As Noah and I stepped out into the night, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the staircase.
The street outside was quiet, the moonlight spilling across the cobblestones in long silver streaks. For a while, we walked in silence before I broke it.
"So… why did you lie?"
My words fell heavy. Noah's shoulders stiffened immediately.
"W-what are you talking about?"
"There's no need to pressure yourself." My tone was calm, steady. "It's okay to be honest."
"I-I…" His voice cracked, trembling with hesitation.
I sighed. "I'm not saying you lied about where you live, or what you do. It's just… the part about finding Lumi in the infirmary."
His eyes widened. "…How did you?"
"The truth is, Lumi was bullied inside the junior restroom. From the looks of it, she was out numbered by atleast three of them. One mainly from a higher blood who supposedly blackmail her which should explain why she never tried to fight back. Supposedly today in the toilet, they drown her and force her to consume extensive amount of sleeping pills which cause her to pass out."
Originally she should be dead from overdose...
"H-how can you tell?" Noah asked.
"I've lived here for a week now. Lumi is like a little sister to me. Every day, she returned home later than the others. I suspected something had happened at the academy. The most obvious answer was bullying. But there was a problem—she never showed bruises or scratches. None at all. But one with a functioning brain will surely know something is wrong when they get to observe."
I stopped walking.
"And that thing bothered me."
In the blink of an eye, I flicked my hand and made a shallow cut on Noah's arm using the knife I took earlier, stepping back to pressure him into a reaction.
"Ah!" He flinched, retreating. His right hand clutched his left arm instinctively—light shimmered, and in a heartbeat, the wound vanished. No chant. It was like it never existed.
"…As I thought." I lowered my guard.
A promising young talent with extreme superior healing ability born in a poor family. No wonder why the academy took him in.
Confusion crossed his face as his tense expression eased.
"The day I arrived here, Lumi came home exhausted. Drained. I knew she was being bullied, but her body showed no signs of it. That didn't mean she wasn't hurt—it meant someone was healing her without her knowing." I walked toward him, my voice even, apologetic. "I'm sorry I had to confirm it like this. Please accept my apologies."
"O-okay…" he murmured, still wary.
" But each time you approach her, everyone was already gone. Even today when she was bullied, you waited for everyone to leave before you make your move. Why is that?"
"I-I..."
"Is it because you want to avoid suspicion or because there's someone who has absolute authority of what happened?" I asked
Noah froze, his mouth opening, then closing again. "…I-I… I can't tell you that. I'm sorry."
His voice shook, not with guilt, but with fear. A fear chained to something—or someone—that held power over him.
I studied him quietly. So that's how it is...not just a royal bullies. Something deeper keeps him silent.
That makes sense why Bella didn't try to stop or rather why she stop trying to help her daughter, she knew but simply can't do anything to help her. I don't blame her, it could cost both their life. And Lumi clearly understood the situation so she tried her best to endure it. But... This must be dealt with regardless.
"I see. Whatever your reason, it's fine," I said softly. "Just keep protecting Lumi, like you've always done."
He blinked in surprise.
"I don't want to stir up trouble," I continued, glancing down the empty street. "But next week, I'll handle the situation somehow."
"You can't do that!" Noah blurted, panic rushing into his voice. "I mean… they're not people you should mess with."
"I understand your concern." My tone didn't change. Calm. Unshaken. "Just keep helping her, as you have until now. That's enough."
Even if I didn't tell him to, Noah will surely protect Lumi because he simply can't accept her dying.
I shifted the topic, drawing out the custom-made kunai. The steel glinted faintly under the moonlight.
"By the way, do you know where this is from?"
Noah leaned closer, eyes narrowing as he studied it. His brows furrowed. "…I don't know. They look familiar, but I can't remember. But I can introduce you to some of the craftsmen in town."
"That''s okay," I said, sliding it back into place. My gaze scanned the shadowed alleys stretching around us. The silence was thick, the darkness pressing close, almost suffocating. I half-expected to catch a glimpse of the figure tied to this weapon… but the night offered nothing.
"This place sure is dark," I murmured. " Let's get moving, shall we?"
"Okay." He nodded slightly.
As we crossed the dark valley, Noah decided to speak up voluntarily.
"Mister, you're pretty amazing, aren't you?" He said.
"What gives?" I replied.
"How you figure things out with the slightest information. That's not normal."
"I'm just good at guessing and it's not that hard to figure out when we shared a house. I'm sure Bella noticed too but she was just too busy to ask what it was and I doubt that Lumi will tell her the truth."
Although she clearly knows.
"Is that so..." He seemed skeptical about it. " Hey, mister!" Noah opened up to me. He looked at me with admiration.
His behaviour shocked me internally. How does he get close to me that fast despite what happened earlier.
"Yes?" I asked in a confusing manner.
" Who are you?"
" Well I'm just a traveller. And didn't I already tell you my name?"
"Did you? I don't remember."
Did I not?
"In that case, you call me Chàros." I added."You have quite the ability."
"Th-thanks. I got it from my mother." Noah replied.
"I see." I thought for a moment and continued,"Noah, is it?"
He nodded slightly.
"I assume you have access to the keys of the academy." I said asking for clarification.
"I guess, why'd you ask?" He asked.
"I'll be needing a bit of a tour in the library. If you don't mind."
It's not that long since I got here, I need to find information about the place I'll be staying at for quite sometime, so I need to know what lurks around here, how to deal with them and so on.
We arrived at the academy without any casualty, as soon as Noah handed me the key to the library, I decided to take a walk in the mountains before I begin my study and research.
I have a few things bugging me so checking them out while I can is a great opportunity.