NOVEL NEXT Chapter 210: Letter From The Academy
It was a wonderful morning.
The sun in Rochel City was already high in the sky, its golden rays spilling across rooftops and the streets.
The city was alive with sound as usual, one could hear the chatter of merchants hawking their wares in the market square, the clip-clop of horses pulling carts filled with produce to sell in the markets, and of course the laughter of children chasing each other down the narrow streets.
The smell of freshly baked bread drifted from a nearby bakery, and the smell of iron filled the air from the blacksmith.
Amid this morning bustle, a lone mailman whistled cheerfully as he made his way down the road.
His satchel was heavy against his side, crammed with letters bound for inns, shops, and private homes.
His job wasn't for the weak-hearted — long hours under the hot sun, endless walking, and the occasional angry domesticated beast but he took pride in it.
Someone had to keep people connected, after all.
He checked the small list clutched in his hand and grinned. His next delivery was no ordinary address.
'A big inn,' he thought, looking up at the looming building on the corner. Its structure was broad and well-kept, the kind of establishment that catered to wealthier travelers and merchants passing through the city. 'The people who own this place must be rich. Maybe I'll get a tip.'
The thought of ares put a spring in his step.
Tips made all the difference.
The mailman hurried to the large door, adjusted his satchel, and knocked firmly.
Almost immediately, the door swung open.
Standing there was a silver-haired woman.
She wore a plain black singlet, but nothing about her looked ordinary. Sweat glistened faintly on her skin as though she had just finished sparring or exercise.
Her blue eyes sparkled like polished sapphires, and when she shifted slightly, her chest moved in a way that nearly stole the poor mailman's breath.
He froze, suddenly aware of how small and ordinary he felt compared to her.
She smiled warmly. "Ah, Mr. Mailman. Good morning."
Her voice was melodic, like that of a goddess if he could say.
The man swallowed and managed to nod.
"G-Good morning…" His eyes darted down nervously to his satchel. He fumbled with the zipper, desperate not to stare at her longer than he should.
He retrieved a letter sealed with a crest and held it out with both hands. "I have a letter for Azel Thorne. Addressed here. It's from Astralis Academy, so it must be very important."
The woman's eyes brightened.
"Oh, my husband," she said, and in one smooth motion, she plucked the letter from his hands.
The mailman's heart sank.
Husband?
Of course.
What was he thinking, entertaining fantasies about someone like her?
A goddess like that wouldn't look twice at a simple courier. He forced a polite smile, though inside, disappointment gnawed at him.
"Lillia!" the woman called over her shoulder. "Come give this to your father!"
Almost as if on cue, a flash of pink appeared. A young girl with hair like cherry blossoms darted into view.
She leaned up, kissed the woman on the cheek, and snatched the letter.
"Good morning, Mama," she said sweetly before disappearing again, her footsteps light as air.
The mailman blinked, still trying to process what he had seen.
He turned back toward the silver-haired woman who was now rummaging through the small ring on her finger.
He was about to thank her and excuse himself when, to his utter disbelief, several golden coins floated out of the ring and into her palm.
She extended them casually. "Take them. It's your tip."
For a second, he froze.
Gold.
Not silver, not copper but actual gold.
More than he would normally earn in years of work.
His eyes went wide, then quickly darted between her calm expression and the glittering coins.
He didn't hesitate again.
Snatching them up with lightning speed, he shoved them into his satchel and bowed. "T-thank you!"
Before she could change her mind, he dashed down the street, his heart pounding like a drum.
Veyra watched him go and muttered, "Weird guy."
Then she paused, glanced down at her now-empty palm, and smacked her forehead.
"Fucking hell," she groaned, "that was gold ares, wasn't it? I still don't understand Empire currency but I meant to give him smaller change. Oh well. Not like it matters. We already have too much of it anyway."
She shrugged and closed the door.
…
[100 more sets, Esteemed Husband.]
Azel sighed heavily in his room. His arms trembled as he lowered himself into yet another handstand push-up.
His body felt like it weighed multiple hundred times more than it should, every motion straining his muscles to the limit.
Sweat dripped from his brow onto the floor beneath him.
The voice in his head was merciless.
Even though she wasn't here, she was remotely manipulating his body with divine pressure.
'You're trying to kill me,' Azel thought, his arms burning as he forced himself down and up again.
His chest ached, his breathing was ragged, and his head spun from the blood rushing to it.
He didn't know how she did it, but she had found a way to make even breathing painful.
Just when he thought he would collapse, the door creaked open.
Lillia stepped inside, holding the letter.
She stopped, tilted her head, and stared at him upside down. "Papa… why are you shirtless and exercising so early?"
Azel grunted, pushing himself up once more before collapsing in a heap on the floor.
"I wish I knew," he muttered between gasps.
His limbs felt like they were filled with lead.
He rolled over onto his back, panting, and glanced at her. "What's that in your hand?"
"The mailman brought a letter for you," she said. Then, without hesitation, she lifted her other hand and cast a quick spell.
A soft light enveloped him. The sweat on his skin vanished, and his sticky clothes dried instantly.
Azel blinked in relief.
"Ah, that's better." He sat up quickly, noticing that Kyone's crushing weight on his body had suddenly lifted.
For the first time all morning, he could move freely again. "Let me see that."
Lillia skipped forward and placed the letter in his hand.
Azel wasted no time.
He tore open the seal and unfolded the parchment, his eyes scanning the neat lines of script.
His lips curled into a grin.
Then, with a small but fierce shout, he leapt to his feet and pumped his fist in the air.
"And Papa's Number One!"
[Author's Note]
I'll be trying my best to do 5 chapters today…