"...No."
The word left Aeron’s lips.
In fact, a part of him screamed to say yes, to grasp at the impossible hope that his friend was alive. But the memory of the collapse, the void where Amaniel had been, was a wound too fresh.
"Alright then." Vespera didn’t seem surprised or offended. "But you have to realize that the girl is going to die because of you."
"!" Aeron’s eyes widened.
A cold splash of reality washed over him.
She was right. They weren’t just talking about ghosts from his past; they were discussing Emilia’s life, right now. He couldn’t afford to be this weak-willed. And if there was even a sliver of a chance that Aman was alive... wasn’t that a miracle? Something to be seized, not doubted?
"Alright," he nodded firmly. "I believe you. But... do you know where he is?"
"...No."
Aeron remained silent, simply staring at her. He was learning her ways. This was her patter — dangling a piece of the truth, then waiting.
Vespera chuckled under his gaze and added. "But he knows where you are."
"What do you mean by that?" Aeron muttered.
"The only thing you need to know is that he is alive, and that he will come to you himself. You don’t have to search for him."
Confusion swirled in Aeron’s mind, but he pushed it down. He had chosen to trust her after all. "Then... When will he come?"
"When the time is right." Her expression turned uncharacteristically solemn. "Unfortunately, I cannot say more. But what I can tell you is that we have a chance to prolong the little time we have left."
Aeron leaned forward, a spark of anticipation cutting through the confusion. "How?"
"We need to find a rare 4-star consumable treasure. It is known as the Frostbloom Lotus." Her voice held a note of remembrance. "When consumed, it places the user into a state of profound, cryogenic stasis for exactly one year — a sleep so deep it mimics death, slowing all bodily functions to a near halt. It is similar to the ESS, but it does not cure it. However, it can pause its progression. It guarantees awakening after the year has passed, buying us precious time."
"I see." Aeron nodded. If what she said was true, even a year was good. At least he would be able to awaken, and if he gets into a powerful academy, perhaps he can ask them about the treasure. But... Could he still wait for it to happen? What if Emilia falls into the eternal sleep before he can achieve it?
He turned his gaze back to Vespera. "You... You know where to find it, right?"
"Yes. But we need to hurry." Vespera answered. "Or else, it’s gonna get taken away."
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is, we are gonna use the money your childhood sweetheart left us right away. In fact, we might even have to get a loan."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because it’s going to appear in an auction at the end of this month. And a hundred million, while a fortune to most, is pocket change to the people who will be bidding on a 4-star treasure of that caliber. We might even have to sell the mansion."
"I see," Aeron muttered. He understood. In the world of high nobility and true power, a hundred million was a significant sum, but not an insurmountable one for something so rare.
"Do you know the auction’s location?"
"Of course. Why else would I tell you?"
"Then we have to prepare quickly. I’m going to get an extended leave of absence from the academy."
She nodded, but then a curious, almost testing look crossed her features. "But... aren’t you going to ask me how I know all this?"
Aeron paused, then let out a brief, dry chuckle. "Even if I ask, would you answer?"
"..." Vespera stayed silent.
"No, right? And if I asked that, I’d also have to ask why you didn’t tell me any of this until now."
"...Yeah," Vespera confirmed, a flicker of surprise in her ethereal eyes at his unexpected sharpness. "Alright. You take care of your matters. We will talk again."
With that, her form dissolved into particles of black light. They swirled through the air before gathering on his bed, coalescing and solidifying into the familiar, sleek form of the sword he had once cherished with his life.
Aeron stared at it for a few moments before leaving the room and heading to the administration.
The moment the door clicked shut, a faint, whispered echo drifted through the empty room, unheard by anyone.
"Sorry, darling."
"Now is not the time..."
______ ___ _
Meanwhile, in the Orlan Kingdom, within the grand and opulent throne room of the royal palace, the first trial of the crown had officially concluded.
All the royal candidates stood in a line before the dais, having returned from their respective assignments.
The air was thick with anticipation.
King Liam, seated upon the throne, looked over his children, his gaze settling on each for a brief moment, acknowledging their efforts with a slow, measured nod.
He then unrolled the official parchment in his hands, its seal broken.
"The results of the first trial," his voice echoed through the silent hall, "are as follows. Third place, awarded three marks..." He paused, his eyes moving down the line. "Princess Josephina."
A polite, expected round of applause rippled through the court. The firstborn princess bowed her head gracefully.
"Second place, awarded four marks..." The King’s voice faltered for a heartbeat, a flicker of genuine surprise crossing his regal features before he mastered it. "...Crown Prince Bane."
A louder, more enthusiastic applause followed, though it was mingled with murmurs of surprise. After all, almost everyone expected him to be the winner, given his experience in this field.
As for the Crown Prince, he simply offered a charming smile, with the look in his eyes being unreadable.
"And the first place," the King continued, his voice rising before his eyes widening in even greater surprise.
Then, a genuine, proud smile broke through his regal composure.
"Awarded five marks... goes to Princess Aurelia!"