trembling smile. “Seeing you like this… what else could I feel, if not sad?”

Her voice thinned at the edges, and her composure cracked. Her shoulders quivered, ever so slightly, as if under a weight too long carried. She turned her head away for a moment—don’t break, not in front of him—but the first tear slipped free anyway, streaking hot across her cheek.

Luca froze, panic flashing in his eyes. “H-hey—don’t cry. Don’t cry, okay? Look—I’m fine now, see? Just… don’t—”

But she shook her head sharply, tears spilling faster now. Her hands clenched in the sheets before darting up, gripping his hand as though it were her anchor. Her voice broke, trembling, raw.

“Y-you don’t know how afraid I was. I thought… I thought I’d be left alone again. C-can you not… do this again?”

Her words tangled with sobs as she pressed his hand to her cheek, nuzzling into his palm like she could hide in its warmth. Her tears dampened his skin, her trembling lashes brushing against his fingers.

Luca’s heart twisted. He cupped her face gently, brushing his thumb over her cheek in clumsy circles. His voice was soft, heavy with guilt and tenderness.

“It’s okay. I’m here. You’re not alone… okay? I’m not going anywhere.”

For a while, only her quiet sobs filled the room. Slowly, her breathing steadied—ragged gasps becoming softer, more even. Her shoulders loosened, no longer shaking as fiercely. The tears slowed to a trickle, damp trails cooling against her flushed skin.

Her head rested against his hand a moment longer, savoring the warmth. Finally, she drew back, wiping at her eyes with quick, embarrassed motions. Her lashes were damp, her cheeks streaked, but she straightened her spine and inhaled deeply.

The woman returned—not the fragile girl crying moments ago, but someone carefully stitching her composure back together. Still, her reddened eyes betrayed the fear lingering just beneath.

“Are you alright now?” Luca asked softly.

She nodded, smoothing her robe with deliberate precision, though her hand never fully released his. “I… am.” Her voice steadied, though quieter than before.

Luca smiled faintly, though fatigue dulled its brightness. “Then… Do you know how long before I can leave? How fast can I recover? I’ve got plans for the vacation already.”

She let out a soft, helpless laugh, brushing her fingers along his cheek. Her touch lingered, feather-light. “Stop talking about that. You’re still not healed. For now… you just need to rest.”

“Hmm… what do you…” His words slurred, sleep tugging at him again. His body sagged deeper into the mattress, eyelids heavy.

Her hand remained on his cheek until his breathing deepened, until all tension slipped from his face.

Only then did she whisper, barely audible, “Please… don’t scare me like that again.”

And darkness took over Luca again.

***

[At Valentine Estate]

The Valentine estate was quiet that evening, the stillness broken only by the soft rustle of paper.

In the study, where the scent of aged wood and ink lingered, a tall man sat behind a heavy desk. His silver hair caught the glow of the lamplight, strands glimmering like pale steel as his hand lowered the letter he had just finished reading.

Darian Valentine closed it with deliberate care, sealing the words inside as if shutting away a weight he couldn’t voice. A weary sigh escaped him, low and heavy, filling the silence.

From across the room, a woman stirred. Her beauty had not dulled with time, her features elegant yet softened by warmth—a mirror of the boy they both cherished. Selene’s crimson eyes searched his face, already sensing the storm in his silence.

“What is it?” she asked quietly, though a tremor threaded her voice.

Darian’s gaze lingered on the letter before he finally spoke, exhaustion lacing every syllable.

“…It’s about Luca. Again.”

Her breath caught. The calm mask she wore faltered, urgency rising sharp in her tone.

“L-Luca? What about him? He’s fine, right?”

Darian’s fingers curled against the desk. He chose his words carefully, though each carried a weight that darkened the air.

“In the final exam… at the battle of Hellsand Dungeon, he was seriously injured. Exhausted. He’s in the academy infirmary now. For the moment… nothing can be said about his condition.”

The color drained from Selene’s face. Her lips parted, trembling, as tears welled in her eyes. She took a step forward, her voice cracking.

“W-what do you mean nothing can be said? He’s fine, isn’t he? Tell me he’s fine!”

Darian rose from his chair swiftly, crossing to her before the despair in her voice could spiral further. His arms encircled her slender frame, pulling her close as her tears spilled freely.

“He will be fine,” Darian murmured, steady, his deep voice meant to anchor her. “Our son is strong. Don’t worry.”

Selene clutched at his robe, shaking her head as tears streamed down her cheeks.She lifted her tear-stained face, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. Her voice steadied, low but unyielding. “He has to be fine. He must… Once he comes back here, I am not letting him go anywhere again.” Her voice was fierce now, desperate. “We sent him to the academy to be happy, but every time—it’s injuries, danger, pain. I will not let him go again. I won’t!”

Darian said nothing more, only tightened his embrace, his large hand stroking her back in slow, soothing circles. He had no promise strong enough to erase her fears.

Unbeknownst to them, a small figure lingered beyond the half-open door. A pair of wide crimson eyes glistened in the dim corridor, silver hair falling across her face.

Lisa.

Her small hands clenched into fists as she pressed closer to the gap. The muffled voices of her parents cut into her chest like shards of glass. When her mother’s sobs reached her ears, her own tears finally broke free, spilling hot down her cheeks.

She bit her lip, shoulders trembling, before pulling back from the door.

Her silver hair streamed behind her as she bolted down the corridor, her footsteps echoing against the polished floor. Her fists rubbed furiously at her wet cheeks as if wiping the tears would erase the fear in her chest. “That idiot brother of mine…”

Her voice broke as she ran, raw with grief and frustration. “No—I can’t wait. I can’t just sit here!” Her tears sparkled under the candlelight as she stumbled, then pushed herself forward again.

“Hmph… I’m going to the academy now! I can’t stay here anymore!”

Her words trailed into the empty hall as she vanished into the shadows, leaving only the echo of her sobs behind.

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