"You can come out if you’ve seen enough."

The deep, commanding voice echoed from above, freezing the entire group in place. They glanced at each other... embarrassed, confused, and suddenly gripped by the fear of being caught.

For a few awkward seconds, no one moved. The air was thick with embarrassment.

Finally, Alex gave a small smile and gently placed his hand on Heena’s shoulder.

"Come on, let’s go." he said quietly.

Heena hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Together, they slowly climbed the remaining steps toward the terrace. Mrs. Blackwell and the younger woman followed behind them, their faces still flushed with awkwardness.

As they reached the terrace, the scene before them made everyone stop in their tracks.

Elyria and Viktor stood side by side.

Viktor had a calm, almost amused smile on his face, his posture relaxed and confident.

Elyria, on the other hand, stood stiffly beside him. Her silver-white hair was slightly messy, and her face carried a clear look of embarrassment... cheeks faintly flushed, lips pressed tightly together... yet her eyes remained locked on them with visible anger.

The contrast between the two was striking.

None of them spoke. They simply stared at each other, unsure of what to say.

Viktor noticed the hesitation and fear in everyone’s eyes, as well as the clear anger on Elyria’s face. With a calm smile, he gently placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a light pat.

"C’mon Elyria... you shouldn’t scare them," he said softly.

Then he turned toward the group and spoke in a warm, welcoming tone.

"Hello... I’m Viktor," he said with a warm smile. "A very old friend of your aunt and teacher. And don’t worry... she’s just a little shy about being caught like this."

Seeing his friendly smile, the heavy tension in the air eased slightly. Heena hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward. She extended her hand toward him with a polite smile.

"I’m Heena Sterling... It’s nice to meet you, sir."

Viktor shook her hand gently, his smile never fading.

The moment he let go, Heena turned around and hugged her aunt tightly. She leaned in close and whispered teasingly in her ear,

"Where have you been hiding him all this time, Aunt? You never told us about him..."

Elyria’s eyes widened slightly. She playfully hit Heena’s arm and whispered back,

"Stop it, you little troublemaker."

Elyria visibly relaxed. The embarrassment she felt earlier... being seen by her niece and students in such a vulnerable state with a man... slowly faded from her face. Her shoulders loosened, and her expression returned to its usual composed elegance.

She looked at her two students, who were still standing a little farther back, and called out to them.

"Come here."

The two women hesitated for a second, then slowly walked forward. Elyria placed a hand on each of their shoulders and introduced them to Viktor.

"These two are my students," she said, then turned to him with a small smile. "What do you think?"

Viktor looked at both women from head to toe, his gaze calm and assessing. A faint smirk appeared on his lips.

"Not bad," he replied casually.

Elyria smiled proudly and added, "They are quite talented. She has already reached peak Enhanced and is ready to break into the next realm." She gestured toward Mrs. Blackwell, then turned to the younger one. "And she is still very young, but already at Early Enhanced."

Viktor nodded, but he didn’t look particularly impressed. He knew they had good talent. However, after seeing that guy and the miraculous resources he possessed, nothing surprised him anymore.

His gaze slowly shifted to the side, landing on Alex, who was standing a little farther away with a calm smile, quietly observing the situation.

Elyria’s expression suddenly turned serious. She took a few steps forward until she stood directly in front of Alex. Her eyes were complicated... a mix of gratitude, guilt, and something else she couldn’t quite hide.

"Thank you for taking care of Viktor..." she said softly. "And I’m really sorry for earlier. I was in the wrong."

Alex looked at her with a calm smile. He shook his head gently.

"Don’t worry about it," he said. "I didn’t take any offense. And I’m not injured or anything, am I?"

Elyria nodded slowly, her shoulders relaxing slightly. She turned her head and saw Heena standing beside her, clearly worried that another confrontation might break out between them.

Elyria’s eyes softened. She reached out and gently took Heena’s hand.

"You are coming with me this time," she said firmly. "No excuses. I will not leave you alone at any cost."

Heena hesitated. Her fingers trembled slightly in her aunt’s hand. She slowly turned her head and looked at Alex, who was standing a little farther away, watching her quietly.

Her heart felt complicated. She wasn’t sure how to feel about him anymore. More than that, she didn’t know what he felt about her. And the biggest question in her mind was... could she really be with him?

He was a cultivator. A powerful one. If she truly wanted to stay by his side... she couldn’t remain just a normal girl anymore. She would have to become stronger. Much stronger.

Heena took a deep breath, then looked back at her aunt. Her eyes were no longer uncertain.

She nodded firmly.

"...Okay, Aunt," she said softly. "I’ll come with you."

Elyria’s eyes lit up with genuine happiness the moment Heena nodded. A soft, relieved smile appeared on her face.

"Good," she said warmly. "Very Good." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

She turned to her two students, her voice calm and commanding.

"Let’s go."

Heena hesitated for a second, then turned and walked straight toward Alex. Without saying a word, she stepped into his arms and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest. A single tear slipped down her cheek.

"I’ll meet you again someday..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "No matter what."

Alex gently patted her head, his voice soft and reassuring.

"I’ll be waiting," he said. "Go with your aunt. Everything will be fine."

Heena held him for a moment longer, then slowly pulled away. She looked up at him one last time... her eyes filled with emotion... before turning around and walking back to her aunt.

Elyria took Heena’s hand and gestured for her students to follow. Just as they reached the edge of the staircase, Elyria stopped and turned slightly. Her gaze fell on Viktor.

"Stay safe," she said, her voice calm but serious. "And don’t get too involved in politics. The water is about to get very muddy."

Viktor gave her a small, understanding nod.

Elyria didn’t wait for a reply. She turned back around, took Heena’s hand, and walked down the stairs with her students following closely behind. Their footsteps gradually faded until the terrace became completely quiet.

Now, only two people remained.

Alex stood on one side, calm and composed, while Viktor stood on the other, his hands casually tucked in his pockets. The air between them felt heavy, charged with unspoken tension.

Neither of them spoke.

They simply stood there, facing each other under the open sky.