Chapter 433 [Event] [Semester-Exam At Vanadias] [21] Celeste And Elizabeth

Chapter 433 [Event] [Semester-Exam At Vanadias] [21] Celeste And Elizabeth

Zone 7

"Which side?" Celeste asked warily, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her long blade.

She had landed one of the worst possible matches, standing face to face with Elizabeth. There was no denying that Elizabeth was an opponent to be reckoned with, and the very idea of crossing swords with her now set Celeste's nerves on edge.

Elizabeth's gaze met hers, calmly, before a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Blue," she answered.

For a moment, Celeste stood frozen, but then, hearing the word, her shoulders dropped, and she exhaled a sigh of relief, loosening her grip on her weapon. "Here I thought I'd have to go all out already."

"You're overestimating me," Elizabeth replied, shaking her head.

Celeste rolled her eyes, a wry smile creeping onto her face. "Oh, please. Spare me the humility. I know exactly what you're capable of."

But Elizabeth's serious gaze didn't change. "I'm not joking, Celeste. I'm warier of you than you are of me."

There was no lie in her words. She had seen first hand that small fleeting moment when Celeste faced Alvara. It was a brief moment but she understood at that time that Celeste had gone through an exceptional growth. "What should we do, then?" Celeste asked, not really taking Elizabeth's praise seriously.

"Hm?" Elizabeth tilted her head slightly, as if unsure where Celeste was going with the question.

"I mean, we're in the same team," Celeste said, gesturing between them with her blade. "Should we team up? Just in case the others appear?"

She didn't need to spell out who 'the others' were. Both of them knew they were up against some of the strongest opponents of their generation.

Elizabeth considered it for a moment, then nodded. "I suppose that's a good idea."

With that agreement, they set off together, walking side by side through Zone 7. It wasn't long before they encountered other students—unfortunate souls who, upon recognizing the monstrous duo of Elizabeth and Celeste, attempted to flee. But there was no outrunning them. Elizabeth's speed, combined with Celeste's raw power, made them a terrifying force. One by one, they caught up to the fleeing students, quickly defeating them and dividing the points between themselves.

"Shouldn't we head to the lower zones?" Celeste proposed after a while. "It might be easier there."

"I've thought about that too," Elizabeth admitted, her brow furrowing slightly. "But people like us... I think we're evaluated differently from the rest. If we take the easier route, it might not reflect well on us."

Celeste nodded thoughtfully. "Hm. You're right. Knowing my father, there's probably some hidden criteria we don't know about."

How could she possibly ask such a thing? It was too embarrassing, too awkward to even bring up!

And yet, the awkwardness between her and Elizabeth was becoming unbearable. They were friends—close friends—and Celeste hated this growing distance. She only wanted Elizabeth to be happy. After everything Elizabeth had been through, her happiness was the most important thing to Celeste.

"I don't mind."

"Hm?" Celeste blinked, surprised by the sudden declaration. She raised her gaze to meet Elizabeth's crimson eyes, her heart skipping a beat. "About what?"

"I don't mind you flirting with Amael. If Amael loves you as well, which I think he very likely does, then I don't mind you becoming his fiancée," Elizabeth said without hesitation.

Celeste's face flushed. "W–What?"

Elizabeth's lips curved into a wry smile. "Not like I have much of a say in the matter, anyway. Go ahead, Celeste. Don't mind me."

Celeste's heart pounded in her chest. "B–But, you love him—"

"I don't." Elizabeth shook her head slowly. "Neither does he. It's... complicated. Our engagement is a formality, nothing more. There's no love involved. In the near future, we might find a way to end it—cleanly, without making waves."

Celeste stood frozen a bit. "Eliza... are you telling the truth? I don't want to be a nuisance, especially not to you..."

Elizabeth chuckled softly. "Why would I lie about something like that, Celeste? I've never fallen in love, not in my entire life, and I don't think I ever will."

Celeste's eyes widened. She struggled to respond, but Elizabeth continued.

"So please, don't feel like you have to hold back because of me," she added gently. "If you did, I'd be the one feeling bad about it."

'In truth, I feel more like the third wheel between you two.'

Though she wasn't certain, there was something in the way Celeste and Amael interacted, something that suggested a mutual love though she wasn't entirely sure about Amael's feelings.

"I see..." Celeste murmured but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Relief washed over her.

Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh. She was too obvious. "You really love him that much, huh?"

Celeste's cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red as she scratched them awkwardly. "W–Well... I do..."