章節 207: End of Inter-Academy Festival III
The embrace was warm, almost grounding, but the chiding followed swiftly.
"Arthur Nightingale," Rachel said, pulling back just enough to give me a look that would have felled lesser men. "Do you have even a sliver of self-preservation? Or does that only apply to everyone else?"
I managed a grin, though even I could feel how worn it was. "It wasn't exactly in my plans to go head-to-head with a walking inferno like Jack."
"Plans?" Cecilia scoffed, crossing her arms with a piercing gaze. "The only thing planned here was how recklessly you threw yourself into that battle. You could've... well, you could've used us."
Seraphina looked at me, her gaze softer but no less intense. "We're all supposed to be fighting together. You're always so quick to shoulder everything yourself, Arthur. If that's going to change, it has to start now."
They all stared, waiting for something between an apology and a promise, and I found myself chuckling despite the fatigue.
"Alright," I said, holding up a hand in mock surrender. "Lesson learned. I'll rely on you three next time... when the opponents aren't borderline madmen hell-bent on wiping me out."
Rachel raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Not good enough. How about next time, you rely on us before you're one hit away from total collapse?"
"Deal," I replied, looking between the three of them, their worry easing just a fraction. It struck me that the weight they each carried in their own ways mirrored mine, and that for once, they were willing to share it.
"Good," Seraphina said quietly. "We need you standing, Arthur. Not scraping by on luck and miracles."
I took her words to heart, feeling a strange lightness settle over me even as I lay there.
"I know. Thank you—all of you—for always being by my side," I said, smiling genuinely.
"Of course, Art." Rachel returned the smile, her head tilting slightly, a touch of warmth softening her gaze.
The three girls each pulled up stools, settling in as we began to talk.
"So, what are your plans for winter break?" Seraphina asked, a spark of curiosity lighting her eyes.
"Well, aside from spending time with my family, I'll be training under the Martial King, then probably heading to the West," I replied.
"The West?" Cecilia echoed, her crimson eyes narrowing with intrigue.
"Yes. I've never been, so I thought I might go with Jin's help," I said, watching them closely.
Rachel leaned forward, her gaze curious. "Jin? Speaking of him, how did you two even become close? He's always been... distant."
"It just happened." I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. After all, "blackmailed him into a mana oath" wasn't exactly the kind of explanation they'd appreciate.
Truthfully, though, my aim was more practical than sentimental. The West held something I needed—an artifact that would soon be auctioned off, an Ancient-grade treasure no one else understood the worth of. But it wouldn't stay hidden for long, especially not in Slatemark territory.
The West. Land under the Ashbluff family's relentless rule—a place unified under their iron grip, where every family served as vassals to that single house at the top. Unlike Slatemark's empire, with its delicate alliances and tangled politics, Ashbluff's control over the Western continent was absolute.
And when Valen Ashbluff, Jin's father, finally reached the ninth circle in spellcasting, that grip would tighten even further.
Valen Ashbluff. A character as complex as a labyrinth, a man nearly impossible to untangle or make sense of. In time, he would reach a level of power comparable to my master's—a near-mythic feat in its own right.
To put it simply, he was a force of nature, a one-man army, his power unmatched by any but the Martial King himself. And with his Immortal-rank necromantic summons and an undead legion numbering in the hundreds of thousands, Valen's influence was not bound by flesh and blood. What kept him from seizing the title of the continent's Rank 1, perhaps the only factor, was Magnus Draykar's own defiance of mortal limits.
Imagining Valen's power, especially once he reached the elusive ninth circle, made me appreciate the Martial King's strength all the more. My master's abilities spanned realms I couldn't yet touch, levels I couldn't even begin to perceive. And yet, I knew—no, I was certain—that my path would have to lead far beyond theirs.
My goal wasn't just to match those monstrous figures. I had to surpass them. In six years, when the world reached the dark era of the Saga of the Divine Swordsman, Volume 7, disasters would shake the land, pushing humanity's very foundations to their limits. Unlike Lucifer, who had a steady ascent, I didn't have the luxury of time. I would need to reach Immortal-rank before that onslaught began.
I blinked, snapping myself out of the looming thoughts of what lay ahead. For now, I turned my attention back to the three who stayed beside me, warmth flickering like a gentle light against the dark horizon of my ambitions.
In that moment, their laughter, their voices, seemed more powerful than any spell, their companionship grounding me in the present.
The day after my discharge from the medical wing, I walked out into the sunlight, feeling both lighter and warier. The Inter-Academy Festival had officially ended, with every competition wrapped up for the year, leaving just one thing left: pure celebration.
The final day was a festival in the truest sense—stalls lined with food and crafts, students milling about, laughter spilling from every corner. Parties sprung up across the grounds, drawing in students from all academies for one last hurrah before they returned home. And of course, I was expected to enjoy it with the three princesses.
As I glanced around the festivities, something niggled at the back of my mind, a subtle worry I hadn't fully acknowledged until now. My friendships had shifted, many of them strained since I'd gotten closer with Rachel, Cecilia, and Seraphina. It wasn't their fault—far from it.
Luke Orden had once been my closest friend, until he tried to kill me, succumbing to demonic temptation. Then there was Lucifer, who'd become distant since the tournament. Ian, though still cordial, held me at arm's length. I'd never been particularly close with Ren, so that hadn't changed, but Jin, while a valuable ally, felt more like a subordinate than a true friend.
Even Rose, who had once been a friend, was a relationship left unfinished—I'd had to turn her down again, and this time with a more honest reason than my last brush-off on Valentine's Day. And Kali, though an unlikely ally, was bound by the mana oath, putting a gulf between us that friendship couldn't truly cross.
"Troublesome," I muttered, scratching the back of my head as the thought settled. I had won the festival, but somewhere along the way, I had neglected what it was that made me more than just a competitor or leader.
I sighed, gazing across the lively crowd. Perhaps it was time to bridge some gaps here.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票