Now I need to figure out how to process it—and how to actually make use of it.

At the moment, it's nothing more than a heavy lump of metal that I can barely manage to float in the air. Deciding that I'd think about refining the Magnerium later, I set it aside and picked up the next item.

A small, yellow artifact shaped like a ring.

This one functions like a kind of battery. Using it should make controlling electricity noticeably easier.

As I continued examining the contents of the box, I couldn't help but feel impressed. No—astonished.

How did they manage to choose items that suited me this perfectly?

It was almost as if they knew exactly what my abilities were.

…Could they really know everything about me?

No. That's impossible.

I quickly dismissed the thought. Anna couldn't possibly be aware of my true abilities. If she were, she would have realized long ago that I was the one who saved her from the Red Wolf man.

And no matter how many times I replayed it in my head, it was clear she still hadn't connected me to the person wearing that helmet back then.

If she had noticed, there's no way she would've left me alone like this. With how ambitious she is, she would have already tried to pull me to her side—by force if necessary.

I pushed those complicated thoughts aside and refocused on the box.

One by one, more potions and artifacts came into view. None of them were ordinary. Each item radiated value, rarity, or both.

Even for an Imperial Princess, this level of generosity must have required a tremendous amount of resources.

Is it really alright to give things like this to a mere student?

…Well, I'm not exactly in a position to complain.

Holding the box filled with Anna's many gifts, I let a satisfied smile spread across my face.

****

The next day.

Starting tomorrow, the Academy would be temporarily closed for National Foundation Day.

Maybe because of that, the atmosphere felt different. The students who usually wore stiff, unreadable expressions all seemed a little lighter, a little more relaxed. Laughter carried farther than usual through the corridors.

"Louis!"

A familiar voice called out.

Lisa, who was walking alongside Elena, spotted me and immediately ran over, waving her hand energetically.

"Tomorrow's the National Foundation Day already!" she said, her eyes sparkling.

"Yeah," I replied with a small smile. "Elena, have you decided what you want to do during the festival?"

"Hm?" Elena paused for a moment, then nodded eagerly. "There's a famous chef from the eastern region opening a dessert stand. I want to go there first. And then…"

She trailed off, clearly lost in her own excitement.

It was rare to see her like this—so openly animated. She really must be looking forward to the festival held during National Foundation Day.

Meanwhile, I still hadn't given a proper answer about my own plans.

As the two of them continued chatting excitedly about what they wanted to see and eat, my attention drifted elsewhere.

A raised voice cut through the pleasant morning air.

"W-wait a moment! Please, just listen to me!?"

I turned my head toward the source of the commotion.

"Outsiders are not allowed to enter."

"But this is really important! I just need to check something quickly!"

"Not allowed. Please leave."

The exchange was tense, sharp enough to stand out from the otherwise cheerful mood around us.

"…What's going on?"

My brows knit together as I watched the scene unfold from a distance.

The academy gate was unusually noisy.

A security guard stood near the entrance, visibly flustered as he argued with someone who stubbornly refused to back down.

And the person causing the commotion was someone I recognized instantly.

"Lina…?"

What was she doing here?

Her sudden appearance left me genuinely confused—and judging by the reactions around me, I wasn't the only one.

"Sister…?"

Lisa's voice trembled as recognition dawned on her face.

"Lisa!!"

"Sister!!!"

The moment Lina heard her name, she vaulted past the stunned security guard without a second thought and sprinted toward us.

The next instant, the two of them collided into each other, arms wrapping tight as if afraid the other might disappear if they let go. They held on fiercely, shoulders shaking, completely oblivious to their surroundings.

Students passing by slowed to a stop, exchanging confused glances. To anyone else, it must have looked like an overdramatic reunion.

But I knew better.

Knowing what they had been through—how long they had been separated—I couldn't bring myself to interrupt. I simply watched, a quiet warmth spreading through my chest.

After what felt like a hundred years…

Family had finally found its way back together.

---

After the emotional reunion finally settled down, Lina was allowed to enter the Academy as a student's family member.

However—

Grrr…

The loud, unmistakable sound coming from her stomach left no room for debate. In the end, we brought Lina straight to the cafeteria.

Munch, munch.

"This is delicious!"

Just moments ago, she had been tearfully reminiscing about the past. Now, she was completely absorbed in devouring the food, her eyes practically sparkling with joy.

Seeing her like this, it was hard not to feel relieved.

"…By the way," I asked, watching her shovel another spoonful into her mouth, "how did you know to come here?"

I already knew Lina and Lisa were sisters—I'd glimpsed it through Lisa's memories before. But Lina had vanished so suddenly back then that I never had the chance to arrange a reunion between them.

And yet, here she was. At the Academy, of all places.

How did she find out Lisa was here?

"Mmm… gulp," Lina swallowed before answering. "I heard some rumors recently. About an accident at the Academy."

Ah.

The incident during the practical exam.

The one where massive thorns had erupted from the ground.

Those kinds of rumors spread fast—fast enough to reach anyone who paid even a little attention to what people were whispering about.

"They said huge thorns burst out of nowhere," Lina continued. "When I heard that, I thought… maybe my sister was involved."

Lisa's magic.

The overwhelming attack she'd used to subdue Clarisse.

It all clicked into place.

So Lina had followed the trail of rumors, trusting nothing more than intuition and sisterly instinct—and she'd been right.

The result?

A successful reunion.

Watching the two sisters sitting together now, I quietly leaned back in my chair.

Sometimes, rumors weren't just idle chatter.

Sometimes, they were the threads that reunited broken lives.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.