Vanessa lowered her head afterward, her face hidden beneath the shadow of her hair as she silently stared at the floor.

Ruvian quietly inspected her through the [Bookmark] again.

[’Vanessa Eldrienne’ is currently shaken, overwhelmed by confusion and fear. She is unable to decide whether to be wary of you or rely on you.]

[’Why is he telling me all this? He’s lying, but also telling the truth. I should stay away from him. I should...’]

A single drop of water fell onto the stone floor below.

Then another.

Without realizing it, Vanessa’s tears had already begun slipping silently down her face.

[’But if he truly knows something about my family? What if he’s the first person in this academy who can be someone that I can trust? He still hasn’t exposed me yet...’]

’...’

Ruvian silently observed the turmoil raging within her mind. What Vanessa was going through was understandable. After all, she had been carrying this burden for a very long time.

"Vanessa." (+100PP)

Ruvian’s voice quietly echoed throughout the training hall.

Vanessa’s fingers tightened around the documents in her hands before she slowly raised her head.

Her beautiful amethyst eyes trembled faintly, a thin layer of tears already gathering within them. Fear. Confusion. Hope. Countless emotions intertwined within her expression.

Yet despite how vulnerable she looked at that moment, Vanessa still stubbornly tried to maintain a brave front.

’For all her strength, she’s still human.’

Ruvian slowly extended his hand toward her.

Vanessa stared at it silently, confusion flickering across her tearful face.

"As I said before, I’m neither your ally nor your enemy. What I am, however..."

Ruvian paused.

"...That is something we can decide later. But as for now, there is one thing we currently share — it is the desire to uncover what truly happened to your family." (+500PP)

His voice remained calm and steady within the quiet training hall. Ruvian looked directly into her trembling amethyst eyes.

"Am I wrong?"

Vanessa’s lips parted slightly, yet no words came out.

"So, what do you say?"

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Would you like us to work together to uncover that truth? Honestly speaking, it’s far too large of a burden for one person alone. I don’t think I can do it by myself." (+200PP)

Vanessa quietly looked at him again.

And once more, she realized he was still hiding things from her. There were lies mixed within his words. Things he refused to reveal. Things that he kept for himself.

Honestly, it felt strange.

No matter how many times she replayed the conversation in her head, Vanessa could not understand why there was no ill intent hidden beneath those mixtures of lies and truth,

nor could she understand why this person, who had every reason to exploit her secret for his own benefit, had instead chosen to extend his hand toward her first.

What exactly was his goal?

Why was he helping her?

And perhaps most importantly, why did none of his actions feel threatening despite how suspicious everything about this situation should have been? (+200PP)

There were so many questions that kept going around in her mind, but none of them gave her any answers. Even so... there was one feeling she could not deny.

His intentions felt... genuinely compassionate.

At that moment, Vanessa found herself at a loss.

For most of her life, Vanessa had learned that compassion was rarely free. Some offered it to ease their conscience. Quite a few offered it to satisfy their curiosity. Their intentions differed, but they always left behind the same lingering residue.

Humans were creatures of desire, after all.

Even the kindest acts often carried a subtle agenda behind them. A wish to be acknowledged. A wish to be needed. A wish to receive something, no matter how small, in return for what was given.

By nature, that was not evil.

It was simply... part of being human.

And because Vanessa understood that truth better than most, she had long since learned to search for the desire hidden beneath every smile and every outstretched hand.

Yet standing before Ruvian, she found herself strangely unable to do so.

Was it because he lacked desires?

No.

If anything, the opposite was true.

The man before her was clearly pursuing something!

His path was filled with secrets, half-truths, and burdens he refused to reveal. There was purpose in his actions. Conviction in his dark blue eyes. And an ambition great enough to drive him forward regardless of the cost.

But most puzzling of all, none of it seemed to revolve around himself. It was as though his eyes were fixed upon a horizon far beyond his own gain...

Why?

Why did his desires not seem to begin and end with himself?

Vanessa didn’t know the answer to that.

All she knew was that it was just... warm?

Yes, a warmth she had not felt in a very, very long time. (+100PP)

Vanessa hesitated as she stared at the hand extended toward her, her fingers still trembling. A part of her was still wary. Still afraid. Yet deeply, she desperately wanted to believe him.

Slowly, almost as though moving on instinct alone, Vanessa raised her hand and reached toward his.

Then, as if gathering the last remnants of her courage, she gently wrapped her fingers around his hand.

The sensation she felt was very... reassuring.

Vanessa quickly turned her face away, one hand hurriedly rubbing against her reddened eyes. Unfortunately, the tears refused to cooperate. No matter how many times she wiped them away, more continued to gather.

’Ah... this is so embarrassing.’

’I can’t... I can’t stop crying.’

Ruvian quietly watched her for a moment, a puzzled look gradually appearing on his face as he tried to process what he was seeing — the sight felt like he was watching a child who had just got her candy stolen by someone.

’Haa... what am I supposed to do now?’

Ruvian slightly frowned.

’I didn’t expect her to start crying.’

Then, his expression began to soften.

Looking at her now, it was difficult to associate her with the composed and capable Vanessa a few minutes ago.

A faint sigh escaped his lips.

"You alright?"

Vanessa immediately lowered her head further, clearly embarrassed by her current state.

"I-I’m fine..." she whispered weakly, though her trembling voice completely betrayed her words.

Ruvian simply looked at her in silence before speaking again.

"Don’t force it."

Ruvian continued quietly, averting his gaze a little as though trying not to make it awkward for her.

"If you want to cry, just cry."

A brief silence followed.

Those simple words finally caused the tears she had been desperately suppressing to break apart completely. Vanessa lowered her face again, quietly crying while trying her hardest not to make any sound.

Ruvian watched her for a few seconds before suddenly removing the dark academy cloak hanging loosely over his shoulders. Without saying anything else, he gently placed it over her head. The oversized cloak draped down enough to hide most of her tear-stained face from view.

"Take your time."

Ruvian muttered casually before walking away.

"I’ll wait."

The moment the cloak was gently placed over her head — the warmth covering her face felt painfully familiar. And before she even realized it, an old memory slowly resurfaced.

A much smaller Vanessa sat quietly at the edge of a large bed, her tiny shoulders trembling while tears endlessly streamed down her cheeks.

The room around her was dimly lit by candlelight, soft rain quietly tapping against the windows outside.

Then, a towel was suddenly dropped over her head.

—"You know, Nessa," a cheerful voice laughed softly, "you’re such a crying baby, aren’t you?"

Young Vanessa immediately looked up through teary eyes.

—"Hic... But you’re leaving again for your training," she mumbled weakly while clutching onto Anastelle’s sleeve. "I’m going to be alone again..."

Her voice trembled further.

—"Hic... Hic... I’ve told you... I don’t like being alone."

Anastelle stared at her for a moment before sighing dramatically.

—"There, there~ crying is for the weak, Nessa." She crossed her arms proudly, though the smile on her face remained unusually gentle.

—"Also, it’s really not that bad being alone."

Then, Anastelle suddenly paused.

The playful expression on her face softened slightly afterward.

—"But still..." she muttered quietly, placing a hand on top of Vanessa’s head beneath the towel.

—"Alright, come here, Nessa."

—"One more hug before I leave."

Vanessa stared at the teardrops gathered on the floor beneath her, lost in the memories of days long gone.

All this time, she had been fighting alone.

But now...

Maybe now...

──────── ✦ ────────

[Chapter 206: She Was Not Alone Anymore]

Plot Points= 36,280