Adrian was still in her room, sitting by the window and quietly reading through a few notes.

    Sylvie lay asleep on the bed, her face calm and peaceful.

    Seeing her like that was a relief.

    Everything that had happened today must have shaken her—no matter how prepared she claimed to be or how indifferent she tried to seem.

    Adrian had stayed by her side, knowing she''d need someone. She didn''t have many friends in the academy, and the few she did have were in the infirmary.

    Allen was still recovering, and Olivia was with him, taking care of his wounds.

    If I hadn''t been there at that moment… even a few seconds later might have cost him his life, Adrian sighed to himself.

    Allen—descendant of the one who once struck down the Darkness itself, a being powerful enough to kill a god when the time came. And yet… he''d grown soft. Careless, even. Maybe it was because he hadn''t been in a situation like this for too long—a situation where his life truly hung by a thread.

    Well, maybe this one-sided fight against Michael would finally shake him awake.

    "Don''t you feel tired?" a soft voice broke the silence.

    Adrian turned, smiling at the girl still lying on the bed with her eyes only half open.

    "I can read about runes and history for half a day without getting tired," he replied with a calm smile. sea??h thё n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She didn''t seem impressed—just let out a tired sigh. "That''s exactly why you''re the smartest person I''ve ever met."

    He chuckled at her words. "Trying to butter up your teacher? Don''t tell me you''re aiming for bonus points before the Aegis Trials."

    But he knew her well. Sylvie would never try to win favors like that. She was one of the most sincere students he had taught—easily bound to be in the top five.

    He just wanted to lighten up the mood and hearing the soft giggle from the girl, he knew he succeeded.

    "Do you want to eat something?" Adrian asked as he got up from the seat, "I am going to the common hall anyway so I will bring something for you," He added instantly knowing she would have insisted to bring food herself.

    She gingerly rested back on the bed and nodded, "Anything works,"

    Adrian nodded before he approached the door—only to pause as he heard her timid voice,

    "Sir…"

    "Hmm?" he asked, before hearing her asking something unexpected,

    "You…will return right?"

    Adrian could sense the anxiety in her voice, making him feel slightly disturbed. However, he held his calmness and told her, "Yes, I will definitely come back to you."

    He assured her before walking out of the room.

    He ran his fingers through his hair as he made his way down the lobby while keeping his gaze down.

    There were many female students around, returning to their rooms or stepping out.

    They naturally saw him and started murmuring things,

    "If only I could pull him to my room~"

    "Ahh~he look so hot without glasses~"

    "Want to rest a bit, professor?"

    Their voice was very subtle, definitely not meant to reach him but he could hear them clearly.

    ''Seriously, what happened to the taste of young girls? Shouldn''t they be targeting someone of their age?'' He was, at least, six years older than them.

    Shaking his head, he descended the stairs and met a familiar person there, "Ah, I was going to fetch you." Ariana said as she stepped back.

    Adrian''s brows elevated, "Something happened?"

    Ariana shook her head, "Was about to invite you to dinner."

    Adrian hummed as they started walking toward the common hall.

    "I visited the infirmary earlier. Allen has recovered but the nurse is still keeping him there for tonight," she added while glancing at Adrian, "Olivia is staying there with him."

    Adrian hummed in response, "That''s for the best. His wound might have disappeared but he still need some monitored rest so that he doesn''t suffer from any after effect..." Adrian trailed off as he noticed that his girlfriend suddenly had gotten an interest in his face.

    "What happened?" He asked as he tapped on shoulder.

    She shook her head, "I...just was observing something?"

    "What?"

    Ariana smiled faintly, "Your expression doesn''t change when I mention Olivia."

    Adrian sighed, ''So it was about that,'' shaking his head he told her, "I told you I have already moved on from that phase."

    "But you used to like her, didn''t you?"

    Adrian shrugged, "She was kind to me and has a beautiful face so yeah, I was infatuated by her." There was no point in denying, since Adrian himself had told Ariana about his affection towards Olivia when they were not dating.

    Ariana''s brows elevated, "Well, I was kind to you and I take confidence in my beauty. Why didn''t you fall for me?"

    Adrian narrowed his eyes, a thin smirk lifting the edges of his lips, "Aria...are you actually jealous?"

    Ariana tilted her head, "Does that bother you?"

    Adrian smilingly and secretly held her hand and said, "It excites me."

    She came to a slow pause by those words and the sudden warmth enveloping her hand.

    But then, she heard a few students exiting the common hall so she hurriedly stepped forward, detaching her hand from his.

    Adrian chuckled seeing the redness on her neck as they approached the common hall.

    Most of the students had returned to their rooms and those who were still present, instantly stiffened up upon seeing the Headmistress.

    Ariana ignored them and walked to the counter, following her was Adrian who gestured toward the students to relax.

    They eased up, but not too much; now finishing their meals hastily so they could walk away as soon as they could.

    Ariana, despite how lenient and easy going appear before Adrian, was still a strict and narrow-eyed headmistress to the students. And she has to maintain the reputation for several reasons.

    "Get me three dinner meal sets," Ariana told the chef who looked equally baffled and nervous.

    He gave a salute, he really did that, before rushing into the kitchen.

    Adrian sighed, "If only they take me this sincerely as well."

    Ariana grinned, "Bring me with you for VIP treatment."

    Adrian shook his head, "I don''t want to punish them regularly,"

    Ariana chuckled quietly—only to pause when suddenly alarm went off.

    *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

    Adrian shared a glance with Ariana before saying, "It''s coming from the steam room. The temperature has risen—probably a fire." He knew because he had set the alarm himself.

    Ariana frowned, "I will go and check. Direct the students to their rooms."

    °°°°°°°

    A/N:- Thanks for reading.