Chapter 79: Bonds Forged Through Adversity
Chapter 79: Bonds Forged Through Adversity
Selene remained silent for a long moment.
Her eyes rested on the tea in her cup, a faint smile lingering on her lips. It was a smile touched by memories—some bitter, others precious.
"When I first met Evelyne..."
Her voice was quiet.
"I was blinded by my hatred for nobles."
A soft, self-deprecating laugh escaped her.
"And..."
"I was jealous."
Her fingers slowly traced the rim of the teacup.
"She was born into a noble house, yet she possessed even greater talent than I did."
"She had an S-Rank talent."
"I only had an A+ Rank talent."
She shook her head.
"At the time..."
"I couldn’t accept that."
Andras listened in silence.
"So..."
"I declared her my rival."
A nostalgic smile crossed her face.
"Whenever I found an opportunity, I challenged her to a duel."
"And did she accept?" Andras asked.
"Most of the time."
Selene nodded.
"She never looked down on me."
"Nor did she refuse simply because I was weaker."
Her smile gradually turned wry.
"But..."
"I lost."
She chuckled.
"Again."
"And again."
"And again."
"I don’t think I ever defeated her."
Leaning back in her chair, she sighed, her expression filled with nostalgic embarrassment.
"Eventually, I became so frustrated that after one duel..."
"I completely broke down."
"I remember sitting in the middle of the training grounds, crying like a child."
"I kept asking why the world was so unfair."
She covered her face for a moment before laughing at herself.
"I still feel embarrassed whenever I think about it."
Andras couldn’t help but laugh.
"I never imagined General Selene had such a past."
She shot him a playful glare.
"Go ahead."
"Laugh all you want."
"I deserve it."
A smile tugged at his lips.
"I’ll admit..."
"It’s difficult to picture."
Selene laughed before continuing.
"When Evelyne saw me like that..."
"She didn’t mock me."
"She simply walked over and asked..."
Her expression slowly became serious.
«"Do you really think my life is perfect?"»
"I was stunned."
"Then she continued."
«"No... it isn’t."»
«"Sometimes I wish I’d been born a commoner instead."»
Andras raised an eyebrow.
"A commoner?"
Selene nodded.
"That was exactly my reaction."
"Then..."
"She told me about her life."
She didn’t reveal the details.
"After hearing everything she’d gone through, I realized something."
"Our hardships were different..."
"But they were hardships all the same."
"I had spent so much time envying her..."
"I never stopped to consider the burdens she carried."
A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
"I looked at her with pity."
A bitter smile appeared on her face.
"And she noticed immediately."
Her gaze drifted into the distance, as though those words still echoed in her ears.
"She looked straight into my eyes and said something I’ll never forget."
Her voice unconsciously grew firmer.
«"Why are you pitying me?"»
«"Will crying change anything?"»
«"Will your pity improve either of our lives?"»
«"I don’t pity you for being treated unfairly."»
«"And you shouldn’t pity me either."»
«"All either of us can do is endure until we become strong enough."»
«"Because in this world..."»
«"Strength stands above everything else."»
«"If you possess enough strength..."»
«"You can change your own fate."»
«"So stop wasting time feeling sorry for yourself."»
«"Focus on becoming stronger."»
Silence settled over the dining hall.
Even after all these years...
Those words still carried weight.
Andras rested his chin on one hand.
"...Those are good words."
Selene smiled warmly.
"They changed my life."
"From that day onward, I stopped blaming the world."
"I stopped comparing myself to nobles."
"I focused only on becoming stronger than I had been yesterday."
She looked toward the tall windows overlooking the manor gardens.
"Evelyne and I began training together every day."
"We pushed each other."
"We competed."
"We argued."
"We celebrated each other’s victories."
"And before either of us realized it..."
"We had become close friends."
She turned back toward Andras.
"That’s how we met."
"And that’s how our friendship began."
For a long moment, Andras remained silent.
Then...
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Selene blinked.
"What was that for?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I have to admit..."
"It sounds like the opening of a moving picture play."
Selene laughed.
"I suppose it does."
"If someone ever turns it into one..."
"I’ll expect free tickets."
"I’ll speak to the director."
Andras answered with a perfectly straight face.
"I’ll see what I can do."
That earned another laugh from Selene.
The conversation gradually shifted to lighter topics as they finished their meal.
The atmosphere remained peaceful.
Free from politics.
Free from assassinations.
Free from the endless burdens of noble life.
For a while...
They were simply a mentor and her student enjoying a quiet afternoon together.
Eventually, the servants cleared away the empty dishes.
Selene rose from her chair.
"Thank you for inviting me, Andras."
Her smile was sincere.
"I’d forgotten what it felt like to enjoy a peaceful meal without worrying about training schedules, patrol reports, or military affairs."
She stretched her shoulders lightly.
"I’ve been training both you and the knights..."
"...while pushing my own cultivation."
A confident smile spread across her face.
"I can feel it."
"I’m only a few days away from reaching the Eighth Circle."
Andras stood as well.
"Then let me congratulate you in advance."
"I don’t have the slightest doubt you’ll succeed."
Selene looked at him, pleasantly surprised.
"You seem awfully confident."
"I am."
He smiled.
"If anyone deserves to become an Eighth Circle Mage..."
"It’s you."
For a brief moment, she simply looked at him.
Then she nodded.
A quiet smile of gratitude appeared on her face.
"Thank you."
"I’ll make sure your confidence isn’t misplaced."
The two left the dining hall together before parting ways in the corridor.
Selene headed back toward the training grounds.
Andras quietly returned to his room.
The manor was peaceful.
Servants moved silently through the corridors, carrying out their daily duties as warm afternoon sunlight streamed through the tall windows, bathing the polished marble floors in golden light.
After entering his room, Andras closed the door behind him.
He sat cross-legged on his bed.
Then slowly closed his eyes.
Mana flowed calmly through his body as he entered meditation.
Time slipped away unnoticed.
By the time he opened his eyes...
Evening had arrived.
A gentle knock came from the door.
Lyra informed him that dinner was ready.
The meal passed quietly.
Afterward, Andras returned to his room once more.
He extinguished the mana lamp beside his bed.
Darkness enveloped the room.
Before long, sleep claimed him.
Outside...
The moon continued its silent vigil over Darkmoor Manor.