The Academy's training hall was bathed in a soft glow filtering through the magical dome overhead. The air remained heavy from the previous duels, thick with mana, lingering warmth, and the faint scent of fresh grass.
Standing farther away than anyone else, Elizabeth and Krul watched the scene unfolding at the center of the arena in silence. Their expressions remained calm yet attentive, their eyes missing nothing.
Not far away, Rogan and Kaelis sat directly on the grass, breathing heavily after their own match. Behind them stood Eliria, quietly mending their wounds with the gentle glow of healing magic. Beside her was Lilith, who, like everyone else, hadn't taken her eyes off the duel that was still underway.
Lianel fought relentlessly.
Aggressively.
Without allowing even the slightest opening to breathe.
His movements were swift, precise, polished to perfection through endless repetition. Every strike flowed seamlessly into the next, never giving his opponent even a heartbeat to recover. He shifted the angle of every attack, varied his rhythm, dictated the pace—forcing his opponent to react instead of think.
Right now...
He controlled the fight completely.
Alex continued giving ground beneath the relentless pressure. His movements remained precise and economical, but there wasn't the slightest hint of pressure in return. The blood-forged sword in his hand worked almost flawlessly, gliding against Lianel's blade, deflecting every strike and redirecting each attack with minimal effort.
Every movement was perfect.
But every movement was defensive.
One slash came just a little too close, splitting the fabric across Alex's shoulder.
He blocked the next attack, but was forced to take another step back, surrendering even more ground.
Lianel closed the distance immediately.
He never allowed even the briefest moment of silence between attacks. His blade found its target again and again, forcing Alex to constantly rebuild his defense.
A downward slash.
Blocked.
A sudden thrust.
Alex twisted aside.
A spin.
Another slash.
Steel met steel once more.
Again.
No counterattack.
Lianel felt frustration steadily building inside him. He deliberately increased his speed, adding even more pressure, trying to break Alex's rhythm—or at least force him into making a mistake.
Alex never did.
He always reacted in time.
Another explosive burst of speed.
Lianel shifted his footing and launched a swift horizontal slash from the side.
Alex deflected it...
...and retreated once again.
Without even attempting a counterattack.
It was beginning to irritate him.
Lianel narrowed his eyes but never slowed his assault. His body moved faster than before. His strikes became heavier.
Sharper.
More aggressive.
He was forcing the pace of the battle entirely on his own.
Alex...
Simply responded.
No more.
No less.
Their blades collided once again.
For the briefest instant...
Their eyes met.
Something inside Lianel froze.
His body continued moving.
His arms kept swinging his sword.
But one unmistakable thought formed in his mind.
Alex's eyes...
They were empty.
He looked straight ahead.
He reacted to every attack.
But...
He wasn't really here.
"Is this some kind of joke...?"
Lianel clenched his teeth and abruptly changed the rhythm of his assault, as though trying to drag Alex's mind back into reality.
A slash from above.
An immediate transition into a thrust.
Another sharp cut.
Fast.
Relentless.
Without pause.
Without mercy.
Alex blocked every single strike.
With the same flawless precision.
The same composure.
The same calm.
And then...
He simply remained where he stood, waiting for Lianel's next series of attacks.
The angel didn't attack.
Instead, he stopped and simply stared at his opponent, who had already settled back into a defensive stance with the blood-forged sword held before him. Silence stretched between them for several long seconds, and everyone watching unconsciously held their breath, waiting to see who would move first.
Lianel slowly looked away.
Glancing over his shoulder, he turned toward Celia, who had remained behind him the entire time, ready to support him with magic at a moment's notice. She hadn't moved once, but her vigilant gaze had never left the battlefield.
Lianel turned back toward Alex...
...and let out a weary sigh.
Then he looked at Celia once more.
"You can go join the others."
"I'll handle this myself."
Celia blinked in mild surprise.
"Are you sure?" She tilted her head slightly. "Maybe he's just wearing you down before making his move."
A faint smile appeared on Lianel's face.
"I'm sure."
She studied him for another moment, as though trying to read something deeper than his words.
In the end, she simply nodded.
Without another objection, she turned around and walked back toward Lilith and the rest of her group.
Lianel watched her leave.
Only after she had put enough distance between them did he turn back toward Alex.
His gaze hardened.
"I hope you'll finally focus on the fight now."
"Don't disappoint me, Alex."
Lianel slowly raised his sword, pointing its tip directly at his friend.
The next instant...
He exploded forward.
Alex had already raised his blade, preparing to receive the attack.
Lianel charged straight toward him. The trajectory seemed obvious—a direct thrust aimed at his torso. Everything about the attack looked so straightforward that the proper response practically presented itself.
Then, at the very last instant...
Everything changed.
Lianel's wrist twisted sharply, changing the angle of his strike a fraction of a second before impact.
The blade no longer aimed where Alex had expected.
Alex reacted on instinct, throwing himself backward to widen the distance between them.
The sword sliced through empty air where he'd been standing only a heartbeat earlier.
Exactly what Lianel had intended.
A magic circle had already ignited above his palm.
The next instant, more than a dozen brilliant spheres of light burst forth.
They shot forward with blinding speed.
Alex immediately raised his free hand.
A thick wall of blood surged up before him.
The first projectiles slammed into it, bursting apart into showers of radiant sparks.
But the angel had no intention of stopping.
Several of the spheres abruptly changed course, soaring high into the air.
A heartbeat later...
They came crashing down.
Alex retreated once more, allowing them to strike the ground instead, leaving behind a series of small craters.
The instant his feet touched the ground...
More spheres were already waiting above him.
Lianel never gave him a chance to breathe.
Some plunged downward.
Alex retreated again.
The others immediately shifted position, adjusting their angles before launching another assault.
One step back.
Another explosion.
One more step.
Another blast.
Again.
And again...
Alex never stopped moving, forced to retreat beneath the relentless barrage. He wasn't given even a moment to stabilize his footing.
Every place he moved to...
Became the next target.
Yet even now...
He still refused to attack.
Lianel watched it all without easing the pressure.
"Seriously...?"
Another volley of light spheres descended, forcing Alex back once again.
"Even now... you're refusing to attack."
"How long are you going to let me control this fight?"
The glowing spheres hung over the battlefield once more, poised to rain down again at any moment.
"Alex..."
"Please..."
"Do something."
"Where's the fire you bring into every single battle?"
Sirena's calm, gentle voice suddenly echoed through Lianel's mind.
"Master, forgive me for interrupting Your battle, but... I think I've figured out what's wrong with Alex."
Lianel barely flinched, never losing control of the battlefield. The spheres of light continued keeping Alex at a distance, forcing him to move without pause.
"Are you serious...? And what happened to him?" he asked inwardly, unable to hide his surprise.
"You've already seen the answer," Sirena replied calmly. "You simply overlooked it because You were too focused on the battle."
Lianel frowned for a brief moment.
"What kind of answer is that...?"
"Take a closer look." A faint, almost playful note entered Sirena's voice. "The answer is written all over his face."
Lianel let out a slow breath.
"Wonderful..." he grumbled inwardly, unable to hide his irritation.
His gaze immediately returned to Alex. The magic circle above his palm faded away, and the spheres of light suspended in the air dissolved into faint specks of light before disappearing entirely.
The training hall suddenly felt much quieter. Lianel tightened his grip on his spear, feeling the tension in his body slowly begin to ease.
"Take a closer look... huh?"
In a single motion, he closed the distance again, appearing directly before Alex with his spear already poised to strike. This time, however, he wasn't interested in winning the fight.
He was searching for an answer.
The pace of the duel slowed noticeably. Lianel no longer overwhelmed Alex with an endless barrage of attacks. His movements became more restrained, brief pauses appearing between each strike.
A sharp thrust toward Alex's torso.
Alex calmly raised his sword, redirecting the spear with one short, precise motion that looked almost effortless. Lianel immediately shifted his angle, circling to the side before sweeping his spear horizontally. Alex merely twisted his wrist, allowing the strike to glide harmlessly along the blood-forged blade.
Another step forward.
A quick thrust toward the leg.
Alex retreated half a step and deflected it without changing his stance.
Everything felt...
Far too easy.
Lianel kept pressing forward—not any faster than before, but without stopping. Alex still made no attempt to seize the initiative. He never searched for an opening. Never looked for a counterattack.
He simply blocked every strike...
...then calmly waited for the next one.
Lianel finally stopped paying attention to Alex's technique altogether, accepting that there was nothing left to learn from it. Instead, he focused on what he'd completely overlooked until now.
The shadows beneath Alex's eyes.
Not the faint exhaustion of a sleepless night...
But deep, heavy circles that couldn't have appeared after missing a single evening of sleep.
Then there was his gaze.
Clouded.
Almost unfocused.
Every now and then, clarity returned...
Exactly when he needed to block an attack.
Then it vanished again just as quickly.
It was almost as though his body and mind were functioning separately.
Something tightened painfully inside Lianel's chest. He thrust again, and Alex effortlessly deflected the attack once more.
"Seriously?"
"Was I so obsessed with the fight that I failed to notice something this obvious?"
His grip on the spear tightened.
Another strike.
Blocked again.
Then a brief memory surfaced—one he only now understood.
Elizabeth's expression before the training session had begun.
"So she noticed it immediately."
"Then why did she let Alex fight in this condition?"
"And how does someone even end up like this?"
"I've stayed awake all night studying for exams before... but even then, I never looked like a zombie."
Alex remained exactly the same.
The same calm expression.
The same empty eyes.
Then...
Everything changed.
Alex deflected Lianel's next strike.
And for the first time since the duel had begun...
He smiled.
It was only the faintest smile.
Barely noticeable.
But suddenly, his eyes sharpened.
Focused.
Locked directly onto Lianel.
The angel noticed the change instantly.
"You've gotten a little too comfortable," Alex said lightly, almost cheerfully, as though nothing unusual had happened.
The next instant, he stepped forward.
For the first time in the entire duel...
He attacked.
A sharp, decisive thrust.
Lianel deflected it with ease, but made no attempt to continue the exchange. Instead, he leaped backward, widening the distance before slowly raising both hands.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips.
"I surrender."
The moment those words left his mouth, the spear of light dissolved into countless tiny sparks before vanishing without a trace.
Silently, Lianel looked away, casting a brief glance toward his teammates. Celia stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief, clearly not expecting the duel to end like this.
Rogan and Kaelis, however, looked much calmer. Their expressions were thoughtful, as though they had already reached the same conclusion themselves. When Lianel's eyes met theirs, both young men gave him the slightest nod in agreement.
Lilith and Eliria, meanwhile, never took their eyes off Alex. Lilith watched him with a serious, searching gaze, while Eliria made no effort to hide her concern. Her expression remained gentle...
Yet deeply troubled.
Lianel slowly turned back toward Alex.
He was standing exactly where he'd been before—calm, composed, as though nothing remarkable had happened. The blood-forged sword had already disappeared, leaving only an empty hand. Even his expression remained unchanged.
Reserved.
Almost detached.
Alex opened his mouth, clearly about to say something.
But Lianel raised a hand, stopping him.
"Don't."
There was no anger in his voice.
Only quiet exhaustion...
And something that sounded remarkably like irritation...
Mixed with genuine concern.
For several seconds, Lianel simply looked at Alex.
Then a faint smile—the one so characteristic of him—spread across his face. The familiar spark returned to his eyes, as though everything had finally fallen back into place.
"This fight doesn't count," he said in his usual easygoing tone.
Tilting his head slightly, he looked Alex straight in the eye.
"I think you already know I would've won." He gave a light shrug. "But..." A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "...what's the point of winning a fight when your opponent never does anything but defend?"
Lianel took a step forward, closing the distance between them.
"That's not the kind of victory I want."
Stopping right in front of Alex, he held out his hand.
"So let's just say you owe me one for generously preserving your undefeated record." His grin widened. "And there's only one way you're paying that debt back."
He leaned forward slightly, never breaking eye contact.
"A real fight."
"After you've recovered."
"What do you say?"
A faint smile appeared on Alex's face.
"Sounds good."
He reached out and shook Lianel's hand.
Their grip was brief...
But firm.
When they let go, Lianel was already turning away, as though shedding the last remnants of tension that had clung to him.
"I hope you won't disappoint me," he called over his shoulder with a teasing grin.
Then, just before walking away, he added jokingly,
"Now go get some sleep."
"Sweet dreams."
He headed back toward his teammates, while Alex turned and walked in the same direction, where Krul and Elizabeth had already joined the rest of the group.
Krul looked over everyone present before speaking in her usual composed tone.
"That's enough training for today. You all did well."
A faint smile of satisfaction crossed her face.
Elizabeth spoke next.
"I'll gladly echo my colleague's words. You all performed exceptionally well today and gave us some truly fascinating matches." Her smile grew warmer. "Watching each of you improve has become more enjoyable with every session. Keep up the good work, my dear students."
She paused for a moment.
"Oh, and before I forget..."
"There won't be any training tomorrow."
She allowed the words to settle before continuing.
"Instead, I need all of you to gather in Raphael's office at two o'clock tomorrow afternoon. We have an important announcement regarding the future direction of your training."
She smiled gently.
"That's all for now. You're dismissed."
She was just about to turn away when her gaze lingered on Alex for a brief moment.
Outwardly, her expression remained calm.
But hidden deep within her eyes...
There was unmistakable concern.
Realizing this wasn't the right moment to say anything, she quietly turned away and left the training hall alongside Krul, their departure finally dissolving the lingering tension left behind by the duel.
Lianel lazily stretched, lacing his fingers behind his head as he arched his back.
"I don't know about the rest of you," he said with an easy smile, "but after all that, I'm starving."
He looked around the group.
"Who's coming to the cafeteria with me?"
"I can go," Celia replied indifferently.
Eliria raised her hand slightly, as though asking for attention.
"Lilith and I are going to stop by the library first," she said, glancing briefly toward her companion. "Then we can join you... if that's alright."
"I don't have anything else to do anyway," Lilith replied calmly. "So I don't mind."
Kaelis let out a tired sigh, leaning back slightly.
"I'll pass. After fighting Rogan, I can barely stay on my feet."
"I'm heading back to rest."
Rogan merely shrugged.
"I wouldn't mind grabbing something to eat."
Lianel nodded with satisfaction before turning toward the last person who hadn't answered.
Alex.
He stood slightly apart from the others, as calm as ever.
"I'd love to come," he said evenly, "but unfortunately, I don't have any free time."
"I need to get back to work."
For a brief moment, the smile disappeared from Lianel's face.
He looked Alex straight in the eyes.
"So you're just going to ignore my advice?"
Alex met his gaze without hesitation.
"I'll rest," he answered calmly.
"As soon as I'm done."
Silence lingered between them for several seconds.
Lianel studied Alex's eyes—tired...
Yet stubborn.
At last, he let out a weary sigh.
"Do whatever you want..."
There wasn't a trace of anger in his voice.
Only quiet resignation.
He turned away, allowing his usual carefree expression to return before giving Celia and Rogan a short nod.
"Let's go."
Kaelis, Lilith, and Eliria followed the others toward the exit. After only a few steps, however, Lilith came to a stop.
Something felt... off.
She turned around.
Alex was still standing where he had been, quietly watching them leave. Their eyes met for only a moment. No words were spoken. No gestures were exchanged. Just a brief, silent glance.
Then Lilith turned away and quickly caught up with the others.
When the door finally closed, silence settled over the training hall.
Alex let out a relieved sigh.
"Finally..."
"That training session is over."
He ran a hand across his face, rubbing his tired eyes as though trying to chase away the exhaustion, before making his way toward the small pond at the edge of the room. Lowering himself onto one knee, he scooped up a handful of cold water and splashed it across his face.
The droplets ran down his skin, helping him clear his head, if only a little.
For several seconds, he remained there, simply breathing in the cool air.
Then he stood, opened his inventory, and took out a small vial filled with an orange potion.
He had already uncorked it.
The bottle was only inches from his lips...
When a familiar voice echoed through his mind.
"Master..."
There was restrained concern in Sirena's voice.
"How much longer are You planning to rely on those potions?"
Alex stopped.
The vial froze just short of his lips.
"Didn't today's fight show You anything?" she asked quietly. "You need to rest."
Slowly, Alex lowered the potion.
"The training would've gone just fine," he replied calmly, "if I'd calculated this morning's dosage correctly."
"Do You truly believe that's the only problem?" she asked softly.
Something in her voice changed.
The careful gentleness was gone.
In its place remained only a quiet heaviness...
...and restrained disappointment.
A brief silence followed.
"And even if that were true..." she continued, "...doesn't that only prove You should stop taking them every single day?"
Her tone grew firmer.
"Your body is already becoming resistant to smaller doses. If You start increasing them while continuing to take them this often..."
"...You'll only harm Yourself."
"And then..."
"...You can forget about training."
"For a long time."
For the first time in quite a while, genuine despair crept into her voice.
"Is that really what You want...?"
She fell silent for several long seconds, as though struggling to hold back everything else she wanted to say.
"If it is..." she finally whispered, "...then that's Your decision. I won't try to stop You anymore."
"But..."
"It's painful watching You push Yourself like this."
"For three weeks."
Alex said nothing.
He remained standing exactly where he was, staring at the vial in his hand.
Seconds passed.
Slowly giving way to minutes.
The room was completely silent, disturbed only by the quiet ripple of water from the pond and the gentle whisper of the wind.
His eyes remained fixed on the potion.
Then memories began surfacing one after another.
His fight with Lianel...
...and the words that had sounded more like a plea than a complaint.
Then his aunt's final glance.
Calm on the surface.
Yet filled with concern.
Then came Lilith's silent look before she'd left the room.
And finally...
His conversation with Eliria in the library four days earlier.
It had been brief.
Yet that had been enough for her to notice the exhaustion in his eyes—and insist that he take a break from training.
Alex slowly closed his eyes.
He felt...
Awkward.
Even a little ashamed.
Ashamed that he'd let everyone see him in that condition.
Ashamed that he'd made them worry.
He opened his eyes again.
Looked at the vial one last time.
Then quietly sealed it and returned it to his inventory.
When he finally spoke again, there was a faint, almost carefree warmth in his voice.
"Thank you."
"For putting up with such a stubborn idiot..."
"...and for continuing to support him."
Sirena didn't answer immediately.
When she finally did, there was warmth in her voice as well.
"Well..." she said with a touch of playful irony, "it's not as though I have a choice."
"I'm Your personal assistant."
"It's my job to support my Master..."
"...and give Him advice."
She paused briefly.
"But..."
"I should be thanking You as well."
"For listening to me."
A faint smile appeared on Alex's lips.
"After a speech like that..."
"I didn't really have much of a choice."
He slowly lowered himself onto the grass beside the pond, feeling the cool earth beneath him soothe his tired body.
Silence settled between them once more.
"I thought You were going back to Your room to sleep," Sirena said, genuine surprise creeping into her voice.
Alex lifted his gaze toward the still water.
"I've still got some energy left," he answered calmly.
"So I might as well get a little training in before bed."
The only response he received was a long, weary sigh echoing through his mind.
Alex simply closed his eyes.
He focused.
Blood began gathering in his right hand—thick, obedient to his will, gradually forming a small crimson sphere.
In his left hand, a dense mass of darkness slowly condensed.
Two completely different powers.
Once again...
He tried to force them into becoming one.
Night slowly settled over the Academy, like a light blanket draping itself across weary shoulders after a long day. The glow of enchanted lamps spilled gently through the corridors, casting warm, slightly blurred shadows across the stone walls. It wasn't harsh on the eyes. If anything, it was soothing, filling even the vast, cool hallways with a quiet sense of comfort.
There were far fewer students now. Somewhere ahead, quiet laughter echoed through the corridor as two boys strolled leisurely toward the dormitories, chatting about something only they found amusing. On the opposite side, two girls passed by in hushed conversation. Their footsteps echoed softly before fading into the night's silence.
Beyond the tall arched windows stretched the Academy grounds. A few scattered figures still lingered in the gardens—some sitting quietly on benches, others wandering along the pathways, enjoying the cool evening air. A gentle breeze stirred the treetops, and the rustling leaves blended with distant voices into a strangely peaceful harmony.
The Academy wasn't asleep yet.
But neither was it alive with the bustling energy of daytime.
And through that half-living, half-silent world walked Lilith.
Only in the evenings could she be seen without the Academy uniform. Instead, she wore a pair of black jeans that fit snugly against her legs and a simple white sleeveless shirt that stood in sharp contrast to her dark hair. The outfit was far simpler than her usual attire, yet somehow made her quiet confidence stand out even more.
Her pace was steady.
Neither hurried...
Nor hesitant.
She never looked around.
Paid no attention to the other students occupied with their own conversations.
Her calm, focused gaze remained fixed on the training hall ahead.
Something told her...
That was where she would find him.
And with every step, that feeling only grew stronger.
As she walked, her thoughts drifted back to the conversation she'd had with Eliria shortly after the two of them had entered the library.
Lilith had been the first to break the silence.
"What did you think of the last match?"
She'd tried to sound indifferent.
Casual.
As though it were nothing more than an ordinary question.
Eliria hadn't even attempted to hide her emotions.
"It was hard to watch..."
Her voice had been quiet, heavy with disappointment.
"I talked to Alex in the library not long ago. Even then, I could tell something was wrong."
"I asked him to get some rest..."
"...but he just smiled and told me he was fine."
She paused briefly.
"But he isn't."
"Not at all."
A quiet firmness entered her voice.
"Today's fight against Lianel should've made even him realize that."
"If my words weren't enough..."
"...maybe he'll listen to Lianel."
Lilith had raised an eyebrow ever so slightly.
"You really think he will?"
Eliria had fallen silent for several seconds before letting out a weary sigh.
"I hope so..."
"But I don't really believe he will."
A faint, self-deprecating smile had crossed her lips.
"We both know how stubborn he is."
She'd glanced toward Lilith.
"Once he makes up his mind..."
"...nothing can stop him."
Lilith had smiled faintly in return.
"You're right about that."
The memory ended as abruptly as it had begun.
Reality returned together with the cool sensation of stone beneath her feet.
Lilith was already standing before the doors of the training hall.
She closed her eyes for a few seconds and focused.
She sensed it almost immediately.
A faint...
Yet unmistakably familiar...
Magical aura lingering just beyond the closed doors.
Lilith slowly opened her eyes.
"Has he really been here this entire time...?"
Her hand reached for the door handle almost on its own.
Then, only a fraction of an inch away, it stopped.
Doubt quietly crept into her mind.
"Will he listen...?"
"Or will he just brush me off..."
"...just like he did Eliria?"
Lilith took a slow, steady breath before exhaling just as calmly.
The uncertainty in her eyes faded.
Resolve took its place.
Her fingers closed around the handle.
"I can do this."
She pulled the door open and stepped inside.
The training hall was wrapped in the same quiet stillness as the world outside. Soft light from the floating magical lanterns illuminated the room evenly, casting faint shadows across the grass and stone pathways. The air was perfectly still, and the silence ran so deep it almost felt as though time itself had slowed.
Lilith immediately spotted a lone figure sitting beside the pond.
She walked toward him without a sound, her footsteps so light upon the grass that it seemed she was afraid of disturbing the fragile peace surrounding him.
Stopping behind him, she greeted him softly.
There was no reply.
Tilting her head slightly, she stepped around him...
...and froze.
Alex was asleep.
He sat cross-legged, his head lowered, his hands resting peacefully on his knees. His breathing was slow and steady. Only the faint sound of his breathing revealed that he hadn't merely drifted into thought—
He had completely fallen asleep.
For several long seconds, Lilith simply stared at him.
It was the first time she had ever seen Alex like this.
Without the constant tension.
Without the cold self-control.
Without the quiet readiness for battle that never seemed to leave him.
Peaceful.
And...
Vulnerable.
The sight was so unfamiliar that she couldn't even tell what she was feeling.
After a while, she quietly lowered herself onto the grass opposite him, folding her legs beneath her. Her eyes never left him as one thought after another drifted through her mind.
"Should I wake him up and take him back to his room...?"
A faint frown crossed her face.
"No. Definitely not."
"The moment he wakes up, the first thing he'll do is start training again."
"That's not why I came here."
Her expression grew more conflicted.
"Besides..."
"What if someone sees us together this late at night...?"
Lilith let out a quiet sigh.
As the Student Council President, she knew better than anyone how quickly rumors spread.
Especially among those who already disliked her.
"Let him sleep."
Time passed slowly.
At first, she simply sat across from him in silence, watching him.
Eventually, unable to remain still any longer, she stood and wandered around the room a few times, absentmindedly brushing her fingers across the grass.
A minute later, she returned.
Without another thought, she lay down beside him.
Resting both hands behind her head, she looked up at the artificial sky created by the Academy's magical artifact.
The stars looked almost real.
Distant.
Peaceful.
Softly blurred.
Yet somehow...
Tonight, they felt real.
And together with the silence...
The memories returned.
Their first meeting in the Academy's central plaza.
Their first team battle against Rayner.
The celebration after Adam joined the Student Council...
Then another one...
This time to celebrate the formation of their raid group—and Alex becoming its leader.
Their first raids.
Dangerous.
Demanding.
Yet unbelievably exciting.
Then came the rare occasions when her mother allowed her to watch Alex's training sessions.
One memory flowed seamlessly into the next...
Until suddenly...
Lilith froze.
One thought surfaced above all the others.
"This is the first time..."
"...since the night you saved me from Rayner in the dormitory..."
"...that we've been alone together."
A faint smile found its way onto her lips.
Turning her head, she looked at Alex once more.
"And just my luck..."
"You're asleep."
Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.
She watched him for a few moments longer before slowly looking away again.
Her eyes drifted back toward the artificial night sky overhead.
The stars continued to shimmer peacefully above her.
Silence embraced the room.
There was nothing unnecessary within it.
For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to simply lie there.
Without thinking about her responsibilities.
About training.
About the students waiting for her tomorrow.
Only the silence...
And the quiet comfort of knowing he was nearby.
Her eyelids slowly grew heavy.
Only a few minutes later...
She, too, drifted off to sleep.
Three hours passed.
Consciousness returned little by little. First came the warmth wrapped around her body.
Then... The unexpected softness beneath her head.
Only after that did Lilith slowly open her eyes. For several long seconds, her vision remained blurred. Then she noticed the blanket draped over her. She shifted slightly and realized something was supporting her head. Sitting up, she discovered a neatly rolled-up men's jacket... Serving as her pillow.
For a brief moment, Lilith froze.
Then she abruptly looked up.
Alex was gone.
"Sirena..." she said quietly, a hint of confusion slipping into her voice. "How long was I asleep?"
"Three hours and seven minutes," Sirena replied calmly.
Lilith let out a weary sigh, rubbing a hand across her face.
"That long...?"
"How did I manage to sleep that deeply...?"
At that very moment, a familiar voice came from behind her.
"Well, look who's finally awake."
Lilith flinched and spun around.
Alex was walking toward her with an easy, warm smile, casually waving one hand.
Within a heartbeat, Lilith had already regained her usual composed expression.
"How long have you been awake?" she asked evenly.
"About twenty minutes." He stretched his shoulders as he spoke. "After sleeping for six hours in probably the most uncomfortable position imaginable, my entire body was stiff. So I just walked around for a while to loosen up."
His eyes drifted over her, and the smile on his face grew just a little wider.
"Honestly, I was pretty surprised when I woke up and found you sleeping beside me." He chuckled softly. "Seeing the Student Council President looking that carefree..." He paused for emphasis. "...wearing casual clothes, no less, and lying around on Academy grounds."
"That's a pretty rare sight."
There was gentle amusement in his voice.
Lilith had already opened her mouth to answer...
But stopped.
"We're alone."
"No one is watching."
"No whispers."
"No need to keep pretending to be the perfect student..."
"...or the perfect Student Council President."
"Right now..."
"I can just be myself."
She gently bit her lip before letting out a quiet breath.
When she looked back at Alex, her voice sounded different.
Softer.
More sincere.
"Thank you..."
"...for the blanket."
"And the jacket."
Alex blinked in surprise.
Clearly, he'd been expecting a very different response.
A second later, his smile returned.
"You're welcome."
Silence settled between them for a moment.
But it wasn't awkward.
Only peaceful.
Comfortable.
Lilith quietly rose from the grass, brushing a few blades from her clothes. She carefully folded the blanket, almost reluctant to disturb the warmth it seemed to carry, before picking up the jacket and holding it out to Alex.
He accepted both without a word, stored them inside his inventory, then looked back at her.
"It's getting late," he said calmly.
"We should probably head back to our rooms."
A faint smile appeared on Lilith's lips.
"For some reason," she said, a trace of irony in her voice, "I get the feeling you're just trying to get rid of me..."
"...so you can keep training."
Alex let out an exaggerated sigh, even rolling his eyes for dramatic effect.
"And what could possibly give you that idea?" he asked with mock indignation. "What right would an ordinary student like me have to chase the Student Council President out of a training hall?"
Lilith lifted her chin just slightly.
"That's only how people are supposed to address me during the day," she replied calmly. "At this hour, when every student should already be asleep..."
"I'm just another student."
"Just like you."
Alex tilted his head thoughtfully.
"Interesting..."
He paused as though genuinely considering it.
"Somehow, I always thought it worked the other way around."
Lilith narrowed her eyes with curiosity.
"Oh?"
"And how's that?"
A faint smile tugged at Alex's lips.
"I figured that inside the Academy, you should always be treated with the respect your position deserves."
"As the Student Council President."
"And as one of the Headmistress's disciples."
"No matter what time it is."
Lilith let out a tired sigh.
Yet she was smiling.
"Alright," she admitted.
"You got me."
She glanced away for a moment, acknowledging her defeat.
"People really do treat me..." She searched for the right words. "...like someone important around the Academy."
"I never asked for it."
"But they do it anyway."
"I've gotten used to it."
She looked back at him.
"But you're the exception."
"You're Director Elizabeth's student too."
"We're on the same raid team."
A mischievous smile appeared on her face.
"You could even argue that you're above me."
She took a small step backward, almost as though preparing for a performance.
"You're my commander."
"And you're not even on the Student Council."
Then she leaned forward...
...and performed a graceful, almost playful curtsy.
"So, if anything..."
"...I'm the one who should be treating you with proper respect."
She looked back up at him, unmistakable playfulness dancing in her eyes.
"From now on..."
"I'll greet you like this every time we meet."
She paused deliberately.
"Sir Alex."
Alex simply stared at her for several long seconds, as though he couldn't quite believe the absurd little performance he'd just witnessed.
Then...
He burst into genuine laughter. Loud. Unrestrained. Completely sincere.
The sound was so infectious that Lilith couldn't hold back anymore.
She laughed too.
Right alongside him.
Until tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.
And for one brief moment...
In the entirety of that vast Academy... There was no one else. Only the two of them. And the carefree, heartfelt laughter they shared together.