Chapter 109

Lexius didn’t answer right away. He didn’t even glance at her, just kept scanning the room before finally slowly opening his mouth.

“What’s this supposed to be? An apology for earlier?”

“…Yeah. I wanted to do something to cheer you up, so I prepared this.”

“….”

“I’m sorry about earlier, Senior. I still don’t really know how to deal with people… It’s just… my personality’s kind of indifferent by nature.”

As Ariel apologized, a smile slightly different from earlier appeared on her face. Before, she had looked sheepish and awkward, but now, her expression was more thoughtful and sincere. Lexius studied the subtle shifts in her expression intently.

“Don’t do this kind of thing for other people.”

“You mean the apology? Or… all this decorating?”

“Apologies are fine, but don’t go overboard like this.”

“Then, is it okay if I do it for you?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

“Didn’t you say it wasn’t your thing and that I shouldn’t do it?”

“It’s not. But still, do it. I’ll allow it.”

Even though he was contradicting himself, he insisted stubbornly, and Ariel gave a reluctant nod. Not like it was something she wanted to do for anyone else anyway, since it was too much hassle.

As she followed along without protest, Lexius wore a look as if he wanted to ask for something more.

“Say my name.”

“Senior Lex?”

“Leave out ‘senior,’ and say my name.”

“…Lexius.”

When she uttered his name, his eyes softened, turning slightly hazy like someone under a spell.

Then, her phone vibrated in her pocket.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

Ariel wanted to check her phone immediately, but she couldn’t since Lexius was personally giving her a lesson in magic theory. She stared down at the book with a serious face, but the paper flowers and balloons scattered all around made it hard to concentrate.

‘This was supposed to be a study session, but with the mood and the decorations, I didn’t think we’d actually go through with it.’

Not that complaining would do her any good.

Lexius proceeded with the lesson in a firm manner, and once they finished, he even made her review everything. And like always, he didn’t leave first but stayed right there beside her. While Ariel was going over the material, he picked at the snacks. He didn’t look like he was enjoying it at all, but it was funny to watch him keep stuffing them into his mouth.

“Senior, if you don’t want to eat it, you don’t have to.”

When Ariel looked at him with worried eyes, he stopped just before putting a cookie in his mouth and turned to look at her.

“I’m eating it out of appreciation. Just be thankful.”

“…Thank you. But don’t force yourself to eat it.”

“Worry about yourself.”

Lexius tapped the open book page with his finger, as if to redirect her attention.

“Just study.”

He said it with that infuriating tone of his.

Ariel had no comeback. She simply lowered her head in silence. Magic theory was brutally hard, and Lexius’s way of teaching didn’t make it any easier.

By the time they finally wrapped up the review, it was already past midnight.

Ariel shut her book. When she lifted her head, she noticed the plates were completely empty. Lexius had apparently finished off all the snacks and cake she had prepared.

“Senior, is your stomach okay?”

“It’s late, so hurry up and get up.”

Lexius dodged her question and rose from his seat. The way he headed for the door made it clear that he couldn’t wait to get out of there.

Ariel stayed where she was, like she was quietly seeing him off. Lexius glanced back when he realized she wasn’t following.

“I still need to clean all this up. You can head out first, Senior.”

She said it while glancing over at the flower decorations, balloons, glitter, and everything else she had set up.

Lexius stopped walking and came back toward her. He stood in front of her with a look that clearly said he was displeased.

“Do you really not know how to ask someone for help?”

“I know, but I still wanted to clean it up myself. After putting it all together, I guess I got attached.”

“What kind of ridiculous logic is that?”

She had meant it as a joking way to show some responsibility, but Lexius shut it down with an icy response. Not that Ariel had time to feel embarrassed, because before she could even react, he waved his hand, and the desks realigned themselves while every bit of scattered decoration disappeared as if it had never been there.

All that was left in front of her was the spotless library, so clean it looked like it had never been decorated in the first place.

‘…What kind of spell was that?’

After witnessing Lexius’s magic, she immediately tried to recall what she had learned. However, his skill was so far beyond her level that she couldn’t even tell what kind of spell it was. The fact that it was over in an instant and she had little time to observe also played a part.

Once everything was cleaned up, Lexius flicked his finger against Ariel’s forehead as she stood there in a daze. She looked up at him with a puzzled expression.

“All done? Let’s go.”

He said shortly and turned to leave.

As his figure quickly disappeared down the hall, Ariel shot up and rushed after him, practically running.

“Thank you, Sen—!”

But her attempt to thank him was cut off before she could finish.

A sharp jolt of pain shot through the leg she had stretched out to push off the marble floor. Ariel’s face tightened instantly. The ache in her shin was sharp enough to make her break into a cold sweat. She quickly twisted her body to shift her weight, but the motion was rushed and awkward.

Her legs tangled, and she lost her balance.

Thud!

A loud noise echoed through the hallway as she fell hard to the ground.

Lexius, who had been walking ahead, stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at her.

“You alright?”

“Yeah! I’m fine!”

Ariel answered without even checking herself, scrambling upright in a rush. She pulled herself upright, brushing off the fall. A dull ache throbbed in her right leg, the same one that had banged into the table that morning. She finally glanced down. Just below her knee, the skin looked a little swollen.

She was afraid to look any closer.

As she carefully steadied herself, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed toward her.

“Did you get hurt?”

Before she knew it, Lexius had come back and crouched in front of her. When Ariel lifted her head to look at him, he lowered his gaze, his eyes fixed on her right leg.

“Let me see.”

He looked down with a serious expression. For some reason, his demeanor felt a little stern.

She lifted her right knee toward him, like a patient showing a wound to a doctor. Lexius gently supported the back of her leg and pulled down her knee sock. Swollen skin came into view. A deep blue bruise had bloomed across her pale skin, roughly the size of her palm. It had been left untreated since the impact, and the condition was quite serious.

Lexius furrowed his brow slightly at the sight, then silently placed his hand over the bruised area, covering it.