______
The academy was louder than usual.Not chaotic.But expectant.Students moved through corridors in clusters, voices overlapping.
"…Festival announcement was confirmed…"
"…Two weeks only…"
"…All clubs are required to attend the meeting…"
"…We need to prepare a stall…"
Lunivara walked through the corridor, steady as always.
But her attention shifted.
["Two weeks."]
Jude stepped into pace beside her, already holding a stack of documents.
"…There's a meeting later," he said.
"All club officers are required."
Lunivara glanced at the papers in his hands.
"Festival preparation?"
"Yeah."
He adjusted the stack slightly.
"Assignments, stalls, competition entries, everything gets decided today."
A small pause.
"Attendance is not optional," Leontius added as he approached from behind.
Jude exhaled lightly.
"Vice ends up handling most of it."
A brief pause, then a faint grin.
"So I'm not getting out of this anytime soon..."
Lunivara tilted her head slightly.
"That explains the documents."
Jude blinked, then let out a quiet laugh.
"You noticed?"
"It is excessive."
A pause
"Were you mocking me?" She said directly.
"That's organized work." He looked at her, smiling.
Leontius spoke without looking at them.
"It's not organized." Leontius said.
Jude stared at him.
"You really had to say that."
A small pause settled between them.Not tense.Just familiar.
They continued walking.Groups of students passed them.
Excitement mixed with pressure.
"We need materials…"
"Deadlines are short…"
"This year's competition will be stricter…"
Lunivara listened.Being aware.
Jude glanced at her.
"You'll probably be pulled into it too."
"Assistant duties will increase," she replied.
"Yeah," Jude said.
"They'll use you where it matters."
A pause.
"I'm only a paper assistant"
"Oh, yeah" Jude laugh
Leontius added quietly,
"Efficiency will be prioritized."
Lunivara gave a small nod.
"Yes."
A shift.Voices nearby lowered slightly.Different tones.
"Did you hear about the dock?"
"Something happened in the water…"
"No storm, but the surface was disturbed…"
"They said there was something beneath"
Lunivara's steps slowed, just slightly.
["It's already circulating?."]
Jude noticed.
"So it's spreading."
"Yes," Lunivara said.
Leontius remained still for a moment.
Listening.
"Faster than I expected," Jude added.
"It will escalate," Leontius said.
Silence followed.
They reached the courtyard, open space and was less confined.
Movement widened.Visibility increased.
Leontius stopped.
Jude noticed immediately.
"What?"
Leontius's gaze shifted, not toward people, but past them.
Beyond them.
"We are being observed."
Jude blinked.
"Again?"
"Yes."
Lunivara's expression didn't change.But her awareness sharpened.
["Is the story getting revenge on me?, this doesn't seem to be coincidence anymore"]
Jude lowered his voice.
"From where?"
Leontius didn't answer immediately.
"Not directly visible."
That was enough.
Jude exhaled.
"That's not reassuring at all."
Lunivara looked toward the distant academy boundary.
Calm.And measured.
"The festival will increase exposure," she said.
Leontius nodded slightly.
"Movement will become less controlled."
"Which makes it easier for something to happen," Jude muttered.
A pause.
"Yes," Leontius said.
Silence settled again.Not fear, not yet.But awareness.
Lunivara spoke quietly,
"If the disturbance was intentional"
"then repetition is possible."
"Great. So we're dealing with something that watches and repeats."Jude said.
"Correct," Leontius replied.
"That's not comforting." Jude added.
A small pause.
"It is information," Lunivara said.
Jude glanced at her.
Then let out a quiet laugh.
"You really process everything like a report."
"It is efficient."
Leontius added
"And useful."
Jude looked between them.
"You two are impossible to comprehend, well sometimes"
For a moment, the tension eased.
Slightly.
But not gone.
Because somewhere beyond the visible walls of the academy something had already taken notice.And now,
it was watching more closely.
"Can you two help me with this" Jude said. Trying to balance the documents.
"Y..yes" Lunivara replied.
"Please, allow me. This is a gentleman's duty."
"A-alright"
"Here is it Captain" Jude smirked. As he handed half of the documents.
"You seem amused by this Jude"
"H-huh?...your mistaking, Captain you said you'll do it because it's disrespectful to let a lady carry heavy things ...ehehehe~" he replied nervously.
Lunivara looked at them.
And her face smiled a little, without her noticing.
End of Chapter 21