NOVPUB
Chapter 120 - 120
Well, some time had passed since those events. Almost immediately the next day, Olivia began to distance herself a bit from Leon. She clearly remembered what she had done while drunk and felt deeply ashamed because of it. Her behavior that night now seemed far too bold—perhaps even inappropriate. However, by the end of the day, things between them had more or less returned to normal. The awkwardness had faded somewhat, and their conversations once again felt light and natural.
Angelica, on the other hand, behaved very differently. In fact, it seemed like she remembered everything she did the night before just as well—but didn't show even a hint of guilt or embarrassment. What's more, she wasn't trying to avoid Leon. On the contrary, her behavior had become unexpectedly... open.
What surprised Leon the most—and, of course, Olivia as well—was that Angelica had started occasionally leaning against him, suddenly hugging him, and sometimes even kissing him on the cheek. It all looked as if, during that drunken night, she had been testing the waters, trying to figure out whether Leon saw her as a woman. And now, having seemingly gotten a positive answer, she had decided to act more boldly.
Seeing all this, Olivia began to show initiative too. Though her approach was much more modest—most of the time, she would simply hug Leon, blushing slightly and glancing off to the side. The shyness on her face was still easily noticeable. But still—it was a step.
Leon, for his part, accepted it all quite gladly. I mean, why reject affection from two attractive girls? Of course, he was a little surprised at how quickly their relationships seemed to be progressing. Though... were they really progressing? Everything felt stuck at one level: hugs, light kisses, a bit of flirting. None of them seemed in a hurry to cross any lines. Perhaps neither he nor the girls were truly ready for that—or maybe they simply didn't know where all of this was heading.
But despite the romantic chaos, what worried Leon the most was something else entirely. His trusted artificial intelligence companion—Luxion—and Cleare, another AI, had completely vanished. Ever since the day Leon punished them for their impudent behavior, it was as if they had disappeared into thin air.
He was sure they were plotting something. They weren't just sulking—no, they were planning. Luxion was not the kind to forgive or forget. And Cleare... she always acted quietly, from the shadows. And if she was now on Luxion's side—that was already a troubling sign.
Soon enough, the moment arrived—Leon was set to return to the academy. Olivia and Angelica would be accompanying him. And that's when he felt it—that strange, unsettling premonition.
> "They're up to something..." he thought grimly, casting a quick glance at the girls. "They're definitely planning something involving me. Maybe... maybe they want to make a fool of me right there, inside the academy walls? Humiliate me in front of everyone? Ha! That won't be so easy. I have Luxion. And now I have Cleare too."
These thoughts spun in his head as the final days in the barony slipped away. Leon already knew—leaving his home wouldn't be easy. But he had no intention of leaving unprepared. He spent all his free time getting ready: mentally, physically, and technically. One had to be ready for anything, especially if the rogue AIs weren't finished yet...
---
A few weeks passed. Finally, the day of departure arrived. Leon, Jenna, Olivia, and Angelica were all dressed in neat academy uniforms. They had gathered at the Bartfort family port, from where the airship would take them back to the academy.
As they were saying their goodbyes, Barcus stood next to Leon, frowning. He sighed heavily and said:
— "Leon, try not to stir up trouble this time. Last time, you just got lucky."
Leon's eyes widened in surprise, as if he'd just heard a false accusation:
— "What?! Dad, I wasn't the one who started it!"
Barcus shook his head tiredly:
— "Please, Leon... My heart's not made of stone. Don't go picking a fight with His Highness again."
The young man crossed his arms and responded in a complaining, almost hurt tone:
— "Ugh... Fine. But if he's the one who comes at me again—don't blame me!"
Barcus shook his head with a weary smile and said:
— "Eh, fine. Whatever. Good luck out there, son." He gave Leon a pat on the back, then added in a quieter voice, "I really hope you can live a peaceful life for once..."
— "Bye, big bro!" Jenna called out cheerfully with a smile.
— "Goodbye, Leon," Olivia said softly.
— "See you soon," added Angelica—restrained, but sincere.
— "Goodbye to everyone else!" Leon said, waving to the relatives standing on the dock.
They boarded the airship. It gave a gentle tremble as it filled with magical energy and soon soared into the sky. The young men and women took their seats near the panoramic windows, gazing out at the lands of the barony slowly vanishing in the distance.
Thus began a new journey—their return to the academy, where, as Leon felt in his gut, something ominous was waiting for him... 𝔫𝔬𝖛𝖕𝔲𝖇.𝖈𝖔𝖒
But he was ready.
