Chapter 88: The Seer’s Legacy and a Conflicted Heart

Following Luminas out of the classroom, Yalin glanced back at Totomia.

He stood alone, his gaze vacant as he stared blankly at the table.

His tall figure, in that moment, seemed imbued with a peculiar sense of desolation.

Golden sunlight streamed through the window, bathing him in its glow and casting a long shadow, making him appear like a solitary, proud warrior.

Ah, though Luminas harbored no ill will, her words must have profoundly disheartened Totomia.

‘Poor Cat-boy, come back to Gotham City with me; Batman says he won’t catch you anymore.’

Given Totomia’s nature, however, he would likely forget all about this in a few days.

The two descended the stairs and emerged into the outer courtyard.

“So, you specifically sought me out regarding the weapon enchantment?” Yalin inquired.

“Precisely,” Luminas affirmed with a nod, unstrapping the silver rapier from her waist.

“Do you have time recently? Could I entrust the weapon enchantment to you?”

“I’m not particularly busy these days; I can begin anytime, provided you have the materials ready.”

“Good, then,” Luminas murmured, producing a magic crystal from her pocket and handing it to Yalin along with the rapier.

Yalin accepted the rapier, then held the magic crystal aloft, squinting as he examined it under the sunlight.

Undoubtedly, this was a superior magic crystal: perfectly hexagonal, with clearly visible internal patterns, and so pure that even sunlight could pass through it unhindered.

This single stone alone was likely more valuable than Totomia’s entire sword.

“The materials are fine, but are you certain you wish to use this particular rapier?” Yalin asked, weighing the weapon in his hand and giving it a few practice swings.

The weapon was exceptionally light, almost weightless, feeling insubstantial in his grasp.

Due to its composition, this sword could accommodate only a single magic crystal.

While theoretically one magic crystal sufficed, most people opted to embed two or more into their magic swords.

Although it wouldn’t enhance the magic sword’s inherent attributes, it would at least provide a protective film, sufficient to repel ordinary magical attacks.

“It’s fine; this sword is a family heirloom, and I have no desire to replace it,” Luminas replied, shaking her head.

‘Oh right, I almost forgot.

She’s just like those otaku who treat their figurines as wives—a stubborn old traditionalist who values her sword more than her own life.’

Since she had stated her preference so clearly, Yalin refrained from further comment, carefully putting away the sword and materials.

“I understand.

Entrust the weapon enchantment to me.

Though time is somewhat pressing, I will endeavor to complete it and return it to you before next week.”

“Next week?” Luminas tilted her head, a hint of confusion in her expression.

“Why must it be next week? I’m not in a hurry to use it; you can take your time.”

“Ah, well… aren’t you participating in the selection trials next week?”

“Selection trials? Oh, right, there is a competition, isn’t there?” She replied, her eyes half-lidded, her expression hazy as if she had just woken up.

“It’s fine.

I can defeat the preliminary competitors even without a sword.”

“Is… is that so? You’re certainly confident.”

“Indeed, because, for the time being, no one at the Magic Sword Academy is my match,” Luminas stated, analyzing the situation with earnestness.

While her words might have sounded incredibly arrogant, she harbored no intention of disparaging others; she was merely stating a conclusion derived from objective facts.

‘It was fortunate she hadn’t uttered those words in the classroom, or Totomia would likely have shed tears on the spot.’

“The only person I wish to defeat is her,” Luminas murmured to herself, lifting her gaze to observe the clouds drifting slowly across the horizon.

“That person… are you referring to Celeste?”

“Yes.

Do you know her?”

“Ahaha, she is quite famous, after all.” Yalin chuckled awkwardly, rubbing his nose.

He dared not casually claim to be Celeste’s childhood friend.

After all, both the information from the novel and Luminas’s demeanor just now indicated that, at this point in time, she didn’t seem particularly fond of Celeste.

‘Otherwise, if his identity were exposed, and she tore him limb from limb preemptively, that would be quite troublesome.’

“Speaking of which, why are you so determined to defeat Celeste? Is there some past grievance between you two?”

“No, I believe she doesn’t even know me, yet… I simply refuse to lose to her.” Luminas lowered her gaze, her eyelashes trembling subtly.

‘Because she is the only person I acknowledge.’

“Your grandfather, Lord Orlando?”

Yalin was taken aback.

He recalled that Orlando had disappeared approximately three years prior.

Celeste, on the other hand, had been noticed by an Imperial Archmage and sent to Ailanmia around two years ago.

From this perspective, the timelines simply did not align.

As if sensing Yalin’s confusion, Luminas offered an explanation.

“My grandfather was not merely an archaeologist; he was also a seer, capable of foretelling significant future events.”

“I see,” Yalin murmured, a realization dawning upon him.

Given that both Orlando and Luminas possessed the authority to observe the future, it all made sense.

Comparatively, however, Orlando’s ability was demonstrably far more potent.

He could foresee events years into the future, whereas Luminas could only glimpse a few days ahead at most.

“Are you saying your grandfather foresaw Celeste’s existence?”

“Yes,” Luminas affirmed with a nod.

“Grandfather said that within three years, the Academy would welcome an unparalleled genius.

She was chosen by the gods, an entity capable of altering the world.”

Yalin clicked his tongue.

‘As expected of Lord Orlando; his predictions truly are precise.’

Luminas’s expression grew slightly somber, and she clutched the hem of her clothes with a trace of reluctance.

“Grandfather never once praised me… rather, he never truly looked at me.

Because I wasn’t the chosen one, he considered speaking to me a waste of his time.”

“Yet, that day, he spoke as if possessed, repeating that the world was saved and that he must immediately seek out that girl.

Not long after, he vanished.”

“He never uttered a single word to me, not even at the very end.”

Only then did Yalin comprehend why Luminas harbored such an intense obsession with Celeste.

Outwardly, Luminas was Orlando’s descendant, meaning she was, and had to be, a genius.

In truth, however, in Orlando’s eyes, Luminas was nothing.

It was a neglect more heartbreaking than mere disappointment.

Even though Luminas possessed unparalleled talent, favored by Akacia, the God of Wisdom, to Orlando, she was merely an ordinary person, albeit slightly more capable than most—an utterly dispensable existence.

The collective weight of public expectation and pressure, combined with her grandfather’s coldness and denial, had forged her current conflicted mindset.

She neither wished to bear the shackles of a genius, becoming an object of comparison for her grandfather, nor did she desperately yearn for even a single instance of his acknowledgment.

Therefore, she had set her sights on defeating Celeste, hoping to prove herself through that victory.

“I see.

In that case, I must craft the finest magic sword for you,” Yalin said with a smile.

Luminas subtly lifted her head, looking at Yalin with a touch of surprise.

“Do you think I can win?”

“Who knows? I can’t predict the future,” Yalin replied, shrugging indifferently.

“However, while I don’t know if your grandfather would praise you if you won, if you’re merely seeking praise, I’ll lavish it upon you, whether you win or lose.”

‘After all, that was his profession; he excelled at flattery.’

‘Perhaps a few more compliments now would mean a few fewer cuts later.’

Luminas paused, then, uncharacteristically, let out a soft laugh.

The faint smile, however, graced her face for only a fleeting moment before vanishing entirely.

“Oh, right.

I attempted to translate the Runes you gave me earlier.”

“Really? Were there any results?”

As it was a relic left behind by his mother, potentially bearing a significant connection to the malevolent deity within him, Yalin was naturally very interested.

Luminas pondered for a moment, her expression growing somewhat grave.

“I find it very strange.

Although they appear to be Runes with simple structures, my ‘Universal Analysis’ ability cannot discern their meaning…”

“Are you saying those writings are meaningless?” Yalin pressed.

“I don’t know.

Perhaps my level isn’t high enough to analyze them yet.

Give me a bit more time, and I might be able to decipher something.”

She paused for a moment before continuing, “However, two words appeared frequently throughout the manuscript.”

Luminas extended her index finger, tracing a few symbols in the air.

“Love and Chaos.”

“Oh…” Yalin narrowed his eyes, a vague conjecture suddenly forming in his mind.