Both girls exchanged a confused look.

System, I can share my strength with my partner through the Fate Link, right?

[Affirmative.]

So, skills and abilities can be shared too?

[Yes. You can share any skill, excluding your Unique Skills.]

Lucian’s eyes gleamed.

Perfect. Lend them both ’Advanced Sword Art’ and ’Advanced Martial Arts’.

[Acknowledged.]

[Initiating technique copy transfer...]

[Transfer complete.]

A faint aura flashed around Elira and Sera’s bodies for a split second.

Elira blinked, staring closely at the new text popping up on her screen.

[You have received: Advanced Martial Arts Technique.]

Sera leaned in, her eyes also glued to her own panel.

[You have received: Advanced Sword Art Technique.]

Lucian crossed his arms and spoke proudly.

"With the help of these, your growth is going to skyrocket. In this world, techniques like those are basically divine powers."

Brand new fighting style movements suddenly flashed within Sera and Elira’s minds — advanced techniques and combat patterns they had never learned from the knowledge of this world.

They both exchanged a firm nod... technically marking the first time they had ever mutually agreed on something.

The newly unlocked combat patterns had thoroughly ignited their fighting spirits, and they were practically itching to test them out as soon as possible.

They both looked eagerly at Lucian at the exact same time.

"Lucian, let’s go to the training grounds... right now."

"Alright, alright... we’ll go," he replied with a faint knowing smile.

"However... there is one place we need to visit first."

Exchanging a confused look, both girls silently followed his lead.

It was still early morning, and the academy corridors were completely deserted. Not a single student was in sight as Lucian guided them with purposeful steps... heading straight toward a very specific set of quarters.

Neither Elira nor Sera could fathom what kind of business he could possibly have this early in the morning.

"Hey... do you think Lucian is acting a bit off? Maybe he wants us to meet someone," Sera whispered, glancing around the empty corridor.

Elira kept her eyes fixed straight ahead.

"I already know it’s his master."

"What master?!" Sera whisper-yelled. "Why didn’t you tell me?!"

"You didn’t ask."

"How would I know to ask, you dumb-witch..."

"Yes, I suppose I expected a bit too much from you..."

Sera just pouted in annoyance.

A while later, the trio arrived in front of a wooden door. They stood there with steady expressions. It was Aria’s quarters.

He reached out and knocked three times.

No reply.

"Lucian, whose quarters are these?" Sera asked impatiently.

He didn’t reply, simply holding up two fingers to gesture for her to wait.

Elira’s eyes fell on the doorknob before she spoke up bluntly.

"The door is locked... I can break it down if you want."

"Hey, stupid! Have you lost your mind? What do you mean ’break it down’?" Sera hissed, looking around the empty corridor nervously.

"Isn’t it bad enough that we’re acting like creeps outside someone’s room at 7 AM? Now you want to act like a thug too?"

Sera placed a hand on Lucian’s shoulder and tugged slightly.

"Lucian, let’s just go. We can come back later..."

He didn’t react. Instead, he simply activated his skill, opening a glowing portal leading directly inside the locked room.

"Let’s go inside," he said casually.

But just as he was about to step his foot through the portal, the distinct sound of footsteps echoed from the nearby stairs.

Sera began to panic, whereas Lucian and Elira remained completely calm.

"Hey, someone is coming! We need to leave right now!"

A figure appeared, walking up the stairs. It was Aria.

She had the lower half of her face buried tightly within a long scarf, and her exposed skin was flushed a deep, unhealthy red. It was glaringly obvious just by looking at her — her fever still hadn’t broken yet or maybe something else.

She was holding a small black diary, clutching it tightly to her chest with both hands, as if it held secrets she couldn’t bear to share with a single soul in the world.

"H-hey, Aria! We were just... coming by—" Sera stammered, waving a hand awkwardly as she tried to block the portal from view.

"Umm... hello?"

Lucian took a step down toward her.

"Aria... if you have some time, could we talk?"

Towered over by him, Aria’s face remained neutral. She wore her usual, kind and gentle expression.

"Sure, why not... wait, hold on."

She quickly hurried past them, as Lucian closed his portal.

Slipping her key into the lock and opening the door.

"j-Just hold on a minute, it’s a complete mess in here, let me just clean it— up."

She hurriedly slammed the door right in their faces. From the other side, they could hear the frantic sounds of her scrambling to hide things and clean up the room.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her wrist, she let out a long sigh before opening the door again.

"Come in..."

The three of them stepped inside one by one. Instantly, they noticed something was off. Not a single trace of sunlight was entering the room.

The window curtains were tightly drawn shut. Walking past them, Aria quickly picked up the black diary from her desk, stuffed it into her cupboard, and turned around with a polite smile.

"Have a seat, Lucian... umm, Elira? And Seraphina."

Elira’s pupils narrowed as she observed the dark room in silence for a few long seconds, before quietly sitting down on the desk chair.

Sera and Lucian remained standing.

It was then that Lucian finally noticed the heavy atmosphere lingering in the room... it felt as if a massive, dense amount of mana had recently been released here.

Even in the dim light of the room, Lucian could clearly see Aria’s face. He noticed a tangled expression behind her gentle smile.

"So, Lucian... what did you want to talk about?"

He met her deep emerald gaze for a moment, and then spoke.

"Aria..." He paused.

"Hmm... or should I say... Iris?"