Chapter 30 – Jealous Rival Returns
"Not all rivals fight fairly… some are willing to destroy everything to bring me down."
The moment the word Crown left the messenger's lips—
The air inside the dorm changed.
Heavier.
Sharper.
Like something invisible had just drawn a line.
Aira stood at the doorway, unmoving.
Behind her—
Ren Kael's presence pressed forward, cold and dangerous.
"…she's not going anywhere," Ren repeated, his voice lower this time.
Not louder.
Not aggressive.
But far more threatening.
The messenger didn't react.
Didn't step back.
Didn't even blink.
"…the Crown does not negotiate with students," they said calmly.
Aira tilted her head slightly.
"…then maybe the Crown shouldn't send messengers to my door."
Silence.
A long one.
Then—
The messenger's gaze shifted slightly.
Past her.
To Ren.
"…this doesn't concern you."
Ren smiled faintly.
It wasn't warm.
"…everything that involves her concerns me."
The temperature dropped.
Dorm Tension – Rumors Ignite Again
Behind them—
The hallway had filled.
Students pretending not to watch.
Not to listen.
But they were.
Always.
"…is that a royal envoy?"
"Why are they here…?"
"…for her?"
"And Ren Kael is there too…"
"…this is getting worse."
Because this—
This wasn't just scandal anymore.
This was power.
Political.
Dangerous.
Uncontrollable.
Aira Decides
Aira stepped forward.
Not toward Ren.
Not toward the messenger.
Between them.
"…fine," she said calmly.
Ren's eyes snapped to her.
"…Aira."
She didn't look back.
"I'll go."
Silence.
Sharp.
Immediate.
"…no," Ren said.
Flat.
Final.
Aira turned slightly.
"…you don't get to decide that."
Their eyes met.
Clash.
Not of magic—
But will.
"…and you don't get to walk into something like this alone," Ren shot back.
Aira's lips curved slightly.
"…then don't let me come back."
That—
That hit.
Not because it was loud.
But because it wasn't.
Ren's jaw tightened.
"…you're not funny."
"…I'm not joking."
The Rival Returns
"Touching."
A new voice cut through the tension.
Lazy.
Smooth.
Mocking.
Everyone turned.
And there he was.
Lucien Valtor
Leaning against the wall like he had been there the whole time.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…royal summons, possessive S-rank, scandal in the hallway…"
Lucien smirked.
"…you really don't do things halfway, do you, Aira?"
Aira didn't smile.
"…what do you want, Lucien."
He pushed off the wall slowly.
"…curiosity."
A pause.
"…and maybe a little bit of entertainment."
Ren's gaze darkened instantly.
"…leave."
Lucien didn't even look at him.
"…or what?"
Silence.
Dangerous.
Heavy.
Then—
Lucien's eyes shifted back to Aira.
"…you've gotten stronger."
Not a compliment.
An observation.
"…but I wonder…"
His smile sharpened slightly.
"…how stable that strength really is."
Challenge – Public Duel Pressure
The hallway stilled.
Because everyone knew—
What came next.
Aira didn't hesitate.
"…try me."
Gasps.
Soft.
But immediate.
Lucien laughed under his breath.
"…I was hoping you'd say that."
Ren stepped forward instantly.
"…not here."
Lucien finally looked at him.
"…jealous?"
Ren didn't answer.
But the air around him tightened.
Lucien's smile widened.
"…relax."
"I'm not here to take her."
A beat.
"…just to break her."
Duel Initiated
They moved without warning.
Lucien struck first.
Not with brute force.
But precision.
A blade of compressed elemental magic—
fire and lightning intertwined—
Shot straight toward Aira.
Fast.
Lethal.
Calculated.
Aira didn't dodge.
She stepped forward.
And caught it.
Devour vs Elite Magic
The moment the attack hit her hand—
Devour activated.
But this—
This wasn't like the monsters.
Lucien's magic fought back.
Structured.
Refined.
Intelligent.
"…good," Aira whispered.
Her core pulsed harder.
Adapting.
Breaking it down.
Piece by piece.
Then—
She absorbed it.
Fully.
Cleanly.
Without hesitation.
The hallway shook.
Students staggered back.
"…she absorbed that?"
"…that was S-rank magic—"
Lucien's smile didn't fade.
But his eyes sharpened.
"…again."
Escalation – Rival Pushes Harder
He moved faster this time.
Multiple attacks—
layered—
intertwined—
Fire.
Ice.
Lightning.
Wind.
All at once.
Aira moved.
Not perfectly.
But instinctively.
She absorbed one—
redirected another—
dodged the third—
But one slipped through.
It hit her shoulder.
Impact.
Pain.
Real.
Lucien saw it.
And smiled.
"…there it is."
"Your limit."
Devour Breakthrough – Mid Fight Evolution
Aira exhaled slowly.
Then—
She let it happen.
The pain.
The instability.
The imbalance.
Her Devour core surged—
not to suppress—
But to evolve.
"…wrong," she said softly.
Her eyes lifted.
Glowing faintly.
"…that's just the beginning."
The next attack came—
And she didn't absorb it.
She rewrote it.
Mid-impact.
Changed its structure.
Turned it.
Back.
Lucien barely blocked it.
For the first time—
His expression shifted.
"…interesting."
ML Possessive Reaction
Ren stepped forward.
Closer than before.
"…that's enough."
Not to Aira.
To Lucien.
Lucien smirked slightly.
"…you're really serious about her."
Ren didn't answer.
But his hand—
Closed around Aira's arm again.
Firm.
Grounding.
Possessive.
"…stop," he said quietly.
Aira didn't pull away.
But she didn't stop either.
"…not yet."
Final Clash
Lucien raised his hand again.
More power this time.
Less restraint.
The hallway couldn't take it.
Cracks formed along the walls.
Magic spiraled out of control.
And Aira—
Stepped forward.
Straight into it.
Devour Peak – Elite Absorption
The attack hit.
Fully.
No defense.
No redirection.
Just—
Devour.
Everything.
At once.
Silence.
Then—
Explosion.
Aira stood still.
Unmoved.
Unshaken.
Evolved.
Her aura pulsed outward—
deeper—
darker—
stronger.
Lucien exhaled slowly.
"…so that's where you are now."
Not mocking.
Not dismissive.
Recognizing.
A threat.
Aftermath – Rival Frustration
He lowered his hand.
"…you're getting dangerous."
Aira smiled faintly.
"…you noticed."
Lucien turned.
"…this isn't over."
A pause.
"…next time, I won't hold back."
And then—
He left.
Like he had seen enough.
For now.
Hidden – Unknown Faction
Outside the academy—
Far beyond the walls—
A group watched.
Not students.
Not teachers.
Something else.
"…confirmed," one voice said quietly.
"The Devourer is active."
Another voice responded.
"…then proceed."
A pause.
"…we take her."
Moment – Ren & Aira
Back in the hallway—
The silence lingered.
Ren didn't let go.
"…you're getting worse."
Aira tilted her head slightly.
"…stronger."
"…dangerous."
"…necessary."
Their eyes met.
Tension.
Unresolved.
Burning.
Then—
Aira pulled her arm free.
"…if they're coming…"
She smiled.
Sharp.
Predatory.
"…let them try."
"The S-rank couldn't stop me… the Crown is watching me… and now—someone powerful enough to take me is finally making a move."