...
Theo held Nayun firmly, her body completely limp in his arms. For a moment, he just watched her, her face serene now that exhaustion had overcome her.
He carefully adjusted her position, sliding one arm under her knees and the other supporting her back, lifting her in a princess carry.
His gaze then moved to the scene of the battle. A colossal scar, fifty meters long, marked the earth as a permanent reminder of the power that had been unleashed there. And at the point of impact lay the Djinn's body, split in two.
With a slight nod, the claymore lying on the ground was pulled into his dimensional storage and put away.
He walked back to the bench where Yeonha was waiting for him, her face a mixture of concern for Nayun and astonishment at the devastation. Before the girl could open her mouth to ask about Nayun's condition, they both noticed sounds of people rapidly approaching the site.
"There! They're over there!"
Three instructors and two cadets were rushing toward them, their expressions tense and weapons in hand. The leader of the group was Instructor Park, who stopped abruptly next to them.
Yi Yeonghan and Kim Suho also looked concerned when they learned from Instructor Park that Theo had found the culprit, and they both quickly headed for that area, meeting the instructor halfway.
"Are you okay?"
Suho was the first to speak, his eyes passing over Theo holding Nayun, Yeonha on the bench, and the destruction in the campus garden.
"We heard a loud sound before we arrived."
Yeonghan, beside him, nodded, his gaze fixed on the long scar on the ground.
"Not just the sound. We saw something... like the projection of a giant sword rising toward the sky. What happened here?"
Instructor Park finally found his voice, though there was still a hint of concern in it.
"Cadet Theo... what is all this? And Cadet Chae, is she hurt?"
Theo adjusted Nayun in his arms; her body was completely limp.
"No, she's not hurt, just exhausted. She used all her mana in the last attack."
He explained calmly, easing all three of their concerns. He then gestured with his head toward the remains of Yoon Hyun, who was now nothing more than a Kit Kat, split in a strange way.
"That was the Djinn, responsible for the disappearances. Nayun took care of it."
The eyes of the three wavered slightly, obviously very surprised by what they had just heard.
And no wonder. Everyone there, in one way or another, knew Chae Nayun, either from the Military Academy or from her reputation that preceded her in Cube.
To most, she was the best archer of her generation, a long-range DPS with unmatched accuracy and firepower. Both titles were entirely linked to a Nayun very different from the image of a warrior who would wield a giant sword and leave a trail of destruction in melee combat.
"Chae Nayun... with a sword?"
Yeonghan muttered, confusion clear on his face as he tried to reconcile the information with what he knew.
Suho, on the other hand, looked at the mark on the floor, then at the unconscious Nayun, and a smile of admiration appeared on his face.
"It seems she has more talents than we imagined."
Instructor Park massaged his temples, looking like he had aged ten years in ten seconds. A cadet with such an absurd level of magical power was certainly no small thing.
The image of that gigantic sword projection was still etched in his retina.
'As expected of that man's granddaughter.'
Instructor Park couldn't help but compare her in his mind. The talent for combat and raw power were undoubtedly a family inheritance.
"Right... Right."
He said, finally regaining control and adopting a professional tone. He turned to the cadets.
"You can go back. The investigation is over. Theo, if you want, you can take Cadet Chae Nayun to the infirmary for some tests."
The instructor turned to two other instructors who were standing near the large cut.
"You two, come with me, let's start cleaning up this mess."
He looked at Yoon Hyun's remains with clear disdain.
Theo nodded, with no intention of staying.
"Are you guys staying, or are you coming back too?"
"Oh no, we're coming back too."
With everything settled, there was no reason for Suho and Yeonghan to stay there.
"Since we're going in the same direction, let's go together."
Suho, however, shook his head and quickly declined politely.
"Uh, I'll pass, Theo. Actually, I was thinking of going to train. I'll see if the training room is open yet."
Yeonghan beside him raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Train? At this hour? After all that?"
Suho gave a slightly awkward smile, scratching the back of his neck.
"Seeing Nayun-ssi in action was inspiring. I feel like I need to try harder, otherwise I'll fall behind."
The honesty in his voice was full of inspiration.
With the disappearance incident and the attack the day before, many places frequented by cadets, such as recreation and training areas, were closed until further notice. This included Kim Suho's favorite place, the general training center, the Fitness Center. The frustration of not being able to train freely, coupled with Nayun's overwhelming display of power, clearly motivated him not to waste another second.
Yeonghan sighed, but an understanding smile appeared on his lips.
"I understand. You never change, do you, my friend? Well, good luck then. I hope it's open."
Theo, who heard Suho's refusal, understood it completely.
"See you around, Suho."
With a final wave, Kim Suho turned and headed for the training area. Yi Yeonghan, finding himself alone, decided to join the other two.
"I'll walk with you to the dormitory intersection."
He said, starting to walk alongside Theo and Yeonha.
The return trip went smoothly. The trio talked about the events of the day and those to come in the future.
Theo, for the most part, just listened to the rhythm of his steady footsteps despite carrying Nayun.
After saying goodbye in the main lobby that connected the different buildings, the class president went to his dorm, which was in the same skyscraper as Suho's.
As soon as Yeonghan's figure disappeared into the lobby, Theo stopped.
"Let's go."
Theo then used his distortion magic, enveloping himself, Yeonha, and Nayun. In the next instant, he activated his teleportation.
The environment around them changed instantly. The front of the three huge buildings was replaced by the quiet and familiar comfort of Theo's bedroom.
He walked over to his bed and carefully laid Nayun down on the soft sheets.
Seeing that she might be uncomfortable in those clothes, he acted with surprising delicacy.
With gentle and efficient movements, he removed her boots, blouse, and pants, leaving her only in her underwear so she could rest more comfortably.
After tucking her under the sheets, covering her up to her shoulders, Theo kissed her forehead lightly. He then turned and left the room quietly, closing the door behind him, leaving her to sleep in peace.
He found Yeonha outside, waiting for him with a silly smile on her face, leaning against the doorframe leading to the hallway.
Her arms were crossed and her eyes sparkled with a mixture of mischief and embarrassment.
Theo raised an eyebrow, an amused smile appearing on his own lips when he saw her expression.
"What is it?"
"Mm... Would you like to... take a shower with me?"
Her expression was a shower of embarrassed cuteness. Seeing her, the always composed Yoo Yeonha, acting so shy, made Theo's heart warm.
He approached her and, with a quick and effortless movement, picked her up in his arms, in the same princess style he had carried Nayun.
Yeonha let out a small cry of surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck, her earlobes red.
He leaned down and whispered in her ear in a soft voice full of desire.
"With an invitation like that, I'll take as many baths as you want, my princess."
A radiant smile replaced the embarrassment on Yeonha's face. She hid her face in the crook of his neck, giggling softly.
Carrying her as if she weighed nothing, Theo took her toward the bathroom in her old room.
...