Chapter 33: Out-of-control emotions surged forth like a wild beast

The rain continued to fall without end, water pooling along the streets, reflecting the hazy stars and moon in the night sky.

One by one, the reflections shattered beneath footsteps, and the deeper puddles soaked the soles of Alice’s shoes.

Because she had woken up with a fever that morning, it wasn’t until the evening that she learned Simon had been injured, and worry surged uncontrollably within her heart.

She had gone to find Siegfried, but he said he had skipped class that morning and knew nothing about Simon.

Because of that, Siegfried returned to the dorm once, only to discover Simon had never gone back, so they decided to split up and search.

Alice wandered alone through the pitch-black, rain-soaked night, everything around her swallowed by darkness and rain, leaving her with no clues, like a headless fly drifting aimlessly.

At last, at a corner deep within the rainy darkness, she saw a faint glimmer of light.

Under that dim glow, the falling rain turned into streaks of silver threads.

She had walked this road countless times during the day, and instinctively, Alice moved toward the light.

She unconsciously softened her footsteps.

She didn’t know why she did so. She could have simply walked out in the open.

It must be because the shop manager was still diligently working, which was why the lights were on.

But ever since that moment on stage, when she saw the manager chatting happily with Simon, a faint sense of loss had begun to accumulate in her heart, something akin to quiet defeat.

She should have been happy.

After all, Simon had very few friends at the academy, so if he could get along well with the manager, she should be glad for him.

Because although the manager was their employer, she treated her staff with gentleness, never putting on airs.

Alice had never once seen her scold an employee, at most, she would offer a soft word of advice.

More importantly, the manager was a white-haired beauty who looked about her age, pleasing to the eye.

So meeting such a person should have been her fortune.

‘But why…’

Step by step, Alice edged closer to the corner.

That inexplicable unease clung to her like a parasite, refusing to let go, until her palms were damp with cold sweat.

Her heart pounded violently in her chest, as if it were about to burst free.

Yet the closer she got, the calmer she became instead.

What else could it be besides the manager working?

She kept persuading herself.

Gradually, her restless mind settled.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly leaned forward, peering through the rain-blurred glass into the shop.

And when she saw clearly, she froze.

Inside, the room was brightly lit.

Not only by magical lighting fixtures, but also by a radiant, warm, blazing Holy Light.

That light flowed from the delicate hands of the white-haired girl.

Her pale hair swayed with the outpouring of light, tinged faintly gold by its brilliance.

The Holy Light surged toward Simon beside her, and in an instant, his injuries began to heal one by one, his wounds nearly gone in mere moments.

Outside was a torrential rainy night, but inside the window, warm light overflowed.

Alice stared at the manager.

That girl’s expression was gentle and serene, as though bathed in boundless radiance.

She was… she was like a saint.

So the manager was a rare user of Holy Light?

Had Simon always known this secret?

Or had she told him from the very beginning?

How many times had scenes like this happened?

Watching how naturally they interacted, seeing no trace of surprise on Simon’s face.

Why did they seem so accustomed to it?

A tangle of questions twisted through her mind, but at this moment, no one could give her answers.

All she felt was the growing weight of loss in her chest, along with a faint trace of regret, like a child whose cherished toy had been taken away.

She had worried about him so much, yet he had already found a place to bask in warmth.

Alice felt a bitterness well up inside her.

Unwilling to accept it, she edged closer to the window again, but just then, she noticed the manager seemed about to turn her head.

Startled, Alice immediately crouched down.

‘No way… after all this, am I supposed to greet them like nothing’s wrong?’

She didn’t have the heart for that.

Hiding beneath the window ledge, she felt like a rat peeking at someone else’s happiness.

That place beside Simon… shouldn’t it be hers?

Behind Alice, within her shadow, a black tendril quietly extended, pressing against her back.

It emitted a strange red-black glow, slowly seeping into her body.

Yet lost in her sorrow, Alice noticed nothing.

She thought back to the past.

She and Simon were childhood friends, growing up in the same village, days she longed to return to, yet never could.

Back then, she hadn’t even been aware of being a girl.

Fighting with the village boys was routine.

She matured earlier than them, so none of the boys who challenged her could beat her.

In the end, she became the leader of the children.

Simon always stayed by her side.

Since he often went hunting in the mountains with his father, he should have been able to defeat her, yet he never once made a move.

Alice only remembered that one day, it had also been raining.

Driven by childish imagination and fearlessness, someone suggested they venture into the mountains.

They went together, and encountered a tiger.

The children scattered in panic, and as the leader, she was the one the tiger targeted.

Terrified, she fled desperately.

But misfortune struck again, in her panic, she tripped over a stone.

At that moment, she thought she would never make it back.

****

And yet, she fell into the arms of a boy.

For a brief instant, her heart skipped a beat.

Looking up, she saw only Simon’s firm, unwavering black eyes.

She didn’t know how he caught her, nor how much courage he had gathered.

She only knew that in the end, he drove the tiger away with his bow and arrows.

From that day on, an indescribable emotion quietly took root in her heart.

As she grew older, that feeling sprouted like a seedling in spring, growing stronger and stronger.

She gradually realized, she had fallen in love with Simon.

But Simon was so outstanding.

His bravery, his resolve, they made her feel unworthy of him.

Until the age of fourteen, when they received government support and underwent magical aptitude testing.

From that moment, their lives diverged.

She became a genius with three magical affinities, while Simon became a “disaster” shunned and despised by others.

So from then on, she resolved to protect Simon, just as he once protected her.

But she failed.

She kept making excuses for herself.

When Simon suffered under Lira’s torment, she never once stepped in to stop it, not even with words.

Though deep down, she feared Lira’s overwhelming power, feared that angering her might bring harm to her own parents.

But she knew, whether it was persuasion or intervention, she had done nothing.

And because of that, guilt always lingered.

She wanted Simon to be happy, yet she could never muster the courage.

And that time with the earth dragon,  she had heard Simon’s cries for help, yet, out of fear, she didn’t take even a single step toward him.

Compared to this manager, she had done far, far too little.

So… not being chosen by him was acceptable.

Alice comforted herself.

Her emotions gradually calmed.

But then, a trace of red gathered within her blue eyes.

No.

The one who should stand beside Simon… could only be her.

That manager had taken what belonged to her.

Then no matter how excessive her actions became it would still be justified.

After all…

Simon had always belonged to her.

Her once gem-like, pure eyes, now turned violent and vicious, yet she remained completely unaware.

She carefully stood up again.

Seeing that no one inside had noticed, she gazed obsessively at Simon through the glass.

At last, she had gathered enough courage.

But now was not the time to act.

To avoid being discovered, she quickly slipped away along the side.

****

Inside the shop, Simon suddenly felt an intense gaze, as if eyes in the darkness were fixed upon him.

He instinctively looked around, but aside from the rain-blurred windows and the dim street outside, there was no one.

“What’s wrong, Simon?”

Lira, as the shop manager, asked.

“Nothing… it just feels like someone’s watching me.”

“Probably just your imagination.”

Lira glanced around as well, finding no one, then took a sip of tea and spoke lightly.

“Maybe.”

Simon scratched his head.

Though it felt strange, there was nothing out of the ordinary.

The tea before him steamed under the light.

Taking a sip, its refreshing fragrance spread through his mouth, warming his stomach.

‘Perfect for a cold, rainy day.’

“By the way, why tea today, Manager?”

“I got tired of coffee. And drinking too much of it makes it hard to sleep at night.”

Lira explained.

“Manager, you’re so thoughtful!”

Simon exclaimed.

“Of course.”

Lira accepted it naturally.

Then she casually turned her head, pretending to look outside.

Rainwater streamed across the window, blurring the world beyond.

But even so, she had clearly caught that flash of silver hair, just for an instant.

It was enough.

She was certain.

The figure outside the window had been Alice.

So…

Alice had seen everything: the moment she healed Simon.

Yet she hadn’t stepped forward, instead assuming she hadn’t been noticed, and quietly left.

Lira pondered silently.

‘What exactly… is she planning?’

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