Chapter 95: Final Exam Begin! Dungeon Raid!
Nao’s POV
After I accepted Cain’s challenge and had that heartfelt talk with Freya, five months have passed.
Surprisingly, my life at the academy has been relatively peaceful during this time. Normally, I’d be dealing with troublesome situations like conflicts with other students, attacks from monsters, or even demons. But lately, everything has been quiet. Too quiet. A part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that this was merely the calm before the storm.
Still, I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on training with Marius, Julius, Lyra, Amelia, Luna, and Termina. As third-year students, we needed to work together to prepare for the upcoming graduation exams. To that end, I urged everyone to strengthen themselves through guild hunting missions and class-assigned quests.
We spent countless days hunting monsters in various parts of the kingdom. I managed to reach level 70, though my progress had slowed significantly. Envi reassured me that it was normal; the higher one’s level, the more experience points were needed for growth.
As for my teammates, they had all made remarkable progress. Lyra, Luna, and Marius had each reached level 60, while Amelia and Termina were at level 61, and Julius at level 62. Their abilities had improved so much that they now rivaled A-rank knights. With their current strength, I was confident that we were ready to tackle a dungeon raid. Victory felt within our grasp!
During these months, Freya kept in touch with us, though her interactions were limited. Occasionally, I would meet her in the training grounds late at night, when she was free from Cain’s watchful eyes. We would sit side by side, sharing quiet conversations. Freya often wrote letters to Lyra, and when I could, I would sneak Lyra along to meet her. The joy on their faces when they reunited, even briefly, was worth the risk.
One quiet evening, after a long day of training, I found myself sitting under the faint glow of the academy’s lanterns. Freya was beside me, her gaze fixed on the horizon where the training grounds met the forest. It was one of those rare moments when we could talk without worrying about Cain’s interference.
"Are you sure you’re okay with this, Freya?" I asked, breaking the silence. "I know Cain can be... difficult."
Freya let out a soft, bitter laugh. "Difficult is putting it lightly. But I’ll endure it. For now." She turned to me, her eyes reflecting a mix of resolve and exhaustion. "I have to. If I can master Flamemore Swordsmanship, I’ll be stronger—and one step closer to standing on my own."
I nodded, impressed by her determination. "You’ve always been strong, Freya. I’ve seen it. But... you don’t have to face everything alone. We’re here for you."