Helen Celestia

Knock! Knock!

A sudden knock on the door disrupted Eryon's train of thought. With a growing sense of caution, he stepped toward the door.

As he opened it, he was greeted by the sight of a woman in her late twenties to early thirties, stunningly beautiful, with long black hair cascading gracefully over her shoulders. She was holding a food box in her arms.

Eryon's eyes widened in surprise. His mind struggled to recall who this woman was, as if trying to grasp a memory lost in the fog. But no matter how hard he tried, the memory refused to surface.

"Eryon, are you planning to turn into a statue?" the woman teased playfully, snapping him out of his daze.

"Please, come in," Eryon responded, stepping aside to let her through.

"Excuse me," the woman murmured, her steps soft as she walked past him toward the dining room.

Eryon followed behind her and took a seat across from her once they reached their destination.

As the woman began preparing the food she had brought, Eryon's attention was drawn to her once more. Was it even possible for every woman in this world to be this breathtaking?

Her beauty was truly exceptional—her long black hair flowed like silk, framing a face so mesmerizing that it nearly stole his breath away. Even in casual attire, she exuded a natural elegance.

As Eryon continued observing her, a hologram suddenly flickered into existence before him, revealing her identity.

[Name: Helen Celestia]

[Age: 28]

[Class: Unknown]

[Race: Unknown]

[Attribute: Unknown]

Memories of that name surfaced in his mind. Helen, his aunt. But something felt off—why were her class, race, and attributes unknown? Helen was clearly human, yet the system displayed her as "unknown." There was something suspicious about this.

Only then did he realize that his system could view the identities of others.

[The system only displays the identities of people you know]

The system's sudden response crushed his expectations, making him sigh in slight disappointment.

"Eryon, can you stop staring at me and start eating before the food gets cold?" Helen's soft voice broke his thoughts.

Snapping back to reality, Eryon responded, "Of course, sorry about that. Thank you for the meal, Helen."

He picked up his plate and began eating. There were several dishes, and each bite revealed a depth of flavor, as if Helen had poured her heart into the meal. Pasta, beef, an assortment of vegetables, and other dishes—all prepared to perfection.

Helen watched him with a warm smile, pleased to see him enjoying her cooking.

She saw Eryon as her own younger brother and often cooked for him as an expression of her affection.

"How does it taste? Is it good?" Helen asked, her eyes shining with anticipation.

"It's delicious, as always," Eryon replied with a nod.

Helen's face lit up with pride at his praise. "I'm glad to hear that," she said.

"But Helen, you don't have to go through the trouble of bringing me food. I'm about to graduate, and it's time I learned to take care of myself," Eryon said lightly.

Helen responded with a gentle smile. "I know, but it's no trouble at all. I just want to take care of you. There's no need to worry."

Eryon fell silent at her words, touched by Helen's sincerity. After a moment, he returned her smile. "Thank you, Helen."

"Eryon, we're family. There's no need to thank me," Helen replied warmly, reaching across the table to take Eryon's hand.

Eryon smirked mischievously. "Your future husband is going to be one lucky man, Helen," he teased.

Helen chuckled lightly. "Then you should find a girl even better than me," she teased.

"Better than you? That's impossible. I might as well give up now," he retorted jokingly.

"You're such a flatterer," she said, but her amused smile showed she wasn't annoyed in the slightest.

Eryon's smirk widened into a full grin. "Oh, I'm more than just a flatterer," he said confidently.

Their banter continued, laughter filling the room, a testament to the deep bond they shared.

---

"So, how's school going?" Helen asked.

"Everything is under control. The class awakening ceremony is just 20 days away, and I have no doubt that I'll awaken a unique power," Eryon replied, his voice full of confidence.

The system he possessed had given him unwavering certainty. Even if he didn't awaken any other powers, he already had gravity manipulation—a rare and formidable ability.

"If you awaken a class, it might be related to the fire element, just like your brother's, or maybe something more special," Helen speculated.

"That's possible," Eryon nodded in agreement. "Anyway…" he continued, "Helen, what's your class? I feel like you've never told me before."

Helen furrowed her brows. "Have you forgotten? I told you before that my class is Fire Mage," she said.

Eryon's expression showed clear doubt. The system's display contradicted Helen's words.

"I almost forgot… Then, what's your rank?" he asked again.

Helen pouted. "B-Rank," she answered, still looking slightly annoyed. However, her gaze sharpened as she stared at Eryon.

"Seriously, Eryon, you're acting strange today. You're not like yourself. Are you…" Helen's words trailed off as realization suddenly dawned in her eyes.

With furrowed brows, she stood up and walked toward Eryon.

"What's wrong?" Eryon asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

Helen didn't respond immediately. Instead, she reached out and gently touched his forehead.

"Eryon, I need you to be honest with me. Did you get into a fight at school?" she asked, her expression filled with concern.

Eryon instinctively touched the fading scar on his forehead. "This? No fight. Just a minor accident on the road," he explained nonchalantly.

"Are you telling the truth?" Helen pressed further, her sharp gaze locked onto his.

"Of course. If I had been in a fight, I would've admitted it—because I would've won," Eryon replied confidently.

Helen let out a soft sigh, a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Alright. Stand up," she instructed, gently tilting his chin upward.

Eryon obeyed, rising to his feet. As he did, Helen's face drew closer, causing a flicker of embarrassment to rise within him.

Her warm fingers lingered on his forehead, and the stinging sensation gradually faded. The scar disappeared under her touch.

Helen withdrew her hand, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. "How does it feel?" she asked.

"Much better," Eryon acknowledged with a nod. "And you said you're a Fire Mage, but you have a healing skill?" he asked curiously.

"This is just a basic skill from the House of Wisdom. Don't tell me you forgot that Awakeners can learn skills outside their class? Seriously, Eryon, what's going on with you?" Helen asked with concern.

Eryon sighed, rubbing his forehead despite there being no pain left. "Maybe I just need some rest," he replied.

Helen's smile softened. She cupped his cheek before pulling him into a warm embrace. "Promise me, Eryon. Don't put yourself in harm's way."

Eryon's heart stirred at the sincerity in her voice. The hug came so suddenly, almost unexpectedly, but he didn't push her away. Slowly, he lifted his arms, returning the embrace gently, his hand resting on her back.

"I won't give you a reason to worry," he promised in a quiet but firm voice.

Helen smiled softly, as if his words were enough to ease her heart. After a moment, she pulled away.

"I have to leave now," she said, her warm smile still present.

Eryon looked at her for a moment before nodding. "Take care," he said sincerely.

In response, Helen gave his cheek a gentle pat—a touch filled with warmth and affection.

Then, without another word, she turned and walked away. The sound of her footsteps echoed through the now-quiet room, leaving Eryon alone once more in the grand house.