Chapter 115: Victoria's Breakthrough

Karina and Roland wove through the crowd hand in hand before arriving at the vast square ahead, where their view suddenly opened wide.

The square was bustling with life—groups of three or five gathered together, laughing and playing; young couples like themselves walked hand in hand; and numerous small vendors were selling exquisite Martial God Festival trinkets, thriving in their business.

At that moment, a dazzling light erupted suddenly in the center of the square, followed by a thunderous roar. A gigantic burst of multicolored fireworks filled nearly the entire sky.

With the release of this grand firework, cheers erupted across the square as everyone tilted their heads back to admire the brilliant display.

“Roland, it would be wonderful if we could hold hands and watch fireworks like this forever!” Karina whispered softly in his ear just as the fireworks began to fade.

Bathed in the lingering glow, Roland saw a fleeting gleam of allure on Karina’s face—her silver hair, her serene and sweet countenance, and at that moment, her burning gaze locked unwaveringly on him.

Both born in the small town of Poitiers, they had passed the Potter Academy’s wizard test on the very same day. Since then, their paths had steadily moved toward convergence.

On their first day of enrollment, they had ridden a donkey together to register; during weekly dinners and grade competitions, Karina had handed Roland a cup of water when he was drenched in sweat; on a trip to the imperial capital, she had bought gifts for his family; upon returning from the Maya Mountains, she had asked after him with genuine concern; and after their families moved into the Chuen Church, they had shared many happy days together. All these memories flashed vividly through Roland’s mind.

Gazing into those tender, passionate eyes before him, Roland felt an impulse to pull this girl into his arms and hold her tightly. His gaze grew increasingly fervent under this surge of emotion.

Karina’s heart pounded wildly as well. She was unsure if the boy she had been close to for three whole years would…

Seeing the fiery look in his eyes, she seemed to foresee what might come next, and quickly lowered her head, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

Time seemed to halt. The clamor of the square and the booming fireworks became mere background noise.

Yet—

After waiting a long moment, the moment she anticipated failed to come. She looked up to find the fire in Roland’s eyes had vanished, replaced by a calm serenity.

For just then, as he was about to reach out with open arms, a figure clad in purple with golden hair suddenly flashed through his mind.

It was another night, beside a campfire, when that purple figure spoke and laughed with him. She gazed longingly at the fireworks rising above the imperial capital. They each held a brilliant firework in hand, laughing and dancing with unbounded joy.

Then again, in a pitch-dark place, that golden-haired woman in purple lay in pain on the ground. After his efforts to save her, she finally escaped danger. That night, they nestled close, and he drifted to sleep hearing her steady heartbeat.

As another grand firework exploded into bloom, Roland’s and Karina’s tightly clasped hands quietly loosened.

...

The day after the Martial God Festival night, Roland bid farewell to his family and Morey, setting off back to Potter Academy. After the operation, his younger brother’s life was limited to seven more years. Roland had to race against time, focusing urgently on condensing space seeds and advancing his alchemical skills. So after celebrating the festival with his family, he wasted no time and embarked on his journey.

Karina was also ‘forced’ by Morey to return with Roland to Potter Academy—for Morey insisted she study diligently alongside Roland during this period.

Along the way, the awkwardness Roland feared between them never arose. Karina treated him as usual, as if nothing had happened the night before. They laughed and chatted all the way.

As they neared the academy gates, Roland stopped the donkey and said, “I... I have to go train now.”

Karina suddenly grew shy. “Roland, you go ahead, but... you must come to dorm 2015 tonight to eat the dinner I’ve prepared for you!”

“Uh... dorm 2015? Dinner you prepared? Karina, do you have a key to our dorm?” Roland was utterly perplexed.

Karina gave him a knowing look. “I figured since you’re a training fanatic, you’d arrive early after the Martial God Festival. So during those days waiting for the auction, Gebaz and I got the keys to your dorm, just so I could cook something tasty for you, to nourish your body. Don’t overwork yourself with training...” Her voice grew delicate like a whisper.

Roland hadn’t expected Karina to care so thoroughly for him. A tinge of guilt over last night stirred in his heart. “Karina, you don’t have to trouble yourself—I can manage...”

Before he finished, Karina puckered her lips and feigned anger. “Hmph! If you don’t come back to the dorm for dinner tonight, I’ll come find you on the back mountain and make sure you can’t train!” With that, she spurred the little red horse toward the academy without waiting for his reply.

Roland scratched his head awkwardly, then laughed helplessly as he headed toward the back mountain.

Once Roland had gone far enough, Karina’s shy and angry expression vanished. She quietly watched his retreating figure and murmured to herself, “No matter why you didn’t agree to me yesterday, nothing I desire will ever slip from my grasp!”

From that day on, Roland began the arduous path of training—striving to increase his magic and spiritual power to compress the spatial energy within a specific meridian, feverishly crafting potions to enhance his alchemical prowess, and devoting the remainder of his time to martial arts practice.

During those long weeks, Karina cared for him with exceptional tenderness—preparing delicious meals after his training each day, urging him to remove and wash his soiled clothes.

Yet, happiness is always fleeting. The days sped by until the new term began. Karina returned the dorm key to him after their final meal together. In the following days without her care, Roland found himself somewhat unsettled.

But with the start of the new semester, the arrival of Mallet and others, and his relentless training, Roland soon cast those feelings aside.

Time flew by amid busy, fulfilling days, and before long, the year drew to a close.

Over the year, Roland’s alchemy had made great strides; the spatial energy was compressed more densely; and with the steady accumulation of his Dominant Blood Battle Qi, he finally reached the rank of fourth-level martial artist. However, aside from Victoria, even Mallet and the others were unaware of his status as a martial artist.

At the grade competition, Roland unsurprisingly claimed the top spot, much to the delight of his lightning-element teacher, Sophiette, who had registered him this year and, as agreed, received a generous reward from the academy for his champion student.

Meanwhile, Harvey was rather disheartened. Due to young Hawk’s leg ailment last year, Roland had registered with him but did not participate in the competition, so no reward came his way.

In matters of the heart, Karina and Roland grew closer. Everyone could see that although Karina pursued Roland, their feelings were mutual. Barring unforeseen circumstances, they were destined to become a couple.

Regrettably for Mallet and the others, during the time Roland and Karina grew so close, Victoria, who had often joined their dinners before, reverted to her old self and barely dined with them throughout the year.

After spending another Martial God Festival with his parents and brother, Roland plunged back into intense training.

Now fourteen, with his brother’s remaining time cut to six years, Roland trained even harder.

However, just three months into the new semester, the tranquil Potter Academy was stirred to excitement by one person’s breakthrough—Victoria herself!