After Nyx stepped out of the room, a peculiar sight awaited her. The classmates she had been assigned to — Lirien and Vireon — were standing just outside.
Vireon was looking in their direction, clearly noticing their presence, while Lirien kept her eyes fixed on the floor. Both wore their usual outfits, Vireon in her lab coat and uniform, while Lirien wore her dress from earlier.
Nyx stopped in her tracks, causing Cael to halt beside her.
“Friend, how’d it go?” Vireon asked, though her gaze flicked briefly toward Cael.
“…Did you guys help me?” Nyx asked quietly.
Vireon’s lips curled into an amused smile. "Why yes~ though it wasn't just because I wanted you in my debt, of course not~" she said playfully, then added with a mock sigh, “Honestly, I was simply astonished by that professor’s hypocrisy. Truly appalling—especially coming from a professor herself.”
“…I see. Thank you very much,” Nyx replied with a soft smile. It might not have meant much, but the truth remained—Vireon had helped her. Still, Nyx couldn’t help feeling a twinge of guilt as she spoke. “I’m grateful for the help.”
Vireon smiled; her deep grin softened slightly as she replied, “Hearing praise from the almighty Nyx—who absolutely crushed those girls’ composure. Truly, an arcane major befitting of an S-rank. Everyone’s shaking... even me. It truly makes my heart tingle~” she teased, causing Nyx to flinch as her face flushed red.
“Ugh... please don’t tease me... I’m already regretting what I did just now...” Nyx mumbled, lowering her head and covering her face with a hand.
Vireon chuckled softly at the sight, then her tone gentled. “Don’t worry, I won’t be taking any debts for this one. What you’ve shown earlier is more than enough... my friend.”
Her words carried no trace of jest, yet her gaze soon shifted toward Cael, standing quietly beside Nyx.
“More importantly, how’ve you been, Mr. Aldyvorn?”
Cael, however, paid her no mind. He simply looked past her, his expression indifferent.
That was when—nudge. Nyx lightly elbowed his shoulder, her face still burning. Her expression, however, was edged with frustration as her eyes darted toward him, clearly urging him to say something.
Cael blinked, puzzled... but he wasn’t so dull as to miss what those gestures meant. He let out a quiet sigh.
Cael looked at Vireon with a faint frown. “...I’m fine,” he said, his tone laced with annoyance.
Though his words were little more than a rebuttal, Vireon couldn’t help but widen her eyes in surprise. This man—usually as still as stone and utterly indifferent—had actually responded from a single nudge.
A single nudge.
Her lips curled into an amused smile as her eyes glinted with curiosity. 'How fascinating... Someone who naturally draws the attention of exceptional individuals.'
Still, Cael’s frown deepened, perhaps expecting her to reply. So, she did.
“Ahem, yes... You’re fine indeed,” Vireon managed, though her reply came out awkwardly.
That only made Cael’s expression grow colder.
“What...?” Cael muttered — his voice so cold it jolted Nyx out of her embarrassed state.
Meanwhile, Nyx glanced between the two, utterly baffled, wondering just how deep this man’s charm truly ran.
“You know that’s not what I meant,” Vireon said with a smile — one that looked sharp enough to kill. Truly.
But then, her eyes glinted. Her deadly smile softened into a teasing one as she leaned forward slightly, her tone playful and deliberate, her fingers idly tracing along her own silhouette as if to emphasize her words.
“But... if the heir of the Aldyvorn wants to—”
“I’m going first, Nyx. I've left my class but I might be able to go back,” Cael interrupted with a sigh.
Nyx could only think, 'There’s no way that’s true...' After all, it was clear Cael was trying to escape the situation. Still, it was true that she’d caused him some trouble. So she replied softly,
“Y-yes, thank you for the help. Truly.”
Cael turned his back and nodded gently, accepting her gratitude. He didn’t speak, knowing that if he did, his irritation might slip through. So, he simply left.
Now, only three of them remained.
Something lingered in Nyx’s mind, but what truly bothered her was the stillness of the girl behind Vireon. She turned her gaze toward her.
“Umm, Lirien. Are you alright?” Nyx asked softly.
Lirien jolted, breaking free from the silence that had clung to her the entire time. It almost felt as if only two people had been in the room until now—her presence so quiet it was like she feared making a single sound.
Her eyes darted downward, refusing to meet Nyx’s gaze as she spoke in a meek, trembling voice. “I... I apologize. I do not deserve your gratitude. I... hardly did anything to help. I was utterly useless.”
But instead of rebuke, what she received was a gentle pat on the back. Startled, she lifted her gaze to find Nyx smiling warmly at her.
“That’s completely fine. I also went overboard earlier,” Nyx said, her tone light. “So if you really want to repay me, then stop me if I ever try something reckless again.”
Lirien’s eyes flickered, then steadied with quiet resolve. “Understood... I shall do my utmost to stop my rival next time. After all, as your rival, it is only natural that I keep you in check—especially when you start getting... frightening.”
Nyx flinched at that last word, her cheeks flushing. “I-I see... Only when I’m being unreasonable, alright?” she replied quickly, changing the subject. “Anyway, where’s the girl from earlier?”
“She’s not available right now,” Vireon answered, her tone turned cold. “Those students who tormented her are... dealing with their own troubles right this exact moment~.”
Nyx felt a chill run down her spine. Truly... when this woman decided to act, mana or not, she would always find a way to make things right... terrifyingly so.
Lirien then turned to Nyx, her voice gentle. “Nyx… would you like to join us for lunch?”
“…Sorry, Lirien. I’m quite tired right now, so I’ll probably rest for today,” Nyx replied softly.
Lirien’s shoulders slumped slightly, her tone tinged with disappointment. “I see… that’s unfortunate. Then, perhaps another time, when you’re free.”
__________________________________________________
Footsteps echoed through the lonesome hall.
Cael walked slowly, his pace steady yet heavy.
As he moved farther down the corridor, a thought gnawed at him—one that had lingered since the very beginning.
He knew the truth best.
He hadn’t done anything to help. He had been useless.
So why… why had Nyx thanked him with such sincerity?
Then, from the opposite direction, another set of footsteps approached. A man with dazzling golden hair—Prince Orion—strode confidently down the hall. His eyes met Cael’s, a smirk tugging at his lips, sharp and infuriating.
As they passed each other, Orion murmured, his tone dripping with mockery.
“…Good luck.”
Cael briefly glanced at him, his gaze cold—so cold it could freeze the air between them. His thoughts spiraled for a fleeting moment, if he could—
No… never mind.
He quickly dismissed the thought, and continued walking without another word. His footsteps faded down the corridor, steady and unbothered.
Left behind, Prince Orion watched his retreating figure, his smirk faltering. His expression twisted, the faint edge of disdain surfacing in his golden eyes.
“…Imbecile.”
__________________________________________________
Buzz—
The sound of insects echoed through the looming night. Inside one of the rooms lay Nyx, wrapped in the comfortable embrace of her bed, her feet dangling off the edge, her delicate forearms draped over her eyes.
Then came a soft series of knocks—Knock, knock, knock.
"Lady Nyx, may I come in?"
The voice was elegant and composed—it was Elaris.
Nyx lowered her arms, letting the warm light spill into her vision, revealing the exquisite room around her.
“…Yes,” she murmured, still staring at the ceiling. “Please do so.”
Elaris entered gracefully, carrying a tray of food—an assortment of dishes, each plated with care and glistening with mouthwatering appeal.
But Elaris simply set the tray down on the table, then walked over to the windows and quietly closed them. Afterward, she sat at the edge of the bed and spoke softly.
“Lady Nyx… would you like to eat?”
Her voice carried a hint of worry. “I understand why you always skip breakfast, Lady Nyx… but you haven’t eaten anything all day,” she added, softly caressing the fabric of the bed as her eyes grew distant, touched by something unspoken. “Please, at least have some lunch and dinner.”
Her gaze lingered on Nyx for a moment longer before she whispered, almost to herself,
“Truly… what would Lady Nyx do while I’m not here…”
Nyx knew what those words entailed, though she couldn’t be fully certain. That’s why she asked softly,
“…Is that the reason you’re not with me during those times?”
Yes... those moments when Elaris was strangely absent, even though attendants were supposed to remain by their master’s side at all times. After all, how could they attend to their young masters if they weren’t there?
Nyx had noticed it before—not only Elaris, but the attendants of others as well. Erica, the Saintess, and even Vireon’s attendants were absent at those same hours.
Elaris flinched, her gaze dropping to the floor.
“…Yes and no,” she replied vaguely after a pause.
Nyx tilted her head slightly, puzzled by the ambiguous answer.
“In the first few days, we were briefed on every location within the academy and taught how to act in various situations,” Elaris continued. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to tell you about it sooner, Lady Nyx…”
Then, after a brief silence, Elaris added, “As for the ‘no’... yes, most of the time we were tasked with what the academy calls maintenance. It means we were tested for our capabilities, and afterward,” she paused briefly before continuing, “most of my absences came from the informal discussions regarding the Academy Restoration Act.”
“I see,” Nyx murmured. Strangely, those words brought her a sense of comfort. The simple act of understanding, even just a little, felt soothing, and she found herself smiling faintly.
Still, curiosity lingered. “Is the Academy Restoration Act really that... threatening?” she asked, puzzled.
After all, even in the game, that act had been little more than background chatter. Nothing of true importance had ever come from it. She remembered it as a trivial detail, something that never held any real weight. Yet now, it was causing far too much trouble.
But one thing Nyx knew for certain...
It had never succeeded. Not even once.
Yet she didn’t know the reason why, and because of that, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything directly to Elaris. Words like “Don’t worry about it” would have held no weight.
Regardless, she murmured, “I don’t think it’s that much of a trouble.”
Nyx watched Elaris closely, studying her reaction, hoping that her words could at least bring a little comfort to the worried maid. But strangely enough, Elaris only responded with a soft, serene smile. Even so, Nyx felt an uneasy chill crawl up her spine, a faint fear she couldn’t quite place.
“…Yes, that’s what we thought as well, until recently,” Elaris said quietly. “But over the past few days… they’ve been gaining an overwhelming amount of support—especially from the common people.”
Her expression darkened into a grimace. “But… just recently—actually, just today, while Lady Nyx was serving suspension.”
What Nyx had thought to be nothing more than idle chatter to fill the spaces within game dialogues—
“The Third Prince, the most influential of them all, has officially declared his support for the Act.”
—had turned into something far more sinister.
"..."
Nyx’s eyes widened, her breath hitched, words catching in her throat. But as she gathered what little strength she could, only a single word escaped her trembling lips.
“What?”
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| Chapter 50 - Shifting Tides