CHAPTER 219: CHAPTER 219: RIVALS IN THE CITY

The streets of Tharvaldur glowed with soft, magical light. Runes embedded in the stone walls pulsed gently, casting a faint blue hue over the city’s wide paths. Noel walked calmly, hands in his coat pockets, with Selene at his side. Her short blue hair and sharp eyes reflected the city’s glow, making her stand out even in silence.

Ahead of them, Noir moved with quiet purpose. Her sleek black fur shimmered under the light, the purple accents along her legs and tail giving her an otherworldly look. She was leading them, though Noel had no idea where.

Noel glanced at Selene from the corner of his eye, then spoke softly.

"How are you?"

Selene didn’t look at him. Her eyes stayed fixed on the path ahead.

"Fine."

He exhaled through his nose and nodded once. Her tone was flat, distant.

"You know you can talk to me, right?" He kept his voice calm, careful. "I won’t say anything to anyone just like last time. How’s things with your mother?"

Selene’s steps didn’t falter, but her hands tightened slightly at her sides.

"I didn’t talk to her again," she said, still without meeting his eyes. "Like I told you... I just wanted explanations. I don’t think I can forgive her."

Noel looked down for a moment, then raised his gaze again.

"I see. Well..." He offered a small nod of approval. "I’m glad you made a decision."

Selene slowed her pace just enough for a hesitation to show. Then, quietly:

"Does that make me a bad person?"

Noel stopped walking.

Selene took two more steps before realizing and turned her head slightly, just enough to glance at him.

He met her gaze, steady and direct.

"A bad person? For not forgiving someone who tormented you your whole life?" He scoffed softly, shaking his head. "I thought you were smarter than that, Selene."

She didn’t reply. Her expression was unreadable—but she didn’t look away.

"People like her don’t deserve forgiveness," he continued. "She did things no one should ever do. So no, it doesn’t make you a bad person. Not even close."

Selene didn’t respond to that. She simply kept walking, her expression unreadable as always.

Noir came to a sudden halt in front of a wide, luxurious building. The stone walls were engraved with elegant patterns, softly glowing with mana lines. From the entrance spilled a group of girls—about forty in total. Some were laughing, others stretching or chatting among themselves.

All of them wore matching uniforms: deep purple with silver trim. No boys. Just girls.

Their ages varied. Some looked barely sixteen. Others were clearly older—eighteen, maybe even twenty. Humans, elves, dwarves. A full mix of races.

Noel narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Looks like we found one of the other academies. Do you know who they are?"

Selene shook her head once, eyes scanning the crowd. "No."

Noel glanced up at the signage, though he already knew.

’I already know... that’s the academy from the northwest region of Elarith. Luceria Grand Academy. All girls. Multiracial.’

"Let’s keep moving—"

He turned slightly, but a sharp voice called out before he could finish.

"Hey! You’re from another academy, right?"

One of the girls walked toward them with a confident step. She had short red hair and vivid red eyes. Her smile was wide, cocky. She looked Noel up and down with open curiosity.

"We can tell by the uniform. You’re from the Imperial Academy of Valor, aren’t you? That means you’re our rivals in the tournament!"

Noel gave a short nod, keeping his tone flat. "Yeah. That’s right. We were just leaving."

He turned again, but the redhead stepped directly in front of him, blocking his path with both hands on her hips.

"Wait! Do you have a girlfriend?"

Her smile widened.

"In our academy, guys aren’t allowed, so it’s hard to meet anyone. Don’t you want a girlfriend?"

Noel raised one brow, his expression somewhere between amusement and disbelief.

"Easy there. I’m taken."

The girl leaned to the side and pointed at Selene, tilting her head playfully.

"Oh? Is it her?"

Selene blinked once but said nothing. Her face didn’t even twitch.

"No, it’s not her."

The girl’s eyes widened, and she gasped dramatically.

"Then you’re cheating on your girlfriend?!"

Noel sighed. "No. We’re just friends. Walking together."

She crossed her arms and huffed, still smiling.

"I don’t believe you. When I see your girlfriend, I’m telling her!"

Noel gave her a two-finger wave and turned to leave.

"Go ahead."

They walked past her without looking back, Noir taking the lead again.

"Sorry about that," he muttered under his breath.

Selene’s eyes remained forward. "It wasn’t your fault."

The streets grew quieter as they moved farther from the center. Noir walked a few steps ahead, her ears perked, tail swaying slowly.

Eventually, she came to a stop in front of another tall building. Like the others, it looked like a hotel—broad entrance, glowing symbols, runed lanterns by the door. But this time, the students gathered outside had a different presence.

They looked human at first glance... but not quite.

Noel narrowed his eyes.

A few had small, curled horns protruding from their temples. Others had faintly glowing eyes or skin just a shade too pale or too red.

"Demons," he muttered.

Selene folded her arms, observing them quietly.

"They’re in their humanoid forms. They only shift to full demonic forms when fighting."

"Right," Noel said, voice low. "This must be the delegation from Velmora. Makes sense they’d be here, they are the ones Roberto mentioned to me earlier."

The students outside laughed and talked normally, just like any group of teenagers. But there was something in the air—something heavier.

"Looks like they’ll be strong," he added.

Noir turned her head to glance back at them, then resumed walking.

After another ten minutes of walking, Noir stopped once more. This time, in front of a structure unlike the others.

The Tharvaldur Institute of Arcane Might stood carved directly into the mountainside—tall, vast, and gleaming. Layers of stone and enchanted metal merged into sharp, angular architecture. Runes glowed in fixed patterns across the walls, powering floating platforms, rotating sigils, and a massive magical lens that hovered above the main gate like a vigilant eye.

Noel let out a low whistle.

"That’s... more impressive than I expected."

Selene stepped forward slightly, gaze fixed on the building. Her eyes reflected the floating runes above.

"Advanced enchantments," she muttered. "Possibly dwarven layering techniques..."

Noel gave a small smile at her interest.

"Yeah. From what I’ve read, they specialize in mana engineering and tactical combat applications. This is the host academy—Tharvaldur’s own."

They stood in silence for a few seconds, just watching the students and staff move around behind the main gates.

"We’ll probably be seeing them a lot in the next few days," Noel said, "Time to get ready for the tournament."

Selene’s voice was quiet, but clear.

"It would be interesting... to find someone strong."

Noel glanced sideways at her. She hadn’t moved, still staring forward with calm intensity.

"Yeah. It would."

’There might be a few students here who can match Selene. Maybe even push her. Let’s see who ends up against who...’

Noir gave a soft huff and turned back toward the street.

Noel and Selene followed without another word.

Most of the streets were empty, save for a few guards and shopkeepers closing up.

When they reached the front of their hotel, Noir stopped just long enough to glance back at them, then vanished into the shadows near the entrance.

Noel turned to Selene.

"Thanks for coming with me."

She nodded, expression as neutral as ever. "It was fine."

"See you tomorrow."

"Mm."