Chapter 25: Aftermath
A full week had passed since that chaotic day.
Aira had already left the kingdom. She said she had far more important matters to deal with elsewhere. I didn't ask for specifics—whatever it was, it was clearly something heavy.
The kingdom was healing. Slowly but surely, the damage to the walls had been repaired. Life was starting to return to normal, at least on the surface. But not for everyone. Some losses simply couldn't be rebuilt—families who lost loved ones still carried the hollow silence of grief in their eyes. That pain lingered like a storm cloud in the distance, always threatening to pour.
As for me, I hadn't wasted a second.
I threw myself into training with an almost desperate intensity, and just a few days ago, I finally reached Peak Layer. I should've felt proud, maybe even a bit cocky—but instead, I only felt how far I still had to go.
Thanks to Queen Evelyn's assistance, my progress had accelerated. Her insights,they were a blessing I didn't take for granted. But I never allowed anyone, not even her, to witness the full extent of my abilities. Especially not my Legendary Spell or Calm Sea. Those two were mine alone—for now.
I let out a soft sigh as I stared down at the maid outfit folded neatly on the bed.
Again?
Lucy had insisted—more like demanded—I wear it. Apparently, it had become her favorite. I gave in, not because I lacked backbone, but because arguing with her when she was in one of her moods was more exhausting than training.
The competition had been postponed for a month due to the attack—and because of Leon. Word around the academy was that he'd already broken through to the 3-Star Early Layer. I couldn't help but smile bitterly at the news. Despite all my progress, I still felt helpless when I stood in the presence of overwhelming power.
Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of the royal family, had been appearing more frequently in my life too. We often crossed paths in the gardens or training grounds. Though she always wore an expression of detached calm, I noticed a certain curiosity in her eyes whenever we talked. She didn't say much, but I could feel it—my talent had caught her attention.