Chapter 22: Decisions and Regrets, Final Part.

"Under the glow of forgotten spells and whispers entwined in the wind, our fates clash like leaves in an eternal duel... still undecided whether we will be the blade that cuts or the wound that bleeds." —Excerpt from an unpublished manuscript: Inks and Swords.

Eris Moonfalen's Perspective.

Eris couldn't grasp much after that kind boy entered the bathroom. The conversations moved too fast for her to follow, and then... thunderous noises shook the place. The sounds only lasted a few seconds, but they felt intense enough to shatter her senses into a thousand fragments.

Then she heard the kind boy's voice, warning her not to speak directly to that man who sent shivers down her spine. Again, those abrupt noises tore through the air, followed by... a distressed scream. It was an unfamiliar voice, feminine, laden with fear and panic. Everything happened too quickly for Eris to process in the moment. However, when she was finally given the time to piece the scene back together, the fragments began to fit.

That's why she didn't hesitate to head toward the screams. An unknown conviction drove her, born from her own desperation. That kind boy, who didn't even know her, had protected her and was now suffering harm because of her. The mana within her began to bubble, to glow uncontrollably, erupting like a volcano—just as it had that time when she was six years old.

Amid her clumsy steps, Eris felt it. She could pinpoint the source of her turmoil: her desperation for the kind boy's well-being. That anguish began to eat away at her from within. With one hand, she touched her necklace as the whispers of mana flowed into her ears. They were faint, nearly imperceptible against the terrified cries of that female voice, pleading for the kind boy. The boy who, for some reason, reminded her of Mr. Berlian.

Eris heard those fleeting whispers telling her that her power could serve for more than harm, for more than causing pain. They were imperceptible words, ancient chants that, amidst the chaos of her thoughts, showed her that her Innate Skill could do much more. Without knowing how, she extended a hand toward the kind boy. Immediately, a fine thread, as sharp as a blade, appeared mere millimeters from her neck—a result of her action.

Yet, that didn't stop her. Now she knew she could help in some way. Amid her desperation to safeguard another's life, her own Skill showed her a path forward, one where she could be useful. A final echo of her mana manifested, a last surge that granted her the conviction she needed.

Suddenly, the entire room was illuminated by a golden flash that lasted barely half a second before fading. Along with it, Eris succumbed as well. The bandages covering her eyes turned crimson; blood began to stream down her cheeks. Overwhelming exhaustion overtook her, rendering her body too heavy to stand. Without another thought, she collapsed, fortunately caught by unknown arms—Thalion's arms.

Most of her mana had vanished, but with it, Brián's critical injuries were partially healed, pulling him away from the brink of death. Eris, unknowingly, had awakened an incredible ability within her Trait—a healing power unlike any other, one that shouldn't have emerged so early in her life but did. All because she desired, with every fiber of her being, to help that kind boy who had taken so much punishment on her behalf.

She felt drained; even breathing was a struggle. Under the incredulous gazes of those who knew how rare it was to cast a healing spell, Eris also lost consciousness. But on her face remained a small, satisfied smile, knowing that, in some way, her efforts had helped—if only a little.

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Brian Morningstar's Perspective.

Pain, old nightmares, and a lifeless body hanging. His eyes shot open as cold sweat ran down his forehead. He was still alive—by some miracle. His heart pounded like a drum, so loud that his own ears seemed to vibrate with the rhythm. These weren't memories from the body he now inhabited; they were his own. Damn it, and here he thought he had left all of that in the past.

"I've already told you, you can't be here. I have patients to attend to," a beautiful voice scolded sharply, delivering one of those unmistakable lectures. Selene—the lovely nurse. He didn't need to see her to recognize her. Instead, he kept staring at the ceiling, trying to recover from his nightmares.

"But I'm hurt too! My stomach hurts, I feel tired, and look, I scraped my hand," retorted a more youthful, obstinate voice he recognized instantly. Emma, without a doubt. Stubborn as ever, refusing to leave the infirmary.

"You're perfectly fine. Stop making a fuss; you'll wake my patients," Selene, visibly frustrated, admonished. But Emma ignored her words as easily as one dismisses a gentle breeze. Damn… even that Thalion Astaroth guy was there, leaning against the frame of the only entrance, arms crossed with a bored expression.

He wouldn't lie—Selene didn't have the nerve to scold that kid. It wasn't hard to see why. No one wanted to risk offending a member of the Astaroth lineage, especially over something so trivial. No one wanted to be executed for heresy or some nonsense like that. The scene, for anyone observing from the outside, would have seemed almost comical.

The last rays of sunlight streamed through the infirmary windows, painting the room in warm hues. The sunset painted the horizon with a splendor that seemed to mock the chaos contained within the large medical hall.

"Aren't you all being a bit too loud?" Brian asked, a stupid half-smile forming on his face—a smile that… Agh! He couldn't maintain as a sharp cry of pain escaped his lips when he tried to sit up in bed. His body protested as if punishing him for his recklessness. It felt as though thousands of needles pierced his skin, flesh, and bone.

Emma, the first to react, widened her eyes in surprise. Immediately, she bypassed the nurse and rushed to his side. Without hesitation, she helped him sit up in bed. For his part, he avoided grimacing or letting out groans, though it hurt like hell. Emma wasn't rough in her help, but it still hurt like crap.

"Are you okay?" she asked with evident concern, her firm hands holding him steady to keep him from collapsing.

"I think I'm getting pretty good at blocking punches with my face," he replied nonchalantly, lacing each word with the lightest sarcasm he could muster. Emma smiled. Yes, exactly that—she smiled. It was the first smile he'd seen on her. Had he reincarnated again without realizing it?

"The same idiot as always," she said, her tone unmistakably joyful—a surprising thing coming from her. Without another word, she hugged him. His bones protested, the pain flared, but if he'd endured worse punishments, he could tolerate a little more. As best he could, despite the awkward position, he returned the hug.

Meanwhile, he noticed something unexpected: he could move both arms. His dominant arm, which he had thought lost, was there, covered in bandages. The magic of this world never ceased to amaze him. And why was he shirtless? No, scratch that—it was a stupid question. He remembered now that, in the heat of madness, he had decided to tank a fire-based attack at point-blank range.

Well, in his defense, he couldn't say he was in his right mind after taking two hits from that bastard Victor. It was hard to stay sharp after that.

"The same idiot as always," Emma repeated, this time with a tone that sent involuntary shivers down his spine. Damn… he belatedly remembered that women here were terrifying, and he had walked straight into the lion's den. The pressure of her hug increased, and something cracked inside him.

"Hey, stop hurting my patient!" Selene exclaimed, alarmed. "He just woke up, and you're already trying to knock him unconscious again."

The lovely nurse tried to pull Emma away, but it was as difficult as separating two fighting dogs. Fortunately, the brown-haired girl let go at the last second, just before suffocating him. Brian coughed, trying to catch his breath, a faint smile forming on his lips.

"I'm glad to see you too, Emma. Or should I call you Candy Princess?"

Yes, what he mentioned was an insignificant memory—days of fun between two children he had witnessed in his dreams the previous night. A faint blush tinged Emma's cheeks, almost imperceptible. But her eyes, now sharp as daggers, pierced through him.

"You promised to take that secret to your grave," she murmured, her voice cold as the edge of a blade.

A sudden urge to run surged through his senses; however, what did they think? That he wouldn't strike back? That wasn't his style.

"Well, you should know by now—I'm a man; you shouldn't trust us. We break promises all the time," Brian said as he tried to get up. The maneuver, though clumsy, was effective enough to stop Emma from scolding him further. Changing tactics before taking a hit—that was his style.

"How long was I out?" he asked. But neither Emma nor Selene answered. Instead, another voice, unfamiliar, broke the silence.

"A few hours, which is impressive for someone who was in such critical condition. It's also amazing that you managed to gain the upper hand in a one-versus-seven fight. So, you must be the one who can rival Emma, and by extension, me."

Who the hell was that? And what was all this nonsense he was spouting? Besides, why did he talk like a king addressing a peasant?

Brian forced a difficult smile as he finally managed to stand. His body protested, aching with every movement, but he didn't care too much.

"I don't think we've been introduced. I'm Brian Morningstar. And you are?" he said, observing the newcomer from afar. The thought of closing the distance felt exhausting, mostly because he was so damn tired.

"Thalion Astaroth," the black-haired boy introduced himself with a slight nod. Brian, for his part, simply let the kid think whatever he wanted—it wasn't his problem anyway.

Selene, the nurse, looked visibly irritated. Despite repeatedly telling him not to get up, none of those present paid her any attention, ignoring her as though she were a ghost. Her warnings seemed to evaporate into the air, as if they didn't exist.

Brian's gaze shifted to the beds filling the infirmary. Several were occupied, and his expression darkened at the sight. Emma, who was helping him stay upright, noticed immediately.

"If you want to report bullying and an attempted assault, which authority should we go to?" she asked, her tone dripping with disgust as she glanced at the occupants of the beds. "And why the hell are they here? They should've been left lying on the ground like the trash they are."

He glanced at the nurse, her beauty doing little to escape his scrutiny. Selene, for her part, could only sigh, her expression showing resignation. Neither Emma nor Thalion had the courtesy to bring the rest of the students; only the girl named Eris received that treatment, so it fell to Selene to fetch them. Well, not entirely alone—she had asked for a bit of help from other faculty members.

"Regardless of their actions, they are considered students of Seraphim Academy. As the rules state, everyone on school grounds must receive the same treatment, even if I don't like it," Selene said seriously, her sky-blue eyes reflecting her exhaustion. "As for the other matter, since the headmaster and deputy headmistress are currently away, this will have to wait a little longer. But given the lineage of those boys—and the silver-haired girl—don't expect a severe punishment."

Brian clicked his tongue. "What a load of crap. I suppose I'll get the worst of it. What a disgusting system."

The lack of contradiction from the beautiful nurse—who he found it difficult not to notice—confirmed his suspicions. It wasn't anything new; this felt just like home, where the rich and powerful always got away with everything.

"Don't worry, I'll personally intervene in this matter. Seraphim Academy is known as one of the best in the entire continent; leaving these acts unpunished would tarnish its prestige," Thalion declared with an air of authority. His words radiated the energy of a wise ruler.

Brian looked at Emma, who nodded in response to his silent question about whether what the guy said made sense.

"He's the third son of the current ruler of the city—a rich kid in all his glory," she whispered.

Well, that made things a lot simpler.

"The bastard with the dull blue hair has a Trait that lets him control others somehow. It's based on you answering one of his questions simply and directly. Talking to him is dangerous. He's also probably a murderer," Brian explained, wanting to make that clear to avoid future complications. Thalion nodded, storing that piece of information like a valuable asset for later.

The last part of Brian's explanation earned him puzzled looks from the others. He grinned mischievously.

"I stopped him from blowing that other bitch's brains out with a punch," he said, motioning subtly in Lydia's direction with his head. "Of course, I was really pissed, so I gave her a couple of light taps to knock her out for a bit and keep that psycho from paying her any more attention. All in self-defense, obviously."

He didn't wait for a response to his cheeky comments. Instead, he began to walk, each step painful, supported by Emma, who frowned as she reconstructed the scene in her mind. His focus shifted to what he had been searching for: the silver-haired girl, sleeping soundly under the covers of a nearby bed. Fresh bandages covered her peaceful face.

Beside the bed stood a small chest of drawers, neatly holding the girl's torn clothes. Resting on top of the pile was a necklace that seemed vaguely familiar to him. Emma, however, recognized it immediately.

Plates of a Mithril-Rank adventurer," she murmured. Curious, she moved closer, naturally pulling Brian along as she supported him.

They leaned in enough to read the engravings, well-preserved thanks to the exceptional quality of the material. Brian's eyes widened slightly. He quickly glanced at Emma, who was scrutinizing the item with a furrowed brow, seemingly uncovering the missing piece of her mental puzzle.

"So that's why you went to help her without thinking twice about your own safety? Because this belonged to your father?" The girl with brown hair's voice cut through the air, her judgmental gaze drilling into him like a drill bit.

Brian held his expression steady, suppressing any reaction. Well, there went his chance to be honest. He couldn't admit that he didn't even know the girl's name. Emma picked up the mithril tag, examining it closely. She confirmed that it indeed belonged to Mr. Berlian.

"Why didn't you tell me? What kind of connection do you have with this girl?" Her eyes reproached him silently even as she spoke.

Brian stopped breathing. Even the slightest move now would be interpreted as a misstep. Maintaining the lie was crucial to avoiding complete humiliation.

Fortunately, one of the windows flung open, letting in a dense breeze.

"When I told you not to get into trouble, I didn't mean for you to take it as a challenge, you disrespectful brat," declared a deep voice. Meru had arrived, saving his skin once again. "But I see you gave a couple of thugs a good beating. Nice work." The spirit perched on his head, dissipating the tension.

Emma's eyes turned into daggers aimed at the old spirit. "And what kind of connection do you have with that hat?" Damn it… the questions just wouldn't stop.

"Oh, what do we have here? A jealous little girl who doesn't want to share?" Meru teased, his folds forming a mocking smile. Yep, he was still the same spirit oddly fascinated by the kids' relationships.

Emma scowled in disgust. "Not going to answer… Prince of Cataclysm?" she countered with a triumphant smile, recalling the day they'd given each other such embarrassing nicknames.

"Well, looks like you've been holding onto that one. Harboring so much resentment isn't good for your health," Brian shot back with a small smile.

Emma kept frowning, and since she was holding most of his weight, staying quiet wasn't an option. "You said you wanted to talk. I'm sorry it wasn't on your terms, but that will have to wait a little longer. Long story short, I've got a new teacher."

"Exactly. This kid has become the apprentice of Aurora Vortex, the first to reclaim the title of hero," Meru announced proudly. And why wouldn't he be? A millennium had passed since the last hero.

The brown-haired girl, like him —because that was new—, frowned.

"Miss Aurora is the disciple of our current deputy headmistress, isn't she?" Selene interjected, resting a finger on her chin as she tried to recall facts she somehow knew. At this comment, Emma and Thalion's eyes widened in surprise. Had they heard that correctly?

The Sun Mage had a disciple, and that disciple had taken Brian as her apprentice.

Emma shook her head, her lips curving into a smile. "You've always been as talented as you are stupid. It's about time someone else noticed."

Meru put on a cheeky expression. "Hate to interrupt the lovebirds, but we're leaving tonight, so there isn't much time," the spirit casually dropped the bombshell, clearly entertained by the drama but too drained to stick around. His mana reserves were barely a droplet compared to the ocean they once were.

His words stirred plenty of reactions, as expected, especially from Emma, who hadn't anticipated such a sudden turn of events.

"We seriously need to talk. A lot," she said, her deeply furrowed brow betraying her struggle to process the storm of emotions growing inside her.

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The author speaking here.

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