Chapter 260: Ch260: Join?

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Name: Garick Falken

Age: 41

HP: 4100/4100

Mana: 5300/5300

Description: Garick is an assistant tutor at the Royal Academy and also works under Alexandre. He only comes for the night training sessions, earning extra income to support his family.

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Daniel glanced at Mr. Giraffe before turning his gaze back to Harley. "Lie? Why would I?" he replied.

Harley gave him a sideways glance as they walked. His eyes shifted toward Garick for a moment before returning to Daniel.

A question kept nagging at the back of his mind.

’How did he even manage to defeat them? Tch, this guy is hiding something. I’ve got to find out.’

Soon, the familiar house came into view.

The warm lantern light from the windows spilled across the path, and the quiet surroundings felt completely different from the noisy battle arena.

Garick stopped at the entrance. "I’ll be heading home now," he said before turning around and walking away.

Daniel and Harley entered the house.

*Thud*

"I’m home," Harley announced as he kicked off his shoes.

Before Daniel could take another step, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway. Harley’s younger sister came running toward them, her small footsteps quick and light.

Alice followed close behind, trying to keep up.

"Brother Daniel!" The girl rushed straight toward him and stopped in front of him, holding something tightly in both hands. "Look! I made this. How is it?" she asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

Daniel lowered his gaze toward what she was holding. Her handcrafted doll.

A warm smile appeared on his face. "It looks beautiful."

The girl’s face instantly brightened. "Really?"

She hopped happily on the spot, clutching her little creation against her chest. She giggled before turning around and running back down the hallway.

Daniel watched her disappear around the corner, the smile still lingering on his face.

"You’re weird, you know that?" Harley said, standing beside him.

"Excuse me?" Daniel raised an eyebrow.

"Even though you’re grown up. Sorry, I mean a grown-up kid, you still play with dolls?" Harley asked, his face twisting into a puzzled expression.

Daniel only smiled before turning his gaze toward the guest room.

*Sigh~*

The moment he stepped inside, he closed the door and locked it from within.

*Click*

He checked the window. Locked. Then he checked the door again. Everything was secure. But there was one problem—

"The smoke... Hmm. What if I do it first, then open the window?" Daniel murmured, tapping a finger against his chin.

Without wasting time, he grabbed a few pieces of clothing and stuffed them tightly beneath the door.

’That should keep the smoke from getting into the hallway.’

Daniel reached into his Veil’s pouch and pulled out one of the dolls along with a strand of Floryn’s hair. He placed the doll on the floor and picked up the small stone he had collected from the battlefield.

Using its edge, he carefully drew a ritual diagram around the doll.

"Veiliquandè mikora jim bos ariqueisà."

The moment the chant left his lips, the grains of sand scattered across the floor began to tremble. One grain moved. Then another. Soon, tiny grains began sliding toward the ritual diagram, gathering along its lines and slowly filling the pattern.

A few collected at the corners. Others crawled toward the window, slipping through the narrow gaps. Within moments, the sand had formed a small mound around the doll.

Once it took shape, thin black smoke began oozing from the mound. It curled upward in twisting strands, filling the room with a faint burnt smell.

Slowly, the black smoke faded into grey before turning white.

Daniel watched carefully. The smoke remained trapped inside the room. He waited for a sand hand to rise from the mound and lift the doll.

But instead, the doll slowly floated into the air on its own.

’What?’ Daniel’s eyes narrowed as he reached out and grabbed it.

The moment his fingers closed around the doll, the sand mound collapsed. Grain by grain, the sand began returning to its original positions, scattering across the floor until the ritual diagram was almost impossible to see.

Only then did Daniel slowly push the window open.

*Creaaak...*

He froze.

Floryn was standing outside, her arms full of wet clothes. A rope stretched between two poles nearby, covered with freshly washed clothes swaying gently in the cool night breeze.

She had been hanging them when she noticed the smoke coming from his room.

For a moment, she simply stared at him.

"What’s that smoke?" Floryn asked, stepping closer.

But halfway toward him, her eyes met Daniel’s. Something warm suddenly spread through her body.

Her expression softened, and her steps became slower.

Daniel felt his heart skip. ’Damn it. What should I say?’

His eyes flicked toward the smoke still lingering inside the room. It was no longer thick, but a thin layer still hung in the air.

Then an idea came to him.

"I was testing a new spell," Daniel said, forcing a casual smile. "I didn’t expect it to produce so much smoke."

’What is this feeling...? He looks so hot.’

Floryn tried to steady her thoughts, but the strange warmth spreading through her body refused to fade.

"A spell, you say," she murmured, her gaze moving over him. "Is that dust on your arms and tunic?"

Daniel followed her gaze and glanced at his shoulder. "Oh, this? It’s nothing. Just from the training."

"You should wash yourself, young man. All that dirt and sweat will make your skin itch," she said, stepping closer.

Too close — close enough that Daniel could feel her breath against his chest.

Daniel stiffened slightly.

’Why am I feeling so nervous around him? Why do I want to kiss him so badly...? Argh! Stop it!’ Floryn clenched her fingers lightly at her side, forcing herself to remain calm.

’Why can’t I get that thought out of my head?’

She lifted her eyes toward Daniel and forced a calm smile, hiding the thoughts racing through her mind.

Just then, Daniel leaned closer, his face only inches from her ear, and his warm breath brushed against her skin. "Lady Floryn," he murmured, voice low, "would you like to join me, then?"