CHAPTER 50 – SANCTUARY OF PEACE
LYSANDER FARADEISS
The aftermath of the Tasty Town bombing left me isolated within the confines of my dormitory room in the Dragon Knight Academy of Guardian's Haven. Hours slipped away as I lay in bed, gazing at a family picture and scrolling through images of classmates on my social media account.
The family photograph captured a moment in an eastern restaurant, where my mother, father, and little sister indulged in spicy chicken. The memory played vividly in my mind—my mother disliking the fiery dish, my father generously taking on her portion, and my little sister opting out of the spicy ordeal altogether. It was a snapshot of a time I had wished to revisit a thousand times over, yearning for a second chance with them in a previous timeline.
Despite the grim turn of events in this altered future, I found solace in the fact that I had relived those precious moments with my family. Regrets lingered, yet they were fewer this time, creating a bittersweet tapestry of memories that unfolded in the silent confines of my room.
As I swiped through my phone's gallery, I stumbled upon a picture of Arthur and me during the sports festival in our second year. His clueless smiling face elicited a pang of guilt, a reminder of my inability to save him for the second time. Yet, in those few months, we had relived some good times, and for that, I held onto a sense of gratitude.
Another swipe revealed a picture I hadn't taken the time to explore before. It was a snapshot after the raid against Doctor Voltaire, featuring me, Hiraya, and Alris. The dragonoid girls, insisting on capturing a perfect love triangle, had intentionally excluded themselves from the photo. At the time, I chuckled at their antics, masking the jealousy and inner conflict that prevented me from engaging in a proper conversation with Alris.
Setting my phone down, I sighed and covered my eyes with my right arm. Emotions welled up within me, teetering on the edge of tears. However, a sense of desensitization began to take hold—a weariness from lamenting every lost life for the second time. The cycle of grief, while not entirely numbed, was beginning to lose its edge as familiarity with tragedy settled in.
Suddenly, three distinct knocks echoed through my room, stirring me from my reverie. As I stood up, the sudden movement sent a wave of dizziness through me. Slowly, I made my way to the door, twisted the doorknob, and was met with the beautiful elven face of Hiraya, adorned with a welcoming smile.
"Good morning, Lysander," she greeted.
"G-Good morning," I mumbled, stifling a yawn.
Hiraya's smile persisted as she inquired, "Is this a good time to disturb you?"
"Yeah," I replied with a sleepy nod. "I was about to doze off again anyway." The weariness of the morning lingered in my voice as I welcomed the interruption, grateful for the company that disrupted the solitude of my thoughts.
Hiraya forced a smile, remarking, "Sleeping just thirty minutes after breakfast… That's a bad lazy habit. If you're getting bored, why won't we do something together?"
"Like what? Chess again?" I asked, the monotony evident in my voice. "We've been playing chess every night, and you beat my ass ten to one. And we just played card games with the girls last night."
"No, no. I'm not talking about board games. Let's do something fun and lively," Hiraya suggested, waving her index finger with a smirk.
"Like what?" I inquired without much enthusiasm.
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"Like making babies," she added, her unexpected suggestion hanging in the air.
All of a sudden, a rush of blood surged to my head, causing my face to flush and my brain to go into overdrive. Hiraya's unexpected flirtatious remark left me momentarily stunned.
"Stop clowning around!" I cried, attempting to regain my composure.
Hiraya chuckled and gently slapped my shoulder. Without missing a beat, she locked arms with me, her soft chest brushing against my elbow. When I shot her a glare, she winked mischievously. "I wanted to tell you something. Let's take a walk around."
"I swear, if this is some kind of setup for another dirty joke, I'm gonna ditch you," I warned.
“Hahaha!” Hiraya responded with an innocent laugh, her elven ears perking upward.
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In the northwest corner of Guardian's Haven, a serene garden known as the Sanctuary of Peace adorned the very edge of the floating island. Hiraya led me to this enchanting place, where the air was filled with the sweet scent of mystic flowers and the gentle rustle of the wind. Here, the only sounds and scents were those of the majestic flowers and the soothing breeze.
Various blooms in hues of red, blue, yellow, and white swayed gracefully in response to the morning wind. The combination of the floral aroma and the soft grass beneath my feet induced a profound sense of peace, in perfect harmony with the sanctuary's name.
At the boundary of the Sanctuary of Peace stood a towering tree with leaves aglow in neon green. Its branches swayed slowly, offering a gentle welcome. Glowing particles reminiscent of fireflies gathered around the tree, creating an ethereal display. Drawing from my knowledge at the Erudites Magic Academy, I recognized these trees as Elven Trees—entities that absorbed and released nature energy through a magical form of photosynthesis.
Hiraya stood before the glowing Elven Tree, her long golden hair cascading gracefully down to her knees, swaying in unison with the dance of nature energy around her. The scene unfolded like a picturesque tableau, a moment of magnificence that deepened my admiration for her.
"Madam Corasell talked to me earlier. She said that they are going with the plan," Hiraya muttered.
I wasn't surprised; the brilliance of Hiraya's plan had been evident. However, what did surprise me was her commitment to proving me wrong, demonstrating that she wasn't an enemy of humanity. She willingly embarked on this risky endeavor to earn my trust.
"What do you feel about it?" I inquired, curious about her sentiments on the matter.
"Scared… of course," Hiraya admitted, holding onto her elbow. She turned to face me, her golden eyes locking onto mine with a smile of trust. "But you will save me, right?"
"I will," I affirmed. "I don't know how, but I will definitely find a way."
Hiraya then approached me, closing the distance between us until I felt a sudden, soft sensation on my forehead. It was a light, gentle kiss.
"…Ah," I uttered silently, the unexpected gesture leaving a lingering warmth in its wake.
"Thank you. Just giving me assurance, no matter how hopeless it is, makes me filled with hope and joy," Hiraya beamed with a radiant smile.
I was taken aback and felt a sudden surge of flustered emotions. Instinctively, I glared at Hiraya, my heart racing with an unexpected feeling. Yet, there she stood, still smiling, as if it was the most ordinary thing in the world.
"Don't… do… something like that… again," I warned her, my face reddening.
"But I do this to your harem all the time," Hiraya winked mischievously. "Kate and Charlotte love it. Gaeun sometimes even blushes like you do. You should see their faces one time." Her nonchalant tone only added to my embarrassment, realizing the shared intimacy among our group.
"Don't treat me like them. I'm…" My voice trembled as I spoke, conveying a vulnerability I hadn't intended.
Hiraya's expression shifted to one of regret, her head slightly lowered, and her pointed ears drooping. It was clear she believed I still harbored resentment, and the friendly gesture had only added to her embarrassment.
"Sorry. I'll be careful next time. Then I'll be going now," she apologized.
"Wait," I muttered.
"Hmm?"
"I want to apologize for my past words," I muttered, a hint of regret in my voice.
Hiraya tilted her head, her ears betraying a mix of confusion and curiosity. "Can you remind me what?"
"I expressed hatred, loathing, and disdain towards you," I admitted. "I tried to convince myself I despised you, but the truth is, I couldn't."
Hiraya fell into contemplation. "Oh, that," she said, her thoughts consuming her for a moment. "It's fine. Though, I'll only accept a free meal as a sincere apology." She flashed an innocent smile and winked.
I sighed deeply. My apology had a more significant gesture in mind than a simple dinner, but I resigned myself to treating her as a bonus.
"For starters, why don't we stroll up in the skies?" I smirked. "I will teach you the Wings of Light." The offer hung in the air, a suggestion to share something personal and intimate, a step towards mending the rift between us.