CHAPTER 114: CHAPTER 114 - THE AFTERMATH OF THE MISSION (1)

The sun dipped low behind Arcadia Academy’s silver spires, casting long amber shadows across the marble pathways. Mana lanterns buzzed to life one by one, bathing the campus in gentle, bluish glow. The evening air was cool, crisp... but strangely tense.

Luca walked the path toward the dormitories, hands buried in his coat pockets, boots crunching softly against the gravel. Yet with every step, an invisible weight pressed heavier on his back.

Students passed him—but not as they used to. Not with casual nods or disinterested glances. No, this time... they stared.

Some paused mid-conversation as he neared. Others quickly turned their faces, pretending to be engrossed in books or scrolls. But he heard them.

"Is that him...?"

"Yeah, it’s him, right?"

"I heard he made one of them explode just by glaring..."

Luca frowned, his brow twitching slightly. What the hell...?

As he passed by a bench where a few students sat, their voices dipped into hurried whispers. He turned to one of them, raising a hand with a tired smile.

"Hey, budd—"

The student jolted upright, eyes wide with barely concealed terror. Without a word, he scrambled to his feet and ran like a man possessed, backpack swinging wildly behind him.

Luca froze mid-step, hand still awkwardly half-raised. He blinked once. Twice.

"...Seriously?"

He lowered his arm with a sigh, exhaling a deep breath through his nose. I don’t have the energy for this right now.

His body ached—not from injury, but from sheer exhaustion. The aftermath of the mission still clung to his bones like damp mist. He didn’t want to think. Didn’t want to talk. He just wanted to forget.

The rest of the walk to his dorm passed in silence, save for the murmurs that chased behind him like ghostly echoes.

He keyed open his room, stepped inside, and shut the door behind him with a dull click. The world outside faded away.

Without turning on the lights, he peeled off his coat and headed straight to the bathroom. The water was cold when it hit his skin, but he welcomed it. It grounded him.

As icy streams trickled down his back, Luca leaned both palms against the tiled wall, letting his head bow low.

Fragments of yesterday replayed behind closed eyes—the expression of the cultist, the scent of crimson blood, the little dragon girl crying in his arms.

His voice came out in a low murmur, barely audible over the water.

"I don’t want her to be hurt again... Because of my carelessness, someone close to me almost died."

He shut off the water, dried off with the same efficiency he fought with, and threw on a simple black t-shirt and sweatpants. No armor. No magic tools. Just a boy—tired and guilty.

Returning to the main room, he knelt down and summoned the little dragon with a flick of his hand.

A gentle flash of red light formed beside him, and with a tiny squeak, she appeared—her small body curling like a cat as she looked around.

"Papa!" she chirped happily.

Luca’s expression softened. He reached out and stroked her golden-blonde hair, fingers brushing over her small, glittering horns.

"I’ll never put you in danger again, okay?" he said quietly, guilt tugging at every syllable. "Forgive your papa."

She didn’t understand the words, but his warmth, his voice—those, she understood. She purred softly, nuzzling into his hand with a contented hum.

"Umm... Papa?"

Luca chuckled under his breath, picking her up gently. "Yeah, I’m here."

He sat on the bed, letting the soft mattress take his weight. She crawled into the crook of his arm, tail coiling slightly. His eyelids drooped, body giving in to the day’s strain.

And as the last light faded from the room, the two of them—boy and beast—drifted into sleep. One seeking peace from bloodshed, the other simply happy to be held.

Outside, the whispers continued.

But inside, for now, there was only silence.

The moon hung low over Arcadia Academy, its silvery light spilling through the arched windows and bathing the dorms in a cool, ethereal glow. The once-bustling campus was silent, cloaked in the hush of midnight. Crickets chirped in the distance, and the leaves outside rustled softly in the breeze.

Inside Luca’s room, peace reigned. His breaths were steady, arms loosely wrapped around the little dragon girl who had curled up beside him, her soft snoring barely audible. His brows—often furrowed in tension—were finally relaxed.

Then, the window creaked open.

A gentle wind swept into the room, fluttering the curtains. A figure in white robes stepped gracefully inside, her footsteps soundless against the polished floor. The moonlight caught in her flowing robes, casting delicate silver outlines across her silhouette.

She approached the bed slowly. Her eyes, often calm and distant, softened as they landed on Luca’s sleeping form. She reached out, intending to gently pat his head.

But the moment her fingers grazed his hair—

"I won’t allow you to take her away!"

Luca’s voice rang out, sharp and full of instinctive fury.

In a flash, he was upright, eyes blazing with adrenaline as he grabbed the intruding hand. His body trembled faintly, breathing fast—until his eyes finally met hers.

"...Oh. Master."

He exhaled, shoulders falling. "I’m really sorry."

Standing calmly before him was none other than the Tower Master of the Mage Tower, her veil slightly lifted by the breeze. The woman regarded him with unreadable eyes, neither alarmed nor offended.

Luca sat down on bed again, rubbing the side of his head sheepishly.

The Tower Master’s gaze drifted to the other side of the bed—and narrowed slightly.

From her angle, the child hadn’t been visible at first. But now, with Luca shifted, the tiny dragon girl was in full view—sleeping soundly, one small claw gripping Luca’s shirt like a safety anchor.

Luca followed her gaze and quickly spoke.

"Ahh, master—that’s the baby of the dragon we encountered on Beastridge Mountain."

The Tower Master said nothing at first. Then she gave a slow nod and moved to sit at the edge of the bed, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp as ever. The soft fabric of her veil fluttered in the breeze behind her.

"Looks like you have some explaining to do."

Luca nodded, pulling the sheets around himself a little more and sitting upright. "After we defeated the dragon on Beastridge mountain, She hatched from the egg the dragon gave me before dying. She... she treats me like her father now.."

The Tower Master looked down at the little dragon girl and gently patted her head. The baby stirred for a moment, let out a soft coo, then returned to sleep.

The mage’s voice turned serious. "What happened yesterday?"

Luca stiffened slightly. Oh no. Did Selena already tell her? Are mother and daughter talking now?

He cleared his throat. "The mission wasn’t simple. There were villagers kidnapped and prepared for sacrifice to summon someone I guess. And they dared to kidnap the baby dragon."

His jaw tightened.

"I couldn’t let them live. So I didn’t. We killed them all."

The Tower Master studied him, her expression unreadable. Then she asked quietly:

"And... how do you feel after killing all of those people?"

Luca paused.

"I... don’t feel anything," he admitted, staring at his hands. "They were cultists. Traitors to humanity. And they dared to touch someone I hold dear. I don’t regret it. If the same thing happened again, I’d do it again. No hesitation."

The Tower Master’s lips curved ever so slightly.

"...Good," she said. "It’s good you can still distinguish between good and evil. I was worried you’d be burdened with guilt after killing so many people. That’s why I came."

Luca shook his head. "Don’t worry, Master. I’m just angry at myself. If I had been more careful... someone close to me wouldn’t have been hurt."

The Tower Master watched him in silence for a moment. Then, as if deciding the mood was too heavy, she smirked faintly and said:

"So what would you do if someone kidnapped me?"

Luca blinked. But his answer came without pause:

"I’d burn down their entire existence. And if needed, I’d kill thousands."

She stared at him.

Stunned.

For a split second, the poised, graceful mage was speechless.

"...You really didn’t hesitate," she murmured.

Luca blinked, finally processing his own words. A hint of red crept up his ears.

"I mean—who would dare kidnap the Master anyway, right?" He scratched his cheek, chuckling awkwardly.

The Tower Master finally laughed under her breath. Then she reached out and gently patted his head.

"It’s good that you’re safe. Rest now, child. I will be leaving then."

She rose to leave, veil dancing around her like moonlight threads.

Luca nodded and was about to lay back down when he noticed something odd.

"...Master?" he asked, watching her remain seated at the edge of the bed.

She tilted her head slightly. "You don’t want to let go of my hand?"

Luca’s eyes widened. He looked down—and realized he was still holding her hand from when he’d grabbed it earlier.

"I—! S-Sorry!" He quickly let go, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.

The Tower Master smiled behind her veil. "Goodnight, Luca."

With that, she stepped out through the window, her white robes billowing behind her like a ghost returning to the wind.

Luca exhaled slowly. He glanced at the dragon girl, now sleeping with her back against his chest, and gently tucked the covers around her again.

"...What a weird day," he muttered, allowing his body to relax once more.

Sleep claimed him moments later.

***

The next day,

Luca was woken up by the communication crystal ringing , as he answered the call still yawning, as Seraphina’s angry voice came from another end, "What the hell have you gotten yourself into this time?"