A few days passed.
Ayal's body had finally recovered. After resting for some time, he returned to the academy once again.
For the first few days, everything seemed normal. He attended classes quietly, just as he had planned. But the atmosphere was not what he expected.
Every student looked at him differently.
Not with admiration.
With hostility.
It felt as if they were waiting for a chance to kill him.
In almost every class, the professors tested him in different ways. Combat assessments. Strategy evaluations. Mana control examinations. Everywhere he went, someone challenged him to a sword duel.
Many students approached him, eager to fight.
It was true — when you defeat someone powerful, everyone begins to envy you.
Ayal clenched his fist.
"How can I become so strong… that no one can defeat me?"
As he was lost in his thoughts, someone called him from behind.
He turned around.
It was Hinata.
She wore glasses, her short hair gently framing her face. A soft smile rested on her lips.
"Ayal… you don't look well," she said gently.
He sighed. "Yeah… I'm not feeling great. I just want to sit somewhere and talk."
Hearing that, her cheeks turned slightly red.
"If you want… I know a place," she said shyly. "No one goes there. If you want peace… I can take you."
Seeing her reaction, Ayal blinked in surprise.
"If you want… I'm ready to go."
Her eyes widened. "Y-You'll go with me?"
"Yes."
A small, genuine smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you…"
Ayal looked at her, slightly confused. "Where is this place?"
"It's not… here," she replied quietly. "It's somewhere only I can go. If you don't want to… then it won't work."
He nodded. "I trust you."
She took a small step back.
"Stand still… let me use magic."
The moment she finished speaking, light began to gather around her.
A soft glow.
Then suddenly—
The light exploded outward, swallowing everything.
Ayal covered his eyes.
And then—
Darkness.
...
"Where am I…?"
"Ayal? Ayal! Are you okay?!"
He slowly opened his eyes.
Hinata stood in front of him, worry filling her expression.
"You're alive… I thought something happened to you!" she said, suddenly pulling him into a tight embrace.
Her voice trembled.
"You're very important to me…"
Ayal froze.
"I—I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't know…"
"It's not your fault," she said softly. "You don't need to apologize."
He gently stood up.
And then—
He saw it.
A vast ocean stretched endlessly before them. Two moons hung in the sky, casting silver light across the water. The sea shimmered like liquid glass. A lonely boat stood quietly near the shore.
Ayal's eyes widened.
"What… is this place?"
Hinata looked at him.
"I told you I'd bring you somewhere beautiful."
"This is a massive ocean…"
"I know," she said softly. "Whenever I feel bad… I come here. It's silent. No one speaks to me. No one judges me. No one calls me anything."
She looked at the moonlight reflecting on the waves.
"That's why I love quiet places."
Ayal watched her.
He realized something.
Hinata was not like Alya — she couldn't express everything in her heart openly. Perhaps she had never truly received love before.
The moonlight gently illuminated her face.
They sat beside each other on the small boat, gazing at the twin moons above.
"H-Hinata… I want to tell you something."
Suddenly—
"Look!" she exclaimed.
From the depths of the ocean, a pillar of light rose into the sky.
Ayal stared.
"What is that?"
"I brought you here to show you this," Hinata whispered.
She turned toward him.
"Ayal… I need to tell you something…"