"No."
The word left my mouth before I could even think twice.
Honestly, why would I want to join the sa group as Lucas—the novel's protagonist who's practically a walking trouble magnet?
My refusal seed to catch them off guard, after all, their eyes widened slightly. Lucas's cheerful face also faltered, and the others exchanged glances.
"...Why?"
Yet, surprisingly, it was Ella who asked
why I refused them.
"Well... I'm better off alone." I took a bite of my food before replying.
I wouldn't tell them that the real reason I rejected Lucas's offer was because he was a magnet for trouble.
Ella wasn't satisfied by my response though.
Her brow furrowed slightly as she pressed on: "You do know there are limits to being alone, right?"
To her words, I shrugged my shoulders.
"I haven't reached any yet. Besides, I already have a few partners."
I was, of course, referring to Lumi and Alaine. They were more than enough.
At my words, Ella's eyes narrowed slightly before her lips parted:
"...Really?"
"Yeah," I replied, eting her eyes.
I don't know why was she so persistent, but whatever. I lifted my head and locked my eyes with her for a mont.
She kept the sa straight face as she stared at .
Yeah...
She doesn't seem to like
in that 'way'.
I cleared my throat and broke the eye contact.
"Well, I'm done eating."
"Huh? Already?" Lucas blurted, glancing at my plate.
It was spotless—completely cleared of food.
...It was so clean that I could see my own face reflected in it, which made
frown a little. But I wasn't frowning because of the plate… no, it was because of my eyes.
Usually, my eyes had a deep blood-red color, with a faint glow that grew brighter when my emotions got stronger.
But now…
My left eye had changed.
A soft blue glow mixed into the red, making it look more bluish, with hints of purple at certain angles.
This had never happened before.
Was it because I had broken the seal on my Aura?
When could this have started?
It felt... strange.
"...When did you eat the whole thing?" He couldn't help but ask in surprise, breaking my thoughts almost imdiately.
I raised an eyebrow at his words.
"It had already passed more than ten minutes... what do you exactly an by that?"
Lucas blinked, looking genuinely confused.
I was also confused as I looked at his puzzled expression.
Was he so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice the ti flying away?
"Yeah... Lucas, are you okay?" Iris couldn't help but ask in concern, looking at his face.
"Yeah, you're acting kinda weird."
Maya also leaned in, waving a hand in front of his face.
I also took a look at his face, and nothing seed out of the ordinary.
"I'm alright..." he replied.
Whatever.
Not my problem.
So, I stood up, adjusting my chair as I did.
"I'll be going, thanks for the invite though," I said, giving them a casual nod before walking away.
'Around this ti... I should have mana theory classes....'
I thought to myself.
I glanced at a clock on the wall. There were still about fifteen minutes left before class started.
That gave
just enough ti to kill so ti in the library.
For now, I had nothing to do except continue to read a book I had found earlier.
...
As soon as Aestrea left...
Lucas sat with his friends at the crowded cafeteria table, absentmindedly pushing food around on his plate.
Maya was excitedly debating with Iris about which dessert stall they should visit during the Snow Festival, while Ella quietly interjected with her own sarcastic remarks.
Rose, as usual, remained quiet, her focus on her own al.
"Seriously, Iris, you don't understand! The chocolate lava cake at the main square is divine!" Maya declared, dramatically pressing a hand to her chest.
"You said the sa thing about the raspberry tart last year," Iris replied with a smirk. "Are you sure you're not just obsessed with sugar?"
"Hey! It's not my fault the best part of any festival is the food!" Maya shot back.
Hearing their conversation, Ella sighed deeply, rolling her eyes: "You'd probably survive a dungeon raid if the treasure at the end was cake."
The others laughed, but Lucas found himself distracted.
Sothing felt… off.
His thoughts drifted away from the conversation as a soft voice echoed in his head.
The voice was filled with longing, almost pleading.
Lucas hesitated, staring at the sword.
"Partners…?"
Swallowing his doubt, Lucas reached out. His hand wrapped around the hilt, and an overwhelming warmth spread through his body.
With a deep breath, he pulled.
Swssh!
The sword slid out effortlessly, as though it had been waiting just for him.
Golden light burst from the blade, filling the entire corridor. Power surged through Lucas, brimming and vibrant, as if the sword was pouring its essence into him.
He staggered slightly, overwheld by the sheer energy coursing through his veins.
The voice was stronger now, filled with joy.
Upon hearing the sword's voice, Lucas tightened his grip on it.
"Excalibur..."
He whispered softly.
The na ca to him naturally, as if he had always known it.
At that mont, in many different locations, a handful amount of people seed to feel sothing that made their hearts shudder.
Amongst all of them, one particular stood quietly, already looking at Lucas's figure.
She was breathtaking.
Her long, sparkling purple hair cascaded down her back like a shimring waterfall, glowing faintly in the light.
Her eyes, a piercing light blue, seed to hold the secrets of the stars.
On her head, she wore a tall, elegant witch hat in deep purple, decorated with silver embroidery and a single gemstone at its center, gleaming like a tiny star.
Her outfit was just as striking as her appearance.
She wore a fitted, sleeveless black dress that hugged her curvaceous figure, the neckline plunging just enough to reveal a teasing glimpse of her flawless skin.
Her slender arms were adorned with elegant black gloves that reached her elbows, and she wore high-heeled boots that would click softly against the floor with every step she took.
A dark purple corset accentuated her already voluptuous body, cinching her waist and highlighting her impossibly massive breasts, which were far larger than Christina's.
The fabric strained slightly, as if barely able to contain her chest.
She stood in her room, surrounded by bookshelves filled with grimoires.
On the table before her rested a small crystal orb, glowing faintly as it showed Lucas standing before the sword.
"He's finally found it," Eleonora murmured in a soft tone, her eyes slightly widened with curiosity.
Her full lips curved into a faint smile as she tapped the table lightly with her gloved fingers.
"And much earlier than I expected..."
Through the crystal orb, she watched Lucas carefully as he slowly brushed his fingers along the edge of the blade.
The Excalibur.
What Lucas was experiencing now by brushing his finger along the sharp blade, was just one of the various effects of the Excalibur...
The sword couldn't damage its partner.
"Now... I wonder how Aestrea is supposed to beat him," she thought aloud, leaning slightly closer to the orb.
Her chest shifted with the motion, though she seed oblivious to the effect it might have had on anyone nearby—if there were anyone.
"His identity is known now, not just to the other headmasters but to those old fools as well..."
Her fingers stopped tapping, and a frown crossed her beautiful face.
"Maybe... after being defeated for the first ti, Aestrea will finally take my offer to be my disciple... if not..."
A red malicious glint appeared in her light blue eyes, and her hand clenched into a tight fist.
"...I wouldn't know what to do."
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