Chapter 60

Chapter 60

As Sienna buried her face in her hands, one of the men hastily interjected, “Oh, you’re a professor? Delighted to meet you. I’m Silber Cosain. My father is a public official in Creyas. Forgive my boldness, but I was instantly enamored upon seeing you. May I have the honor of escorting you?”

Sirone and his friends exchanged incredulous glances.

That’s the worst introduction ever. And does he think that line actually works? Sirone thought, but then again, in the circles of nobility, such forwardness might not be unusual.

Sienna sat quietly, her forehead resting in her hands, but a heavy sigh escaped from her lips. Outwardly, she maintained her composure, but inwardly, her emotions were in turmoil. Keira’s piercing gaze haunted her thoughts, causing her heart to sink further.

I’m certain she finds me repulsive. I shouldn’t have gone to see him. Why did I even reach out in the first place?

When she saw Armin with Keira, she didn’t feel a sense of betrayal. Instead, it stirred within her an unexpected expectation. It was a curiosity about what might have transpired if the two had met again under different circumstances. Her heart pounded with a mix of regret and longing, and the desire to turn back time filled her with relentless emotions.

Could this be love? After so long... and after everything that’s happened...? I haven’t felt this yearning for anyone since that incident.

Silber, misinterpreting her silence, pressed on. “Ah, perhaps my approach was too forward. I apologize. I simply couldn’t resist the chance to impress such a captivating woman. Forgive my impudence.”

Sienna lifted her head, her voice weary, “It’s okay. I’m just tired. Please leave me be.”

Naturally, for a mind as disciplined as that of a certified level-six mage, shaking off the effects of alcohol wasn’t a daunting task. However, at that moment, Sienna found herself needing the surreal drowsiness that only alcohol could provide. She yearned to forget everything. If possible, she would have drowned all her memories in an ocean of liquor.

“Ugh.”

As she swayed, Silber reached out to steady her. “It’s not chivalrous to leave a lady alone in this state. Let me assist you to your carriage.”

Nade glared at him. “Back off! She didn’t ask for your help.”

Silber seemed unperturbed. “You misunderstand. I’m offering my assistance. You children should go on ahead. I’ll arrange for her carriage.”

Despite Nade’s protest, Silber moved to help Sienna up, but Sirone quickly intervened, seizing his wrist.

In the urgency of the situation, being restrained by a young student visibly irked Silber, his face contorting in annoyance. For Sirone, it was also the quickest way to handle the situation.

“Unhand me! Who taught you it’s acceptable to grab an adult like this? Let go of me while I’m asking nicely.”

Sirone stood firm. “She said she doesn’t need your help, so please leave. We’ll take care of her.”

“You’re mocking me, aren’t you? You kids are the ones who intoxicated her. Which school are you from? Perhaps I should see to your expulsion.”

Iruki snorted. “Careful now. As the offspring of a public official, shouldn’t you know how to behave a bit better? Who do you think will suffer more if this escalates?”

Silber’s face flushed with rage. “Offspring? Did you just say call me an ‘offspring?’”

“What else should I address you as? ‘Son of an official?’ Does that tickle your fancy?” Iruki retorted.

“You insolent brat!” In a drunken fury, Silber, reeking of alcohol, lunged at Iruki, grabbing his collar. But a sudden, sharp jolt to his side caused him to release his grip, gasping for air and stumbling backward. “Wh-what?”

Nade stood, a spark of electricity crackling in his hand. “Don’t cross the line. We’ve been lenient because we’re outside of school, but if you’re looking for trouble, we can take it elsewhere.”

Recognizing the situation, Silber’s companion spoke up. “Hey, those kids... They’re from a magic school.”

“Magic school? Alpheas School of Magic?” Silber’s face soured.

Alpheas School of Magic wasn’t just any noble school. It was among the top five prestigious institutions in the kingdom, a haven for the highest echelons of nobility. Great, just my luck. Of all places, it’s Alpheas. Even my father’s influence pales in comparison to its prestige.

Watching Silber process the information, Iruki chuckled and approached. “You were talking about expelling us?”

“No, I didn’t mean—”

“I’m Iruki Mercodyne. Do what you must, but if you have an issue with me, come to the school.”

“M-Mercodyne...” Silber sobered up instantly.

In the Kingdom of Tormia, the reputation of House Mercodyne was well-established, and the prominence of the family was recognized in every province and the capital alike.

As a distinguished noble lineage, they had been at the helm of the Royal Council of Advisers known as Dragonbolt, the king’s esteemed advisory body, for centuries. This role had not only cemented them as the most affluent but also as the most intellectually revered family in the kingdom.

Watching Silber’s flustered retreat, Iruki’s expression was tinged with bitterness. The necessity of using his noble status for dominance was a common practice he despised, yet he found it unavoidable to shield Sienna.

Devoid of any magical prowess, Silber posed no genuine threat, but Iruki was determined to preempt any exploitation of Sienna’s vulnerability as a professor. But, of course, as an adept of the School of Olyhper, she wasn’t someone who could be easily outdone by mere nobility.

The handsome man accompanying Silber eventually tugged at his sleeve. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

Frustrated and seething with anger, Silber considered lashing out, but in the end, he left the restaurant without saying a word.

Even after they left, Nade couldn’t shake off his irritation. “They really killed the mood. Just goes to show that appearances can be deceiving. Let’s never come here again.”

Sirone nodded in agreement. “Yeah, it’s late. We should head back. Professor Sienna, can you stand? We need to leave.”

“Uh-huh,” Sienna replied, her voice still slightly slurred. She leaned on her students, finding strength in their support.

Despite the soured atmosphere, a warm feeling blossomed in her heart. Seeing her students defend her reinforced her pride in her role as a professor. After cheerfully settling the bill, Sienna staggered out of the restaurant, struggling to keep her balance.

The night was clear, and the moonlight bathed everything in a serene glow.

“Ah,” Sienna exhaled deeply, a sound almost like a shout, as she embraced the cool night air.

There was a peculiar sense of liberation in her heart—perhaps fueled by the alcohol. Maybe it was the decision to step out from Armin’s shadow to embrace her own path. But most likely, it was the alcohol’s doing.

“Ah, I feel incredible. Today was a great day,” she declared.

As if enchanted by the moonlight, Sienna gazed skyward and began to twirl, her movements carefree and graceful.

Emerging from the restaurant, Sirone and his friends stood transfixed. Under the moonlight, Sienna’s beauty was breathtaking. Her trench coat flared around her like a blossoming flower as she twirled, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. Passersby on the night streets paused not to scoff but to admire the enchanting scene.

The trio watched in awe.

“She dances when she’s drunk? Who would have guessed she had it in her? It’s quite surprising,” Sirone remarked.

“Could this be... a scoop?” Nade asked.

Iruki, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, pondered the implications. “Hmm... We could use this as leverage, promising to keep her... unique tendencies a secret.”

Considering Sienna’s years-long conflict with underground clubs, they couldn’t simply brush off this unexpected revelation with laughter.

“True, it’s slightly underhanded, but we’re not exposing any serious secrets, right? We have to use whatever edge we can find,” Nade reasoned.

Their debate was abruptly cut short as Sirone gasped, his gaze fixed on Sienna. “Guys, look!”

Sienna, having twirled continuously, began to wobble, her steps faltering. Anticipating her imminent fall, they leaped into action.

“Catch her!”

Sirone supported her back while Nade and Iruki steadied her arms.

“Professor, snap out of it. We need you sober to get back to school.”

“Ugh, I’m so dizzy,” she groaned.

Having consumed more than one bottle of Limunes in less than an hour, the world continued to spin around her after she had twirled on her own dozens of times.

“We need to act. Sirone, you carry her,” Nade decided.

“What? Why me?”

“You’re the strongest among us.”

Reluctantly, Sirone had to agree.

Collectively, the three boys’ physical strength fell short when compared to their peers of the same age, mainly due to their focus on magic training over physical activities. Sirone, however, was an exception. Raised in the rugged terrain of the mountains and accustomed to the rigors of physical labor, he was undeniably the strongest in their group.

Resigned to the task at hand, Sirone said, “I guess there’s no other way. Can you guys help get her onto my back?”

“Don’t look so gloomy. It’s not every day you get to carry a professor. I’m actually a bit jealous,” Nade teased, his grin barely concealed.

“Whatever,” Sirone grumbled.

Once Sienna was securely positioned on Sirone’s back, they departed from the bustling noble district, and the lively streets gradually transformed into quieter pathways.

“Professor Sienna is smaller than I thought. I always pegged her to be about my height, but like this, she feels... short.”

“It’s psychological,” Iruki explained. “Professors always seem taller than they are.”

“Really? But she’s also heavier than I expected. I’m getting worn out pretty quickly here.”

“Well, of course. She’s human, after all,”

Iruki chuckled. “Made of bones, muscles, and the like. Did you think she’d weigh as little as a feather?”

Sirone had never really pondered it before, but he had subconsciously assumed that Sienna would be light to carry.

However, the stark reality was that he had never even held a girl’s hand, much less carried one. This was a fact he wasn’t keen on letting his friends find out.

“Ugh, I know that much. But I’m really tired. I can’t carry her all the way to school.”

“What about using some air magic?” Iruki suggested.

“But she’s our professor. It doesn’t seem respectful to use magic like that…”

Feeling like a bearer of a palanquin, Sirone couldn’t help but think the situation was markedly unfair.

“This is absurd. We’re three guys, and we’re struggling to carry one woman. Maybe I should’ve taken up swordsmanship. My friend Lian could probably carry both the professor and me.”

Though Nade and Iruki were unfamiliar with Lian, they shared Sirone’s feelings of inadequacy regarding the limitations of their physical strength.

“We can’t do much about it. We’re more accustomed to breathing exercises than actual physical training. But when it comes to using our brains, I’m pretty confident,” Iruki said and then snapped his fingers. “That’s it. We can use our brains. Swordsmen use Schema, don’t they? Let’s try to learn it right now. What do you think, Sirone?”

“Impossible. How can we suddenly master Schema?”

“Well, it’s worth a try. I managed to enter my Spirit Zone on the first attempt. Wasn’t it the same for you guys?”

“I did succeed on my first try too,” Nade added. “I just went with my gut, and it worked immediately. How about you, Sirone?”

Laboring under Sienna’s weight, he lifted his head. “Huh? Oh, yeah, I did it on my first try too. At the time, I didn’t even realize I was in the Spirit Zone.”

Nade, in disbelief, asked, “You entered your Spirit Zone without knowing what it was?”

Iruki chuckled. “That’s so typical of you. But trying Schema isn’t entirely impossible. After all, the basic principles are the same.”

After considering Iruki’s suggestion, Sirone thought it seemed reasonable. Dismissing an idea without even trying was always a loss.

“I guess we could give it a shot. Honestly, my arms feel like they’re about to fall off,” Sirone confessed.