CHAPTER 173: CHAPTER 173 - MISSION COMPLETE!

The sun had already sunk below the horizon, leaving only a bruised sky in its wake. Luca lay sprawled across Aurelia’s lap, blood flowing freely from his wound and staining her dress a deep crimson. Her shoulders shook violently as tears streamed down her face, her voice breaking in anger and despair.

"You... you bastard... is that what you’re worried about now?" she cried, her trembling hands clutching at his tunic as if holding him together by force alone.

Luca’s bloodied hand lifted weakly, his fingertips brushing against her tear-soaked cheek with a touch so faint it nearly slipped away. "O-of course I’m w-worried about that," he rasped, his lips curved in a fragile smile despite the blood at their corners. "W-wasn’t that the reason I t-took this mission..." His words dissolved into another fit of coughing, scarlet spattering against his chin.

Aurelia shook her head furiously, sobs escaping her throat as she tried to steady him. "You—"

"N-no..." Aurelia’s hoarse voice cut across the air, desperate yet gentle. "There’s... there’s something I have to do."

She began shifting, trying to get up, but his weakened arm clung to her with surprising insistence. His eyes, clouded with pain yet burning with a stubborn light, locked onto hers. "F-first... s-say you forgave me. Say it."

Her lips trembled, her heart twisting painfully. "That’s not important right now! Just let me get something to save you!"

But Luca shook his head, his grip tightening though his body was failing. "N-no... it’s important to me. J-just say it. If you don’t forgive me..." His voice broke, but his gaze never wavered.

"I... I forgave you, you fool!" Aurelia screamed, her tears flowing in streams as she pressed her forehead against his. "I forgave you! Now let me go!"

A breath of relief, almost a laugh, escaped Luca’s lips. His smile softened as his eyes fluttered half-shut. "Ahh... I finally completed... my p-personal mission..." His trembling fingers lifted again, and with a faint shimmer of mana, a half-filled vial appeared in his palm.

Aurelia’s eyes widened in disbelief. "That... isn’t that... the potion I gave you?"

Luca gave the faintest of nods, his smile lingering even as he sagged back against her. Without another word, Aurelia snatched the vial from his hand, tore the cork off with her teeth, and pressed it desperately to his lips. "Drink—please, drink!"

The liquid slid down his throat, and within moments, the gaping wound began to mend, flesh knitting itself together before her astonished eyes. Soon, only a faint scar remained, mocking the agony that had just consumed her.

Luca exhaled slowly, leaning back with the first sign of strength returning to his voice. I wouldn’t risk my life without thinking it through... There was still so much left of the potion after Her Majesty...

His thoughts echoed faintly as he sat up, wiping the dried blood from his chin.

But when he turned to meet Aurelia’s gaze, his relief faltered. Her beautiful eyes, still shining with tears, were narrowed and cold as steel. Her lips pressed into a thin line, trembling with anger she could no longer voice.

Aurelia’s hands trembled as she wiped at her wet cheeks, but her voice broke before she could finish her words.

"You—you had that potion ready... why didn’t you tell me, you idiot? You know... you know—"

Her breath hitched, and before she could stop herself, she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him. Her body shook against his chest as tears spilled freely once more.

"How worried I was... it—it felt like I was going to lose you..."

Luca froze only for a heartbeat before wrapping his arms around her, one hand gently patting her back in a soothing rhythm. His voice came soft, filled with regret.

"I’m really sorry. For now... and for back then as well. I am really, truly sorry."

He reached into his storage ring and pulled out another potion, the glass catching faint glimmers of moonlight. With slow care, he eased Aurelia back just enough to meet her reddened eyes, and pressed the vial into her hand.

"First... heal your wounds."

Sniffling, Aurelia accepted it, blinking between the potion and him.

"From where are y-you pulling these out?" she asked, still unsteady but curious through her tears.

Luca’s expression turned somber, shadows tightening around his gaze.

"I’ll tell you... but later. Right now, we have more important things to deal with."

He reached into his cloak and retrieved a crystalline shard that pulsed faintly with stored mana—the communication crystal. His thoughts tightened, grim. This is beyond what we can handle. I need to inform the academy immediately.

"You heal yourself quickly," he told her firmly, "I’ll report to the academy."

Aurelia nodded, still hugging the potion close like it was an anchor. Luca stood, his clothes torn and bloodstained, and stepped aside to a clearer patch of ground. Channeling mana into the crystal, he activated the link.

A faint hum echoed before a steady voice answered, formal and alert.

"Arcadia Academy. What is it, student Luca Valentine?"

Luca’s tone carried urgency.

"It’s regarding a black-grade mission we took. The situation is far more serious than we expected. Please connect me to Vice Dean Thorne."

A pause. The voice on the other end sharpened.

"Are you certain it warrants the Vice Dean? That level of escalation is not—"

"Hundreds of thousands of lives depend on it," Luca cut in, his tone unwavering.

Silence. Then the voice shifted, now urgent.

"Understood. I will connect you to the Vice Dean immediately."

Luca exhaled slowly, steadying himself. I could’ve called Professor Seraphina... but at this hour, she might not answer quickly. The Vice Dean is the only choice.

A moment later, a cold, strict voice laced with authority resonated from the crystal.

"What is it, student Luca?"

Without hesitation, Luca began recounting everything—how they had tracked the cultists, the contamination of the gorge’s waters, the cloaked figure, the brutal fight, and the disturbing ritual that demanded the sacrifice of strong individuals. His voice was even, but the weight of the events pressed against every word.

Finally, he ended, "Although we managed to defeat the clone... it’s beyond our control to stop the contamination of the water. And... they seemed to be looking for something, something that required strong sacrifices."

For a long moment, there was silence on the other end. Then, a quiet groan as if the man pinched the bridge of his nose.

"...Get out of there. Return to the academy immediately. I will personally lead a team to Ashenrock Gorge to handle it."

Luca’s brow furrowed. "What about the other cultists? I’m certain we only killed half of them."

"Don’t worry," Vice Dean Thorne replied, voice clipped. "With their leader gone, they will scatter. Your lives are more important. If that cloaked figure returned with his true body... it would be beyond you."

Luca lowered his gaze, nodding silently. Still, hesitation lingered. Finally, he drew a breath and spoke again.

"There is... one more thing, Vice Dean."

A short, sharp hum. "Hm?"

Luca’s voice dropped.

"There... might be a traitor. Someone from the high nobility of Valdros Kingdom."

For the first time, there was clear surprise in the Vice Dean’s tone.

"...Are you certain?"

"No. It’s only something I overheard. There’s no evidence."

"...Good that you reported it regardless. I will look into this matter. For now, keep it to yourself—don’t tell anyone else."

"Yes, Vice Dean."

"That’s it, then. Return at once."

The crystal dimmed, the link severed.

Luca lowered the shard slowly, his reflection wavering faintly on its smooth surface. His chest felt heavy with the weight of what they had learned—and what they had yet to uncover.

Aurelia walked up to him, her steps lighter now, the faint glow of potion-mended skin clear on her arms. She stopped by his side, her violet eyes searching his face.

"What happened?" she asked softly.

"Vice Dean will personally lead a team," Luca replied, his voice steady. "He asked us to return to the academy."

Aurelia gave a small nod, but her gaze lingered on him. "So... when are we leaving?"

"We’re both too exhausted," Luca said, shaking his head. "Let’s head to the nearest town first. We can leave tomorrow."

She hesitated, biting her lip before speaking again, her voice almost trembling. "There... there’s something I want to tell you."