CHAPTER 112: SWEETS.

Two Weeks Later.

Swing. Slash.

Azhriel’s sword cut cleanly through the morning air, each movement sharp and focused.

Sweat ran down his face, soaking into his shirt, but he didn’t stop—not even for a second.

With a final slash, he lowered his blade, finishing the last move of his daily routine.

Even after the black market mission, not once had he skipped his training.

"Huu..." He let out a slow breath and tapped the gravity bracelets on his wrists, adjusting them down to double the normal weight.

A cool breeze brushed against his face, refreshing and crisp. He liked that feeling—the cold wind after hard work.

"Papa, this feels so nice," said a soft voice.

Zephyriah sat high on a tree branch, her little wings tucked behind her as she stared out at the sunrise. The soft light danced across the sky, and she looked happy.

She was the reason he chose to train outside today instead of in his usual private room.

Then, from nearby, a sleepy voice drifted over.

"Are you done?"

Azhriel turned to see Caelyn, her hair a little messy, eyes half-lidded as she leaned against a tree.

Caelyn rubbed her eyes, her footsteps soft against the dew-covered grass as she walked up beside him.

Her face was still half-asleep, but her voice carried a faint note of amusement.

"Seriously though, three hours? Before breakfast?" she muttered as she stretched again, her arms lifting lazily overhead. "That’s actual madness..."

"It’s a little something called discipline," Azhriel replied, rolling his shoulders as he began to cool down. "It might be hard at first, but if followed properly, it can change your life."

Caelyn gave him a deadpan stare as a small leaf stuck to her milk-pink hair fluttered with the breeze.

"Woo, hoorah to discipline," she mumbled half-heartedly, raising one arm halfway into the air before letting it flop back down.

Azhriel blinked at her response, then chuckled softly. "Wow. What an energetic response."

Caelyn let out a small huff, smirking just slightly. "Sorry, I don’t cheer for things that get me out of bed before sunrise."

"You weren’t even supposed to be here," he pointed out.

"I know," she said, glancing toward the hill. "I was out on my own walk and ended up here... and then I spotted you swinging that sword like a lunatic."

Zephyriah, now curled up in a ball on a tree branch above them, yawned and chimed in sleepily, "Papa is always like that~!"

"See?" Caelyn said, pointing lazily upward. "Even your dragon thinks you’re crazy."

Azhriel just shrugged, eyes calm as usual. "Better crazy and sharp... than soft and sloppy."

"Ugh. Save the quotes for a book."

Caelyn with a very much effort opened her eyes, then looked at him more properly now. "You done for the morning?"

"For now," he said, finally deactivating the gravity weights on his arms and legs. A quiet hiss followed as the hidden runes dimmed. "I’ll rest for a bit... then start mana training."

Caelyn blinked at him, genuinely stunned. "You mean there’s more?"

Azhriel gave her a look. "Did you think that was all?"

Caelyn stared at him, expression blank... then looked away with a small pout. "Stupid discipline..." she mumbled.

Azhriel picked up his towel, wiping the sweat from his face as a small smirk lingered on his lips.

"So," Caelyn started once again. "when are we going?"

He looked at her, a bit confused. "Hm? Going where?"

Caelyn blinked, then narrowed her eyes at him. "Don’t tell me you actually forgot."

Azhriel tilted his head slightly, a thoughtful expression creeping onto his face.

’Did I... promise something? I feel like I did... but what was it again?’

He gave her a small, sheepish look. "Um... sorry, but... what was it again?"

"Did you actually forget to treat me to cake after I literally buffed you?" Caelyn asked, her tone more serious than Azhriel had ever heard from her.

He blinked. ’Damn... I really did forget.’

"Ah... I’m sorry," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "How about we go today? Before the famous auction in Mosseira. I heard their sweets are really good."

Before Caelyn could even answer, a high-pitched, excited voice interrupted—

"Sweets!" Zephyriah suddenly leapt down from the tree, flinging herself at Azhriel like a tiny missile. He caught her easily, chuckling.

"Yes, do you want some too?" he asked, looking at her excited face.

"Yes!" she beamed. "Pink lady once gave me a cho-kklate! It was so yummy—I want more!"

She said not able to speak the long chocolate word properly.

"Haha, okay," Azhriel said, ruffling her soft hair. "You can have as much as you want."

Then, he looked back at Caelyn with a faint smile. "So, dear pink lady, is that alright with you?"

Caelyn stared at the two of them—Azhriel, calm and unreadable with a deadly aura under his skin, and Zephyriah, pure and joyful, practically glowing with innocence. What a pair, really.

"Yeah," she nodded. "It’s fine. But are you really going to that auction too?"

"Mhm," Azhriel said, setting Zephyriah gently on his shoulder as she clung onto him like a tiny scarf. "There are a few things I’d like to check out."

"Yo!"

A casual voice broke into the moment.

Kevin, Raymond, and Samuel strolled over from the path, they were also in their training gear.

"Morning," Kevin waved, before his eyes drifted to Zephyriah. "Heh, still hard to believe you have a bond like that."

"She’s adorable," Samuel added with a small smile. "Looks like she likes sweets too?"

"She loves them," Caelyn replied before Azhriel could say anything. Apparently in just a week, Zephyriah and Caelyn had gotten a lot closer.

"Anyway," Raymond cut in, hands in his pockets, "you guys heard about the Mosseira auction, right? It’s going to be a big one this year."

"Yeah," Kevin nodded. "I heard some rare elemental stones and even a high-tier artifact are gonna be there. It’s gonna be crawling with nobles, high-tier mages, and people with deep pockets."

"Exactly," Samuel said. "Honestly, you can go browse, but unless you’ve got the coin to back it up, it’s kind of pointless." Samuel said it wasn’t mockery or anything just a basic observation.

Their eyes drifted to Azhriel. The sole one with a commoner status in the group.

Kevin chuckled lightly. "I mean... unless you’re hiding some secret gold mine, it’s gonna be rough. That place isn’t cheap, y’know."

Even Raymond said. "You might want to just enjoy the sweets and skip the auction floor."

Azhriel didn’t respond right away. He simply looked at them, his expression unreadable.

Then, ever so slightly, the corner of his lips curled into a mysterious smile.

"I have some of it." he said simply.

Something in the way he said it made Kevin blink. "Wait... what does that mean?"

Raymond raised a brow. Samuel tilted his head.

Caelyn just sighed. "I told you, don’t try to guess what this guy’s hiding. It’s not worth the headache."

"Papa’s got shiny things!" Zephyriah declared proudly, lifting her arms from his shoulders.

Azhriel let out a small laugh. "Let’s just say... I’ll manage."

The others exchanged glances.

"Alright then, Mister Mysterious," Kevin said with a grin. "Can’t wait to see how many jaws you’ll drop at the auction."

"Though, how did you get up this early for a morning workout, Kevin?"

Azhriel asked, glancing at him with a faint smirk. "Isn’t it dangerous for your status as ’the laziest in the dorms’?"

Kevin groaned dramatically, dragging his feet like a man headed for execution.

"Don’t ask me, dude. These heartless maniacs"—he jabbed a thumb toward Raymond and Samuel.

"Have no concept of peace. First, they nearly broke my door down. Then they barged in like bandits, threw water on my face, and practically dragged me out of bed... all for a fucking run. A run, man. Just for a goddamn morning jog!"

He looked genuinely betrayed by life.

Caelyn tilted her head slightly. "Hmm, he seems quite fed up."

"Fed up? No, no. Fed up doesn’t even begin to describe it." Kevin huffed, placing a dramatic hand over his chest. "I am enraged. Violated. Emotionally bruised."

Samuel rolled his eyes. "You screamed like a banshee over a light jog."

"That was the scream of a victim!" Kevin argued.

"Yeah, sure," Raymond muttered, stretching his arms casually. Then he looked toward Azhriel. "You wanna join? Just a light run. Helps loosen up the body."

Azhriel glanced at Zephyriah, who was now curled lazily on his shoulder, blinking slowly at the sunlight. He gave a light nod. "Alright."

"Wait what— you said yes too?" Kevin turned, betrayed once again. "I thought we had a silent agreement of never doing more than the bare minimum!"

Azhriel simply walked past him.

"Traitor!"

"Come on, Kevin," Samuel said with a smile. "Maybe you’ll sweat all that complaining out."

"I hope I sweat out the trauma," Kevin muttered under his breath as he followed after them, dragging his feet with all the energy of a tired ghost.

And so, the group moved together toward the academy’s forest trail—the morning sun warm on their backs, laughter and light banter trailing behind.

They didn’t know it yet, but this peaceful start would be the calm before the storm.