CHAPTER 47: FOLLOWED

We followed the main path toward the museum with the rest of Class A dispersing into their own clusters.

Some groups were laughing, already taking pictures with those crystal–framed scrying devices the Fern kingdom used. Some were yawning, clearly not interested. Some tried to act like aristocrats appreciating culture but were obviously just flexing.

Ariana and I entered side by side.

Fern Royal Museum was coated in marble white stone, but the interior was warm — gold-lit corridors, plant motifs carved into every pillar. The air smelled faintly of flowers. Everything was clean, curated, polished.

I began walking toward the first display.

A large statue sat at the center hall — a man holding a branch like a sword.

"The founding king of Fern," I said casually. "Aurelius Vernad. He unified scattered tribes when this region was still wilderness overrun by monster tides. This sculpture is the original — made by the sculptor Artellion Gray — one of the continent’s most famous artisan families."

Ariana’s eyes sparkled like a kid in a candy store.

"Wow. Lucien — how do you know all this?"

I shrugged.

"Oh, you know. I read."

And played the game for years. And cleared every lore entry. And memorized every useless forum post arguing accuracy.

We moved on — relic cases, preserved old currency, river jade tablet collections.

Every time Ariana saw something new, she turned to me.

I answered without even thinking.

****

After the museum we moved to the second stop — Fern Botanical Park.

"Welcome to Fern Botanical Park! We welcome the cadets from Imperial Academy!"

The greeting echoed as we crossed an ivy-wrapped archway.

The "park" was basically a curated ecological zone.

The concept: Nature retakes abandoned human city.

Reality: A dense, humid, spider-infested jungle.

I twitched an eye as the webs overhead shimmered faintly.

Why did they have to recreate jungle spiders in such grotesque accuracy?

Ariana walked beside me quietly — though quiet might be too generous a word. Every time a vine rustled or a leaf brushed her hair, she’d jolt closer, pretending it was nothing. When a bird shrieked from somewhere above, she clutched my sleeve for half a second, then quickly released it, cheeks pink.

By the time we exited the Botanical Park, she was walking close enough that our shoulders brushed.

Next stop — the Knight Barracks.

If the Botanical Park was nature’s domain, this was the epitome of discipline. Rows of knights were sparring in the training grounds, swords clashing, mana-infused strikes bursting with faint blue sparks. The air smelled of iron, sweat, and polished armor.

We joined the rest of the cadets gathering near the outer rail. A knight in polished silver plate stood at attention, his voice booming.

"Welcome, cadets of the Imperial Academy! Here at the Royal Barracks of Fern, every knight trains not for glory — but for duty!"

Some overenthusiastic cadets cheered, especially the sword freaks from Class B. The knight, noticing their spirit, chuckled and beckoned them forward. "If anyone wishes to test their mettle, feel free to spar."

Of course, a few hands shot up immediately. The showoffs.

A few duels took place — nothing major, just quick exchanges of basic forms. The Fern knights were polite enough not to humiliate anyone too badly, but it was clear how wide the skill gap was. Every swing from the knights was clean, efficient, effortless.

Ariana watched intently, almost dazzled. I? Not so much.

Swordsmanship never interested me. Too straightforward. Too honorable.

As the exhibition wrapped up, the knight guide dismissed us with a salute. The other cadets gathered for a group photo while I quietly stepped back.

Ariana turned just as I was slipping away.

"Lucien? Where are you going?" she asked, brows furrowed slightly.

"Got some errands," I said smoothly. "Something I need to check before the day ends. You can go join Livia. She’s looking for you."

"Eh? Oh—okay..." She hesitated, then nodded. "Don’t disappear for too long."

I smiled faintly. "Wouldn’t dream of it."

And just like that, I was gone — fading into the crowd of students heading in every direction.

Destination: the orphanage.

That’s where the next incident should occur.

At least, according to the game timeline.

A demonic beast — something mutated from the sewers — was supposed to appear there, tearing through the slums near the orphanage. The protagonist party would fight it, save the children, and earn the gratitude of the Fern royal family.

But we were a month early.

Would it still appear?

Would the event even trigger?

Too many unknowns.

And that made it worth checking.

So I slipped away from the main streets, taking the cobblestone path that wound toward the lower quarters — a part of the capital tourists rarely visited.

What I didn’t know... was that my quiet little detour hadn’t gone unnoticed.

****

"Where’s that guy going?" Princess Celestia muttered, lowering her parasol slightly as she peered through the crowd.

"How would I know?" Mariella replied, folding her arms. "I told you, Princess — that guy’s trouble. Probably off to stir something up again."

Celestia gave her a look — that calm, regal kind that could make anyone feel like an idiot.

"You can’t just accuse someone without reason. He hasn’t done anything for months."

"Princess," Mariella insisted, "people like him don’t change. They just wait for everyone to drop their guard."

Celestia’s lips curved slightly. "So what do you suggest, detective?"

"What else?" Mariella grinned. "We follow him. Catch him red-handed."

"That..." Celestia said, her tone betraying reluctant amusement, "...sounds like a plan."

The two exchanged mischievous smiles, like schoolgirls plotting a prank.

As they started to sneak off, Kael — ever the curious hero — called out, "Where are you going?"

"Girl business," Mariella said without missing a beat.

He blinked. "Oh—uh. Right."

That shut him up immediately.

But someone else wasn’t so easily convinced.

"Should I follow along?" Elisha asked quietly, her sharp eyes narrowing in the direction Lucien had disappeared. Something in her gut didn’t sit right.

The two girls exchanged glances — then Mariella nodded. "Fine. But don’t slow us down."

And just like that, the trio set off, quietly tailing Lucien through the streets of Fern.

The hunter was heading toward the orphanage.

And three shadows followed in his wake — unknowingly walking toward the first crack in the so-called kingdom of peace.