"I'm so glad we're going together, Arthur," Rachel said, her voice carrying that unmistakable, melodic warmth. Somehow, she managed to nuzzle even closer to me, as though proximity itself could convey her delight.
I glanced down at her, half-amused and half-exasperated, as she nestled against my arm, clearly intent on using it as a makeshift body pillow. The AI-driven car glided smoothly through the city streets, its tinted windows ensuring our privacy. It was the only reason Rachel felt comfortable enough to indulge in her usual displays of affection.
Her sapphire eyes sparkled as she looked up at me, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders like liquid sunlight. "You don't mind, do you?" she asked, though it was less a question and more a statement of intent.
I sighed, though the corners of my lips quirked into a reluctant smile. "You don't exactly leave me much of a choice."
Rachel giggled, a sound that was both innocent and entirely mischievous. She shifted slightly, her warmth pressing against me. "You love it."
I didn't answer, but I didn't move away either.
As the car hummed softly, my thoughts drifted. 'Seraphina and Cecilia aren't wrong,' I mused, 'I do spend a lot of time at the Creighton estate.'
It was an observation they both voiced with varying degrees of teasing and disapproval. But it was only natural. The Creighton estate was a haven for spellcasters, its libraries and resources unmatched. More than that, Alastor Creighton genuinely liked me—an approval that carried significant weight in their world.
My feelings for Rachel, Seraphina, and Cecilia, however, were equal. It wasn't about favoring one over the others. I didn't love Rachel any more or less than I loved the other two.
But love didn't always divide itself evenly across time and circumstance. Just as I had spent more time with Seraphina in the East during the war, I was now spending more time with Rachel here, in her family's domain. It wasn't about preference—it was about opportunity.
Rachel sighed contentedly, her head resting fully against my shoulder now. "It's nice, isn't it?" she murmured. "Just the two of us for a while."
I glanced at her again, noting the genuine happiness in her expression. For all her teasing, moments like these reminded me of just how deeply she cared. It wasn't just about the grand gestures or the playful banter—it was about being present, about sharing the quiet spaces in between the chaos.
"Yeah," I said softly, my voice matching the calm of the car's interior. "It is."
Outside, the world blurred past us, but in here, time seemed to slow. Rachel closed her eyes, her breathing steady as she rested against me. I let her stay there, her warmth grounding me as the journey continued.
"Stop staring there, Arthur," Rachel said, her voice laced with mock annoyance as she caught my gaze wandering. "We are not doing it in the car."
I shook my head with a wry smile. "Noted."
She rolled her eyes, but the corner of her lips quirked into a faint smile.
"So, how's the climb up the Wall treating you?"
"Well," she began, shifting to sit more upright, "I understand the Fuller method—or I will in about a month—but I won't reach Ascendant-rank by then."
"Why not?" I asked, though I already had a guess.
Rachel let out a soft sigh, resting her head back against the plush car seat. "The issue isn't understanding the method. It's conceptualizing it. That part… that part is going to take time. Still, I'll get there by the time I'm nineteen."
"Incredible," I said, and I meant it. Rachel was a genius—of that there was no doubt. Her understanding of spellcasting theory was unmatched among our peers, and even beyond.
She turned to me then, her sapphire eyes narrowing slightly. "And how far ahead will you be by then?"
"Quite a bit," I said with a shrug, not wanting to dwell on comparisons. "But I have an idea. Have you considered skipping the Fuller method entirely and going straight for the Astareus method?"
Her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"The issue isn't your grasp of the mathematics," I explained. "It's that using the Fuller method for your conceptualization is slowing down your mana rank progression. You're so sharp, Rachel, I'm confident you could master the Astareus method instead. If you conceptualize that directly, you could reach Ascendant-rank at the same time and not waste time learning it after."
Rachel tilted her head, her golden hair cascading over her shoulder as she considered my words. "The Astareus method is superior to the Fuller method," she mused, her voice thoughtful. "And if I use it for my enlightenment, as you said, I won't have to spend months learning it after."
Her gaze sharpened, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind. Rachel wasn't just brilliant—she was ambitious. She didn't need much convincing when the logic aligned with her goals.
"You're right," she said after a moment, her voice resolute. "I'll switch to the Astareus method. If I'm going to climb the Wall, I might as well do it properly."
I smiled, proud of her determination. "It suits you better anyway. You've always been about breaking limits, not following conventions."
Rachel leaned back, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. "And here I thought you only stared at me to admire how pretty I am. Turns out you're actually useful for advice, too."
I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Always a charmer, Rach."
She grinned, her earlier teasing tone returning. "You love it."
"Wait a minute," Rachel said, her sapphire eyes narrowing suspiciously as she turned to face me fully. "Are you suggesting this just because you want me to learn the Astareus method alongside you, Nightingale?"
I gave her a grin, the kind that usually earned me an exasperated sigh. "That's a perk," I admitted. "But honestly? I just believe in your talent. This will save you a few months you'd otherwise spend learning the Astareus method after reaching Ascendant-rank, like I had to."
Her expression softened slightly, though the suspicion lingered. "You really think it'll make that much of a difference?"
"I know it will," I said firmly. "You're already far ahead in understanding spellcasting theory. Conceptualizing the Astareus method directly won't just be faster—it'll make you stronger in the long run."
Rachel tilted her head, the golden locks of her hair spilling over her shoulder like molten sunlight. She studied me for a long moment, weighing my words as if testing their merit. Finally, she sighed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I'll think about it."
That was as good as a yes coming from Rachel.
As the car continued its smooth journey, my thoughts wandered. Rachel's development was already ahead of schedule compared to the original timeline in the novel. In that version of events, she had reached Ascendant-rank by the time she began her fifth year at Mythos Academy. Now, with the Astareus method, she could reach it even sooner.
Both Ren and Lucifer had always been the standard to measure against. In the original timeline, they reached Ascendant-rank by the end of their fourth year. But now, things were shifting. From what I could see, Lucifer would likely break through by spring break, with Ren following about a month later.
Lucifer's meteoric rise in mana rank had once left everyone his age in the dust. But that lead had evaporated after he ascended to White-rank too early. His premature breakthrough had left him stuck there for nearly a year and a half, a frustrating bottleneck even for someone of his immense talent. That delay had cost him dearly, holding him back just enough for the rest of us to catch up.
Rachel, meanwhile, had always been steady and deliberate in her climb, her brilliance ensuring no time was ever wasted at any stage. She was, by all accounts, a prodigy—but her talents ran deeper than raw power. They were measured in her ability to adapt, to strategize, and to excel where others faltered.
Rachel was more than a top talent; she was a cornerstone. Even in the distant future, she would be known as the Saintess, a title born not of religion but of reverence. In a world without gods, her mastery of healing and light magic was so profound that the name was given out of sheer respect, a reflection of her Gift, Saintess.
In terms of raw ability, excluding myself, Rachel's talent placed her sixth in our generation—a ranking that, considering the competition, was nothing short of extraordinary. Cecilia was an exceptional spellcaster, her magic precise and devastating, and Seraphina was a formidable swordswoman whose stoic determination had carved a path of its own. Yet neither could match Rachel in sheer brilliance.
Her gifts came not just from her high affinity for light magic but from the mind behind them—a genius intellect that thrived on mathematics and academic mastery. She didn't just wield her powers; she understood them at a level few could ever hope to reach.
As the car glided onward, I found myself watching her. Rachel was leaning back, her golden hair spilling over her shoulders like liquid gold, her sapphire eyes reflecting a light that seemed all her own. She caught me staring, and her lips curved into a teasing smile.
"Why are you staring at my face now?" she asked, tilting her head just slightly. "Am I so beautiful you actually looked up for once?"
I chuckled, leaning closer. "Just thinking about what a brilliant mind you have, Rach."
Her expression softened for a fraction of a second before her teasing smirk returned. "Flatterer," she murmured, though her cheeks betrayed her with the faintest dusting of pink.
Without another word, I leaned in and kissed her forehead, the lightest touch, a quiet acknowledgment of everything she was. For all her teasing, Rachel wasn't just beautiful or brilliant—she was a force of nature, a radiant light that cut through even the darkest of paths.
She glanced up at me, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "That's it? No follow-up?"