A full week had passed since that chaotic day.
Aira had already left the kingdom. She said she had far more important matters to deal with elsewhere. I didn't ask for specifics—whatever it was, it was clearly something heavy.
The kingdom was healing. Slowly but surely, the damage to the walls had been repaired. Life was starting to return to normal, at least on the surface. But not for everyone. Some losses simply couldn't be rebuilt—families who lost loved ones still carried the hollow silence of grief in their eyes. That pain lingered like a storm cloud in the distance, always threatening to pour.
As for me, I hadn't wasted a second.
I threw myself into training with an almost desperate intensity, and just a few days ago, I finally reached Peak Layer. I should've felt proud, maybe even a bit cocky—but instead, I only felt how far I still had to go.
Thanks to Queen Evelyn's assistance, my progress had accelerated. Her insights,they were a blessing I didn't take for granted. But I never allowed anyone, not even her, to witness the full extent of my abilities. Especially not my Legendary Spell or Calm Sea. Those two were mine alone—for now.
I let out a soft sigh as I stared down at the maid outfit folded neatly on the bed.
Again?
Lucy had insisted—more like demanded—I wear it. Apparently, it had become her favorite. I gave in, not because I lacked backbone, but because arguing with her when she was in one of her moods was more exhausting than training.
The competition had been postponed for a month due to the attack—and because of Leon. Word around the academy was that he'd already broken through to the 3-Star Early Layer. I couldn't help but smile bitterly at the news. Despite all my progress, I still felt helpless when I stood in the presence of overwhelming power.
Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of the royal family, had been appearing more frequently in my life too. We often crossed paths in the gardens or training grounds. Though she always wore an expression of detached calm, I noticed a certain curiosity in her eyes whenever we talked. She didn't say much, but I could feel it—my talent had caught her attention.
And now, I found myself once again in Lucy's room—though at this point, it might as well be our room.
I lay there like a plush toy, her arms wrapped around me like a child holding onto her favorite stuffed animal. Her breathing was soft, warm against my skin, and her lips curled into a comfortable smile as she nuzzled against me.
She licked her lips absentmindedly, her eyes drifting down to my neck with a hungry gleam that sent a chill down my spine.
"Lucy," I said with a nervous chuckle. "It's already night. How about we go to sleep?"
She didn't respond.
Instead, she leaned in closer. Her lips brushed against my neck, and for a moment I thought she was just teasing.
Then I felt it—sharp pain.
I gasped. "Ah—L-Lucy?!"
She bit down harder. It wasn't just a nip. She bit me, deeply. I groaned, pain rippling through me, and yet… somehow it only seemed to ignite something deeper in her.
Her tongue traced over the wound she created, and I flinched as she licked slowly, almost lovingly. A mix of saliva and blood trailed down my collarbone. When she finally pulled back, her eyes were half-lidded, glowing with a possessive glint.
"You're mine," she whispered without saying a word. Her actions said enough.
She stared at the bite mark as if admiring a work of art, then pulled me closer again, squeezing me tightly as though afraid I'd disappear. I sighed, irritated but helpless. My neck throbbed, and when I tried to heal it with a basic spell, Lucy immediately glared at me, eyes sharp like a hawk's.
"Don't," her voice was low, commanding. "Leave it."
So I left it.
And fell asleep, neck aching and slightly annoyed.
---
The next morning, Lucy was already gone. The Queen had tasked her with supervising the continued reconstruction of the walls, a duty Lucy took seriously. That gave me time and freedom to train without distractions.
My Exorcist Spell had finally reached 70% proficiency. The results were tangible—it was better, enhance myself about 4x, and more precise. Calm Sea was already perfect, its meditative effects helping me stay centered and focused. My Levitation Spell was still lacking, only at around 46%, and my Legendary Spell remained a mystery even to me, stuck at a paltry 10%. Still, even with those numbers, my current power could rival that of a 4-Star.
Sophia had kept busy helping displaced families and injured civilians. She was a blur of kindness and work ethic.
Elizabeth, on the other hand, remained a mystery. She had no specific duties assigned to her, so she often wandered the grounds, lost in thought. The more we talked, the more I realized how different she was beneath the surface. Cold, distant, regal—yes. But also curious, thoughtful, and surprisingly… kind.
Also tall. Very tall.
Taller than Lucy, in fact. Which made me feel like a dwarf whenever we stood side by side. That fact annoyed me far more than it should've.
With a long sigh, I continued my training in the open courtyard, dressed—regrettably—in my maid costume. As usual, it attracted stares, but I ignored them.
Just then, I heard a deep, amused giggle behind me.
"Hm? A maid dress again?"
I turned around to see Elizabeth, her face impassive as always, but her tone held a teasing lilt that made me raise an eyebrow.
I sat down, brushing the dirt from my knees. "Lucy insists. Says it helps her relax."
She nodded solemnly, then leaned down, eyes scanning me with a strange glint.
"Hmm…" she muttered thoughtfully.
Before I could ask what she meant, she suddenly reached out and pinched both of my cheeks, her fingers surprisingly cold.
"H-Hey!" I squirmed in surprise.
She blinked, snapping out of whatever daze she was in, and pulled back awkwardly. "Ah—sorry. Instinct. I've been on break lately. My pent-up stress… got the better of me."
I rubbed my cheeks, sighing. "I'm used to it. For some reason, everyone wants to squeeze my cheeks."
She chuckled under her breath, clearly amused. "You really have no idea of your charm."She speaks it too silently i could barely hear it
I tilted my head. "Huh?"
She just smiled and said nothing more.
After a moment of silence, I cleared my throat. "Would you… like to train together?"
She nodded "Sure i could help."
And so, we trained—me in my ridiculous maid outfit, her with her graceful, effortless movements. Surprisingly, her guidance helped me improve faster than expected. She didn't hold back, and her words were always precise.
Somehow, training with her felt… refreshing.
Even peaceful.
And for now, that was enough..
[Thanks for the powerstone well i can't really do what i said 3 powerstone per chapter when i just got bombarded with 81 powerstone T-T I'll take a break Tommorow]