The next morning at Oberon Academy was as lively as ever. Students hustled between classes, the chatter of spells and lessons filling the air. Lumi, though well-rested from her long and much-needed nap, found herself slipping back into her familiar laidback mode as she walked with June and Heath toward Professor Aurelian's office to report their successful retrieval of the Scepter of the Storm.
"I still think we should've just sent a note or something," Lumi mumbled, rubbing the back of her neck as she stifled a yawn. "I mean, do we really need to give a full report in person? I just wanna laze around today."
June giggled beside her, clearly amused. "You'd never leave your room if you had your way, Lumi."
Heath, ever the voice of reason, smiled. "We need to tell Professor Aurelian about the scepter before Erick catches wind of it. And we also need his advice on what to do next."
Lumi sighed, though she couldn't deny Heath's logic. "Yeah, yeah. But I'm warning you, as soon as we're done, I'm heading straight back to bed."
They arrived at the office and knocked on the door. Professor Aurelian, an older mage with silver hair and sharp, calculating eyes, invited them in with a wave of his hand. The walls of his office were lined with books and magical artifacts, each more mysterious than the last.
"Ah, Lumi, June, Heath," he greeted them, his gaze resting briefly on the scepter in Lumi's hand. "I take it your mission was successful?"
Lumi stepped forward, holding the Scepter of the Storm out for him to see. "Yep, here it is. All safe and sound. It wasn't exactly a walk in the park, but we got it before Erick did."
Professor Aurelian's eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of Erick Noye. "That is excellent news. Erick's intentions with these artifacts have become increasingly concerning. Securing the scepter is a major victory."
June nodded, her expression serious. "We could feel how powerful it was. If Erick had gotten his hands on it, it could've been disastrous."
Aurelian motioned for Lumi to place the scepter on a stand that looked specially designed to contain powerful artifacts. She did so, feeling a strange sense of relief as the artifact was securely stored. "I will ensure that the scepter is protected," Aurelian said. "In the meantime, you must all remain vigilant. Erick will not be pleased to learn that this scepter has slipped through his grasp."
Lumi groaned quietly. "So basically, no lazy days in the near future. Great."
"I feel for you, Lumi," Glaciel's voice piped up in her mind, as playful as ever. "But hey, at least you've still got me to chat with. I'm great company, even if we're constantly running from danger."
Lumi stifled a chuckle, nodding slightly to herself. "Yeah, thanks for that, Glaciel."
Just as they were about to leave Professor Aurelian's office, there was a sudden, sharp knock on the door. Aurelian's eyes flicked toward it with concern. "Come in."
The door opened, and to everyone's surprise—and immediate discomfort—Erick Noye strode into the room. His golden hair shone under the soft lighting of the office, and his sharp green eyes scanned the room with a calculating intensity that made Lumi's skin crawl. His presence alone seemed to fill the space with an air of arrogance, as if he expected the world to revolve around him.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Erick said, his voice smooth but dripping with condescension. "I heard there was some commotion about an artifact."
Lumi instinctively stepped closer to the scepter, her hand twitching as if she wanted to grab it again. She had dealt with Erick before, and she knew better than to trust his charming façade.
"We've already taken care of it, Erick," Professor Aurelian said calmly, though his eyes were sharp. "There's nothing more to be concerned about."
Erick's smile widened, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Oh, I'm sure there is. After all, this isn't the first time our dear Lumi here has been involved with something… interesting." His gaze lingered on Lumi, a hint of annoyance flickering behind his charming exterior.
Lumi felt the tension rise in the room and forced herself to stay calm, though internally, she was anything but. "Great," she thought, "just when I thought I could have a quiet day."
"He's a real piece of work, isn't he?" Glaciel's voice whispered, a hint of annoyance in its tone. "He thinks he can just waltz in and get what he wants. Let's see how that works out for him."
Erick's attention shifted to the scepter, his eyes gleaming with interest. "Ah, the Scepter of the Storm. I've heard stories about it. Quite the powerful relic, wouldn't you agree?"
"Too bad it's not yours," Lumi said, crossing her arms and meeting his gaze with a bored expression. "Looks like you missed your chance."
Erick's eyes flashed with irritation for a split second before his charming smile returned. "Oh, Lumi, you always have such a sharp tongue. It's endearing, really. But don't you think someone with my… talents would be a better fit for such an artifact?"
Lumi raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "If by 'talents' you mean your giant ego, then yeah, I'm sure the scepter would love that. Too bad it doesn't get a say."
June, sensing the tension rising, stepped forward. "Erick, the scepter is in safe hands now. There's no need to cause a scene."
Erick's gaze lingered on Lumi for a moment longer before he turned toward the door, his smile never fading. "Oh, of course. No scene, just friendly curiosity. But do keep in mind, artifacts like this have a way of finding their true master, regardless of who holds them now. I'll be watching closely, Lumi. Who knows? Maybe the scepter will change its mind."
With that, he turned and left the office, the door closing with an ominous thud behind him.
Lumi exhaled, tension she hadn't even realized she was holding in slowly draining away. "Well, that was fun," she muttered sarcastically. "I just wanna laze around, but noooo, Erick has to show up and ruin everything."
Professor Aurelian's expression darkened as he watched Erick leave. "Be careful, Lumi. Erick won't give up on the artifacts so easily. He has connections and influence, and he's been obsessed with gathering power for far too long."
Lumi nodded, though her mind was already spinning with thoughts of a long, restful nap to recover from the stress. "Yeah, I get it. But honestly? All I want right now is a break."
Heath patted her on the shoulder. "We'll deal with Erick if he tries anything again. For now, let's head back to our rooms and regroup."
June smiled warmly. "We're all in this together, Lumi. You don't have to carry the weight of this alone."
Lumi smiled back, grateful for her friends. "Thanks, guys. But first—bed."
With Erick's ominous warning still fresh in their minds, the trio left Professor Aurelian's office and made their way back to the dorms. Lumi, as usual, was thinking only of her soft bed and the peace and quiet that came with it. The challenges ahead were growing more dangerous, and Erick Noye's presence loomed over everything like a dark cloud. But for now, all Lumi wanted was a moment to laze around—just a brief respite before the next storm hit.