Chapter 251 - 250 : Severing the bond
Inside Layla’s house, the atmosphere was unusually tense.
The living room, which was normally quiet and neat, now felt like the meeting place of two dangerous beings who could destroy the entire house if they lost their patience.
Athena sat on one side of the room.
Astarte sat on the opposite side.
And Arthur stood between them.
Arthur looked exhausted.
His dark hair was slightly messy, his crimson eyes carried a faint sense of helplessness, and the events of the past few days had clearly taken a toll on him.
First, he had accidentally formed an eternal spirit bond with Athena.
Then he had discovered that the bond was considered a spiritual marriage.
And now he had brought Athena to Astarte, hoping the demon woman might know how to undo it.
Arthur took a slow breath.
Then he looked at Astarte.
"Now do you understand?"
Astarte leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other.
Her violet eyes moved from Arthur to Athena.
"So you’re saying that you and this woman were trying to form a temporary bond with each other."
Arthur nodded.
Astarte continued.
"Then something went wrong, and instead of forming a temporary bond, you two formed an eternal bond."
Her lips curved slightly.
"A bond that only appears when two spirits marry."
Arthur immediately looked toward Athena.
"See? I told you she would understand easily."
Athena clicked her tongue.
Then she looked toward Astarte with narrowed eyes.
"I can tell that this woman is a powerful demon."
Astarte’s smile widened.
"But are you sure she knows how to dissolve this bond?" Athena continued. "Also, it looked like she was trying to kill you during the training session."
Astarte turned her violet eyes toward Arthur.
"For a mere servant, you certainly keep getting yourself into a lot of trouble."
Arthur sighed.
"It is not like I wanted any of this to happen."
He looked at her hopefully.
"So, do you know how to dissolve the bond?"
Astarte turned her gaze toward Athena.
"For an elder-ranked spirit, you sure are an idiot to mess up this badly."
Athena’s expression darkened.
She wanted to yell.
She wanted to crush Astarte’s arrogant face beneath her space magic.
But she could not deny it.
She had made a terrible mistake.
A low-level temporary bond had somehow become an eternal marriage bond.
Athena’s golden eyes met Astarte’s violet eyes.
For the first time, Athena carefully examined her.
She could not sense the full depth of Astarte’s power.
That alone was unsettling.
Still, Athena believed that if she went all out, she could defeat this demon woman.
She would suffer terrible injuries in the process.
But she believed she could win.
Astarte noticed Athena’s gaze immediately.
Her expression became cold.
"Avert your eyes before I gouge them out."
Astarte’s voice was chilling.
"I did not like them from the first time I saw you."
Athena’s eyes narrowed.
"Why do you not try it?"
The air between them became heavy.
Mana began to stir.
Astarte’s violet mana rose like dark smoke.
Athena’s golden spiritual energy gathered around her body.
The room trembled.
Arthur’s eyes widened.
Then he immediately stepped between them.
"Ladies, can you please relax?"
Both women looked toward him.
"I already have enough tension in my life," Arthur said. "Please do not give me another headache."
Arthur quickly looked at Astarte.
"Please, Miss Astarte. You know Aiden studies at this academy, right? And Athena is the only person who can run the academy properly."
Astarte clicked her tongue.
Then she looked away.
Arthur let out a quiet breath of relief.
He turned toward Athena.
"Can you sit down too? She is the only person who can help us."
Athena glared at Arthur for several seconds.
Then she folded her arms.
"Hmph."
Still, she sat back down.
Arthur looked at Astarte again.
"So, Miss Astarte, do you know a way?"
Astarte looked directly at him.
"There is no need to stress about it."
Arthur’s eyes lit up.
"I can forcibly break the bond."
Arthur and Athena’s expressions brightened immediately.
"Really?" they asked at the same time.
Astarte smiled.
"Of course I can."
Arthur sighed in relief.
But then Astarte continued.
"There is a catch."
Arthur’s smile disappeared.
"What is it?"
Astarte rested her chin on her hand.
"When two spirits form a bond like this, their souls become connected."
Her tone remained calm.
"My authority allows me to sever that connection by force."
Arthur waited.
"But there is a ninety percent chance that one of you will die."
Silence.
Arthur’s expression froze.
Athena’s face turned pale.
The relief they had felt moments ago vanished completely.
Astarte’s smile became more amused.
"So, should we start?"
A vein appeared on Athena’s forehead.
"Are you insane?"
Astarte’s eyes gleamed.
"Maybe I am."
The pressure in the room increased.
"Do you want to find out?"
Athena’s golden mana flickered.
"If it were not for the sake of my brother, I would have already—"
"Is there another way?"
Arthur quickly interrupted them before either woman could finish their threat.
Astarte looked at Arthur.
Then she sighed.
"Sorry. I do not know another way."
Arthur released a heavy breath.
Athena leaned back in her seat.
"Well, this was a waste of time."
Astarte looked at them for a moment.
Then she added casually, "But I do know someone who may be able to help you."
Arthur’s eyes widened.
"Then where can we find that person?"
Astarte shrugged.
"He moves around a lot. From place to place."
Her expression became thoughtful.
"But he is somewhere in this world. I will try to contact him for you."
Arthur looked at her in surprise.
"Really? You will do that?"
Astarte smiled faintly.
"Of course."
She tilted her head.
"I am not that cold-hearted."
Arthur tried not to react.
’So she does know that she is a cold-hearted person.’
Astarte’s violet eyes narrowed.
"Did you just think something rude?"
Arthur smiled politely.
"Of course not."
Athena watched the exchange with narrowed eyes.
’He treats her with so much respect,’ Athena thought. ’Who exactly is this demonic bitch?’
Suddenly, Astarte stood from her seat.
She stretched her arms and yawned.
"It is time for my favorite show to start."
Arthur blinked.
"Your favorite show?"
Astarte walked toward the entrance.
Then she opened the front door.
Thud!
Five figures immediately fell through the doorway.
Actually, there were more than five.
Evangeline, Isabella, Julia, Aaron, Aiden, Victor, and Damian had been pressed against the door, clearly trying to listen to the conversation inside.
They landed in an awkward pile on the floor.
For a few seconds, no one moved.
Then all of them raised their heads with painfully forced smiles.
Arthur stared at them.
"It looks like you guys were trying to eavesdrop."
Athena looked toward Arthur.
"Do not worry. I placed a sound barrier around this room."
Damian immediately sat up.
"I was just worried about my master."
Aiden quickly spoke next.
"I was worried about my sister."
Evangeline raised one hand.
"I was here for the scoop."
Isabella nodded.
"Me too."
Julia raised another hand.
"Me three."
Victor pointed toward Damian.
"This idiot dragged me here, Miss Athena and Miss Astarte."
Aaron stood awkwardly.
"I was worried about Arthur."
Arthur looked toward Aaron.
For the first time that day, he felt a little touched.
’At least someone came here for me.’
The front door suddenly opened again.
"I am home."
Layla’s voice echoed through the house.
She stepped inside.
Then her eyes fell on the crowd.
Evangeline, Isabella, Julia, Aaron, Aiden, Victor, Damian, Arthur, Athena, and Astarte.
Layla stared at them.
Then she looked at Arthur.
Arthur stepped out of the living room and smiled awkwardly.
"Yo. How was your day?"
Layla’s mouth twitched.
"What the hell is going on in my house?"
She walked closer.
Then she noticed Athena sitting inside the living room.
Layla immediately bowed.
"Headmistress, you were here too. I apologize for my rude behavior."
Athena waved her hand casually.
"It is alright."
"Oww! Oww! Oww!"
Aiden suddenly cried out.
Astarte was holding his ear.
"I will never do it again, Sis!"
Astarte dragged him toward the door.
"Eavesdropping is a bad habit."
Her smile was sweet.
Which made it even more terrifying.
"I will add extra training for you today."
Aiden’s face turned pale.
"Nooo!"
Astarte dragged him out of the house.
Then both of them disappeared.
Athena turned toward Damian.
Her eyes were cold.
"Extra training for you too."
Damian’s eyes widened.
But he immediately bowed.
"Of course, Master."
Athena turned and left the house.
Damian and Victor quickly followed behind her.
Arthur’s cold crimson eyes then fell upon Evangeline, Isabella, Julia, and Aaron.
"What about you guys?"
Evangeline immediately stood up.
"I should take my leave too."
Then she rushed toward the door.
Isabella followed.
"Me too."
Julia nodded.
"Me three."
Aaron ran after them.
"Wait for me! Do not leave me behind!"
Within seconds, the house became quiet again.
Only Arthur and Layla remained.
Layla turned toward Arthur.
Her blue eyes narrowed.
"Care to explain what was happening here while I was gone?"
Arthur’s expression became serious.
Then he suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Oh. I remember something important."
Layla raised a brow.
Arthur smiled.
"It is time for me to take a nap."
Before Layla could respond, Arthur sprinted toward his room.
Bang!
The door shut loudly behind him.
Layla stood alone in the hallway.
Her mouth twitched.
She stared at Arthur’s closed door for a long time.
"What the hell is wrong with that guy?"
───────────────
And just like that, more days passed.
The academy continued training.
The rankers prepared their strategies.
The students sharpened their abilities.
The pressure rose with every passing hour.
Then, at last, the day of the Inter-Academy Competition finally arrived.