After everything had been settled and the wounded were tended to, it was finally time to return to the academy. The tension that had hung over the expedition slowly faded as the scholars gathered near the line of academy carriages.

"I cannot believe the dungeon was cancelled just like that," one scholar complained as he climbed into a carriage.

"We were finally getting to the interesting part."

Another scholar beside him let out a tired sigh.

"Hey, I’m honestly just glad it ended. I thought that monster was going to kill us all."

A third scholar gave a small laugh as he adjusted the strap of his bag.

"Tch. Interesting part or not, I will take returning to the academy alive any day."

Near one of the carriages, Ruvian stood quietly beside the wooden step. His posture remained relaxed as he waited patiently while the others approached.

When Rosalin arrived, he gave a small courteous bow of his head and gently extended his hand toward her in a polite manner.

"Please," he said softly. "After you."

Rosalin stopped briefly and met his gaze.

A faint, appreciative smile appeared on her lips as she gave a small nod. Promptly, she placed her hand in his and allowed him to guide her carefully as she stepped onto the carriage.

"Thank you," she replied gently before climbing inside.

Just behind them, Silvena watched the exchange with a small, knowing smile.

"You are getting better at this."

With a cunning glint in her eyes, she crossed her arms and leaned her head slightly.

"Haa~ I wish you also had some cool and grand speech prepared for me."

Her gaze briefly drifted toward Rosalin, who had already settled comfortably inside the carriage, before returning to Ruvian again.

The smirk on her lips slowly widened.

Ruvian let out a small, helpless sigh as he looked at her.

"What’s with that look? What I am doing is just common courtesy," he replied calmly. "Besides, why would you need some grand speech?"

Silvena answered without a moment’s hesitation, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Ehh~ What is wrong with having a charming person suddenly saying something wonderfully grand to you?" she asked with cheerful shamelessness. "I would like to hear something like that too."

"Imagine a man suddenly came to you and put his hand on your shoulder and said..."

She put her hand on her chest.

"Become the embodiment of possibility, my dear Rosalin, if it’s you, you will become someone—"

’Ey—!!!’

Ruvian panicked. Immediately, his left hand moved forward and firmly covered her mouth.

’This dumbass woman...’

Silvena’s eyes widened in shock as the rest of her bold declaration was immediately cut off under his hand.

Of course, what he had said back then was unbearably cringe. Mortifying, even. Yet he had practiced those lines countless times before today’s event, because whether they sounded ridiculous or not, he had sworn he would say them.

Embarrassed, Ruvian calmly removed his hand, and looked at her with a tired expression.

"Ugh. Salty." she frowned.

Ruvian frowned too and let out another quiet sigh.

’Did she just... lick my hand?’

"Anyway. Enough joking."

Looking faintly horrified, he promptly wiped his hand on his cloak, despite having no idea whether there was actually anything on it.

As Silvena continued to watch him with curious eyes, Ruvian calmly slipped his hand into the pocket of his coat.

Then, he took out a neatly folded piece of paper and held it out toward her between his fingers.

The sudden change in his actions made Silvena raise a brow with interest. She uncrossed her arms and accepted the paper from his hand.

"Oh?"

She raised the folded paper between her fingers and gave it a small wave in the air.

"What is this?"

Ruvian leaned slightly closer so that the others nearby would not overhear.

"Something I want you to do," he explained in a quieter voice. "We need to prepare for the next event. Read it once you are in your room."

He added calmly with a heavy tone.

"We are making a drastic move now."

Silvena studied his face for a brief moment as if weighing his words. Then a soft hum escaped her lips.

"Alrighty."

Without opening the paper, she casually slipped it into the pocket of her coat.

Ruvian then turned slightly and extended his hand toward her with the same polite gesture he had shown Rosalin earlier.

Silvena looked at his hand, then back at his face.

Her face looked serious now.

"Don’t worry, whatever it is, I will get everything done."

Hearing those words from her, Ruvian smiled.

With his support, she stepped onto the carriage and climbed inside.

Once everyone had taken their seats, the attendants gave the signal. The horses slowly began to move, and the row of academy carriages rolled forward along the quiet road that led back through the trees.

The afternoon light followed them as they departed the clearing, carrying the scholars away from the dungeon and back toward the academy.

*****

[Silvena’s POV]

That evening, Silvena returned to her private quarter within the academy residence. Her room rested at the far end of the upper corridor where the windows overlooked the inner gardens.

After washing away the dust and sweat of the dungeon, she stepped out from the bathing room with her hair loosely wrapped in a soft white cloth.

A small crystal diffuser rested near the window where thin wisps of fragrance drifted gently through the room.

Silvena carefully dried her hair before removing the cloth and letting the emerald strands fall freely. Then, she changed into a light silk night robe that shimmered faintly under the warm lamplight.

Slowly, she walked to her desk and lowered herself into the chair.

Her eyes drifted toward the window where the academy gardens stretched beneath the evening sky.

The lanterns outside cast soft pools of light along the stone paths where a few distant scholars still wandered around.

Silvena reached for the silver bell resting on the corner of her desk and tapped it.

A few seconds later the door opened slightly.

Irene stepped inside with a respectful bow.

"Lady Silvena," the maid said gently. "Would you like your evening tea now?"

"Yes," she replied calmly. "The jasmine one tonight. Today’s dungeon expedition was quite tiring for some reason...."

"I also feel a bit of soreness in my throat. Ah, and prepare one for you as well. We have something to discuss tonight."

"Of course." Irene bowed her head lightly before stepping out of the room to prepare the tea.

For a short while she did nothing except rest her chin lightly against her fingers, her eyes drifting toward the drawer beneath the desk.

Then, with calm deliberation, she reached forward and slowly pulled the drawer open.

Inside rested several neatly arranged documents, most of them related to her academy studies, along with a few personal notes written in her elegant handwriting.

And among all of that organized respectability...

There was a single folded piece of paper.

The paper itself was ordinary. Plain. Slightly creased from being folded and unfolded too many times.

And yet...

For some completely unreasonable reason, it carried the distinct aura of something that was absolutely going to cause trouble.

Silvena stared at it for a moment.

Then she inhaled.

Picking up the folded paper, she then placed it carefully on the desk in front of her.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

’I wonder...’

’What sort of scheme has he prepared?’

And more importantly...

’What exactly does he expect me to do this time?’

Because with Ruvian, those two things were rarely comforting.

Curiosity finally got the better of her.

And so, she began unfolding the paper.

The creased edges flattened as the page opened, and the words written across it gradually revealed themselves one line at a time.

At the very top of the paper...

Was the first order Ruvian had given.

Silvena leaned forward.

Her eyes focused on the line.

Then she read it.

—"In the next event, we will make the first strike against the demon."

──────── ✦ ────────

[Chapter 119: The Opening Move]