The air around them felt heavy with all that had been said.
Cordelia stood still beneath the ivy-laced arches of the academy courtyard, her arms hanging loosely at her sides. The soft rustle of wind through leaves and distant footsteps filled the silence. She looked like she was trying to hold her thoughts together, and failing.
Noah watched her quietly, then let out a slow sigh.
"Come," he said, voice softer now. "Don't worry so much."
Cordelia blinked, caught off guard. "Where?"
He offered a lopsided smile, just a hint of amusement tugging at the corner of his lips.
"To the cafeteria. If you want to talk, it's better while eating, don't you think?"
She narrowed her eyes slightly but didn't argue.
"I don't know about you," he added, starting to walk, "but ever since we saved that noble's ass last month, I've been grinding missions non-stop. Got some coin saved up."
He glanced back at her over his shoulder, smirking faintly.
"Come on. My treat."
Cordelia hesitated only a second longer before following him.
They walked in relative silence, the path taking them past flower beds dusted with glowing pollen and small magic lanterns hovering gently in the air. The academy grounds were always elegant this time of day, caught between golden light and long shadows.
Eventually, they stepped into the cafeteria—a high-ceilinged hall lined with floating chandeliers and magical food dispensers humming quietly along the walls. Students sat in small groups, some eating, others chatting over spell scrolls or strategy maps.
Noah moved ahead and began selecting his meal from the glowing menu panel.
He returned a minute later with a steaming meat-filled bun and a drink fizzing with blue mana bubbles.
Cordelia followed soon after, carrying a delicate glass bowl of leafy greens and citrus slices.
They sat by one of the tall arched windows overlooking the training fields.
Noah took a large bite of his meat bun, eyes half-lidded with satisfaction as the spices kicked in.
Cordelia, across the table, poked at her salad with mild disinterest.
He glanced at her plate, then at her. "...What?"
She didn't look up. "What what?"
"You do know I'm paying, right? You won't get hungry with just a salad?"
Cordelia finally looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Relax. I'm fine. I'm watching my diet."
Noah's gaze dipped, almost unconsciously, toward her stomach.
"..."
Her fork froze in mid-air.
"Hey!?" she barked. "Where do you think you're looking, pervert?! Is that why you had zero girlfriends in the novel and all the girls went straight to Cael?!"
Noah blinked. His jaw shifted slightly, chewing slowing to a stop.
'She's really testing me today.'
He swallowed. "Don't play with fire."
Cordelia smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Oh? Did I hit a nerve?"
"You're wrong, by the way," Noah added, tone flat. "I did have someone. I just don't feel like talking about it."
"Pfft. Sure," she said, waving her hand. "You don't have to make stuff up. It's fine being a virgin. Lots of people wait until marriage, you know?"
A visible twitch pulsed on Noah's forehead.
He stood up in one fluid motion.
"I thought you wanted to talk about future events," he said coldly, pushing his tray slightly aside. "Guess not."
He turned to leave.
"Wait," Cordelia said, grabbing his wrist before he could take another step.
Noah paused, shoulders tense, but didn't shake her off.
"...Sorry," she muttered. "I might've gone too far."
He didn't respond immediately, but after a long second, he turned his head slightly, just enough to glance at her over his shoulder.
"...Go on."
She let out a breath, pulling her hand back.
"So, we're in Act I, right? According to the structure of the story?"
Noah nodded, returning to his seat slowly. "...Correct."
"And the final boss for this arc... it's Lys, right?"
Noah's eyes narrowed slightly. "That's right."
He leaned forward, resting one elbow on the table. "Let me ask you something now."
Cordelia tilted her head.
"Where are you from?" he asked. "Isn't Arkesia Heroes supposed to be a video game?"
She looked confused. "Video game? No. It was a novel. A really popular one, too. Got huge years ago. Cael was the main lead. You were... kind of his assistant."
Noah's face twisted in visible disgust. "Ugh. That makes sense, I guess. I was always helping him in the beginning... because he had the 'protagonist buff'."
He leaned back.
"But let me tell you something. That bastard wasn't what you think he was."
Cordelia blinked. "...What do you mean?"
Noah's gaze darkened.
"Cael was a manipulative psychopath," he said bluntly. "He twisted everything behind the scenes—bent events to fit his narrative, let people die just to make himself shine."
Cordelia blinked. "That… doesn't sound like the Cael I read about."
"Of course not," Noah snapped. "The novel probably painted him like a hero. Like he was the savior of the world, the kind one, the noble one, right?"
She hesitated. "...Yeah. He was always gentle. Kind. Loving to his wives, even."
Noah's eyes narrowed.
"Don't."
His voice cut through the space between them, sharp and ice-cold.
"I don't know how the novel ends. I didn't get that far either. But I do know how my story ended."
He looked out the window, jaw clenched.
"He killed me."
Cordelia's expression froze.
Noah continued, voice low and steady.
"Not in some epic final battle. Not a heroic sacrifice. Just… a sword. Wreathed in flames. He pushed it into my chest—slowly—while smiling."
He looked out the window, jaw clenched.
"I watched him do it. No hesitation. No emotion. Like he was putting down a dog."
He turned back to her.
"And those wives of his? They didn't even flinch. They looked empty. Like puppets. As if they didn't have souls."
Cordelia didn't speak. Her fingers were clenched lightly around her fork.
Noah leaned in just a little closer.
"And you'll keep this between us," he said. "Not a word to anyone."
Cordelia met his gaze and gave a slow nod.
"You have my word."
The silence between them stretched.
Cordelia sat back slowly, her salad forgotten. Her eyes didn't leave Noah's face—not in fear, but in a kind of stunned reckoning.
"So..." she said at last, voice quiet, "what do we do now? Without Cael?"
Noah raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of dumb question is that?"
He smirked—not arrogantly, but with a certain clarity. Like someone who had finally decided something unshakable.
"We fix everything that bastard broke." He leaned back, arms crossed.
Cordelia's lips curved, ever so slightly.
"I'm glad you said that," she murmured. "I was thinking the same thing, even if I don't know the outcome like you do."
They didn't clink glasses or shake hands.
They just sat, two people caught in a story that no longer followed the script—both aware they'd never be background characters again.
Noah stretched his legs beneath the table.
"Looks like we're partners now."
Cordelia folded her arms with mock severity. "Don't slow me down."
The office smelled faintly of lavender ink and polished wood.
Amelie stood in front of the desk, her posture as perfect as she could manage, her hands clasped behind her back. She was still wearing the uniform from the Trials—scuffed at the edges, a few stray marks of mana residue clinging to her sleeves.
Across from her sat her mother.
Professor Lysandra Ardean.
Her green hair was tied back in a strict braid, not a strand out of place. The light from the tall arched window painted her features in sharp lines. Her eyes scanned a stack of student reports without looking up.
Amelie cleared her throat, soft but hopeful.
"I passed," she said. "I ranked first in all three Class Trials."
No response.
"I exceeded the performance thresholds. Even the combat instructors were surprised."
Lysandra set one page aside, finally speaking.
"Expected."
Amelie blinked. "What?"
"You're an Ardean," Lysandra said, her tone cool and professional. "Naturally, you performed as required. There is nothing extraordinary about meeting expectations."
Amelie felt her breath catch.
'That's it?'
She'd pushed herself past every limit. She'd bled. She'd trained in secret. She'd fought without backup, without praise.
All for this moment.
Just one look. One word.
And still—nothing.
Lysandra began writing again.
"You may return to your dorm."
Amelie stayed frozen in place for a second too long. Then bowed slightly, lips pressed together.
"...Yes, Professor."
She turned and walked toward the door.
The hallway outside was quiet. The buzzing of spells, the footsteps of other students... they all felt far away.
She leaned against the wall just beyond the frame, pressing her hand briefly to her chest.
'Even when I win… it's never enough.'