n

n

n

"I still can't believe I got rejected for volunteering to escort you,

" Eon pouted and then glared at Nathan openly.

nNathan only humphed coldly at my side and drank his tea.

nYou must be wondering why my brother is here? Well, according to him and my father, he would be guarding me all the time along with one other person, which is Lukas.

nI'm surprised as well, don't worry.

nI mean, two of the strongest people in the empire? Just to guard me? I'm not even someone important… Well, he did say I'm an unofficial saint despite failing the test.

n

"It's because you kept slacking off of your duties,

" Luther quipped.

"Why don't you complain to Nathan right now?

" He added.

nEon straightened his back and stuffed a cookie in his mouth.

n

"Who said I'm complaining?

"

nI thought you already gained a backbone, Eon.

n

"Anyway, are you feeling okay now, Nads? Like for real?

" Eon inquired, staring at me with honest eyes.

nHe's cute when he does that. Like a puppy.

nI smiled at them for effect.

n

"Yes. I am fine, for real.

"

n

"You're not lying?

" Conrad also asked.

n

"Yes! The last time you said you were fine, you vomited blood right after. I was really shocked, you know!

" Gwen suddenly raised her voice as she slapped the fan close while squinting her eyes, catching me off guard.

nMy heart literally skipped! Even Bea beside her jolted, that's how loud she was.

n

"That's the Gwen I know!

" Noah then teased her soon after.

"You were too quiet, it was giving me goosebumps.

"

nGwen's face immediately turned red.

n

"Shut up!

"

nOooh~ I kind of missed these two's banter. Just so you know, during our time in the academy, the three of us were pretty tight. Gwen would sometimes use Noah as a bridge to convey things to Rosamunde because they just don't get along. That's probably how Noah and Rosa got closer, now that I think about it.

n

"I promise, okay? I'm not lying to you. The priests are always checking on me so I can guarantee it.

"

nI even raised my palm as a gesture of being sincere.

n

"Priests? Damn, you are so well taken care of,

" Luther then reacted.

nI agree.

n

"I have never seen a priest before,

" Noah scratched his chin,

"I feel envious.

"

n

"Yes, there were three of them. Lord Janus also came once,

" Gwen confirmed.

nOh, right. I forgot Gwen was there when ** happened. I wonder if she's aware that I have powers? I did cause a mana storm, if she was present at that time, she must have witnessed it.

n

"What? The Lord Janus? The master of the arcane tower?

" Conrad was shocked silly.

n

"Who else?

" Gwen sneered.

nAre they fighting still? Damn…

n

"Seriously?

" Bea, Eon, Luther, and Noah chorused, disbelief written all over their faces.

n

"Nads, tell us all of your secrets right now,

" Noah jokes.

n

"Fool…

" I muttered and hid my smile by sipping tea.

nAh… I feel so good right now. Being able to joke around with my friends after a long time…

n

"Why did the tower master appear? Are you two acquainted?

" Luther started rattling his queries.

n

"In a way… yes?

"

nWe kind of have a connection. A strange one? Janus does know I'm not from here like the omnipotent magician he is.

nThe others drilled me for answers as well. Janus is truly famous huh.

n

"When did the two of you meet?

" Eon's eyes were shining brightly.

nBea's eyes were shining equally as Eon's.

n

"Doesn't he rarely leave the tower?

"

n

"Yeah? Wasn't the first time he appeared was during the founding ball? Did you two get acquainted that time?

" Noah piped in.

nThe others didn't throw questions but their eyes did.

n

"Uhh… Before the founding ball, actually. The empress invited him for tea during one of our afternoon parties, and so I met him there.

"

nHow would I forget the day I almost had a heart attack after seeing Janus for the first time? I was so scared I was sweating coldly.

n

"So after that, you two got along?

" Conrad followed up.

n

"Not really? We met a few more times after that, accidentally. It kind of just happened, I guess? He then invited me to the tower after a few meetings.

"

nThe others got silent, gazing at me in wonder. They look so silly that I started laughing.

n

"He invited you to the tower…

"

n

"The arcane tower…

"

n

"To be fair I can access the tower if I want to because of my rank, but getting invited… Damn…

"

nSeeing their reactions, I quickly settled the truth before they could get carried away.

n

"There's nothing special going on. He was just being polite because the palace requested.

"

n

"Ahuh…

" Luther wasn't buying it.

"Why does it feel like Nadia is getting further and further away?

"

n

"What the hell? Stop joking,

" I refuted.

nI swear they are so dramatic.

n

"I thought I'm already immune to these things. But turns out, Nadia is more abnormal than we thought,

" Noah seconded.

n

"Who are you calling abnormal?

"

nIt's fate playing around!

nConrad bobbed his head.

n

"Me too… I thought I'm used to it but I still get surprised from time to time.

"

n

"Nads is a different specie…

" Eon commented.

n

"You guys are so weird,

" I sighed in exasperation.

n

"Nads is weirder!

" The rest immediately rebuked.

n

"Right!

"

nAhh… seriously…

n

"What about Kuro? Have you found him?

" Gwen inquired.

n

"Yes. He had returned,

" I then smiled at her reassuringly.

nI did mention to her once that Kuro was missing.

n

"What? Why? Did the fox get lost?

" Eon questioned.

nGot lost…

n

"...

"

nShould I tell them the truth? I mean, sooner or later, it will be revealed anyway. Maybe the thing about me having powers could still be hidden for now until I mastered it somehow. Though I find suppressing my magic is seriously hard. I get so tired at night after a whole day of bottling it in.

nThat's why I should visit the palace and ask Ezekiel for pointers.

n

"Before that, I have something to tell you.

"

nI saw them starting to raise their brows from my tone.

n

"What?

"

n