Chapter 349: The Grand Hall Dinner (3)

[Silvena’s POV]

From Silvena’s side of the table, the Grand Magisterial Hall was far livelier now, with first-year scholars gathered around their assigned tables while instructors steadily occupied the upper galleries.

Her roving gaze drifted across the hall almost absently, passing over one squad after another until it finally settled near the opposite side of the banquet floor — at Squad 69’s table.

However, one seat among them remained conspicuously vacant when it should not have been.

’Huh, he’s not here yet?’

Silvena rested her chin against the back of her hand, her eyes questioning.

’I wonder why?’

Then, she looked away.

The hall remained clamorous around her, saturated with overlapping voices and scattered bursts of laughter.

Discussion about the test still drifted from several tables, though much of the scholars’ attention had already gravitated toward the shrouded buffet stations.

Silvena could hardly fault them.

After everything they had endured, she was fairly certain half the scholars in the hall cared more about getting some real food into their stomachs than the award ceremony.

Then, the lights around the ceremonial platform brightened slightly.

One conversation after another began to die down as a member of the academy staff stepped onto the raised platform.

A small artifact crystal embedded near the front of the platform flickered with a pale blue glow as the host came to a stop beside it.

Eventually, he began to speak.

"First of all, congratulations to every scholar present for completing this year’s Vazrun Island Test."

The host’s voice carried cleanly throughout the enormous hall, reaching both the banquet floor below and the upper galleries without the slightest strain.

"As all of you are already aware, this year’s examination had to be brought to an early conclusion due to circumstances the academy could not have anticipated. Even so, all results recorded before the examination was terminated remain valid, and tonight’s ceremony will proceed according to those standings."

The host then offered a small smile.

"However, before we begin, the academy has prepared dinner for every scholar and faculty member present. The buffet stations are now open, so you are free to enjoy the meal and move throughout the lower banquet floor until the ceremony formally begins."

For a moment, most of the scholars remained hesitant, as though unsure whether they were actually allowed to leave their seats.

"Well? Go on, then. That food isn’t there for decoration. Enjoy."

Only after the host reassured them did chairs begin scraping back as they rose and headed for the buffet stations.

*****

By then, Silvena was already standing before one of the newly unveiled buffet stations, looking over the selection of food with interest.

Several long tables draped in pristine white cloth stretched before her, holding an impressive assortment of dishes: roasted meats glazed in fragrant sauces, freshly baked bread still radiating warmth, delicately arranged seafood, and bowls of vibrant vegetables seasoned with herbs and butter.

Even the desserts occupied an entire section of their own, ranging from fruit tarts and cream-filled pastries to miniature cakes topped with delicate flakes of gold.

Having grown up surrounded by wealth, Silvena was hardly unfamiliar with fancy meals.

She had dined at some of the finest establishments across the kingdom and attended banquets hosted by nobles whose tables were entrusted to renowned chefs.

Even so, the variety before her was impressive, especially considering that the academy had prepared enough to accommodate several hundred people at once.

’Mhm~ They’ve certainly outdone themselves.’

She nodded slowly as she reached for one of the porcelain plates stacked neatly at the edge of the station.

’Well, I suppose this is where all those academy fees went. So feeding us properly is the least they could do.’

Her gaze wandered briefly among the dishes before settling upon a platter of herb-crusted rack of lamb served with a rich red wine sauce — one of her longtime favourites. With a pleased little smile, Silvena placed two tender cuts onto her plate.

Humming softly to herself, Silvena moved toward the next display. It was then that she noticed a familiar figure standing at the far end of the buffet table.

Irene was there, her brown hair gathered into a neat braided bun rather than its usual style. There was no mistaking her — even though she turned away the instant their eyes met, almost as if she intended to disappear into the crowd.

’Huh? Why is she avoiding me?’

Silvena chased after her, but before she could catch up, Irene abruptly turned around to face her.

"L-Lady Silvena," she greeted, bowing respectfully. "I hope you are enjoying the banquet."

Her face remained as stoic as ever, but the faint redness creeping across her ears betrayed her embarrassment.

Silvena blinked before noticing a small crumb clinging to Irene’s cheek. Her eyes then drifted toward the half-eaten pastry Irene was discreetly concealing beside her plate.

’Ah~ So that’s why...’

Irene had been eating while standing directly beside the buffet table, and Silvena had caught her in the act. It was hardly proper conduct for a lady, much less someone who so frequently lectured Silvena about her own manners.

’Goodness, this woman. She can lecture me all day, yet look at her now.’

A playful smile gradually spread across Silvena’s face as she stepped closer.

Without saying a word, she gently brushed the crumb from Irene’s cheek with her thumb. She then brought it to her lips and tasted it, much to Irene’s growing alarm.

"Hmm... honey-glazed brioche," Silvena declared aloud. "So this is what you were secretly eating."

Irene’s stoic expression finally cracked as her cheeks turned a vivid shade of red.

"P-Please forget what you just witnessed, my lady," Irene murmured, attempting to regain her usual composure.

"Forget what?" Silvena tilted her head innocently. "That my ever-proper Irene was secretly eating beside the buffet table?"

"I was merely sampling it, my lady," Irene replied, straightening her posture.

"Ho~" Silvena’s smile widened. "And turning away from me was part of the sampling process?"

"I did not..."

Silvena leaned closer, studying her face.

"Hmm~ then why are your ears so red?"

"No, they are not," Irene insisted, sulking.

Silvena let out a soft giggle.

"Alright, alright. Don’t be mad, I’m just kidding. Still, how was the brioche?"

Irene fell silent for a moment before glancing at the half-eaten pastry in her hand.

"...It was exceptionally good."

"Good eh?"

Silvena nodded with an approving smile.

"You always go for the brioche first... I think you should try the other pastries as well. There are so many different kinds here, and it would be a shame if you only tasted one."

She gestured toward the rest of the display.

"Besides, no one will judge you for indulging yourself tonight," Silvena continued cheerfully. "So you might as well enjoy as much as you can while the academy is paying for everything."

"Speaking of that..."

Irene quietly raised one hand and pointed toward another young woman standing near the pastry section.

Silvena followed her finger and immediately spotted Calyra staring blankly at the selection before her.

Her plate was still completely empty, and judging by her grave expression, she was struggling to choose.

A soft chuckle escaped Silvena.

"Ah, yes. Especially her... she definitely needs our help."

*****

[Calyra’s POV]

Calyra had always had a soft spot for sweets.

Ever since she was little, she had never been particularly good at resisting them. Cakes, pastries, candied fruits, custards, anything rich with sugar could easily steal her attention, though there had always been one dessert she favored above everything else — Mille-feuille.

Layers of impossibly thin, crisp pastry stacked between smooth vanilla cream, usually finished with powdered sugar and fresh berries.

Whenever it was made properly by a skilled confectioner, Calyra could finish an entire serving almost easily.

Her eyes moved slowly across the pastry display before her, lingering over one dessert after another. There were simply too many choices, and every time she thought she had finally settled on one, something else inevitably caught her attention.

But sweets had never been merely food to Calyra.

Some of her most cherished memories were tied to them.

Without realizing it, her gaze softened.

She suddenly remembered the afternoons she used to spend with her master after training.

Whenever their lessons ended early enough, her master would occasionally bring her to one of the quieter tea houses in the capital, where they would sit together for afternoon tea.

Her master had been just as fond of sweets as she was, although she would always insist that she merely enjoyed them "in moderation."

Calyra had never believed that excuse.

There were even times when her master had to travel beyond the capital for academy matters, expeditions, or assignments entrusted to her by the guild. Yet no matter how distant the destination was, she would almost always return carrying some kind of confection from wherever she had gone.

Sometimes, she would simply place the box in front of Calyra without saying anything, acting as though it were nothing particularly important.

Yet Calyra had always known better.

Just remembering the treasured memories caused the corners of her lips to rise before she even noticed.

’Master really did spoil me back then...’

Suddenly, another memory resurfaced.

Calyra’s smile faltered.

For the briefest instant, the quiet tea house in her recollection seemed to blur, its familiar scenery giving way to something else entirely.

There was another person.

Someone sitting across from her, their faces were blurred. She could not see them clearly, nor could she remember where they were, but somehow she knew they had been sharing sweets together.

There was laughter, the faint clink of silverware against porcelain, and the warm sweetness of cream lingering on her tongue.

It felt very warm and familiar.

Yet Calyra could not remember any of it.

’Who was that person...?’

Before she could grasp the memory properly, it shattered.

The image vanished so abruptly that Calyra froze where she stood, her thoughts turning strangely blank for several seconds. Even the pastry display before her seemed distant, as though she had momentarily forgotten why she was standing there in the first place.

Then came the pain.

"Ugh..."

A dull throb pulsed behind her forehead.

Calyra raised her hand and pressed her fingers against her temple, her brows drawing together as she tried to steady herself.

But the headache was not what unsettled her most.

Something else had accompanied that fleeting memory.

Grief.

A deep, inexplicable grief that tightened painfully around her heart. And beneath it was something even stranger.

Guilt.

It struck her with such intensity that her chest ached, yet she had absolutely no idea what she was grieving or what she was supposed to feel guilty about.

Calyra stared blankly ahead.

’Why do I feel like...’

Like she had forgotten someone.

Someone very important to her.

But the thought itself was already slipping away.

The harder she tried to hold onto that strange recollection, the more indistinct it became, until even the presence of that unknown person began disappearing from her mind.

Calyra blinked several times.

"...What was that?" she quietly murmured.

Poke.

Something suddenly pressed against her cheek.

Calyra jolted slightly.

"Having trouble picking a dessert?"

A familiar, teasing voice reached her from beside her.

"You know, I never thought you’d be this picky about sweets. The Calyra I know would’ve just gobbled down half this table by now."

Calyra turned toward the source of the voice.

Standing beside her was Silvena, wearing an amused smile while Irene remained a short distance behind her with a plate in hand.

The strange heaviness clouding Calyra’s thoughts loosened slightly.

"Oh. It’s just you," she said aloofly.

Silvena placed a hand against her chest with exaggerated elegance. "Indeed. It’s just me. Your one and only, incomparably beautiful childhood friend, Silvena D’Elvoire."

Calyra blankly stared at her.

"Did you really have to introduce yourself?"

"Why of course."

Silvena smiled shamelessly before leaning a little closer.

"But anyway..."

Her playful expression softened as her eyes lingered on Calyra’s face.

"You looked like you were having quite the crisis over here."

She tilted her head.

"You good?"

──────── ✦ ────────

[Chapter 349: The Grand Hall Dinner (3)]

Plot Points = 282,000