Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece Chapter 20 20: For You, I Returned [2]

In a luxurious room bathed in soft, golden light, a young woman sat gracefully in front of an ornate mirror.

Around her, several maids bustled, carefully applying light makeup to enhance her natural beauty and styling her long, flowing hair into an elegant updo.

The room was filled with the faint scent of roses and the quiet hum of activity.

The girl in the chair was breathtakingly beautiful, with delicate features, porcelain skin, and eyes that seed to hold the depth of the night sky.

Her beauty was the kind that could stop hearts and topple kingdoms.

She was Princess Eleanora D'Argent, the jewel of the Argent Empire, and tonight, she was preparing for the banquet hosted by the Solvayne Magic Academy.

As the maids put the finishing touches on her appearance, one of them couldn't help but gush, "You look absolutely stunning, my lady. The banquet won't know what hit them."

Eleanora smiled faintly, her gaze distant as she admired her reflection.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice like a gentle lody.

"That will be all for now. You may leave."

The maids bowed and quietly exited the room, leaving Eleanora alone.

As the door clicked shut, her composed expression softened, and a flicker of emotion crossed her face.

She leaned closer to the mirror, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the glass.

Her eyes shimred with a mix of longing and determination, as if she were carrying a secret too heavy to share.

For Eleanora, this wasn't just another banquet. It was a chance to reunite with soone she had lost long ago—soone she had fought desperately to save.

The mories of a future that no longer existed haunted her, but they also fueled her resolve. She had been given a second chance, and she wasn't going to waste it.

She stood up, smoothing out the folds of her exquisite dress. The fabric shimred like starlight, perfectly complenting her regal presence. As she took a deep breath, her expression shifted back to one of calm composure, the mask of a princess who knew her duty.

But beneath that mask was a storm of emotions—hope, fear, and an unshakable determination. She had regressed through ti, not for power, not for glory, but for him.

"This ti," she murmured to herself, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her heart, "I won't let anything happen to you."

With that, she turned and walked toward the door, her steps graceful and deliberate. The banquet awaited, and with it, the chance to change the course of fate. For Eleanora, the night was just beginning.

****

As Kyle and Aurelia stepped into the grand banquet hall, the room seed to pause for a mont. Every pair of eyes turned toward them, drawn by their striking presence.

Together, they looked absolutely stunning—Aurelia, the renowned Gale Witch, radiant in her elegant blue gown, and Kyle, handso and confident in his dark blue suit.

They were a picture of perfection, and it was impossible not to notice them.

Whispers rippled through the crowd as people tried to make sense of the boy standing beside Aurelia.

So were confused, wondering who he was and why he was accompanying the famous Gale Witch.

Others, particularly the instructors who had witnessed his performance during the entrance exam, recognized him imdiately.

They exchanged knowing glances, recalling how Kyle had stood out among the students.

The students, however, were less subtle.

Many looked at Kyle with envy, their eyes narrowing as they wondered how soone like him had earned the attention of soone as revered as Aurelia.

Jealousy flickered in their gazes, especially among those who had hoped to catch Aurelia's eye themselves.

Kyle, for his part, tried to ignore the stares and whispers.

He kept his expression calm, though he could feel the weight of everyone's attention.

Aurelia, on the other hand, seed completely unfazed.

She walked with the grace and confidence of soone who was used to being the center of attention, her head held high and her smile polite but distant.

As they moved further into the hall, the whispers grew louder.

"Who is that guy?" one student muttered to another.

"Lucky him, standing next to the Gale Witch," another whispered, their voice tinged with jealousy.

Kyle glanced at Aurelia, who gave him a small, reassuring smile. "Don't mind them," she said quietly.

"They're just curious. You'll get used to it."

Kyle nodded, though he couldn't help but feel a little overwheld.

As Kyle and Aurelia made their way through the banquet hall, a familiar voice called out from behind them, dripping with playful teasing.

"Oh, Aurelia, you finally found soone! But I didn't expect you'd be dating a student," the voice said, loud enough to draw the attention of a few nearby guests.

Kyle turned around to see a strikingly beautiful woman with long pink hair and matching pink eyes walking toward them.

He recognized her imdiately—it was Seraphina Vaelstryx, the instructor who had overseen his theoretical exam.

A vein throbbed on Aurelia's forehead as she glared at Seraphina.

"You also know he's my brother," she said through gritted teeth, her tone sharp.

Seraphina laughed, her voice light and lodic.

"Oh, relax, Aurelia. I'm just joking. Don't be so offended."

She then turned her attention to Kyle, her pink eyes sparkling with amusent.

"And how are you, Kyle? Glad you survived Aurelia's wrath after disappearing for a whole month?"

Kyle chuckled nervously, rubbing his cheek as if he could still feel the sting of Aurelia's punches.

"Yeah, I'm glad about that too," he said, shooting a quick glance at Aurelia, who was still glaring at Seraphina.

It was clear that Seraphina already knew about Kyle from Aurelia, and the two won seed to share a close, if slightly combative, friendship.

Seraphina smirked, clearly enjoying Aurelia's irritation.

"You know, Aurelia, you really should lighten up. You're going to scare the poor boy away if you keep being so… intense."

Aurelia crossed her arms, her expression unamused.

"I'm not intense. I'm responsible. Soone has to keep him in line."

"Oh, please," Seraphina said, waving a hand dismissively.

"You're just mad because I'm stealing all the attention."

Kyle couldn't help but smile at their banter.

It was clear that Seraphina loved pushing Aurelia's buttons, and Aurelia, despite her annoyance, seed to tolerate it.

As the two won continued their playful argunt, Kyle's eyes wandered across the room.

He spotted Reo in a corner, sitting at a table piled high with food.

The battle maniac was devouring his al with the sa intensity he brought to a fight, completely oblivious to the world around him.

Kyle decided to excuse himself.

"I'll leave you two to… whatever this is," he said, gesturing vaguely at their back-and-forth.

"I'm going to go say hi to Reo."

Aurelia nodded, her expression softening slightly.

"Go ahead. Just don't let him drag you into any trouble."

Seraphina grinned.

"Oh, don't worry, Aurelia. I'll keep you company. We can talk about how you've been secretly doting on your little brother."

Aurelia's eye twitched, and Kyle quickly made his escape before the situation escalated further.

As he walked toward Reo, he could still hear Seraphina's laughter and Aurelia's exasperated sighs behind him.

Kyle made his way over to Reo, weaving through the crowd. As he approached, Reo looked up, his mouth full of food.

"Hey, Kyle!" Reo said, swallowing quickly. "You made it. This banquet food is amazing—you should try so before it's all gone."

Kyle laughed, pulling up a chair. "I can see you're doing your part to make sure that doesn't happen."

Reo grinned, unbothered by the jab. "Hey, a guy's gotta eat. Besides, after all the training we've been through, I think I've earned it."

As they chatted, Kyle couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie.

Despite the glitz and glamour of the banquet, it was monts like these—simple, genuine connections—that reminded him why he was here.

anwhile, Aurelia and Seraphina watched from a distance, their conversation shifting to lighter topics.

"He's grown a lot, hasn't he?" Seraphina remarked, her tone thoughtful.

Aurelia nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yes, he has."

****