Chapter 83: Chapter 83 – Moments Between the Storms

“Hmmm… why didn’t you come to meet me for a month?”

Luca blinked, startled, eyes snapping to the side.

Just by the lake’s edge, bathed in the soft glow of midday sun, sat a girl with violet hair.

He chuckled to himself. Maybe I really was looking for her without even knowing it.

With a quiet breath, Luca walked over and sat down beside her, letting the wind carry off the silence between them. She didn’t look at him—just stared out at the water, her expression unreadable.

“Sorry for that,” Luca said finally, his voice a little lower than usual. “A lot happened in this past month.”

And just like that, the words started flowing.

He told her—how he had fought a monster on the mountain, how the technique he used had caused his mana circuit to collapse. That he’d spent two weeks in the hospital, another week in painful recovery. Then Beastridge Mountain happened. One event tumbling after the next, barely any time to breathe.

She listened, wordless. Her eyes stayed calm throughout, never interrupting, never judging. Just… there.

When Luca finally stopped, a strange weight lifting off his chest, she simply said, “Hmm. You’ve been through a lot this past month.”

He exhaled, only now realizing how breathless his life had become—one dangerous situation to another, like he was sprinting through a storm.

She glanced at him sideways, a small smirk tugging at her lips. “That explains all the bandages and everything. I thought you got into a fight with someone.”

Luca laughed, scratching the back of his neck. But then his smile faded a little, replaced by a more serious look.

“Hey… aren’t you surprised when I told you about the vision I had? I mean, it sounded ridiculous, didn’t it?”

She laughed softly. “There are a lot of weird powers in this world. Anything can happen.”

He nodded slightly at that. It was oddly comforting coming from her.

Then, after a pause, he looked down, guilt flickering across his face.

“Do you think what I did was wrong? When I impersonated Raymond to kill Veynar… I think I exploited someone’s emotions.”

The girl thought for a moment before replying, her voice calm. “I don’t think you did anything wrong by doing it.”

Luca blinked, caught off guard. “You’re not just saying that for my sake, right?”

She laughed lightly. “Let me ask you one question then. If you could go back to that moment… would you make the same decision?”

Luca nodded without hesitation.

“There you have it,” she said simply. “It’s normal for you to feel that way. After all, you experienced a small part of someone else’s life yourself.”

Luca’s expression remained conflicted. She noticed and leaned in a little, continuing, “Hmm… you said the dragon knew you weren’t Raymond, right?”

He nodded again.

“Then if you hadn’t done it, so many people might’ve died. And think about it—before that dragon died, you gave him a glimpse of his friend. Even if it was just for a moment… it’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

Her words lingered in the air, gentle but firm. Slowly, Luca’s eyes brightened, a small smile curving on his lips. He nodded, genuinely this time.

“But who was that person?” he asked, more to himself than to her. “He said something about the Devil Emperor… Could he be someone from 7,000 years ago?”

At the mention of the Devil Emperor, her face noticeably sank.

“Are you… afraid of it?” Luca asked, concern creeping into his tone. Then, with a grin, he reached out and gently patted her head. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

She let out a laugh at that. “I have some books,” she said. “They mention bits and pieces from 7,000 years ago. Maybe I can look up that name for you.”

Luca’s face lit up at that. “Please do.”

He glanced at the sky. Midday had slipped into late afternoon, and the golden hue of the sun hinted at evening approaching. His eyes widened slightly.

“Ah—Hey, I need to leave now. See you again,” he said quickly, already getting to his feet.

She simply watched as he ran off, the corners of her lips curled in the faintest smile.

Luca sprinted down the corridor, boots thudding against the floor, his breath slightly uneven.

“Shit, I’m late! I should visit Aurelia before the visiting hours are over,” he muttered to himself. A small smile crept up his face. Still… it was good to talk with—

He paused mid-thought.

“Huh? Oh shit… I forgot to ask her name again!”

Slowing his pace as he reached the infirmary wing, he stopped in front of Aurelia’s ward. Taking a breath, he straightened his clothes, brushed his fingers through his hair, and knocked three times.

The door opened, and the moment he stepped in, his eyes locked with hers. Aurelia was already looking toward the door, almost as if waiting for him.

Their gazes met—warm, direct, and just for a second, everything else fell silent.

He walked closer and gave her a gentle smile.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

Aurelia smiled back, soft but unmistakably warm.

“I’m fine. So… now only you are here?”

Luca scratched the back of his head, a sheepish look on his face.

“Well… I was talking with her and didn’t even realize how much time had passed.”

Suddenly, he felt it—a shift in the air. A sharp, cold chill brushed down his spine.

Huh? D-Did the temperature suddenly drop? he thought, shivering internally. Why is it so cold all of a sudden…?

Then it came. One word. One dangerously calm word.

“Her?”

Luca froze. “Oh fuck.”

He immediately panicked and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Y-You know! There’s going to be a ball in the Empire after the mid-sems!”

Aurelia’s eyes narrowed slightly, like she wasn’t ready to let it go.

But before she could press further, Luca shut his eyes tight and blurted,

“Would you… would you like to go with me as my partner?”

Silence.

Ten seconds.

Fifteen.

A full minute.

Still no response.

Luca slowly cracked open one eye to peek at her face.

Her cheeks were burning red—bright as a tomato. Her violet eyes were wide in disbelief, her mouth slightly parted like she was trying to find the right words.

“Y-Yes,” she finally stammered. “B-Ball… y-yes…”

Luca opened his other eye and smiled.

“Good, then. It’ll be fun.”

Her face somehow grew even redder.

Just then, the caretaker entered.

“The visiting hours are over. Please leave now.”

Luca nodded politely, turned back to Aurelia, gave her a final smile, and walked out.

As he exited the infirmary, he let out a relieved sigh.

Thank god I asked her to the ball. If I’d stayed on the topic of ’her’ for one more second…

He shook his head and continued walking.

And then—

A loud scream echoed from behind the closed infirmary door.

Luca paused, blinked, and then chuckled under his breath.

Didn’t know she had such a cute side to her.

As Luca returned to his dorm and collapsed onto his bed, the day’s exhaustion finally caught up with him. He stared at the ceiling for a moment before glancing to his side.

“Hey, little Kunpeng, are you awake?”

A faint shimmer of light sparkled near his shoulder before the tiny, bird-sized Kunpeng appeared, lazily curling its wings. “Hmm? What is it?” it yawned, clearly not a morning—or evening—spirit.

Luca chuckled. “You know, calling you just ’Kunpeng’ feels a bit… odd. How about I give you a name?”

The Kunpeng’s eyes lit up like twin stars. “Yes! Give me a name! Something grand! Something that reflects my vast, unmatched majesty!” It flapped into the air with surprising energy, zipping around the room like an excited hummingbird on mana.

Luca laughed at the display, watching it twirl and loop in air. “Air, huh… You’re pretty cute too. Hmm… how about Aira?”

The Kunpeng froze mid-flight. Then, without warning, it dive-bombed into Luca’s head.

“Ow! Hey, what the—ow! Quit it!”

Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

“I said majestic! Not cute and floaty!”

Luca covered his head, laughing and dodging. “Okay, okay! Just calm down!”

The Kunpeng finally huffed and perched on his shoulder, its tiny chest puffed up proudly.

Still grinning, Luca reached into his drawer and pulled out the black and gold egg, turning it carefully in his hands. “Hey… what do you think? When will this hatch?”

The Kunpeng quieted down and hovered near it, examining the egg with unusual seriousness. “It could be anytime,” it said thoughtfully. “We just need the right kind of energy to wake it up.”

“Energy?” Luca tilted his head. “You mean like… I should pour my mana into it?”

“Absolutely not, you idiot,” Kunpeng snapped. “It’ll react to the type of energy it needs on its own. Forcing it might harm the creature inside.”

Luca blinked and nodded, gently placing the egg back. “Alright. Guess we’ll look into that later.”

Just as he was settling in again, a faint hum echoed from the communication crystal beside his bed. He tapped it.

Kyle’s voice crackled through, “Hey, we’re planning a group study session for the midsems. You in?”

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