Chapter 497

Forty-eight hours had passed since the deadline for the authorized assignment had elapsed.

The returning pupils were clustered in small gatherings throughout the common room, sharing stories.

“Are you planning on reserving a place to stay for the upcoming Twilight Festival?”

“Absolutely! I’ve already secured my spot!”

“How on earth did you manage that? The race for reservations is usually brutal, isn’t it?”

The primary subject of discussion among the youngsters was the approaching Twilight Festival.

This was a massive celebration that took place once every half-decade.

It was renowned worldwide because it paid tribute to Lumern, the Knight of Twilight, a legendary figure from the Age of Revelation and the original architect of Lumern Academy.

Throughout the duration of the event, countless races and outsiders from all over flocked to join the festivities.

“The Twilight Festival!”

Right at that moment, a door at the edge of the common room slammed open.

It led directly from the study chamber.

The individual who came bursting through was none other than Iliana, a student who didn’t exactly seem like the type to spend hours studying.

“Count me in! Count me in! Let’s map out our itinerary together!”

Iliana eagerly attempted to merge with the group of chatting classmates.

However, a swifter hand intervened, seizing Iliana firmly by the back of her collar.

“Absolutely not.”

The person responsible for stopping her was Cheon Sia.

“Young Master Leo’s personalized instruction hasn’t concluded yet. Where do you think you are going?”

“B-but!”

“Young Master Leo is deliberately carving out his own time for Miss Iliana. Are you suggesting you intend to ignore his kindness?”

“Hiek?!”

Iliana recoiled slightly upon hearing Cheon Sia’s frosty tone.

She was typically perceived as the gentle, mature older sister figure among the second-year students, but whenever her temper flared, she became the most terrifying person in the room.

“That’s exactly what happens when you shirk your duties all the time.”

“Go hit the books a bit longer.”

Mocking remarks echoed across the dormitory common room.

“Hey! You’re all going to regret this later!”

Iliana shot them a furious glare, shaking her fist aggressively.

Cheon Sia proceeded to haul Iliana back into the study chamber.

Gathered inside the room were six pupils in total, including Iliana.

Leo stood positioned at the front of the space, while Chloe, Eyran, and Iliana were seated directly before him.

Cheon Sia remained stationed near the entrance, and Luna sat right beside her, keeping both her arms and legs crossed.

Leo cleared his throat.

“Alright, shall we resume?”

Leo gestured toward the portable whiteboard to direct their attention.

“As illustrated here, Iliana, your spellcraft is entirely centered around pure destructive capacity.”

“Just like I’ve maintained before, utilizing absolute force to secure an immediate, overwhelming triumph! That is the defining creed of the Laden family!”

“Wow, that sounds incredibly impressive!”

“Hmph!”

While Eyran expressed admiration and applauded, Chloe offered a frigid counterpoint.

“Don’t encourage her. She is nothing more than a mindless charger.”

“Class president! Chloe just insulted me by calling me a mindless charger!”

Iliana whined, her expression turning tearful as she lodged her complaint.

“Well, I find myself in agreement with Chloe’s assessment.”

Following Leo’s remark, Iliana’s posture completely deflated.

Iliana ranked among the most capable individuals within the second-year class.

An absolute, indisputable powerhouse.

When discussions arose regarding the most formidable second-year students aside from Leo, a specific group of eight individuals was always named.

Celia, Cheon Sia, and Duran represented the Knight Department.

Chloe, Avad, and Chelsea belonged to the Magic Department.

Eliza and Wareden hailed from the Summoning Department.

Naturally, minor variations in their overall capability existed, but when evaluating their unique expertises and future growth trajectories, they were considered to be on nearly equal footing.

Even when setting aside the extraordinary exception that was Leo, this particular cohort represented an unprecedented golden age in the annals of Lumern.

Their capacity for advancement was quite literally limitless.

Positioned right on the heels of this elite tier, Iliana was frequently highlighted as the next in line.

Nevertheless, she suffered from being undervalued when contrasted against her actual capabilities.

The primary culprit behind this perception was Iliana’s own temperament.

“You lack patience, don’t you?”

“Kuhok?!”

“You tend to be straightforward and reckless, isn’t that right?”

“Keck!”

“Therefore, regardless of who you are facing, you simply rush forward blindly and end up taking damage right away, correct?”

“Ugh!”

As Leo delivered these critiques, Iliana collapsed straight out of her seat.

Eyran, visibly startled, hurried to assist Iliana, who was twitching on the floor as though she had sustained a mortal blow.

Chloe, meanwhile, released a heavy sigh.

It was undeniable that if she could correct those flaws, Iliana’s progress could far surpass her current limitations.

“The faculty members, along with myself, have dedicated substantial energy toward rectifying those habits. The reason is simple: you possess the capability to achieve greatness far beyond this.”

“Class president!”

Iliana’s eyes brimmed with unshed tears, her countenance radiating deep appreciation.

“However, an individual once remarked to me that you cannot simply reconstruct a person’s nature to suit your needs.”

“Puhok!”

Following Leo’s subsequent comment, Iliana completely lost all her remaining spirit.

“Huhu, I’ve been discarded by the class president.”

“Quit uttering nonsense and focus on what I’m saying.”

“Hmm?”

“I have shifted my approach.”

“If altering that inherent trait is impossible, I reasoned that we should instead optimize the advantages that can be derived from that aggressive rush.”

“Hmm?”

Leo directed a brief look toward Luna.

Luna, catching his gaze, offered a subtle, knowing smirk.

“Did the two of you engage in combat exercises with Arion?”

Upon their return to Fairy Land.

Luna posed the query while observing Eyran and Cheon Sia engage in a practice bout within the training grounds.

Hearing that question, both combatants paused and widened their eyes in surprise.

“Did Lord Leo mention something to you?”

“I merely gathered from Kyle that Arion had made the transition into this reality. Furthermore, I learned that he, alongside Leo, successfully destroyed a fragment of Erebus.”

Luna closed her eyelids tightly, maintaining her crossed arms.

She had listened to the narrative concerning Arion that Leo had previously shared with her.

A pang of sorrow had struck her heart upon discovering the mindset Arion held at the moment he offered up his own life.

Conversely, she felt a profound wave of admiration washing over her when learning how Arion ultimately triumphed over his circumstances and achieved true growth.

‘That is precisely the kind of person Arion is.’

Evoking the memory of his back, which had consistently provided her with fortitude, Luna let out a quiet smile.

To Eyran and Cheon Sia, that particular expression bore an uncanny resemblance to Leo’s own smiles.

“At any rate.”

Luna opened her eyes once more to speak.

“I discerned your training history with Arion simply by observing the nuances of your physical techniques. I detected faint traces of Arion’s distinct style within your forms.”

“Wow, you can actually perceive that?”

“Hmph, who exactly do you think I am? I am Luna, the progenitor of the Nebula.”

Luna flipped her hair backward with a proud flourish.

Without question, Luna’s primary area of mastery, regardless of any arguments, resided in the realm of magic.

Naturally, her capabilities as a practitioner of summoning were brilliant enough to allow her to bind herself to Silrod, the next in line for the Fairy King throne.

Furthermore, Luna’s prowess in hand-to-hand combat was so formidable that she could easily spearhead operations on the front lines if circumstances demanded it.

Even though she lacked the capacity to command aura, her overall battlefield effectiveness was exceptional.

This explained why she could identify a reflection of Arion’s influence within the pair.

“Most importantly, Arion belongs to that category of brilliant fools.”

“A brilliant fool?”

Noticing Eyran’s utterly perplexed expression, Luna’s countenance shifted to a slight pout.

“He possesses a dreadful ineptitude for instructing others. He performs tasks flawlessly as if they require no thought at all, rendering him entirely incapable of articulating his methods.”

“Ah…”

“I grasp your meaning completely.”

Eyran and Cheon Sia both offered amused smiles as they brought to mind the image of Arion, who frequently used to utter, “See? Isn’t this basic?”

“Consequently, his method of instruction relies entirely on firsthand combat. That is precisely why you unconsciously absorbed Arion’s physical habits.”

“That makes perfect sense.”

“The experience was incredibly grueling, yet we could sense he was tailoring the intensity to match our levels.”

Cheon Sia and Eyran nodded their heads in agreement with Luna’s assessment.

Hearing this, Luna let out a slightly wistful chuckle.

“All of that is a direct result of the hardships this older sister endured.”

“Pardon?”

“What are you implying?”

Cheon Sia and Eyran expressed confusion at Luna’s sudden change in demeanor, but Luna merely turned her gaze toward the distant peaks.

In days gone by, she had once engaged in a private, unreserved dueling session with Arion to sharpen her close-quarters combat skills as if facing a genuine adversary.

During that encounter, she had been thoroughly battered by Arion, who possessed no concept of moderating his physical output.

‘Don’t hold back, show me what you’ve got!’

Spurred by Luna’s characteristically audacious demand, Arion had wavered momentarily before swiftly leaving Luna in a state of utter disarray.

‘If Lysinass had delayed even slightly, I would have been left with permanent psychological scars.’

She vividly recalled the irritating human and dwarf doubling over with laughter behind Lysinass, who was busy lecturing Arion on the importance of restraining his power.

‘Right. I will definitely deliver a retaliatory strike to him down the road.’

“Arion undoubtedly assisted the youngsters who utilize aura in accelerating their development, correct?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Well, I refuse to be outdone by him.”

Luna giggled softly, “Huhuhut-!”

“Therefore! I, Luna, shall assume the responsibility of instructing you in the mystic arts! That is my declaration!”

“It is an immense privilege!”

Eyran responded with a radiant grin.

“However, Lord Luna… I am a knight, am I not?”

“Indeed. Yet you retain the capacity to perform summoning spells, do you not?”

Luna smiled warmly, her eyes narrowing.

“I happen to possess exceptional proficiency in summoning arts as well. Quite unlike that simpleton, I can deliver clear, methodical guidance! So, what category of mystical creature do you typically command?”

“Ah, my expertise lies primarily with water spirits.”

Cheon Sia explained with an upbeat smile.

Receiving instruction from a legendary figure like Luna was a welcome opportunity, regardless of the specific discipline.

Furthermore, being guided in spirit invocation by an elf—the very race renowned for possessing the greatest affinity for spirit arts—was incredible.

While Luna was celebrated primarily for her general magic, it was widely acknowledged that she was a potent summoner in her own right.

Upon hearing Cheon Sia’s response, Luna stared fixedly at her before giving a firm nod.

“Hmm. Starting this very day, you shall shift your focus from being a spirit invoker to becoming a mystical creature commander.”

“Huh?”

Cheon Sia appeared utterly bewildered.

To be sure, Cheon Sia also maintained pacts with lower-tier mystical creatures.

However, for someone who had spent her entire existence operating under the assumption that her greatest potential lay within spirit magic, this sudden directive to pivot her entire specialization was jarring.

“Your natural aptitude aligns far better with commanding mystical creatures than with interacting with spirits.”

“I-is that truly the case?”

“Yes. It appears you were entirely oblivious to this fact. Have no anxieties. This older sister…”

“Who exactly are you trying to misguide over here?”

Leo emerged, his brow furrowed in disapproval.

“Is it because you lack the ability to teach spirit magic that you are attempting to force a spirit user to switch to mystical creatures?”

“Tch!”

Luna clicked her tongue audibly at Leo’s interruption.

Observing this interaction, Cheon Sia’s curiosity was piqued.

“Is Lord Luna unable to perform spirit magic?”

“No, she cannot. She possesses absolutely zero compatibility with spirits.”

“Typically, elves who practice summoning are highly adept at spirit arts… That is quite unexpected.”

Leo chuckled softly as he took in Cheon Sia’s astonished expression.

“This particular individual possesses a temperament that fundamentally disrupts nature, which is why spirits resolutely avoid coming anywhere near her.”

“Who has a nature-disrupting temperament? Who are you talking about?!”

Luna, her eyes bulging with indignation, lunged forward and grabbed Leo by his collar, shaking him aggressively back and forth.

Paying no mind to Luna’s outburst, Leo questioned her further.

“So? Your intention is to instruct the students in magic?”

Luna offered a nod to confirm his query.

“Arion likewise left behind a variety of legacies during his duration in this realm.”

Luna crossed her arms defensively.

“I wish to contribute in some manner, even if it is only a minor gesture.”

Luna’s demeanor turned earnest.

“Have you selected any specific pupils?”

“The individual who caught my attention most prominently is a young lady named Chloe.”

Luna brought Chloe to mind.

From her perspective as a vastly superior sorceress, Chloe’s efforts were highly commendable.

Furthermore…

“It appears that youth possesses an unawakened capability.”

“An unawakened capability?”

“Yes.”

Luna offered a subtle grin.

“I received a spark of inspiration upon observing that girl.”

“An inspiration, you say.”

When it came to the study of magic, Leo and Luna operated with distinct viewpoints.

If that was the case, Chloe must hold a hidden potential that neither Leo nor Chloe herself had yet recognized.

“Additionally, there is the child named Iliana. A spellsword, correct? She also lacks a proper comprehension of her own mana attributes.”

“I was under the impression that Iliana was already maximizing the utilization of her natural gifts.”

“Undeniably, light-based magic is visually striking and carries immense force. However, I am of the opinion that she ought to steer her spellcraft toward a completely different objective.”

“What objective would that be?”

Luna smiled mysteriously at Leo’s inquiry.

“Velocity.”

“But I am already exceptionally swift, aren’t I?”

Iliana expressed confusion at the recommendation to prioritize her velocity.

“The properties of your light mana seem far more compatible with high-speed mobility than with raw destructive power.”

“Hmm?”

“If executed correctly, your sudden bursts of acceleration could potentially surpass even Duran’s swiftness. Don’t you agree?”

“What?!”

Iliana’s eyes expanded in shock.

The Leo she interacted with was not a person given to exaggeration or baseless claims.

“The Lightning-Fast Swordswoman, Lady Iliana!”

Cheon Sia murmured quietly, noting how Iliana’s eyes lit up with excitement and her posture stiffened with pride.

“Miss Iliana is remarkably straightforward to influence.”

“Huh? I find her behavior quite youthful and endearing.”

Luna let out a laugh.

Leo proceeded to instruct Iliana in the specific magical framework that Luna had developed.

‘Luna operates on a different level than Arion.’

The arcane arts represented a realm of study and systematic investigation.

It was a path of knowledge that demanded absolute comprehension of whatever principles one utilized.

In that regard, Luna’s exceptional talent did not merely manifest as personal combat power; she was also incredibly gifted at conveying knowledge to others.

Most notably, her capacity to identify the latent magical affinities of others and craft tailored spells was remarkably profound.

“How did you manage to formulate such a system?”

At that moment, Chloe was expressing her deep admiration.

“Chloe.”

“Hmm?”

“Luna wishes to speak with you directly.”

Hearing those words, Chloe’s eyes grew wide, and she pivoted her attention toward Luna.

Luna offered a welcoming wave in Chloe’s direction.

‘I desired to engage in a deep intellectual exchange regarding magic with that young lady, so this presents the perfect opportunity.’

Chloe moved closer to Luna, her expression filled with intense curiosity.

Leo watched the interaction unfold with a focused gaze.

“Lord Luna appears to be in high spirits.”

“Naturally. For someone like Luna, engaging in such an impassioned dialogue about the arcane arts constitutes one of her ultimate sources of pleasure.”

Leo murmured, keeping his eyes locked on Luna.

“Lord Leo?”

‘…What precisely constitutes the lingering attachment that keeps Luna bound here?’

Observing Luna sharing a joyful laugh while conversing with Chloe, Leo cast a glance down at his own hand.

Luna’s presence in this reality was not sustained by any form of divine intervention.

She remained anchored here solely through the residual magical energy of Luna that persisted within Cometes.

The volume of Luna’s mana stored inside Cometes was substantial.

Furthermore, the actual consumption of magical power required to project Luna’s form was incredibly minimal.

‘The mere reality of maintaining an existence as a spiritual manifestation equipped with a tangible form is an extraordinary feat.’

It was highly probable that Luna’s ongoing presence would significantly accelerate the magical advancements of this current era.

However…

‘Is it truly appropriate to tether Luna to this world indefinitely?’

Leo’s expression grew troubled.

A spiritual manifestation.

An occurrence where the lingering remnants of mana left behind by a potent consciousness with unresolved attachments are brought into reality through the unique capabilities of a spiritual medium practitioner.

Yet, this arrangement was fundamentally unnatural.

Five millennia in the past.

Lysinass had similarly chosen to permit the spiritual manifestations to move onward, rather than binding them to the mortal realm, for that exact reason.

‘The emotional imprint that persists within a spiritual manifestation gradually diminishes as time moves forward. This occurs because it is ultimately an unfulfilled yearning for the physical realm. The lingering desires of ancient spiritual entities eventually warp into obsessions. Consequently, they begin to lose their grip on their true identities.’

Lysinass had offered a melancholic smile.

‘A spiritual manifestation possesses an ego so potent that it remains anchored to the world through its unresolved attachments. Because of this, these entities exhibit an intense level of self-preservation. There is no fate more tragic than losing the essence of who you are. This is why practitioners must show reverence to the essences of these spiritual manifestations and offer peace to their souls. A spiritual manifestation can never experience genuine fulfillment.’

Recalling the words of Lysinass, Leo opened his eyes fully.

Their gazes crossed for a brief instant.

Luna looked back at Leo and offered a bright, cheerful grin, as though entirely content.

Witnessing that expression, Leo returned the smile.

‘For the time being, sharing this period together must bring happiness to Luna as well.’