Chapter 157. Reunion
Saying so, Celia rummaged through her personal inventory and withdrew a seemingly simple orb. Its surface shimmered faintly, coated in a pearlescent sheen.
But what stood out wasn’t the orb itself—it was the emblem engraved at its center. A golden rose, intricately designed, gleamed with quiet dignity under the room’s warm light.
The moment I saw it, something clicked in my head.
"That’s a tracker, isn’t it?" I asked, stepping closer. "It links to the uniforms. Through the insignia."
Celia paused, blinking at me in mild surprise. "...Yes, actually. That’s not common knowledge. Did you read about it somewhere?"
I shook my head. "Nope. Just guessed. The insignia on our uniforms and that orb—it’s the exact same. Thought it wasn’t just for fashion."
She sighed and shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite the situation. "Could’ve just been a branding symbol, you know. Property of Rose Academy and all."
I clicked my tongue. "Come on, are we seriously going to waste time debating academy design choices right now? I need to find her. She’s not the brightest candle in the hundreds... No thousands of candles—she might already be in trouble."
Celia rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might fall out. "If you’re so worried, then why the hell weren’t you with her in the first place? Why weren’t you in the academic tour like the rest?"
I rubbed the back of my neck, caught slightly off guard by the direct jab. "We had a little fight, alright? A sibling spat. Nothing serious, just... needed some space. You know the saying, ’distance makes the heart grow fonder?’"
She groaned. "That’s complete bullshit."
