Laura couldn’t concentrate.
Sophia and Eric were still arguing near the training grounds while Luna watched them with quiet amusement, but Laura barely heard any of it.
Her attention remained on Noah.
He stood several meters away.
Silent.
Thinking.
Ever since the tournament ended, something about him had changed.
Not visibly.
Not enough for most people to notice.
But Laura had known Noah for too long to ignore it.
She remembered his expression after difficult battles.
His dry responses whenever someone worried about him.
The way he tried to act normal even when something was bothering him.
This was different.
Noah looked lost.
Laura lowered her gaze.
I should have told him.
The thought returned again.
And again.
Her fingers tightened around each other.
A memory surfaced.
A large room.
Sunlight.
Tall windows covered by white curtains.
She was younger.
Much younger.
"Lady Laura."
Laura’s younger self turned.
A woman stood near the doorway.
Her face was unclear.
"Your father is waiting."
"I don’t want to go."
The woman sighed.
"You cannot keep running from your responsibilities."
Laura remembered the anger she had felt.
The frustration.
The suffocating feeling of people constantly deciding what her life should become.
She looked toward the enormous window.
Beyond it was a world she wanted to see.
A world where nobody knew her name.
Nobody bowed.
Nobody expected anything.
The memory disappeared.
Laura blinked.
"Laura?"
Luna was standing beside her.
"You’ve been quiet."
Laura forced a smile.
"I’m fine."
Sophia immediately looked over.
"Don’t start copying Noah."
Laura laughed despite herself.
Luna sat beside her.
"Are you worried about him?"
Laura hesitated.
"Yes."
Sophia’s expression became more serious.
"I am too."
Eric stopped arguing.
"For what it’s worth, Damien is worried as well."
Sophia looked toward him.
"Damien worries?"
"He has a strange way of showing it."
Luna smiled.
Laura looked toward Noah again.
"I don’t think Noah understands what’s happening to him."
Sophia nodded.
"But he doesn’t have to deal with it alone."
Laura looked at her.
Sophia smiled slightly.
"We’ll figure it out."
Those words warmed something inside Laura.
For the first time in several days, she felt less alone.
Later that evening, Laura walked through one of Hildgard’s quieter streets.
She hadn’t intended to leave the academy district.
She simply needed space.
The city was beautiful beneath the three moons.
Their light reflected across the old stone buildings.
Laura stopped near a fountain.
Her reflection moved across the water.
For a moment—
She saw someone else standing behind her.
Laura immediately turned.
Nobody.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She looked back at the water.
A familiar symbol was carved beneath the fountain.
She frowned.
She had seen something similar before.
Where?
Her head suddenly hurt.
Another memory surfaced.
A corridor.
A large door.
And the same symbol engraved into the wood.
Laura took a step backward.
"No..."
The memory disappeared before she could understand it.
She pressed a hand against her forehead.
"Why can’t I remember?"
A voice came from behind her.
"Are you alright?"
Laura turned.
An elderly woman stood nearby.
Laura forced herself to relax.
"Yes. Sorry."
The woman nodded and continued walking.
Laura remained beside the fountain.
Her eyes returned to the carving.
Something about it felt painfully familiar.
But she couldn’t explain why.
Back at the academy, Noah sat alone in his room.
The system appeared before him.
[HOST STATUS: STABLE.]
Noah stared.
"That’s a lie."
The screen flickered.
[RAGNAROK DEAD ZONE RESONANCE: 1.2%]
His expression darkened.
It had increased again.
"Why?"
No answer came.
Noah leaned back against the wall.
"Are you going to explain anything?"
For several seconds, silence filled the room.
Then Dead Zone spoke.
Not yet.
Noah closed his eyes.
"Of course."
Someone is searching for me.
Noah opened his eyes.
The words immediately caught his attention.
"Who?"
Dead Zone didn’t answer.
Noah stood.
"Who is searching for you?"
The room became cold.
His shadow stretched across the floor.
Someone who believes power can be taken.
Noah’s expression changed.
A dangerous feeling settled in his chest.
Far across Hildgard, Alcris stood outside Milstrif Library.
The book’s words remained inside his mind.
When the seal weakens, the other will awaken.
Alcris slowly looked toward the three moons.
"Noah Blackwood..."
A smile appeared on his face.
"I think I finally understand why you’re so interesting."
Above him, the crimson moon glowed.
And somewhere deep within Noah’s consciousness—
Something smiled.
Noah woke with a headache.
He stayed in bed for several minutes, staring at the ceiling.
The previous night’s words refused to leave his mind.
Someone is searching for me.
Or rather, searching for Ragnarok.
Noah rubbed his eyes.
"You’re not going to explain who, are you?"
Silence.
He sighed.
"Didn’t think so."
By the time he reached the dining hall, most of Squad Seven had already gathered.
Eric looked up first.
"Look who’s alive."
Noah pulled out a chair.
"Disappointing, right?"
"Very."
Sophia placed her cup down.
"You look worse."
"Good morning."
Luna smiled.
"Did you sleep at all?"
Noah paused.
"A little."
Sophia gave him a suspicious look.
Laura remained quiet.
She looked tired too.
Noah noticed immediately.
"Are you okay?"
Laura looked up.
The question seemed to surprise her.
"Why?"
"You look like you haven’t slept."
Sophia turned toward Laura.
"Exactly what I said."
Laura sighed.
"I’m alright."
Noah almost laughed.
Sophia slowly looked between them.
"Is this a competition now?"
Eric raised his hand.
"I vote that anyone saying ’I’m alright’ has to leave the table."
"Shut up," Noah and Laura said simultaneously.
Luna laughed.
For a brief moment, things felt ordinary again.
Damien arrived shortly afterward.
He sat down without saying anything.
Eric looked at him.
"You know, people usually greet each other."
Damien reached for a cup.
"Morning."
Eric stared.
Sophia looked impressed.
"Progress."
Damien ignored both of them.
His eyes shifted toward Noah.
Noah noticed.
"What?"
Damien’s expression remained calm.
"Nothing."
Noah narrowed his eyes.
"That’s worse when you say it."
Damien said nothing more.
After breakfast, Sophia and Luna left to explore part of the central market.
Eric followed after discovering there was apparently a food festival happening nearby.
Noah had no intention of joining.
Laura stayed behind as well.
They ended up walking through the quieter academy grounds together.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Laura finally broke the silence.
"Do you ever feel like something from your past is following you?"
Noah looked toward her.
"That’s a specific question."
"I know."
He thought about it.
"Sometimes."
Laura lowered her gaze.
"Yesterday, I saw something."
Noah’s expression became serious.
"What?"
"A symbol."
Laura explained the fountain and the strange memory.
Noah listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he looked ahead.
"Do you remember where you’ve seen it before?"
"Not clearly."
Laura pressed her fingers together.
"It’s frustrating. I feel like I should know."
Noah nodded.
"Maybe you’re remembering something gradually."
Laura looked toward him.
"That’s supposed to make me feel better?"
"No."
She laughed quietly.
"You’re terrible at comforting people."
"I know."
For the first time that morning, Laura smiled naturally.
Far away, Alcris stood inside a private room near the outer edge of Hildgard.
Three drawings were spread across the table.
The medallions.
Balgard.
Sylthin.
Flaros.
He had studied their markings long before entering Milstrif Library.
But now the pieces were beginning to connect.
His finger moved across one of the pages.
Three medallions.
Three moons.
A seal.
And Ragnarok.
Alcris leaned back.
"So that’s why."
His perception had not been warning him about Noah alone.
It had been reacting to something connected to him.
Something sealed.
Something powerful.
A knock came from the door.
Alcris quickly covered the papers.
"Come in."
A student entered.
"We found one of the medallions."
Alcris’s eyes brightened.
"Where?"
"The academy storage district."
Alcris stood immediately.
"What about the others?"
"We’re still looking."
"Find them."
The student hesitated.
"Why do you need all three?"
Alcris looked at him.
The student’s body stiffened.
"I didn’t ask for your opinion."
"Sorry."
The student immediately left.
Alcris uncovered the drawings again.
His smile slowly returned.
Noah Blackwood was no longer simply a rival.
He was an answer.
And Alcris intended to uncover exactly what was hidden inside him.
That evening, Noah stood outside the academy building.
The three moons had risen again.
He stared toward them.
Something about the central moon felt different.
His chest tightened.
A faint notification appeared.
[RAGNAROK DEAD ZONE RESONANCE: 1.5%]
Noah frowned.
The number was increasing faster.
"Why?"
This time, the voice answered immediately.
Because someone is moving.
Noah’s eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
Silence returned.
He looked across Hildgard’s glowing streets.
For the first time, Noah had the uncomfortable feeling that the city itself was watching him.
And somewhere beneath those same three moons—
Alcris was beginning to move as well.
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