For a brief mont, I basked in the joy of reuniting with Elia.
However, the gazes pouring in from around us made subtly move to a different spot.
It was right around the ti when the lecture was about to end, and the timing was perfect, so there were no issues.
The place we moved to was a bench in a nearby park.
Since most classes were still going on, there were no people around.
Thanks to that, there was nothing to worry about.
Elia, who was already sitting on the bench, pulled into her arms, and I didn’t resist but leaned in.
Soon, my body was lifted, and I was seated on Elia’s thigh.
"Ha-Yul... you have no idea how much I've wanted to see you."
[I wanted to see you too.]
Her gentle touch pulled my neck, and I buried my face in her soft flesh.
The large, plush, warm sensation was familiar, and I smiled while stretching my arms.
I hugged Elia tightly and buried my face deeper into her embrace.
[Hehe.]
I didn't realize how much I missed this warm embrace from the Tower of Knowledge.
Thanks to Ariel's care, I managed to endure, but before that, it was on my mind every mont, and my head was so full.
Now, feeling it again, I finally realized that I had truly returned.
"What’s this outfit? Wow, doesn’t it suit you so well? It really matches you, Ha-Yul."
As we continued to squirm around, Elia, who had been rubbing her cheek against my crown, suddenly murmured while rubbing my sleeve.
I pulled my face away from her chest, resting my chin on her chest, and answered.
[Ariel gave it to ... it’s from the Master of the Tower of Knowledge.]
"Wow, the Master of the Tower of Knowledge! Did you et them in person?"
[Yes, I t them in person and received magic lessons directly.]
"Oh, wow... they personally taught you? The Master of the Tower of Knowledge must be a magician then?"
[Yes.]
I had already inford Elia and the others about my destination.
Thanks to that, it wasn’t surprising to them when I said I t the Master of the Tower directly.
"That's amazing. I thought the Tower Masters were all reclusive, but it turns out you could actually et them?"
It was surprising, but it seed like she wasn’t quite shocked.
At the sa ti, Elia tilted her head as if she found it fascinating.
'...I see, they thought it was soone you could et... Well, people's perceptions of the Tower Masters are pretty low.'
The commonly known Towers are four:
Growth, Space, Harmony, and Observation.
Out of these four Towers, none of the Tower Masters show their faces.
They only interact through their proxies.
The vice president of Syoram, the mbers of the association, and so decision-making bodies from Observation Tower.
The Tower Masters have been hidden away for decades at least.
Historical records ntion their activities, but their actual appearances are nowhere to be found.
Even if you search for them, it seems like their appearances are intentionally erased.
In fact, there aren’t many who have seen the shadow of the Tower Masters in this generation.
'...Maybe they used fake identities like Ariel did.'
Before the floating island fell, I sat on the edge of the island, swinging my legs, and briefly checked information on my smartwatch.
Ariel Segnis Ternovsia.
There was no historical information on her.
However, there was information on her other identity... as the founder of the Mage's Circle.
‘The Tower Masters before their rise to power had substantial records, but only Growth and Space Tower Masters had detailed histories. Even then, only major events were recorded, and there were no minor stories.’
Neriel Claidia, the Master of Growth, was known as the "Silent Sorcerer" even before becoming a Tower Master.
When I looked into why she was called that, it turned out her magic was exceptional for being without incantations.
My specialty is magic. Though I’m a half-magician specializing in commands, I was silenced by the half mage growth...
‘......’
Anyway, the Master of Space was also a famous hero.
At the ti, classifications like heroes or superhumans weren’t clear, but in modern terms, they were probably similar to rcenaries like hunters.
Occasionally, they took on monster-slaying contracts and sold goods obtained from dungeons.
"Interesting... So the floating island was up there..."
anwhile, Elia's hand didn't stop gently stroking my back. I continued explaining recent events.
There wasn’t much to share.
I simply explained that above Syoram, there was a floating island with the Tower of Knowledge.
I went there, t the Tower Master, studied magic, and ca back... that was about it.
I first t Elia by chance.
After showcasing my newly improved magical skills from the floating island by playing around with a golem, I was heading back to the mansion when I happened to spot Elia right below .
It seed like she was studying by herself, so I dropped by to join her.
"By the way, Ha-Yul."
[Yes?]
Just as I was explaining, Elia, who had been chiming in with occasional remarks, suddenly spoke up.
"Is the Master of the Tower of Knowledge... a woman nad Ariel?"
[Yes.]
I didn’t understand the question at first but nodded quickly.
I had originally referred to the Tower Master as Ariel, and it seed like she deduced the gender from that na.
"Ah, I see."
Elia, finally understanding, nodded as if the pieces fell into place.
Curious about her reaction, I tilted my head, and suddenly my body was lifted into the air.
Elia had lifted effortlessly.
[Elia?]
"Hmph..."
She buried her nose in the back of my neck and sniffed.
The breath brushing my nape and collarbone made my body tremble.
After sniffing for a while, Elia took her nose away and nodded.
"So this unfamiliar scent... I see, that’s how it’s coming off?"
[Huh?]
"Plus, it slls so strong... It’s like you’ve been rubbing yourself against soone for days."
[Ugh.]
[Embarrassed.]
The sudden... and quite accurate deduction made freeze.
"You said the Tower Master was kind... and had a big chest, right? So you must've been acting all spoiled for a month, huh?"
Elia looked at with a teasing, pouting expression.
At her gaze, I shivered and rolled my eyes.
It wasn’t entirely negative.
It was a playful look and voice, but...
[Ah.]
I suddenly rembered sothing.
It felt like a lightbulb went off in my mind.
I quickly closed my mouth and opened a spatial pocket, reaching into it.
"Hmm? What’s this..."
As Elia observed curiously, I pulled out an object from the pocket, and her eyes widened in surprise.
With a soft flick, the pendant I had conjured cascaded down in a stream, the silver chain catching the sunlight.
"Pendant?"
Elia murmured, staring in disbelief.
The yellow gem of the pendant sparkled brightly in the light.
[Just a mont.]
After briefly checking its status and confirming there were no issues, I nodded.
The material and magic were all functioning perfectly.
Click
I unfastened the chain and stretched my arms around Elia’s neck.
...My arms were a little short.
I scrunched my face, trying to get closer to Elia.
Her chest was so big that my body was pushed back a little, but Elia supported my backside with her hand, and I managed to get my arms around her neck.
I gently moved her thick hair to one side, revealing her slender neck.
I carefully slid the pendant onto her neck, mindful of its fragility.
Click
The pendant clicked into place, making a clear sound.
I pulled back slightly and gently tugged at the pendant, causing it to gleam brightly as it caught the sunlight.
"Is this...?"
Elia, blinking in shock, reached up with her hand.
She seed hesitant to touch it but kept her gaze fixed on .
[It’s a gift.]
[I made it myself.]
"You made this...?"
Elia's gaze fell to the pendant, then to the necklace I had given her earlier, tapping it gently.
[You already received that one.]
[So I wanted to give this back.]
I rembered how happy I was when I received the necklace.
It was given to after my struggles, losing an arm, and dragging myself back.
"That’s... a gift for saving my sister, right? I’m the one who should be grateful..."
Elia gave a rare, embarrassed look.
Her eyes were filled with mixed emotions—confusion, joy, and a bit of awkwardness.
[Eh... I don’t know about that.]
She rubbed the pendant again with a shy smile.
I tilted my head for a mont, then buried my face back into Elia’s embrace.
[It’s not about that. I gave it to you because I like you.]
[It’s not about reasons or explanations.]
Usually, there’s a reason behind gifts, but sotis there isn’t.
Sotis you just want to give sothing because you want to.
"I see, Ha-Yul..."
Elia, still staring at the pendant, glanced at with her yellow eyes shining brightly.
"Really... are you doing this on purpose?"
Sigh...
Then, with a deep breath, she pulled into a tight hug, burying my face completely in her chest.
The faint warmth of her body mixed with the air, which slled faintly of milk.
Thud... Thud...
I could hear the sound of her heartbeat clearly from her chest.
[Joy.]
The warmth of her skin conveyed her joyful emotions, and I relaxed, hugging Elia back tightly.
[I'm happy that you like it.]
"Ha-Yul... you’re making it really hard to resist. Are you going to throw away later?"
[What?]
Suddenly, what did she an by that?
I quickly lifted my face from her chest at the sudden question.
[What do you an, throw you away?]
Who am I throwing away?
I tightened my arms around her as I raised my eyebrows, and Elia smiled with a playful expression.
"Well... it’s reassuring."
[Huh?]
"I can see that you have a lot of possessiveness. It’s a good thing, though."
Elia smiled and looked down at her body.
For a mont, I narrowed my eyes.
Suddenly, I realized that the wings that had been floating behind her had disappeared.
[Huh?]
The wings had coiled around her waist and limbs, wrapping around her like a cocoon.
Although it felt slightly suffocating, Elia seed to enjoy it, gently brushing the wings.
"Well... okay, I’ll try to be patient a little longer."
Elia mumbled softly as she kissed my lips.
After Elia’s gentle kiss, we sat there for a while, basking in the warmth of the mont.
It was just after lunch break.
Everyone had gone out by this point.
The students went off to attend their lectures, and the professors, including Liana, had also left.
I really wanted to et them now, but it seed like they had other things to attend to, so I held back.
I knew I would see them again in the evening, so I could be patient.
Seoyul, too, had been going around different playrooms and similar facilities under Ariel’s guidance.
Since his body had grown quite large lately, I thought it was important for him to interact with others his age, even if just a little.
I hoped he wouldn’t have issues with communication, unlike ...
Of course, he was keeping his wings and his identity hidden.
He also carried recognition-blocking magical tools and other thods, just in case.
Now that my magical abilities had improved, I could even cast recognition-blocking magic myself.
"Aren’t you going to see Arin?"
I turned to Elia, who had been quietly staring at the ceiling, looking concerned.
"Arin’s been feeling off for the last few days... She’s been skipping lectures since yesterday," she murmured, her voice filled with worry.
I nodded, noticing her concern.
[I’ll go check on her.]
[I have the fear fla and other abilities, so I might be able to help.]
"Ah, Yeonhwa used the fear fla to do sothing for her already... She might be asleep by now," Elia added, glancing back at .
[Thanks for telling , I’ll be right back.]
After asking Elia to wait for a mont, I headed up to Baek Arin's room.
The door opened smoothly without the usual creak of the hinges, and I entered her room.
It was cold.
"Whoo... Whoo..."
On the bed, Baek Arin was lying with the blanket pulled up to her neck, her breathing steady but slow.
Her body seed still, almost unnaturally so.
I approached the bed, not trying to hide my presence, but she didn’t react at all, still deeply asleep.
As I got closer, the cold sensation in the room intensified, more apparent with every step.
It wasn’t sothing that could be detected easily with normal observation, but the chill felt overwhelming.
'...Could this be the Trial of the Sea?'
No, it didn’t seem like that.
The Trial of the Sea was known to bring cold and water magic into the body, but it was different from what I was sensing.
Currently, most of the moisture in Baek Arin’s body seed to have transford into cold.
Her breath exhaled cold vapor, and standing near her was enough to make my skin crawl with the chill.
'...Yeonhwa already used the fear fla, didn’t she?'
I rubbed my chin, pondering the situation.
The answer ca quickly.
I braced myself and reached out toward her.
Tap tap...
I gently pulled the blanket away from her, unbuttoned the sleepwear she was wearing, and prepared to do what I had to.
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