Extras Path The Eternal Frost Monarch Chapter 345

[ … words ]

Lyria stood on the wooden bridge, leaning lightly against its railing as she gazed at the magnificent World Tree in admiration.

The enormous tree dominated the distant skyline, its vast branches stretching across the sky while countless leaves shimmered beneath the afternoon sunlight.

“Waiting for me?”

A voice suddenly whispered beside her ear. Warm breath brushed against her sensitive skin.

“AEE!?” Lyria let out a cute yelp and hurriedly stepped away.

Standing behind her was Noah, wearing a teasing smile.

“Noah! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” she complained, her fair cheeks already turning bright red. A few strands of her golden hair framed her flushed face.

“Hehe. Come on, where’s the fun if I can’t tease you?”

“Hmm… Noah, you really are…” Lyria crossed her arms beneath her chest, giving him an exasperated look. Her huge chest looked more prominent because of crossing her arms beneath them.

Noah’s eyes instinctively wandered there for a brief moment before returning to her face, meeting her beautiful pink eyes.

Lyria noticed. Even though it had lasted barely a second, she knew exactly where he had looked. Heat immediately spread across her cheeks.

She was accustomed to people staring at her because of her beauty. It happened often enough that she had learned to ignore it.

Yet somehow, when Noah looked at her like that, it felt strangely more embarrassing.

“Yo-you! Where exactly do you think you were looking?”

“Cough.” Noah cleared his throat and looked away. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to stare at… there. It was merely a male reflex when something… that noticeable moves right in front of me—”

“Shut up!”

Lyria’s face became even redder. “You don’t need to explain yourself!”

“Okay, okay… Sorry.” Noah raised his hands in surrender before glancing around.

“Anyway, where did everyone else go? I was only gone for a few minutes, and now you’re the only one here.”

“They went to the market. We basically split up. Emma and Arisha went to different shops, while Damien and the other boys went somewhere else.”

“Oh? And what about you? Didn’t you go with Arisha and Emma?” Noah asked.

“I wanted to take a little break, so I decided to wait here for you and the others. We’re all supposed to meet here again later.”

“Oh…” Noah smiled warmly. “Thank you for waiting for me~”

He walked toward her with a bright smile.

Lyria could only sigh. By now, she really should have gotten used to his strange way of talking and his constant antics.

She leaned her back against the wooden railing again, relaxing as she looked toward the scenery.

Noah stopped beside her. For a while, neither of them spoke. The people around them continued passing across the bridge, their voices filled with laughter and casual conversation.

A gentle afternoon breeze swept through the city, carrying the faint fragrance of flowers and leaves. Beneath the bridge, the water flowed peacefully, its quiet ripples creating a soothing rhythm.

The enormous trees surrounding around the roads cast cool shadows over parts of the bridge, while golden rays of sunlight slipped through the leaves and painted the wooden walkway in patches of light.

It was a remarkably peaceful atmosphere. Lyria quietly enjoyed the scenery. Then she noticed something.

Noah was staring at her. She could feel his gaze even without looking directly at him. Her cheeks slowly turned pink.

“No-Noah… why are you staring?” She finally asked, unable to endure his constant gaze any longer.

Lyria kept her eyes on the scenery, refusing to look at him.

Noah smiled. “I’m just admiring the beautiful scenery beside me.” He paused for a moment before adding, “You look like an innocent saintess standing here on the bridge.”

“Huh!?”

Lyria immediately turned toward him. Her face was bright red. “You’re doing it again!”

She lightly smacked his shoulder with her palm. Of course, she didn’t put any real force behind it.

“Hehe~” Noah chuckled.

“You are always messing with me and teasing me!” She lightly hit his shoulder again. “Take this!”

Noah simply laughed as Lyria continued her harmless assault, her embarrassment slowly mixing with amusement.

Under the shade of the World Tree, surrounded by the peaceful sounds of Lunathiel, the two continued their playful bickering as if the rest of the world had momentarily disappeared.

—

“I am sorry. I couldn’t arrange it.” Marina lowered her head, her blonde hair falling slightly over her face. “She’s busy, and apparently, even I can’t meet her right now.”

The black-haired young man sitting beside her let out a quiet sigh. “It’s alright. Don’t apologize.”

Ken’s voice remained calm.

“Meeting the Queen isn’t something that can be arranged easily. You tried your best. That’s enough for me.”

The two of them were sitting on a wooden bench beneath the shade of a large tree. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting shifting patterns of light across the ground.

“But tomorrow, when we go to see the World Tree from up close, Her Majesty, Queen Aelyssa, will be there.”

“True…” Ken’s gray eyes narrowed slightly. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll be able to talk to her.”

“Yes, but I can.” Marina looked at him. “She might allow me to speak with her privately. If that happens, I can take you with me.”

Ken stared at her for several seconds.

His gray eyes revealed nothing about what he was thinking. Marina couldn’t tell whether he was surprised, relieved, or already considering something else entirely.

“Then I guess… we should try that.”

Marina nodded. “Yes. I’ll do my best. After all, because of you, my sister might finally be cured.”

“It’s alright.” Ken’s expression softened slightly. “You’re my friend.”

Marina smiled faintly. “…But can you really not tell me what you want to talk to her about?”

Ken didn’t answer immediately. He looked at Marina for a long moment before finally speaking.

“Well, you see…” He paused. “There’s a very high chance that something dangerous will happen on the final day of our trip.”

Marina’s eyes widened. “What?”

She leaned forward. “How can you say that? Is there going to be another attack on us Academy students?”

Ken remained silent. The silence itself made Marina even more uneasy.

“Ken?”

He finally looked at her. “Do you believe me?”

Marina hesitated. There was something strange about the way he asked that question. Still, after a moment, she nodded.

“Yes. I do.” Ken lowered his gaze. “The attack or whatever is going to happen—won’t exactly be directed at the students.”

“Then… who?”

“You could say…” He paused again. “We’re simply here at the wrong time.”

Marina’s expression became serious. “So it’s related to the elves of this city?”

Ken didn’t answer.

“Are they in danger?” She asked.

“The thing is…” His voice became more serious as he started to tell her.

Neither of them noticed the faint figure standing on a distant rooftop, watching them from afar.