Chapter 488
Chapter Title: Where Luna Rests
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Chloe, renowned as the top student in the magic department, and Karl, whose ideas and creativity in alchemy were brilliant.
And Chen Xia, who, as a shadow, had been steadily trained in the art of handling poisons since childhood.
The combination of these three was perfectly suited for the request from the Northern Magic Tower.
Thanks to this, they were able to complete the request earlier than the other students.
After completing the request, Chloe and Karl, both from the magic department, decided to stay at the Northern Magic Tower for a few more days.
After all, classes at Lumerne wouldn't be held during the remaining request period.
For students who finished their requests early, it was essentially free time.
Thus, Chloe and Karl decided to remain at the Northern Magic Tower to conduct various magical experiments.
Unlike the two of them, Chen Xia returned to Lumerne immediately.
Not only was it because she was in the knight department and had nothing to do at the magic tower, but hearing about Leo from the shadows was the deciding factor.
‘To think such a major incident occurred, and I couldn't be of any help to Young Master Leo.’
Berating herself, Chen Xia thought she should help Leo rest while he was alone in the dormitory.
Of course, there was a slightly calculating thought behind it as well.
‘It's also a chance for us to be alone.’
Since life at Lumerne was communal, opportunities to be alone with Leo were rare.
Not that she was complaining, of course.
In fact, her school life was incredibly enjoyable.
‘It's all thanks to Young Master Leo.’
Until her first year, Chen Xia hadn't been able to fully enjoy her life at Lumerne.
Back then, Chen Xia had wanted to become a hero but believed she wasn't qualified, so it was only natural for her heart to feel heavy.
Now that Leo had affirmed her and she had shaken off that burden, simply spending time with her friends was a joy in itself.
It was as if she were spending enjoyable time with peers for the first time in her life.
However, a large part of her also wanted to spend more intimate time with Leo.
Arriving at Lumerne in the early dawn, Chen Xia straightened her uniform in front of the dormitory and went inside.
Thinking Leo might be asleep, she naturally suppressed her presence.
‘Hm?’
Then, she sensed a presence in the direction of the common room and headed there.
And the moment she opened the door.
She froze at the sight of an elven girl embracing Leo, who was lying on the sofa.
“What is this?”
“S-Sorry! Ack?!”
The flustered elven girl, Eiran, tried to get up but ended up collapsing on top of the reclining Leo.
Watching this scene, Chen Xia fell into thought, trying to grasp the situation.
‘Why is Miss Eiran at Lumerne?’
The very presence of Eiran, the second-year salutatorian of Seirun, in a Lumerne second-year dormitory was a mystery.
Chen Xia subtly turned her head to look at the common room table.
Empty liquor bottles and the smell of alcohol assaulting her senses.
On top of that, there was Eiran straddling Leo.
‘Yep, I have no idea what's going on.’
In the end, Chen Xia failed to understand the situation.
“I'm sorry! Sir Leo! I'm sorry!”
Watching the panicking Eiran apologize, Leo sat up.
“Gasp?!”
Eiran gasped as their faces grew so close she could feel his breath.
Leo placed his hands under the armpits of Eiran, who was on top of him.
And he gently lifted her and set her down on the floor.
After getting up, Leo asked Chen Xia.
“You're back early? What about Chloe and Karl?”
“They decided to stay at the Northern Magic Tower a little longer. Anyway, why is Miss Eiran here? And… what exactly were you two doing?”
As Chen Xia spoke with a hint of suspicion, Eiran hurriedly made an excuse.
“Ah, I'm going to be studying at Lumerne as an exchange student for a while.”
“An exchange student?”
“Yes.”
“Then what about the situation just now?”
“Ah! That was because I kept Sir Leo up all night, so I was trying to cover him with a blanket.”
“What? You did what all night?”
Chen Xia's eyes wavered for a moment.
Looking at Eiran, who had brilliantly made the situation even more complicated, Leo sighed and said.
“Don't get the wrong idea. I was just telling her some stories about the heroes of old all night.”
“Oh.”
“What on earth were you imagining?”
“Your positions were just so scandalous, I couldn't help but wonder.”
At Chen Xia's words, Eiran, red to the tips of her ears, bowed her head low.
Watching Eiran, Chen Xia covered her mouth and laughed, then said.
“Welcome to Lumerne, Miss Eiran.”
***
“Did Miss Lunia not come as an exchange student?”
That morning.
The three of them, who had decided to have breakfast at the dining area in the center of the Hero's Tower, arrived at a cafe.
While waiting for their food, Chen Xia asked with a puzzled expression.
“Yes, Miss Lunia became the student council president this time. She's very busy with the transition.”
“Miss Lunia is so diligent. Unlike Young Master Leo, who pawned off all the actual work to his seniors.”
“It'd be weird for a second-year like me to run the school when there are capable seniors around, wouldn't it?”
Leo said nonchalantly.
“Anyway, I think I'm very lucky. I was able to come to Lumerne as an exchange student just in time for the Twilight Festival.”
Eiran said with a bright smile.
“Come to think of it, the Twilight Festival is soon, isn't it?”
Leo said indifferently, resting his chin on his hand.
The Twilight Festival.
It was a festival held once every five years in Lumeria City to honor the Knight of Twilight, Lumerne.
The reason for the five-year cycle was that it took five years to complete Lumeria City and Lumerne Academy.
During this festival period, the rule allowing students to go out only on weekends, unless for special circumstances, was lifted, allowing them to freely come and go from Lumeria City.
That's why it was one of the festivals that Lumerne students eagerly awaited.
There were even students who, determined to have fun, would get lodging in Lumeria City and commute to school from there.
After all, classes were still held during the festival.
“A lot of students get into trouble, too. I hear the professors get headaches during the festival because of it. Many students actually get caught and disciplined.”
It was while Chen Xia and Eiran were talking about the Twilight Festival.
“Oh my, Student Leo, Student Chen Xia. And… you must be Student Eiran?”
Someone addressed the three of them with a gentle smile.
When Leo turned his head, Mel was standing there.
“Hello, Professor Mel.”
“Ah, hello!”
As Chen Xia stood and bowed her head in greeting, Eiran also stood up and hurriedly bowed.
Mel gave the two a light wave and then looked at Leo, saying.
“Student Leo, before you eat, could we talk for a moment?”
“Yes.”
Leo nodded and stood up from his seat.
“I'll be right back.”
And so, Leo followed Mel to a more secluded spot.
***
Eiran and Chen Xia.
An awkward silence fell between the two who were left behind.
They were acquaintances, but their relationship wasn't particularly deep.
Chen Xia rested her chin on her hand and waited for the food and for Leo.
Eiran kept stealing glances at Chen Xia.
Noticing this, Chen Xia asked, puzzled.
“Is there something on my face?”
“What?! Ah, no! It's not that…”
Eiran was flustered for a moment, then she smiled shyly and said.
“It's because you're as pretty as a doll, Miss Chen Xia. You're like a princess doll I received as a gift when I was young. Although, of course, you are a real princess.”
“Thank you. But I think you're more doll-like than I am, Miss Eiran.”
Chen Xia replied with a laugh.
To which Eiran cautiously said.
“Miss Chen Xia. Would you be my friend?”
“I'd love to.”
“Wow!”
Eiran beamed with joy.
At her pure display of happiness, Chen Xia found herself smiling.
“By the way, you seem to admire Young Master Leo a great deal, Miss Eiran.”
“Yes. I was captivated from the very first moment I saw him. Sir Leo was like a hero straight out of a fairy tale.”
Eiran smiled, recalling when she first met Leo.
“Same here.”
“So you like Sir Leo a lot too, Miss Chen Xia?”
“Yes. I like him a lot.”
“I knew it, you and I are very much alike, Miss Chen Xia.”
Eiran rejoiced innocently.
“Alike?”
Chen Xia, who considered herself and Eiran to be quite different types of people, was puzzled by her words.
“Yes, in that we both like Sir Leo. And also that both our ancestors were disciples of the Hero of the Beginning, Sir Kyle.”
“…I don't believe I ever mentioned that my ancestor was a disciple of Sir Kyle.”
Chen Xia tilted her head.
At that, Eiran seemed slightly flustered and hurriedly said.
“S-Sir Leo told me. He said he saw a story about Sir Bihar in the Book of Shadows! That Sir Bihar, like Sir Berkia, was also a disciple of Sir Kyle!”
“Aha, I see.”
Chen Xia smiled and nodded.
‘Miss Eiran and I certainly do have a deep connection.’
Chen Xia nodded.
It was no ordinary connection.
After 5,000 years.
Theirs were the bloodlines of those connected to the only Great Heroes left in this world.
However…
‘Young Master Leo isn't the type to carelessly share someone's personal history with others.’
The Leo that Chen Xia knew was not someone who would talk about her personal matters to another person without even asking her first, for any reason.
No matter how special their connection was or how close they were.
After some thought, Chen Xia came to a conclusion.
‘Miss Eiran knows more about Young Master Leo than I do.’
Chen Xia was able to sharply deduce the nature of the relationship between Leo and Eiran.
‘It seems she knows an important secret about Young Master Leo that I don't.’
***
“Why? Did something happen?”
“No, it's not that something serious has occurred. However.”
Mel hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously.
“Some strange things are happening in the eastern part of the continent.”
“Strange things?”
Leo looked puzzled.
“Yes. Sudden climate changes have occurred. In some places, a severe cold snap has brought heavy snow, despite it still being late autumn.”
At those words, Leo narrowed his eyes.
“There are also reports of entire forests where the trees and grass have withered away.”
“The Necro King?”
“They say it's not. The characteristic aura of death emitted by the Necro King and his minions hasn't been detected at all. They say it's as if they just suddenly lost their life force and withered.”
Mel said with a serious expression.
“And finally… there's a place where an entire forest has bloomed with flowers, as if it were spring.”
“Flowers?”
At the word "flowers," Leo looked dumbfounded.
‘Flowers? Did someone use a flower-blooming spell or something?’
Leo had restored the magic formula for blooming flowers that Luna had created.
‘But there shouldn't be anyone who can use that magic properly right now.’
Leo, still looking puzzled, suddenly asked.
“The East, you said?”
“Yes.”
“Do you happen to have a world map?”
At Leo's question, Mel took out a world map from her subspace and spread it open.
“Whereabouts is the forest where the flowers bloomed?”
Mel pointed a finger at the center of the eastern continent.
It was a location within the territory of the Shan Empire.
A completely remote area with no cities nearby.
Leo stared intently at the region.
‘…It must be around here.’
5,000 years ago.
Before the Great Heroes left on their final expedition to subjugate Erebos.
A map wasn't necessary.
In a world on the brink of ruin, a pillar of black fire rose, seeming to pierce the heavens.
The pillar of fire, which had become visible from anywhere in the world, was literally a symbol of destruction.
The Great Heroes embarked on their final journey toward that pillar of fire.
For that reason, Leo had no way of knowing where his comrades' graves were.
He only knew the approximate locations by predicting their travel routes and time.
‘After 5,000 years, it's highly unlikely that their graves would have survived to this day.’
Even for Leo, finding a 5,000-year-old grave with only an approximate location was impossible.
However, the location where the strange phenomena occurred, and the fact that one of them involved 'flowers,' bothered him.
The place in the East where the strange events were happening now.
‘Luna took her last breath around here.’