Chapter 86: Two Days, Too Much
They both found themselves outside the academy, the heavy dungeon air replaced by the cool breath of night. Together, they walked side by side along the moonlit city streets, the world hushed around them. Above, the sky stretched endlessly—stars glimmering like fragments of forgotten dreams—while the cobblestones beneath their feet echoed faintly with every step. The moonlight blanketed the slumbering city in silver, brushing across rooftops and the shuttered signs of late-night shops. "Why did you want to go on a walk with me?" Marcus asked, his hands tucked into his pockets, eyes glancing over the closed storefronts and the occasional flicker of a lamplight spirit drifting in the distance.
"I just wanted to thank you, really..." Cynthia replied, her voice light as she playfully hopped across the uneven cobblestones, her hands clasped behind her back like a child on a spring stroll.
"You helped me push through the trials at the dungeon’s start... when I would’ve faltered alone."
"And because of you... I made it to the place where my ancestor was waiting."
"You gave me the chance to awaken a power most people wouldn’t even dare to dream of..."
"Oh please, I did nothing to deserve it." Marcus scoffed, flicking his hair with practiced drama, his lips curving into a lopsided, almost teasing smile.
"You really are an odd one, aren’t you?" she said, smiling faintly as she tilted her head back, basking in the silver glow of the moonlight like a flower opening under starlight.
"I’m sure you could tell, but I’m fairly shy and introverted... I barely interact with the other students, as you’ve probably noticed..." she admitted softly, her tone vulnerable despite her serene expression.
Marcus raised an eyebrow, a flicker of confusion crossing his face as he recalled her earlier confidence—the way she’d take action during the Forest of Trials, unflinching and sharp.
"You were the opposite when you were with me," he said slowly, eyes narrowing. "You seemed like the leader type. You took action without hesitation."