Chapter 20

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 20

Chapter Title: The Ogre Slain

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"Arista, don't push yourself too hard."

At that moment, Arista staggered to her feet from behind. Lucia and her friends hurried over to her.

Arista used a prepared towel and blanket to warm her chilled body while pressing her throbbing forehead.

"Arista, if you're feeling up to it, could you tell us what happened on the mountain?"

A professor asked cautiously, and Arista carefully opened her mouth.

"So... on the way to the goal point, it suddenly started raining."

Arista slowly recounted what had happened to her.

"I planned to just push through, but it poured harder than expected, so I was debating what to do. Then a withdrawal signal flare went up."

The academy, determining the practical assessment couldn't continue in the downpour, had fired the flare to let the students withdraw.

Arista had seen the signal flare clearly too.

"So I hurried back down. On the way, I ran into Herwin by chance and was going to head down together, but midway... we encountered an ogre."

Sharp gasps echoed from those around them.

Even when Brian and Ethan had insisted they'd seen it clearly, skeptics had murmured in doubt. Now they stirred.

"Herwin spotted the ogre first and protected me. He took a serious injury in the process."

Lucia bit her lower lip hard at words that made her heart drop just hearing them.

In a situation where neither could move properly, shaking off a monster and reaching safety was nothing short of a miracle.

"A dire situation, yet you made it back safe. Just not being hurt is a blessing."

"What happened to the ogre? Did you manage to evade it unharmed?"

The professors, relieved at Herwin and Arista's safe return, now fretted over the ogre's fate.

Arista hesitated, lips twitching as she glanced around. She seemed reluctant to speak.

"It's all right. Go on, tell us."

Assuming she hadn't recovered from the shock of facing an ogre, another professor patted her back.

With that, Arista's face flushed deeper.

"Well... the truth is, we slayed the ogre."

The words that followed hit like a thunderbolt.

The crowd erupted in delayed shock.

Amid the reactions exploding from all sides, Arista awkwardly averted her eyes.

"Ha... slaying an ogre. Remarkable."

"How did that happen? Did Herwin take it down?"

Christine and Bianca buzzed with whispers. Beside them, Lucia's eyes widened, fixed on Arista.

"Who slayed the ogre? It's no easy monster. You'd need at least a battle-hardened knight or someone who's reached Sword Expert..."

A stunned professor trailed off mid-ramble and whipped his head toward Arista.

His eyes bulged wide.

"Don't tell me... you can wield Aura now?"

Arista glanced around once more before nodding reluctantly, just a little.

A small affirmation. The surroundings grew chaotic for an entirely new reason.

The ability to wield Aura.

It meant she'd stepped into Sword Expert territory.

"How did you gain the power to use Aura?"

"Honestly, I don't know. The ogre was going for Herwin, and my body moved on instinct... When I snapped out of it, the ogre was already down."

Now that she mentioned it, Arista's clothes were splattered with the monster's green blood.

They'd first thought it was grass stains. It wasn't.

"So you slayed the ogre for sure and made your way down."

"Yes. The rain made the path slippery, and with Herwin so badly hurt, it took time."

"No need to apologize—we're thankful you're back safe. Sorry to grill you without rest after such terror."

"It's fine, it's only natural. Cough, cough... Professor, how's Herwin?"

"He's getting emergency care now. We'll move him to the academy infirmary shortly. You rest easy."

"That's a relief then..."

A professor guided Arista to lie on the stretcher. The moment her back touched the fabric, her eyelids fluttered.

As sleep claimed her, she spotted Lucia and the others approaching after the professor left.

Exhausted as she was, Arista managed a smile.

"...Thank you for saving Herwin. I'll never forget this debt."

Lucia gently clasped Arista's limp hand.

Her fingertips bore not a lady's softness, but a swordswoman's calluses.

The thought that these hands had saved Herwin brought fresh emotion surging through Lucia.

"No... Without Herwin, I wouldn't be here either..."

Arista's voice dripped with weariness.

"Sorry for keeping you up. I'll head out so you can sleep."

As Lucia wiped teary eyes and rose, Arista caught her hand.

"...Lucia."

"Yeah?"

"If you're truly grateful... could you grant me one favor later?"

"A favor? What is it?"

"Later... I'll tell you later..."

With that, her half-lidded eyes closed fully. Soon, soft breaths filled the air.

Lucia couldn't fathom what favor Arista had in mind.

"Achoo!"

Deep in thought but chilled, Lucia sneezed.

"See? What did I tell you? At least change your clothes."

"Yeah, Lucia. Herwin's heading to the infirmary soon anyway. Go back to the dorm, change, and come."

Stubbornly silent till now, Lucia relented after one more sneeze.

The very next day after Herwin and Arista's disappearance.

Their tale spread through the academy like wildfire in under a day.

Peneus Young Lord and Lydia Duchess's Daughter vanish side by side. Miraculous survival and return.

A tantalizing hook for curiosity.

The academy's two most famous first-years gone together, back safe. Perfect fodder for novel lovers.

Those who'd long whispered the pair made a fine match now speculated wildly about what happened during their absence.

Stripped and huddled for warmth in the rain, perhaps. Or awakening feelings amid life-or-death peril. Some even whispered of engagement talks.

Fantasies flew high and wild. Reality differed.

Both had crashed into deep sleep, out cold a full day later.

Achoo.

Lucia stifled ongoing sneezes from yesterday and rushed to the infirmary.

After changing at the dorm last night, fever had crept in bit by bit.

An hour soaked in rain, piled with sudden stress—she'd caught a cold.

The infirmary teacher said a day or two's rest would fix it. Lucia had no time for rest, nursing Herwin instead.

She longed to stay glued to his side all day. But she was a student.

No special excuse meant no skipping classes for "friend care."

She could've ditched slyly to nurse him. Instead, Lucia dragged through lessons.

Not forgetting to dash to the infirmary every break to check him.

All classes finally done.

At the infirmary, Lucia checked Herwin first thing.

He lay on the bed like the dead.

Asleep yet stunning as ever.

Baby fat fading, sleek but softly rounded jaw and nose bridge. Straight lashes cast long shadows, brushing pale cheeks.

Without the faint breaths slipping parted lips, he'd pass for marble.

A face to mesmerize others left Lucia frowning sadly.

"He's thinned out..."

Subtle, but his features looked wan.

Nothing since yesterday's lunch—he'd wake starving.

Lucia had simple food ready for instant eating.

"Lucia, how's Herwin?"

Bianca appeared then.

"Still out."

"They said he'd wake soon..."

"Must've been exhausted. Not coma-level, so don't fret too much."

"Good to hear. Dinner soon—eaten anything?"

Lucia shook her head.

"You'll regret that. You barely touched breakfast or lunch. Might collapse before he stirs."

"Nah, not that serious. Just no appetite from the cold. Don't worry."

"That's prime time to force it down. What if it worsens?"

Bianca fussed while grumbling.

"Lucia, heard the talk?"

"What talk?"

"Herwin might fancy the Lydia Duchess's Daughter."

Voice low to avoid eavesdroppers.

"Exaggerated gossip from yesterday? That one?"

"Yeah, but it rings true."

"Bianca, plausible or not, you know it's nonsense. They collapsed on arrival—time for romance?"

"But hear me out. Herwin hurt shielding her. She slayed the ogre saving him. Mutual feelings? I know you like him, but if Herwin likes her..."

"Who ignores a friend in peril? I'd have helped Arista too as Herwin. Don't buy the rumors."

Lucia cut her off firmly.

"Sorry..."

Bianca's shoulders sagged; Lucia waved hastily.

"My bad for snapping."

"No, pointless gossip for you. My fault. Won't again."

Bianca pinky-swore no more such talk.

"Mmm..."

A groan. Lucia whipped around.

Long lashes quivered; heavy lids lifted slowly, revealing crimson eyes.

"Herwin!"

"Heavens! I-I'll fetch the infirmary teacher!"

Bianca bolted. Lucia wiped tears, calling desperately.

"Herwin, you with us?"

Dazed red eyes shifted from ceiling to her.

"Lucia..."

"Yeah, it's me. Thank the gods."

They'd said soon, she'd waited—but those eyes reopened, emotions overflowed.

"...Where am I?"

Sleep-rough voice rumbled low.

"Infirmary. Know how scared I got? Top practical assessment contender suddenly missing."

Lucia chided him.

Face scrunched in mock anger, nagging away—like a kitten's plaintive mew.