Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess-Chapter 207 - 206- Approaching Disaster

"Exactly how nervous you were that you didn't join the celebration?" Austin asked with his brows raised.

In the common hall, the four of them were having breakfast the next morning of the congratulatory ceremony.

Yesterday, because she was nervous to embarrass Rudolph Rhea actually didn't join the event.

The pinkhead's shoulders were slumped as she revealed, "I actually was there for some time, but then my stomach began to hurt, so I decided to rest for a bit..."

"Lies. You ran off just to avoid dancing with me," Rudolph scoffed, then shoved a thick bite of pancake into his mouth.

The sword user turned silent...unable to retort that since he was telling the truth.

The conversation didn't proceed in that direction anymore since no one was here to keep making Rhea feel guilty.

"Classes would start tomorrow. And the final exam is next month. Hah~the only period of the year where I have to focus on studies." Rudolph seemed tired already.

To proceed to the next year, one has to score at least the passing marks during the final exams. That's why, he couldn't slack off now.

"Yeah....it's quite annoying to revise all the notes. I wish I had brains like Austin." Rhea muttered enviously.

Austin chuckled, "When I wasn't so involved in all these, I used to study most of the time in my office." He informed them.

Until he didn't awaken the System, all he used to was finish the miscellaneous work given by his father and study books most of the time. Naturally, Austin having a strong foundation isn't surprising.

"Will you help me?" Suddenly, Valerie asked in a hushed voice, which took Austin by surprise.

With a questioning look on his face, he turned towards her, "You really need my help?"

Valerie nodded, "I have been too focused on training and have visited numerous dungeons this year to actually focus on the classes. Although I have the notes I don't think I can understand and learn everything before the exams."

Valerie was an academic genius too, along with her enviable physical prowess. However, the school syllabus was vast. She has been involved in a chain of incidents. Also, due to their recent closeness, Valerie couldn't focus on her studies at all.

While she remains with Austin her mind doesn't wander in any direction but remains focused on him. And even after returning to her room, she keeps thinking about their conversation, which has hampered her studies recently.

So, in a way, Austin was accountable for her situation, so he better take responsibility.

Austin smiled fondly at her, "Okay, let's do it. My room?"

Valerie nodded, this time energetically.

"Hey, are you two studying together?" Rhea asked and the hopefulness in her voice clearly highlighted what she was about to ask further.

"Yes, but just the two of us." Valerie's answer was swift and looking at those cold eyes, Rhea stiffened.

There was clear rejection in her eyes, that completely wiped off all the hopes Rhea carried to be taught by Austin.

Rudolph heaved a sigh. "You have been close to them for so long, yet you haven't understood that coming between them is a bad idea?"

"But-but...they are going to study..." Rhea weakly retorted.

Rudolph grinned, "You think they will 'only' study?"

Rhea turned speechless upon hearing that.

She turned her head towards the duo and saw them sharing the same plate, sitting with their shoulders touching and sweetly whispering things to each other—completely ignoring the world around them.

...true, if they are together, there is no way they would only study.

After a bit of pause, "How about we ask Professor Morkel's help?" Rhea suddenly suggested, "I know he will help."

Rudolph's brows tensed for a moment, but then he relaxed his shoulders and said, "Sure...let's do that."

°°°°°°°°°

Far from the Academy, nestled near the base of towering mountains, lay a country renowned for producing the finest militants in the world.

This land blanketed year-round in snow, was best known not just for its warriors—but for being the largest supplier of weapons across the continent.

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One of the world's greatest defensive powers.

The home of Auroracrest Academy—Ademerg.

Its capital city, resting closest to the snow-cloaked peaks, was painted in endless shades of white. The rooftops sloped sharply, designed to shed the weight of ice and snow. People moved through the streets with practiced rhythm, shoveling snow from their doorsteps, bundled in thick layers of fur.

Most of the shops were closed even though it was past breakfast time, but not because they were lazy. It's just that, very few visitors come to the capital around this time of the year.

Some kind souls had lit coal fires in front of their homes, offering a brief moment of warmth to any traveler passing by.

At a glance, the capital of Ademerg seemed peaceful. The great castle where the King resided stood in silence like it always did. To the people, this quiet was reassuring.

But within those ancient stone walls, far from the public eye—

A storm was quietly beginning to rise.

"The soothsayer?!" The First Princess—Elizabeth Ademerg—gasped as she heard the news about the soothsayer.

Just like every kingdom, Ademerg also has its future teller. However, they have not heard anything from her recently. Not even about the attack on the tournament venue. Or about how many students of Auroracrest were about to die.

However, today, she got up, and while crying and shouting, she went to the storage room and locked herself in.

Now, the first Princess, who was the ruling noble in her father's absence was heading toward the storage room.

Her pale blue hair bounced with every hurried step she took toward her destination. The chief advisor and two knights followed closely behind.

After crossing the long corridor she turned to her left and found several people surrounding a slim door where the cleaning supplies are stored.

Seeing the Princess the maids and soldiers gave her the way.

Turning toward the maid nearby, Elizabeth asked, "How long has been inside?"

The maid, with a frown of concern on her face, informed, "She was having breakfast as usual in her room. I served her. But suddenly, she started behaving weirdly. Her face turned excessively pale, and her body trembled as if she had seen something disastrous. Despite how much I tried to ask what happened, she didn't respond, and suddenly, while wailing aloud, she covered her ears and ran all the way here before locking herself up."

Elizabeth bit her lip...something so devastating that the usually composed lady behaved so frenzied.

Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth turned towards the door.

Despite how scary it might be...she couldn't run away from her duties.

*Knock*

Gently knocking on the door, Elizabeth spoke, "Aurelia...it's me. Can you open the door for me, please?"

There was no response, even though Elizabeth knew that the other party had heard her.

Patiently, she continued, "I know you have witnessed something horrifying ..something unprecedented...however, if you lock yourself up, your fear will turn into reality. So unless you don't want others to go through the same horror as you, please come out."

Elizabeth turned silent after that, her hand resting against the door.

A few silent moments passed before,

*Click*

The door of the storage room slowly parted and Elizabeth's eyes brightened...however, upon gazing at Aurelia's condition, she felt immense sadness.

She has plucked her hair and has vomited in the room. Her eyes were red and puffy and the woman was breathing roughly.

"E-Eli...it's coming...a disaster ..we cannot defeat...a demon...too big...too strong ...we need to run."

Elizabeth stepped inside the room; the foul smell didn't bother her as she knelt before the lady and asked her, "When is it about to happen?"

It was the sign of a great ruler: never panic in a dangerous situation, or the ones behind you will lose all their hope.

Aurelia took a strong gulp and informed her, "In twenty days..."

Elizabeth frowned ..this was too soon.

Regardless, she turned toward the soldier and said, "Go inform the council. We need to gather the ministers and discuss what we can do."

The soldier instantly nodded and dashed away.

Turning towards the maid, she said, "You. Go and bring me a letter pad and meet me-"

"Elizabeth." Suddenly Aurelia grabbed her hand and prevented Elizabeth from further speaking.

The blue-haired Princess turned toward the woman before Aurelia spoke in a desperate voice,

"...unless we ask for her help we won't win this. I have seen it...the one who puts an end to the terror...it's only her."

Elizabeth asked in a low tone, "Who?"

Aurelia gulped, "The one...who wields the Tool Of Destruction. The savior of Eryndor...and the one who will help us overcome this disaster—Valerie Corwon."

°°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Remember the canon then you can guess who this foe is.

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