Chapter 180: Waking Up
She set the cup down carefully, eyes sharpening subtly again as she regarded Viren. "Continue watching over Orion discreetly, Viren, for as long as he is in the academy. Guide and support him subtly from the shadows. His journey is one we must carefully nurture yet never interfere with excessively."
Viren bowed solemnly, accepting his responsibility clearly. "Yes, Dean Alariel. You have my word—I will do all I can to support Orion’s path appropriately."
Satisfied, Dean Alariel smiled faintly, dismissing him gently with a wave. "Then go and rest now, Viren. You’ve experienced enough excitement today. I shall carefully consider the implications of everything you’ve shared with me."
Viren lightly rubbed the back of his head and sheepishly said, "Uh, so about the salary raise that I asked before..."
Alariel became silent, looking serenely at Viren, "...Is this the reason you took the risk to head to Helstorm’s house?"
He lightly chuckled, "No no no, how can I play with my life so lightly? But what can I do? I need money for my gambling addiction."
Alariel became speechless before the two of them started discussing his salary, before soon Viren respectfully bowed and left in a happy mood.
As he stepped outside, gently descending toward the academy grounds below, he felt the world become more colorful as he deeply breathed in the fresh mana-filled air.
***
Warm sunlight filtered gently through the curtains, casting a soothing golden glow across Orion’s room. The room was quiet, filled only with the faint rustling of leaves outside and the distant chirping of birds perched in the mansion’s lush garden.
Orion lay comfortably in his bed, his breathing steady and rhythmic, eyelashes fluttering faintly as consciousness gradually returned to him.