<Ding! Urgent Quest [Confront the Demon] completed.>
<Ding! New achievement [Avatar] unlocked.>
The moment the sound of the system echoed inside my head, I knew the time for me to leave had come since I sensed a bunch of people approaching, even though they were far away.
'Of course, this commotion is bound to attract attention; from the levels of mana inside them, it appears that they are seniors.'
/SWOOSH/
With that thought, I instantly imbued myself with my aura and disappeared from the place I was standing, leaving the area since I didn't want to deal with the aftermath at all.
'I can't afford to show myself yet.'
Just like that, I disappeared.
*******
What is the most critical job for a girl of an aristocratic family?
When this question is asked, most people would answer with a straightforward word.
A tool for forming connections. This was especially the case for the lower-ranking aristocratic families who were burning with ambition to achieve greater lengths.
Engagement. A simple type of contract that would tie two families, and most of the time, the men would be in charge aside from some little places.
This was the simple and cruel truth of a game world based on the medieval age of Earth. But that didn't mean there weren't any exceptions.
Just as it was for Celia, since for her, this was never the case.
Someone belonging to the second highest ranking family in their country after the royalties, she was someone that had a different purpose in her life.
She was not a tool her family would use, or she would put herself into the position. No, rather, she always looked down on such girls from the start.
Different from others, she was someone that liked to pursue the path of greatness instead of becoming a simple trophy of her partner.
That was the reason why she was curious. Curious to understand why those girls were succumbing to their fate without resisting.
So, one day at a gathering, she decided to ask those girls the reason why.
"You all have the talent to become stronger; why are you not trying your best?"
This was the question she wanted to ask all the time. However, the moment her words left her mouth, the reaction she got was not something she had expected.
"Why should we?" Was the response as the girls around her answered; their eyes filled with sneers.
"What?" She was not able to understand at all. "What do you mean by why? Becoming stronger, achieving greatness...these are worthy pursuits."
As her words echoed inside the little chamber they were sitting, laughter echoed. "Ahahahaa… That was funny…"
One girl, with a haughty smile adorning her face, spoke up, her tone dripping with condescension. "Dear Celia, you seem to misunderstand. We prefer a life of leisure, free from the burdens of exertion and hardship. Why waste our time sweating on training grounds when we can find a good husband to take care of us?"
Celia's eyes widened in astonishment, but soon frustration took over. "You see no value in your own growth and potential? You are content to rely on others for your well-being?"
The girls around her nodded, their smug expressions growing more pronounced. "Why should we tire ourselves when we can find someone else to shoulder our responsibilities? Our purpose is to marry into wealth and secure our family's position. Men are simple creatures; it is easy to control them to make them do whatever they want from us, after all. It's a much easier path to success, wouldn't you agree?"
That was the moment when the worldview of Celia changed. She realized how rare it was for her to pursue the value of strength, the value of growth.
It was at that moment that she started ignoring the people around her and started focusing solely on magic and her career. She isolated herself from this crowd of people, and they didn't bother her either.
However, she didn't cut his connection with her closest friends only. Her childhood friends whom she loved dearly. And at first, when she opened up about this topic, her friends were the ones that understood her the best and supported her decision.
Emma, with her own thirst for fighting, wholeheartedly agreed with Celia's perspective. She recognized the value of self-reliance and the pursuit of personal growth.
Alicia was slightly different from Emma, as she was one hell of a scary girl, but at the same time, she was so gentle. But, in the end, she too helped her and supported her decision until the end.
And then there was Arthur, the one who had been by Celia's side since childhood. He had always understood her drive for greatness and supported her wholeheartedly. They shared countless adventures and trained together, pushing each other to become better versions of themselves.
As their bond deepened, Celia found herself drawn to Arthur in a way she hadn't anticipated. Their connection went beyond friendship, and she began to see him as more than just a friend. There was a warmth in his presence, a sense of security that made her heart flutter.
When Arthur finally approached her and confessed his feelings, Celia's heart skipped a beat. She didn't hesitate to reciprocate, realizing that their shared values and mutual support made them a perfect match.
At least, that was what she thought.
After they started their relationship, Celia saw a bunch of changes in Arthur's attitude.
The way he treated her, the way he approached her, the way he carried himself, even the way he smiled was changed, and she was able to feel it. Sometimes she would see him looking at other girls with lust.
However, she thought it was normal as she, too, was changing.
Until the moment when she felt the claws of the demon about to reach her heart.
The moment she felt everything was lost.
She fought alongside him, trying her best to protect him.
She was even about to sacrifice her whole future as a mage while trying to hold the demon inside her spell.
The one thing that was forbidden for a mage. Drawing so much mana from one's core while forcefully using their life essence, since essentially that would destroy one's mana pathways.
However, she still did that nevertheless, thinking she would put enough strength to seal the demon so that Arthur would finish it off.
As she left her fate at the hands of Arthur, she closed her eyes from the pain and waited for him to do his job.
However, fate could be cruel, and on that fateful battlefield, Arthur made a choice that shattered Celia's heart. In the face of danger, he abandoned her, leaving her to fend for herself. The realization hit her analytical mind in mere milliseconds as she saw the approaching claws on her chest at a fast speed.
The pain of betrayal cut deep, tearing at the very foundation of their relationship. 'Ah, it is over.' She thought, her heart feeling cold, knowing this would be the end of her life.
However, at that moment, something unexpected happened. A sword blocked the attack. A sword that was different from the one Arthur had. It was a pitch-black sword.
Instead of him, the person she had liked, the one that saved her, was someone different.
But before she could even see the face, she felt an electric turbulent entering her body, making her lose consciousness.
However, that wasn't all there was to it. Her body, which developed resistance to all types of magic thanks to her research and spars, was able to get rid of the effects sooner than she thought.
Therefore, Celia's consciousness flickered in and out. She caught glimpses of the intense battle unfolding before her. It was the clash of raw magical power between the demon and the unknown presence that rescued her life.
All types of elements swirled around the figure as he fought severely with the demon, not losing control of the fight for a second.
'He has all four attributes.' Celia couldn't believe her eyes as she saw all the elements moving according to his wishes.
Celia's heart pounded in her chest as she couldn't help but admire the figure. 'He must be a very talented senior,' she thought, looking at his brown hair and hazel eyes.
And soon, the figure defeated the demon, but before she could even call to him, the figure disappeared, leaving her on the field all alone…..
-----------------------A/N---------------------
Hope you liked this chapter. This was also a long one
It was essential to show how Celia thought about Arthur and how important he was to her, as she was about to sacrifice the very reason for defining herself in her eyes.
Now, in the next chapter, we will return to Callius again.
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You can check my discord if you want. You will be able to see the illustrations here and engage in a conversation with me if I am available.
https://discord.gg/XJEgBRM3C
Check out my new book if you are interested.
This time it will have a modern hunter theme, where MC will be driven by the feeling of vengeance.
The name is; Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest
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