The unfamiliar sensation spreading within Luca's chest intensified with every passing second, no longer subtle enough to dismiss as simple fatigue or lingering exhaustion. The pressure pulsed irregularly beneath his ribs, sharp enough to disrupt his breathing as an uneasy tension gripped his entire body.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Without wasting another moment, Luca rose quickly from his bed, the sudden movement causing the discomfort to flare more intensely as he steadied himself briefly against the edge of the table. His breathing grew heavier, uneven, as urgency replaced hesitation entirely.

He moved toward the door, his steps slightly unsteady as he pushed it open and stepped into the corridor.

The cool evening air brushed faintly against his face, yet it did little to calm the unsettling sensation that continued to build within him.

His pace quickened.

Then quickened further.

Each step down the staircase felt heavier than usual, his grip tightening briefly against the railing as he descended faster than his body seemed fully prepared to allow.

Students passing nearby glanced toward him curiously, his normally composed demeanor now replaced by visible urgency, his expression tense, strained, betraying the discomfort he could no longer conceal.

His breaths came quicker now.

Sharper.

As though something inside him demanded immediate attention.

He moved across the academy grounds with increasing speed, the familiar pathways blurring slightly as his focus narrowed entirely toward a single destination.

The teachers' dormitory.

The building stood slightly apart from the student residences, its structure more refined yet quiet, the soft glow of interior lights visible through tall windows as the evening deepened.

Luca slowed only briefly as he reached the entrance before continuing forward, ascending the staircase with hurried steps, his hand brushing lightly against the wall once as a sudden wave of discomfort forced him to steady himself momentarily.

"It should be… here…" he muttered under his breath, his voice tight as he moved along the corridor.

His gaze scanned quickly across the nameplates fixed beside each door.

One after another.

Until—

He stopped.

Before a familiar name.

Without hesitation, he raised his hand and knocked.

Firmly.

Urgently.

A brief pause followed.

Then the door opened.

Seraphina stood before him.

Her long blue hair fell loosely around her shoulders, her expression calm at first—

Then shifting instantly as her blue eyes widened upon seeing him.

Concern surfaced immediately.

"Are you alright?" she asked quickly, her voice losing its usual composure as she observed his strained breathing and unsteady posture.

Luca's strength faltered slightly.

The pressure within his chest pulsed sharply once more, forcing him to steady himself against the doorframe.

He could barely manage the words.

"L-let me in…"

Seraphina paused for only the briefest moment after hearing Luca's strained request, her sharp mind already moving through possibilities even as concern surfaced clearly within her violet eyes. Without further hesitation, she stepped aside and guided him inside, closing the door quietly yet firmly behind them as the seriousness of the situation became immediately apparent.

Luca staggered slightly once he crossed the threshold, the unnatural pressure within his body growing more intense with each passing second. His breathing had become uneven, beads of sweat forming along his forehead as he attempted to steady himself.

Seraphina moved closer instantly, her usual calm demeanor replaced with focused urgency as she reached out to support him.

"What happened to you?" she asked quickly, her voice controlled yet unmistakably concerned.

Luca struggled to answer immediately, his jaw tightening as the strange sensation within him surged again. Slowly, he raised one hand, the motion unsteady as though even the simplest movement required effort.

Then—

A faint wisp of black smoke emerged from his palm.

It curled upward in thin strands, dissolving into the air almost as quickly as it appeared, yet its presence was unmistakable.

Seraphina's eyes widened slightly.

"T-this…" she murmured quietly, her gaze sharpening as she leaned closer to observe the phenomenon more carefully.

Luca exhaled unevenly, attempting to steady his voice.

"I… started feeling uncomfortable since morning," he said with effort.

"At first, I thought it was simply fatigue from the mission…"

His fingers tightened faintly.

"But… this…"

Another faint trace of black smoke slipped from his hand, the wisps dispersing slowly into the surrounding air.

Seraphina studied the manifestation carefully, her brows drawing together slightly as she observed its movement and texture.

"…Is it corrupted mana…?" she murmured thoughtfully.

Her gaze narrowed slightly.

"No…"

Her voice lowered further.

"It does not feel identical."

Luca nodded faintly, his expression tense.

"That is exactly what I felt," he said quietly.

"There are similarities… but it does not behave the same way."

The discomfort pulsed again within his chest, causing him to inhale sharply as he steadied himself.

Seraphina looked at him carefully.

"Have you experienced anything like this before?" she asked calmly.

Luca shook his head immediately.

"N-no…"

"That is why I came here," he replied honestly.

"You mentioned earlier that you were unwell and did not attend the lecture today…"

His voice remained strained.

"I thought perhaps… it might be related…"

Seraphina observed him for a moment longer before speaking calmly.

"I have not experienced any symptoms resembling this," she stated with certainty.

A faint trace of relief appeared upon Luca's face at her words, as though one possible concern had at least been ruled out.

Both of their attention returned to the faint black smoke still occasionally escaping from his palm.

Seraphina's expression grew serious once more.

"…Whatever this is," she said quietly, her tone firm with quiet resolve,

"…we must identify it quickly."

The faint strands of black smoke continued to slip intermittently from Luca's palm, their presence unstable, almost uncertain, as though whatever force produced them had yet to fully manifest its nature. The thin wisps twisted slowly into the air before dissolving into nothingness, leaving behind an unsettling stillness that neither of them could easily interpret.

Seraphina stepped closer with measured caution, her gaze focused entirely upon the strange phenomenon as she observed the behavior of the smoke carefully, her mind already analyzing possible explanations.

Slowly, she extended her hand.

Her fingers hovered briefly above the faint dark strands before making contact.

The moment her skin touched the drifting smoke—

The reaction was immediate.

The black wisps trembled faintly, as though disturbed by an invisible force, before collapsing inward and dispersing entirely, vanishing without leaving even the slightest trace behind.

Both of them froze.

Their eyes widened in unmistakable surprise.

"T-this…" Luca murmured quietly, his voice filled with confusion as he stared at his now empty palm.

Seraphina hesitated briefly, the implications of what she had just witnessed forming rapidly within her thoughts.

Then, after a moment of silent consideration, she gently took Luca's hand within her own.

The contact was careful.

Measured.

As though she feared an unpredictable reaction.

Luca flinched instinctively at the sudden warmth of her touch, though he did not pull his hand away.

Seconds passed.

Then more.

Gradually, the tension in Luca's breathing began to ease.

The tightness that had been pressing against his chest lessened slowly, the discomfort fading bit by bit as though something within him had begun stabilizing.

Color returned faintly to his face.

His shoulders relaxed.

The strained rhythm of his breath returned to normal.

Both of them observed the change with quiet astonishment.

Luca blinked faintly, testing the sensation carefully before speaking.

"…It's gone," he said slowly.

"The discomfort…"

"…it has disappeared."

Seraphina's expression shifted subtly, something unreadable surfacing briefly within her violet eyes as she considered what this reaction implied.

After a brief silence, she spoke quietly.

"It appears this condition is directly connected to what occurred during the mission."

Her tone remained calm.

Measured.

Yet the weight of her conclusion was unmistakable.

Luca gave a slow nod, the realization settling heavily within his thoughts as the implications of the connection became impossible to ignore.

The room fell into a quiet stillness once more as both of them absorbed the implications of what had just occurred. The faint remnants of tension that had gripped Luca's body only moments ago had now completely faded, leaving behind a strange calm that felt almost unnatural considering the distress he had experienced earlier.

Luca slowly withdrew his hand from Seraphina's grasp, though the lingering warmth of her touch remained etched faintly within his awareness.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The silence did not feel awkward.

But it did feel heavy.

Filled with questions that neither yet had answers to.

Finally, Luca straightened slightly, regaining composure as he took a small step back.

"I should take my leave now," he said quietly, his voice calm though his thoughts remained unsettled.

Seraphina seemed about to respond immediately, yet she paused.

Hesitated.

Her fingers curled faintly against her sleeve as though considering whether to speak further.

"It… does not appear to be a one-time occurrence," she said carefully, her tone thoughtful rather than alarmed.

Luca stopped mid-step.

Her words settled heavily.

He gave a small nod, understanding the implication.

"If this condition manifests again," he replied quietly, "we will need to identify a permanent solution."

His gaze lowered briefly.

"Or at the very least… understand what it actually is."

"And why it appeared now."

Seraphina nodded slowly in agreement, the seriousness of the situation clearly reflected in her expression.

Then, after a brief pause, she spoke again, her voice slightly softer than before.

"If… if the discomfort returns…"

Her words slowed faintly, as though choosing them required more effort than usual.

"…you may come to me."

The hesitation within her tone did not go unnoticed.

Yet neither of them commented on it.

The meanin

g was understood without further clarification.

For now—

The mystery remained unresolved.

But at least—

He would not have to face it alone.