NOVEL NEXT Chapter 195: A Lovestruck Fool
Aegon visibly deflated, his aura dimming like a fire starved of air. But instead of bursting into an indignant tantrum, he gave a short, stiff nod.
The crowd seemed almost stunned at the anticlimactic resolution.
There was no shouting, no reckless charge…
Just… nothing.
Azel liked it.
It was surprising, even refreshing.
Perhaps his defeat in the castle had changed him, he hadn't stuck around long enough to see what kind of changes but he was definitely more respectful…
'He's changed a little… matured, maybe. Still, everyone has a reputation to keep, am I right?'
Azel's lips curved faintly at the thought.
As if nothing had happened, Aegon turned back to his students, lifting his wooden sword once more to demonstrate another fluid thrust.
His posture regained its sharpness, and the crowd quickly forgot about the exchange.
Lorraine tugged on Azel's sleeve, drawing him away from the yard.
"Come on," she said softly, not wanting to stay under so many curious eyes.
They approached the great double doors of Astralis Academy's main hall.
Lorraine pushed them open with a gentle creak, and the two stepped into a wide hallway bathed in golden light.
Sunlight filtered through stained glass windows splashing colors across the polished marble floor.
Immediately to the right stood a receptionist's counter, neat stacks of papers and pens arranged with meticulous care.
A cluster of students stood in front of it but they scattered as Azel and Lorraine approached.
Behind the desk sat a woman with warm brown hair tied neatly in a bun.
Her features were pleasant but unremarkable, the kind of beauty that could blend seamlessly into a crowd.
In other words, she looked like the average person.
Her posture was professional, and her hands moved with practiced efficiency as she sorted through papers.
"This is the ground floor," Lorraine explained, her voice carrying a note of authority now that they were within the academy proper. "Once you're officially enrolled, you'll find yourself visiting the receptionist often. That's Miss Brown."
Azel's gaze lingered on the woman.
She looked like anyone else, in fact she was very similar to receptionists back in his world.
However Miss Brown was no simple receptionist.
'A spy,' Azel thought grimly.
In the game, she tried to kill Reinhardt. She was an assassin and it was one of the minor arcs proceeding after the first Calamity.
And when she died… Lorraine was traumatized, she had been especially close to the woman so seeing someone who you were close with disregard everything and try to kill your fellow student was heartbreaking..
Meanwhile, Lorraine continued, oblivious to his inner thoughts.
"She handles uniforms, subject registration, schedules, and practically everything concerning student life. So…" She flashed Miss Brown a teasing smile. "Be nice to her."
Miss Brown looked up, startled by the sudden attention, before offering a modest chuckle.
"Good morning, Council President. That amount of praise shouldn't be wasted on someone like me."
Lorraine leaned casually on the counter, one hand coming up to rest on Miss Brown's shoulder in a familiar, joking gesture.
The interaction looked warm, even cute to an outside observer.
"I'll be in your care," he said politely, inclining his head with a light smile that betrayed nothing of his thoughts.
Miss Brown returned the expression with professional grace.
"Of course. Please, continue your tour. The principal has approved it. Just…" Her gaze flicked briefly to Lorraine. "…do not bring Sir Azel to the Emporium."
Lorraine's playful expression slipped into seriousness, and she gave a brisk nod. "Understood."
With that, she pulled Azel along toward the grand staircase.
They climbed the polished steps, their footsteps echoing softly in the high-ceilinged hall.
Soon, they reached the first floor.
"The first floor," Lorraine began, slipping back into her guide's role, "is dedicated to the mage laboratories. Magical Biology, Chemistry, Physics… If you're pursuing a mage's path, you'll be spending plenty of time here."
She tilted her head toward him, almost expectantly. "Not that it matters for you. You're clearly a swordsma—"
"I registered as a mage."
Her words cut short, her voice dying in her throat.
She stopped walking entirely, staring at him as if he'd just sprouted wings.
"H-h-how? And why? You clearly use—"
Azel raised his hand. A small flame bloomed above his palm, but it wasn't an ordinary flame.
Its color was icy blue, the same flame he had shown Feng.
Lorraine's breath caught. She could feel it… he was using mana.
Her mind scrambled to make sense of it.
Aura and mana, together? It was impossible.
Azel closed his palm, snuffing out the flame with casual ease.
"I've honed my swordsmanship enough over the past year," he said matter-of-factly. "It's time to change things up."
Lorraine stared at him for a long moment, speechless.
Eventually, she managed to swallow the lump in her throat and clear her voice. "W-well… For a mage like you, the labs here cover a wide range of fields. Biology, Chemistry, and even Physics. You'll also have practicals for extra grades."
She recovered quickly, leading him down the hall. Stopping at a heavy oak door, she cracked it open just slightly.
Inside, Azel glimpsed students in uniform, their palms hovering over small, intricate devices that looked like rotating gears.
Strange tools spun in their hands as they channeled mana into them.
Lorraine closed the door gently. "They're studying attributeless applications today. The labs rotate experiments often, depending on the professor's research focus."
Azel nodded, filing away the sight.
They moved on, the polished corridor stretching before them.
Just as Lorraine opened her mouth to explain the next section, a sing-song voice rang out.
"Oh… my sweet, sweet Lorraine. As sweet as a ginger bun…"
Both Azel and Lorraine froze.
Before them, a young man had knelt dramatically on one knee, his arms extended as if offering devotion to the heavens themselves.
His eyes sparkled with adoration, his face wearing an expression so lovestruck it bordered on parody.
The ridiculousness of it was enough to make several passing students snicker into their hands, though most quickly moved along, clearly used to such antics.
Lorraine, however, sighed audibly, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Not again…"
Azel blinked.