Lyra watched the direction Sophie was dragged off in.
After confirming that the Big Chest Monster had truly left and wouldn’t be clinging to her boss anymore, her tense little face finally relaxed.
She even grinned, revealing a slightly smug smile.
She turned around and tightly hugged Freya’s arm like a child reclaiming a beloved toy.
Facing the direction where Sophie had disappeared, she shouted with all her might.
“You — better — not — come — back — !!”
Her crisp, loud voice echoed along the night path, carrying unconcealed joy and relief.
Freya, “…”
She looked at Lyra’s jubilant, “victory declaration” expression, then recalled the comical and pathetic way Sophie had been hauled off, along with Instructor Kanaya’s face that looked ready to explode with rage…
The lingering embarrassment and helplessness from the Rubber Candy Incident suddenly vanished.
In its place was an indescribable mix of amusement, absurdity, and a hint of warmth.
Life at the Academy truly never lacked surprises or excitement.
She gently patted the head of Lyra, who was still immersed in the joy of driving away the nuisance.
Her voice carried a soft smile she didn’t even notice herself.
“Alright, she’s gone. We should head back too.”
“Mm-hmm!”
Lyra nodded vigorously, though she didn’t loosen her grip on Freya’s arm at all. Her eyes were sparkling.
“Boss, what are we doing when we get back? Do you want to practice the Waltz again? I feel like I’ve made more progress today!”
Freya stumbled, nearly losing her footing.
They were… they were dancing again?
She remembered that clumsy, quiet dance under the moonlight, and the “surprise attack” under the blankets…
“…We’re going back to read. You are going to write the Observation Report.”
Freya straightened her face, trying to regain some of her dignity as the Boss.
“Huh—?”
Lyra’s face slumped instantly, and she dragged out her voice in a reluctant whine.
“Oh…”
Seeing Lyra’s pitiful expression, the smile in Freya’s heart only deepened.
The night was gentle, and the stars were just beginning to appear.
Although she was always surrounded by various troubles and accidents, this lively Academy daily life—full of human touch—was perhaps the most extravagant fantasy she had held while in that cold dungeon in her past life.
It was a real, vivid world she was willing to do everything to protect in this life.
‘I just hope tomorrow’s surprises are a bit… more normal,’ Freya thought as she led her Little Wolf Cub (or rather, was led by the arm being tightly held) toward the dormitory under the starlight.
Late at night at the Central Magic Academy, most areas had fallen into a peaceful slumber.
Only the patrolling magic lanterns and a few lit windows proved that some were still awake.
The administration building, where the Disciplinary Room was located, was even more dimly lit.
When the two brothers, Raymond Bouquet and Willow Bouquet, walked out of the gate—a symbol of punishment and admonition—the midnight bell happened to toll.
Raymond’s face was darker than the bottom of a pot.
His thick eyebrows were twisted into a knot, and his bell-like eyes still held traces of unextinguished anger and frustration.
He was tall and sturdy, specializing in violent Lightning Magic and the greatsword, which meant his daily energy consumption was massive.
His appetite was naturally enormous.
Today, to “save face” for his useless younger brother, he hadn’t even stopped for lunch.
In the end, he failed to save face and was instead frozen by Professor Mabel’s Space Magic.
Then, he was hauled off to the Disciplinary Room by the Disciplinary Director, who had heard the news. He had been forced to listen to those old clichés about “school rules,” “unity,” and “restraint” until the middle of the night.
Right now, his stomach was growling like thunder. The hunger, mixed with frustration and unvented rage, felt like hot lava churning in his chest.
Willow followed half a step behind him, hardly daring to breathe. He cautiously observed his older brother’s stormy expression, feeling both fear and regret.
He knew that although his brother was obsessed with cultivation and training—to the point where he didn’t care for family affairs or social networking, allowing the title of heir to fall on Willow—it didn’t mean his brother was a fool.
On the contrary, Raymond had a nearly paranoid obsession with strength and “reason” (at least, the reason he decided on), and he was both protective and short-tempered.
Today’s mess was, in the end, caused by Willow’s own provocation.
He had kicked a steel plate and ended up dragging his brother into a shameful punishment.
If the trouble caused by his little schemes ended up affecting the Bouquet family’s image in the eyes of the Crown Prince, or if it brought any misfortune to the family…
Willow had no doubt that his brother, in a fit of rage, would truly blast him into dust with a single lightning punch!
The two walked silently toward the living area, hoping to find something to fill their stomachs before the canteen closed for good.
However, when they arrived at the entrance of the Academy Canteen, they saw only tightly shut doors and extinguished lights.
The magic notice board hanging at the door displayed a cold message—
[Business hours have ended.]
“…”
Raymond’s footsteps stopped abruptly. His muscles tensed instantly, and his knuckles cracked loudly.
Under the dim light, the veins popping on his forehead and the dangerous, snakelike flickers of lightning in his eyes made the surrounding air feel heavy.
Willow shrank back in fear, almost smelling a faint scent in the air—
This was the omen of Raymond’s magic going out of control!
His brother was probably so angry he wanted to use a Lightning Magic spell to blast the nearby stone pillars to smithereens!
Just as the tension reached a breaking point—
Tap, tap, tap…
A series of light, tiny footsteps came from a dark path to their side, breaking the suffocating silence.
The two brothers turned around alertly at the same time.
A petite, slender figure was slowly approaching from the hazy light where the streetlamps and tree shadows intertwined.
She wore a plain Academy uniform, her long golden hair shimmering softly in the dim light as it draped over her shoulders.
In her hands, she carefully carried two square lunch boxes wrapped in oil paper, which were still emitting a faint heat.
Her footsteps were so light it was as if she were afraid of disturbing the stillness of the night.
As she drew closer, her face—which looked exceptionally pale and pure in the night—became clear.
Her pink eyes were like cherry blossoms in bloom, carrying a timid innocence. She had a small nose and slightly pursed lips that showed a bit of unease.
It was Irina Ewell.
She didn’t seem to expect to run into anyone here, especially someone with such a terrifying aura as Raymond.
Her steps paused for a moment, and a perfectly timed flash of panic—like a startled deer—crossed her pink eyes.
However, she quickly composed herself and mustered the courage to keep walking until she stopped a few paces away from Raymond and Willow.
She looked up slightly, her pink eyes timidly meeting Raymond, who stood there like an iron tower.
Her voice was light and soft, possessing a natural weakness that made one instinctively want to protect her.
“Um… You are Senior Raymond, right? I… my name is Irina Ewell. I’m a new transfer student.”
Her polite address and self-introduction caused Raymond’s violent aura to stall for a moment.
He frowned, his copper-bell eyes scrutinizing the girl who looked like she might blow away in the wind.
He let out a vague, muffled grunt from his nose as a response.
Irina seemed to become even more nervous at his reaction.
Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the lunch boxes, and her voice dropped even lower, carrying an undetectable tremble and…
Sincere concern?
“I… I was passing by and saw that the canteen was closed… I thought there might be some students who missed their meal, so… I used a bit of my saved allowance to ask the canteen lady to make two simple lunch boxes right before they closed.”
As she spoke, she held out the two warm lunch boxes toward him.
Her pink eyes looked sincerely at Raymond, then at Willow, who was shrinking his neck behind him.
“These… these two lunch boxes are for… for you and Master Willow! I don’t have much money, so I couldn’t buy anything expensive. It’s just ordinary roasted meat rice with some vegetables… I don’t know… if you’ll like it…”
There was no hint of intentional flattery in her words, only a nearly clumsy kindness to help others.
This, combined with her soft voice, timid demeanor, and that cautious question, was like a basin of cool, soothing water poured over a flame.
It strangely extinguished the molten lava of rage in Raymond’s chest.
Raymond stared at Irina for a few seconds, then looked down at the two simple but fragrant lunch boxes.
He was indeed starving. Much of the rage from the canteen being closed stemmed from the irritability of hunger.
Now, hot food was right in front of him. It was simple, but enough to fill his belly.
More importantly, the person delivering the food was respectful and sincere.
She didn’t show any strange looks or mockery because of his earlier embarrassment (he vaguely felt Irina might have seen them coming out of the Disciplinary Room).
“…Hmph.”
Raymond snorted again, but the anger in his voice had clearly dissipated.
He reached out a large hand and took the two lunch boxes from Irina.
His movement wasn’t exactly gentle, but it wasn’t rough either.
The warmth and weight of the food seeped through the oil paper into his palm.
He casually handed one back to the dazed Willow while holding the other himself. He spoke to Irina in a gruff voice.
“…Thanks.”
Although his tone was still stiff, it was a miracle to hear a word of thanks from his mouth.
Irina looked relieved.
Her pink eyes curved slightly, revealing a pure and somewhat shy smile as she waved her hands quickly.
“No, no problem at all! I’m just glad I could help you, Senior!”
She paused, then added in a small voice.
“Um… the food is best eaten while it’s hot. I won’t disturb you and Master Willow any longer. Good… goodnight!”
With that, as if she had completed some major mission, she gave a slight bow.
Then she turned around and walked away with steps that were still light but seemed a bit more cheerful.
She soon disappeared into the dark path she came from, as if she truly were just an ordinary student who had happened to pass by and kindly shared some food.
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