Chapter 97: Twilight Confessions and Unspoken Worries

Having bid farewell to Wendy, Yalin emerged from the research lab, only to find himself face-to-face with Fulin.She remained clad in her quintessential scholar’s attire, a thick stack of documents cradled in her arms, as she proceeded unhurriedly along the corridor.Upon noticing Yalin, Fulin paused, a gentle and composed smile gracing her lips.

“Yalin, long time no see. How have you been recently?”

“Thanks to your guidance, Professor, my days have been exceptionally fulfilling. Gaining access to the underground library has proven to be an immense boon.”

Yalin offered her a respectful smile in return.

“It is of no consequence. So long as you find content that piques your interest, that is paramount. Moreover, young Liyang has been in remarkably good spirits lately, and I thank you for your efforts.”

“Is that truly so? Then all is well.”

That morning, Liyang had inexplicably fled from his side.Yet, upon realizing he harbored no recollection of the events of that particular day, her demeanor underwent a subtle yet noticeable shift.From an initial tentativeness, their shared walk to school had blossomed into an unspoken, comfortable routine.

Fulin’s countenance, veiled beneath the brim of her hat, retained its enigmatic quality, leaving him to wonder what truly occupied her thoughts.Nevertheless, just as Fulin had stated, Liyang had indeed shed much of her former shyness, and a multitude of smiles now graced her face.

“Oh, and I hear you’ll be returning home in a few days?” Fulin inquired.

As airship tickets necessitated academy approval, her position as vice-dean naturally kept her privy to such arrangements.

“Yes, I shall be away from the academy for some time,” Yalin stated candidly.

“Ah, I understand. However, with everyone preoccupied by preparations for the academy festival, formal lessons are scarce these days.”

Fulin nodded gently, patting the substantial stack of documents in her hand. “Very well, I shall not detain you further. I wish you a pleasant journey.”

Upon exiting the academy gates, Yalin’s gaze settled upon a familiar figure near the plaza’s fountain.Liyang was clad in her uniform, its classic blue-trimmed white design unequivocally identifying her as a student of the Academy of Magic.

Furthermore, she sported a pristine white beret, seemingly an attempt to conceal her diminutive yet undeniably striking dragon horns.Yet, her countenance, as exquisitely pure as a lotus blooming from water, coupled with her distinct aura, unfailingly drew every eye, making her the undeniable focal point amidst the crowd.

Liyang lowered her head in a slight blush, her gaze subtly evading, feigning ignorance of the surrounding stares. Only upon spotting Yalin did her eyes ignite, and she rushed towards him, a joyous, eager smile illuminating her face.

“You’re out! Why are you so late today?”

“Indeed, I lingered a while longer with the Professor. Forgive me for keeping you waiting.”

Yalin smiled apologetically.

“No, not at all. I was just wandering around…”

A faint blush crept across Liyang’s cheeks. In truth, they had never formalized any meeting, yet in recent times, Yalin had consistently arrived early at the crossroads to await her. What began as a mere habit had, over time, subtly transformed into an unspoken understanding between them.

As the setting sun bathed the world in its amber glow, the two ambled along the expansive street. Beneath their feet, the cobblestone path, burnished a warm gold by the twilight, stretched impeccably clean, not a single speck of dust marring its surface, a truly delightful spectacle to behold.

Children chased butterflies and frolicked with joyful abandon in the plaza, while students, laden with books, sat in small clusters upon the steps, engrossed in hushed discussions.

From afar, merchants pushed their carts, their voices ringing out as they hawked freshly baked bread.The environs surrounding the academy consistently offered a panorama of peace and serenity.

“Oh, by the way, I only just discovered today that I’ve been selected as a stage coordinator for the academy festival… Yet I never even signed up, so it must have been Grandma Fulin who secretly pulled some strings for me…”

Liyang walked beside Yalin, her voice a soft murmur of complaint.

She was not, as one might assume, inherently taciturn; rather, she simply lacked the courage to engage with others. Once a rapport was established, however, her words would flow with ease.

On their homeward journeys these past few days, she had ceaselessly recounted the day’s happenings at the academy to Yalin, finding endless delight in the telling.

“Stage coordinator? What exactly is that?”

“It entails demonstrating magic to the attendees of the academy festival… I’m certain a great many people will be watching, and merely contemplating it makes my hands tremble with nerves…”

“You’ll do splendidly. Given your prowess, those magical displays at the academy festival will surely pose no challenge for you, will they?” Yalin offered, a comforting smile gracing his lips.

“By the way, what do you plan to perform?”

“It’s a spell to simulate snowfall.”

Liyang extended a slender finger, delicately tracing a small circle in the air.A crisp, cool breeze emanated from her, instantly causing the surrounding temperature to plummet.

Then, a single, crystalline snowflake drifted gracefully from the heavens, settling upon their shoulders and hair before dissolving into nothingness in an instant.The touch was cool and crisp, yet far from uncomfortable; instead, it evoked a rather pleasant sensation.

“How truly fascinating,” Yalin murmured, extending his hand to watch the snowflake alight upon his palm. “To witness snow fall in the midst of an autumn twilight feels utterly incredible.”

Liyang, blushing faintly from the praise, offered a shy smile.

“Indeed, though during an actual performance, the spell would need to encompass a radius of at least twenty meters. In such a scenario, my control over the magic might not be quite as precise.”

Liyang waved her hand, and the ethereal snowflakes in the sky dissolved into shimmering motes of magical light.

“What about you, Yalin? Have you prepared any activities?”

“No, I confess the academy festival holds little particular interest for me,” Yalin replied, shaking his head gently.

Liyang blinked, her gaze earnest. “Then, do you intend to participate in the academy festival at all?”

“That is…”

Yalin hesitated for a moment.

‘He had, in truth, pondered whether it might be more prudent to simply abstain from the academy festival, given his foreknowledge of his demise on that very day.

Alas, one could not escape the inevitable. Though the original narrative offered no detailed explanation of the unfolding events, it was undeniable that the Abyssal Church would play a pivotal role.

Hence, to turn their own machinations against them, leveraging this final piece of intelligence for a decisive gamble, might well prove to be the most advantageous course of action.For everything that transpired beyond the academy festival remained an uncharted realm.’

“I suppose we shall see,” Yalin replied, his voice deliberately vague.

“Oh…”

Liyang mumbled softly, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face, for she had initially intended to invite Yalin to witness her performance.’She mused that if Yalin were there, watching from the sidelines, she would likely feel far less anxious.

Still, he hadn’t dismissed the idea outright, which implied there was still a possibility of him attending, wasn’t there?’

“Oh, by the way, starting tomorrow, I’ll be leaving the academy for a while.”

Liyang froze for a moment, a subtle surprise etching her features. “Leaving the academy… Where will you go?”

“To visit my hometown.”

“Hometown…”

Liyang nodded thoughtfully.

‘So, for a while, she wouldn’t be able to see Yalin?A slight pang of disappointment registered within her at the thought.’

Dismissing the thought, Liyang deftly changed the subject, her tone bright as she inquired, “What kind of place is your hometown, Yalin?”

“Hmm… A small town surrounded by mountains to the east, I suppose.”

“That sounds like a place with beautiful scenery. I would truly love to visit if ever the opportunity arises.”

“There’s nothing there, really. Nothing much to see if you go.”

Yalin said casually.

“Haha, how could that be…”

Liyang let out a few soft chuckles, then abruptly halted.’It was only then that the realization struck her: Yalin’s parents had perished in an accident, and his former home had ceased to exist long ago.Naturally, his former hometown would hold no appealing sights for him.’

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Yalin asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

“No, it’s nothing…”

Liyang shook her head. Yalin seemed oblivious, so she chose not to elaborate, instead subtly studying his face.The setting sun cast its golden rays upon Yalin, illuminating his dark, tousled hair with shimmering streaks of light and imbuing his entire being with that pure, gentle essence unique to youth.

‘Yet, why did those handsome eyes, always alight with a subtle amusement, seem to conceal something profound within their depths?Although their bond had steadily deepened, to this very day, Liyang remained utterly ignorant of Yalin’s true self.

She knew nothing of the life he had led in the past, nor could she fathom the true nature of his connection with Celeste.He had, so overtly, cherished Celeste before, so why had his demeanor towards her abruptly shifted one day?Could it be that, one day in the future, he would distance himself from her using that very same method?’

Liyang averted her gaze, a faint unease stirring within her.’If only she could learn just a little more about Yalin.’