Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece Chapter 21 21: For You, I Returned [3]

Kyle and Reo were sitting at the table eating and chatting like normal. Kyle already knew the answer to his question but he asked anyway just to keep the conversation going.

"So, you are from Viscount family?" Kyle said, trying to sound casual.

Reo nodded, his mouth full of food. "Yeah" he mumbled, swallowing before adding, "The Dustbane family. From the Noctis Empire."

Kyle already knew that of course. He rembered it from the novel.

In Aevorath, the human domain was split between three factions the Noctis Empire, the Argent Empire, and the Heroes Association.

While these factions weren't enemies, but they weren't friendly either. Each had their own agendas, each had their own plans.

Valtheras City though, was different. It was independent city under the Solvayne Magic Academy—one of the top magic academy in human domain.

The academy was led by Lucian Aetheris, the principal and a Divine Ranker, one of the most powerful people in human domain.

The academy didn't care where you ca from. If you had talent you were in. That's why Valtheras was packed with the best and brightest all trying to get in. The city was basically known as the Solvayne Academy City.

"But I didn't expect you to be the little brother of the famous Gale Witch," Reo said snapping him out of his thoughts.

Kyle shrugged. "Yeah" he said, though Kyle has also found about that recently.

Reo kept eating like he hadn't seen food in days

But Kyle's eyes were wandering around the banquet hall scanning the crowd. He was curious if any of the other main characters from the novel were here, but so far he hadn't spotted anyone.

Then his eyes landed on her.

She stood out like a star in the night sky. With long, silky light blonde hair pulled up in an elegant updo and those deep blood-red eyes that seed to glow.

She was stunning the kind of beauty that made you stop and stare. She was Princess Eleanora D'Argent.

Around her a bunch of guys were trying to get her attention, offering drinks, asking for dances. But she turned them all down with a smile, polite but firm. She was used to this kind of thing.

Kyle couldn't help but stare. For a mont, it felt like everything else faded away, like the noise of the banquet had just disappeared. Then as if she could feel his eyes on her she turned and looked right at him.

Ti seed to freeze. Kyle felt sothing, sothing like a weird pull, like he knew her sohow. But before he could figure it out he looked away pretending to be super interested in the food.

As Reo noticed his expressions. "What's with you? You look like you've seen so ghost" he said raising an eyebrow.

Kyle shook his head trying to play it cool. "Nothing. Just thought I saw soone I knew."

Reo followed Kyle's gaze and spotted Eleanora. He let out a low whistle. "Ah, the princess. Yeah she's sothing isn't she? But don't even think about it man. She's way out of our league."

Kyle laughed nervously but his mind was still stuck on that mont when their eyes t.

****

Eleanora stood in the banquet hall graceful as ever, her blood-red eyes scanning the room. She was used to the attention, the suitors, the whispers. But tonight her mind was sowhere else.

Her gaze kept drifting to a table where a guy with long bluish-black hair was sitting laughing with his friend.

'Kyle.'

Just seeing him made her heart ache. She wanted to run over, throw her arms around him, tell him how much she had missed him.

But she couldn't.

Not yet.

'He doesn't know ' she reminded herself her heart squeezing. 'Not in this tiline.'

If she went up to him now if she acted too familiar, he would notice. He would notice sothing was off and the last thing she wanted was for him to push her away.

She had worked too hard sacrificed too much to ss this up now.

So she stayed where she was politely turning down the guys around her with a smile. But her eyes kept going back to Kyle.

She watched him laugh at sothing his friend said, the sound was faint but familiar. It was the sa laugh she had loved, one that had been taken from her too soon.

Her fingers tightened around her glass.

The distance between them felt like an ocean. She wanted to tell him everything—about the future they had lost, the battles they had fought, the love they had shared. But she couldn't.

Not yet.

Her heart ached as she watched him look away breaking their eye contact. She had seen the flicker of recognition in his eyes the way he had hesitated before turning away. It gave her hope but it also made the waiting harder.

'Patience' she told herself, taking a deep breath. 'You have waited this long. You can wait a little longer.'

For now, she would play her part—the part of elegant princess, the untouchable beauty.

But in her heart she was counting down the monts until she could finally close the distance between them.

Until she could tell him the truth.

Until she could hold him again.

****

Suddenly, the lights in the banquet hall dimd and the room went quiet. Everyone turned to the center of the hall where a tall, commanding figure stepped onto a raised platform.

It was Principal Lucian Aetheris, the legendary Divine Ranker and the principal of Solvayne Magic Academy.

The room fell silent as Lucian stepped forward. His presence alone was enough to command attention. His long white hair and flowing beard shimred under the lights and his golden eyes scanned the room with a calm and warm authority.

"Good evening, everyone" he began, his voice deep and steady, carrying easily across the hall.

"For those who don't know , I am Lucian Aetheris, the principal of this Solvayne Magic Academy. It's my honor to welco you all here at tonight's banquet, not just as guests, but as the newest students of our academy."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd lingering on the faces of the new students.

"You have all worked incredibly hard to earn your place here. Out of thousands of candidates you are the top 1,000 who have proven your worth, your determination and your potential. This is no small feat and you should be proud of yourselves."

A round of applause broke out, but Lucian raised a hand gently quieting the room.

"Tonight, we celebrate not just your achievents, but the beginning of a new journey. Solvayne Magic Academy is more than just a place to learn magic—it's a place where you will grow, challenge yourselves, and discover what you're truly capable of. Here, you will forge bonds that will last a lifeti and prepare yourselves for the challenges that are ahead of you."

He smiled, his expression warm and encouraging.

"But before we continue with the festivities it's ti to recognize those who have truly distinguished themselves during the entrance exam. The top 10, these students have shown exceptional skill, determination, and resourcefulness. Their nas will be announced now and the for the rest of you will receive your rankings via email shortly after this event."

The room buzzed with anticipation as Lucian pulled out a small, glowing scroll. He unrolled it his golden eyes scanning the nas written in elegant script.

"Without further ado let us begin."

The hall fell silent again. Every student leaning forward in their seats, their hearts pounding.

Lucian's voice rang out, clear and strong, as he began to announce the nas.

"Tenth Place...