After our brief conversation back at the beach house, the three of us made our way through the halls of the Academy of Elements and History, heading toward the infirmary to check on Reina.
The place was completely still.
Only the sound of our footsteps echoed softly through the corridors. Not a single student or professor in sight.
"This..." Grace murmured, walking just a step behind me as her eyes darted around. "...feels kind of creepy."
"Well, this place has been around for over six hundred years," Anathasia shrugged casually. "Some parts are bound to feel old."
"Ancient, even."
I hummed, glancing around at the arched windows and the gothic-style architecture. Though it lacked the usual heavy, unsettling atmosphere those places tended to have.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you blended in perfectly here," I added.
Anathasia raised a brow.
"Especially with that dark red dress you wear when doing..." I hesitated, glancing at her. "...Anathasia-stuff."
A forced smile crept onto my face.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean-you look insanely beautiful in that dress," I said quickly, then paused. "Not that you're not always gorgeous, obviously-"
"Is that a genuine compliment," she cut in flatly, "or are you just trying to lighten the mood after your dumbass stunt earlier?"
My smile froze in place.
"Both...?"
"Idiot."
We continued down the corridor.
After turning a corner, we found Rania standing beside a door, arms folded as she stared out the window, lost in thought.
She glanced at us as we approached and stepped aside.
"Reina is inside," she said, gesturing to the door behind her. "Lucian is with her."
"Lucian?"
Anathasia and I spoke at the same time, tilting our heads slightly. Grace remained quiet, her gaze fixed on the door.
"The red-haired boy from earlier," Rania clarified. "Apparently her boyfriend... or something close."
We paused for a second, exchanging looks.
"Boyfriend, huh..." I muttered, tapping my shoe lightly against the marble floor.
"Well, it's not exactly surprising," Anathasia said, gesturing casually with one hand while the other rested on her hip. "The girl is pretty. Ethereal, even."
"Yeah, but that's not what I meant."
She paused, then leaned in slightly, eyes narrowing.
"You noticed something?"
I shook my head.
"No, I just meant... they seem like they fit. If they're actually together."
The look on her face immediately flattened. Something close to a look that basically said: ...are we seriously doing this right now?
"Well," she said dryly, "I'm glad you have the energy to play matchmaker, but making sure those same students don't accidentally destabilize the entire Image is a bit more important."
"...Isn't it?"
That snapped me out of it.
"Yeah."
My gaze shifted to Grace.
She still hadn't moved. Still staring at the infirmary door, her throat tightening slightly every now and then.
I reached out and gave her a light pat on the back, flashing her a small thumbs-up.
"Don't worry. Your mom and dad are here."
She stiffened for a moment, eyes widening as she turned to me. But when she saw my expression, her shoulders slowly relaxed.
A quiet, dry chuckle slipped out of her.
"...Right."
She returned my smile, though it looked a little more forced than natural. Still... it was an improvement.
Rania clapped her hands together once.
"Alright, let's not-"
"How's my nephew doing?"
Before she could finish, Roselia suddenly appeared beside Anathasia, cutting right over her. A flicker of actual concern crossed her face.
Anathasia and I both raised a brow.
"...Nephew?"
Roselia paused, then looked at us with genuine confusion.
"Yes? I mentioned him before, didn't I?"
"You did," Anathasia nodded. "But wasn't he from the House of Ataraxia?"
"Lucian Ataraxia, yes," Rania cut in smoothly, shooting Roselia a look. "That boy is this woman's nephew."
We froze.
Roselia, meanwhile, had already pushed past us and entered the room without another word.
Rania let out a quiet sigh and stepped aside.
"I'll stay outside," she said. "In case anything happens."
We exchanged a glance, then nodded before stepping inside.
-
The moment we entered, I paused.
Instead of the usual sterile scent, a light breeze drifted through the room, carrying a faint floral fragrance. It caught me off guard for a second.
My gaze moved across the rows of beds, then settled on the one near the far window.
Reina sat upright on it.
Still faintly glowing.
Just as I was about to look at the person beside her-
"As expected," Anathasia said casually. "She's still unstable."
"Unstable?"
She gestured toward Reina's faint glow, then glanced at Grace beside us.
"Notice anything different?"
Grace blinked, then pointed at herself innocently.
My eyes narrowed slightly as I looked between them.
Reina.
Then Grace.
Then back again.
After a moment, I snapped my fingers.
Or tried to.
"... "
No sound came.
Anathasia stared at me. Then looked away, clearly trying not to laugh.
I shot her a look before clearing my throat.
"...Is it the fact that Reina's glowing while Grace just... looks like a normal teenager?"
Anathasia smirked and snapped her fingers twice.
"Bingo."
She turned back toward Reina and started walking over.
Grace and I followed just behind her.
"She doesn't know how to suppress it properly yet," Anathasia continued. "And if she keeps leaking her jurisdiction like that..."
Her gaze lingered on Reina.
"...it's going to affect more than just her."
She glanced back at us over her shoulder, smiling lightly.
"Worst case, this entire place collapses."
"...That definitely sounds bad."
"Because it is," Anathasia shrugged, finally turning her attention to Reina, who sat on the bed while Roselia stood behind the boy Lucian.
The moment my eyes met Reina's, she immediately lowered her head.
Avoiding my gaze.
"I... I apologize," she whispered. "I did not realize she was your daughter..."
Her voice trembled. Her hands clenched the sheets over her legs, fingers tightening until they turned pale.
Anathasia, on the other hand, just waved it off with a quiet huff.
"It's fine. You wouldn't have been able to harm her anyway."
The moment those words left her mouth-
Reina flinched.
Silence followed.
The entire room went still.
Roselia looked away.
Lucian lowered his gaze.
Reina kept her head down.
And Anathasia... just stood there, like she hadn't said anything wrong.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"What? It's true. Grace is already a fully realized Demiurge. Reina's just a Transcendent who knows the theory, not the practice."
That only made it worse.
The silence deepened.
Only Grace and I were still looking at her.
Grace looked more baffled than anything, while I just stared.
"...Girl... really?"
Anathasia frowned, scoffing as she waved a dismissive hand. Her gaze returned to Reina, her expression still lacking any real softness.
"Nonetheless, she needs guidance."
She turned, her eyes sweeping across everyone in the room before settling on Grace.
"Grace should be able to help."
A brief pause.
"Right, Grace?"
Grace nodded slowly and stepped forward. She lowered herself slightly at the foot of Reina's bed, hands resting neatly in front of her.
Reina's eyes widened for a moment as she glanced at Lucian.
He gave a small nod.
Reina turned back to Grace.
Grace dipped her head.
"I'm sorry for what happened earlier... for acting so thoughtlessly."
She took a small breath.
"I'm sure I caused you distress. So... if you'll allow me, I'd like to help guide you through this."
The room fell silent.
Reina lowered her gaze, staring at the sheets clenched in her hands.
Seconds passed.
Then more.
Before she finally looked up again.
"...I think I overreacted too," she admitted quietly. "Drawing my dagger like that without even asking..."
A faint, uncertain smile touched her lips.
"I've read everything in that... strange library I found last year," she continued, her voice softening. "About how... everything came from that ineffable source..."
Her eyes drifted briefly toward Anathasia.
"...the Supreme Being herself."
She quickly looked away, shaking her head.
"And a lot of other records too, but..." her gaze dropped to her hands, still faintly glowing.
"...I didn't think it would lead to this."
"It's a very lucky case," Anathasia chimed in smoothly. "Normally, just opening one of those records would've been enough to induce non-representation."
She gave a small shake of her head, her gaze drifting toward the window.
"But given your circumstances, you survived."
A brief pause.
"And somehow ended up as one of our middle managers."
Reina's eyes widened.
Roselia quietly covered her face.
Grace stared at Anathasia.
I just let out a sigh and pressed a hand to my forehead.
"...Middle manager...?"
"That aside," Anathasia continued without missing a beat, turning her attention to Lucian seated beside the bed, "we'll be observing how two Demiurges manage a single Image over the next few days."
Her gaze settled on him.
"And as her boyfriend... you'll be helping her with that."
Lucian stiffened.
His hand hovered just above Reina's, his eyes fixed on the sheets beneath them.
Silence settled over the room once more.