CHAPTER 302: CHAPTER 302: THE FUTURE OF THE ACADEMY

The reception hall was quiet despite being filled with people. The long tables, usually a place of chatter and noise, stood empty, lit only by the faint glow of mana lamps embedded into the walls. The air was thick, heavy with silence.

Noel stepped into the hall, his boots echoing against the stone. Every gaze shifted toward him for a moment, then fell back into the stillness. He moved past the tables, taking in the sight of his companions.

Marcus sat hunched forward in a chair, elbows braced on his knees, hands clasped tightly until his knuckles whitened. His brown eyes were fixed on the floor, distant and hollow.

"This is my fault," Marcus muttered, voice breaking. "If I had been stronger, if I had done more, maybe none of this—"

"Stop." Clara’s voice broke through the air, steady and firm. She sat beside him, her hand resting lightly on his arm. Her tone was gentle, but resolute. "It’s not your fault, Marcus. Not this. None of us could have stopped it."

Marcus shook his head, but the fight drained out of him. The guilt still weighed heavily, but he didn’t argue further.

Noel stopped near the group, standing silent for a moment, his emerald eyes scanning their faces. Elyra stood with arms crossed, her usual teasing smirk absent. Elena sat quietly, amber eyes lowered, fidgeting with the hem of her robe. Charlotte, veilless, looked pale and exhausted, golden eyes flicking toward Noel briefly before lowering again.

Selene leaned against the wall, arms folded, her gaze fixed coldly on the floor. Garron and Laziel sat unusually quiet, and Roberto leaned back in his chair, lips pressed in a thin line, his humor gone.

The hall felt suffocating. Their headmaster was broken.

The silence stretched, pressing down on the hall like a weight none of them could shake. It was Elena who finally spoke, her voice timid but sincere. "What... what happens to the Academy now? Without Headmaster Nicolas... can it even continue?"

Her words drew every eye. Garron shifted uncomfortably, folding his arms over his chest. Laziel had a grim expression.

Clara exhaled softly, her tone low. "I’ve heard whispers already. Some believe the Academy might be shut down. Without him, they say it has no anchor."

Noel, who had remained standing near them, finally spoke. His voice was steady, firm enough to steady the air itself. "The Academy will not close."

The group looked at him, waiting.

"Nicolas won’t allow it," Noel continued. "Even if he can’t lead anymore, he’ll recommend someone to take his place. Most likely Daemar. Nicolas trusts him, and so does everyone."

Elyra arched a brow, her gray eyes sharp on him. "You sound certain. What makes you so sure?"

"Because that’s what Nicolas would want," Noel replied without hesitation. "He wouldn’t let everything collapse just because he’s no longer there."

Elena lowered her eyes again, her voice quieter. "Even so... it won’t feel the same."

Noel’s jaw tightened. "Maybe not. But what matters is that it continues. Nicolas carried the Academy all this time. Now it’s our turn to keep it standing."

The group sat in silence again, the weight of Noel’s words settling like stone. For a moment, no one dared to speak.

Noel’s gaze shifted across the table until it landed on Charlotte. Her long pink hair fell loosely over her shoulders, her golden eyes dulled with fatigue. She tried to sit upright, but her shoulders slumped as if the effort of holding herself together was costing her.

"Charlotte," Noel said, his tone softer now. "How are you feeling? You used too much of yourself last night."

Charlotte blinked, then tilted her head, almost as if the concern surprised her. "Me? I’m fine," she said with a light laugh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Honestly, it wasn’t even that bad. The time I had to heal hundreds of dwarves in the factory—that was worse. Compared to that, this was nothing."

Noel frowned. He had heard her say it so easily before, but this time the words felt like a mask. Still, the relief in him was genuine. He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. "Good. Because you’ve used too many blessings in too little time. You need to rest."

Charlotte gave him a cheeky smile, despite the weariness on her face. "Are you worried about me, Noel?"

Elyra, who stood nearby with arms crossed, rolled her eyes. "Don’t tease him when you can barely keep yourself upright."

Charlotte stuck her tongue out at her before leaning back against the chair.

Elena lowered her gaze, fidgeting slightly, while Selene’s expression didn’t change, though her eyes flicked toward Noel for a brief second.

The mood shifted slightly, less suffocating now, though the exhaustion remained etched in all their faces.

The group began to stir, the heaviness still pressing down on them but softened by Charlotte’s attempt at levity. Roberto finally leaned back in his chair with a groan, rubbing his face. "We should all get some rest. None of us are thinking straight right now."

Charlotte nodded faintly, her eyelids heavy. "Yeah... I think I need to lie down for a while."

"I’ll take her," Elyra said immediately, stepping to Charlotte’s side. Her gray eyes flicked to Noel briefly before she added, "She’ll need someone watching her anyway."

Charlotte giggled softly, even half-asleep. "See? Elyra’s reliable."

Noel gave a small nod. "Good. Take her to the hotel and make sure she gets the rest she needs."

Elyra smirked faintly, tugging Charlotte by the wrist. "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she doesn’t do anything reckless. Not that she could in this state."

As the two of them left, Elena stood. She hesitated only a moment before stepping closer to Noel. "I’ll go with you," she said quietly, her amber eyes steady.

Noel looked at her, then gave a short nod. "I need to find Daemar. Nicolas would want us to speak with him about what comes next."

Marcus stayed seated, Clara at his side, his face still shadowed with guilt. Garron and Laziel exchanged a glance but didn’t move either. Roberto stretched and sighed. "Guess that means I’m babysitting the hero," he muttered, earning a faint glare from Marcus.

Noel didn’t linger. He turned toward the door, Elena falling into step beside him.

As they left the reception hall, his thoughts burned quietly.

’We’ll see what the future holds for the academy.’