The afternoon classes went smoothly for everyone, and as usual, Elwyn and Loyd finished their training at the infirmary before parting ways.

  Loyd joined Professor Ezekiel, while Elwyn found Arimélia, sitting on her bench. Once Princess Sylaria arrived to join the half-dragon, Elwyn finally made his way to Nahira, who was sitting on the first terrace of the Grand Library.

  — So, how was your training? she asked.

  — As usual, not good enough to compete with him. But I guess Professor Ezekiel will give him something to burn off steam.

  Nahira’s face formed a wry smile.

  — You’re talking like he always ends up in the same state as you after your trainings.

  — True, but at least he’s having fun.

  — And you?

  — Not particularly. But since I need to know how to fight for later, I can do without the fun part.

  Nahira raised an eyebrow, crossed her arms, and looked at Elwyn with a touch of disbelief.

  — You can do without the fun of fighting, but then why train so relentlessly? I doubt it’s just for mastery.

  Elwyn leaned casually against the stone railing of the terrace, casting a thoughtful glance at the horizon.

  — Because I don’t have the luxury of not knowing how to defend myself.

  Nahira studied him for a moment, trying to figure out what lay behind his answer.

  — You speak as if your survival depended on it.

  Elwyn turned his gaze toward her, expressionless.

  — Isn’t it the case for everyone?

  A silence settled between them. Nahira kept her gaze steady, trying to pierce through the enigmatic fa?ade he wore so naturally.

  — Maybe, she finally admitted. But there’s a difference between knowing how to fight to survive and training methodically without ever taking a liking to it.

  Elwyn shrugged slightly.

  — The joy of fighting is a luxury of the Domain of War. Normal people train for power, others like me, out of sheer necessity.

  Nahira observed him for a moment longer, then let out a light sigh.

  — You’re a real mystery.

  A companionable silence followed as Nahira let her gaze drift over the golden sunlight of the setting sun, gently caressing the stone of the Grand Library. The amber glow of the twilight provided a peaceful, almost intimate atmosphere, contrasting with the bustle elsewhere in the Academy.

  — So, are you here to rest or are you just sinking deeper into your books? she asked in a lighter, slightly teasing tone.

  Elwyn turned his eyes from the landscape and focused on the stack of books carefully stacked next to her.

  — A bit of both, he admitted. And you?

  Nahira raised an eyebrow, an amused glint in her eyes.

  — I’m relaxing… but also, I’m observing.

  Elwyn crossed his arms and regarded her with curiosity.

  — Observing what?

  — You, she simply replied.

  He raised an eyebrow, showing no sign of discomfort.

  — For a month, she added with a touch of amusement.

  Elwyn didn’t answer immediately, staring at her for a moment as if he were trying to assess the truthfulness of her words. Then, with a calm gesture, he shook his head lightly.

  — And?

  Nahira rested her chin on her hand, her eyes still fixed on him, her expression falsely pensive.

  — And I can’t figure you out.

  Elwyn mimicked her pose.

  — Maybe you’re looking too hard.

  — Or maybe it’s you who’s particularly difficult to understand, she retorted, her sharp gaze searching for a crack in his impassive fa?ade.

  He stayed silent for a moment before turning his gaze toward the sky, as if weighing the pros and cons of a more candid response.

  — Maybe, he finally murmured.

  A light breeze blew across the terrace, lifting a few strands of Nahira’s dark hair, which brushed lightly across her face. She absentmindedly tucked it behind her ear before sitting up straight. Then, with feigned nonchalance, she grabbed a book next to her and placed it carefully on the table.

  — Well, since you’re here doing nothing interesting, you might as well accompany me.

  Elwyn raised an eyebrow.

  — For what, exactly?

  Nahira stood up gracefully, stretching lightly like a cat waking from its slumber.

  — I’m going to train.

  Elwyn observed her with a skeptical look.

  — Oh… And? You want me to be a moving target for your spells?

  Nahira gave him a falsely innocent look.

  — Now that you mention it, that would be a good idea. Your nephilim friend irritated me this noon, so I need to get all that out of my head, otherwise, I might create an Entity, she joked.

  Elwyn sighed, but a spark of amusement briefly flickered in his gaze.

  — I’m going to regret coming here, aren’t I?

  — Probably, she admitted without a hint of remorse.

  — I see…

  — Come on, follow me.

  Without waiting for his response, Nahira headed toward the locker room of the training grounds to change, then left the Academy walls in search of a more secluded spot.

  She eventually stopped at the edge of a small forest, away from prying eyes and the hustle and bustle of the students. The place was quiet, perfect for an impromptu training session.

  Elwyn, for his part, followed her at a leisurely pace, his casual demeanor contrasting with Nahira’s evident determination.

  — Can I know what kind of training you’re planning to do exactly? he asked, in a measured tone.

  Nahira turned slightly toward him, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

  — It’s simple, I want to test my accuracy and physical skills, she replied confidently.

  Elwyn raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat less reassured by the idea.

  — And you plan to test that on me?

  Nahira laughed softly, a playful glint in her eyes, before adopting a falsely reassuring tone.

  — Don’t worry, I’ll aim wide.

  — Hm… I’m having a hard time being convinced, he murmured, stopping at a reasonable distance from her.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Nahira didn’t respond immediately. She spun her dagger in her hand before gripping it firmly, pointing the etherite crystal embedded in the pommel toward Elwyn.

  — Ready?

  Elwyn sighed deeply.

  — No.

  — Perfect.

  And without waiting, Nahira cast her first spell.

  A sphere of compressed air shot out from her dagger and sped toward Elwyn with impressive speed. His instincts kicked in before he had time to think, and he sharply pivoted to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack that crashed against a tree behind him, making its trunk vibrate from the impact.

  He slowly turned his head toward Nahira, who wore a satisfied smile.

  — … I should’ve seen that coming, he muttered, exasperated by the girl’s attitude.

  Nahira shrugged innocently.

  — Come on, one more time. And this time, try moving a bit faster.

  Elwyn sighed, but his expression shifted slightly. His detached look was replaced by a sharper concentration.

  — Alright… But if I retaliate, don’t come complaining.

  A mischievous glint passed through Nahira’s eyes.

  — I’m looking forward to seeing that.

  She raised her dagger, focusing her ether more precisely. This time, it wouldn’t be just a trial shot. She lunged forward, slicing the air with a swift movement, creating several swirling projectiles made of cutting wind.

  Elwyn immediately tensed, ready to move at any moment.

  “Alright. If she wanted a real training session… she was about to get one.”

  The projectiles shot toward him from several angles. Rather than simply dodging them, Elwyn planted his feet on the ground, executing a rapid and fluid movement to reposition himself out of their immediate trajectory. But Nahira didn’t give him a chance to breathe.

  Barely had he avoided the first volley when she followed up with a more targeted attack, directing her projectiles with more finesse, making them curve their trajectories to force him into more complex movements.

  Elwyn furrowed his brow slightly.

  — You’re not joking, are you?

  — Did you think this was a joke? Nahira shot back, a smile full of challenge.

  She quickly pivoted, striking the ground with her dagger and creating an airwave shot straight toward him.

  Elwyn wasted no time. He slightly bent his knees, analyzed the attack, then jumped with great agility, executing an aerial roll to land just outside the impact zone. But the moment his feet touched the ground, Nahira was already on him, her dagger sheathed.

  In one swift and measured movement, she aimed a strike toward his chest. Elwyn, anticipating the attack, raised his hand and grabbed her wrist, halting her motion. Their faces were now only a few centimeters apart.

  Nahira smiled.

  — Not bad.

  Elwyn didn’t flinch.

  — I know.

  He released her, and she stepped back a pace, immediately resuming her offensive.

  The exchange continued like this, each testing the limits of the other. Elwyn defended with methodical precision, dodging with a fluidity that betrayed his great mastery of physical combat. Nahira, on the other hand, remained relentless, chaining attacks with a discipline and instinct that could only be found in experienced fighters.

  Finally, after an hour of intermittent dueling with brief pauses to catch their breath, Nahira suddenly stopped, out of breath but her eyes shining.

  — You’re better than I thought.

  Elwyn raised an eyebrow.

  — And you’re not just a mage.

  Nahira wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, catching her breath with a satisfied smile.

  — You thought I only cast spells?

  — Let’s just say you’re a lot more versatile than I expected.

  — While you, you never used your Entity powers at any point and you still seem to have plenty in reserve.

  For a brief moment, a spark of amusement appeared in Elwyn’s eyes.

  — Well, the fight would have been uneven if I could cancel your spells and slip into the Ethereal Plane to surprise you or dodge your attacks at the last moment. And you didn’t give it your all either.

  A silence settled between them, no longer awkward but marked by a new mutual understanding. Then, Nahira straightened up and stretched.

  — How about we do it again tomorrow?

  Elwyn looked at her for a moment before turning his gaze toward the darkening sky.

  — I might regret it… but why not…

  Nahira burst into laughter, clearly delighted, and they left the improvised training ground together for a good shower in the locker rooms before returning to the Grand Library, where they met up with Arimélia and Princess Sylaria.

  Dong

  The dinner bell rang, and together, they headed to the cafeteria, where Loyd joined them shortly after.

  The dinner proceeded as usual, in an animated and convivial atmosphere, filled with conversations and bursts of laughter. The trays gradually emptied as discussions flowed.

  — So, how did your little date go? Princess Sylaria asked with a sly smile, glancing back and forth between Elwyn and Nahira.

  — I have no idea what you're talking about, Princess, the young boy simply replied.

  Nahira then burst into giggles.

  — Oh, Princess Sylaria, you’re exaggerating, Arimélia sighed, shaking her head, clearly exasperated.

  — Well, we saw you both leave the Academy together after classes. There’s definitely something to wonder about, isn’t there? the princess retorted, looking amused.

  Loyd, looking intrigued, turned his gaze to his Nephilim friend.

  — So? he asked curiously.

  — What? She just dragged me out of the Academy to train magic and hand-to-hand combat, Elwyn calmly defended himself.

  Loyd raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest.

  — Training, huh? he said in a skeptical tone.

  — You can ask Nahira if you want, Elwyn shrugged.

  The girl raised her hands, feigning innocence.

  — Oh, I confirm! He sweat like never before, especially when I made him dodge my spells at point-blank range.

  — Is that supposed to defend me?

  Nahira gave him a mischievous smile.

  — Absolutely not.

  — Well, you must be pretty tired after all that, Loyd concluded.

  — Exactly, I was hoping for a bit of peace... Elwyn added.

  Sylaria didn’t see it that way and approached with a mischievous smile.

  — Wait, wait... You mean Nahira dragged you outside, you fought, and you didn’t even retaliate with your Entity powers?

  — It was training, not a death match, Elwyn clarified.

  Nahira crossed her arms and nodded.

  — He wanted to give me a chance, you know?

  — How chivalrous, Sylaria mocked.

  Arimélia quietly rolled her eyes, clearly tired of the discussion.

  — Anyway, there’s definitely something more interesting behind all this, Loyd added.

  — Sorry to disappoint you, Loyd, but no, Elwyn replied.

  — Wait, wait! Maybe nothing happened today... But who knows what’ll happen next time?

  She accompanied her sentence with a knowing wink.

  Elwyn shook his head, preferring not to answer, while Nahira, amused, stretched nonchalantly.

  — We’ll see, she simply said with an enigmatic smile.

  Once dinner was over, everyone went to bed, except Elwyn and Nahira, who returned to the Grand Library.

  Once they were settled there, a scarlet cat leaped onto the table where the two young people sat. Having come from the Ethereal Plane, the animal with glowing eyes stared at Elwyn with a piercing gaze, as if it were assessing the boy before fulfilling its mission.

  — An ethereal messenger! Nahira exclaimed, her eyes shining with interest.

  Elwyn didn’t have time to react. Barely had the feline landed when it transformed into a swirl of scarlet smoke, swirling for a few moments before dissipating into the air. In its place, a message appeared on the table, written in a familiar fine script.

  Congratulations, Elwyn!

  You’ve successfully sent your ethereal messenger to your home. Thanks to this, you can finally write to us and send us your news. We can’t wait to hear from you.

  We are very proud of you. Keep it up, but don’t overdo it. Take care of yourself.

  We all miss you.

  Ophélia, Volden, and Le?na

  Elwyn felt a certain relief after reading these lines and let out a soft sigh before lifting his eyes toward Nahira.

  — I finally did it.

  Nahira blinked, taking a moment to process what the young boy had just said.

  — You managed to send your messenger home? she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

  — Yes, that’s right.

  Without warning, the young girl grabbed Elwyn’s hands and gazed into his eyes, a sincere smile lighting up her face.

  — Congratulations, I knew you could do it.

  — Thank you, he replied absentmindedly, still a little surprised by her enthusiasm.

  He briefly lowered his gaze to their intertwined hands before looking back at Nahira, intrigued by her spontaneous reaction. Realizing the situation, she gently released the young boy’s hands. A brief, slightly awkward silence fell between them.

  — Sorry… she murmured.

  — It’s alright.

  Nahira quickly turned her gaze away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as if that simple gesture could dispel the awkwardness. Elwyn, meanwhile, shrugged slightly before focusing his attention back on the message left by the ethereal messenger. His fingers brushed over the familiar handwriting.

  — It’s been a while since I’ve heard from them, he said in a calmer voice.

  Nahira, now more at ease, gave him a sincere smile.

  — So, are you going to reply right away?

  Elwyn simply nodded.

  — Before bed. I already have some letters ready to send, he replied while carefully folding the message and tucking it into the inner pocket of his jacket.

  The young girl stretched and glanced toward the vast shelves full of books.

  — In that case, how about a little reading? I’ve spotted books listing a variety of magical objects, and I’m sure that would interest you.

  — And you dare call that “a little reading”? You should say you want to dream while making a list of overpriced items.

  Nahira shrugged, amused, before leading him between the aisles of the library. Their footsteps echoed softly on the floor as they wandered between the shelves, leaving behind the table where, only minutes ago, a simple message had rekindled a precious bond.

  Outside, night slowly settled in, wrapping the Grand Library in its starry cloak. And somewhere, far beyond these walls, a family would soon know that Elwyn was doing well.

  _________________________

  And so, a whole new routine began with Nahira’s arrival in the group. While her integration had happened somewhat naturally, she had, without even realizing it, transformed the daily lives of everyone.

  The young girl had taken the habit of staying up late with Elwyn in the Grand Library. Together, they shared long hours between reading, sometimes animated discussions, or simple companionable silences, lulled by the scratching of quills on paper and the soft crackling of magical lanterns. This silent ritual, born almost by accident, had become a quiet moment they both seemed to enjoy, far from the day’s hustle and bustle.

  As a result, Nahira slept in later in the morning, often until the Academy’s hallways were already bustling with activity. Elwyn, on the other hand, simply adapted. Needing only five hours of sleep to be fully operational, he continued his routine with ease. He had just taken the habit of setting aside food for her.

  Her arrival had also brought a certain balance to the rest of the group. Princess Sylaria, eager to progress both in magic and standard classes, found in Nahira a training partner who was serious, patient, and demanding. With her, Sylaria discovered a more direct and demanding approach, one that forced her to question herself. She even found herself wondering, not without amusement, if Nahira wasn’t just a more feminine and somewhat more human version of Elwyn.

  This new dynamic had freed Arimélia from her role as a companion, allowing her to enjoy some afternoons for herself.

  As for Loyd, more pragmatic, he had agreed to train with Nahira from time to time. Their atypical duo worked surprisingly well, as Loyd's methodical precision contrasted perfectly with Nahira's feline instincts. Through her contact, he learned to better control the surrounding ether to neutralize spells in the middle of combat. He didn't necessarily admit it out loud, but these sessions were, nonetheless, particularly beneficial to him.

  Thus, without upsetting the balance, Nahira had found her place, bringing with her a breath of fresh air. And while each had maintained their usual routines, a discreet, sometimes imperceptible complicity had begun to forge bonds between them stronger than either of them had imagined.