Emma sat in the infirmary even though there was nothing wrong with her.
Why? Safety measures.
Even if she was a healer herself.
Across from her sat a familiar man, eyes hidden under a thick binding as he read through her reports.
"Can you even see?" Emma asked flatly.
Kaizek glanced up and sighed. "Barely."
"Then stop pretending and return to the Tower. You're needed there, aren't you?"
Kaizek was her father's guard—always meant to be by his side. As the leader of one of the great Towers, her father's life was constantly in danger. He had already survived two attacks from true Devils, and evil followers struck at him whenever they found the chance.
That was why Kaizek and her father's other sword, Sir Eden, rarely left him.
Kaizek hummed. "Well, there's no rush." He set the reports down on the bed and turned toward Emma. "So… what do you plan on doing from here on?"
He and Emma were close. He had trained her for a whole year before her enrollment in the academy, serving as her combat instructor. That was why he didn't hesitate to ask his master's daughter directly—
"What do you plan on doing with that guy?"
Emma immediately knew who he meant.
She crossed her arms. "You clearly have something to say about William."
Kaizek chuckled. "You expect me to stay calm about him? A mere teenager who nearly crushed me?"
Emma tilted her head, lips pressed together.
Kaizek coughed. "I know I'm not invincible, but still—I'm a seven-star warrior, for god's sake."
Emma sighed. "What are you trying to say?"
Kaizek's tone softened, his usual vigor fading. "Emma… this guy is dangerous. You must have felt it too—the purity of his aether." His voice carried disbelief as he added, "It was purer than yours. And that's… staggering."
Emma fell silent. She had felt it too.
The purer the aether, the sharper its effect against Nyx-users. It also heightened efficiency while chanting spells.
That was why monks and sages, who dedicated their lives to refining aether, often reached levels of purity few others could match.
"He's an unconventional sorcerer with a rare gift—telekinesis. His control over magic is absurd. And his mana nodes… I've never seen anything like them." Kaizek's gaze grew distant. "It was as if a beast had been chained, and once freed, it finally unfurled its wings."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Emma couldn't deny his words.
William had already proven himself stronger than anyone else in the academy—even stronger than most of the professors.
And he was still only a teenager.
For more than two years, he had lived under the Curse. Yet the moment he regained his freedom, he didn't hide or hesitate—he went straight to challenge one of the strongest in the world.
Emma understood why Kaizek was anxious.
But still, she said firmly, "I'm going to meet him."
Kaizek let out a long sigh. Why was this so expected?
Even so, he couldn't stop himself from asking, "Even after he betrayed you… why?"
Emma didn't answer him directly. Instead, she asked her own question.
"He could have killed me in that barrier. Crushed me without effort. He could have struck a vital organ before I even noticed. I was completely vulnerable. But instead… he placed that knife exactly where it would only cause bleeding, nothing more. Why?"
Kaizek leaned back, "You sure you aren't making things up in your head just because of your feelings for him?"
Emma looked at him, her brows elevated, "Do I look like I have feelings for him?"
"You do not?" The man asked, his brows elevated as well.
Emma parted her lips but then, she sealed her lips.
Kaizek shook his head, 'Teenage love. So complicated.'
Silence didn't persist for long before Kaizek got up from his seat.
Looking down at Emma, he said, "Do whatever you think is right but don't get hurt, Kid. Boss would be sad if you suddenly died."
Emma snickered, "I won't be dying any time soon."
Kaizek didn't respond to that.
Turning around, he walked out of the infirmary, leaving Emma alone with her thoughts.
She curled her legs, hugged her knees as she looked outside the window.
Even though he was hurt the most, he didn't come to the infirmary.
He was still in the forest.
But thanks to that…she can meet him.
Alone.
She needs answers.
°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading.