Chapter 51 - The Field and the Tower

Two days had passed since that night at the bar.

Nothing major had occurred in the meantime—no dramatic duels, no hidden pieces discovered, no mysterious notes tucked under doors. Just quiet routine.

Luca had spent most of that time trying to circulate aura through his body like the training manual instructed. It was harder than it looked. The book made it sound so natural, so instinctive. But for Luca, who was still adjusting to this new body, this new world, and the subtle rhythm of aura within him, the process felt like trying to grab fog with his fingers. There

was

progress, sure—but it was the kind that made you sigh after realizing how little it amounted to.

And so, sigh he did, sitting cross-legged on the empty morning training field, sweat sticking to his back, the sun just beginning to cast long shadows across the worn stones.

That’s when he spotted her.

A familiar figure approaching from the far edge of the grounds.

Lilliane Fairmoore.

Luca blinked. She’d been absent these past two days. Ever since... that awkward moment in the plaza. The kiss. Aurelia. And him, caught like an idiot in the middle of it.

Luca thought.

I figured maybe she wouldn’t show up anymore after that.

But here she was. Still in her neatly pressed uniform. Still with that slight stiffness to her steps, as if unsure of her place in the world. Yet she came.

He stood up, dusted his trousers, and gave a polite smile.

"Hello, Miss Fairmoore. How are you doing?"

She flinched slightly at being addressed, then straightened, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I—I’m fine. Yes. Good morning," she said in her usual soft, hesitant voice.

An awkward silence briefly stretched between them, filled only by the chirping of morning birds and the occasional clang from another part of the field where students trained.

Luca, still curious, decided to finally ask what had been on his mind for a while.

"Miss Fairmoore," he began carefully, "If you don’t mind me asking... why do you come here every morning?"

She tilted her head, confused.

"I mean," Luca continued, "Don’t you like Mr. Everheart? Shouldn’t you be spending more time with him and his group?"

That did it.

Her eyes widened. She froze for half a heartbeat like a deer caught in lantern light. Then panic bloomed.

"W-what do you mean?! Why can’t I be here?!" she stammered. "It’s not like I’m here because I can’t make friends with anyone else or—or because I wasn’t able to get into Aiden’s circle or—or anything like that!"

She waved her hands a little too wildly.

"I-I’m here because you said you’d help me with Aiden, that’s It! Yeah, that’s the only reason,correct."

She huffed slightly at the end, arms crossed, face flushed red to the tips of her ears.

Luca blinked.

Then nearly burst out laughing.

Gods, she’s adorable,

he thought, biting down a grin.

It’s surreal—seeing her like this. A character I once watched on a screen now flailing and fumbling like a real person...

She stood there, still half-pouting, refusing to meet his eyes.

I already figured it’d be something like this,

he thought.

But now that she’s said it aloud, should I go ahead and help her?

He crossed his arms and leaned slightly, studying her expression with a teasing smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Just as Luca opened his mouth to speak, Lilliane suddenly interrupted, her voice slightly rushed, like she was trying to outrun her own thoughts.

"S-So... what’s the next plan for Aiden? Should we go on a double-date again?"

Her face flushed the moment the words left her mouth, a crimson hue creeping from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. She looked away, pretending to fiddle with a thread on her sleeve.

Luca blinked.

Wait, did she just—?

He chuckled inwardly.

It’s surprising how her voice never cracks when she’s talking about Aiden, but ask her something indirect and—boom.

He composed himself and replied with mock seriousness, "Naah. You can’t use the same tactic again and again."

She looked back at him, blinking. He crossed his arms, adopting a more instructive tone.

"First, you need to get into his circle. Make friends with people close to him. Blend in. Let him see you as a part of his world, not just someone orbiting around him."

As soon as the word

friends

left his mouth, he noticed it. Her expression faltered, just for a second, and then dropped completely.

"Why

friends

?" she muttered softly. "I don’t need anyone else besides Aiden..."

Luca sighed and slapped his forehead.

This girl... that’s not how real life—or this world—works.

He took a breath, then said firmly, "Miss Fairmoore."

His voice was stern now, sharper than she was used to hearing. It startled her. She straightened instinctively.

"Do you want my help or not?" he asked. "If yes, then do as I say. If it doesn’t work, you can... I don’t know, challenge me to a duel or something."

That finally drew a genuine blink of surprise from her. She stared at him for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Good." He smiled. "Then first, we need to find you a

friend

—so you understand what it feels like."

"F-Friend?" she stammered, as if the word itself was foreign.

Luca nodded with mock solemnity. "Mhm. Yes. So, let’s do this—on the first weekend, we’ll find you a proper friend."

Honestly,

Luca thought,

this is probably the best thing I could do for her. Not just for the whole Aiden thing. But for her, as a person. In all my playthroughs...

His thoughts drifted, a faint melancholic fog rolling in.

She...

He sighed quietly.

"Are you okay?" Lilliane asked, noticing his sudden change in expression.

Luca blinked out of his thoughts and offered a smile. "Yeah, I’m good. We’ll meet on the weekend."

He turned to leave, but just as he took a step, he heard her voice again—soft, hesitant.

"Th-thank you."

He tilted his head. "It’s a small thing. Why thank me for this?"

She looked away, ears burning red now, and mumbled under her breath, "Not for

this

, you idiot..."

And before Luca could even process what she meant, she spun around and walked off, leaving a dumbfounded Luca staring after her.

"...What?" he muttered. "What else would you thank me for?"

****

Somewhere else, far from the buzz of training grounds and adolescent awkwardness, the world stood still atop a tall ivory tower. Its windows opened into the heavens, and the clouds curled gently around its spires like obedient spirits.

Within its highest chamber, a woman sat in silence.

Draped in flowing robes of pale silver, her long white hair cascaded like moonlight over her shoulders. A thin, delicate veil obscured her face. Her presence was regal— colder, deeper, authorative.

Before her stood a subordinate dressed in mage robes, spine straight with nervous formality.

"Y-Young Miss said that she is fine," he reported.

The veiled woman did not react at first. But then, slowly, her voice, soft yet cutting, pierced the stillness.

"Did she really say that?" she asked, each word weighed carefully. "Speak truthfully."

The subordinate hesitated—torn between loyalty and fear. His mouth opened... but no words came.

A sigh, quiet but heavy, escaped her lips.

"You may leave," she said at last.

With a stiff bow, the mage retreated from the room, the doors shutting softly behind him.

Once alone, the woman’s sharp gaze softened. A subtle melancholy crept into her expression, tugging at something deep behind the veil.

So, she said she’s fine,

she thought.

But after hearing what happened at the academy, I was summoned to the palace. There were signs even before... but this incident confirmed everything.

My daughter and my disciple were involved

Her fingers curled slightly over the armrest of her chair as her thoughts turned inward.

Blood Crystal... that monster should have been impossible for students of their level. Even if... no. Something doesn’t add up.

She closed her eyes.

That child—he must have done something. That strange, quiet boy... the one who cried last time I saw him.

A flicker of that memory passed through her—a trembling voice, eyes filled with a depth of pain far beyond his years. A child carrying burdens no one his age should bear.

Poor child. You must have suffered...

She stood from her chair with quiet resolve, the motion as fluid and graceful as falling snow.

Perhaps... It’s time. I should meet him—and my daughter as well.

Her eyes, behind the veil, shone with new purpose.

This will be the day of his first true lesson.