NOVPUBChapter 65 : A visit to the apex
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[Seraphina Starlight's POV]
The golden rays of the setting sun bathed the Phoenix Spire—yes, the building, or tower you could call it, was named the Phoenix Spire—where they would be living from now on. 𝘯𝘰𝑣𝘱𝑢𝘣.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Seraphina Starlight stepped out of the academy transport shuttle and into her new life as a Zenith Academy cadet.
The majestic tower stood tall against the crimson-tinged sky, gleaming with glass panels and spell-inscribed runes that faintly shimmered under the sunlight.
She tilted her head, admiring its architecture—a blend of futuristic elegance and arcane grandeur.
"Fifth floor… not bad," she muttered softly to herself, brushing a stray strand of blue hair behind her ear.
The moment she reached the entrance to her floor, a mechanical voice chimed in from the hallway, "Mana signature authentication required."
She calmly extended her hand, her palm glowing faintly as threads of mana seeped into the door's crystal scanner.
A second later, the door slid open with a gentle whoosh, revealing her living quarters.
As she stepped in, she gave a light nod of approval. The design was elegant and refined, with sapphire-toned drapes, enchanted crystal chandeliers, and a sleek kitchen that blended aesthetics with magical tech.
The living area boasted a circular glass table, an L-shaped couch, and floating screens for communication and training analysis.
Her bedroom had a four-poster bed laced with enchantments for better mana recovery, and even a personal spa-like bath chamber.
Luxurious? Certainly. Surprising? Not at all.
Born the daughter of Marquis Starlight, Seraphina was raised in opulence. The Starlight family managed several mana crystal mines, intercontinental airship companies, and even a chain of enchanted luxury goods.
Their name was a powerful one—whispers of their influence echoed even in the royal court.
To her, this was comfortable, but not novel.
But then… she remembered him.
The image of a silver-haired boy popped into her mind, eyes wide with childlike glee as he was excited to explore his own living quarters—Rank 1's accommodation.
That boy, who now stood at the very top of the first-year cadets.
Alex Dragonheart.
Her expression softened.
She had first heard his name from her mother, Sonia Starlight, and little Sophia. A young boy defeating low- and mid-rank raiders and their leader who was at intermediate-(peak) rank at the age of sixteen? It sounded like something out of a hero novel.
Seraphina herself had been gifted since birth. Magic flowed through her veins from the age of four. Ice, water, and earth affinity—a rare triad.
Her magic teacher had said she was a prodigy, the future Ice Empress. She excelled in tournaments, won duels, and became the pride of House Starlight.
Noble families lined up with marriage proposals, all of which she dismissed with a roll of her eyes.
But Alex? He wasn't noble-blooded. A commoner. Yet he'd done things even she might have struggled with at sixteen.
She remembered Sophia's excited voice: "Big sis! He looked like a prince! I think he's hiding his identity!"
She'd scoffed then. But after watching him at the entrance exam—his swordsmanship, his spellwork, his cunning…
He tricked everyone. Outsmarted even Charlotte and Ethan—two of the most cunning and intelligent people she knew. And that speech during the orientation? Equal parts bizarre and bold.
That's when she decided—this boy was worth knowing.
And worth thanking.
Well, she was already going to thank him. It wasn't a matter of worth—because he had saved her family.
Her mother and Sophia would've been taken by those raiders if it weren't for him.
Glancing at the clock, she noted the time: 5:03 PM.
Perfect.
After a quick rest, she stepped into the elevator and tapped the 10th floor.
Unlike her floor, the 10th didn't announce itself with flashy lights or grandiose doors. Instead, it looked like a solid wall with no seams, buttons, or even a bell.
"Weird…" she muttered.
Just then, the wall shimmered. With a smooth hiss, it split open, revealing the interior.
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[Alex's house – 10th Floor]
The moment the door slid open, Alex looked up. Standing there was none other than Seraphina Starlight, wearing a silky off-shoulder light blue top, snug white pants, and a pair of sapphire-studded boots. Her blue hair was tied into a high ponytail, cascading like a waterfall behind her.
With a lazy grin, he rose and said, "Welcome to this humble commoner's abode, Miss Sera. What can this Rank 1 cadet and your Apex do for you? Please, come in."
She raised an eyebrow but stepped in with grace. "You really like rubbing it in people's faces, don't you, Mr. Wagonheart?"
Alex choked. "It's Dragonheart, thank you very much. Not Wagonheart."
She gave a mock gasp and brought her hand to her mouth. "Oh! My cutest little sister must've made a mistake." A mischievous grin curled her lips.
Alex blinked—and then the memory struck.
A small, golden-haired girl. Her wide, curious eyes. And her mother—poised and elegant even while terrified. He remembered the high-tech bandits. The fight. And almost getting arrested because of how beggar-like he looked.
"Wait a second…" Alex laughed aloud as he walked toward the private guest area. "So now you've come to thank me?"
She sat down beside him, eyes twinkling. "Yes. My mother and little Sophia are deeply grateful. You didn't just save them—you gave us all peace of mind."
He waved her off. "It was nothing. Besides, your mother did give me 100,000 credits and said I could come to House Starlight anytime for help."
Seraphina rolled her eyes fondly. "Yeah, she's like that."
She looked around, her gaze lingering on the luxurious finishes. "I didn't say it earlier, but this floor really is something else. My 5th floor doesn't hold a candle to this."
Alex smirked. "Oh, you noticed? Let me show off some more."
He clapped. "Zara!"
A feminine voice echoed through the space.
{"What can I help you with, Alex?"}
Seraphina's eyes widened slightly. "An AI assistant? On your personal floor?"
She'd seen her fair share of AI assistants—she had one back home. But seeing Alex's pure delight, and realizing that he came from a commoner background, she played along.
"Wow, I'm really jealous. Mine didn't come with one."
Alex's grin widened. "Perks of being the Apex."
She chuckled. "Alright, Mr. Apex. If you ever need anything—inside or outside the academy—remember, I'm also your friend."
He gave a mock bow. "Of course, my lady."
They chatted for a while longer, the conversation playful and filled with harmless teasing.
Eventually, Seraphina stood. "Well, it's been over an hour. I should get going."
Alex stood as well. "I'll walk you to the door."
But as she started walking, her foot caught on the edge of the plush rug.
"Ah—!"
She stumbled—directly into Alex.
With barely a second to react, Alex reached out to steady her.
Thud!
Only—
They fell.
They both crashed onto the marble floor in a chaotic heap.
"Wha—?!" Alex's eyes widened as he realized Seraphina had landed right on top of him, her body pressed flush against his chest.
He had reached out to cushion her fall, but somehow, in that brief moment of chaos, his right hand had ended up directly over her chest.
The room fell into stunned silence.
Their faces were only inches apart. Her breath brushed against his lips. The scent of her floral perfume and the lavender of her shampoo flooded his senses. Time seemed to freeze.
Alex's heart pounded in his ears. "I—I didn't mean to—"
Seraphina's eyes fluttered open. Her pupils shrank slightly, her cheeks flushed a vivid crimson. "W-What are you—?"
In a panic, Alex tried to move his hand.
Squish.
"Ahh—!" she yelped, her body jolting at the contact.
She instinctively covered her mouth, a blush creeping across her entire face.
He froze. "Oh no. No no no—that was an accident! I swear on my mana core!"
Seraphina's face was burning now, somewhere between shock and disbelief. "Y-You just—!"
"I was trying to get off! That sounded wrong. I mean—get up! I was trying to get up!"
She blinked rapidly, flustered beyond words.
They both scrambled awkwardly to untangle themselves, limbs bumping and sliding—until Seraphina's foot slipped on the glossy, slippery floor.
"Wha—Whoa—!"
They toppled again, falling right back into the same position—only this time, with even less coordination. And once again, his hand landed in a familiar place.
And once again.
Squish.
"Eep—!" Seraphina yelped again, flinching.
This time, it was a different kind of moan.
That was kind of cute, Alex thought.
Suddenly, he snapped out of his daze.
"…That wasn't on purpose!" Alex cried in horror.
"Y-You just—again!" she snapped, then took a deep breath, her voice high-pitched from embarrassment. "Would you stop touching it already!"
"This damn house is cursed!" Alex shouted, removing his hand immediately.
Their faces were now so close their noses nearly brushed, and both of them were completely flushed—red to their ears. Seraphina's heart pounded in her chest. Alex's breath hitched.
For a second, they just stared at each other, eyes locked, heat simmering in the silence.
Then—
"I'm getting up!" Seraphina declared, finally rolling off him and standing up like a lightning bolt.
Alex followed quickly, brushing his clothes down and avoiding eye contact.
The air was thick with awkwardness. Neither knew what to say.
"I… I'm leaving," Seraphina said softly, not meeting his gaze. Her voice was still tinged with fluster.
"Y-Yeah. Probably a good idea," Alex muttered.
The door to the lift hissed open with a gentle chime.
Seraphina stepped in without looking back, though her hand briefly touched her chest, her cheeks still burning.
Before the door closed, she muttered something under her breath, almost too quietly for anyone to hear.
Then she dashed out immediately.
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[Alex's POV – Alone]
Back in the house, Alex flopped onto the couch with a dramatic groan, his hand covering his face as if trying to physically push the memory out of his brain. But it was no use.
He looked at his right hand.
His hand twitched slightly.
"Gods… it was really soft. Like… really soft. And big. Squishy too..." He stared blankly at the ceiling, expression torn between guilt and awe. "What the hell is her cup size? Must be a D… no, wait. Could be an E."
Zara's voice echoed in the silence.
{"Pervert."}
Alex turned red. "Oi! I was just... making an anatomical observation!"
"…." No reply came back.
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[Seraphina's POV – Elevator]
Meanwhile, inside the sleek glass elevator, Seraphina stood stiff as a board, hands clasped in front of her, her cheeks blazing red.
Her reflection in the mirror-like panel showed a wide-eyed, horrified version of herself.
"I want to dig a hole and crawl into it," she mumbled to no one. "And never come out."
She clenched her eyes shut, but that only made it worse. The image of Alex's stunned face, his hands on her, the closeness of their bodies—all flooded back like a tidal wave.
And then… his face.
The soft silver strands of his hair, the way his bright blue eyes widened in alarm, and how his voice cracked in panic.
"…He's actually… really weirdly handsome for a commoner.," she muttered under her breath, before instantly shaking her head in horror.
"No, no, no! What the hell are you thinking, Seraphina?! Remember, you already have someone you like!"
Her hands shot to her face as she let out a muffled, frustrated groan.
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A/N -
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