CHAPTER 57: PRETTY.

As Azhriel and Elizabeth walked together through the academy grounds toward the dormitories, the golden evening light bathed the path in a soft glow.

The air smelled faintly of flowers and stone warmed by the sun.

When they reached the entrance to the upper dormitory, Azhriel stopped. He glanced up at the towering buildings around them, then turned to Elizabeth.

"You go ahead," he said quietly. "I need to go somewhere first."

Elizabeth tilted her head slightly, as if she already knew. "The clock tower?"

Azhriel gave a small smile. "You got me."

She nodded, brushing a lock of her azurish white hair behind her ear. "Just don’t take too long. I would’ve come along, but... I’ve got something to finish."

Azhriel gave her a short wave as he stepped back. "Yeah. See you later."

Without waiting, he turned and moved quickly through the wide stone paths that led out of the dormitory wing and into the heart of the academy city.

The roads he ran through were clean and well-kept, made of smooth, pale stone that caught the golden hue of the setting sun.

Magic lamps lined the streets, flickering gently to life as the sky began to shift to twilight.

The sound of water flowed from small fountains that dotted the city, and students and staff passed by, chatting and laughing, preparing for the night’s banquet.

Beyond the curving walls of the academy, the city spread out in layers, built on a series of gentle slopes and terraces.

The buildings were a mix of grand stone halls, cafes, merchant shops, and quiet homes for faculty. Between them ran canals of clear, mana-infused water, their surfaces glowing faintly in the dusk.

But rising high above all of it stood the Clock Tower.

It was a towering spire of cream and dark brown stone. Standing at the northern edge of the academy city like a silent guardian. Thin, glowing runes pulsed along its base and spiraled faintly up the sides.

The structure was old—older than most buildings in the academy—and carried the weight of time in its very design.

At its peak, a massive circular clock was carved into the tower’s face. The hands of the clock moved with slow, perfect precision, glowing gently in gold and silver light.

Each hour mark was decorated with a different rune, symbols of time, memory, and fate.

From up close, the tower loomed even larger, casting a long shadow across the nearby streets. Ivy climbed its lower levels, and the stairs that wrapped inside it creaked faintly with age.

Azhriel slowed as he approached, his breath calm, his steps steady.

This place held meaning—memories. It was his mother’s favorite. He had only come to know about it long ago, when Alaric had let it slip in conversation, not realizing how deeply Azhriel would cling to that small detail.

Back then, he was just a quiet child, barely noticed, always in the shadow of others.

But when he heard about the clock tower—the place his mother loved to visit, to think, to gaze over the academy—he remembered it.

Held onto it.

Even if he had never seen her climb its steps, in his mind, he could always imagine her there, wind brushing her hair, eyes fixed on the sky. For correct content, please visit

Now, his steps echoed as he approached the base.

The clock tower stood tall and unmoving before him, like time itself had been carved into stone.

The air grew cooler as he neared, and the sounds of the academy city faded behind him—replaced by the quiet hum of mana circling the tower’s base.

He reached out and placed his hand on the smooth surface of the wall. A faint warmth pulsed beneath his fingers. The old runes glowed dimly in response, as if perhaps recognizing him.

Then he stepped inside.

The interior was quiet and dimly lit. A narrow spiral staircase of old metal wound its way up the inside of the tower.

No guards, no wards. Just stillness. He began the long climb, his footsteps steady but silent.

Higher and higher he went, until the walls opened up into a wide circular room at the top. Arched windows surrounded the chamber, allowing the golden-orange light of the setting sun to spill across the stone floor.

And beyond those windows—the view.

The entire academy city stretched below like a painted canvas. Sloping rooftops, glimmering canals, flickering lights, and the far-off shape of the mountains embracing the horizon.

Students looked like ants. The paths like thin silver lines. The dome of the arena shone softly in the fading light, while flags danced on rooftops with the wind.

Azhriel moved even up of the room on the roof, as he stood there quietly staring at it all.

The breeze gently ruffled his white hair as he walked closer to the edge.

He stood still looking at the majestic view of the city and the sun, which made even the time seem to fade.

"Mmh..."

A soft groan echoed behind him, breaking the quiet stillness that had wrapped around him like a blanket. Azhriel blinked, the haze of memory fading, and slowly turned toward the sound.

There, near the wall, someone sat up from behind one of the wide stone columns.

Hair—long, soft, and the color of cherry blossoms—spilled around her like a silken waterfall, catching the sunlight and glowing faintly with a faint pink hue.

She rubbed her eyes slowly, as though waking from a deep sleep. Then, her gaze lifted.

Their eyes met.

She blinked once. Then again. Her head tilted slightly to the side, almost like a confused kitten just waking up.

Meanwhile, Azhriel’s mind was spinning.

What the—why is she here? On the tower? No, more than that—why is she even in the academy?

He stared at her stunned, completely thrown off. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not at all.

Caelyn didn’t seem to notice the panic quietly rising in him. Her droopy eyes blinked a few more times as she looked at him, then slowly—without saying a word—she walked toward him with lazy, almost sleepy steps.

She looked like she hadn’t even fully woken up yet.

In the game, Caelyn Lunaris had never once been a part of the academy.

She barely even showed up unless the story reached the arc involving the black market or the secret dealings of the merchant association.

If it weren’t for that specific event chain, he probably wouldn’t have paid her any attention.

And yet, here she was.

Real. Present. Walking right toward him.

The daughter of the head of the most powerful merchant association across all continents...

Caelyn Lunaris.

Looking like she had just rolled out of bed and ended up in the wrong place.

Caelyn sat down right in front of him.

Her cherry blossom hair caught the light of the tower, glowing faintly under the afternoon sun, swaying gently in the wind.

She was without a doubt beauty on par with Vidallia and others.

Her eyes, still half-lidded from sleep, watched him like a curious cat eyeing something new.

Then, without a word, she reached into her pocket and pulled something out. Quietly, she held her hand out towards him.

Azhriel blinked.

He looked at her hand, then up at her face, then back to her hand.

"...Um, okay?" he said slowly, taking what she was offering.

It was a small chocolate, neatly wrapped in golden foil with a soft shimmer. Expensive-looking, premium. The kind of treat that wasn’t easily found in the academy’s usual supplies.

He glanced at her again. She was still watching him, head slightly tilted.

He turned the chocolate over in his hand, as if looking for some sort of hidden message or sign.

Am I supposed to eat it and tell her how it tastes? he wondered, completely baffled.

Haa... I don’t get her at all.

Still, he unwrapped the foil carefully and popped the chocolate into his mouth.

The flavor bloomed instantly—smooth and rich, with a perfect balance of sweetness and a soft tang of bitterness. It was high-quality. No doubt about that.

Caelyn’s eyes didn’t leave him. She seemed to be waiting for something. Maybe a reaction. Maybe approval or maybe nothing at all.

Azhriel gave a small nod. "Thanks... It’s good."

She blinked once, then slowly nodded as if confirming something.

"Right," she said, voice barely louder than the breeze. It was soft and light, like a feather floating down.

Then, without another word, she unwrapped one for herself and took a bite.

Her expression didn’t change, but there was a quiet calm about her, like someone who didn’t need words to share a moment.

Caelyn tilted her head, still munching on the chocolate, her eyes fixed lazily on him.

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice soft like a gentle breeze.

Azhriel blinked. You’re asking that now? he thought, a bit confused.

"You’re supposed to ask that first, you know?" he said, raising an eyebrow.

Caelyn just nodded, as if that made perfect sense.

"I’m Azhriel," he said not knowing whether to laugh or be or be stunned. "A fellow freshman."

She looked at him and gave the faintest nod. "Pretty name. I’m Caelyn. Also... a student."

Azhriel stared at her for a second. That was all she said—simple, short, quiet.

"...Right," he mumbled. "Nice to meet you, Caelyn."

(A/n)- Yeah, i can practically see, comments flooding about the detailed description of clock tower. However if you had read my novel till now. You would know i don’t write anything useless.

So, if I had given you a better description, then it’s meant to be important in the future. So i will leave it to that as i don’t wanna spoil things for you all.