Meanwhile, in Everhold City, within the magnificent Thornveil Estate.
The morning sun bathed the manor in a warm golden glow.
Servants quietly carried out their duties throughout the grand residence, while gentle breezes drifted through the open corridors.
A young woman walked gracefully along one of those corridors. Her long, dark-blue hair flowed elegantly down her back, swaying gently with each step.
Clear emerald-green eyes calmly observed the path ahead.
She wore a beautiful light-blue dress embroidered with delicate silver patterns that perfectly matched her noble status.
She was none other than Ophelia Thornveil.
As she continued walking, her footsteps gradually slowed. At the end of the corridor lay a spacious balcony overlooking the vast city of Everhold.
Someone was already standing there.
A woman with sky-blue hair tied neatly into a flawless bun quietly gazed over the city below. She wore a crisp white blouse tucked into black trousers, giving her an elegant yet professional appearance.
Even without armor or robes. She naturally radiated an aura of authority.
"Instructor Morgana."
Ophelia greeted respectfully.
Hearing her voice, Morgana slowly turned around.
"Oh. Ophelia."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Instructor."
Ophelia walked over until she stood beside her. For a brief moment, both women silently admired the city stretching beneath them.
After several seconds, Ophelia finally spoke.
"It’s already been four days... Has your disciple still not completed the assignment you gave him?"
Morgana smiled helplessly.
"No. Not yet."
Ever since Noah and Damien had entered the labyrinth...
Morgana had remained at the Thornveil Estate.
After concluding her discussions regarding official matters with Duke Lionel Thornveil, he had personally arranged luxurious accommodations for her within the estate.
She wasn’t particularly concerned. She trusted Damien’s judgment.
Besides the communication device she had given him remained inactive. If anything truly dangerous happened. She would know immediately.
Morgana glanced sideways at Ophelia.
"What about you? Do you want to train again today with me? I can guide you again."
She asked casually.
After all Ophelia was also one of her students. The young noblewoman visibly flinched.
She instinctively took a small step backward.
"Th-There’s no need, Instructor Morgana. I don’t want to trouble you. You are our guest."
Yesterday’s training session had left a lasting impression on her.
For the first time she had truly understood just how terrifying Morgana was during combat training.
Every movement had been precise. Every attack had been merciless. She never hesitated. She never held back unnecessarily. She was ruthless and brutal.
Ophelia honestly couldn’t understand how Damien endured such training every single day.
Morgana clicked her tongue.
"Tch. Why are you looking at me as though I’m some kind of monster? Damien handles it perfectly well. He complains a lot...but he still endures it."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"And Noah... He never complains. He’s a good boy. I have trained him few times together with my disciple."
The moment Noah’s name left Morgana’s lips...
Ophelia stiffened. Her emerald eyes lowered toward the floor. Her fingers unconsciously tightened into fists.
Morgana noticed the reaction immediately.
She remained silent. She knew exactly what had happened between Noah and Ophelia.
In her opinion what Noah had done in the past had unquestionably been wrong.
There was no excuse for it.
But she also believed Ophelia’s actions afterward had crossed a line. Turning an incident into a public spectacle and allowing it to destroy another person’s life.
That, too, had been wrong.
Still it wasn’t her place to interfere now. Everything was good now. Noah was improving with incredible speed. It was comparable to Damien.
The past had already happened.
"I... I just remembered something."
Ophelia forced a small smile.
"I should take my leave. See you later, Instructor."
Without waiting for another reply...
She quickly walked away. Her footsteps grew faster and faster. She didn’t stop until she reached her own bedroom.
Click.
The door closed behind her.
Click.
She immediately locked it. For several long moments... She simply leaned against the door.
Her breathing was uneven.
She slowly closed her eyes.
"...Haah..."
After calming herself slightly...
She pushed herself away and walked toward the far wall of the room.
There hung an big portrait on wall. It depicted an extraordinarily beautiful woman.
Only the upper half of her body had been painted. She wore an elegant black kimono decorated with subtle silver embroidery.
Her skin was fair and flawless. Her expression remained cold and dignified. Clear blue eyes stared calmly ahead.
Her long black hair had been tied into a graceful bun, secured by an exquisite ornamental hairpin.
The woman radiated quiet elegance.
"...Mother."
Ophelia’s voice was barely above a whisper.
She stood before the portrait in silence. Her fists slowly clenched.
Then the memories returned.
She remembered that day.
The screams. The blood. The overwhelming terror. She remembered watching her mother throw herself forward to protect her.
She remembered the demon’s claws. She remembered the warmth of her mother’s embrace slowly disappearing. How she fought to the demon despite being injured. How she was devoured into the huge explosion.
At that time her father had been away, leading the battle against another group of demons.
By the time he returned. Everything had already been over.
Ophelia slowly lowered her head.
"...I know. I know what I did was wrong."
Her voice trembled.
"But... I didn’t have any other choice."
She slowly looked back at the portrait.
"Father...and even Noah...had no intention of breaking off the engagement. I never loved him."
She shook her head weakly.
"No... I never even liked him."
She closed her eyes.
"I couldn’t accept spending the rest of my life in a marriage I never wanted."
A bitter smile appeared on her face.
"But...even after everything. It still feels wrong."
Her voice grew quieter. Almost as though she were confessing to the only person who could no longer answer her.
Silence filled the room once again.
---
Meanwhile, Back Inside the Labyrinth.
Crunch!
Crunch!
Boom!
"Fuck!"
Two young men sprinted through a dense underground forest as fast as their legs could carry them.
Branches whipped against their clothes while bushes and roots blurred past beneath their feet. Behind them echoed the furious growls of monsters.
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