Emilia’s breathing was shallow as she lay sprawled on the edge of the sofa, her face flushed and glistening with a thin layer of sweat.
I handed her a glass of water, watching as she shot me a half-hearted glare, clearly still recovering from the intensity of the spell.
Her cheeks were a deep shade of pink, and tiny beads of sweat traced down her face, giving her an almost feverish look.
Despite her glare, there was a softness in her gaze that hinted she wasn’t truly angry
I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.
Instead, she made a small, adorable “hmph!” and turned her head away, still catching her breath.
Under normal circumstances, touching her like this, even if it was just to help clean up after the ritual, could have landed me in serious trouble.
There were unspoken boundaries, especially with someone of her position and status, but in her current state, she was unable to move properly on her own.
The toll the spell had taken on her left her limbs weak, her body too drained to resist.
In this vulnerable moment, she had no choice but to rely on me, even if she wouldn’t say it aloud.
Watching her, I felt slightly bad.
It was my first time transferring mana directly, and every time I tried to adjust the flow, it only seemed to make her squirm more, sending an uncomfortable warmth spreading through me.
“Are you feeling any better now?”
Emilia exhaled shakily, glancing up at me with a mixture of embarrassment and exhaustion.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Enna’s gaze softened, her initial frustration melting away as she sank deeper into the sofa.
She let out a sigh, eyes drifting toward the magic circle that now lay quiet on the floor, then back to me.
Eventually, a small smile spread across her tired face, the exhaustion replaced by a soft glow of satisfaction.
To be honest, I didn’t feel any immediate change.
My mana still pulsed as usual, and physically, there wasn’t any striking difference.
Still, a lingering doubt sat in the back of my mind.
Would this really be so simple?
Part of me wondered if this “cure” might eventually backfire.
Yet, no warnings had flashed, no ominous system messages looming over me.
If anything, the absence of the system’s usual red flags seemed like an assurance that what we’d done didn’t directly tamper with the core events.
It was a bit of a bitter pill to swallow, realizing that today’s efforts didn’t seem to lessen the impending threat from her in the slightest.
Her pride was undeniable, her cheeks flushing slightly as she basked in the acknowledgment.
I couldn’t help the quiet chuckle that slipped out.
She was trying so hard to hide it, yet the slightest mention of her own achievements made her blush like a child caught in a fib.
If she wanted to keep her identity as the Saintess hidden, she still had some work to do on her poker face.
“It’s nothing,” I replied with a small grin. “I just remembered something funny.”
“I-is that so?” She looked at me, her expression softening.
As I moved to leave, she attempted to get up, but I gently pushed her back down onto the sofa.
“What are you doing?” she protested.
“Take some rest, Junior. You’re already exhausted, aren’t you?”
“No means no.” I gave her a look, pointing to her wobbly legs. “You can barely stand properly. How exactly are you going to escort me? Besides, if your guards see you collapse in front of them, they’ll probably kill me first and ask questions later.”
She paused, biting her lip as she considered.
She raised her hand in a mock-threatening gesture, tracing her finger across her neck with a stern look that was meant to intimidate but only made her look like a feisty little hamster trying to look fierce. It was cute enough to be disarming.
Smiling, I gave her a gentle nod and, on impulse, reached out to pat her head. She squirmed, her cheeks flushing a deeper red, but she didn’t pull away.
“Once again thanks for everything, Junior. Really,” I murmured, ruffling her hair lightly.
Why is this girl so innocently cute?
Heading out, I gave Emilia one last wave. She smiled and waved back, her tired face brightening for a moment.
As I opened the door, I half-expected Anna and Amon to be waiting with their usual glares and a parting threat.
Outside, Anna and Amon were standing near the doorway, looking unusually shaken.
They were breathing heavily, and their faces were pale as if they’d seen a ghost.
They both struggled to even stand straight, gripping their chests as they tried to catch their breath.
“Are you two alright?”
Amon ignored me entirely, still clutching his chest, his gaze distant and unfocused.
Anna, however, shot me a quick glare, as if I was the source of her troubles.
Before I could say more, she grabbed my hand, shoving me away from the door.
“If you’re done with your business, then get out!” she hissed, her voice unusually harsh as she pulled Amon inside Emilia’s room and slammed the door behind her with a sharp bang.
Shaking my head, I left them to whatever was going on and made my way back to my dorm as discreetly as possible.
But, unfortunately, you have to make do with what you have.
If my timing is right, I could clear the place before it causes havoc in the library.
A jagged red arc of lightning sliced through the air, its eerie crackling accompanied by a faint, whistling hiss.
The strike cleaved through two white-armored knights as if they were mere paper.
Their bodies split cleanly, each half shimmering with a fading glow before their forms shattered like fragile glass, their mana dispersing in flickering wisps that dissolved into the air.
Alice exhaled, watching the scene with a mixture of frustration and exhaustion.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
“Why, of course! I made sure none of the strays you missed survived,” he replied proudly, his small feline paw materializing with a flourish. He twirled a phantom mustache with his whiskers, looking every bit the self-satisfied trickster.
“Yes, none! You wound me, Master,” Cheshire purred, giving a mock bow as his ears twitched with amusement. “I have my pride too, you know. It’s not just about looking fabulous.”
Alice sighed, rubbing her temples. It was hard to tell what Cheshire meant half the time, but as long as no enemies slipped past, she supposed that was what mattered.
“Any idea why?” Alice’s voice was tense. Just a month ago, they’d decimated an entire pawn wave in the fantastical realm, dealing a serious blow to the White Queen’s forces.
Yet this time, not only had she sent a massive wave in the fantastical realm, but there were also high-ranking pieces, like knights, now breaching the real world.
As the only one capable of sealing the fractures between the fantastical realm and the real world, she and Cheshire were the sole defense holding back the relentless waves the White Queen sent forth.
Cheshire floated close, his usual playful aura shadowed with concern.
He didn’t like it, not one bit. Cheshire knew about Alice’s unyielding promise to the White Queen, a pledge that had become a heavy chain tethering her to a fate laced with danger.
Yet, Cheshire also knew his loyalty had limits. If that promise meant Alice’s end, he’d defy her orders without a second thought.
Alice cast a glance up at the starry sky, the weight on her body steadily increasing, exhaustion seeping into her bones.
She wanted to make sure everything’s clear one more time but it seems exhaustion has already gotten the better of her.
She hated the idea of resting in a random forest clearing, but this time, she had no choice.
Her legs gave out, and she sank against the rough bark of an old tree, barely holding herself up.
Cheshire replied, his grin widening, a hint of mischief gleaming in his eyes.
Despite a flicker of concern at his expression, Alice knew he wouldn’t let any real harm come to her.
Her trust in him unwavering, she closed her eyes, finally surrendering to the much-needed rest her body demanded.
As she drifted off, Cheshire’s grin widened even more.
…
The soft murmur brushed against my ears, pulling me sharply awake.
My heart raced as I felt arms tighten around my chest, holding me close, her grip firm and warm.
This isn’t a dream, right?
I turned my head, cautiously glancing to my side.
All I could see was a cascade of pink hair spread across the pillow, soft and silky, framing her beautiful, peaceful face.
It was Alice, fast asleep right next to me, her body nestled up to mine like a koala clinging to its tree.
Carefully, I tried to edge away, hoping to slip out without waking her.
She mumbled, sounding half-asleep and a little like she was drunk, her arms pulling me even closer.
Seriously, what the heck is going on?
