Opportunity (2)
Luna couldn't move for a while after getting pranked by Sivar. She was already screaming for mercy during Lize's training, and now with her legs torn up, even standing was a struggle. So as soon as training ended, she didn't head back to the dorms but stayed put.
Too exhausted to even shower right away, she planned to do it later.
"Luna, where's your dorm?"
"Pardon? Why do you ask?"
"It might be better to shower here. I'm around anyway, so it should be fine, right?"
Luna was a bit flustered by Lize's sudden suggestion, but thinking it over, it made sense. The men's and women's dorms were farther apart than expected, and normally, getting in and out was a hassle. But since she'd gotten Lize's permission, all the procedures could be skipped.
"Rest up here comfortably before you go. That's okay with you, Sivar?"
"Yeah. Fine."
"Th-then... may I?"
Luna glanced around cautiously, asking permission. Honestly, dragging herself back to the dorm sounded like a pain. More than that, she didn't even have the strength to lift a finger. All she wanted was a nice shower and to crash.
"Sure. But tell me your dorm room number. I'll go grab your clothes."
"N-no, that's okay! I can just stay like this!"
But treating Lize like an errand girl felt wrong. Luna hurriedly shouted upon hearing her.
It was a little awkward, but not unbearable. You had to know your limits with favors, and this was way too much. Besides, Lize was a saint revered as the Kwonseong. Asking such a trivial "favor" of someone like that brought immense pressure.
"It's fine. I trained you, so I bear responsibility too. Just tell me the room number, and I'll fetch your clothes."
"St-still..."
"Consider that a request now could turn into blackmail later."
"......"
Hearing that in her Kwonseong form—not her saint form—made it terrifyingly real. In the end, Luna gave up her dorm room number.
Lize then switched back to her saint form. She said this was proper for going out. She chatted briefly with the guard outside the door, said goodbye to Luna and Sivar, and left.
In conclusion, the room was left with just Luna and Sivar.
......Wait a sec.
Luna, leaning against the wall to rest, suddenly had a bright idea. To reiterate: she was alone with Sivar.
Wasn't this the situation she'd been dying for? She'd planned this weekend's training as an excuse for some alone time. It got a bit derailed when Sivar beat up Professor Delphoi, but things were still heading her way.
The men's and women's dorms are pretty far...
About a 20-minute walk, from what she knew. She had no idea why they were so distant. They just were.
That meant 20 minutes alone with Sivar to talk. It'd be weird not to chat during that time.
"......Sivar?"
"Yeah?"
Sivar turned to her with a puzzled look at her call. In his hand was a candy he'd somehow pulled out—lemon flavor, judging by the yellow wrapper.
"Could I maybe have one too? If not, no worries..."
"Here."
Without hesitation, Sivar handed over the candy she'd asked for. It was the same pale blonde as her hair. Luna was a little surprised but smiled and took it gratefully.
How is he so sweet?
"Yum."
She unwrapped it and popped the lemon candy in her mouth. A fresh citrus burst spread instantly, refreshing her battered body from the intense training.
She wasn't big on candy usually, but right now, it hit the spot.
"Tasty. You not having one?"
"None left."
"Huh? None?"
"Yeah. That was the last."
Luna blinked in shock at the answer. Normally, he'd mutter something like, That's the last one... Or hesitate a bit.
But Sivar had given away his very last candy without a second thought.
More bafflement than washed over her.
"Y-you sure it's okay to just give it? Your last one?"
"You asked."
"......"
His words stirred an inexplicable guilt. Luna glanced at him sheepishly and gave a wry smile.
A kid this sweet had beaten Delphoi half to death—and ruined him for life as a man. Of course, Delphoi deserved it. He'd tried to drag a promising student into the abyss.
"......Thanks. I'll buy you some later."
"Okay."
"What's your favorite flavor?"
"Any."
Luna chatted with Sivar about this and that. She wasn't great with words, so diving straight into heavy topics was tough. But they had plenty of time. Even if Lize hurried back, it'd be at least 15 minutes.
It was a sensitive subject to bring up aloud, but when else would she get the chance?
"......Sivar."
"Yeah."
"That... cave painting, remember?"
She broached it after easing the awkward air a bit. A whole month since she'd been dying to ask. She'd endured every ridiculous suppression imaginable. If not now, who knew when?
Luna mentioned the painting, then looked at Sivar. He wore his usual blank, doe-eyed expression—like innocence personified, screaming I know nothing.
"Did... you draw it?"
"Painting?"
"Yeah. The cave one. Where you lived in the forest."
She had to ask. Luna forced the question out. How long had she waited for this?
Relief mixed with tension surged through her. What would Sivar say? Deny it? Something else?
If her hunch was right, that painting showed the future. Nothing else made sense. Back then, Sivar had only lived in that cave—he wouldn't even know about the United Academy.
"It had the academy symbol, and you fighting someone demonic-looking. Was that you?"
"Yeah."
"Right... huh?"
Luna nodded, then froze. What did he just say?
Her eyes widened as she stared. Sivar confirmed it again.
"I drew it."
"......"
Anticlimactic yet shocking—the answer straight from Sivar's mouth.
She'd half-expected it, but hearing it directly hit hard.
Sivar drew it? How? What did he see? Wait, what even is he?
Her mind flooded with turmoil and stray thoughts. She couldn't pin down what to say first. Pure chaos. Nothing solid, just assumptions.
Why was Sivar in that cave? Why live in the forest? And so on.
She sighed deeply to calm her pounding heart. Best to unravel the mysteries step by step.
"......You drew it?"
"Yeah."
"So what was it? The academy symbol was definitely there."
"Hmm..."
Sivar pondered her question. Truth be told, even he wrestled with this.
The Soul World had countless branches, but the main storyline was fixed—one trunk leading to different fruits based on player choices.
Take Lord: do nothing, and he dies mid-game from poison. Intervene, and he aids you late-game.
Tricky.
Tell her straight-up, This world's a game, and you're the protagonist? She'd call bullshit.
He wanted to spill it all, but it wouldn't be enough.
I don't even know why I ended up here.
His very existence was a riddle. Luna probably thought so too.
Getting closer to her wasn't bad. But only explain to the extent it made sense.
After thinking, Sivar looked up at her. Her blue eyes brimmed with tension.
His heavy lips parted.
"Future."
"......"
Just as expected. The painting depicted the future.
Her heart sank, but Sivar wasn't done.
"That was?"
"......That was?"
"Yeah."
Luna furrowed her brow. A future that was. What could be more vague? And phrased as a question, no less.
The future was fluid—prophecies even gods rarely dared. Yet Sivar spoke like he'd seen it.
Another layer of mystery for her.
"How do you know it was the future? Where'd you see it?"
"......"
"Or did you just draw it on instinct? Like usual?"
This time, Sivar stayed silent, just blinking blankly.
Probably tough to answer—or he didn't know. Given his personality, she leaned toward the latter.
A wild blank slate. Yet that wild man knew an unknowable future.
Shedding one riddle only spawned more. Luna sighed inwardly.
Even Chaos choosing Sivar makes no sense.
What was he? Like an onion—peel one layer, another mystery pops out.
Nothing to do now. Better visit the Holy Kingdom Byzantine someday.
"......Sivar."
"Yeah."
"This talk stays secret. Got it? Don't tell anyone."
Others would think them crazy. They wouldn't even listen.
Still, best to keep such secrets buried. It could spiral, harming innocents.
"Why?"
"Too complicated. Focus on academy stuff for now. Okay?"
"Yeah."
Good—he'd keep the secret. Or maybe he just didn't care, never mentioning it before.
Luna's feelings tangled as he gazed at her. How'd she get dragged into this?
She could ignore it and do her own thing. But the demonic magic circle said otherwise—ignoring it could spell disaster.
"Sivar."
"?"
One thing was certain. Luna called him in a serious tone.
Sivar, who'd been looking elsewhere, turned to her.
"I don't know who you are, and you don't know who you are either."
"......"
"Still... I want to learn more about you."
She couldn't stop caring about Sivar. Dropping it might trigger who-knows-what. Plus, he knew the future—maybe unwittingly dropping warnings.
"I might get nosy. You know this could put others at risk too."
"......"
"That's okay? If not..."
"Fine."
Permission came before she finished. Luna stared straight at him.
"It's fine with Luna."
"......With me?"
"Yeah."
Her face lit up at his words. The frustration eased a bit.
No more suppression now—she'd gotten the man's direct okay.
Luna beamed, feeling unburdened, and grabbed Sivar's hand.
"Thanks! If I find anything, I'll tell you! Promise!"
"Promise?"
"Yeah! Promise! We'll stick together and learn about each other!"
Suddenly more stuff got added...
Sivar wanted to say it but held back. Her joy was too pure to interrupt.
She'd bottled up a lot.
But how to bring up the guard thing?
What if Luna learned about Grace's guard request? Sivar grew curious.
And that curiosity resolved after the weekend, on class day.
"Luna. Sivar is my guard. So he'll be by my side for a while."
"B-but I made a promise with Sivar too..."
"What promise?"
"To learn about each other?"
"......"
Your Faith has risen!
Quit watching those morning dramas already.