After the ceremony, Albert tried to rekindle their argument, his frown fixed on his targets as he pushed through the sea of students. But Zeke, anticipating this, had already slipped out of the hall with Circe as soon as the event ended, paying no mind to Albert's furious shouts echoing behind them.

“...You're always getting worked up in my steed,” Circe chuckled as they made their way out of the building. Zeke had been reading the minimap he brought up in front of him, though his attention swayed when she looked at him. “I appreciate it, honestly. Although I still think it's fine not to engage.”

“You're not angry at what they said?” A frown darkened Zeke's expression as he stared back. “I still think you should've said something. At this rate, they're going to keep belittling you knowing you won't fight them.”

“As much as I like verbal battles,” Circe's focus shifted to the pathway before them. Judging from the minimap, it should take a few more minutes to reach the dormitories. “We can achieve a much more satisfying revenge by crushing them in the tournament. I saw in the updated handbook that there will be a new format implemented that allows swordsmen and mages to go up against each other.”

Despite her words brimming with confidence, Zeke's expression remained sour. “But you're a mage right now, by technicality.”

“They didn't say anything about a mage using a sword, did they?” Circe shrugged, a mischievous smile breaking across her lips, “Besides, if I do this well, I can maybe get a recommendation to change tracks like you did.”

His tensed shoulders relaxed as he let out a sigh, “You've already planned ahead that far?”

Circe gave him a toothy grin, her hands playfully clasped behind her back. “Hehe, yep! But in case you misunderstood me,” her lips connected as they widened, turning her eyes into sharp crescents, “I'll have you know that I am no pushover. I will make sure to pay back my debt—with interest a thousand fold.”

Zeke responded with a dry laugh, careful not to meet her gaze. Should I feel sorry for those brothers? he wondered. The glint in her eyes was anything but sane. Eventually, he said, “If you need someone to help bury the bodies, I’m right here.”

Their shared chuckles drew a few curious glances from nearby onlookers. These soon turned to wide-eyed disbelief as Solren appeared before them in a burst of magic, glittering sparks cascading around him. "My nephew!" he declared grandly, his booming voice cutting through the murmurs.

Zeke stiffened, already regretting every life choice that brought him to this moment. From the corner of his eye, he swore he saw Circe mutter a curse under her breath. Solren either didn’t notice or didn’t care, his grin widening as he gestured theatrically. "Did you like the adjustments I made to your schedule? I personally ensured yours and Lady Ruelle’s align as closely as possible!”

“Uh huh,” Zeke didn't bother to fake his reaction, by then the whispers around them had grown tenfold, and he could already picture the future events that would unfold after Solren had boldly announced their relationship. “I appreciate it, teacher. Although there was no need for you to call me ‘nephew'.”

A dejected look swiped the enthusiasm off Solren's face. “Do you hate the idea of me being your uncle that much?” He stifled a cry, wiping his eyes with his sleeves, “I even did you another favor! I managed to convince them to allow the both of you to sleep in the same building! Aren't I the best uncle? I won't allow anything to get in the way of—”

“Wait. Hold on…!” Zeke pressed his fingers to his temples, frowning as if trying to massage the absurdity out of his head. Beside him, Circe looked equally stunned, her jaws went slack, frozen in disbelief like a doll that's lost its wind. “You put us—a boy and a girl—in the same dormitory? What in the world are you thinking?”

Solren blinked at him, his expression one of genuine confusion, as if Zeke had just asked him why the sky was blue. “But you two are bound to be wed someday,” he said, gesturing lightly with his hand. “And you’re both engaged, so I don’t exactly see the problem here.” His head tilted slightly, as though marveling at his own brilliance.

Circe broke her silence with a low groan, rubbing her forehead. “Oh, wonderful,” she muttered, sarcasm dripping from her words. “Nothing like a premature honeymoon to make things even more awkward.”

Zeke gawked at Solren, his voice rising in exasperation. “You…do realize we’re sixteen, right?”

Solren's blank stare told them all they needed to know: he still couldn't find the faults within his logic. “I don't get it…but it's not like I'm putting the two of you in the same room. Just that you can stay in the same building,” his voice had gone low, carefully choosing his next words. “If you really don't like it, I can get you your proper rooms…”

Zeke let loose a sigh of relief, but Circe spoke up before he could. “Wait a moment,” her words sparked hope in Solren's eyes while Zeke frowned at her in confusion. “We can check it out before we decide, right? If it's appropriate enough then I don't see why we should decline the special treatment.”

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“Exactly!” Solren clasped his hands together, ecstasy brimming from his voice. “Besides! It was originally planned for Silas since he's my apprentice. I'm having him stay at my place so he could receive his mentorship smoothly! I simply asked them to allow Lady Ruelle to tag along too.”

“...Okay,” Despite caving to the mage's enthusiasm, Zeke still stood on guard, his eyes narrowed in skepticism. “But you don't actually live on campus, right? So where are we staying, exactly?”

With his arms akimbo and a boastful tone, Solren replied with a hearty laugh. “What a silly question!” Before any of them could speak a word, a magic circle shimmered to life beneath them. In the blink of an eye, their scenery shifted, now they stood in the middle of a grand lobby. “My greatest creation—the Magic Tower, of course!”

They would've mistaken the place as a typical noble's mansion if not for the opened rooftop—literally. They could see clouds waltzing by their heads, the walls and sky bled together, their edges melting like damp watercolors failing to blend.

“We’re currently at the very top of the tower: my personal quarters and office!” Solren’s grin stretched with pride, his enthusiasm met by Zeke and Circe’s shared look of disbelief.

“You won’t get lost,” he added with a wave. “And since I’ve given you permission, any door will lead to your room of destination! Just don’t use the same door at the same time—unless you want things to get...messy.”

Zeke and Circe shared brief, tired glances at each other. By that point, they'd given up trying to make sense of Solren's judgment. With a long sigh, Circe spoke up, her hand slightly raised. “...What about our luggage?”

“Oh, I already took them from your servants. They’re in your rooms.” Solren's grin grew wider as if he'd already expected the question.

“You don't need to worry about a single thing~” He added in a sing-song voice, spreading his arms wide like a proud showman. “Feel free to check out the rest of the floors below you if you'd like!”

Solren then pointed to the floor, showing them a large, intricate circle drawn in deep blue on the polished tiles. “When you're ready, you can commute from here to the academy easily just by standing in this magic circle and let Silas pour some mana into it!”

Circe let out a dry laugh as she ran her fingers through her bangs, “Wow. You really prepared everything, huh?” She spoke in a tone just as dull as her expression. “There's a catch, isn't it? Even if Silas is your apprentice, a teacher of your calibre wouldn't go as far as to drown his student in luxury for free.”

Solren's demeanor shifted at her words, his brief silence turned his smile mischievous. “How sharp…” He crossed his arms, nodding in acknowledgement, “I won't ask for a lot, of course. Just that whenever the both of you snuck out to clear a dungeon…I want you to bring back a monster core for me.”

Although Solren had spoken with a nonchalant tone, his request implied that he knew about their secret explorations. Zeke and Circe shared a glance, the silence between the three of them growing heavier by the moment. “...That's not an issue,” just as Solren started to feel tense, Zeke broke the ice, facing him with a long sigh, “But since you somehow knew about that…did you tell my father?”

He tried to hide it, but a nervous flicker crossed Solren's face, his gaze darting briefly to the floor. “Well… Cres—I mean, your father said he didn’t mind,” he stammered, glancing back up to meet Zeke’s stoic expression. The lack of any clear reaction only made him more uneasy. He hesitated, pursing his lips before continuing, “I’m not trying to be demanding…but just one monster core, okay?” Solren clasped his hands together and flashed a playful grin. “It’d be great if it had a specific elemental affinity—you see, we’re searching for a stronger energy source to substitute for magic crystals.”

Circe crossed her arms, head slightly tilted in consideration. Eventually, she responded, “I don't see any issue with that. I would assume the fire or lightning element is more useful than the rest?”

Her attention landed on Zeke as he hummed at the question. Glancing at Solren, he spoke with a hint of uncertainty, “Those may be incredibly destructive elements, but that doesn't always mean they're most suited for the job. Controlling the right output is also a key to making a good energy source. Stability is honesty more important.”

Admiration sparkled in Solren's eyes, “Oh, as expected from my pupil! I haven't even begun to teach you anything and you're already so smart!” He clasped his hands in a prayer and gaze to the sky. “It seems the gods have not yet forsaken this old man! I never thought I'd ever gain a mentee for the rest of my life!” At some point, his dramatic gesture started to look serious, “Thank you, oh god of mana, for allowing my first and last disciple to be so talented!”

Circe glanced at Zeke and scoffed, her crossed arms now complimenting the smug look on her face. “Seriously? Out of all the good guys in the world, you chose him?”

“Of course,” Solren sounded dead serious as he shifted his demeanor, letting his arms fall to his sides. “I could stand here and talk about what a rare gem Silas Salvador truly is and we'll never see the end of today.” He gave Zeke an acknowledged nod before continuing, one eyebrow raised as he looked at Circe, “What about you, Lady Ruelle? I'm surprised someone like you accepted the love of such a troublesome boy.”

The sudden question caught them both off guard. Circe, however, quickly masked her surprise, replacing it with a radiant smile as she intertwined her fingers with Zeke's. Ignoring his flustered expression, she replied smoothly, “Why else? He's cute and lovely. What's not to like?” She turned her gaze to Zeke, her eyes sparkling with warmth. “The fact that he's willing to change for me already earned him a part of my affection.”

While curious at first, hearing her reply replaced Solren's inquiry with an impassive look. He let out a dry laugh as his hand unwittingly grabbed the back of his neck. “...I'm not quite sure whether to feel happy or jealous, to be frank,” a forlorn smile lingered on his lips. He noted Zeke's absentminded stare at his interlocked hands, though thought nothing of it. “Such untainted love is hard to come by. I hope both of you cherish it well while you still can.”

Solren lightly shook his head, snorting as he took out a piece of paper from inside his coat, “Oh, what am I saying, ignore the ramblings of this uncle who felt jealous of teenage romance…Silas?” He garnered Zeke's attention before handing the slip over to him. “That's for teleporting back to this place. I’ll give you a few more later tonight, but be sure to learn it so you can make your own whenever you wish.”

Zeke took the paper without much thought, his eyes darting along the intricate patterns of the magic circle. “Yeah, I'll do that…”

Solren stared at him for a moment, but otherwise remained quiet about his sudden distracted demeanor. Instead, he spoke to Circe, his smile now turning bright once again, “Well then, that's pretty much all. I still haven't finished writing that paper since a few days ago, so I better go get that done and over with before my subordinates think I'm lazy.”

“...It might be too late for that, Grand Mage.” Circe chuckled, earning a dramatic gasp from Solren.

“Oh, that's not good, is it? I’ll have to fix my reputation before it’s too late!” Solren snapped his fingers, and a gust of magic swirled around him, ruffling the air with a faint hum. “I’ll see you both at dinner!” he declared, vanishing in a flash of light that left an iridescent shimmer behind.

Only when Solren left the scene did Circe let go of Zeke's hand. Before an icy silence could settle, she spoke up first, eyes studying his inattentive behavior in a futile attempt to read his expression. “What's up with you? I thought you don't mind holding hands anymore?”

“That's not it,” Zeke replied with a nonchalant shrug, slipping the piece of paper into his coat pocket. Instead of facing her, he stuffed his hands into his trousers’ pouch and walked over to the doors. “...It's nothing. Don't mind me.”

His response brought a curious frown to Circe's brows, though as much as she wanted to know what went on in his mind, she doubted he would willingly give her an answer after a reply like that. Sighing in defeat, she quietly followed behind him…

…Completely oblivious to the whirlwind of thoughts going on inside his mind.

“That can't be right…” Zeke's face burned with a heat he couldn't suppress and didn't dare to turn around. “She was just acting…So why did my heart skip a beat?”