Chapter 55: Chapter 55 – The Unknown Danger

The sun had barely risen above Arcadia’s walls, casting golden light over the dew-kissed grass of the training grounds. Luca stood in the center, saber in hand, slicing through the still air with fluid motions. His breaths were steady, the rhythm of his aura syncing with each strike. It was a quiet, focused morning—just like any other.

Until he heard footsteps approaching.

He didn’t need to look to guess. “Lilliane again,” he murmured under his breath with a faint smile. “She’s persistent.”

But as he turned, his smile faltered.

His body stiffened. His hand froze mid-motion. He blinked, rubbed his eyes, and blinked again.

“…Did I get colorblind or something?” he muttered.

“Why does pink look like white all of a sudden…?”

It wasn’t Lilliane.

It was Selena.

She approached in her usual calm, composed steps, dressed in her pristine white training uniform. The contrast to Lilliane’s pink was stark—and for some reason, it only made Luca more nervous.

“Good morning, Miss Selena,” Luca greeted quickly, forcing himself not to fumble his saber.

“Morning,” she returned flatly, her tone cool as ever.

Silence.

She stood there, hands behind her back, eyes unreadable. Luca scratched the back of his head awkwardly, unsure whether to continue swinging or stand at attention.

Then, Selena broke the silence, her voice just a little uncertain.

“The thing you said last night… was it true?”

Luca blinked. “Uh… yeah, I’m really her disciple.”

Selena frowned. “Not that. I meant… the other thing. About me being the first to know.”

His lips parted slightly, then curled into a soft smile. “Of course it’s true.”

He thought quietly to himself:

I did become her disciple before, but Selena really was the first to know about it.

For a brief second, he caught it—a tiny smile on Selena’s lips. Faint. Fleeting. It vanished just as quickly as it appeared, hidden behind her usual icy expression.

She looked away, then asked again—this time a little more hesitant.

“Did she… say anything about me yesterday?”

Luca’s eyes lit up. He didn’t hesitate.

“Of course! Master was very worried about you. When I told her how you fought against Emeron, she was proud. Honestly, she kept asking if you were alright.”

Selena looked down slightly, hiding the corners of her mouth as they twitched upward once more. Another faint smile. There and gone like a snowflake on warm skin.

A moment later, she stepped back.

“Now that you’re my mother’s disciple… if you encounter any problems, come to me.”

With that, she turned and walked away, her silver-white hair fluttering in the morning breeze.

Luca watched her back until she disappeared from view. A soft sigh escaped his lips, followed by a quiet smile.

“Just like Master said… she really didn’t know how to react last night.”

He lowered his gaze, gripping the saber again.

“There’s something wrong between them. A misunderstanding maybe. If I try to force it now, I might mess things up worse—and their relationship might reach the point of no return just like what happened in the game.”

He took his stance again, aura humming around his blade as he began to refine the circulation using his affinity.

“I’ll learn more first… then I’ll act.”

And with that, the training ground echoed once more with the swish of his saber—cutting through morning light and quiet hopes.

Just like that, the days passed—one blending into the next in a steady rhythm of early morning training, classes filled with theories of magic and combat, and afternoons honing techniques or enduring practical lectures.

By the time the first weekend arrived, the sun was gentler and the Academy grounds seemed lighter—students chattering freely, some relaxing in the gardens while others made plans to explore nearby towns.

But Luca’s mood didn’t match the atmosphere.

He stood by the mirror, running a hand through his hair, his expression far from cheerful. He wore a plain grey sweatshirt and dark casual trousers, nothing flashy—just comfortable.

Today, he was supposed to meet Lilliane.

Not for a date or anything dramatic. Just to help her make a normal friend.

Lilliane had always been a little intense when it came to Aiden, sure—but the real problem was her awkwardness. Around other people, especially around Aiden’s friends like Kyle and Selena, she just didn’t know how to act. Her sentences got tangled, her expression turned stiff, and the conversation died faster than a failed spell.

She wants to be closer to Aiden, but unless she can hold a normal conversation with Kyle or Selena, she’ll keep standing on the outside.

He sighed and rubbed his temples.

Why now, though? Why today?

His mind drifted back to his aura circulation training—the one thing he really wanted to focus on. Hours of effort, and still no breakthrough. No matter how carefully he followed the techniques, his aura either collapsed halfway or fizzled out in uneven bursts.

If I just had one whole day without distractions… I might actually figure it out. Who am I trying to kid, it’s still a long way off.

But he couldn’t just leave Lilliane hanging. He had agreed to help her, and part of him genuinely wanted to.

She’s trying. That counts for something. Besides, if she becomes friends with them, maybe things will feel less tense all around.

He zipped up his sweatshirt, grabbed his bag, and stepped out. The morning breeze brushed against his skin as he walked down the quiet stone path toward the southern edge of the campus.

The sun peeked through gaps in the trees, casting broken golden patterns on the cobblestones below. His footsteps echoed softly as he neared the small, secluded gazebo where they’d agreed to meet.

Alright. Just help her loosen up a bit. Maybe walk around the park, see if any students are out. A casual setting like the café street or the lakeside benches… somewhere she can talk to people naturally without all that pressure.

He exhaled slowly and looked up as the gazebo came into view.

Let’s hope today is quiet… normal… maybe even productive.

Unaware that the quiet little meetup might turn into something far more chaotic, Luca took his final steps toward the rendezvous point.

****

Far away from the light of Arcadia Academy—deep beneath the surface, in a place where shadows clung like a second skin and the air reeked of corruption—there sat a figure upon a jagged black throne.

The chamber was silent, save for the echo of distant dripping water and the low hum of corrupted mana swirling through the stone.

Before the throne knelt a cloaked man, head bowed, his body trembling slightly beneath the weight of the atmosphere.

The figure on the throne leaned forward, voice cold and devoid of emotion.

“Report. Have they been dealt with yet?”

The man swallowed hard. “N-No, my lord. None of the five brats have left the Academy grounds… not yet.”

There was a pause. Then, cautiously, he continued, “One of them did leave before. But… he wasn’t alone. He was accompanied by a professor and—” as he hesitated—

“Speak.”

The single word cracked like a whip across the chamber, sharp and commanding.

The man flinched, then blurted out, “There were signs… signs of divine power in the vicinity. Residual traces similar to those used by the Divine Guards. The directive was to stay hidden until further orders, so we—”

Before he could finish, a low pulse echoed from the communication crystal at his hip. He grabbed it quickly, reading the flickering message within. His eyes lit up.

“My lord,” he said, voice rising with dark anticipation, “One of our rats just confirmed—two of the brats have left the Academy grounds alone.”

A long silence followed.

Then, the figure on the throne leaned back slightly, his voice a low snarl that made the very walls shiver.

“Then make them disappear.”

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