Nobody said a word on the walk back to the academy.
Sera led the way with her head down, keeping her eyes on the path.
Theron trailed a few steps behind her, quiet.
The other four brought up the rear, their faces tight with tension.
The adrenaline from the beast attack was wearing off, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Sera moved slowly, exhausted from the day.
She hadn’t uttered a single sentence since leaving the woods.
Lucien snapped under the quiet pressure.
He pulled up beside Theron.
”So,” Lucien started with a smirk.
”Do you just wander around the forest fighting beasts for fun?” ”Or is this your regular routine?” ”Because I’m impressed.” ”A little jealous, but impressed.” Theron didn’t turn his head.
His gold eyes stayed fixed ahead.
”I was patrolling the border,” he said plainly.
”The beast locked onto her.” ”I handled it.” ”That’s it?” Lucien laughed softly.
”No dramatic backstory?” ”No speech about destiny?” ”No emotional dialogue?” ”No,” Theron replied flatly.
”There was no need for that.” Lucien glanced at Sera, then back at the newcomer.
”Fair enough.” ”You don’t talk much.” ”I actually approve.” ”At least you don’t waste time playing games.” Sera kept her mouth shut.
Her mind was spinning.
Theron hadn’t tried to put on a performance.
He had simply shielded her when she was in danger.
Down in her chest, that blend of gold and silver magic was humming softly beneath her ribs.
The golden heat mixed cleanly with the silver dragon scale magic.
It felt balanced and clear.
Her palm retained a subtle warmth.
Once at the dorms, Caelum slammed the door shut.
He checked Sera for injuries, then turned to Theron.
”Alright, Vale,” Caelum said in a low tone.
”If you’re jumping into this, you need to understand how things work.” ”Nothing around Sera is simple.” ”We are dealing with politics, the Temple, and eyes everywhere.” ”You can’t do this half-heartedly.” Theron gave a solid nod.
”I know.” ”That is why I am standing here.” Riven leaned against the wall, crossing his arms.
”How long have you been trailing her?” ”Since Livia tried to corner her the first time,” Theron admitted openly.
”I was on guard duty near the fences.” ”I picked up a strange magic spike.” ”So I kept an eye on things.” Kairos stepped closer.
”And you didn’t think to approach her until now?” ”Why wait until a beast attacked?” ”Because there was no need before today,” Theron answered simply.
”Direct action matters more than conversation.” ”I step in when there is real trouble.” Sera looked up at his face.
”Are you…
here for my power too?” Theron met her gaze head-on.
”No.” ”I felt the energy flare up, sure.” ”But I ran over because you were walking into the woods alone.” ”And because a wild creature was tracking you down.” ”Whatever other reasons exist, we can worry about them later.” ”Right now, that is enough.” The room went dead silent.
Nobody knew how to counter that level of honesty.
Lucien let out a low whistle.
”Well.” ”He’s surprisingly straightforward.” ”He doesn’t lie or over-explain.” Sera looked at her open palms as the faint light faded under her skin.
”Thank you,” she murmured quietly.
”Really.” ”Don’t worry about it,” Theron said.
”Just stop running off into the woods alone.” ”The wild creatures around the border have been acting restless lately.” ”There is a severe mana fluctuation spreading around the grounds.” By morning, the academy courtyard was packed with students rushing to class.
Sera pulled her bag over her shoulder when Livia stepped right into her path, flanked by her two usual followers.
Livia wore that same mocking expression Sera was sick of seeing.
Today, Livia looked noticeably more aggressive.
”Well, look who showed up,” Livia shouted across the yard.
”Back from your field trip in the jungle?” ”I heard a beast almost made a snack out of you.” ”Have you become that important now?” ”Do monsters hunt you down just to be near your pathetic aura?” ”Did you go from a complete Zero to a monster magnet overnight?” Passing students stopped to watch.
A wave of snickering whispered through the crowd.
Sera adjusted her bag strap slowly.
She looked directly at Livia, without any fear or panic.
Her face remained completely calm, almost bored.
She didn’t retreat or lower her eyes.
”Livia,” Sera said, her voice steady.
”Your information network is fast.” ”News from the deep woods reaches you before the instructors even hear about it.” ”Perhaps that is your true talentterms commenting on everyone else’s business because your own life is completely empty.” Livia’s smile dropped.
”Excuse me?” Livia hissed, stepping forward.
”You’re talking back to me now?” ”You used to keep your mouth shut and cower.” ”Did you magically find some cheap confidence out in the dirt?” ”I used to think keeping quiet was smarter,” Sera said, completely unfazed.
”But I learned something recently.” ”Some people talk even more when you don’t respond.” ”So I am done staying quiet.” ”I am going to give you a clear answer from now on.” Livia stepped into her personal space.
”You think you’re tough now just because you survived?” ”Without people standing behind you, you are still nothing.” ”Even your own family doesn’t want” ”My family,” Sera interrupted sharply, cutting through the courtyard like a blade.
”Is stuck under your mother’s control.” ”I am not.” ”How many times do I have to remind you of that?” ”You keep running back to the exact same argument.” ”It’s getting predictable and boring.” A few students whispered in surprise.
Livia’s left sidekick took a nervous step backward.
The other follower stared at her shoes, trying to disappear.
Livia’s face flushed a deep red.
”You arrogant little” ”I have better things to do,” Sera said smoothly.
”Your time might be useless, but mine isn’t.” ”Go waste your energy on someone who actually cares.” She walked straight past Livia without a second thought, moving with calm control.
Livia remained frozen in the courtyard, completely out of words.
The surrounding crowd was staring at Livia now, some grinning at her embarrassment.
Theron was leaning against a stone pillar a short distance away, having watched the encounter.
As Sera walked past, he spoke softly.
”Good.” Sera kept her gaze straight ahead.
”I am not the same person I used to be.” ”I can tell,” Theron replied, keeping pace.
”It shows.” ”You used to let people push you until you broke.” ”Not anymore.” Sera paused near the library steps.
”I am heading inside the library now.” ”By myself.” Theron didn’t try to follow.
”Fine.” ”I will stay close enough to handle anything that comes up, but at a distance.” Sera gave a brief nod and pushed through the heavy doors.
The memory of Livia’s stunned expression burned vividly in her mind.
For the first time, Sera felt a genuine shift inside herself.
She was no longer just an innocent target waiting for someone else to protect her.
She was someone who could stand her ground and hit back when provoked.
She could do it using her own mind, without screaming, and without relying on anyone else’s help.
Down in her bloodstream, her internal golden heat stirred gently alongside the cool silver light of her magic.
The two powers swirled together in harmony.
This time, Sera didn’t fight the power or try to suppress it.
She welcomed the strength completely.
She clenched her fist as she stepped down the quiet library aisle.
She was no longer just trying to survive.
She was finally standing up and fighting back on her own terms.