Chapter 397: Chapter 397 – Favour from Desciple!

The quiet atmosphere of Luca’s dorm room settled once more, the faint glow of the communication crystal casting soft ripples of light across the walls as the elegant projection of the Tower Master remained suspended in the air between them.

Luca stood respectfully, his posture straight, his expression attentive as he waited for her to continue.

The Tower Master’s violet eyes seemed distant for a brief moment, as though she were carefully arranging her thoughts before allowing them to be spoken.

“I need your help with Selena.”

Her voice was calm as always, yet there was a faint heaviness beneath the composed tone, something subtle but unmistakable to someone who had spent enough time under her guidance.

Luca’s brows knit together slightly in surprise.

“Selena?” he repeated, the question escaping his lips almost instinctively.

The Tower Master inclined her head slightly.

“You know what happened to her during the Forgeheart Crucible,” she said, her voice carrying the quiet gravity of someone who had been observing closely from afar. “She should have recovered from the mana dissociation long ago… yet she still has not.”

Luca’s expression grew more thoughtful.

“What can I do about something like this?” he asked honestly. “Wouldn’t you be the more suitable person to help her recover?”

For the first time since the communication began, the Tower Master exhaled softly, the faintest sigh escaping through the veil covering her face.

She shook her head gently.

“If the issue concerned damaged mana channels or any form of technical imbalance,” she said calmly, “I would have resolved it myself without involving you.”

Her eyes lowered slightly before lifting again, now carrying a more personal weight.

“But this… is different.”

“It is not her mana that refuses to flow,” she continued quietly. “It is her mind that refuses to let it.”

Luca listened silently.

The Tower Master’s voice softened further.

“This is a sensitive matter. A psychological barrier… one that she herself may not even fully understand.”

She paused briefly before continuing.

“Although our relationship has improved… she still does not open up to me.”

A faint sadness flickered through her voice, though she masked it well.

“And as you already know,” she added, “she is not someone who shares her burdens easily with others either.”

Luca nodded slowly, understanding completely.

Selena had always been someone who carried everything alone, someone who would rather endure silently than risk becoming vulnerable before others.

“She is the type,” the Tower Master continued quietly, “who would rather let the pressure crush her than admit she is struggling.”

Her gaze met Luca’s.

“That is why I am asking this of you.”

She did not phrase it as an order.

It sounded almost… personal.

“I want you to speak with her,” she said. “Find out what is weighing on her mind… and help her if possible.”

A brief pause followed.

Then, more gently—

“Can you do that?”

Luca remained silent for a moment, thinking carefully as he looked toward the projection of the woman he respected deeply.

Selena’s condition was not something that could be solved with strength alone.

It required patience.

Trust.

And perhaps… understanding something she had not yet said aloud to anyone.

After a few moments of thought, Luca gave a small nod.

“Don’t worry, Master,” he said calmly. “I will see what I can do.”

The Tower Master inclined her head slightly in acknowledgement.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, unexpectedly, her gaze lowered.

When she spoke again, her voice carried a gentleness that rarely surfaced.

“I am sorry… I did not ask earlier.”

Her violet eyes lifted once more, studying him quietly.

“But… how are you?”

Luca blinked slightly at the sudden shift in the conversation.

Then a faint smile appeared on his lips.

“As fine as I can be,” he replied honestly.

He gave a small nod, as if reassuring her.

“Don’t worry, Master.”

The Tower Master observed him silently for a few seconds longer than usual, as though attempting to read something deeper beneath the surface of his calm expression.

Then she spoke quietly.

“I will visit soon.”

A faint pause followed before she added,

“Take care of yourself.”

Luca inclined his head respectfully once more.

“You as well, Master.”

The projection shimmered softly.

Then the light faded, dissolving into faint particles of mana that scattered quietly into the air, leaving the room once again enveloped in silence.

Luca remained standing for a moment longer, the communication crystal still resting lightly in his hand, the quiet weight of the conversation settling slowly into his thoughts.

The days that followed passed with a steady rhythm, almost deceptively peaceful compared to everything that had unfolded in the recent past.

Each morning began before the sun had fully risen, the training grounds still wrapped in cool mist as Luca pushed his body through relentless exercises. Sweat soaked through his shirt as he practiced footwork, blade control, and mana circulation, feeling the subtle expansion of his mana channels with every passing day.

The sensation was unmistakable now—he was standing on the threshold of another breakthrough, the invisible barrier feeling thinner each time he pushed himself just a little further. Yet no matter how close he felt, that final step continued to elude him, lingering just beyond reach like a whisper he could almost hear but not yet grasp.

Lectures resumed with their usual structure, and Luca once again found himself seated between Eric and Sylthara, the familiar classroom atmosphere feeling oddly grounding after the chaos of recent weeks. Just like before, Luca could not afford to slack off during lessons, as he now had an additional responsibility—quietly explaining concepts to Sylthara while the lecture was still ongoing. Her golden eyes would remain fixed on the professor at the front, her ears occasionally twitching as she struggled to understand unfamiliar theories about magic structures, historical conflicts, and the intricate political balances of the world.

Whenever confusion crossed her expression, she would lean slightly toward Luca, whispering short questions that forced him to divide his focus between absorbing new information and translating it into something she could easily grasp. Though it demanded more effort, Luca did not seem to mind, occasionally amused by the seriousness with which she approached every explanation he gave.

Afternoons were often spent on the training grounds alongside Kyle and Aiden, where the three of them sparred repeatedly, refining techniques and adapting to each other’s evolving strengths.

Their movements became sharper with each session, the sound of clashing weapons echoing rhythmically as mana surged through controlled strikes and counters.

Occasionally, Luca’s gaze would drift beyond the sparring circle toward Lilliane, who continued her own quiet training at a distance. She had noticeably distanced herself from most of the group, her interactions becoming limited, her expressions more restrained than before. Yet Sylthara, seemingly unaffected by social boundaries, would occasionally approach her, speaking in her straightforward manner, sometimes asking curious questions that made Lilliane visibly uncertain how to respond. Even so, those small exchanges seemed to create subtle cracks in the invisible wall Lilliane had placed around herself.

Between training sessions and lectures, Luca also found small pockets of time that he spent with Aurelia. Their interactions did not always require words; sometimes they simply walked side by side through the quieter sections of the academy grounds, exchanging faint smiles or short conversations that carried a comforting sense of normalcy. The calm moments they shared felt rare and valuable, a silent understanding passing between them as they allowed themselves brief pauses from the ever-growing weight of responsibilities waiting beyond the academy walls.

Every other evening, Luca would activate his communication crystal and speak with Astra, whose cheerful voice never failed to brighten his mood. The young dragon girl would excitedly recount every small adventure she had experienced during the day, from learning new words to attempting small flights under careful supervision. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and Luca often found himself laughing quietly as she spoke, her innocent excitement offering a rare kind of warmth that reminded him why he continued moving forward despite the uncertainty that surrounded the future.

And just like that, as the rhythm of routine gradually settled around him once more, the weekdays slipped by almost unnoticed.

Soon enough, the weekend arrived, carrying with it a slower pace and the faint promise of brief respite before the inevitable challenges that still lay ahead.

The morning sunlight spread gently across the grounds of Arcadia Academy, its golden glow filtering through tall trees whose leaves swayed softly in the cool breeze of the early day. The usual bustle of students was absent due to the weekend, leaving the pathways unusually quiet, with only the faint rustling of wind and distant chirping of birds breaking the silence.

Luca stepped out of the dorm building dressed in a simple dark sweatshirt and loose trousers, the casual attire a rare change from his usual academy uniform. His hands rested lightly in his pockets as he walked along the familiar stone pathways, his footsteps unhurried, his expression thoughtful yet calm.

The academy grounds felt different on mornings like this.

Peaceful.

Still.

Almost detached from the storms constantly gathering beyond its walls.

He moved past trimmed hedges and marble benches, the towering academy structure standing behind him like a silent guardian as he made his way toward the grand iron gates at the entrance.

Stopping a short distance from the gates, Luca leaned slightly against one of the stone pillars, his gaze drifting toward the open path beyond the academy boundary.

For a few moments, there was nothing but silence.

Then—

Soft footsteps.

Light.

Measured.

Approaching from behind.

Luca lifted his gaze.

A girl emerged along the pathway leading toward him, her presence carrying an unmistakable chill even in the gentle warmth of morning light.

She wore an ice-blue floral dress, the fabric shifting elegantly with each step she took. Her white hair, tied neatly into a ponytail, swayed softly behind her, reflecting pale streaks of sunlight that gave her an almost ethereal appearance. Her violet eyes were calm yet distant, their cool intensity paired with the same composed, icy expression she always carried.

She stopped a short distance from him.

Her gaze remained steady.

Direct.

Unwavering.

“What did you want to talk about?”

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