Chapter 186 A Sudden Loss

"Master, I will join you after teleporting the vehicle first," Meira said, to which I nodded.

There was a separate warp gate for transporting vehicles and other heavy packages, so Meira went to take care of that while Irethiel and I headed inside the warp station.

"Welcome, Sir Ares," the receptionist immediately rushed toward me as she recognized me.

I nodded and showed her my academy badge to prove my identity, as well as the return ticket I had purchased earlier.

After verifying my identity, the receptionist returned my academy badge and kept the ticket with her. With a warm smile, she led me to the private warp gate.

As we made our way through the bustling station, I couldn't help but notice the stares and whispers from those who recognized me.

A few eager young fans rushed toward me, hoping to take pictures, but they were abruptly stopped by some unseen force that prevented them from getting too close.

Of course, It was Irethiel's doing. She was using her force projection skill to create an invisible shield around us, preventing anyone from getting too close to me.

!?

"Huh? W-Why can't we get any closer?" The eager fans exclaimed in surprise, baffled by the invisible barrier preventing them from approaching me.

I simply raised my hand and smiled at them as I continued walking, causing some of the girls to blush and the men to look on enviously.

Even the receptionist's face turned red when she caught sight of my smile as she guided me to the private warp gate.

When I soon arrived at the private warp room, a massive guard in black armor greeted me. He stood by the warp gate, sword at the ready, with a stern expression on his face.

"May I ask where you wish to warp to, Sir Ares?" he asked.

"...To the floating island," I replied.

The receptionist handed him my ticket, and the guard examined it for a moment.

"Very well," he grunted, nodding his head, and started to make arrangements to activate the warp gate.

He located my destination by activating a certain crystal responsible for warping.

"Sir Ares, you may enter now," the guard finally said.

I nodded and stepped through the shimmering gateway.

With a loud whooshing sound, I was enveloped in a swirl of colors and light, my senses assailed by a cacophony of sights and sounds. I felt myself hurtling through space and time, heading towards my destination with breakneck speed.

WHOOOSH—

In an instant, I arrived at the warp station of the Floating Island.

[Welcome to the Floating Island.]

A cheery voice boomed from a nearby speaker.

[We hope you enjoy your stay!]

As soon as I arrived at the Floating Island, I wasted no time and stepped out of the warp station onto the bustling streets. The curious stares of the people around me were familiar, but I paid them no mind as I had grown used to this kind of attention.

As I made my way toward the academy, my phone suddenly buzzed with an incoming message.

Buzz!—

I pulled it out and saw that I had received a message from Ivica.

'It is good that she contacted me, as I was about to contact her anyway,' I thought as I opened her message.

However, when I read the text message, my eyes widened in shock.

!?

"What the...fuck is this message?" I muttered in disbelief as I furrowed my brows, reading the text message that had come from Ivica's number.

[Message: Ivica is dead. Her funeral will be held near the waterfall. You are the only one she trusted. Come alone.]

That was the context of the message.

"...."

Judging by the tone of the message, I assumed it was from Ivica's twin sister, who was known for her distant and cold attitude. Although I wasn't close to her, I knew that Ivica trusted her sister more than anyone else.

In a state of disbelief, I whispered to myself, "...Is this for real?" My gaze was fixed on the message, and I couldn't quite comprehend the news of Ivica's passing. I wondered about the authenticity of the message and whether it was really true.

But then the reality set in, and the thought of attending Ivica's funeral with only her sister for the company left me feeling uneasy. The atmosphere wouldn't be the best around us, as I don't think she likes me very much.

I don't know if the news is true, but if it is, I knew I had to keep my promise to Ivica and pay my final respects.

The text message also provided me with the location of the funeral, which was near a waterfall in the forest behind the academy.

I enveloped myself with electricity and in a flash, I zoomed toward my destination, leaving a trail of blue light behind.

As I dashed through the dense forest, my mind was consumed by thoughts of Ivica. It was difficult to come to terms with the fact that she was gone, especially when I had the strengthening fruits in my possession, which could have potentially saved her life.

The bitterness of the thought left a sour taste in my mouth, and I couldn't help but wonder if it was fate or some cruel twist of destiny that prevented me from using the cure in time.

As I hastened my steps toward the waterfall, the sound of rushing water grew louder.

RUSHHH!—

Upon reaching the spot, my gaze landed on a solemn sight: a wooden boat, adorned with flowers, was floating in the water. And there, standing half-submerged in the water beside it, was a woman with striking blue hair and emerald-green eyes.

She wore a thin, green outfit that clung to her form, but her expression was lifeless, and her eyes seemed empty.

It was clear to me that this was the funeral pyre for Ivica. And of course, the woman tending to the boat was her twin sister.

Despite the solemnity of the occasion, I marveled at the beauty of the scene.

The waterfall, the boat, and the woman with the striking appearance seemed to be in perfect harmony. It was as if nature was paying its final respects to Ivica.

Step— Step—

As I closed in on the boat, I could see Ivica's lifeless body lying on it, surrounded by colorful flowers.

She was wearing a simple white dress that flowed gently with the wind. Her long red hair was scattered around her, framing her face that was now pale and lifeless.

Her closed eyes seemed to hide a deep sense of peace, as if she was finally able to rest from the turmoil of life. Despite the stillness of her body, she still looked as beautiful as ever.