Chương 34: Aurelia's Determination (2)

Aurelia's POV

After a few minutes, I stopped crying and resolutely told Aunt Eleanor my decision.

"Aunty, I want to transfer to the Ice Emperor City branch of our New Moon Magic Academy," I declared firmly. My tone made it clear that I would not take no for an answer. Transferring to the Northern Glacial Region's most prestigious magic academy required a professor's recommendation and guarantee, and Aunt Eleanor was my best hope.

Her expression darkened as she set down the beaker she'd been working on. Turning to me, her voice carried both concern and frustration.

"Why would you want to go there, so far away from your home and family? You don't know anyone there, Aurelia. Do you have any idea how dangerous that city can be for someone like you? Beautiful young women with exceptional magic talents like yours attract all sorts of predators."

She paused, her gaze sharp as ice. "Those noble mage families will see you as nothing more than a trophy. They'll stop at nothing to claim you for their lineage. To families with dwindling magical bloodlines, you're a godsend. They'll offer you riches with one hand while trapping you with the other."

Her words made my stomach twist slightly, but I'd already anticipated this. Aunt Eleanor wasn't wrong our family might hold a dukedom in name but we neither had the power nor influence to compare with the noble houses of Ice Emperor City.

I clenched my fists and met her worried gaze with determination. "Aunty, I know all that. But I need to go there. If I want to grow stronger, if I want to find more information about Ethan's disappearance, Ice Emperor City is the best place for me. My goal is to ascend to the Elemental Sea Mage rank as quickly as possible. After that, I'll travel to the Central Plains with Grandfather to search for him. I know Ethan is out there somewhere, and I refuse to give up on him."

Aunt Eleanor's expression softened, though worry still clouded her eyes. After a moment of silence, she sighed and pulled out an intricately carved badge, a blue peacock crest. She held it out to me with a solemn look.

"This is a keepsake. The Ice Emperor's sister was once my friend, and she's now a professor at the New Moon Magic Academy. Show her this badge, and she'll protect you as much as she can."

The badge was cool in my hand, its surface glowing faintly under the soft light. A wave of relief and gratitude washed over me. I carefully stored it in my spatial ring.

"I'll handle the transfer letter," Aunt Eleanor continued, "but I'll need to speak with Duke Aelric and your parents first. Now, off to your class you've already caused enough trouble for one day."

As I walked through the snow-covered pathways toward the lecture hall, a voice I didn't want to hear called out to me.

"Wait, Aurelia!"

The voice was tired but eager, grating on my nerves. My steps faltered as I suppressed the irritation bubbling inside me. I didn't turn around.

"I have no business with you Draven Lucerra. Can you please stop following me every time. I have already said that I will never be yours and I already have someone I love.", hearing my reply I knew that this hateful bugger will not go away.

"I just want to talk! Why do you always treat me like this?" Draven appeared in front of me, blocking my path. His face wore its usual false charm, a look I despised very much.

Pretending to be frustrated he continued, "Everyone knows how much I care about you. Who is this person you claim to love, huh? Where is he? If that bastard really loved you, he wouldn't leave you alone for years, would he?"

Draven Lucerra had blond hair blue eyes and a handsome face. He was popular in the academy's girls but his fixation towards me and me constantly rejecting their prince charming increased the dislike many girls had towards me. He belonged to the third great mage family of the Dark North City, The Lucerra family.

They specialised in light magic and were known as a kind and compassionate family. But I knew their true faces, behind their gentle and kind faces were ruthless slave traders in true sense with ties to the Central Heartland and they even had backing from the Ice Emperor City.

From the past few decades they had been trying overtly and covertly to undermine our influence in magic circles and various businesses. Draven was the third generation scion of the Lucerra family

His words stoked a fire in my chest. My anger flared, and before I knew it, I'd slapped him across the face.

The sound echoed through the courtyard. Draven's blue eyes widened in shock as he touched his cheek, his confidence shattered for the briefest moment. I glared at him, my voice like frost. "Don't you dare speak of Ethan that way again. This will teach you to stop bothering me."

Without giving him time to respond, I pushed past him and continued toward the lecture hall.

Draven's POV

For a moment, I stood frozen, stunned. I Draven Lucerra, a scion of the great Lucerra family had been slapped. By her this little bitch.

The icy burn of humiliation seared through me, and my shock gave way to fury. How dare she?!

This red-haired girl Aurelia was supposed to be mine. I had been patient, treating her rejection as a game, a chase to make the prize sweeter. She would have fit perfectly into my future harem.

I was offering her the honour of being part of the Lucerra lineage, a family with influence in the Luminous Cradle Empire itself. And yet, she humiliated me in front of everyone.

You will regret this you slut, I vowed my fists clenching at my sides.

I turned sharply and walked away from the academy grounds, my thoughts growing darker with each step. My time here was over. The family's mission would soon take us to Ice Emperor City, and when it did… I would make that bitch regret ever defying me.