Alex moved at an unhurried pace through the exhibition grounds, his gaze shifting from one display to another as students presented their work with varying degrees of confidence.
Beside him, Alicia walked in silence.
Her presence alone created a subtle gap in the flow of the crowd. Even without revealing her identity, something about her demeanor discouraged others from coming too close. Today, however, neither of them stood out the way they normally would.
Both were disguised.
Alex wore simple, casual attire, his features slightly altered through an artifact. Alicia had done the same—her aura suppressed, her appearance adjusted just enough to avoid recognition.
It wasn't a perfect disguise.
But it was enough.
Enough to avoid unnecessary attention. Enough to ensure that no one would connect the rising star of the tournament with the woman walking beside him.
And most importantly—
Enough to keep their relationship hidden.
As they moved past rows of pavilions, Alex's steps slowed when a familiar crest came into view.
Star Shine Academy.
Without a word, he turned toward it. Alicia followed.
Compared to some of the more chaotic displays from other academies, this section was structured and deliberate. Booths were arranged neatly by discipline, each dedicated to a specific field. A steady flow of visitors passed through, though certain areas clearly drew more attention than others.
Alchemy and artifact creation were crowded.
Others—barely noticed
Near the far end of the pavilion, one stall stood slightly apart. Only a handful of people had gathered there, their interest quiet but focused.
Alex's gaze lingered for a moment.
Then he changed direction.
As they approached, the nature of the display became clear.
Unlike the more visually striking exhibits nearby, this one relied on detail rather than spectacle. Aged scrolls and stone tablets were laid out carefully across the table, accompanied by dense notes and partially reconstructed texts. Intricate symbols and unfamiliar scripts covered their surfaces—complex, deliberate, and unmistakably ancient.
At the center stood a petite, pink-haired girl.
She didn't notice them.
Her attention remained fixed on the small group in front of her, hands resting lightly on the table as she spoke. Her voice was soft—almost lost beneath the surrounding noise—but her words remained clear and precise.
"This inscription originates from a pre-historic era civilization." She explained, gesturing toward a section of carved symbols on one of the tablets. "At first glance, the script appears fragmented, but after cross-referencing it with similar codices, I was able to identify recurring patterns."
She adjusted one of the documents slightly before continuing.
"It suggests this was not purely a written language, but a hybrid system—part linguistic, part symbolic, likely tied to early magical shaman practices."
Her explanation flowed without hesitation.
There was no uncertainty in her tone, no gaps in her reasoning. Despite the quiet delivery, the depth of her understanding was unmistakable.
It wasn't a popular subject. Not one that easily captured the attention of a general audience. But for those who listened—it was clear she knew exactly what she was doing.
Sherry remained fully absorbed in her explanation, unaware that Alex stood only a few steps away, watching in silence.
Beside him, Alicia's gaze rested briefly on the girl. It lingered for only a moment before shifting away.
To her, Sherry was nothing more than another student—quiet, unassuming, and entirely insignificant.
She did not know.
She was unaware that this same girl had already uncovered fragments of her disciple's secret. That she had involved Alex in opening a hidden secret realm—one tied to the disappearance of her parents.
And she most certainly did not know—
That Alex had already decided to go there once the tournament ended.
He had never mentioned it to her.
For good reason.
Alicia would never allow it. Not under any circumstances. Even setting aside their relationship, no rational person would permit something so dangerous. An unknown realm connected to ancient ruins and unexplained disappearances was not something to approach lightly.
Even Alex understood that.
If not for the system's quest, he would have avoided it entirely. But now—that choice was no longer so simple.
Beside him, Alicia remained unaware.
If she ever found out, the outcome would be easy to imagine.
First, disappointment, the quiet kind—the kind that carried weight, that lingered far longer than anger ever could. The realization that her disciple had chosen to hide something important from her.
And then—Something far worse.
Across the table, Sherry continued her explanation, completely oblivious to everything happening just a few steps away. Her voice remained steady as she answered a final question, her focus never wavering.
Moments later, the small group dispersed. One by one, the listeners moved on, their curiosity satisfied. Silence settled briefly over the stall. Sherry adjusted her notes, her gaze still lowered as she reorganized the scattered pages.
Then—
Alex stepped forward.
For a brief moment, the disguise dropped. A familiar face surfaced beneath the disguise—accompanied by a quiet, fleeting wink.
Sherry froze.
Her hands stilled mid-motion. Her eyes widened as recognition set in, surprise flickering across her expression. For a moment, she simply stared, unable to react.
To anyone else, nothing had changed.
Alicia stood beside him, her attention already elsewhere. Her instincts were sharp—far sharper than most—but even she failed to notice the brief exchange, or the faint warmth that touched Sherry's expression.
It was too subtle.
Too brief.
But not to everyone.
Aurora, floating just behind Alex, caught everything.
A slow, knowing smile spread across her face as her gaze shifted between the two. Her eyes gleamed with unmistakable amusement.
"Oh~" she murmured softly, just loud enough for him to hear.
There was mischief in her voice.
Alex ignored her.
The moment of surprise passed quickly—but not quietly.
Her eyes widened again.
"Ale—"
She stopped herself just in time.
Sherry's lips pressed together as she hastily looked down at the table, pretending to rearrange a set of neatly placed stone tablets. Her fingers fumbled slightly, betraying her composure despite her effort to remain calm.
Alex, meanwhile, had already returned to his neutral expression, as if nothing had happened.
Alicia's gaze drifted lazily across the stall, settling not on Sherry—but on the artifacts.
Fragments of ancient inscriptions were laid out with meticulous care. Thin sheets of preserved parchment, etched stones, partially restored codices—all arranged in a structured sequence that reflected careful study and understanding.
"Hmm."
Alicia picked up one of the fragments without asking.
Her eyes scanned the markings briefly.
"This script… Aztec writing." Her tone was casual, but her words were precise. "Not many can read this properly."
Sherry blinked.
She hadn't expected a random visitor to recognize it—let alone identify it so easily.
"Y-Yes…" she replied softly, still slightly flustered. "It's from an early historical period. The grammar structure is inconsistent, so interpretation depends a lot on contextual reconstruction…"
Her voice steadied as she spoke.
"The symbols here—" she carefully pointed to a section on another fragment, "—they were initially thought to represent territorial markers, but after comparing multiple sites, I think they actually indicate… movement patterns. Possibly migration routes or trade paths."
"…I see."
Alicia didn't respond further. She had already lost interest. Her gaze shifted elsewhere, as if the conversation had never happened.
A brief silence followed.
Then—
Alex stepped slightly closer to the table.
Sherry stiffened for a moment before carefully lifting her gaze.
"You've organized it well," he said quietly.
Her fingers tightened slightly at the edge of the table.
"Th-Thank you… I didn't expect you to be here." she added, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Just looking around," Alex replied. "You're presenting alone?"
She nodded.
"It's a bit of a niche field, so…" A faint, awkward smile formed. "Not many people stop for long."
Her eyes lowered slightly.
"But that's fine."
Alex glanced at the arranged fragments again.
"They should."
Sherry blinked.
"This kind of work isn't simple. You're not just reading symbols—you're reconstructing meaning from something incomplete."
He paused briefly.
"Not many people can do that properly. You're good at it."
And for Sherry? It was enough.
A faint warmth spread across her expression, and she quickly looked down, trying to hide the small smile forming on her lips.
Aurora, floating nearby, watched with clear amusement.
"Heh… that was smooth," she whispered, grinning.
Alex ignored her.
"I'll come by again later," he added.
Sherry nodded quickly.
"O-Okay."
Alicia, who had already begun walking away, stopped just enough to glance back.
"Are you done?"
"Yes," Alex replied.
Without another word, he stepped away from the stall.
Sherry watched them leave, her gaze lingering for just a second longer than necessary.
Then she quickly looked back down at her work, pretending to focus—though the faint smile on her lips never quite faded.