[Ren Hilton POV.]
Descending the stairs, Mrs Penny's warm congratulations greeted , yet the dorm remained deserted. Engaging in a brief conversation, I soon gathered my bags, readying myself to depart.
Before leaving, I paused and turned back to Mrs Penny, who was reaching for a broomstick. "Mrs Penny," I called out, drawing her puzzled yet amiable gaze. As I approached her, I couldn't help but notice the worn-out edges of the broomstick she held.
"Can I ask you to post so letters for ? I'm in a bit of a hurry, so..." I requested, offering multiple letters for her to take. Her smile widened as she gladly accepted the letters, her old, weathered hands taking them with care. "I'll send them through the guild," she assured with a tone of sincerity.
Thanking her, I left the dorm and started my stroll toward the academy grounds. Along the way, I couldn't help but notice the subtle glances and hushed whispers directed my way, the students around either pretending to be absorbed in their conversations or sneakily looking in my direction.
A soft tap disrupted the air around , prompting to turn, only to find a group of students flinching and diverting their attention elsewhere as soon as I acknowledged their presence. They resud tailing the mont I continued walking, their hushed giggles barely masked behind their actions.
A soft tap disrupted the air around , prompting to turn, only to find a group of students flinching and diverting their attention elsewhere as soon as I acknowledged their presence. They resud tailing the mont I continued walking, their hushed giggles barely masked behind their actions.
"Haha, what ga are they playing?" chuckled Blaze within my thoughts. I continued on, the curious crowd behind growing larger as I approached the area near the carriages. There, I spotted Aron a few steps ahead of , accompanied by Cecelia and surrounded by a group of third years. The atmosphere seed tense, reminiscent of a scene from a mob confrontation.
Sighing softly, I moved forward toward the carriages, where Stormborne engaged in conversation with Adam. The sunlight accentuated the diverse colors of the carriages, reflecting off the polished wood and glistening tal embellishnts adorning them.
"Interesting," murmured Blaze, noting the convergence of the main cast in our vicinity. Everyone seed to be present—Adam, Elsa, Raven, Isolde, even Cecelia and Alia.
'What are your thoughts about this knight girl?' Blaze inquired.
Alia Clay—reading about her in Alver's docunt revealed her connection to the old man Clay from Demacia Guild in Sephra, there's no doubt about it. The issue lies in the fact that she was supposed to be deceased, but here she is, her presence stronger than ever.
Her gaze briefly t mine; she didn't divert her eyes or offer a smile. She appeared serene amidst the crowd.
"You're here, huh?" Stormborne's voice cut through the peculiar silence, diverting attention toward . Aron, ignoring the headmaster's address, marched straight into the carriage. Stormborne carried on without reacting, while Raven quietly shuffled beside .
anwhile, Adam remained absorbed in Stormborne's words, seemingly unaware of Raven's movent.
"Wait! Sorry, sorry! I-I..." A voice interrupted, and we witnessed Eric rushing in, being chased by a group of girls.
"Pfff," chuckled Blaze at the sight.
"He's gaining quite the attention," I mused, finding it sowhat comical, but Eric's expression betrayed a different story—he seed on the verge of tears.
"It looks like everyone's here," Stormborne announced, drawing everyone's focus to him. However, I caught his glance directed at , as if searching for sothing.
'Don't worry, one can't discern soone's bloodline until the full manifestation, so he can't suspect your phoenix nature,' reassured Blaze. Yet, there seed to be an inkling of knowledge or intuition Stormborne possessed regarding .
"Once again, I'm delighted to see all of you here, ready to represent the Imperial Academy. I'm confident the cup will be ours," Stormborne declared, prompting an enthusiastic cheer from the surrounding students.
"I won't bore you all with a speech. Just rember, this Mage's Gambit will carve its na in magical history. Make sure you're a part of it," Stormborne proclaid, his voice carrying a weight of significance.
"Professor Night will guide you throughout the competition," he pointed towards the smiling Professor Night, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
As we prepared to depart, ready to embark on this journey, I felt a tug on my sleeve, drawing my attention back. I turned and realized Raven was still there, her gaze directed upwards, her expression a pout.
"I'm... sorry," I awkwardly scratched the back of my head.
"You..." Her tug turned into a full pull, and suddenly I found myself enveloped in a hug, my nose filled with a sweet scent. She hugged .
Stunned, frozen in the mont, I glanced around — Adam, everyone was here. She hugged right in front of the entire school. A distant scream echoed, but I disregarded it.
What just happened?
Slowly, her hold relaxed, and I noticed her trembling. Without hesitation, I hugged her back, letting her bury her face in my chest. A skeptical gaze from Cecelia t mine.
'You wanted a good relationship with both of them, didn't you?' Smokeball prodded in my mind.
Looking at Raven, who seed unbothered by the public display, ignoring everyone's possible thoughts, even Adam's, brought a sense of relief. To not be abandoned by her ant more than I could admit.
It felt reminiscent of the arena when she tended to my wounds, her complaints making it seem like I was a child. I couldn't fathom why she wasn't affected by the curse like everyone else, but her presence remained a comforting mystery.
I squeezed her back slightly, prompting a surprised gasp from her. She imdiately pulled away, her face flushed red.
'Can't have it all, can I?' I replied to Blaze, acknowledging the complexity of the situation.
After the encounter with Aron, I chose to distance myself from Cecelia. The reasons... well, that's a story for another ti.
"Don't worry, I'll bring sothing good... no need to butter ," I joked, trying to lighten the mood. She lightly tapped my forearm.
"Be safe," she uttered, taking a step back.
As I gathered my belongings, my gaze fell upon Vexa, who was staring at . After a few monts, she grabbed her things and swiftly headed into the carriage. I glanced at Adam Stales, whose expression was frozen in surprise, his eyes shifting between and Raven, who was also looking at .
This is going to be... Weird.
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