Chapter 481 - 480 - Scolding of Warmth!
The evening atmosphere around Arcadia Academy remained lively despite the sun slowly disappearing beyond the distant mountains. Warm shades of orange and crimson painted the academy buildings while long shadows stretched across the stone pathways, and groups of students continued making their way toward the dormitories after another day of lectures and training. The gentle breeze carried the pleasant sounds of conversation across the grounds, completely unaware of the rather uncomfortable situation unfolding near the academy gates.
For several long moments, silence lingered between the three of them.
Aurelia looked from Luca...
Then toward Professor Seraphina...
Then back toward Luca once again.
It took only a heartbeat for her to understand exactly what had happened.
A small smile slowly appeared upon her face.
One that Luca immediately recognized as dangerous.
She looked at him with unmistakable amusement dancing within her violet eyes before taking a graceful step backward.
"I don’t think I should interfere."
Luca immediately turned toward her.
The expression on his face clearly pleaded for help.
Aurelia simply smiled even more brightly.
"I’m sure the two of you have... important matters to discuss."
Luca continued staring at her.
Really...?
You’re abandoning me now...?
Aurelia seemed to understand exactly what that expression meant.
Unfortunately—
She chose to ignore it completely.
Instead, she offered him a knowing smile before the corners of her lips curved upward into an unmistakable smirk.
It wasn’t malicious.
It was simply the smile of someone thoroughly enjoying another person’s predicament.
What kind of woman smiles at a situation like this...?
Luca could only sigh inwardly.
The very person who had promised only that morning to stand in front of him during dangerous situations had now retreated at the first sign of danger.
So much for standing in front of me...
Aurelia seemed to read that accusation directly from his face.
She only smiled more innocently.
"I’ll see you tomorrow."
Those were the only words she offered before elegantly turning around.
Her crimson hair swayed gently behind her as she walked toward the academy dormitories without looking back even once.
Luca watched her leave with an expression that perfectly captured the feeling of betrayal.
Somewhere in the distance—
He thought he heard a quiet laugh carried away by the evening breeze.
Then...
She was gone.
Luca slowly turned back around.
Professor Seraphina remained standing exactly where she had been all along.
Her arms were still folded neatly across her chest.
Her expression remained perfectly composed.
Unfortunately...
That composure felt far more intimidating than open anger.
She waited until Aurelia had disappeared completely from sight before finally speaking.
"So."
The single word immediately straightened Luca’s posture.
"I believe we were discussing your recent decision."
Luca smiled awkwardly.
"I suppose we were."
Seraphina looked directly into his eyes.
"You left the academy without informing your instructor."
Her calm voice carried throughout the quiet courtyard.
"You left without submitting a request."
"You left without notifying the administration."
"You left without informing your classmates."
"And judging by the complete absence of any official record..."
She raised one elegant eyebrow.
"...you also neglected to inform the Dean’s office."
Luca quietly lowered his gaze.
Every statement she made was completely accurate.
Seraphina continued.
"Do you understand why those procedures exist?"
Her tone remained measured.
"They are not meaningless formalities created simply to inconvenience students."
"They exist because this academy bears responsibility for every student studying within its walls."
She slowly unfolded her arms.
"If something had happened during your journey..."
"If you had been injured..."
"If you had disappeared..."
Her blue eyes remained fixed upon him.
"...do you realize how long it would have taken before anyone even knew where to begin searching?"
Luca remained completely silent.
There was nothing he could reasonably argue against.
Seraphina slowly walked a few steps closer.
Her voice remained composed.
Yet beneath that composure...
Something softer quietly revealed itself.
"You have developed an unfortunate habit."
Luca looked up.
"Every time something important happens..."
She sighed almost imperceptibly.
"...your first instinct is to shoulder it alone."
Her expression softened just enough for him to notice.
"You rush toward danger before thinking."
"You make decisions first and explanations afterward."
"You disappear without telling anyone."
Her gaze lingered upon the faint tear still visible across his academy uniform.
"And somehow..."
Her voice became noticeably quieter.
"...you always return carrying another injury."
Luca instinctively looked toward the cut across his shoulder.
"It really is just a scratch."
"I know."
Her answer came immediately.
"I also know that the last several ’scratches’ you’ve returned with somehow involved cultists, corrupted mana, ancient ruins, and situations that most students would spend their entire academy lives trying to avoid."
A faint smile almost appeared on Luca’s face.
Almost.
He wisely decided against it.
Seraphina noticed anyway.
"Do you find this amusing?"
He immediately shook his head.
"No, Professor."
"Good."
The briefest silence settled between them.
When Seraphina spoke again, her voice had become considerably gentler.
"You are one of my students."
The sentence was simple.
Yet it carried surprising weight.
"As your instructor, it is my responsibility to teach you."
Her blue eyes never left his.
"It is also my responsibility to ensure that you return safely after leaving this academy."
She paused briefly.
"So the next time you decide to disappear across half the Empire..."
A tiny hint of frustration finally surfaced beneath her otherwise calm demeanor.
"...at the very least, have the decency to tell someone where you’re going."
Luca quietly listened from beginning to end without interrupting even once.
He didn’t offer excuses.
He didn’t attempt to justify his actions.
He simply stood there, accepting every word in silence.
Because beneath every reprimand...
Beneath every reminder of academy regulations...
Beneath every lecture about proper procedures...
He could clearly hear something Seraphina herself was trying very hard not to say aloud.
She had been worried.
The evening breeze continued flowing gently through the academy grounds as the last traces of sunlight gradually disappeared beyond the distant mountains. Students continued passing along the nearby pathways, laughing and chatting amongst themselves after another ordinary day of classes, completely unaware that one of their professors was currently delivering a lecture that had left a certain first-year student standing as obediently as a child being scolded.
Luca quietly waited until Seraphina finished speaking.
He never interrupted her.
He never attempted to justify himself midway through her reprimand.
Instead, he simply listened with the same patience she had always shown whenever he spoke.
Only after the silence settled between them once more did he finally let out a small breath.
"I’m sorry."
The apology was simple.
Sincere.
Without embellishment.
Seraphina looked at him silently.
Luca smiled helplessly.
"I really am."
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before continuing.
"I know leaving the academy without informing anyone wasn’t the right thing to do."
His gaze lowered slightly.
"I wasn’t trying to ignore the academy rules."
"It simply happened too suddenly."
His voice remained calm throughout.
"When I learned why Aurelia and Kyle had disappeared, I couldn’t stop thinking about it."
He laughed softly at himself.
"I kept telling myself I would just go there, make sure everything was alright, help if I could, and return immediately."
Another helpless smile appeared.
"Unfortunately..."
He glanced down at his torn academy uniform.
"...things rarely seem to go according to that plan."
For the briefest moment, Seraphina looked as though she wanted to point out that his plans never seemed to go according to plan.
Instead, she remained silent.
Luca continued speaking.
"I should have informed you."
"I should have informed the academy."
"And..."
His crimson eyes finally met hers again.
"...I should have informed the people who would inevitably worry."
The last sentence lingered quietly between them.
Seraphina’s composed expression softened almost imperceptibly.
Luca bowed his head slightly.
"I’m sorry for causing you concern."
There were no excuses hidden within his words.
Only honesty.
For several moments, Seraphina simply observed him.
Eventually, she released a quiet sigh.
The frustration she had been holding onto throughout the conversation gradually disappeared with it.
"You really are troublesome."
A faint snort escaped her before she shook her head.
"I spend days teaching students how to avoid unnecessary risks..."
Her blue eyes rested calmly upon him.
"...and then one of them decides to travel across the Empire without informing anyone."
Luca smiled sheepishly.
"I’ll do better next time."
"You had better."
Her answer came immediately.
She folded her arms once again, though this time there was no real anger left in her posture.
Only resignation.
The kind reserved for someone who already knew that the person standing before them would probably find another unbelievable situation sooner or later.
"I’ll hold you to that promise."
"I understand."
Another brief silence settled between them.
This one considerably lighter than before.
Finally, Seraphina shook her head once more before speaking in an almost casual tone.
"Oh, that’s right."
Luca blinked.
"There is something else."
His expression became curious.
Seraphina looked at him for a moment before saying,
"While you were away..."
She paused briefly.
"...the Vice Dean was looking for you."
The words caused Luca’s relaxed expression to disappear almost instantly.
His crimson eyes widened ever so slightly.
"The Vice Dean...?"
Seraphina nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Her gaze remained fixed upon him.
"He specifically asked about you."
The evening breeze drifted quietly between them.
And once again—
Luca found himself facing another unexpected summons.