Chapter 82: The Priest and the Invitation

Half an hour wasn’t particularly long, nor was it particularly short.

But for Serar, this half hour was probably the longest thirty minutes of his life.

Lyra had finally had her fill of beating him up.

She bounced back to Freya’s side, her silver-white hair a bit disheveled from the vigorous exercise, yet her face was radiant with a satisfied smile, like a puppy that had just finished romping around.

“Boss!”

She rubbed her head against Freya’s arm.

“I’m done hitting him!”

Freya looked at her.

She looked at her slightly flushed cheeks from the exertion, at her sparkling red eyes, at that little fang that was completely exposed due to her excitement.

Then her gaze passed over Lyra, landing on the ground not far away.

Serar lay there.

His ice-blue hair was splayed across the ground, covered in grass blades and dust.

That handsome face was now bruised and swollen, his left eye puffed up high, a split at the corner of his mouth oozing blood.

His clothes were crumpled, with several clear footprints on them—

From the shape, they were likely Lyra’s.

In short.

A mess.

A complete mess.

The corner of Freya’s mouth couldn’t help but lift slightly.

The curve was faint, so faint it was almost invisible.

But she had indeed smiled.

Serar struggled to sit up from the ground. Seeing that faint smile, his eyes lit up—

Even though the swollen eye made him look rather comical.

“Freya…”

He spoke, his voice hoarse.

Then he tried to stand up, taking a step towards Freya.

Lyra’s fist immediately shot up.

“Don’t come any closer!”

Her voice was full of threat.

Serar immediately stopped, raising both hands in a gesture of surrender.

“Okay, okay, I won’t come closer, I won’t come closer.”

He stood where he was, patting the dust off his clothes, trying to straighten his messy hair—

Though he only made it messier.

Then, he lifted his head, looking at Freya.

The expression on his face changed.

It was no longer the playful, smiling look from before.

It was a seriousness Freya had never seen before.

Those deep blue eyes now held no frivolity, no mockery, only a heavy, profound light.

“Freya.”

His voice had changed too, becoming low and solemn.

“I really have something to discuss with you.”

Freya looked at him.

For two seconds.

Then she turned around.

“Let’s go, Lyra.”

Lyra immediately followed, not forgetting to glare back at Serar before leaving.

Serar stood in place, watching that pale purple back recede further and further away.

He knew that if he didn’t say something, she would really leave.

He took a deep breath.

“The Winter Oracle.”

Four words.

Very soft.

But enough to make that back stop.

Freya stood in the twilight, motionless.

Lyra tugged at her sleeve.

“Boss?”

Freya didn’t respond.

She just stood there, her back to Serar.

Silence.

A few seconds later, she turned around.

Those pale purple eyes narrowed slightly.

“What do you want to say?”

Serar let out a sigh of relief.

He took a step forward, wanting to get closer to speak.

Lyra’s fist shot up again.

Serar immediately retreated, raising his hands.

“Okay, okay, I’ll speak from right here!”

He cleared his throat, the expression on his face becoming even more serious.

“The person the Oracle spoke of, it’s you.”

Freya’s brow twitched slightly.

“What do you mean, ‘the person spoken of is me’?”

Serar looked at her, something churning in those deep blue eyes.

“The Oracle performs a prophecy every year—”

He said.

“This year’s prophecy points to the Central Magic Academy.”

He paused.

“It points to a young girl with pale purple hair and pale purple eyes.”

Freya remained silent.

Serar continued.

“The Oracle said this person will be key.

Will affect the fate of the entire continent.

But the prophecy didn’t say whether it would be for good or ill.”

His gaze locked tightly on Freya.

“So I came to see.”

Freya didn’t speak.

She was thinking.

The Winter Oracle, she had heard of it.

That was an elf from the Pure Land, possessing prophetic abilities far beyond ordinary Oracles.

What they said often came earlier and was more accurate than prophecies from other nations.

If it truly was the Winter Oracle…

“I mean you no harm.”

Serar’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

Seeing Freya’s pensive expression, he hurriedly added.

“Really!

I just wanted to see what kind of person you are!

Coming to find you today was also to find a chance to talk with you!”

As he spoke, he accidentally tugged the wound at the corner of his mouth, sucking in a sharp breath of pain, grimacing.

“Hiss— that hurts—”

That look formed a stark contrast with the solemn demeanor from just moments ago.

Lyra, watching from the side, couldn’t help but let out a “pfft” of laughter.

Freya didn’t laugh.

She just looked at Serar.

For a long time.

Then she spoke.

“What do you want to talk about?”

Serar’s eyes lit up.

“Anything!”

He said.

“As long as you’re willing to talk with me!”

He paused, seeming to realize he was getting too excited, and toned it down a bit.

“Tomorrow at noon—”

He said.

“The Sweet Home Restaurant outside the school.

My treat.”

He looked at Freya, then at Lyra.

“Is that okay?”

Freya was silent for a moment.

Tomorrow, she had no classes.

She looked at Lyra.

Lyra blinked, as if saying, “You decide, Boss.”

She withdrew her gaze.

“Okay.”

Serar smiled.

That smile was different from before—

Not that playful, roguish smile, but a sincere, heartfelt one.

Even though on that bruised and swollen face, the smile looked rather comical.

“It’s settled then!”

He took a step back, waving at Freya.

“See you tomorrow, Freya!”

Then he looked at Lyra, his smile deepening a bit.

“And thank you for today’s…

well, warm hospitality.”

Lyra snorted, turning her head away.

Serar didn’t mind, turning to leave.

After just two steps, he suddenly stopped.

“Oh, right.”

He looked back, gently touching his swollen face, sucking in another sharp breath of pain.

“Hiss—

Looks like I’ll need to find a physician when I get back…”

He muttered, smiling at Freya.

“See you tomorrow.”

Then he turned and limped away, disappearing into the twilight.

Freya stood in place, looking in the direction where that back had vanished.

Lyra stood beside her, her red eyes full of confusion.

“Boss…”

She spoke.

“That person… what does he really want?”

Freya didn’t answer.

She just gazed into the distance, something quietly churning in those pale purple eyes.

The Winter Oracle.

Prophecy.

A young girl who would affect the continent’s fate.

In this life, why were there so many things that hadn’t appeared in her previous life?

Had her rebirth changed something?

Or—

In her previous life, had she simply never known about these things?

Lyra tugged at her sleeve.

“Boss?”

Freya snapped out of her thoughts.

She looked at Lyra.

Looked at those red eyes full of worry.

She reached out, gently ruffling that fluffy head.

“It’s fine.”

She withdrew her hand, turning to walk towards the dormitory building.

“Let’s go.”

Lyra quickly followed.

“Boss, are we really going tomorrow?”

“Mm.”

“Could that person be planning something bad?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then I’ll go with you!”

“Mm.”

“If he dares to try anything, I’ll hit him again!”

“…Mm.”

Two figures disappeared at the stairwell entrance.

The night gradually deepened.

In the distance, behind a certain window, someone withdrew their gaze.

Serar stood by the window, holding an ice pack to his face.

He looked at the window where the light had already come on, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

“See you tomorrow.”

He said softly.

“Freya.”

The next day at noon, the sunlight was just right.

Freya and Lyra walked out of the Academy’s main gate, heading off-campus along the flagstone path.

The Sweet Home Restaurant was located on the commercial street east of the Academy, about a fifteen-minute walk away.

The autumn wind blew, carrying a faint scent of osmanthus. On either side of the street were various small shops—

bookstores, magic material shops, clothing stores, dessert shops—

Students moved about in twos and threes, occasional laughter and chatter drifting over.

Lyra walked at Freya’s side, her red eyes occasionally scanning the surroundings.

Very alert.

Like a little beast ready to bare its fangs at any moment.

After walking for a while, she suddenly leaned close to Freya, her voice lowered.

“Boss.”

“Mm.”

“That Serar…”

She paused.

“Is he trustworthy?”

Freya’s steps didn’t falter.

She looked ahead, her gaze calm.

“I don’t know.”

Lyra blinked.

“Then why are we still coming?”

Freya was silent for a moment.

“Because—”

She said.

“We can only listen and see for ourselves.”

Lyra nodded, not fully understanding.

She thought for a moment, then said.

“What if he’s lying to us?”

“Then we leave.”

“What if he tries something bad?”

Freya turned her head slightly, looking at her.

The gaze was faint, but Lyra read something in it—

“Aren’t you going to hit him?”

Lyra was stunned for a moment.

Then she grinned, that little fang glinting in the sunlight.

“Oh, right!”

She nodded vigorously.

“If he dares try anything, I’ll hit him again!

Hit him until he doesn’t dare!”

Freya withdrew her gaze, continuing forward.

The extremely faint curve at the corner of her mouth flashed by.

They walked a bit further.

Lyra suddenly leaned in again.

This time, her voice was even lower.

“Boss.”

“Mm.”

“There are rats.”

Freya’s steps didn’t stop.

She didn’t even look back.

“Where?”

“Behind us.

The one at the alley entrance on the left, and the one behind the fruit stall on the right.”

Lyra’s voice was soft, yet certain.

“They’ve been following us since we left the school gate.”

Freya was silent for a moment.

She knew.

From the moment they left the school gate, she had sensed those two faint, elusive gazes. She just didn’t want to acknowledge them.

“Ignore them.”

She continued walking forward.

“Let them follow if they want.”

Lyra nodded, not asking further.

But she memorized those two faces.

The one at the alley entrance was a man in gray clothes, tall and thin, with a shifty gaze.

The one behind the fruit stall was shorter, wearing a hat, his face unclear.

She kept these two in mind.

If they meant any harm to the Boss…