Chapter 395: Chapter 395 – Talk at night!

The quiet resolve in Luca’s expression remained as he made his way through the dimly lit corridors of the dormitory, the soft glow of enchanted lamps casting long shadows along the polished floor. The building had already grown silent for the night, most students either asleep or resting after the first exhausting day of the new semester.

Reaching his room, Luca pushed the door open and stepped inside, the familiar space greeting him with a sense of calm that he rarely allowed himself to fully appreciate. He closed the door behind him and exhaled quietly, letting the tension of the day slip from his shoulders.

Without wasting time, he removed his academy uniform and headed straight toward the bathroom, the sound of running water soon filling the room as he stepped beneath the shower. Unlike the morning, this time he kept it brief, letting the cool stream wash away the lingering fatigue and clear his mind.

Within minutes, he stepped out, drying his hair quickly before changing into comfortable casual clothes suited for the quiet night ahead.

He moved toward the bed and sat down, reaching into the drawer beside it before taking out a small, faintly glowing communication crystal.

For a moment, he simply looked at it.

Then he activated it.

A soft pulse of mana spread from the crystal as faint light gathered above its surface, forming delicate threads of energy that slowly shaped themselves into a holographic projection.

After a few seconds—

A figure appeared.

A woman with long golden hair loosely tied in a messy bun, strands slipping free around her face as if she had not taken the time to arrange them properly. She wore a soft, flowing gown that contrasted sharply with the commanding aura she naturally carried.

Her crimson eyes lifted calmly, meeting Luca’s gaze through the projection.

Luca immediately stood up.

His posture straightened instinctively as he bowed respectfully.

“Your Highness.”

On the other side of the projection, Celestia inclined her head slightly, her expression composed yet carrying a quiet warmth that softened her otherwise regal presence.

“Be at ease,” she said gently.

Luca straightened once more.

Celestia studied him quietly for a moment after he straightened, the faint glow of the communication crystal illuminating her figure in soft golden light. Even through the projection, the quiet authority she carried was unmistakable, yet there was also a subtle familiarity in her expression that did not exist when she spoke to others in court.

“So,” she said, her voice calm but not without a trace of amusement, “you finally have the time to speak with me, hmm?”

Luca let out a small sigh, running a hand lightly through his slightly damp hair as he gave a faint nod.

“The last few days… were hectic,” he admitted honestly.

Celestia inclined her head in acknowledgment, her crimson eyes narrowing ever so slightly as she regarded him.

“I am aware,” she replied. “News travels quickly… especially when the cause of the disturbance is someone as… consistent as you.”

There was the faintest hint of dry humor in her tone.

“There was already the elven forest,” she continued, her expression growing more serious. “with the appearance of a Demon General.”

Luca nodded slowly.

“And the situation in the Dwarven Lands.”

Another nod.

“And finally,” she added, folding her hands lightly before her, “the incident in the Holy Kingdom.”

She paused briefly.

“You truly do have a talent for finding trouble.”

Luca gave a faint, resigned smile at that.

“It’s not like I go looking for it,” he said quietly.

Celestia raised a brow slightly, clearly unconvinced, though she did not press the matter further.

Instead, her tone shifted into something more formal, more strategic.

“You have my gratitude for informing me about the developments in the Elven Forest,” Luca thanked her.

As she said. “Supporting them was not merely a gesture of goodwill.”

Her gaze sharpened slightly.

“It is better for trusted allies to grow stronger… especially when the times ahead are unlikely to be peaceful.”

Her fingers tapped lightly against her arm as she continued.

“When power begins shifting in multiple territories simultaneously, it often means someone is preparing to take advantage of the instability.”

Luca nodded in agreement.

“Anyone with enough ambition can try to make a move when the balance weakens,” he said.

Celestia gave a small nod.

“Precisely.”

A quiet pause followed before Luca spoke again.

“There is… one more thing.”

Celestia’s attention returned fully to him.

He explained briefly, yet carefully, recounting what had been revealed regarding the Holy Kingdom, the hidden corruption beneath its structure, the involvement of Bishop Truce, and most importantly—

The Saintess’s past.

The circumstances surrounding her birth.

The hidden involvement of the cult.

And the mention of a higher authority behind it all.

Celestia listened without interruption, her expression growing increasingly thoughtful as each piece of information fell into place.

When he finished, silence lingered briefly between them.

She lowered her gaze slightly, considering the implications.

Then she spoke slowly.

“So… you are saying…”

Her crimson eyes lifted again, sharper now.

“…that the First Demon General has been active for more than twenty years?”

Luca nodded.

A quiet seriousness settled between them after Luca’s confirmation, the atmosphere growing noticeably heavier as the implications of the information lingered unspoken.

Celestia remained silent for a few moments, her crimson eyes lowering slightly as she considered the situation carefully. Even through the projection, it was evident that her mind had already begun moving through possibilities, strategies, and consequences that stretched far beyond what was spoken aloud.

“I will look into this further,” she finally said, her voice calm but firm, carrying the unmistakable tone of someone who had already begun making decisions. “If the First Demon General has truly been active for this long, then what we are witnessing now may only be the surface of something much deeper.”

Luca nodded quietly in agreement, understanding well that this was no longer an isolated incident but a fragment of a far greater pattern slowly revealing itself.

For a brief moment, silence returned between them.

Then Luca spoke again, shifting the topic slightly.

“What about Big Bull?” he asked.

Celestia’s expression softened just a little, as though the question brought with it a rare piece of good news amidst the growing shadows surrounding them.

“He is undergoing a major breakthrough,” she replied.

Luca’s brows lifted faintly in pleasant surprise.

“My uncle has accepted him as a disciple.”

At that, a small smile appeared on Luca’s face.

At least something is going right.

Celestia continued, “His growth has exceeded expectations. Once he stabilizes his breakthrough, he will be sent to the academy.”

Luca nodded slowly, the news bringing a rare sense of reassurance.

“That’s good,” he said quietly.

Celestia then tilted her head slightly, as if recalling something else.

“And Astra?” she asked.

Luca answered without hesitation.

“She is currently at the Valentine manor,” he said. “I did not want to bring her into unnecessary danger.”

Celestia nodded once in understanding, but her expression remained thoughtful.

“I understand your reasoning,” she said. “However…”

She paused briefly.

“…it is important for her to grow properly.”

Her gaze grew slightly sharper.

“She is a dragon.”

The weight of those words lingered.

“And dragons are not meant to remain sheltered forever.”

Her voice softened, though the meaning did not change.

“For her to truly mature… she will have to take to the skies one day.”

Luca’s expression tightened slightly at that, a flicker of difficulty passing through his eyes as the image of the small dragon girl surfaced in his mind.

He did not respond immediately.

But after a moment—

He nodded.

“…You’re right.”

Celestia studied him quietly for a second before giving a small nod of her own.

“If there is nothing else,” she said, her tone returning to its usual composed cadence, “I have matters that require my attention.”

Luca inclined his head respectfully.

“Understood.”

With that, the glow of the communication crystal began to dim as the projection slowly dissolved into threads of fading light, until the room was once again filled only with the soft ambient illumination of the night.

Luca remained seated for a moment, his gaze lingering on the now-empty space where Celestia’s image had been just seconds before.

The silence felt heavier than before.

After a while, he exhaled quietly.

Then let out a faint sigh.

***

Far away from the calm order of kingdoms and academies, in a place where light itself seemed unwelcome, the air lay thick with corrupted mana so dense that even breathing felt heavy. The atmosphere trembled faintly, as though the very fabric of space struggled to endure the presence that gathered there.

The surroundings were indistinct, almost unreal.

Dark stone stretched endlessly in all directions, its surface cracked and twisted as if shaped by something far older than civilization. Veins of dim, sickly light pulsed faintly along the ground like infected arteries, carrying traces of unnatural power that whispered through the air in faint, distorted echoes.

At the center of this warped space stood a small, ancient table.

Seated around it were three figures.

Each concealed.

Each emanating a presence that distorted the surrounding mana without even moving.

The darkness clung to them as though unwilling to release its grip.

One of the figures spoke.

Its voice carried no clear gender, no clear age—only a quiet distortion, as though the sound itself was unwilling to fully take form.

“So…”

A pause followed, faint ripples spreading across the surrounding mana as the words settled.

“It seems one of your chess pieces has… changed its route.”

The figure sitting opposite did not respond immediately.

Silence stretched.

Heavy.

Measured.

Then another voice entered the conversation.

This one carried a sharper edge, faint irritation slipping into its tone.

“Aren’t those the same brats,” the second figure said slowly, “who were present when I fought the Elven Queen in the Elven Territory?”

The air shifted slightly as the first figure turned its head toward the speaker.

“If it weren’t for the First Demon General…” the voice said calmly, though the meaning behind it carried unmistakable weight, “…you would have died there in disgrace.”

A faint clicking sound echoed in the dark.

“Tch.”

The second figure leaned back slightly, clearly displeased, though it did not attempt to argue further.

“Anyway,” it said dismissively, the irritation still lingering faintly in its tone, “what’s next?”

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