Chapter 217: Chapter 217 – Rushing to the Academy

The morning sun spilled across Arcadia City, gilding rooftops and cobblestone streets in warm light. Merchants called out from their stalls, the smell of baked bread and roasted chestnuts mixing with the salt of cured fish. Carriages rattled by, nobles in fine clothes moving side by side with commoners bustling toward their day’s work.

Through the crowd rushed a small figure in a hooded cloak, weaving between people with restless energy. Her steps were quick, almost frantic, as though the very streets slowed her down. Behind her, a broad-shouldered knight in worn armor pushed through with hurried apologies, his face drenched in sweat.

“Y–Young Miss, don’t run around!” he called, finally managing to catch her wrist. His breathing came in heavy gasps, shoulders rising and falling. “You can get lost in a crowd like this.”

The cloaked girl stopped with a sharp huff, folding her arms. From beneath the hood, her voice carried urgency more than impatience.

“Then move faster! We have to reach the academy as soon as we can. Fast, fast, fast!”

The knight straightened with a groan, his gloved hand resting on his hip as though to steady his weary legs. “Yes, yes… but please, no more running off.” His eyes flicked to the thick cloak wrapped around her small frame. He hesitated before asking, “B–but why are you still wearing that cloak? Aren’t you uncomfortable under the sun?”

The girl turned her head, stubborn resolve in the set of her jaw. “Hmph! I ran away from home last night. What if someone recognizes me?”

The knight rubbed the back of his neck, looking at her with exasperation. “But, Young Miss, we’re already in Arcadia City. Unless someone was specifically told to watch for you, no one here would recognize a lower noble among this crowd.”

The girl faltered, her eyes darting uneasily before she muttered, “H–huh? I–is that so?”

“Yes, Miss,” the knight said quickly, seizing the chance, his shoulders relaxing in relief.

With a small pout, she tugged her hood down. Silver hair spilled free, catching the morning light like threads of moonlight, framing a youthful, innocent face. Crimson eyes, bright but rimmed with worry, scanned the bustling streets. Her lips pressed into a thin line before she blurted with raw urgency,

“Let’s go, fast, fast to the academy! I want to see my brother, Luca!”

Before the knight could stop her, she was already moving again, her cloak fluttering behind her like the trail of her resolve.

“Y–Young Miss!” the knight groaned, chasing after her with hurried steps that drew amused glances from the crowd.

At last, the pair reached the gates of Arcadia Academy. The massive iron-bound doors loomed tall, set in walls of pale stone that gleamed under the sun. Beyond, spires rose like lances into the sky, their tips catching the light in dazzling brilliance.

The girl froze in her tracks, her chest rising and falling quickly from her rush. For a moment, her worried expression melted into awe. Her small mouth parted in breathless wonder, and the only sound that escaped was a soft, “Wooooaaah…”

Realizing she was gawking, she quickly shut her lips, as though embarrassed by the slip, and took a determined step forward toward the gate—only to be halted by a firm arm.

“Stop,” the gatekeeper’s voice rang out, stern and steady. His halberd crossed before her path, barring the entrance. “Not just anyone can enter Arcadia Academy.”

The girl blinked, caught mid-step, her silver hair swaying as she tilted her head up at the tall man.

She puffed out her cheeks and planted her hands firmly on her hips, glaring up at the armored gatekeeper who towered over her.

“Move! I have to go inside right now!”

The guard didn’t budge, his expression unmoved as his halberd stayed firm in her path. “Without express permission, no outsiders may enter. That includes you, little miss.”

“I’m not just anyone!” Lisa stomped her foot, her silver hair bouncing with the motion. Her crimson eyes shone with both frustration and tears as she tried to blink away. “I’m Lisa Valentine! My brother—my brother Luca is inside, and he’s hurt! Let me through!”

Her voice cracked, louder this time, drawing curious glances from the students and merchants passing by. A tremor edged her tone, but her stance never wavered, chin lifted defiantly even as tears slipped down her cheeks.

The gatekeeper’s stern expression softened faintly, but his stance didn’t falter. “Even if that’s true… orders are orders. Without a writ of entry from the Academy, I cannot allow anyone in.”

Lisa’s lips trembled. She clenched her fists tight against her cloak, her small shoulders quivering. “T-then your orders are stupid! What if he… what if he needs me right now?!”

“Y-Young Miss, please!” The knight at her side bent down, trying desperately to hush her as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He turned to the gatekeepers with a strained smile, bowing low. “You must understand, this is Lady Lisa Valentine. Her worries are genuine. Surely an exception could be—”

“Rules are rules,” another guard cut him off, voice sharp.

Lisa tugged against the knight’s grip, trying to wriggle free. “Let go! I have to see him! I don’t care about rules! Luca needs me!” Her voice broke fully now, tears streaming down her cheeks as she kicked against the ground, stubborn like a child refusing to give up a toy.

The knight sighed heavily, torn between restraining her and pleading further. His voice cracked with desperation as he bowed again, almost pressing his forehead to the ground. “At least… at least send word inside! If they know it’s the Valentine daughter—”

Before the guard could respond, a sudden blast shook the ground, rattling the academy gates. Dust billowed in the distance as startled shouts rose from outside the academy gates. The air trembled with urgency, a ripple of mana spreading outward like a warning bell.

The gatekeepers instantly snapped to alert, halberds shifting as their eyes darted toward the source of the blast. Lisa froze mid-struggle, her tears forgotten as her wide crimson eyes fixed on the rising smoke.

A figure was rushing toward the gates with haste, their robes fluttering violently, urgency written in every line of their movement.

The ground trembled again, but this time it wasn’t an explosion. A crimson blur burst through the dust cloud—hooves striking stone with a metallic echo, sparks scattering in its wake. A magnificent Qilin, scales glinting like rubies in the sunlight, charged toward the academy gates, its mane crackling faintly with red-gold energy.

Atop its back rode a woman, her presence impossible to ignore. Gleaming armor hugged her tall frame, polished plates reflecting the morning sun. A long, crimson spear rested easily in her hand, its sharp head humming with restrained power. Her brown-wheat skin gleamed with sweat, every inch of her radiating heat and battle-readiness. Wild strands of her red hair whipped behind her in the rushing wind, untamed and fierce, as her urgent expression cut sharper than steel.

The guards stiffened, recognition flashing in their eyes. “It’s her—!” one of them breathed.

The woman reigned in the Qilin with a sharp tug, the beast pawing the earth impatiently, steam curling from its nostrils. Her voice rang out, urgent and commanding:

“Open the gates! Quickly—I must enter immediately!”

There was no hesitation. The gatekeepers slammed their weapons aside, pulling the heavy doors open with hurried hands.

Lisa, who had been sniffling against her knight’s side, froze. Her crimson eyes widened, tears forgotten as she gawked at the dazzling figure before her. For a heartbeat, she forgot her stubborn cries, only awe filling her young face.

Then, with sudden vigor, she hopped forward, waving her hands high in the air as her voice rang out, shaky but desperate:

“Sister Aurelia! Sister! Over here!”

The knight behind her groaned, scrambling to keep her from darting straight at the Qilin.

Aurelia’s head turned at the cry. Her exhausted eyes—ringed faintly with worry and sleeplessness—fell on the small girl waving at her from the gates. For a moment, her spear dipped ever so slightly as recognition dawned.

“You…” Aurelia muttered, voice low with surprise. Her gaze sharpened, landing fully on the silver-haired, crimson-eyed girl.

“Huh—you… aren’t you Luca’s sister?”

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