Chapter 365: Chapter 365: The Alert
The drone cut through the mountain winds, its single red eye pulsing with mana as it transmitted its signal. Far below, in the sprawling camp of banners and tents, a crystal embedded in a mana map flared to life. The gathered patriarchs and matriarchs looked up at once as the coordinates burned into view.
"They’ve surfaced," one of them muttered, voice sharp.
The tent’s atmosphere shifted immediately—commanders leaning over the glowing map, servants rushing to prepare. A young soldier, barely more than a boy, sprinted out from the tent, boots crunching against the frost-bitten earth.
He didn’t stop until he reached the mouth of a cavern carved into the cliffs. Inside, torches flickered against stone walls, casting light on two figures seated apart but equally imposing.
"Lord Thorne—Lady Vaelora!" the messenger called, bowing low, chest heaving. "The drone has spotted them. Your children—by the northern ridge, near a concealed exit of the mountain."
Albrecht Thorne rose slowly, his broad frame unfolding like steel brought to life. His expression was controlled, but his eyes burned with focus. Beside him, Vaelora von Iskandar stood with far less restraint, her crimson cloak snapping as if pulled by her own urgency.
She didn’t bother with questions. "Show us the path."
The messenger stumbled back a step under the weight of her tone, but nodded quickly.
Albrecht adjusted his gloves, gaze turning to the mountain above. "No time to waste."
Together, Thorne and Iskandar moved with purpose, their presence alone enough to make the soldiers along the way bow their heads. Parents not just in name, but forces of bloodlines that shaped nations—heading to the ridge where their children waited.
The wind whipped across the ridge, carrying with it the bite of frost. Noel sat on a jagged rock near the hidden exit, Revenant Fang resting against his shoulder, while Selene leaned quietly against the cliff wall. From here, the world stretched endlessly—valleys drowned in mist, peaks stabbing into the clouds.
Neither spoke for a long while. The silence was heavy, not with danger this time, but with the weight of what they’d seen below.
Finally, Noel broke it. "When they arrive... don’t say anything about what we found. Not a word."
Selene turned her head, cyan eyes sharp. "Why? That was history. Forgotten truths buried for centuries. Shouldn’t it be shared?"
Noel met her gaze, his expression firm. "Please. Just... trust me on this. If it spreads too fast, it’ll cause more harm than good."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. She hated leaving questions unanswered, hated silence in place of knowledge. And yet, staring at him, her chest tightened in a way she couldn’t fight.
"...Fine," she said at last, her voice steady, but quieter than usual. "But you owe me."
Noel exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Deal."
For a moment, the wind filled the space between them again. Selene tilted her head slightly, looking down at her hands, as if weighing what to say next. The faintest flush touched her cheeks, almost lost against the cold air.
She didn’t know why she always gave in to him. Maybe it was because he’d stood by her when no one else did. Maybe because she already knew she was too far gone—too entangled with him to pull back now.
Noel leaned back against the stone, closing his eyes briefly. ’At least that’s one problem delayed. For now.’
Noel opened one eye, curiosity sparking despite himself. "Alright... what kind of favor?"
Selene didn’t hesitate. Her cyan eyes locked on his, cold but unwavering. "I want to meet Elena. To talk with her about the matter directly."
He blinked, caught off guard. "...The matter?"
Selene tilted her chin, her tone as blunt as always. "Yes. You know exactly what I mean."
For a moment, Noel didn’t answer. His mind flashed back to Elena’s quiet smiles, Elyra’s fiery teasing, Charlotte’s unpredictable warmth. And now Selene—standing here after everything they’d endured together, her words as sharp as ever, but her intentions clear.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You’re serious, alright."
"I am." She folded her arms, gaze steady. "Elyra and Charlotte aren’t here. When we return to the academy, I’ll speak with them too. But for now... Elena first since she is here already."
Selene’s voice softened, though only slightly. "It’s better that way. No pretending, no waiting for someone else to bring it up. I’ll face it directly."
He studied her for a long moment. The girl who once seemed untouchable, frozen in her own walls, now speaking with a kind of conviction that felt heavier than any magic.
"...Fine," Noel said at last. "When we see her, I’ll make it happen."
Selene gave a short nod, the faintest relief flickering in her eyes before she turned her gaze toward the horizon.
Noel exhaled slowly, muttering under his breath. "One storm at a time, huh?"
She didn’t respond, but the way her shoulders eased told him she’d heard.
The wind howled through the ridge, carrying flecks of snow that clung briefly before melting against stone. Noel sat quietly, his eyes tracing the distant peaks. Selene stood nearby, arms folded, her usual composure restored—but he could still feel the weight of what she’d just confessed.
She wanted to be part of his life. Not from the shadows, not half-hidden behind coldness, but openly. A fourth piece in a puzzle already too complicated.
Noel’s chest tightened. ’Elena. Elyra. Charlotte. Now Selene. They’re real, they’re here, and every one of them cares about me. Honestly, I never expected to feel all this. I should be more grateful. When the system lets me, I’ll tell you everything. What happens after that will be what it has to be. If they leave me or get angry, we’ll see.’
His jaw clenched, the thought biting deep. ’Save the world. Prevent the fall. Carry the weight. That’s what I am to them—a savior they can never know exists. And because of that, I keep forgetting I’m still human.’
He glanced sideways. Selene’s hair whipped in the wind, her gaze lost on the horizon, cold and steady as always. But he’d seen it now—the laughter, the smile, the warmth buried under frost. Things she only allowed him to glimpse.
A sigh slipped past his lips. "The fourth..."
She didn’t turn, but the faintest curve ghosted her lips. "Yes, I’m fine with that."
The silence stretched, heavy but not unwelcome.
Then, the crunch of boots on stone echoed up the ridge. Two silhouettes emerged through the mist—Vaelora’s crimson cloak snapping in the wind, Albrecht’s frame unshakable against the storm.
Selene straightened instantly, while Noel rose to his feet, Revenant Fang resting against his shoulder.
Their parents had found them.