Chapter 17: Aelin Greenleaf

"Next time, learn to read the situation, you idiot!"

Magnus stood in the middle of his room with both hands on his hips, scolding Haruki and Philip.

"Ugh, I’ll be more careful next time," Haruki muttered, though his expression clearly showed his dissatisfaction.

Haruki then accidentally glanced to his right, toward Philip’s bed, only to find Philip making fun of him.

"Serves you right, Haruki~"

"Damn you, Philip."

The moment Magnus noticed Philip mocking Haruki, he immediately smacked Philip hard on the head.

"And you! Where the hell have you been all this time, huh?!"

"Ow, ow! I was just looking for other nobles to duel."

"Are you kidding me, you damn idiot?!"

Magnus let out an incredulous sigh at their ridiculous behavior. Behind him, Vila remained silent, letting out a small laugh.

Magnus then continued the conversation, informing Haruki and Philip that they were both suspended from attending regular classes for two weeks.

"What?! Two weeks?!" Haruki exclaimed in disbelief. He could already imagine how bored he would be during those two weeks.

"Two weeks?! Hooray!!"

Philip, on the other hand, immediately jumped for joy upon hearing the news.

Everyone turned to stare at the delighted Philip with blank expressions.

"I knew this idiot would be happy about it," Magnus muttered.

"I haven’t finished speaking yet, Philip."

Magnus continued his explanation, informing Haruki and Philip that they would also have to attend special classes.

The moment he heard that, Philip’s cheerful expression crumbled.

"Argh!! Damn it!"

Haruki said nothing, seemingly accepting the school’s punishment for all the trouble he had caused.

"When do the classes start?" Haruki asked Magnus.

"Stop! Don’t talk about those classes anymore! Argh!" Philip shouted.

Having finally reached his limit with Philip’s behavior, Magnus clenched his fist and swiftly punched Philip in the stomach, causing him to collapse while clutching his abdomen.

"Ugh... T-this is the s-second time I’ve been hit..."

Magnus let out another sigh before continuing his conversation with Haruki.

"I don’t know the details. Maybe Teacher Lukas will arrange everything."

"Alright, then. I’ll be heading back to my room. Good luck with those special classes~"

Magnus walked toward the door, grabbed the handle, pulled it open, and stepped outside before slamming it shut behind him.

"Lukas and Magnus are really worried about us..." Haruki remarked.

"Ugh... I-I think I’m going to die any second now..."

"Stop being so dramatic, Philip."

Vila, who was still in the room, approached Philip and knelt beside him as if she were about to do something.

She then extended both hands toward Philip’s stomach. A green light began to emanate from her palms.

It was Vila’s healing magic.

Philip was startled by what she was doing, but the pain inflicted by Lukas and Magnus disappeared in an instant.

"Huh? The pain is gone?"

"Healing magic? You’re the best, Vila!"

Vila rose to her feet and bid farewell to Haruki and Philip. She then headed toward the door, waving at Haruki before closing it behind her.

Vila made her way toward the girls’ dormitory, feeling rather awkward about staying in Haruki and Philip’s room any longer.

Upon arriving at the girls’ dormitory, she headed straight to her room. When she reached the door, she slowly opened it.

And then, she saw a woman sitting inside.

The woman had short purple hair, red eyes, and wore what appeared to be expensive clothing. She was the same woman who had been at the palace earlier, holding a glass of wine.

"W-who are you?!"

Vila grabbed a broom nearby, preparing to defend herself against the woman.

The woman, who had been sitting in Vila’s study chair, turned toward her with a smile.

In the blink of an eye, the woman’s face was right in front of Vila’s.

She had also grabbed the broom Vila was holding, effortlessly preventing her from attacking.

"My, my. You’re quite beautiful~"

The woman stepped back and explained that she was one of the teachers at the academy and a close acquaintance of Teacher Lukas.

Vila, who had initially been ready to attack, immediately dropped the broom onto the floor.

"You’re Haruki’s friend, aren’t you?"

"Y-yes. Why do you ask?"

The woman smiled and shook her head.

"It’s nothing. I was just curious."

She then turned and began walking toward the door. Just as she was about to leave, she turned back to Vila and introduced herself.

"My name is Aelin. Aelin Greenleaf."

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Vila Marshy~"

The door slowly closed, leaving Vila standing motionless in her room, unable to believe what she had just experienced.

Meanwhile, Aelin continued walking down the dormitory corridor, still wearing a smile.

"Haruki... I have a feeling that he’s quite talented."

The sun began to set, and darkness gradually enveloped the academy.

Back in the boys’ dormitory, Haruki and Philip’s room had become noisy once again, with Philip blaming Haruki for everything.

"This is all your fault, Haruki! Now we have to attend those special classes!"

Magnus, who was in the adjacent room, had no idea how to deal with the two of them. In the end, he simply covered his ears with his books.

Haruki had finally had enough of Philip’s constant complaints.

"Shut up! Then why did you help me in the first place?!"

"Ah, well... about that..."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Philip then sat cross-legged on his bed, folding his arms across his chest.

"Look at that. You finally shut up."

Haruki sighed before asking Philip something.

"When will the other students return to the dormitory?"

"Oh, they’ll all be back tonight."

"Why? Are you afraid to go to the bathroom alone~?"

Haruki gritted his teeth, fed up with being teased by Philip.He got out of bed and stepped outside for a breath of fresh air.

[ARCANE]

"Huh? This notification again. What are you trying to tell me?"

Haruki closed the system window and gazed intently at the moon and stars shining above the academy’s rear field.

[SOMEONE IS WATCHING YOU]

"Hmm?"

"Who’s there?!"

Haruki quickly turned around.

At that very moment, a surprise attack erupted from beneath the ground, forcing him to leap backward to avoid it.

"Who are you?"

A mysterious figure emerged before Haruki.

The figure stepped forward, and only when she finally entered the moonlight could Haruki clearly see the woman standing before him.

She had purple hair.

"My name is Aelin Greenleaf. It’s a pleasure to meet you... Haruki~".