Chapter 133
He transformed into a figure almost invisible, a faint shadow slipping swiftly between leaves that rustled as the wind passed through.
Each leap and pull of his arms was a well-trained choreography, as though the tremor of wood and the whisper of leaves were part of his own breath.
Within seconds that felt like frozen time, he had reached the height he wanted—a crossroads of sturdy branches that concealed him perfectly from the view below.
From here, the scenery spread out clearly.
The all-male Star Academy dormitory stood firmly in his line of sight, its windows glowing dimly like fireflies in the darkness.
The night wind blew stronger at this height, carrying cold murmurs that tried to slip through the seams of his thick jacket.
However, Theo's body no longer trembled.
The adrenaline from his rapid climb and his burning focus had become a natural shield.
'I climbed this high for a reason.
Because from here, I can catch every subtle movement between the two of them.'
Wuffffh!
'That curtain may be tightly shut, but their shadows still pierce through it.
The light in Ilux's room makes both silhouettes appear as clear as paintings on thin canvas.'
Fiiiih!
'As long as the shadows are visible, I won't miss a single detail of their conversation or gestures.
One could say this place is perfect.
And I will not move until everything is over.'
From behind the thick foliage above, the figure sat frozen at the branch crossing, his eyes fixed on the window illuminated by dim light from within.
The thick curtain blocked direct view, but it couldn't hide the shapes of the two figures reflected behind the fabric.
The two silhouettes moved within a silent narrative—one tall and tense, the other shorter and seemingly limp—reflecting a serious conversation that even the night wind seemed to quiet itself to listen to.
Every movement of those shadows resembled a puppet play that risked more than mere words, an intimate drama somehow more stirring than witnessing it directly.
The taller figure, later known to be Ilux, appeared to invite his guest, Aldraya, to step further into the room.
Aldraya's shadow moved slowly, burdened, as if each step carried the weight of the world on her fragile shoulders.
From his hidden position, Theo Vkytor could observe every tiny detail of their interaction—from the way Aldraya bowed her head to Ilux's gestures that occasionally lifted his hand as though giving explanations or perhaps offering comfort.
Even with the window tightly closed, their voices still reached him faintly, carried by the thick silence of the night and the tree's structure that seemed to act as a natural sound channel.
Every word, every breath, every pause that might hold meaning traveled through the cold air and reached his ears with an almost unbelievable clarity.
Theo didn't need to strain his hearing to understand the core of their conversation.
Aldraya would speak of leaving, of a farewell that could never be undone, while Ilux responded heavily, burdened with responsibility and perhaps unspoken regret.
Up there, in the intensifying cold of the night, Theo watched a crucial chapter of someone's life soon approaching its end, a moment that might never be repeated.
"Uh… I don't even know where to begin."
"Why?"
"I should be the one saying that. And yes, why did you suddenly ask me to meet like this?"
Fhhhh!
"Honestly, I'm curious… does this have something to do with our relationship as student and teacher?
I've tried to guess, but it still feels strange.
Especially since you're not the type of woman who easily does something like this."
From behind the curtain that acted as his screen, Theo watched Ilux's shadow freeze, silent in a quietness louder than words.
The tall figure looked stiff, his shoulders rigid, reflecting deep confusion.
His movements, usually firm and authoritative, now felt restrained by the questions swirling in his mind.
Aldraya, who had purposefully requested this meeting, stood before him with her body slightly inclined, as though waiting for something unspoken.
The space between the two shadows was filled with unseen tension—a hollow waiting to be pierced by the first words to break the silence.
Slowly, Ilux's shadow began to move.
His hand lifted gently, perhaps to wipe his forehead or steady his breath, a gesture signaling his effort to choose the right words.
His head tilted slightly, facing Aldraya's smaller shadow before him, trying to read the meaning behind this sudden request.
Was this about an unfinished assignment? Or advice he had once given her on a rainy afternoon? Or perhaps—something more personal, something long hidden beneath the meaningful gaze of a student?
The air inside the room seemed to thicken with these possibilities, while Theo from afar continued watching, capturing every shift in posture and wave of emotion radiating from behind the curtain.
"Correct. What I'm going to talk about does relate to our relationship as student and teacher."
Fuuuuuh!
"I will not return to this academy once morning comes.
There is something in my hometown that I cannot leave behind.
Something that will take a very long time."
Fiiih!
"I have asked for permission from the head of Star Academy, and my request for leave has been approved.
For now, I won't be teaching.
And now I only need to inform you about this."
Aldraya nodded calmly, her crystal-clear face showing no emotional ripple at all.
Her silver hair reflected the room's light like strands of pearls in the night, emphasizing the impression of a sixteen-year-old girl who somehow held the position of a teacher at Star Academy.
Her movements were graceful yet stiff, like a porcelain doll guided by gears, without excessive smiles or blinking.
She made it clear that this meeting was indeed related to her status as teacher and Ilux's status as student—a statement delivered flatly yet full of meaning.
With a voice still monotone and undisturbed, Aldraya then announced her decision not to return to the academy.
She spoke of an urgent matter in her hometown that required a long time to resolve, a duty she could not abandon.
The head of Star Academy had granted her leave, and now she only needed to inform Ilux, the student who had long been her responsibility.
Every word she uttered fell slowly, measured like drops of water—without tremor, without sorrow, without regret—as though she were talking about someone else entirely.
From behind the curtain, Ilux's shadow appeared frozen upon hearing the announcement.
His normally strong posture seemed drained, his shoulders sinking slightly, his head bowing just a little.
The movement signified disappointment or perhaps profound shock, though he uttered not a single word.
Outside the window, Theo remained vigilant, observing and noting each shift between the two figures, sensing how cold the delivery of such important news felt.
Aldraya stood firm, her hands clasped before her, her eyes—like frozen lakes—staring directly at Ilux.
No apology.
No detailed explanation.
Only a factual statement conveyed with a passiveness that made her even more mysterious.
She had fulfilled her duty to inform him, and now she simply waited for the reaction of the student frozen before her, while the room's light continued illuminating the two shadows in a scene of quiet, muted farewell.
To be continued…