After thanking her for the answer, I left the classroom and headed to my next lesson—Fundamentals of Combat Magic. I was curious what exactly they would be teaching us in this subject.
As I walked through the corridor, I noticed representatives from different years and disciplines chatting among themselves, but I had no desire to make new acquaintances. So, trying not to pay attention to the glances thrown in my direction, I calmly made my way downstairs.
Just as I was about to reach the right floor, I noticed Cassandra and Samantha standing near the door of what was apparently their classroom. They spotted me almost immediately, leaving me with no choice but to approach them.
"Why do you look so gloomy?" Cassandra asked, studying me carefully.
Why did she think I looked gloomy? Maybe the professor's story from earlier still hadn't left my mind.
"Do I really look gloomy to you, Cassandra?" I asked, forcing a smile.
"Yep. You look like you're ready to kill someone," Samantha confirmed.
At their words, I simply shook my head, trying to drive away thoughts of the professor's story.
"Are you waiting for someone?" I asked, glancing toward the classroom they were standing beside.
Cassandra and Samantha exchanged a look. The moment I saw that, unpleasant thoughts immediately began forming in my head.
"There it is again. That face like you're constantly expecting something bad to happen," Samantha said in an offended tone.
At that, all I could do was let out a tired sigh. Too much had happened lately, and right now all I wanted was a little peace.
"Unfortunately, too much has happened recently. And you both know exactly what I mean," I said wearily, shifting my gaze from Samantha to Cassandra.
Samantha looked like she wanted to say something and even slightly raised her hand, but then changed her mind and lowered it. Cassandra, unlike her, didn't hesitate.
To my complete surprise, she stepped forward and hugged me.
I froze in shock. For a brief moment, my mind went completely blank.
Feeling the warmth radiating from her, her faint pleasant scent, and the softness of her touch, I couldn't help but feel my body begin to relax.
But almost immediately, a sobering thought entered my mind.
This relationship was nothing more than deception.
Neither I nor they truly wanted this. It all existed solely to preserve their freedom and maintain our shared facade. Sooner or later, it would all come to an end, and after that, the only one likely to remain by my side would be Keyrin.
"Can you let go of me, Cassandra?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm, though it was noticeably harder than I would've liked.
Cassandra pulled back slightly and looked me straight in the eyes.
And then something happened that I absolutely did not expect.
She kissed me.
I felt Cassandra press herself a little closer, her lips against mine, her breath mingling with my own.
At that moment, I completely stopped understanding what was happening.
When the kiss ended, Cassandra pulled away and, seeing the stunned look on my face, smiled with satisfaction.
"There, you're not frowning anymore. And close your mouth, or everyone will think this is your first time kissing me after the duel," she whispered into my ear.
And once again, I caught that pleasant scent of hers.
Pulling myself together, I stepped back slightly, watching her smile. For the first time in a long while, I saw Cassandra smile sincerely, and I couldn't help but notice how much that smile suited her.
But the realization that all of this was temporary quickly brought me back to reality.
"Did you decide to make everyone in the academy hate me even more?" I asked, feeling practically every nearby stufon staring at us.
At my question, Cassandra stuck out her tongue at me and covered her lips with her hand as she laughed quietly.
"Darling, how could a wife not cheer up her husband when she sees him feeling down? Besides, we have nothing left to hide now," Cassandra said sweetly.
It was easy to notice Samantha growing redder with every second as she listened to our conversation.
I didn't know how they would react when I eventually disappeared together with Keyrin, but I hoped that afterward, they would still be able to live peaceful lives.
"So, are you actually waiting for someone?" I repeated my question.
"Not exactly. We were invited to participate in this year's Mage Tournament, and we agreed," Samantha answered, leaving out the fact that this had been part of their agreement with the dean.
Remembering that I, too, would be participating this year as a reserve member, and fully next year, I found myself intrigued.
What interested me most was how exactly this tournament worked and where it was held.
"Can you tell me more about the tournament later?" I asked.
Samantha glanced at Cassandra. Judging by their silence, it was as if they were discussing something mentally. After a few seconds, Cassandra gave her an almost imperceptible nod.
"Yes, but on one condition—we'll be spending the night at your place," Cassandra said, slowly running her hand across my chest.
I could clearly feel her touch.
Trying not to react to Cassandra's behavior, I turned to Samantha.
Was it my imagination, or was steam practically about to rise from her ears?
"Alright. Then we're meeting at my place after classes today?" I clarified, waiting for confirmation.
Samantha silently nodded before glancing at Cassandra again. That look alone made it obvious they were in for a very long conversation later.
"I should get going. Have a good training session," I said goodbye and headed off to Combat Magic class.
Samantha stared at Cassandra, unable to understand what exactly had changed in her friend the moment Trey approached. Before his arrival, they had been calmly discussing the tournament, but the moment he came closer, Cassandra's behavior had shifted almost instantly.
Cassandra could feel Samantha's gaze on her, but even she herself didn't fully understand what had come over her.
"Cassandra, I understand that we need to maintain this image, but not that openly," Samantha said, carefully choosing her words, still embarrassed by what had just happened.
Cassandra turned her head to look at Samantha. She understood that from the outside, her actions really did seem strange, especially to a light elf.
"Samantha, what do you feel when you look at Trey?" Cassandra asked quietly, lightly touching her friend's shoulder.
Samantha immediately recoiled and blushed even harder.
Her eyes darted from side to side, as though she'd been cornered.
And the one who had cornered her was none other than her own best friend.
"What do I feel when I look at Trey?" Samantha repeated, thinking.
She couldn't say that she was attracted to him as a man. At least, she wanted to believe that.
But around him, she felt surprisingly at ease.
Cassandra nodded and continued looking directly into her eyes, waiting for an answer. Now that their fates were tied together, it felt right to discuss what had been troubling Samantha.
"I feel comfortable around him. I don't feel like he looks at me like some desirable prize, and I don't think about how I could be used or taken advantage of," Samantha said thoughtfully.
Hearing that, Cassandra suddenly wanted to slap herself first, and then her friend.
What Samantha was saying was painfully obvious.
"You know, when I kissed him, I realized it was his first kiss. Which means I officially became the senior wife," Cassandra said with a smirk, absently playing with her hair as she stared upward in thought.
At those words, Samantha blushed even harder.
Unlike her friend, who had grown up among dark elves where having multiple partners wasn't considered unusual, light elves held completely different views. One partner for life was the natural order of things for them.
The situation Samantha now found herself in was genuinely shocking for her as a light elf. Not even in her worst nightmares could she have imagined that one day she would have to share her husband with another girl.
Even if that girl was her best friend.
"As for what I feel when I look at Trey…" Cassandra said thoughtfully, gazing at the spot where the half-elf had stood just moments ago. "First and foremost, interest. And the desire to stay close to a man capable of changing this world, watching it all happen from the front row."
Samantha had barely managed to process one of her friend's statements before Cassandra hit her with another.
Shock was written plainly across Samantha's face.
"But you do realize we could very well become the factor that slows him down?" Samantha asked cautiously.
Cassandra lowered her gaze and looked at her friend in confusion.
She didn't immediately understand where Samantha was going with this.
"Apparently, you don't get it. He's too unusual. Who knows where his fate, his talent with magic and the sword, and even his element will lead him. All of that points to one thing—he definitely won't live an ordinary life, work somewhere mundane, and simply spend his days with us," Samantha explained, watching Cassandra's expression shift with each word.
Cassandra truly hadn't looked at the situation from that perspective.
Trey was unusual not only because he wielded darkness magic, but because of the very fact that he existed as a half-elf.
To most other races, there wasn't much difference—mixed-blood was mixed-blood. But in the case of light and dark elves, things were far more complicated. Children could inherit their parents' magical talent, which meant one of Trey's parents was likely a hidden bearer of darkness magic.
Very few people knew about Trey's element for now, and now Cassandra understood even better why the director had appointed him as a participant in the Academy Tournament.
But what came next?
Would Trey, with all his power, remain by their side?
Cassandra already knew the answer.
No.
And it wasn't because, in his place, she would've done the same. It was simply because beings like Trey were rarely meant for quiet lives limited by ordinary domesticity.
They always had their own path.
"You're right. We really could become a burden to him, especially if it comes to traveling and wandering the world," Cassandra finally admitted.
Samantha watched her friend's expression visibly change before her eyes.
At first, it became sorrowful, and the spark in her eyes nearly went out.
But only a moment later, Samantha saw that flame return, burning even brighter than before.
She could even feel pressure radiating from Cassandra.
"But like any living being, he'll need a place where he can relax and be himself. And that place will be our home, where we'll be waiting for him," Cassandra declared firmly, looking at Samantha with genuine fire in her eyes.
Samantha didn't fully understand her friend's abrupt shift in mood, but she couldn't deny that Cassandra was speaking with absolute conviction, pouring her entire self into those words.
"There you are. First, we'll be getting acquainted, and then we'll start working on strategy," a male voice sounded from behind them.
Samantha and Cassandra turned around and saw a stufon who looked noticeably nervous while addressing them.