CHAPTER - 197

  Narrator: Upon arriving at the airport, they boarded the private jet at 10:00 AM and landed in Sicily, Italy, at 11:00 AM, accounting for the time difference.

  The sky was clear, and a gentle Mediterranean breeze caressed the runway as the two stepped off the plane.

  The flight had been peaceful.

  Selene remained close to Dav the entire trip, her head resting on his shoulder, a serene expression on her face, as if trying to freeze time.

  She savored those precious moments of peace, knowing that once they returned to the Academy, everything would start again: lessons, training, chaos.

  Dav, on the other hand, stared blankly out the window, his face long and his expression that of someone mentally preparing to be overwhelmed by obligations.

  His thoughts raced: faces, names, promises made, unresolved issues.

  He felt the weight of returning on his shoulders, but with Selene beside him, everything was more bearable.

  Once they disembarked, both stretched with a sigh of relief.

  Waiting for them was a man in a suit and tie, a wide smile on his face, and his hand raised in greeting.

  It was Dante Di Valverde.

  His presence radiated warmth and familiarity, as if welcoming back an old friend after years.

  “How was the trip, Dav? Did you enjoy meeting the King and Queen?”

  he asked with great enthusiasm.

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Dav smiled slightly, struck by his energy.

  “You’re quite energetic today.

  It’s really nice to see you again too, Dante”

  he replied, placing a hand on his shoulder.

  “How are things with your family, your wife? I hope everything’s well.”

  Dante walked briskly toward the car, answering cheerfully

  “My wife’s doing well, thank you.

  I was thinking of taking a trip with her this summer, but I haven’t decided where yet.”

  Once in the car, Dav grew thoughtful, his gaze lost in the landscape slipping past the window.

  Then he turned to Dante:

  “You know, I haven’t really thought about summer lately.

  If you’ve got any good places in mind where I could relax a bit, I’d appreciate it.

  Maybe you could bring your wife too, and I could finally meet her, since you always talk about her.”

  Dante’s eyes lit up like a child with a new toy.

  “I’ll take care of this summer!

  I’ll send you the details as soon as I have something in mind, and we’ll decide together!”

  They both laughed, light-hearted, like two friends back in simpler times.

  It felt like a spontaneous plan and maybe for that reason, perfect.

  They arrived at the Academy.

  The car stopped gracefully in front of the gate, and as they got out, Dante waved them off with a grand gesture.

  “Home sweet home, Selene.

  Brace yourself for the chaos you’re about to hear”

  said Dav with an ironic tone.

  Selene, slightly puzzled, followed him.

  They crossed the courtyard, and just as they reached the grand entrance, the unexpected happened.

  The door flew open violently, slamming Dav full in the chest and hurling him backward in a scene somewhere between tragedy and comedy.

  His body flew a few meters before hitting the ground with a dull thud.

  Selene stood still for a moment, then brought a hand to her lips, struggling to hold back a laugh.

  Her eyes were teary, and her cheeks flushed from the effort not to burst out.

  Dav lay there with the shape of the door still half-stamped on his face, eyes closed, and an expression of utter resignation.

  From the door emerged Iris, Valeria, the students, the other professors, Margherita, and even the director himself.

  They were all there to congratulate Dav on his new rank, with smiles, hugs, and applause.

  News had traveled faster than the wind.

  After that evening’s ceremony, the media had exploded with news about Selene.

  All of the United Kingdom was talking about her: the girl who had undergone the evaluation for her new rank, her bond with Dav, her extraordinary abilities.

  Selene was warmly embraced by everyone, as if a second family had been eagerly awaiting her return.

  Familiar faces, kind words, and the welcoming atmosphere made her feel truly at home.

  Meanwhile, Dav was trying to get back up from the ground, his back aching, but with that mix of irony and irritation that made him so recognizable.

  “Suck riffraff!..”

  he muttered in his typical tone, knowing deep down that it actually pleased him.

  END OF CHAPTER - 197