CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62: BETWEEN CATASTROPHES... EXAMS

Saphielle didn’t attend classes for two weeks.

No one questioned it—not seriously. Rumors circled, of course. Whispers in the hallways, curious glances in the dining hall whenever her name came up. Some said she’d gone on a diplomatic mission. Others thought she was recovering from magical exhaustion.

The truth was simpler.

She had spent every day tending to the aftermath.

The mansion she called home was nearly unrecognizable—walls cracked, ceilings half-collapsed, enchanted wards shattered beyond recognition. Her personal staff had taken the worst of it: bruises, burns, fractured pride. She treated them one by one, often with her own magic, refusing to let anyone else lay a hand on them.

She never spoke of what happened.

Not to the instructors, not to her classmates, not even to Cordelia or Lys.

But something had changed.

The perfection that had once defined her presence—the rigid posture, the untouched uniform, the cold confidence—had softened. She walked the halls with the same pride, but less distance. Her gaze was calmer. Her silence no longer defensive.

—-------

The Cercis Tree stood tall and blooming, its violet blossoms drifting lazily down over the quiet academy courtyard.

Noah leaned back against the trunk with his arms folded behind his head. Cordelia plopped down beside him, adjusting her skirt with an exasperated sigh.

"Nice day," she said, tossing a petal off her lap. "Almost makes you forget we nearly triggered a catastrophe two weeks ago."

Noah didn’t move. "Yeah, almost."

Cordelia glanced sideways. "So, have you recovered from saving the day?"

Noah turned to her, one eyebrow raised. "Have you recovered from almost ruining the infiltration?"

Cordelia blinked. "Excuse me?"

He sat up slightly, voice dry. "You bought the damn earrings when we agreed, just bid for the Hollow Echo"

"They were pretty!"

"Very Cordelia, because of you we had to work extra hard when everything could have been resolved in 5 minutes if you hadn’t bought the earrings."

She huffed. "Okay, I think I could have controlled myself and it was my fault, but only a little. It was a bargain to have bought them at a jewelry store. Do you know how much they would have cost me?"

"Don’t try to smooth it out."

"I bought them at half price."

"You almost got us killed."

She crossed her arms. "Fine. I made one mistake. It won’t happen again."

"You’ve said that before," he muttered.

Cordelia smirked. "You like it. Admit it. Without me, your life would be way too simple."

Noah leaned his head back again. "That’s the point."

They sat in silence for a moment, the wind rustling above them. Then, more quietly, Cordelia said:

"So... you really showed her everything?"

Noah nodded without looking. "The whole day. Every memory that mattered."

"And?"

"She saw that day, from beginning to end I imagine, she cried a little, she spoke with her teacher and it all ended there."

Cordelia let out a slow breath. "She’s been... different. Not worse. Just... quiet."

"She needed time. Now she’s had it."

Cordelia nodded.

Noah added, "That was the second major event."

Cordelia glanced at him. "Second?"

He nodded. "The first was Lys and the contract. She should’ve died."

Cordelia remembered that day—how the chamber had trembled, how the spirits had nearly devoured her friend. She said nothing.

"And now this," Noah continued. "Saphielle’s ritual. If it had gone wrong, the city would be gone. Everyone inside with it."

Cordelia frowned. "And we stopped it."

"For now," Noah said.

She pulled her knees up to her chest. "So what’s next, then? More cultists? More demons? Assassins? War?"

Noah gave a half-smile.

"Exams."

Cordelia stared at him.

"...Seriously?"

"Yeah."

She looked away. "I haven’t studied for a single written test."

Noah couldn’t help but laugh.

"You’re telling me you saved the world twice and still don’t know basic alchemy formulas?"

"I copied off Lys in every class."

Noah laughed harder, shaking his head.

Cordelia glared at him. "You think this is funny?"

He grinned. "A little."

She stood up, brushing her clothes. "Ugh. I’m going to die."

"Not before you pass theoretical mana flow analysis," he said.

"That’s the worst one!" she shouted, walking away.

Noah leaned back against the tree again, watching the petals fall.

He was still laughing.

Cordelia folded her arms and sat cross-legged under the Cercis Tree, her brows furrowed in growing panic.

"This is bad. This is really bad," she muttered, tapping her fingers on her knee. "Five exams. Five. And I’m not prepared for any of them."

Noah leaned against the tree trunk with his usual calm. "Didn’t you go to class?"

"Yeah," she said, waving a hand vaguely, "but just being there doesn’t mean I remember anything! I was barely paying attention. Between the auction mess and everything that came after, my brain’s fried."

"You didn’t even help with the necromancer incident," he pointed out.

"I couldn’t!" she snapped. "The doors were sealed. You were inside playing dark savior, and I was stuck outside babysitting a girl who almost summoned the end of the world."

Noah chuckled. "So you’ve had a full week of not studying and not saving the world. Sounds productive."

Cordelia groaned. "Please tell me you remember the answers. You do, right? From your previous life or whatever it is?"

He smirked. "Maybe."

She turned to him with pleading eyes. "Noah. I am begging you. Help me. I can’t fail these. My family will kill me. My future husband will probably be a baker with a gambling addiction."

He crossed his arms and tilted his head thoughtfully. "Alright. Five subjects. Twenty gold."

Her jaw dropped. "Are you seriously charging me!?"

"Supply and demand," he said. "You demand answers. I supply them. And I like gold."

Cordelia pulled out her pouch with a dramatic sigh. "You’re a monster."

"A generous monster," he said, pocketing the coins. "Lesson one: Magical Theory—always start by writing the definition of mana affinity. Even if you don’t know the rest, that gets you partial credit."

She stared at him in disbelief. "You’ve got all the tips, don’t you?"

He winked. "Wouldn’t sell you trash, now would I?"

Cordelia grumbled, but a faint smile tugged at her lips as she pulled out her notebook. "If I fail, I’m hexing your boots."

"Already planning for failure?" he teased.

"I’m just practical."