Chapter 77
Elena’s eyes widened.
She’d just said goodnight to Lexion, and now his face was leaning in close.
Without thinking, Elena just blinked.
Then, soon after, she closed her eyes.
Lexion came closer to her lips.
But when he noticed Elena had closed her eyes, he stopped.
Her willingness to accept him instead of pushing him away stirred his heart.
It took him a moment to get a grip on himself.
Chu—
His lips touched her forehead and then pulled away.
If he kissed her on the lips right now, he felt like he wouldn’t be able to stop.
He just held her in his arms, barely holding back the urge to not let her go.
“Sweet dreams.”
When she heard Lexion’s voice, Elena opened her eyes.
Lexion left with a beautiful smile, leaving her mortified.
‘I thought we were going to kiss…’
She licked her lips and went blankly into her room.
*****
The next day, morning.
Elena returned to the Magic Tower.
But before her return, she and Lexion ate breakfast and pretended as if nothing amiss happened last night.
She changed in her quarters and exited the West Tower.
Elena was heading to the East Tower.
There was someone she had to meet.
Entering the East Tower, she went straight to the wizard in the reception hall.
In each tower, the wizard in charge of the hall was also assisting the Tower Lord.
As she approached, the wizard stepped forward.
“Elena! May I help you?”
“Is Jacob here by any chance?”
“Well, this is troubling. He’s out of town at the behest of the Archmage, and he won’t be back for a while.”
Elena internally sighed.
“Okay. Thank you.”
Elena immediately left the tower.
‘Jacob is out of town.’
It was very unfortunate.
Based on Sera’s appearance and the type of tea Roen gave her.
She had a feeling Jacob was Sera’s father and Roen’s lover.
“Hmm….”
However, seeing that he was moving under the orders of the Archmage, it seemed that an important task had been given to him.
‘It can’t be helped. I’ll have to meet him later.’
Even if she met Jacob at this moment, she wouldn’t even know what to say anyway.
She just visited to ascertain her speculation.
‘… Am I being too harsh?’
Elena made a grunting, painful sound.
*****
The vacation was over, but Elena had nothing to do.
She could do research, but it didn’t appeal to her.
So she went to see Jeremy and asked if there was anything she could do to help, but Jeremy said it was fine and she should get some rest.
This meant that her vacation was forcibly extended.
‘I’ve never unwind like this before. I don’t know what to do.’
Contemplating, Elena rummaged through her pockets and pulled out her robe.
‘I could play with Sera to change my mood.’
She planned to spend an exciting day with her cute little friend.
Wearing a robe, Elena entered one of the portals in the tower, which was close to the slum.
The portal in the Halos was actually the closest, but she didn’t want to disturb Lexion.
She already took his time yesterday, so she didn’t intend to do that again today.
After crossing the portal, the Imperial Capital shopping district appeared.
Elena smiled brightly and walked while looking at the merchants doing business.
‘Should I buy a present for Sera?’
She bought a variety of candies and one of the most popular toys in the capital.
Smiling cheerfully, she headed to the slum.
Winter was coming, but the sun was still warm so it wasn’t that freezing.
Still, Elena tucked her robe close to her and entered the alley.
But at the end of the alley, someone appeared.
Like Elena, they were wearing a robe, so it was not easy to recognize who it was.
‘What are they doing?’
Elena stared intently at the person who was just standing at the end of the alley.
Were they waiting for someone? Or were they there for business?
However, the robe-clad person remained motionless.
And when the distance between them was only a few meters.
The unmoving, mysterious person took off the hood of their robe.
At the same time, Elena’s eyes widened.
Her lashes fluttered.
“It’s been a while, Elena.”
The person who waved at her in greeting was a familiar face.
Her impression of him had a subtle change, but she was certain.
“… Killian?”
The handsome man with bright golden hair and blue eyes.
But the surrounding aura on him was completely different from when he was young.
As a kid, his image was closer to the brilliance of the sun. But now, she only felt impending danger.
He was still beautiful, but she felt like he was a different person.
“How have you been?”
Killian smiled as he took a step closer to her.
Elena was instantly wary of him.
She has heard several times about Killian’s whereabouts since he was banished from Halos.
‘I heard that you have left the Empire. Why did you come back?’
Seeing the wariness in her eyes, Killian mocked.
“What’s the matter? It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. We need to get rid of the misunderstanding.”
“There’s nothing between us.”
Although Elena was wary of Killian, she didn’t back down.
She didn’t know what Killian would do if she showed any weakness.
“You’ve changed a lot, haven’t you? The words are getting shorter.”
Killian chuckled and narrowed his eyes.
“You’re still pretty. I guess Lexion is doing a good job?”
“I don’t think it’s your business.”
“Why? Lexion is my younger brother. Even if I am no longer a Halos, blood can’t be ignored.”
“You’re still you. You’re still the same.”
Elena laughed openly at Killian.
Killian’s lips hardened into a line.
“You’re the same, too. You think I’m terrible and still look at me with contempt. It’s the same as back then.”
As if the remaining space had disappeared, Killian bit his lips.
“If it weren’t for you, Halos would have been mine.”
Killian’s resentment towards her was pouring out.
She had also expected that he would resent her.
Since she purposely chased him away.
Elena clenched her hand into a fist.
A corner of Killian’s lips twitched.
“Well. It doesn’t matter now. Thanks to you, I gained power.”
“What…?”
It was the moment Elena was about to say something when Killian disappeared from her sight.
And then she felt a stirring to her right.
Elena momentarily turned around and blocked it with her right arm.
Chaeeng-!
Killian’s fist, surrounded by dark purple energy, was blocked by a barrier that suddenly appeared.
“You jerk…!”
Elena swore as she stopped Killian’s attack.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Killian’s barrage of attacks was continuously blocked by the barrier.
“Hah.”
Killian caught his breath and stood across from Elena.
“I’m just warming up, you know, so don’t underestimate me.”
Killian shrugged and spoke.
Elena, on the other hand, glared at him fiercely.
“… You. If you want to fight me like that, change the location.”
Elena expressed, gritting her teeth.
She didn’t want to fight in a village where people live.
Moreover, the purple energy that enclosed Killian’s arm was unusual.
It was highly likely that the villagers would be affected by their fight.
Even as she spoke, Killian turned a deaf ear to it.
“No. I picked this place on purpose. Why should I move?”
“You chose it on purpose…?”
“Yes. I deliberately chose this place so you, who cares about other people, would feel troubled.”
Killian grinned and stretched his hand forward.
It was then.
“Move away, Lady!”
Two men appeared in front of Elena, shielding her.
The men were wearing robes and had swords with them. The seal of Halos was engraved on their swords.
Elena immediately understood.
‘Lexion knew that Killian is here.’
The men standing before her would be Lexion’s knights.
‘They must have been following Killian.’
If they were Lexion’s men, she could trust them.
“Run away!”
Although it was the first time they met, they still tried to protect Elena.
They were Lexion’s men, so they must be formidable.
But why?
Her feet couldn’t move.
The purple energy slithering in Killian’s hand felt like magic.
“That seal. Are you from Halos?”
Killian grinned as he questioned them.
“Then you shouldn’t point your sword at me. After all, I have the Halos blood in me.”
“Don’t insult the Halos!”
One of the subordinates drew his sword.
At that moment, purple magical energy erupted from Killian’s hand.
“Avoid it!”
Elena shouted at them.
But before the men could dodge, the vicious energy arrived first.
A sharp spear struck the men.
“Ugh-!”
They let out a painful moan, even though it had only brushed against their arm.
Soon, the men’s complexions turned white, and they collapsed.
Elena immediately checked their conditions.
Fortunately, they were still breathing.
But sadly, their state wasn’t good. They seemed to have been poisoned.
She had to move them right away.
But Killian obstructed her.
“A dog that bites its owner must die. Right?”
