CHAPTER 258: JIN AND CECELIA, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?

On the next day!

Everyone in the first years had gathered at ground zero.

Elysia tied her long hair into a loose braid and adjusted the edge of her training robe, her brows knitting slightly as she scanned the crowd.

The field, usually buzzing with chatter, felt hollow today.

Students were whispering in small groups, exchanging glances toward the empty rows where two of their friends were missing.

"Where’s Jin?" someone whispered.

"I heard he didn’t show up yesterday either," another replied.

"And Cecelia too. Did they skip class today too?"

"Cecelia and Jin are absent..." she murmured under her breath, her voice almost lost to the morning wind.

"Does it... have to do with Kael?"

Her gaze flicked toward the far side of the field.

Kael stood alone near the line of trees, drenched in sweat.

He’d just finished his laps — faster than most, even though his expression showed clear exhaustion.

his shirt clung to his chest, and his hair was slick with sweat.

He walked toward the side of the training ground where the water taps stood, unscrewing his canteen to fill it.

When he turned slightly, Elysia noticed something strange — his movements were careful, deliberate, as if trying not to strain his body too much.

Her eyes narrowed.

Kael placed the canteen down and began unbuttoning his outer uniform.

He stripped it off, revealing his chest wrapped tightly in bandages — fresh ones, stained faintly with red.

The sight hit Elysia like a thunderclap.

(Those wounds... bandaged like that?) she thought, her heart racing. (No... it can’t be.)

She clenched her fists.

(Don’t tell me... he killed Jin and Cecelia...)

Her mind flashed back to yesterday — Kael’s distant gaze, the tense silence during training, and the eerie way Jin had disappeared after confronting seniors.

Her anger surged, overwhelming her reason.

Before she even realized it, she had drawn her Oathblade.

She pointed her sword straight towards the back of Kael.

Kael froze when he felt the mana flare behind him.

He turned around and his eyes widened.

"Elysia?" His voice broke with surprise.

"What are you doing?"

"Where the hell are Jin and Cecelia?"

Kael’s brows furrowed. "What?"

"You heard me," she snapped, stepping closer, the blade inches from his face.

"You were the last one seen with them the day before yesterday. Don’t play dumb!"

Kael took a small step back, instinctively raising his hands in defense.

"I don’t know where they are," he said firmly.

"Liar." Elysia pressed the tip of her blade against his neck, just enough to draw a thin line of blood.

"Don’t lie to me, Kael. I can tell when someone’s hiding something."

Kael winced, his jaw tightening as a drop of blood rolled down his throat.

"I said I don’t know!" he shouted, frustration leaking into his voice. "What the hell do you think I did to them?"

Her eyes flashed. "You expect me to believe you didn’t do anything when you’re standing there covered in bandages?"

"You think I got these because of them?" His voice lowered, carrying a dangerous edge.

"You don’t know what happened."

Elysia didn’t waver. "Then tell me what did."

He sighed. "If you want to know," he said quietly, "go and see for yourself."

Her grip on the sword faltered for a moment. "What do you mean?"

"Go to Cecelia’s house," Kael muttered, wiping the blood from his neck with the back of his hand.

"You’ll get your answers there."

The way he said it— calm yet broken — left Elysia momentarily frozen.

Her instincts screamed that something was wrong, but pride and anger clouded her judgment.

"Fine," she said, lowering her sword slightly. "But if I find out you’re lying..."

Kael didn’t respond. He simply turned back toward the tap, splashing water onto his face, letting her leave without another word.

The rest of the day passed in uneasy silence.

Even during the mana class, Elysia couldn’t concentrate.

Her mind replayed Kael’s expression over and over — his weariness, the way his voice trembled slightly when he spoke of Cecelia.

Her classmates noticed her distraction but didn’t dare ask.

Professor Sylvia announced the end of the lesson, and the students began packing up.

Elysia, however, remained seated for a few more moments before finally standing up.

She couldn’t ignore the gnawing feeling in her chest anymore.

She had to see Cecelia and Jin with her own eyes.

At Cecelia’s House

She stopped in front of the large iron gate and exhaled, steadying her heartbeat.

Then she knocked.

Knock, knock.

For a moment, there was silence — then a soft voice answered from inside.

"Who is it?"

"I’m Elysia," she replied, raising her voice slightly. "Cecelia’s friend from the academy. Is she home?"

The gate creaked open, revealing a middle-aged woman in a neat maid uniform.

"Ah, Lady Elysia," the maid said softly. "Please, come in."

Elysia stepped inside.

The interior was dim, the curtains half-drawn, and the air smelled faintly of medicine.

As she followed the maid down the hallway, her unease grew with every step.

When they entered Cecelia’s room, the sight froze her in place.

Cecelia lay on the bed, her skin pale and her forehead covered with a damp cloth.

The once-vibrant girl — the bright, smiling Cecelia — now looked fragile and weak.

"Cecelia..." Elysia whispered, rushing to her side.

"What happened to you?"

The maid placed a tray of warm soup beside the bed and quietly left the room, closing the door behind her.

Elysia knelt beside Cecelia, gently taking her hand.

"Cecelia, it’s me. It’s Elysia. Can you hear me?"

Cecelia’s eyelids fluttered slightly, and her lips parted, but only a weak sound came out — too faint to form words.

Her eyes opened halfway, glistening with tears, then slowly shifted toward Elysia.

"It’s okay," Elysia said quickly, forcing a small, shaky smile. "You don’t have to talk. Just rest. I’ll find out who did this to you."

But Cecelia’s fingers tightened around hers, trembling as if trying to convey something of a warning. Her lips moved again, but no voice came out.

"Don’t push yourself," Elysia whispered, her eyes softening. "Please."

Then she stood up and clenched her fists. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, the image of Kael’s bloodied bandages flashing in her mind again.

(Kael Ashford... damn you.)

The anger boiled again, stronger than before, but now mixed with sorrow.

(He told me to see for myself... was this what he meant?)

Elysia turned toward the window, the fading light catching in her silver hair.

(It’s no use staying here any longer. I need to see how Jin is doing... If Cecelia’s like this, then Jin might be—)

She stopped herself. She didn’t want to finish that thought.

"Rest well, Cecelia," she murmured softly before leaving the room. "I’ll make sure whoever did this pays."

On the Road to Jin’s House

The streets were almost empty by the time Elysia left.

Her boots splashed lightly against the wet stone as she made her way down the narrow street leading toward Jin’s house.

The closer she got, the darker the sky became.

Her mind replayed every detail, Kael’s wounds, Cecelia’s silence, and the strange tone in Kael’s voice when he said go and see for yourself.

(Was he... trying to warn me? Or taunt me?)

She didn’t know anymore.

By the time Elysia reached Jin’s house, The narrow street was dimly lit by a single lantern that flickered weakly in the damp wind.

Her boots splashed lightly through small puddles as she stopped in front of the old wooden gate.

She hesitated for a moment. Cecelia was alive, though injured and weak. Now, only one question remained—what had happened to Jin?

Taking a deep breath, she stepped closer to the door and knocked hard.

Knock. Knock.

"Jin! Jin, are you home?" she called out.

For a moment, there was no reply.

Then, from inside, a woman’s voice called out sharply, "Who is it?"

Elysia recognized the tone—it must be Jin’s mother.

"It’s me, Elysia," she replied quickly. "I’m Jin’s friend from the academy. I came here to meet him. Is he home?"

"Oh, you’re one of Jin’s classmates?" she said.

"Please, come in. He’s... inside."

The way she said that last word made Elysia’s heart sink.

"Thank you, ma’am," Elysia said politely as she stepped in.

"Jin’s room is down that way," his mother said, pointing toward the right. "He hasn’t come out since last night."

Elysia frowned. "Since last night?"

"Yes. I tried talking to him, but he wouldn’t say much. I think he’s... upset about something."

She bowed slightly. "Thank you. I’ll try speaking to him."

As she walked down the hallway, she could hear faint noises from Jin’s room—shuffling, maybe breathing, but no words.

When she reached his door, she knocked gently at first.

"Jin?" she called softly. "It’s me, Elysia."

No response.

She knocked again, louder this time. "Jin! Open the door. I came to check on you."

Still, nothing.

Elysia pressed her ear against the door.

She could hear faint breathing, slow and strained. He was there.

"Jin," she said again. "I know you can hear me. Cecelia’s hurt. She’s resting at home, but she’s alive. You... you’re not planning to hide from all of this, are you?"

There was a faint sound—like someone shifting their weight—but still no reply.

Elysia sighed softly and leaned her forehead against the wooden door. "I don’t know what happened between you and Kael yesterday," she said quietly.

"But whatever it is, you can’t just shut yourself away."

The silence stretched for a few moments.

Finally, Jin’s voice came, faint and hoarse. "Just go, Elysia..."

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Jin?" she called again. "Are you alright? You sound—"

"I said go," Jin interrupted, his voice shaking. "I don’t want to see anyone."

Elysia stood frozen, uncertain what to say. His tone wasn’t angry—it was broken, filled with exhaustion and pain.

She clenched her fists, feeling a lump in her throat. "Fine," she said softly after a long pause. "I won’t force you. But don’t run away from this, Jin. We’re all worried."

She stepped back from the door. "Just... come to the academy tomorrow. Don’t miss class, okay? We’ll talk then."