William had fallen asleep. It was late in the night and his body had yet to fully recover.

While talking, he had simply dozed off, the tension of the day slipping away the moment his breathing evened out. The steady rise and fall of his chest was shallow but calm, a clear sign that exhaustion had finally claimed its due.

Emma remained sitting there, just gazing at him.

The infirmary was quiet at this hour, save for the faint hum of lamps and the distant footsteps of guards on night patrol.

White curtains stirred slightly with the breeze slipping in through a half-open window, brushing against the edge of William's bed. His usually sharp expression was softened in sleep, brows no longer knit with focus or pain.

What he told her earlier about the dream he had still lingered.

The way his voice had dropped. The way his fingers had curled slightly as if grasping for something unseen. Emma replayed those moments again and again, her chest tightening each time. Even now, the memory sat heavy in her thoughts.

And despite how nonchalant he appeared, Emma knew that the memory had shaken him down to his core.

William had always been good at wearing composure like armor. Smiling through discomfort. Shrugging off fear with humor. But she had seen the cracks today, brief as they were, and that was enough to tell her how deep the dream had cut.

However, she didn't press him to reveal his true feelings. She knew him well enough to understand that forcing words out of him would only make him retreat further. If things became too much to bear, she knew he would come to her on his own terms.

For now, she wanted him to focus on his recovery and nothing else.

"You need to rest too, Emma."

A voice came from the left. It was the nurse in charge of William, her tone firm but not unkind.

The silver head sighed and asked, "If I ask you to let me stay here—"

"No, not possible." The nurse cut in without hesitation. "I didn't stop you from doing whatever you wanted the whole day, but you can't stay in the infirmary overnight. Go rest in your room and return early tomorrow morning."

The girl exhaled a long sigh. She already knew it was futile to argue. The rules here were strict, especially after what had happened.

She gazed at William once again, concern evident in her eyes. The faint marks of healing spells still glimmered along his arm, and the smell of medicine clung to the air around him. Lowering her voice, she told the nurse, "If something happens, please call me."

The woman nodded.

Emma leaned forward and kissed William's forehead, lingering there for just a second longer than necessary.

Faintly, she whispered, "Take care," before she finally walked out of the infirmary.

Darkness had enveloped the sky outside. A crescent moon hung high above, pale and distant, with countless stars twinkling around it like scattered shards of light. The academy grounds were quiet at this hour, lanterns lining the paths with a warm glow.

She walked slowly, her footsteps crunching softly against the gravel path. Her thoughts were scattered, pulled between exhaustion and worry.

She wondered whether she should go and try to find something to eat or just return to her room and sleep. The ache in her shoulders reminded her how long the day had been, but her mind refused to settle.

As she walked, she heard a voice from behind.

"Emma."

She frowned before turning toward the boy. "What do you need now?"

Kevin stood there beneath one of the lanterns, his expression uncertain. The light cast long shadows across his face, making him look more tired than usual.

His shoulders slumped.

With a helpless look, he asked, "I… don't understand what exactly I do to make you so wary of me?"

Emma narrowed her eyes. "You really don't remember what you did back when I was gone to visit my family?"

Kevin's shoulders dropped further as he said, "That was just a single mistake I have done, and I am ready to apologize for that—"

"What do you need?" Emma asked again, cutting him off. Her voice was calm, but cold. That alone was enough to show her intentions toward forgiving him, or rather, the lack of it.

Kevin exhaled a sigh before he finally asked, "For one last time, can you participate in a raid with us?"

Emma frowned, but before she could say anything, Kevin added quickly, "I know you told Natalie that you are thinking of forming your own team, but this is the end of our academy life, Emma. It would take time to do that, and we have been working together for so many months. This is such a crucial time for everyone, so why not one last time, when it matters the most, we fight together?"

Emma turned silent for a moment.

The idea of forming her own team did sound good. It was something she had been thinking about for a while now, a future she wanted to carve with her own hands. But what Kevin said wasn't entirely wrong either. It would take time. Trust wasn't built overnight.

But—

"No, Kevin." She shook her head. "I couldn't."

She didn't offer any more explanation and turned away, her decision firm.

Kevin wanted to say more, but she was already walking off, clearly reluctant to listen.

In the end, he just stood there with his head hung low as a faint whisper left his lips, barely audible in the night.

"You don't understand how important this is for me… and William."

…

The dungeon had been destroyed, which was why the trial was shifted to another dungeon under the Tower's control.

In addition to that, the damage done by William inside the dungeon was not only compensated by the Count but also by the Tower Master himself, given that he held himself guilty for the outcome of the trial. The reports, the investigations, and the meetings had dragged on for days, leaving the academy buzzing with rumors.

It had been four days since the incident.

William had recovered well in that time, though not without difficulty. The nurse made it clear that it would take him some time before he could freely move or eat regular food. Healing spells could only do so much. The rest depended on time and patience.

At the moment, Emma was supporting him while holding his hand as they walked under the sun, fresh grass beneath their bare feet.

The warmth of the day felt comforting, a stark contrast to the cold stone corridors of the infirmary. A gentle breeze passed through the garden, carrying the scent of flowers and freshly cut grass.

"Haah, it feels great to be out again." William muttered, basking in the heat. "Who knew the injuries would be so grave that they would even suggest crutches."

Emma smiled, tightening her grip just a little. "Why do you need that when I am here?"

"Now that counts as a cheesy line," William remarked playfully.

Emma rolled her eyes before a soft laugh escaped her lips.

They walked along the flower bed in silence for a few moments, the rhythmic sound of their steps filling the space between them.

"So?" William asked after a while. "When is your trial?"

Emma answered without much thinking. "Tomorrow."

The blond one glanced at her. "With… who?"

The silver head turned toward him and asked, "Would you be bothered if I participated with Kevin?"

William hummed before responding, "Honestly? Yes. I know what he feels toward you, so I would feel bothered knowing you would be working together again. But I won't stop you from making your decision, Emma. You have worked with him for the past two years and you have kept your distance. So I believe you can manage again."

Emma grinned. "Don't be so understanding all the time. Sometimes, you can just tell me not to go."

William sheepishly smiled. "Well… then, don't go with him. That dude is a creep."

Emma chuckled. "Don't worry. I am participating with Dorothy and the others. While it sounds like a wild idea, I believe we would do good."

William nodded. "You two are close friends, and you have fought together before too. I believe you can at least reach the third floor."

Emma hummed, her left brow slowly rising. "Just the third floor? That's… kind of disappointing to hear. Are you underestimating me, dear?"

William tilted his head. "I mean, if you were to face the same level of threat as me… third floor should be it, no?"

Emma laughed, her pride slightly wounded. "Now that sounds like a challenge. I can't let that slide."

"So?" William asked. "What floor are you aiming for?"

"I am going to earn my fourth star tomorrow," Emma said confidently.

William nodded. "If you do that… then I promise to reward you."

Emma blinked. "What kind of reward?"

He grinned. "You will see. And you will love it."

Somehow, those words made her heart skip a beat, the tips of her ears turning red. But she was excited too, curiosity sparking alongside determination.

"I will definitely clear the fourth stage," she said, her grip on his hand firm and unwavering.

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