The next day at the academy, the corridors buzzed with the usual morning rush. The air was thick with the scent of freshly cleaned floors and a faint whiff of chalk dust. But among all that, Ray, panting and pushing Kai's wheelchair, darted through the hallways. The birds chirping outside the windows, were almost drowned out by the cacophony of students' chatter and laughter. As behind the two, a group of giggling girls trailed closely, calling out, "Wait! Check ours too!"

Ray glanced back at them, exasperated. "You came here to get something from our room… I came to help you around… But why am I the one running around, while you sit comfortably enjoying the ride?!"

Kai chuckled, holding "The Adventurer's Diary" in his hands, reading it. The book had revealed its first three pages, detailing magic skills: Arrows, Javelin, and Wall, complete with an image of a skill tree. Kai marveled at the intricacy of the illustrations and felt a thrill of curiosity bubbling up inside him. Even amidst the hectic ride, he mused, "I had completely forgotten about this book. With everything that happened so far, it's no surprise a few things slipped my mind."

He examined the skill tree, noting the three unlocked skills and six more still hidden behind lock icons. "There are many skills in this book. Maybe not just magic, but weapon related skills as well. But how do I unlock them?" he pondered, feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation.

Just then, Ray, despite his exhaustion, used his wind magic to lift both himself and Kai, along with his wheelchair into the air. They swiftly soared through the corridors, avoiding the pursuing girls. As they flew, the bustling hallways faded into a blur, replaced by the tranquil, sunlit room of Justin’s chamber. They entered through the window, startling Justin.

“Wha—?! Eh? … Ray and Kai? Why are you two here? Weren’t you supposed to be on leave for a few days?” Justin’s voice was a mix of surprise and amusement.

Kai landed safely, still looking at the book. But Ray, still catching his breath, replied to Justina, “Long story..., uncle Justin...”

After sometime, Kai was sitting on his wheelchair, his eyes closed as if taking a nap. Ray was seating on a sofa, as he let out a deep breath as he began recounting the morning’s chaotic events. “So, Kai came to grab something from our room and, of course, he roped me into helping him find it. Then we had to get Lala too, but the girls started to run after as due to the rumors of Kai being a matchmaker,” he explained.

Justin couldn't suppress his laughter, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “So you were the one who got tangled up with him, running around early in the morning, huh?” he chuckled.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door. Justin granted permission to enter, and Lala walked in, looking puzzled. Dressed casually, she glanced around the room, seeking answers. Ray stood up, dusting off his trousers. “Alright, everyone’s here. Let’s get going,” he announced. Kai too opened his eyes, stretching his arms.

Lala tilted her head in confusion. “Going? Where?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. Just then, she noticed Kai waving at her, offering a reassuring smile. The screen came up next to him, the words forming, “We’re headed to our duchy for the Moon Festival, along with you and Ana of course,” he explained.

Ray glanced at Kai, who nodded in agreement. “And, we’ve got a long ride ahead of us,” Kai's words forming in the screen added, as Kai closed the book. “The Moon Festival only happens once a decade, and we don’t want to miss it.”

Lala hesitated for a moment. “Is it alright if Ana and I come too?” she asked. Ray's face lit up with a warm smile. “Of course, anyone is welcome to the archduchy to witness the Moon Festival’s beginning. Nobles come with their families to witness the prayers for the moon. Even commoners join in it. Some come to see the prayers, while others who can’t visit wait in their homes, until the sky illuminates, marking the festival’s start,” he explained.

Lala glanced at Kai, who gave her an encouraging nod. She smiled back, her nerves settling. “Alright, I would love to join,” she said, her resolve firm.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Just as the trio prepared to move out, Justin called out to Ray in a teasing tone. “But Ray, you sure you won't get lost like last time?”

Ray froze, his cheeks tinting slightly pink. Justin continued, his grin widening. “Remember how you were crying, sitting next to a tree at the back of the mansion?”

Ray slammed his hands on the table, his voice edged with annoyance. “That was because I was a kid back then!” he protested, the blush on his cheeks deepening.

After some time, the trio exited the room, Ray seemed unusually quiet, his gaze fixed on the floor. Kai, noticing his friend's demeanor, asked through the comms, "What's wrong, Ray?"

Ray sighed, a hint of sadness in his voice. "I just feel down about being away from Nino for a while."

Kai nodded understandingly, "Why not bring her along?"

Ray shook his head, a small smile forming. "I already asked, but she needs to stay back and study for her finals. But," his eyes lit up, "she promised to make me a home-cooked meal when we get back!" he said, excitement coloring his tone.

Kai's smile broadened, sharing in Ray's happiness. Lala, though not fully grasping the conversation, felt relieved to see the two back to their normal selves.

As they made their way down the hall, they noticed someone sitting on a bench. Ray and Kai instantly recognized the figure. Ray nudged Kai, and they approached the guy. The guy looked up, meeting their gaze.

Ray grinned, "Hey Fenn. How you been?"

As Ray and Kai approached Fenn, they noticed the fresh bruise marring his face, evidence of a recent altercation. Despite the visible injuries, Fenn managed a faint smile and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Crown Prince, and the Young Duke,” he said, his voice steady.

Lala, trailing just behind them, looked at Fenn and suddenly recognized him. “Wait, aren’t you the one I bumped into on my first day at the academy?” she asked.

Fenn glanced up, his cheeks tinting pink as he recognized her. “I-I’m sorry about running away like that back then,” he stammered.

Lala chuckled softly, the memory bringing a smile to her face. Before she could say more, Kai turned to her. “Do you have your first aid kit in the luggage?” asking through the projection.

Lala nodded, a bit puzzled, then noticed the bruises covering Fenn’s face. Her eyes widened in concern. “Oh no! I’ll get it right away,” she exclaimed, placing her bag down to retrieve the kit.

Fenn tried to wave off their concern. “Really, it's nothing. You don't need to trouble yourselves.”

Ray shook his head, his voice firm yet gentle. “It’s fine, Fenn. Let us help treat you.” Kai nodded along with it, as Ray further asked, “But how did you end up like this?”

Fenn hesitated, his eyes shifting nervously. Ray sensed his reluctance and gently urged him, “Fenn, what happened? You can tell us.”

Taking a deep breath, Fenn finally spoke. “It was my employer,” he confessed, voice trembling slightly.

Ray and Kai exchanged confused glances. Lala, meanwhile, quickly knelt beside Fenn and started applying medicine to his bruises. “It was my own fault actually, because I was careless and angered the young marquis,” Fenn continued.

Ray’s brow furrowed in concern. “Marquis? You mean Harold Lucrus?”

Fenn nodded, confirming Ray’s suspicion. “Yes, Harold Lucrus, son of Marquis Lucrus,” he replied, his tone heavy with resignation.

Ray looked at Kai, who gave a knowing smile. Through their private comms, Kai’s voice reached Ray, “Guess being slammed on the table wasn’t enough for him.”

Ray clenched his jaw, wanting to speak but holding back, letting the weight of the situation settle in.

Ray's concern deepened as he looked at Fenn. “Why don’t you just quit the job?” he asked, his voice gentle yet firm.

Fenn sighed, glancing away. “I plan to, but I need to stick it out for another month,” he replied, resignation heavy in his tone.

Ray sighed too, then looked up with a determined smile. “When you do quit, come find me. You can work in the palace for me.”

Fenn stared at Ray in surprise, unsure if he heard correctly. He glanced at Kai, who gave a small nod of confirmation. Slowly, Fenn's lips curled into a smile. “Alright, Your Highness, I will.”

A few moments later, Lala was still meticulously applying medicine to Fenn’s bruises, engaging him in light conversation. Ray and Kai watched from a distance, discussing Harold in hushed tones.

Ray leaned in closer to Kai, his voice a hushed whisper. “The rumors about Harold... they aren’t lies.”

Kai narrowed his eyes, looking up at Ray. “What rumors?” his voice asked through the comms.

Ray began to explain quietly. “The Lucrus household has been accused of numerous illegal activities and abusing their staff. But they've never been caught. Whenever someone reported an incident, they vanished the next day.”

As Ray continued, Kai's eyes shifted to the screen in front of him, which was filled with details and pictures of many people. He read each word carefully, processing the gravity of the situation. Finally, he looked back at Ray, nudging him lightly. “Let’s continue this chat later. We need to depart soon, you know,” his voice came through Ray’s comms.

Ray chuckled softly, the tension easing slightly. “Alright,” he said, wheeling Kai towards Fenn and Lala.

-To be Continued