Chapter 21: Uninvited Guest

The aftermath of Luciel's successful demonstration of Stellar Arts left him both exhilarated and exhausted. The virtual reality chamber's lights dimmed as the simulation ended, and Luciel stepped off the platform, his body trembling from the strain of channeling so much mana. His golden eyes, however, glowed with a quiet satisfaction. He had proven to himself—and to Kaelith—that he was capable of wielding power on a scale far beyond his rank.

Katharine was the first to approach him, her red eyes gleaming with pride and mischief. She ruffled his hair playfully, her grin wide. "Not bad, rookie. You almost looked like a real awakener out there."

Luciel chuckled weakly, still catching his breath. "Thanks, Katharine. I guess all that training paid off."

Kaelith joined them, his blue eyes scanning Luciel with a critical yet approving gaze. "You've made progress, but don't get complacent. Stellar Arts is still incomplete, and your mana control needs refinement. You burned through your reserves too quickly with God's Judgment. Efficiency is just as important as raw power."

Luciel nodded, his expression serious. "I understand. I'll work on it."

...

After weeks of relentless training and the constant pressure to refine his Stellar Arts, Luciel decided it was time to take a step back. Kaelith had emphasized the importance of balance, and Luciel realized he needed a break to recharge. So, for the first time in what felt like forever, he attended his classes like a normal student.

The day passed uneventfully. Luciel sat through lectures on mana theory, participated in a practical class on elemental affinities, and even managed to catch up with Aria and Arthuria during lunch. It was a refreshing change of pace, and by the time the final bell rang, Luciel felt a sense of calm he hadn't experienced in weeks.

As he walked back to his dorm, the weight of his responsibilities seemed to lift slightly. He decided to spend the rest of the day relaxing in his room—no training, no simulations, just some well-deserved rest. But when he opened the door to his room, he froze.

Katharine was lying on his couch, her long black hair cascading over the armrest as she lazily flipped through a book. She was dressed in a casual outfit—a loose-fitting sweater and comfortable pants—a stark contrast to her usual bold and edgy style. Her red eyes flicked up from the book, and a playful smile spread across her face as she noticed Luciel standing in the doorway.

"Surprised?" she asked, her voice dripping with coquettish amusement.

Luciel blinked, his golden eyes wide with shock. "Uh... yeah. What are you doing here?"

Katharine closed the book and sat up, her grin widening. "I heard you were taking a break today, so I thought I'd keep you company."

Luciel hesitated, unsure how to respond. Katharine had always been bold and unpredictable, but this was on a whole new level. "How did you even get in here?"

She waved a hand dismissively. "Please, like a little lock could stop me. Besides, shouldn't you be thankful for having such a beautiful senior who takes care of you?"

Luciel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Katharine laughed, the sound light and melodic. "And yet, here you are, still putting up with me. Come on, sit down. You look like you're about to collapse."

Reluctantly, Luciel walked over and sat on the edge of the couch, keeping a respectful distance from Katharine. She rolled her eyes and scooted closer, leaning against him casually. "Relax, kid. I don't bite... much."

Luciel's face flushed slightly, but he didn't pull away. Despite her teasing, Katharine had a way of making him feel at ease. "So, what's with the casual look? I've never seen you dressed like this before."

Katharine glanced down at her outfit and shrugged. "What, you don't like it? I thought I'd try something different. Besides, it's comfortable. Not everything has to be about looking intimidating, you know."

Luciel chuckled. "I guess not. It's just... different. But it suits you."

Katharine's smile softened, and for a moment, the usual mischief in her eyes was replaced by something warmer. "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself, you know."

Katharine stood up abruptly, stretching her arms above her head. "Alright, enough lounging around. I'm starving, and I'm guessing you haven't eaten properly in days. Lucky for you, I'm a decent cook."

Luciel raised an eyebrow. "You? Cook? I find that hard to believe."

Katharine smirked, placing her hands on her hips. "Oh, you'll see, rookie. Just sit back and watch the master at work."

She marched over to the small kitchenette in Luciel's dormitory room, which was equipped with basic cooking utensils and a stove. Luciel watched in mild amusement as Katharine rummaged through his cabinets, pulling out ingredients he didn't even know he had.

"Where did all this come from?" Luciel asked, genuinely surprised.

Katharine winked. "I may have brought a few things with me. You're welcome."

As Katharine began chopping vegetables with surprising skill, Luciel leaned against the counter, watching her work. The atmosphere was oddly domestic, and for the first time in a long while, Luciel felt a sense of peace.

"So, what are you making?" he asked.

"Something simple but delicious," Katharine replied, her tone light. "You'll see."

The aroma of cooking soon filled the room, and Luciel's stomach growled in anticipation. Katharine laughed, tossing a piece of carrot at him. "Patience, rookie. Good food takes time."

When the meal was finally ready, Katharine served it with a flourish. It was a hearty stew, filled with vegetables and tender chunks of meat. Luciel took a bite and was immediately impressed.

"This is amazing," he said, his golden eyes widening. "I didn't know you could cook like this."

Katharine grinned, clearly pleased with his reaction. "Told you I was a master. Now eat up—you look like you haven't had a proper meal in weeks."

As they ate, the conversation turned more serious. Katharine leaned back in her chair, her red eyes studying Luciel. "So, what's your story, rookie? You've been so focused on training and proving yourself, but I feel like I don't really know you."

Luciel hesitated, his fork hovering over his plate. He had never talked about his past with anyone, not even Aria or Arthuria. But eventually he decided that it wad fine to tell her.

"I... grew up on the streets," Luciel began, his voice quiet. "I don't remember my parents. I was just a kid, trying to survive. I stole food, slept in alleys, and did whatever I had to do to stay alive."

Katharine's playful demeanor faded, replaced by a look of genuine concern and pity. She didn't interrupt, letting Luciel continue.

"It wasn't easy," Luciel said, his voice trembling slightly. "There were days when I didn't eat, nights when I thought I wouldn't make it to morning. But I kept going. I had to. And then... I awakened. That's when everything changed."

He paused, his golden eyes distant as he recalled the memories. "I thought coming to Celestia Academy would be a fresh start. But sometimes... sometimes it feels like I'm still that scared kid, trying to prove I belong here."

The weight of his words hung in the air, and before Luciel could stop himself, the stress and pressure he had been carrying for months finally broke through. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he quickly wiped them away, embarrassed.

Katharine didn't say a word. Instead, she stood up and walked over to him, pulling him into a gentle embrace. Luciel stiffened at first, but then he relaxed, letting himself lean into her. Katharine guided him to the couch, sitting down and pulling him onto her lap like a child. She ran her fingers through his hair, her touch soothing.

"It's okay," she murmured, her voice soft. "I'll take care of you, okay?"

Luciel didn't respond, but the tears kept coming. Katharine held him until his breathing steadied and his exhaustion finally caught up with him. He fell asleep in her arms, his head resting on her lap.

...

The next morning, Luciel woke up feeling more rested than he had in weeks. But as he opened his eyes, he realized something was off. He wasn't alone in his bed. Katharine was lying next to him, her long black hair splayed across the pillow and her beautiful face, only a few centimeters away from his.

Luciel's golden eyes widened, and his face turned bright red. He sat up quickly, his mind racing. What the—? Why is she still here?

Katharine stirred, her red eyes fluttering open. She yawned and stretched, completely unfazed by the situation. "Morning, kid," she said, her voice groggy but still teasing.

"Uh... morning," Luciel stammered, his face still flushed. "Why are you... I mean, why didn't you go back to your room?"

Katharine shrugged, sitting up and running a hand through her hair. "You looked so cute when sleeping, so I didn't want to wake you. Besides, it's not like I had anywhere else to be."

Luciel opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say anything, he glanced at the clock on the wall. His golden eyes widened in panic. "Crap! My next class starts in 15 minutes!"

Katharine chuckled, leaning back on her elbows. "Relax, rookie. It's just one class. What's the worst that could happen?"

Luciel shot her a glare as he scrambled out of bed, grabbing his uniform from the chair where he'd left it the night before. "The worst that could happen is I get chewed out by Professor Jadestar for being late. Again."

Just as Luciel reached for the hem of his shirt to change into his uniform, he froze mid-motion. His golden eyes flicked to Katharine, who was still lounging on his bed, her red eyes gleaming with amusement as she watched him. A wave of embarrassment washed over him, and he quickly dropped his hands, his face flushing crimson. "Uh, Katharine," he stammered, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, "can you, um, close your eyes? Pretty please?"

Katharine tilted her head, her grin widening as she propped herself up on one elbow. "Oh? Shy now, are we? After everything, you're still acting like a blushing schoolboy?" Her tone was teasing, but there was a playful warmth in her voice that made Luciel's embarrassment even more unbearable.

Luciel groaned, running a hand through his already messy hair. "It's not about being shy—it's about basic decency! Just... close your eyes for a second, okay?"

Katharine laughed, the sound light and melodic, but she finally obliged, covering her eyes with one hand. "Fine, fine. But don't take too long, rookie. I might get curious and peek."

Luciel muttered something under his breath as he quickly grabbed his uniform and turned his back to her, his heart racing. He couldn't decide if Katharine's teasing was endearing or utterly maddening—probably both.

Luciel ignored her, his mind focused on getting to class on time. After getting into his uniform, he grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder, turning to Katharine with a pleading look. "Can you at least try to be discreet when you leave? I don't need anyone seeing you walking out of my room in the morning."

Katharine raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Oh, so you're worried about your reputation now? Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me."

Luciel groaned, running a hand through his hair. 

Katharine laughed, the sound light and melodic. "Go on, get to class. I'll clean up here and make myself scarce."

Luciel hesitated for a moment, but the clock was ticking. He gave her a quick nod before bolting out the door, his heart racing as he sprinted down the hallway.