Chapter 76: 63 - Realization
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"Oh, what a shame. He’s handsome, though. An ikemen at that!"
Huh, since when did a word like that exist in this world? Kairi, what have you done?
I flinched slightly at her words, which sounded more or less like Kairi’s vocabulary. And I was even more surprised when she only judged him by his looks, not his personality. Yes, Dellaetrix is indeed handsome, and his body could be described as perfect, similar to the male characters in Kairi’s gacha games.
However, I can’t be easily swayed just because he’s handsome. For me, true attraction lies in intelligence, bravery, and, of course, loyalty. And as far as I know, Dellaetrix is more than just handsomeness which is that, honestly, a little nauseating.
"Oh yeah, that’s true. It’s just that we rarely meet, that’s the problem."
I brushed her off, not wanting to talk about him any further.
My mind was filled with one name: Kairi. I want my Kairi! Where is she now? Is she okay? What’s happening to her right now? Has it passed the incident where she saved Helena with her bare hands? I’m honestly still curious to death about his condition.
My anxiety had reached its peak, making every nerve in my body feel tense.
"Ah, what a pity. But-"
"Sis Selene!" The voice suddenly interrupted our conversation without warning. Her voice was hoarse, her breath ragged.
Her face looked tired, with both hands on her knees. She was visibly panting, as if she had just run a non-stop marathon.
Her face looked more or less like the dolls commonly sold in downtown stores that are open 24 hours non-stop—cute, but clearly exhausted. Her shimmering silver hair, though slightly disheveled, framed her pale face. Her aquamarine eyes, usually bright and full of spirit, now seemed dull and worried.
A familiar face...
Azalea Rosella Lovecraft, Helena’s younger sister.
Now I remember. S
he’s one of the more promising first-year students, though often overshadowed by her much more famous sister. I rarely met her outside the context of major incidents, as my main focus was indeed on Kairi.
I thought, watching her still struggling to breathe and panting, like she’d just finished an inter-city running tournament in Ains Ein Doa. S
weat dampened her temples, and her academy robe looked a bit dirty.
"Senior Selene... Kairi..." Azalea tried to speak, her voice breaking.
As her name was mentioned, my body immediately trembled. A bad premonition crept into my heart, spreading like cold ice through my veins. Wait, didn’t I already know what was going to happen after this? Hadn’t I prepared myself for even the worst-case scenario? If so, why was I still trembling? My feelings were a mix of anxiety, relief, and a little guilt for not being by his side.
"What’s wrong with Kairi?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm, even though my heart was screaming for answers.
"She’s being treated in the rehabilitation room," Azalea finally answered, her breathing becoming a little more regular. "She... she collapsed after the incident."
"In the rehabilitation room?" I repeated, my heart pounding, this time from pure worry. Even though I’d suspected it, it still felt awful to hear bad news about Kairi. The rehabilitation room at Lumina Academy of Magic wasn’t a place ordinary students frequented, unless they were severely injured in missions or training. This meant his condition was serious.
"Quick, take me there, Azalea!" I commanded, impatient. I stepped forward, my hands unconsciously clenching into fists.
Milena, who had been accompanying me earlier, smiled faintly, as if understanding the urgency behind my words. "Please go in, Selene. I’m going to the canteen for a bit. I haven’t eaten since this morning. My stomach is already singing like a church choir," she said, trying to lighten the mood. "I’ll catch up later after getting some sandwiches and juice. I’m sure you need some nutrition too after all this."
I nodded quickly, silently thanking her, then immediately rushed to follow Azalea, who had already gone ahead. The long corridors of the academy felt incredibly distant; every step made my heart sink deeper. A faint antiseptic smell began to waft as we approached the rehabilitation wing. The walls there were painted clean white, and the atmosphere felt quieter, more tense than other parts of the academy.
But as we approached the main door of the rehabilitation room, I saw the silhouette of someone who had just come out. He walked calmly, unhurried, as if he had just finished a routine task. His body was upright, his dark hair neatly combed, and his aura was so strong I could feel it from several meters away—an aura of undeniable authority and power.
He was Arthur, one of the most influential high-ranking officials from the International Magic Association. I knew exactly who he was.
Not just as an official, but also his true identity, which few people knew—a high-level Archon with the power to sense manipulation of space, though he rarely showed it.
Our eyes met for a moment, and I could see a slight flicker of understanding there. There was a kind of unspoken recognition, as if he knew we—Azalea, Milena, and I—must have been interrogated. Arthur just gave a small nod, almost imperceptible, before walking away, as if he didn’t care. But I knew he did. An Archon like Arthur never did anything without purpose. His presence here meant something bigger than just Kairi’s incident.
When Azalea and I entered the room, the first sight that greeted me was Kairi soundly asleep on the bed. Her leg was heavily bandaged, and part of her face was covered by the blanket. Her face looked peaceful, as if she had no burdens at all.
I let out a sigh of relief; at least she wasn’t severely injured. She was probably just utterly exhausted. I didn’t want to disturb her.
The relief that flooded over me made my knees feel a little weak.
But then my eyes shifted to the figure on the next bed. Helena Myra Lovecraft. She was lying on her side, as if asleep. Her hair was spread out on the pillow, and her face looked as innocent as a baby’s.
But I knew Helena well. She wasn’t sleeping. There’s no way she’d be sleeping soundly after the chaos she caused. She was just hiding behind that pretense.
With a slight smirk that only Helena would understand, I walked closer. Slowly, my middle finger went up, and without hesitation, I flicked her head hard. The sound of the flick was quite loud in the silent room.
"Wake up, you drama queen!"
I hissed, my voice low but full of emphasis. My gaze was no less sadistic than the one I’d cast at Kairi earlier, as if judging her for all the drama she created.
Helena instantly woke up, rubbing her head which was probably still throbbing. Her violet eyes widened in surprise, then turned crimson with anger.
"Ow! Damn you, Selene! Why did you flick me, huh?! Don’t you have any manners?!" she yelled, her voice filling the room, as if trying to wake Kairi.
"Oh, look who’s awake," I scoffed, laughing, crossing my arms over my chest.
"So, how does trying to kill yourself feel, Helena? Still want to seek attention in such a ridiculous way? Kairi went through so much trouble to save you, and you’re just showing off by sleeping here as if you’re the one suffering the most? You should be proud!"
"Shut up! This is none of your business, you arrogant witch! You don’t know anything about my suffering!"
Helena retorted, equally fierce. Her face was flushed, and her hands were already clenched on top of the blanket.
"Besides, you’re jealous, aren’t you? Kairi chose to save me over you! You’re envious because she cares more about me!"
"Tch, dream on! Kairi is mine! I won’t let you take her, you cunning fox who always tries to steal her!" I shot back, my voice rising an octave.
"You think I don’t know what you’re doing behind his back? Don’t even try to provoke me, Helena!"
We both insulted each other, argued, and hurled insults at a volume that couldn’t be described as quiet. Harsh words scattered between us like bullets. To others, this might look like a fierce rivalry, even pure hatred. But to us, this was normal. Very normal. We were used to this kind of bickering, both as rivals in the magical arts and as former partners who had—well, been intimate.
There was a long history between us, and arguments were an inseparable part of that strange bond. There was also a little relief, seeing Helena so "normal" after her incident.
However, amidst the commotion of our argument, a cold and oppressive aura suddenly enveloped the room.
The previously noisy atmosphere suddenly felt silent, heavy, and chilling. Azalea, who had been silently observing, her face expressionless, now stared at both of us with sharp eyes. So sharp that Selene felt goosebumps, as if a thick and palpable murderous intent emanated from Helena’s sister.
It wasn’t just an ordinary angry glare; it was an empty gaze capable of making one’s bones feel cold. I never expected Azalea to have such a terrifying gaze. It felt like an invisible hand was squeezing my throat.
"Can you two be quiet?" Azalea’s voice was cold, piercing, like an icy blade cutting through the air. Every word was uttered with a horrifying emphasis.
"Kairi is resting. Don’t disturb her." There was a clear tone of threat in her voice, something I had never heard from Azalea before.
Her eyes didn’t blink, glaring at both of us with an intensity that made me shiver.
Helena and I immediately fell silent, surprised by Azalea’s unexpected reaction. I swallowed hard; this was the first time I’d seen Azalea this angry, or rather, this terrifying. I felt cold sweat trickling down my back.
Helena even looked a little pale, her smirk gone from her face.
Suddenly, the room door opened again, this time with a soft creak that broke the silence. Arthur reappeared in the doorway, but this time he wasn’t alone. Beside him stood a figure that made me gasp, my heart seemingly stopping. That familiar face... silvery-blonde hair that cascaded beautifully over her shoulders, sharp golden eyes, and an elegant yet deadly aura that couldn’t be hidden.
"Oh Selene, you’re here," Arthur said, his voice flat, as if he hadn’t seen me at all earlier. His gaze was cold, as if he wanted to convey something very important—something that would change everything. There was a slight, unreadable smile on his lips.
"There’s something important we need to discuss."
My eyes widened, utterly shocked.
Mytheia. This was that Mytheia.
No, it couldn’t be.
This was outside all my plans. All the calculations I had made, all the strategies I had built, seemed to crumble in an instant.
What was happening? Why was Mytheia here with Arthur? And what was this "important matter" they wanted to discuss with me? A premonition far worse than anything before now enveloped me, threatening to swallow me whole.
