The park had grown quieter with each passing minute, the warm hues of evening slowly deepening into softer shades as the sun dipped closer to the horizon. The gentle rustling of leaves and the distant murmur of students provided a calm backdrop, yet the stillness around Luca felt anything but peaceful.

He remained seated on the bench, his posture rigid despite his attempt to appear composed. His fingers rested loosely against his knees, yet the subtle tension within them betrayed the storm of thoughts circling relentlessly in his mind. Every passing second stretched longer than the last, anticipation tightening around him like an invisible weight.

His heartbeat felt louder.

Sharper.

Each breath measured, yet not entirely steady.

She'll be here soon…

The thought alone caused his chest to tighten faintly.

Then—

Footsteps.

Quick.

Uneven.

Rushing.

Luca's gaze lifted instinctively.

Aurelia.

She was running toward him.

Her usually composed stride was gone, replaced by urgency as she closed the distance between them, her breath slightly ragged from the pace she had forced herself to maintain. Strands of her wild red hair clung faintly to her face, her violet eyes wide with concern as they locked onto him the moment she saw him sitting there.

She stopped just a few steps away.

"Luca—!"

Her voice carried both relief and worry, her gaze moving quickly over him as though searching for injuries he might be hiding.

"Are you alright?" she asked immediately, her words tumbling out without restraint. "Why didn't you come to see me after you got back? Kyle told me you returned yesterday—"

Her brows furrowed deeper.

"Are you hurt?"

She stepped closer instinctively.

"Did something happen? Why are you only contacting me now? Did you hide it so I wouldn't worry?"

The questions came one after another, each carrying genuine concern, each word tightening something painfully within Luca's chest.

He stood slowly.

Guilt pressed heavily against him now, far stronger than before.

Seeing her like this—

Hearing the worry in her voice—

It only made what he was about to say feel even heavier.

"Aurelia…" he began softly.

He reached out gently, placing his hand upon her shoulder in an attempt to steady her, his touch careful yet firm enough to ground her rising concern.

"I'm okay," he said quietly.

"Nothing like that happened."

His voice remained calm, though the tension beneath it was unmistakable.

He guided her gently toward the bench.

"Sit for a moment."

Reluctantly, she allowed herself to be led, her eyes still fixed on him, searching, questioning, unwilling to let her guard down so easily.

Luca remained standing before her for a brief second before sitting down beside her, his hands clasping lightly together as he exhaled slowly.

There was no easy way to begin.

No words that could soften what needed to be said.

"T-there is something…" he started, his voice quieter now, carrying the weight of everything he had been holding back.

"…something I need to tell you."

Aurelia's eyes remained fixed on Luca, searching his face with unwavering intensity as though trying to uncover what he had yet to say. The concern that had driven her to rush here had not fully faded, lingering in the slight tension of her shoulders and the way her fingers curled faintly against the edge of the bench.

"Are you really not hurt?" she asked again, her voice softer now, yet still carrying that unmistakable worry.

Luca shook his head firmly.

"I'm fine," he replied, his tone steady despite the unease within him.

For a moment, Aurelia simply looked at him.

Then—

The tension in her expression eased.

A faint breath escaped her lips as relief finally settled in.

"…Then it's fine," she murmured quietly, as though convincing herself as much as him.

Her shoulders relaxed slightly, the urgency that had brought her here beginning to fade.

But only slightly.

Because something still felt off.

Her gaze sharpened again as she looked at him more closely.

"You said… there was something you wanted to tell me," she prompted, her tone now more cautious, more attentive.

"What is it?"

Luca inhaled slowly.

His chest rose, then fell.

The words formed.

Then stopped.

"I… want to confess something," he said at last, his voice heavier than before.

Aurelia froze.

Her expression faltered instantly.

"…C-confess?" she repeated, the word catching slightly as confusion and unease flickered across her face.

Her brows drew together.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice tightening faintly.

"What is going on, Luca?"

A trace of nervousness surfaced now.

"Don't scare me like this… just say what you need to say."

Silence followed.

Luca's hands tightened slightly against his knees.

His gaze lowered.

His thoughts—

Were in chaos.

Should I really say it…?

The question surfaced again, louder than before.

If I just… don't say anything…

Everything will stay the same… right?

His fingers curled tighter.

We can just go back to normal…

She won't have to get hurt…

His chest tightened faintly.

…But is that really okay?

The thought lingered.

Heavy.

Unavoidable.

No…

His jaw clenched slightly.

It won't be okay…

It'll just become a lie…

His breathing grew uneven again.

And I'll be the one hiding it…

Pretending nothing happened…

A flicker of frustration crossed his expression.

Damn it…

Agh…

His thoughts tangled further, refusing to settle into a single clear path.

Aurelia watched him closely, the hesitation in his body language only increasing her unease.

"Luca…" she called softly.

There was a subtle urgency in her voice now.

"Just say it."

Her eyes did not leave him.

"Whatever it is…"

"…I'm here."

The moment stretched.

Balanced on the edge of truth.

Luca remained frozen in place, his thoughts still tangled, his hesitation refusing to loosen its grip even as the moment stretched unbearably thin between them. Every instinct within him urged him to speak, yet the weight of what he had to say held him back just enough to make each second feel heavier than the last.

Then—

Aurelia moved.

Without warning, she reached forward and gently pulled him closer, closing the distance between them before he could react. Her hand rose softly to his face, her fingers cupping his cheek with a warmth that immediately cut through the tension clouding his mind.

"Just say it," she said quietly.

Her voice was soft.

Steady.

"I promise I won't judge you."

Her thumb brushed lightly against his skin as she held his gaze firmly.

"I'll listen… properly."

Luca blinked faintly, momentarily caught off guard by the sincerity in her words.

His breathing, which had grown uneven moments ago, began to steady slowly under her touch.

His crimson eyes met her violet ones.

For a moment—

Everything else faded.

The noise in his head.

The hesitation.

The doubt.

It all quieted.

"…You know I left recently," he began softly.

Aurelia nodded without interrupting, her eyes never leaving his.

"Yes," she said.

Luca swallowed faintly before continuing.

"I… didn't actually go to the Valentine territory."

Aurelia paused.

Her expression shifted immediately.

The light concern in her eyes sharpened into focus, her posture straightening slightly as the seriousness of his words settled in.

She did not interrupt.

She simply listened.

Luca continued, his voice steady now, though still carrying weight.

"It was… a high-priority mission assigned by the academy."

Aurelia's eyes widened slightly.

Yet she remained silent.

Listening.

Waiting.

"One of the academy's spies had discovered the possible location of a high-ranking member of the cult," he said, his tone becoming more grounded as he focused on explaining.

"And my task…"

He paused briefly.

"…was to confirm whether that information was true."

Aurelia listened intently as Luca spoke, her expression shifting with every word he revealed. The moment he mentioned the nature of the mission, the calm she had tried to maintain fractured instantly, replaced by a surge of emotion she did not bother to hide.

"A high-priority mission?" she repeated, her voice rising slightly in disbelief. "Do you even realize how dangerous that sounds?"

Her brows furrowed deeply, her violet eyes flashing with concern and frustration.

"And you didn't tell me anything?" she continued, her tone tightening. "You just disappeared without a word and went on something like that?"

She stood up now, unable to remain seated, her agitation clear.

"And what were they even thinking?" she added, her voice sharper now. "Sending you—someone from our year—into something like that?"

Her grip tightened around her spear as though grounding herself.

"That's reckless… even for the academy."

Luca raised his hand slightly, his expression calm despite her rising emotions.

"They needed someone less noticeable," he explained gently. "Someone who wouldn't attract attention."

His gaze met hers steadily.

"Second or third years would have drawn suspicion the moment they stepped into that place."

Aurelia's expression did not soften immediately.

She looked unconvinced.

Still tense.

Still unsettled.

Yet she listened.

Luca exhaled slowly before continuing, his tone growing heavier.

"But… something happened there."

That single sentence changed everything.

Aurelia stilled.

Her expression shifted instantly, the frustration fading into focused concern as she looked at him.

"What do you mean?" she asked quietly.

Her voice had lost its sharp edge.

Now—

It carried worry.

Before Luca could answer—

A sudden sharp pain struck his chest.

His expression tightened immediately, his body tensing as the now-familiar discomfort surged back without warning.

"…Ah—"

His breath caught slightly.

His hand moved instinctively toward his chest as the sensation intensified.

Aurelia's eyes widened.

"Luca? What happened?" she asked quickly, stepping closer.

But Luca stood abruptly.

Too abruptly.

His thoughts raced.

It's happening again…

The same feeling.

The same instability.

No… not here…

Not in front of her.

Not now.

"I—I'm not feeling well," he said quickly, his voice strained as he tried to steady himself.

"I'll… talk to you later…"

His breathing grew uneven.

"It's important… I just—"

He turned away, already beginning to move.

"Luca—wait," Aurelia called, immediately stepping forward. "Let me come with you—"

"No!"

His response came sharper than intended.

He paused for a brief moment, steadying himself as he softened his tone slightly.

"I'll… handle it," he said, avoiding her gaze.

"I'm fine."

The words felt hollow even to him.

Without waiting further, he turned and began to leave, his pace quick, almost hurried as he distanced himself.

Aurelia remained where she stood.

Watching him go.

Her brows slowly drawing together.

Because something about this—

Didn't feel right at all.