Valeria leaned against the cool stone wall outside the men's restroom, her arms crossed as she tried to look as nonchalant as possible.
The hallway was dimly lit, the soft glow of mana crystals embedded in the walls casting faint blue shadows that danced with every flicker of light.
She shifted her weight nervously, glancing toward the restroom door.
Eclipse had been inside for over ten minutes, and the thought of barging in crossed her mind—if only he hadn't specifically told her not to.
"Like I'd go into a men's restroom," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
Still, her mind raced, running through possible excuses for her actions.
Eclipse had looked pale in class, almost unsteady.
She sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
Ever since her blunder in class, Eclipse had been acting strangely.
Also... there's that...
His piercing questions about the Draught potion kept replaying in her mind.
There's only one conclusion about this.
He knows.
He had to know.
He had mentioned the stolen potion so casually, and his tone had been sharp, leaving little room for doubt.
Does he know I'm a thief? And if he does, how long has he known?
Her heart raced.
If he was aware of her past, why would he still keep her around?
Was she some pawn in one of his convoluted schemes?
She shuddered, remembering the trial and how Eclipse had manipulated events with surgical precision.
He calculates everything, she thought, biting her lip.
Her mind wandered to the worst-case scenario.
What if he asked her why she was here, at the academy? What if she lied?
No, she thought. Lying to him would only make things worse. He'd see right through it. And if he does… what then?
But telling him the truth wasn't an option either, was it?
What would he think if I told him about my missing sisters? That I suspect one of the lecturers of the academy is involved?
Her chest tightened as another thought crossed her mind.
What would Silva think if I told him? Would she interfere? Or worse, use it against me?
Valeria's hands clenched into fists.
She didn't trust Silva, not entirely.
The woman was loyal to her own agenda, and Valeria doubted she'd hesitate to betray her if it served her goals.
Her gaze dropped to the polished floor, her reflection staring back at her, tired and conflicted.
Whatever I do, I do for my sisters she reminded herself. Even if it means making deals with devils like Eclipse or tolerating Silva's presence.
The sound of footsteps pulled her from her thoughts.
She straightened, her eyes narrowing as a figure approached—a woman.
The stranger stopped a short distance away, her ruby-red hair catching the soft glow of the lamps.
Her long, elegant dress shimmered like woven moonlight, its design a seamless blend of fashion and armor, hinting at both beauty and strength.
Her deep crimson eyes gleamed with curiosity, and her long, tapered ears marked her as an elf.
Valeria blinked.
It wasn't often she saw elves at the academy, let alone one dressed as extravagantly as this.
Elves were rare here, their presence a symbol of the alliance between their kingdom and Aeloria, and most came from noble houses.
The woman smiled warmly, her voice lilting and smooth. "Well, this is unusual. A human servant not bowing or greeting me properly."
"Eh?" Valeria stammered, caught off guard.
The elf chuckled softly, her eyes dancing with amusement. "You must be new to this. Normally, when someone like me passes, you bow, perhaps even curtsy."
Valeria's cheeks flushed as she glanced down at her attire—a modest maid's uniform, complete with frilled edges and a small ribbon at the collar.
It wasn't particularly grand, but it was well-kept, and she had to admit, it did look a bit… cute.
"Oh!" She dipped into a hasty bow, her words tumbling out. "I-I'm very sorry, miss… uh?"
"Rose," the elf said, her smile widening. "Rose Yua."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Rose Yua. But, um…" Valeria straightened, trying to regain her composure. "What can I do for you?"
Rose's gaze shifted toward the restroom door. "Your master, Eclipse. He's still inside?"
"Yes," Valeria replied cautiously.
"Good." Rose's smile brightened, but her crimson eyes glinted with something unreadable. "Then, please deliver a message to him for me."
Valeria hesitated. "A message?"
Rose nodded, stepping closer.
The air between them felt heavier, as if the weight of the elf's presence alone was enough to demand attention.
She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping just enough to build suspense.
"Tell him…"
Valeria held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest.
"…that I wish him good health."
The tension shattered like glass.
"Oh," Valeria said, blinking in surprise. "That's… all?"
"That's all," Rose replied, her smile as radiant as ever.
With a graceful turn, she walked away, her dress shimmering with each step.
Valeria watched her go, her mind swirling with questions.
A few moments later, the restroom door creaked open, and Eclipse emerged.
He looked better now, his face no longer pale, and he was wiping his hands with a neatly folded handkerchief.
He paused, noticing Valeria's dazed expression and her gaze trailing after the retreating figure.
"Who was that?" he asked, frowning slightly.
Valeria snapped out of her thoughts. "Oh, Eclipse! Um… she said her name was Rose Yua. She asked me to tell you she wishes you good health."
Eclipse's expression didn't change. He merely nodded, tucking the handkerchief into his pocket. "Oh. Okay."
Valeria stared at him, baffled by his indifference. "Wait, you're not even a little curious? She just casually gave me a message for you while standing right outside the restroom!"
Eclipse glanced at her, his tone flat. "Why would I be?"
She threw up her hands. "I don't know! Maybe because it's weird?"
"I'm more curious about you."
Eclipse turned, motioning for her to follow. "Let's go. I know someplace we can talk."
As they walked through the academy grounds, Valeria couldn't help but stew in her thoughts.
How could he not be worried? That elf was clearly important. Who does that, anyway—delivers a message like that and just walks away?
She glanced at Eclipse, who seemed as calm as ever.
But in truth, Eclipse knew exactly who Rose Yua was.
He hadn't shown it, but the mere mention of her name was enough to stir unease.
Rose Yua wasn't just anyone.
She was part of Caelum's party—a key figure in the story...
For Rose Yua was a master manipulator, and quite possibly the last person Eclipse wanted to deal with.