章 66: The start of the tournament

A week had passed since Lise's departure, and my days were consumed with classes and intense training for the upcoming magic tournament. Despite Lise's absence, my relationship with Thalira flourished.

We spent a lot of time together, and her affectionate and flirty nature made each day enjoyable. Still, there was an undeniable void—one that Thalira's charm couldn't entirely fill.

Memories of Lise lingered, especially the intimate moments we shared, like when she had touched me so deeply. I found myself lost in those thoughts more often than I cared to admit.

I tried to push those memories away, but they had a way of sneaking up on me, causing my cheeks to flush with a mix of embarrassment and longing. Shaking my head to clear the haze of thoughts, I realized I'd walked much farther than my usual 5 kilometers.