It was a good morning.
The first rays of sunlight spilled through the sheer curtains, painting the room in a soft golden hue.
Dust motes floated lazily in the air, glittering faintly as if the light itself wanted to linger.
The warmth of the morning sun brushed gently against their faces — and that was what stirred Alice and Rose awake.
"...Mmm..."
Alice blinked her eyes open first, the pleasant scent of lavender lingering faintly on the sheets.
She felt sothing soft pressed against her and instinctively shifted — only to realize she was wrapped around Rose like a lazy cat clinging to its pillow.
Rose’s own lashes fluttered open at the sa mont, confusion flickering briefly before giving way to quiet resignation.
They stared at each other for a heartbeat — then both sighed, almost in perfect sync.
"...Again," Alice muttered with a sheepish smile.
Rose’s cheeks tinged faintly pink. "It’s not like we do this on purpose..."
"Maybe not," Alice teased, tightening her hold slightly before releasing her, "but at this point, it’s practically tradition."
And in truth, it was.
Sohow, among the strange rhythms of their intertwined lives, hugging each other had beco natural — almost inevitable.
When Riley wasn’t around, or when space to cling to him was already taken, the girls simply ended up embracing whoever was closest. It wasn’t even embarrassing anymore — just... comforting.
"Good morning," ca a quiet voice from the doorway.
Seo stood there, dressed neatly as always, her ebony hair slightly disheveled.
Her tone was calm, as ever, but there was a gentle warmth beneath her words that only those close to her could sense.
"Ah, morning, Seo~" Alice greeted brightly, stretching her arms above her head before flopping back onto the bed with a satisfied groan. "Hnng~ did you wake up early again?"
"Yes."
Seo’s response was short, simple, but her calm presence filled the room in a quiet, grounding way.
Rose rubbed her eyes and glanced toward the empty side of the room. The sheets beside them were already cool.
"Did Riley already go?" she asked softly.
"Yes," Seo confird.
"Hehe~ our dear fiancé really is devoted, isn’t he? Off to check on our sister first thing in the morning. I love that side of him... but ugh, now I’m kind of jealous~"
Rose gave a small shrug. "We already agreed. Today belongs to Snow. No use pouting over it."
"I know, I know~" Alice said, waving her hand dismissively, though her tone was more playful than upset. "I’m not really complaining — just thinking it’s a sha. Well, he does spoil enough~ I’m sure once Snow’s fully recovered, he’ll make ti for all of us again."
Rose smiled faintly, brushing her hair back. "You sound confident."
"Of course I am~" Alice winked, "I an, it’s Riley. Even if he’s not here, you can feel him, can’t you? That warmth that lingers even after he’s gone?"
Seo’s eyes softened for just a brief mont, almost imperceptibly. "...I can."
And for a few quiet seconds, they all sat there, letting the sunlight soak into their skin, the golden warmth reminding them of him — his gentle touch, his voice, his presence.
Each of them knew, deep down, without having to say it aloud — that Riley would always find his way back to them.
Alice tilted her head and studied Seo more carefully.
Her usually tidy black hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, a few strands clinging stubbornly to her cheek.
Even her posture — normally so composed it could’ve been carved from marble — carried the faintest hint of fatigue.
"Wait a second," Alice said, narrowing her eyes. "Seo... did you go train again this morning?"
Seo gave a small nod, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Yes."
Alice’s gaze sharpened in curiosity. "I see, but... why do you look tired?"
Rose, who was fixing her own hair, glanced over too.
It wasn’t often Seo looked anything less than perfectly in control.
If there was one person among them whose stamina bordered on inhuman, it was Seo.
The idea of her being tired almost didn’t make sense.
Seo blinked once, her calm voice giving nothing away. "Ah... while I was training, my grandfather appeared and tested ."
"Your... grandfather?" Alice asked, eyes wide with innocent confusion.
"Yes," Seo replied simply.
Rose’s hands paused in her hair, realization dawning in her expression. "By grandfather... you an the current clan head of the Gyeoul Clan?"
"Yes," Seo said again, unbothered.
"The master of the Hidden Blade Technique... that Biyeon Gyeoul?"
"Yes."
Both Alice and Rose exchanged a look.
"He... just popped up? Like, out of nowhere?"
Seo nodded again, adjusting her sleeve. "He appeared during my morning jog. Said it was ti to ’evaluate’ my progress. I didn’t even have ti to react before he drew his blade."
There was a faint crack in her usual monotone — a tiny exhale, like she was rembering the exchange.
Rose crossed her arms. "And I assu it wasn’t a light spar?"
"No," Seo admitted quietly. "If I wasn’t fully focused, I would have lost an arm. He wasn’t holding back this ti."
Alice winced. "Geez, your family’s definition of bonding ti is terrifying."
Seo gave no response to that, her eyes drifting toward the sunlight streaming in through the window. "He was also looking for Riley," she added after a pause.
That made both girls tense slightly.
"Looking for him? Why?" Rose asked.
Seo tilted her head slightly, considering how to put it. "He’s... curious.’ But I told him not to interfere — not right now. Not with the situation involving Snow."
Rose let out a small breath of relief. "I see..."
Both of them were already sowhat aware that Riley had a connection to Beon Gyeoul as his master— he had ntioned it in passing once, though never in much detail.
Still, knowing of that connection and actually feeling the presence of the man himself were entirely different things.
Beon Gyeoul — the Hidden Blade of the Eastern Empire.
A man whose re existence could turn a battlefield into silence.
To think that such a figure had simply appeared at the academy... freely and without notice —
"Still hard to believe soone like him just shows up here like it’s no big deal," Alice muttered under her breath, crossing her arms. "He’s practically the Empire’s strongest weapon."
One would think the whole academy would be in an uproar, or at least the principal would’ve made an announcent or sothing.
Did he co on his own, or did the principal actually invite him?
Questions ford at the two girls’ minds.
"I don’t know. But considering his temperant, I doubt he asked for permission." Seo said.
That simple statent was enough to silence both girls for a mont.
He’s probably that type...
A man like Beon Gyeoul didn’t ask for permission — he did as he pleased, and the world adjusted around him.
But what slightly unsettled them wasn’t his presence... it was the fact that they hadn’t noticed him at all.
Eventually though, Alice shrugged, forcing a small grin, as she didn’t think too much about it, Beon Gyeoul wasn’t going to harm them or anything Afterall.
Just then, Alice’s nose twitched. She blinked, inhaling softly.
"...Sniff. Wait— do you sll that?"
Seo tilted her head slightly. "Yes. Yui already prepared breakfast for us. She left the room not too long ago."
Alice’s eyes brightened imdiately. "Ah~ that explains it. Slls heavenly..."
"She’s gotten quite good at timing it perfectly," Rose added, relaxing a little as the rich aroma of fresh bread, eggs, and tea filled the air. "It’s like she knows exactly when we wake up."
Alice giggled. "She totally morized our sleep schedules at this point. I swear, she’s like a breakfast ninja~"
Even Seo allowed the faintest curve of her lips — a subtle expression of shared amusent.
"And also... she gave this," Seo said, holding sothing carefully in her hands.
Alice and Rose both leaned in curiously — and their eyes widened at once.
In Seo’s palm rested a beautifully cut crimson crystal, glowing faintly like a living ember.
Veins of golden light pulsed within it, soft and rhythmic, as if the crystal itself possessed a heartbeat.
"Yui said it’s a gift from Riley’s hotown," Seo added calmly.
The mont she ntioned that, both girls instantly felt the density of mana emanating from it. The air around the table subtly shifted, rippling with faint magical pressure.
"A communication crystal...?" Alice murmured in awe.
Rose nodded slowly, her expression turning serious. "Yes. And not just any — that’s a high-grade royal-level crystal. Even most kings can’t get one of those without going through the Imperial treasury."
The realization made all three of them exchange silent glances.
Whoever had sent such a rare, absurdly expensive item clearly wasn’t soone ordinary.
But then again... they didn’t need to wonder for long.
There was only one person who would go this far, and who had both the ans and the boldness to do it.
"Liyana," Alice said softly, smiling with faint amusent. "It has to be her."
"Most likely." Rose said.
With the crystal still pulsing faintly between them, they decided to eat first before checking it.
The sll of warm food — eggs, buttered toast, and tea — mixed pleasantly with the soft magical hum coming from the orb.
For a few minutes, the three simply enjoyed their breakfast, sharing light chatter about the day and the academy’s current calm atmosphere.
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