Book 1 Chapter 721

The next day.

Chloe usually wore her hair neatly braided in a half-updo.

However, Lisinas had neatly combed his hair.

Lisinas, who had tied his tie knot, took a deep breath.

"Shall we go then?"

Creeeaaak-

As he opened the door and stepped out, female students from the magic department were bustling about outside.

"Hey! How long are you going to use my comb!"

"I overslept! Today is the day to submit assignments!"

Lisinas smiled faintly as he watched the students start their day in a frenzy.

'So lively.'

5000 years ago.

Even before the age of disaster began, such lively starts to the day were commonplace.

Dragons have vastly superior memories compared to other races.

Kail, Luna, and Dwenow, except for Arion who was born during the age of disaster.

These three also retained memories of the peaceful era.

However, by the time Archi's journey neared its end, those memories had faded and become hazy.

At that time, dragons were the only race that remembered the era before the age of disaster clearly and in detail.

Therefore, Lisinas's feelings upon encountering a peaceful morning were even more special compared to Luna and Arion.

"Chloe, good morning!"

"Are you feeling alright?"

"Senior! Good morning!"

"Oh? You're not wearing your hair up today?"

Juniors, seniors, and classmates greeted her warmly.

"Yes, it's a good morning, isn't it?"

Chloe, smiling brightly and returning their greetings, walked out of the women's dormitory area with a clack-clack sound.

The remaining female students wore dazed expressions.

"W-what was that just now?"

"I don't know. It was… calming."

They were faces they saw every day, but today something felt different.

Just by seeing Chloe's smile, a sense of peace washed over them.

Moreover, the smile, as if enchanted, lingered in their minds.

"I feel like I've experienced this feeling somewhere before?"

At that moment, the fifth-year students fell into deep thought with bewildered expressions.

"Oh, I feel the same way."

The fourth-year students also had expressions that suggested they were about to recall something.

"Ah."

A fifth-year student's face lit up as if she had remembered something.

"It's similar to Elena's 'Eye of Magic'."

"Ah! Now that you mention it."

"It is. The feeling is completely different, but it's like… being entranced like with Elena."

"Does Senior Elena also possess the 'Eye of Magic' like Professor Albi?"

A second-year student asked with a puzzled look, and a fifth-year student shook her head.

"It's not the same 'Eye of Magic' as Professor Albi's. But it's certainly worthy of being called an 'Eye of Magic'."

Elena was born with an innate, powerful charisma that captivated people's gaze.

The qualities to naturally reign over others.

Her charisma, combined with her beautiful appearance, allowed her to exude a devilish charm.

For an ordinary person, such a powerful ability might have become a curse.

However, Elena was a genius who could perfectly control even that ability.

When that ability reached its peak, her eyes would glow.

The fourth and fifth-year students called it the 'Eye of Magic'.

"You guys will never experience it. That's an ability Elena used only when she was a hooligan."

It was a very dangerous ability that made people infatuated with her, manipulating their emotions.

"Elena started to become calm around her third year. You guys haven't seen her in her hooligan days, have you? You're really lucky."

A fifth-year student shook her head.

"But Senior Chloe doesn't have such an ability, does she?"

At that moment, a second-year student asked with a puzzled expression.

The fourth and fifth-year students nodded at her words.

"That's true."

"Is it a misunderstanding?"

"Perhaps it's because the atmosphere suddenly changed."

Saying so, the female students from the magic department resumed preparing for their daily routines, as if it were nothing.

***

Chirp chirp-

As she walked down the corridor, she heard the chirping of birds.

Lisinas turned her head to look out the window at the scenery outside and felt her heart tremble.

"Wow…"

The world, which was in ruins in her memory, was vivid.

But now.

The landscape visible outside the window was so peaceful and beautiful.

The warm, gentle sunlight.

Small plants and animals exuded vibrant life.

'Yes. We… Kail… succeeded.'

She knew it in her head.

That Kail had defeated Erebus and saved the world.

That the world she was currently in was the saved future, 5000 years later.

She knew it all.

But seeing it with her own eyes like this, she couldn't help but feel her heart tremble.

To save the world.

What kind of desperate times had they endured?

How many people had they lost before her?

To overcome the pain and avoid falling into despair.

How much had they struggled?

In the end, even the companions more precious than their lives were lost, and she had to leave behind her most precious person.

A world where she ultimately had to leave with only unfulfilled promises.

That world was before her eyes.

In the very form she had longed to see.

The view before her alone felt like a small compensation.

The desperate times.

The painful farewells.

In the age of disaster, she thought this view alone would be enough compensation.

'Not now. It's not enough.'

What lingering attachment did she have left?

It wouldn't be seeing the saved world, at least.

Lisinas knew that.

That the world would be saved.

'Even when I left Kail behind, I didn't doubt that one thing.'

A faith and trust that would never waver.

Therefore, the salvation of the world could not be her lingering attachment.

'What is my lingering attachment?'

It wasn't such a difficult question.

Tap- tap-

Amidst the students coming and going in the hallway, a single set of footsteps particularly caught her ear.

'Has the stride changed? Ah, it must be because my body has changed.'

However, the unique, almost scentless sound of her footsteps remained the same, so she could hear it clearly even amidst the throngs of people.

She couldn't help but let out a laugh at the fact that not much had changed even after reincarnation.

Tap- tap- The footsteps grew closer.

Lisinas closed her eyes and inhaled.

Because otherwise, tears would have fallen immediately.

'My lingering attachment is…'

Exhaling a trembling breath, Lisinas opened her eyes.

A faint, serene smile graced her lips.

'Just one.'

Tap-

The footsteps stopped.

Lisinas, who had shifted her gaze from the window and turned a light half-circle, faced her lingering attachment.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

'Ah.'

Her appearance had changed.

The gray hair and eyes that reminded one of ashes were nowhere to be found.

White hair and fiery red eyes captured her gaze.

The appearance of a boy becoming a young man.

However, there was no hint of immaturity.

It was the same.

A slightly annoyed, sullen expression that seemed to emanate from somewhere.

Eyes that didn't convey much emotion.

Yet, they were clearly observing her.

Whether she was sick.

Whether she was feeling alright.

She could feel an unconcerned thoughtfulness.

Not just a little changed.

Not changed at all.

'How can someone be so consistent?'

Her personality and aura were the same.

And…

'The promise to save the world.'

She had failed to keep her promise.

Yet, the man before her was trying to keep it.

His promise to her.

She had prepared herself mentally countless times last night.

That she wouldn't cry.

Because crying would be strange.

But her preparations were in vain, and her heart trembled.

She felt as if her emotions would pour out if she opened her mouth.

Despite that, Lisinas steeled herself.

"Good morning."

She greeted him with a soft smile.

Just as she always did.

5000 years ago and now.

She always greeted him like this in the morning.

"Good morning."

However, the reply she received was slightly different.

Kail, who was always cheeky, would point to the sky and sarcastically ask if that was a good morning.

'Yes… it really is a good morning.'

She couldn't help but laugh, thinking that some things had changed.

"Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes. I'm fine."

"That's a relief."

Leo nodded and moved his feet.

Then, he approached Lisinas and tilted his head.

"What are you doing standing in the hallway? We have to go eat breakfast."

It was an invitation to go to the dining hall together.

"I have something to do, so I'll be a little later."

"Busy from the morning."

Leo chuckled.

"By the way."

"Yes?"

"You're not wearing your hair up today? It seems like the first time I've seen it like this?"

"Ah."

Lisinas fiddled with the ends of her hair and smiled faintly.

"I tried to change the mood."

"Oh? It suits you. See you later, then."

Watching Leo's retreating back, Lisinas took a deep breath.

"It doesn't seem awkward."

She touched her cheek and took out a mirror from her pocket.

It seemed her efforts to create a smile different from her own were worth it.

'He's strangely perceptive about trivial things.'

Lisinas raised one corner of her mouth with her fingertip and put the mirror away.

'Good.'

She would be able to reveal her existence to Leo honestly.

Because Leo had noticed her existence and was trying to meet her.

However, on the other hand, she also wanted to tease him.

It was because she found his lively chats with Luna annoying.

But even more annoying than that was…

That even after mustering the courage to kiss him after 5000 years, he had reacted annoyingly.

'This time, I'll make sure to give him a dumbfounded expression.'

Lisinas smiled faintly and began her Lumern life in earnest.

*

The dining hall was one of the most chaotic places in the morning.

The basic academic schedule was the same for all students.

However, even if the academic schedules were the same, the individual schedules of students were not.

Apart from the academic schedule, many students had to be up before dawn for various reasons.

Therefore, it was not uncommon to see students who had overslept and were rushing to eat their meals.

Lisinas smiled faintly as she looked at the vibrant dining hall, took the food on her tray, and chewed.

'Wow, this is delicious.'

Her eyes sparkling, Lisinas quickly finished her tray.

Then, she went to get more food.

'This is delicious too. This one too.'

As she refilled her tray several times with a happy smile, it happened.

"Oh~ Chloe. Why did you let your hair down? A change of mood?"

Kai said, chuckling and speaking to her.

"I saw you from afar. Aren't you eating too much?"

"I heard from Chelsea. You said you weren't seriously ill? Still, I was worried you might be lacking energy today. But you seem to have more energy than usual."

Kai and Abad sat on either side of Lisinas.

Kai held a spoon in his mouth and assumed his characteristic swaggering posture.

Abad had his tie loosened and a few buttons undone, dressed in a free-spirited manner.

Both were their usual selves.

Lisinas, who had put down her fork, looked at them alternately and furrowed her brow.

"Hmm? Is something wrong?"

Seeing Kai's puzzled expression, Lisinas spoke with a serious face.

"Kai, you are a hero. You should be a role model for people."

Lisinas placed her palms on Kai's chest and waist, applying pressure.

Kai unconsciously straightened his posture.

"You shouldn't hold a spoon in your mouth either."

"Ugh?"

Lisinas took the spoon out of Kai's mouth and adjusted his posture by holding his head.

"See, doesn't this look cooler?"

Smiling faintly, Lisinas then looked at Abad, who had a dumbfounded expression.

"Abad, you too."

"Me?"

Lisinas reached out to Abad, who pointed at himself with a bewildered look.

She then fastened Abad's shirt buttons and straightened his tie.

"It looks better when you're neat."

Lisinas smiled faintly and stood up, holding her tray.

"I'll be going first. Enjoy your breakfast."

"Um. Ah, okay."

"See you in class later."

Kai and Abad said their goodbyes with bewildered expressions.

"The atmosphere… seems a little different than usual?"

"Right? It's like… mature."

Kai and Abad looked flustered.

The two of them nervously adjusted the posture and attire that Lisinas had corrected, and their faces turned slightly red.

"Eliza? Why is your face like that?"

The students from the summoning department looked at Eliza, who was gaping, with puzzled expressions.

'Why are you spacing out like that! Kai Thomas!'

"Miss Celia. Why didn't you eat first? Hmm? Miss Celia?"

Chen Xia also tilted her head, looking at Celia, who had a dumbfounded expression.

'Why is Chloe suddenly like this? No! More importantly, why is that butter-face blushing like that, unlike himself!'