Chapter 94: Chapter 94: StudyThe library was quiet as usual, lit by floating crystal lamps that hovered just below the vaulted ceiling. Shelves towered along the walls, packed with tomes on magic theory, political history, monster taxonomy, and every other subject required for the final exams.

    Elena sat at a table near one of the tall arched windows, sunlight filtering softly through stained glass. Her silver-blonde hair caught the light, and her amber eyes were focused on a thick book about mana channeling patterns. She had already marked several pages and organized a set of notes in a neat stack.

    When the door creaked open, she looked up.

    Noel walked in, wearing his winter uniform, a satchel slung across his shoulder. He scanned the room until his eyes found her, then made his way over.

    "You’re early," he said as he pulled out a chair beside her.

    "You’re late," Elena replied, but her tone was gentle. "Only by five minutes, though."

    Noel set down his books and leaned back for a moment before opening the top one. "Had to get coffee. This stuff doesn’t go in otherwise."

    She smiled faintly, but didn’t comment. Instead, she pushed one of her spare notebooks toward him.

    "I already made an outline of the major topics for Magic Theory and Combat Ethics. It’s not perfect, but it should help."

    Noel blinked, genuinely surprised. "You made me notes?"

    Elena tilted her head. "Would you prefer I didn’t?"

    "No—uh, no. I just wasn’t expecting it."

    "You need to pass, don’t you?"

    "Tch. That’s one way of saying it." He flipped open the notebook. The handwriting was clean, the format structured. Efficient. He gave a small nod. "You’re terrifyingly organized."

    "That’s why you chose me to study with, isn’t it?"

    Noel glanced at her, a wry smile tugging at the edge of his lips. "Maybe."

    They settled into silence, pens scratching across paper, minds focused—at least for now—on the exams ahead.

    An hour passed. Books were opened, closed, and exchanged. Diagrams were sketched in the margins. The steady rhythm of study surrounded them—quill on parchment, the faint hum of mana-infused pages, the occasional cough from a student elsewhere in the library.

    Noel stretched slightly, rotating his shoulder. "I think this is the first time I’ve studied this long without being tempted to just walk out."

    Elena didn’t look up. "That’s because I’m here."

    He chuckled. "Fair enough."

    She turned a page, then paused. Her tone softened. "How are you feeling? After everything, I mean."

    Noel blinked. Her gaze was sincere, and for a second, he didn’t know how to answer.

    "...Better," he said finally. "I was out for five days, apparently. Heard someone was taking care of me."

    Elena looked away, suddenly very interested in the footnotes of her book. "I did what I could."

    "I know you used healing magic on me," Noel said, voice quieter. "They told me. So... thanks. Really."

    "It’s not a big deal."

    "It is to me."

    The silence that followed was comfortable, but carried a strange charge. Noel leaned back in his chair and tapped the end of his pen against the table.

    "Hey," he said. "You free tonight?"

    Elena blinked. "Tonight?"

    "I figured I owe you. For the healing. And the notes. And the nagging. There’s a place outside the academy—fancy place. Good food. Thought I’d take you."

    She stared at him for a moment.

    "You want to take me to dinner?" she asked, her voice light but her cheeks slightly pink.

    "Yeah. If you want."

    She nodded slowly. "I’d like that."

    "Good. We’ll go at eight. Outside the academy walls, so bring your pass. And... dress nice."

    She raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying I don’t usually?"

    "I’m saying this place has actual candles and violin music, not floating crystal lamps and cafeteria trays."

    That earned a small laugh from her, and with it, the tension eased.

    "Alright," she said, pretending to be casual. "I’ll see what I can do."

    Back to their books.

    Or at least, Noel was. He flipped a page, his brows furrowed as he tapped the edge of a diagram labeled "Tri-layered Mana Circuits." His pen hovered over a blank space in his notes.

    "Elena, quick question," he muttered, not looking up. "The stabilizing layer in a threefold barrier—does it always go between the two mana flows, or is that only when the anchor glyphs are embedded?"

    Silence.

    Noel looked up.

    Elena had her quill pressed to her lips, eyes unfocused, clearly a thousand leagues away.

    "...Elena?"

    She blinked. "Huh?"

    He raised an eyebrow. "I asked about threefold barriers."

    "Oh. Right. Uh... stabilizer goes between, but only if you anchor the glyphs outside the boundary. Otherwise it creates internal interference."

    Noel jotted it down. "Thanks. You good?"

    "Yes," she said a little too quickly.

    ’Liar,’ he thought.

    Elena turned a page, but her eyes weren’t scanning the text. Instead, they occasionally flicked to the corner of the table where she’d rested her fingers, nervously tapping.

    ’She’s probably thinking about what to wear tonight,’ Noel guessed, watching her from the corner of his eye. ’And stressing way more than she should.’

    He could already imagine her standing in front of a mirror, pulling out dresses, muttering to herself, brushing her hair for the fourth time.

    Still, he decided not to tease her.

    They studied in peace for another half hour. At least, he did. She mostly turned pages and stared through the text.

    Eventually, Noel closed his book. "Alright. Time to get ready."

    She nodded, a bit too fast. "Yes. I’ll... see you at the entrance. Eight o’clock."

    He grabbed his notes and stood. "Don’t be late."

    "I never am."

    As he walked off, Elena looked down at her reflection in the polished table.

    She frowned. "Candles and violins, huh?"

    Noel stood in front of the mirror in his room, adjusting the cuffs of his dark navy coat. The outfit was sleek, tailored—clearly of noble design—but understated enough to avoid screaming for attention. Silver embroidery traced faint arcane patterns along the edges of his collar and sleeves, catching the candlelight just right.

    His hair, usually a mess from training or study sessions, had been combed back slightly, giving him a more refined look. He looked... good.

    "Tch." He sighed, tugging at the collar. "This better not turn into some political dinner."

    Then he paused, glancing to the side. A quiet beat passed before he muttered, "Hope they don’t cause problems..."

    He reached into the drawer and pulled out a small leather pouch, strapping it under his coat—just in case. Sёarch* The Novёl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the same building, Elena stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the strap of a pale lavender dress that shimmered faintly with magical thread—an enchantment meant to glow gently under moonlight. Her long, golden hair was loosely braided over one shoulder, pinned with a silver leaf-shaped clasp.

    She looked at herself, thoughtful. The dress felt... soft. Romantic. Not the image she usually showed at the academy.

    "...Maybe too much?" she whispered. Then shook her head. "He said it was fancy."

    Elena reached the academy’s gate just before the clock struck eight. The cold evening air made her breath fog slightly as she stepped forward.

    And there he was.

    Noel stood waiting, dressed in a deep navy coat with silver accents, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed—but his eyes sharp as always. For a moment, Elena smiled.

    Until she noticed the figure behind him.

    A girl stood in the shadows just a step away from him, arms crossed, expression unreadable beneath the soft glow of the streetlamps. Selene.

    Elena’s smile faltered—just for a heartbeat.

    Noel turned toward her, his usual calm gaze meeting hers.

    "Ready?" he asked.

    She nodded slowly, forcing a polite smile.

    ’So... this won’t be just the two of us.’