"Here." Adrian extended a vial containing his saliva toward Elana before telling her, "I know this might be disgusting, but you need to consume it somehow... maybe dilute it in water."

Even he felt disgusted offering something like that, but he had no other choice.

Elana’s magic had been going haywire since yesterday. That was why she contacted him using the artifact Adrian had given her the last time she lost control. The artifact allowed him to immediately sense if there was an emergency.

They were currently inside his workshop on the academy campus that’s why she didn’t hesitate in telling him everything she has experienced yesterday.

It began during she was taking a bath and ended up freezing the water.

Hesitant, she tried staying in the room, but when she came out to have lunch, she ended up reacting to the hot soup she took for herself.

Her magic was reacting to just random things. She couldn’t herself understand how to avoid it, or if she actually should.

When she tried to fight it off or suppress it, she ended up freezing her whole room the last time.

After receiving the vial, Elana looked up at him and asked, "Do you think I need to stay in my room for the time being?" She was forced into thinking that maybe leaving the academy for the time being would be the best option after all.

But leaving the academy doesn’t mean she would go away and return to her hometown.

She doesn’t want her mother to worry about her, so she was thinking of buying a small house until she was fully cured.

"No, not at all. Just make sure you don’t force the magic control, okay?" Adrian comforted her.

Saying so, he was about to get and leave. After all, he had someone waiting for him at the mansion.

"Professor... are you okay?" She suddenly asked.

"Hmm? Yes. Why do you ask?" Adrian replied, confused as he sat back down. At the moment, she should’ve been more worried about herself.

The silver-haired girl hesitated slightly before saying, "I... haven’t seen you around campus lately, and even today, you came back from somewhere. Is everything alright?"

Adrian parted his lips to answer, but his shoulders slowly sagged instead.

Taking off his glasses, he placed them on the counter before speaking.

"Well... not really. One thing after another keeps happening. Somehow, I’m just trying to deal with everything."

Adrian genuinely felt cursed to spend his life constantly running from one crisis to the next.

Truthfully, he didn’t blame anyone. In fact, he was glad people trusted him enough to rely on him.

But the concerning part was that problems only seemed to arise around those close to him.

He had only just returned after barely stabilizing the situation on Raven’s side, only to hear about the unnatural gathering of the Acolytes.

Then came Forgelet’s situation, something as anomalous as his very existence.

And on top of all that, there was still the deep-sea prison he needed to visit soon, and meet the fallen deity.

Everything kept happening one after another, like he was trapped inside some fast-paced novel where the author simply couldn’t get enough of his suffering.

Elana suddenly rose from her seat and approached Adrian.

Without saying a word, she gently pulled his head against her chest and wrapped her arms around him.

Adrian froze for a moment before asking, "Am I being comforted right now?"

"Yes. And I’m also giving you my energy so you can defeat all your adversaries," the younger girl replied softly, her fingers slowly stroking the back of his head.

Adrian let out a quiet chuckle. "Not wishing that I stop getting dragged into trouble instead?"

"That’s something I wish for every single day, but fate can’t be changed, Professor." Her voice remained calm and gentle. "That’s why I wish for you to have all the strength you need to overcome every hardship. You’re already doing really well. You just need one little push."

Adrian quietly exhaled.

Who would’ve thought that the same girl he once comforted, the same girl he had convinced not to run away from the academy because of all her responsibilities, would one day be the one comforting him instead?

Leaning against her slightly, he closed his eyes.

In a soft voice, he murmured, "Sorry for being such a disappointing man."

Elana smiled faintly. "What are you talking about? Every person has a breaking point... I’m just glad I can be here for you."

Adrian let out another slow breath before gradually pulling away from her embrace and looking up into her eyes.

"You’ll eventually be able to consume my blood to stabilize your condition. You just need time to get used to a gentler medium."

Elana asked quietly, "Are you unwilling to kiss me now?"

Adrian sighed. "Elana... we... um..." His gaze lowered. After everything that had happened between them, the moments he had shared with her had already gone far beyond what any teacher normally shared with a student.

Suddenly, Elana cupped his cheeks and gently made him look up.

With a warm smile, she said, "I’m sorry for bringing it up. Don’t worry about me, Professor. Like I’ve always told you, I can wait for you for the rest of my life."

After saying that, she lowered her hands and turned away. "Well then, let me brew the— ah!"

A small yelp escaped her lips as her wrist was suddenly caught, her body lightly spun around on her feet.

And before she could fully process what was happening, a familiar warmth sealed her lips.

His heat flowed into her, gentle yet overwhelming, reaching deep enough to make her heart tremble.

Elana’s eyes widened in surprise, her breath catching the moment their lips met.

For a second, she simply froze, unable to process the sudden warmth that enveloped her.

Then slowly, her fingers curled against his chest.

Adrian held her gently, one hand around her waist while the other rested against the back of her head, keeping her close as he deepened the kiss just enough to pour every unspoken feeling into it.

It was warm and tender, as if he was handling something delicate.

The kind of kiss filled with exhaustion, longing, hesitation, and affection all at once.

Elana’s lashes trembled as she leaned into him, standing on the tips of her toes to return the kiss with equal softness, her heart beating so loudly she could hear it herself.

The workshop fell silent around them.

Just the quiet warmth they shared in that fleeting moment.

When Adrian finally pulled back, their breaths mixed in the small space between them.

Elana stared at him silently, her cheeks dyed crimson while a faint shimmer lingered in her eyes.

Adrian leaned forward and pulled her in a hug.

His arms locked around her waist before he made it clear, "This...wasn’t meant to stabilize your condition." Leaving those words behind, Adrian vanished.

...leaving a baffled and bashful Elana behind who instantly fell to her knees.

Wasn’t meant to treat her then...

What does it mean?

She slowly touched her lips. They were warm. His taste lingered there.

Her cheeks were feverish red as she looked down.

A gentle smile formed on her lips as she muttered, "I think...I won’t need to wait for all my life."