The Last Step Chapter 46: Cheat Skills

Unknown Perspective:

I tilted my head, staring at Lucas with an amused expression—well, at least the face I currently wore did. "I don't know what you're talking about," I said casually, my voice carrying the weight of deliberate indifference.

Lucas stepped forward, his gaze sharp, unwavering. "You know exactly what I an." His tone was calm, yet the air between us crackled with tension. "Keep resisting, and it just proves how weak you are against the truth."

Ah, the truth. Such a charmingly naive concept. I had spent lifetis weaving truths and lies into a seamless tapestry, and here he was, a kid convinced he could unravel it with brute force alone.

A faint shimr of celestial aura flickered in his fingers—a subtle warning. A promise of consequences if I didn't play along.

I exhaled slowly. "Let's say, for the sake of entertainnt, that your little fantasy is true. What reason would you have to pry into my matters?" My voice was laced with curiosity, as if I were humoring a child's bedti story.

Lucas's response was imdiate. "Because I have my reasons to be suspicious."

I shook my head, letting out a soft chuckle. "Suspicion," I murmured, as if tasting the word. "A delicate thing, isn't it? So easily influenced, so quick to turn shadows into demons. Are you sure it's not your own paranoia speaking, rather than fact?"

His expression remained unchanged. "You're trying too hard."

Oh? Interesting.

I let out a slow sigh, rubbing my temple as if exhausted by the conversation. "Lucas, you're a smart kid. Too smart, actually. That's the problem, isn't it? You see a puzzle, and you can't rest until you tear it apart. But sotis..." I paused, giving him a knowing look, "sotis the pieces don't fit because the puzzle was never ant to be solved."

For most people, that would've been enough—a seed of doubt, a whisper of self-questioning. But Lucas wasn't most people.

"You're still doing it," he said coldly. "Twisting words, turning things in circles. You're using weak elental magic to manipulate perception." His eyes narrowed. "A spell not known in this generation. Ancient, forgotten... but not to you."

Ah.

Oh.

Now that was interesting.

I could've laughed. No, I should have. It was rare to et soone who saw through the layers so effortlessly, who didn't just suspect but knew.

Oh, so this kid wants to know my spell? I mused internally, my thoughts like a snake coiling around itself. Who wouldn't? A lost spell of elental nature magic—one that reshapes, conceals, reinvents. A trick of the ages, forgotten by ti yet standing before him in plain sight. He has a keen eye, this one. Sharp enough to carve through fifteen hundred years of deception.

But knowledge is a dangerous thing. And so doors, once opened, can never be closed.

I let my smile fade. My expression, once amused and carefree, turned unreadable, cold.

"I see," I murmured, my voice taking on a lower, more deliberate tone. "You want to reveal it to you."

"Indeed," Lucas said, his voice unwavering. "I want to know exactly the incantation and thod you used to recover that 1,500-year-old lost spell."

He took another step forward, this ti with intent. A suffocating aura began to spread around him—one laced with killing intent. A warning.

"And I won't let you go until you've revealed it to ."

Oh.

I wanted to laugh... so badly. The kind of laugh that ca from the depths of amusent, from the absurdity of the situation.

Did he truly think he had cornered? With just so sharp observations and an aura?

How utterly adorable.

Instead of backing away, I stepped forward. A subtle movent, yet it threw Lucas off guard, just as I had intended.

His body tensed for a fraction of a second—a small, nearly imperceptible hesitation. And that was all I needed.

I began to slowly circle him, my footsteps deliberately asured. "Oh my, Lucas. That's quite threatening for a young kid like you." My tone was light, almost teasing. "What are you? Two years younger than ? That makes you... fifteen, correct?"

Lucas's brows furrowed in frustration. "That doesn't matter. You will now reveal it to —"

I cut him off with a sharp wave of my hand. "Now, now, Lucas. It isn't nice to pry into other people's matters, is it?" My voice was smooth, laced with just the right amount of condescension. "Because so far... I haven't pried into yours."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his confidence unshaken. "I don't have anything to hide like you," he said, his tone mocking, almost smug.

Oh, poor boy.

I let out a soft chuckle. "Oh, really?" I continued walking, my movents slow, deliberate, my circling tightening ever so slightly.

Then, my voice turned ice cold.

"You're the one hiding your potential."

Lucas froze for the briefest of monts. A blink. A flicker of silence. His lips parted slightly as if about to protest, but no words ca out.

Oh, that's interesting.

His reaction was subtle, but it spoke volus. He thought himself unreadable—confident that he had nothing to hide. But even the smallest cracks in a person's façade were enough for to slip my way inside.

I tilted my head, eyes locked onto his. "What's wrong, Lucas? You seed so sure of yourself a mont ago."

Still, he remained quiet. Trying—desperately—to suppress whatever I had just stirred inside him.

It was ti, then.

If Lucas wanted to play this ga, then perhaps we should both play by the sa rules.

I stopped circling, eting his gaze directly. His aura, which had once burned with golden defiance, now flickered into sothing darker—a deeper, richer green. The shade of soone who had just realized that they, too, were being cornered.

A smirk tugged at the corners of my lips. "You poor thing, Lucas," I mused, my voice dipping into sothing quieter, sothing more suffocating. "You're playing a ga of deception with , and yet you don't even know the rules."

Lucas narrowed his eyes, but I could see the faintest flicker of unease in them. Just a flicker. That was all I needed.

I took another slow step forward, my shadow stretching over him under the dim light. My voice remained calm—unshaken, asured, and cruel.

"Let's start small, shall we?" I said, almost playfully. "Your mana."

Lucas blinked. "What about it?"

I exhaled softly, shaking my head. "You shrink it. Compress it into a pitiful flicker so that no one notices the sheer volu you actually hold. The fluctuations are microscopic—too subtle for the naked eye. Too precise to be accidental. But I see it, Lucas." I leaned in ever so slightly. "And I must say, it's almost... adorable how you thought no one would."

Lucas's jaw tensed, but he kept his expression blank. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

I clicked my tongue, amused. "Oh, playing dumb now? I suppose that works against the average fool, but co on, Lucas. Give sothing to work with."

I reached out casually, my fingers grazing the fabric of his cloak. "Then there's this."

Lucas flinched, ever so slightly. Barely perceptible. But again—I noticed.

I let out a soft chuckle, my fingers tracing over the material like I was inspecting an old relic. "Elental resistance. Celestial resistance. Cursed magic resistance." My tone darkened, turning ice-cold. "You and I both know, Lucas... this isn't sothing that can be crafted."

The air grew heavier.

Lucas stiffened, his body betraying him for just a mont.

"Now, why would soone go through the trouble of obtaining sothing like this?" I mused. "Who exactly are you trying to protect yourself from?" I locked eyes with him. "Or rather... who exactly are you afraid of?"

His fingers curled into a fist.

Ah. That one struck a nerve.

"Still nothing?" I let out a mock sigh, as if disappointed. "Then allow to tie it all together for you."

I took a step back, letting the silence stretch for a mont before delivering the final blow.

"You didn't co through the higher-ranked adventurer gates, did you?"

Lucas's breath hitched.

I tilted my head, smiling ever so slightly. "No... you purposefully entered through the lower-ranked gate of Sylvaris. Slipped past the inspections. Avoided the scrutiny of the higher-rank adventurers." I let the words settle, let them coil around him like invisible chains. "Because if soone had actually checked your mana and that cloak of yours... well." I chuckled, the sound devoid of warmth. "We wouldn't be having this conversation, now, would we?"

Lucas's face was pale. His eyes, wide.

He looked as if he had just seen a ghost.

And I reveled in it.

I took a step back, watching him, giving him a mont to process the weight of it all. Then, with a cruel smirk, I leaned in just slightly, my voice dropping into sothing sharp and cutting.

"Now, tell , Lucas." My eyes glead with amusent. "Who's the one hiding, really?"

Lucas took a breath, steadying himself. He wasn't breaking yet. No, he was smarter than that. Instead, he lifted his chin, eyes sharpening as he crafted his next move.

"I don't see how any of this proves I'm hiding sothing," he stated, his voice composed, logical. "Shrinking my mana? That's just good practice. Any decent mage knows how to suppress their presence, especially when traveling. It prevents unnecessary attention."

He crossed his arms, regaining his footing. "As for my cloak? I acquired it through a private channel. Expensive, yes. Rare? Of course. But there's nothing illegal about owning defensive equipnt." His words were smooth, deliberate. "And the lower-ranked gate? That was simple convenience. The higher gates take longer to process entries. I was in a hurry. That's all there is to it."

He t my gaze, unwavering. "None of this is a cri. None of this ans I'm hiding like you are with a fake identity."

A solid counterargunt. Smart. But predictable.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Ah, Lucas. You almost had there."

He frowned. "What do you an?"

I let a beat of silence pass before speaking, my voice turning sharper, more cutting.

"Your words are too clean. Too rehearsed. You aren't just coming up with these excuses on the spot—you've thought about them before." I took a step closer, watching his posture shift ever so slightly. "Why would you prepare explanations for things you supposedly have nothing to hide?"

His fingers twitched. His jaw clenched for half a second before relaxing. But I saw it.

"And do you know what else is fascinating?" I continued, tilting my head. "I've learned more about you in these past few minutes than you'd like to believe."

Lucas stiffened. His confidence wavered, just barely.

His voice ca quieter this ti, tinged with sothing different.

"...What else do you know?"

Ah. There it was. That little flicker of fear. The uncertainty.

The air around us seed to grow heavier, the weight of the mont pressing down. Even the sky, once clear, now carried a dull grayness, as if the world itself was shifting in response to the tension between us.

I smiled. Cold. Amused.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "You're really stretching now. If you can't back it up, don't make things up, Aldric."

Oh? Was he still playing the ga? How cute.

I took a slow step forward until I stood directly in front of him, close enough to see the flicker of doubt in his eyes. The wind had picked up ever so slightly, brushing past us in a whisper. I tilted my head, my gaze drifting upward.

"The sky's looking rather gray now," I mused, my voice eerily calm. "Might rain soon."

Lucas blinked, taken aback. "...What does that have to do with anything?"

I smirked. "Now, now~ Lucas. Have so patience."

I let the mont stretch, enjoying the silence before my voice dropped—icy, calculated.

"Earlier, when I called out your mana fluctuation, you imdiately tried to stabilize it. A smart move. Most would need an incantation to do it, but at higher levels, one can achieve it through silent incantation."

Lucas tensed, his breathing slower, more controlled—an attempt to mask his reaction. He still hadn't caught on.

"What about it?" he asked, his voice steady, but his body said otherwise. "Yes, I can use silent incantations."

I laughed. Loudly. Cruelly.

"AHAHAHA—you're funny, really," I said between chuckles, wiping away nonexistent tears.

Lucas frowned. "What's so funny?"

Then, with the sa grin still lingering on my lips, I gave him a dead stare. Cold. Piercing.

"Normally, it takes seventeen seconds for a proper mana suppression incantation. Silent incantation brings that down to eleven seconds." I leaned in ever so slightly. "But you, Lucas... you responded to within six seconds of my accusation, yet after exactly eleven seconds, your mana was successfully suppressed to an imnse degree."

I let that sink in.

"And speaking while silently incanting?" I scoffed. "Impossible. Both interfere with magical boundaries, overlapping their sequences, causing errors."

Lucas didn't move. Didn't blink. His lips parted slightly, but no words ca. Ah, there it was—that perfect mont of realization.

"But let's not stop there." My voice was smooth, nearly amused. "Tell , Lucas, do you think it's normal for the weather to shift so suddenly?"

His body stiffened further.

"The sky was clear earlier, wasn't it? Practically hot. Yet now?" I gestured upward. "A cold gray."

Lucas swallowed, his eyes darting to the sky for a split second before snapping back to , his concern growing.

I smiled. "It's not a coincidence, is it?"

He said nothing. He didn't have to.

"Normally, altering the weather would require large-scale elental magic, maybe even multiple mages working in tandem. Yet the mont I called out your suppression—" I took a step closer, my presence pressing down on him, "—you entered a state of high alert and instinctively manipulated the weather to create an environnt suited to your needs."

A pause. A breath. A mont of absolute stillness.

"But you made one mistake."

Lucas flinched.

"You didn't use elental magic." My tone was softer now, more deliberate. "You used celestial magic. Silently."

I tilted my head, watching him as though he were a fascinating puzzle unraveling before my eyes.

"If it were elental magic, I would've seen the mana fluctuations," I continued. "But there was nothing. No trace. No disturbance."

I took one final step forward, locking my gaze with his.

"So tell , Lucas..." I whispered, savoring the weight of my next words. "What's this cheat skill of yours?"

He opened his mouth—to deny it, to argue, to say anything—but nothing ca out.

I smiled wider.

"A skill that casts spells for you? A skill that guides you, tells you what to say, what to do?" I let the question hang in the air before delivering the final blow.

"Hmm? What is this system you're hiding? This system of sage that works for you?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Lucas stiffened as my hand pressed onto his shoulder, the weight of my touch more than just physical. I leaned down, my breath barely a whisper against his ear.

"We all have our secrets we wish to hide in our lives," I murmured. "Just like you have your reasons, I got mine."

I leaned back, watching the subtle shift in his expression—still frozen in shock, still reeling from everything I had just revealed. His breathing had steadied, but the way his fingers twitched at his sides told everything. His mind was racing. Searching for a way out of this.

How adorable.

With a smooth, almost silky tone, I mused, "Maybe you should show so proper gratitude—"

Then, my voice dropped. The temperature seed to drop with it.

My disguised black eyes flickered for a mont, the illusion cracking. And then, for the first ti in this entire conversation, I allowed him to see them—my true eyes. A piercing, void-like blue.

A thin, almost invisible layer of mist-like aura radiated from , swallowing the air between us, like the abyss itself breathing. My presence shifted, the weight of it pressing against his very core, sending an undeniable ssage.

Then I finished, my words slow, deliberate.

"For not prying into your matters... while you pried into mine."

Lucas took an instinctive step back, his foot scraping against the dirt beneath him. His body was tense, his muscles coiled—not in preparation to fight, but to react. I saw it in his eyes, the rare, raw mont where he was caught off-guard, a mont he wasn't prepared for.

And then—just like that—I pulled it all back. My presence, my aura, my eyes. The illusion returned, my black eyes settling back into place, my expression once again unreadable.

Lucas exhaled slowly, gathering himself. He hesitated, then finally spoke, his voice quieter than before. "You really don't know when to stop, do you?"

I smirked. "Neither do you, Lucas."

For a mont, neither of us moved. Then, without another word, I turned on my heel, walking away from the gates of Sylvaris.

Lucas remained standing there, watching . He wasn't following. He wasn't speaking.

He understood.

After all, he still had a path ahead of him—one that led deeper into Sylvaris, where his secrets would remain buried. And ?

I had no need for Sylvaris.

I had other matters to attend to.

And for now, that was enough.

As I walked down the dirt path away from Sylvaris, a deep breath filled my lungs, carrying the scent of damp earth and fresh grass. The wind brushed against my face, its cool touch a small relief from the weight of my thoughts. I stretched my arms, rolling my shoulders as the tension lted away.

Finally, that damn letter was in Alina's hands.

I cracked a small smile, barely noticeable, but it was there. One step closer.

My pace slowed as I glanced up at the sky, clouds lazily drifting above. My mind drifted as well, back to that fight—Levi's duel against her.

Alina had co far. That reckless, stubborn determination in her stance, the way she no longer hesitated to face overwhelming odds... she was strong now. Stronger than before.

"She'll be good enough to protect her while I'm gone," I muttered under my breath, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

For a mont, I let myself enjoy the quiet. The rustling leaves, the distant chirping of birds—small details most would ignore. It was peaceful. Almost enough to pretend the world wasn't a ticking ti bomb.

I missed this.

I missed the sound of rain tapping against the ground, the distant rumble of a storm rolling in. A reminder that the world kept moving, even when I stood still.

But peace of mind was a luxury I couldn't afford just yet. I still had ti. I still had things to do.

Levinton was next.

I exhaled, gaze sharpening as my next objective settled in my mind. The grotesques of Celestine... they wouldn't be a problem much longer.

As I continued walking, the path forked ahead, leading deeper into the forest. My eyes flickered to a wooden sign planted in the ground, its edges worn from ti and weather.

Levinton — 12 miles ahead. Follow the eastern trail through the cliffs.

I stared at it for a mont before a smirk crept onto my lips.

"Seems like we'll finally et again."

And with that, I stepped forward, ready to change fate once more.

2 Days Later...

Celia's Perspective:

2 Days have passed since my first fight with Evelina. I wouldn't say I've grown much, but... I've been trying, okay? I can feel it. There's sothing inside that's itching to break through all the weakness I've been holding onto, and I'm not about to let it stay locked up.

I know I haven't gotten stronger yet, but I've definitely been putting in the work, little by little. It's not easy, though. So days, I just want to curl up in a ball and forget it all.

Levi's house is... quiet. Almost too quiet. Emma's usually the only one there, and I know she's probably busy with sothing, so I've been spending my ti sowhere else. Sowhere I can focus. My realm of nightmares.

I wonder if I'm crazy for loving it. Seriously. I an, I spend so much ti in this dark place, in a world that doesn't really feel real. And yet... there's sothing oddly comforting about it. Maybe I'm just a little too attached to pain.

Ugh, stop thinking about that, Celia. I shake my head. "Focus," I mutter to myself.

So here I am, running on the outskirts of Levinton, near the edge of the forest. The cool morning air hits my skin, making shiver a bit, but I push through it. The trees surrounding are tall and thick, their leaves rustling in the breeze. A golden light peeks through the gaps, casting strange shadows across the forest floor. It feels... peaceful, almost like a world apart. But my mind's not at ease. Not yet.

I'm wearing my usual training gear. A loose-fitting shirt to keep cool, and shorts—nothing fancy, just sothing that lets move without restriction. My hair's tied back in a ssy ponytail, strands sticking to my forehead with the sweat that's already starting to build up. Running for hours, pushing my limits... it's exhausting. But I won't stop. I can't.

Just a little more, Celia. You've got this. Just keep running. You can do it...

I try to ignore the ache in my legs, the stitch in my side. I'm getting tired. My body's begging for a break. But I can't stop. I won't.

I keep my mind focused on my routine. The routine that's ant to make stronger. I've learned a lot from my fight with Evelina, even if it wasn't a win for . I'm not a close-range combatant, but I can be. I've got my chains and thorns, and they're a damn good tool to use up close, but they require a lot more from than I realized.

I tried them out in the real world, right after that fight. Let tell you, I almost collapsed from exhaustion after just one attack. And that was only a small move.

It takes so much stamina. I keep telling myself that. In my nightmare realm, I could keep going for days without tiring, but here? Here, I've got to push past that limit, break through it, and build real strength. I can't depend on the dream world forever.

My thoughts drift as I run. I pass a few trees, their bark rough and scarred by ti. The air slls fresh, almost sweet, with the scent of the forest filling my lungs. I can hear the distant sound of birds chirping, the rustle of leaves under my feet, the crunch of twigs beneath my sneakers. It's calming... for a second.

And then I spot it.

A river.

It's just off to the side, water gently flowing over smooth stones, sparkling in the sunlight. It looks inviting. I could just stop for a second, dip my feet in, catch my breath... but no. No, I've still got three more kiloters to go. I can't stop now.

But... I slow down, my feet moving to the edge of the river. I crouch down beside it and stare at the water, letting the coolness of the air soothe .

I glance at my reflection. It's strange. I almost don't recognize myself. The face staring back at looks so... different from the one I used to see. Back then, I hated my reflection. I hated everything about . I thought I was nothing more than a monster, soone who wasn't ant to live, let alone deserve love. Everyone hated , and I hated myself for it.

But now...

I smile faintly. I didn't think it was possible. I didn't think I could ever smile at myself. But sohow, I'm starting to see sothing else. Sothing I didn't think I deserved.

I owe it to soone.

The one person who's been there for when I was ready to give up.

Thank you, Kaiser.

My smile grows, just a little. I know it's him who changed . He's the reason I can stand here today, not just as a broken thing that should have been killed, but as a person. A real person.

I stand up straighter, my gaze hardening with determination. "Just stay safe, Kai. I'll get stronger. I'll save you from those grotesques. I promise."

I cup my hands and gently scoop so water from the river. Splashing it onto my face, I feel the cool liquid drench my skin, washing away the sweat, the fatigue, the doubt. And when I open my eyes, I feel sothing more than just the physical relief.

I feel like I'm finally ready to do what I've promised.

I lay back on the soft green grass, staring up at the sky. The warm sunlight touches my skin, and for a mont, I feel like I could just drift off to sleep right here. It's so comfortable, so peaceful. But no... no—I have work to do. My routine is calling. I can't slack off.

I sit up, brushing the grass off my clothes as I rehearse my daily schedule. Gotta keep it fresh in my mind, or I'll forget sothing important. "Wake up early. Study cursed magic. Read and morize the incantation. After breakfast, go outside and train. Stamina training. A 15-kiloter run."

Ugh, yeah. Running. I wish I could be as good as him. Kai. I tried to copy him, I really did. He does 200 push-ups, 200 pull-ups, 200 squats, and 200 sit-ups, and then he runs 15 kiloters to top it off. Every single day for four years. Four years. And then he says, "Since I was injured, I missed this week, so I'm just catching up."

Seriously? How is he even human? I can't even imagine doing that. I barely manage 20 push-ups before my arms turn into jelly. That's like, 10% of what he does. But... I'll keep trying. I'm going to get better. Slowly, but surely, I'll catch up. At least, I can run 15 kiloters. That's sothing, right?

I grunt as I try to get up. Okay, ti to stand. Yes, I can do this!... Well, I can try.

I flop back into the grass with a tired little laugh. Nah, just five more minutes. I can barely move. My body aches, and my legs feel like they might give out if I stand for even a second longer. I let out a little sigh, eyes closed, my smile a little goofy as I rest.

Eventually, I'll get up. I have to. After all, there's more work to be done. Physical combat practice cos next, with my chains and thorns. Gotta make sure I'm getting better, and it's not like cursed magic's going to be enough.

I have to be good at everything, not just so things. I'm still learning new spells. Two more spells aside from Withering Touch, so I'm doing better... but not great. I'll get there, though.

My fingers brush the grass absentmindedly as I rest, watching the river gently flow beside . The sound of the water is calming, almost hypnotic, but then sothing catches my eye. A butterfly. It flutters toward , delicate wings dancing in the breeze. It lands softly on my hand, its wings a brilliant splash of orange and black.

I smile. The butterfly stays there for a while, and I watch it closely. It's like the world slowed down just for this mont. It feels peaceful... beautiful. Maybe I'm not the best at everything yet, but I'm here, and I'm trying. That's all that matters, right?

At night, when I sleep, I practice in my dream land, nightmares. I'm not exactly resting, but it's worth it. I fight through the night for hours, building the techniques I need, even if my body's too exhausted to do it during the day. But... if I can't keep up with the stamina part of it... then it doesn't matter how much I practice in my dreams.

I smile a little, looking up at the sky. It might not be the best routine, but it's mine. And I'm sticking to it. I'm going to get stronger—stronger than I am right now. I'll do whatever it takes to save him. To save the one person who ans everything to .

Kai...

My heart flutters at his na, and for a mont, everything seems clearer, like the path ahead of has just opened up a little wider.

I miss you.

Then, I hear it. The sound of footsteps behind , familiar, almost like... I freeze. The way they sound. I know these steps. I know this rhythm. It's him.

Kai?