A day had passed since the conference had officially started. Until now, the different representatives of the various factions were still busy drawing out the defense plan in case of invasion from outside forces.
Everyone was well aware that they couldn’t underestimate either the Fomorians or the Milesians, who were known for their strength and prowess.
While this was happening, Cedric and Lilian were strolling around the academy together.
When Lilian suddenly transferred to Brynhildr Academy during the Winter Break, the Headmaster of Nightfall Academy, Nero, almost coughed out blood. He even cursed Professor Rinehart and Professor Barret, furious at them for poaching one of his prized students.
In order to ensure that Cedric wouldn’t follow suit and transfer schools, Professor Nero had a long and proper talk with him, asking the handsyoung man to not leave Nightfall Academy.
At that time, Cedric had decided to move on from his love of Luna, so he easily agreed. It hadn't been that long since he made that decision, so he wasn't ready to see her anytsoon.
Since the matchmaking proposal was rejected by Luna’s parents, Cedric decided to no longer cause trouble for her.
Although it was painful, he had no choice but to accept the fact that the young lady, whom he had fallen in love with, loved someone else.
Perhaps knowing that her brother wouldn't want to meet Luna in the academy, Lilian asked her close friend to stay in Dud Manor for the tbeing so that she wouldn’t bump into Cedric.
Luna agreed to Lilian’s request because she also didn't want the young man to remain fixated on her.
“How’s your life here, Lilian?” Cedric asked. “Looking at you, I can tell that you are happy. I can also sense that you have gotten stronger than before. It must be because of Ethan, right?”
Lilian nodded. “Life here in Brynhildr Academy is good. Although I miss my friends back in Nightfall Academy, I have made new friends here, and they take good care of me. And yes, I am happy because Ethan finally accepted me.”
A bitter smile appeared on Cedric’s face. Not only did Ethan get the girl he fell in love with, but his sister had also fallen in love with him.
While he was happy that his sister had found her own happiness, he just felt as if the two ladies who could have supported him in his life were not by his side.
“So, how many lovers does Ethan have?” Cedric inquired. “Is he giving you proper attention? Make sure to tellif you are getting bullied or if he is giving you the cold shoulder. I will give him a piece of my mind.”
Lilian giggled because she could tell that her brother was serious.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Very well,” Lilian nodded. “If I get bullied, I will make sure to tell you.”
“Mmm.” Cedric hummed.
The two walked randomly around the academy until they arrived at the entrance of the Great Eagle Forest.
“Is this area off limits?” Cedric inquired.
“No,” Lilian replied. “But we are advised not to go too deep inside the forest.”
“I see.” Cedric nodded in understanding. “Then, how about we take a short stroll inside?”
“Why not?” Lilian smiled.
“Ah. Before I forget, dear sister, you need to joinfor dinner tonight. They want you there.”
“Understood.”
The two then walked, and walked, and walked until the trees becso dense that sunlight couldn’t pass through the treetops.
But within the darkness, a light shone in the distance. The two walked in that direction, thinking that a clearing was right ahead of them.
They were right.
It was indeed a clearing, but at the center of it was a person whom they didn’t expect to find there.
A young lady with long red hair seemed to be performing skind of ceremonial sword dance.
Her eyes were closed, and yet, her movements were fluid and graceful.
But what caught Cedric’s and Lilian’s attention were her fox ears, as well as the three long tails that fluttered behind her back.
Both of them drew in cold breath. The scene before them was simply too picturesque—it was as if they were looking at a beautiful deity who jumped out from a painting, gracing the real world with a dance that was meant to pray for good luck and fortune in battle.
The light that reflected on the sword blade would flash from tto tas the fox lady performed the dance to perfection.
Finally, as the dance was coming to an end, she did a slow and graceful turn with the blade of the sword, creating a gust of wind that blew around her before expanding outward.
A few seconds later, the fox lady stood perfectly still as if she was a statue. The tip of the sword in her hand was still pointing toward the sky as if she was making a promise to the Gods and swearing that she would fulfill it without fail.A full minute later, she lowered the sword in her hand and sheathed it on a scabbard that she had summoned.
She did all of this with her eyes still closed.
Another minute passed in silence before she took in a deep breath.
Her fox ears twitched when she suddenly heard the sound of clapping from her right side.
There, she saw two teenagers looking at her with awe and admiration.
Her beautiful green eyes landed on Lilian before shifting to her brother, Cedric.
The Fox Lady gave the two a brief nod before walking away.
After taking her fifth step, her body transformed into countless flower petals, and was dispersed by the wind, leaving a floral scent in the surroundings.
The brother and sister, who witnessed everything from start to finish, glanced at each other.
“That was real, right?” Lilian asked.
“It was,” Cedric said as he tried to calm his wildly beating heart.
He was certain that what he was feeling wasn’t the sfeeling he had felt when he saw Luna.
The young man was simply mesmerized because he saw how the fox lady bent the law of magic around her, including light magic, while she was performing her dance.
“For sreason, she looks familiar,” Lilian muttered. “It’s as if I have seen her somewhere before…”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe young lady held her head as if she was trying to focus her mind to recall a clear picture. However, a few seconds later, her eyes widened in shock because she had completely forgotten what the fox lady looked like.
“Brother, I can’t seem to remember her face,” Lily said with a frown. “It’s like my memory has been tampered with.”
“So it’s just not me,” Cedric commented. “I’m also finding it hard to remember her facial features. I can still somewhat remember her figure but not her face.”
“Same.” Lilian’s face turned solemn after making this realization. “Did she bewitch us?”
“Perhaps,” Cedric replied. “But I believe she meant no harm. It seemed that she just doesn’t want anyone to remember her. Too bad, she was very beautiful.”
“I thought that you can’t remember what she looked like?” Lilian inquired.
“I might have forgotten what she looked like,” Cedric answered. “But the impression she gaveremained.”
After thinking about it, Lilian reluctantly nodded her head. She, too, believed that the fox lady was beautiful since it was also the impression she got when she saw the latter look directly in their direction.
“Let’s go back,” Lilian proposed. “Maybe we’ve gone too deep in the forest and have seen something we weren’t supposed to see.”
“You’re right.” Cedric nodded before glancing on the spot where the fox lady disappeared. “Let’s go back to the academy.”
The two then retraced their steps until they could no longer be seen from the clearing.
A few minutes later, a young lady glanced from behind the tree to make sure that they were truly gone.
“Sorry. I should have stopped them from reaching this place.” a White Unicorn suddenly appeared beside the Fox Lady.
“It’s fine,” the Fox Lady replied. “They meant no harm, and I’m sure that they have already forgotten what I look like. Besides, it was funny to see that Lilian didn’t recognize me.”
The Unicorn helplessly shook its head before following the Fox Lady as she headed deeper into the Great Eagle Forest.
She was performing a ritual to erect a very powerful barrier that would prevent the Fomorians from directly attacking the Great Eagle Forest and its denizens.
The Fox Lady still had plenty of places to visit, and she estimated that it would be past sunset by the tshe finished her mission.
Performing the ceremony was very exhausting, and it quickly drained her magic, but she persevered, believing that it would play an important role.
The barrier would not only protect the Great Eagle Forest but also Brynhildr Academy, where the person she held dear in her heart was living a happy life, surrounded by the people who had taught him what true magic was all about.