Multiversal Ascension-Chapter 81: First Romantic Date with Lyra

[Day 29: You didn't dwell on thoughts of Lyra, knowing the date was scheduled for tomorrow. There was no point in wasting time thinking about it now. Instead, you continued working to improve the array.]

[As time went on, you felt the limitations of the materials you were using. They weren't of high enough quality to allow significant upgrades, but you still made progress. By the end of the day, the array reached a 33% boost in mana and aura concentration in the training room. Meanwhile, your F+ aura and mana cores were nearing saturation.]

[Day 30: By early afternoon, the array's boost had increased to 35%. However, you felt that you had hit a limit—further improvement would require either higher-quality materials or more advanced knowledge of arrays. At the same time, your cores had reached their maximum capacity, signaling it was time to rank up to E-.]

[Knowing that your time was limited with your date with Lyra scheduled for the late afternoon, and with further array progress unlikely in the short term, you decided to focus on breaking through.]

[You sat in the training room and began the process with your aura core. Slowly, the core condensed further, its size shrinking until it held only 200 units, two-fifths of its original capacity. At this point, the breakthrough was complete. Reaching E- meant your "base" capacity was now 200 units, and further progression would require increasing it to 1,000 units before advancing again.]

[Afterward, you turned your attention to the mana core. The process was similar, and one hour later, the breakthrough was complete.]

[At that moment, you officially became an E- ranker. The potency of your aura and mana increased dramatically, rising by 170%—nearly tripling instantly. This was the reward of a major breakthrough, offering immense gains in exchange for the greater difficulty involved. While such breakthroughs could stall those with low talent, they provided double the benefits of a normal advancement.]

[Satisfied but physically and mentally drained from the double breakthrough, you exited the training room and took a warm shower, allowing yourself to relax after the exhausting ordeal.]

[Afterward, you settled on the couch and remembered the Feedback System you had recently purchased. Curiosity prompted you to use it to review your progress over the last month.]

As Mikael finished reading the last message, a cold sweat ran down his back. 'The fact that the Records can know all of this and present it to me as "feedback" is terrifying. It means that not only is everything I do being "observed," but my thoughts—and even the thoughts of others—are somehow known. This is unsettling.'

He took a moment to calm himself. 'Honestly, it shouldn't surprise me. The Records respond when I speak in my mind, but seeing it laid out like this gives it a more tangible, eerie presence. Who would be comfortable knowing their mind is being read at all times?'

Uneasily, he sighed and asked in his thoughts, "Records, is it possible for you to stop reading my mind?"

[Request possible if your military rank reaches Rank 3. Please note: If mind-reading is disabled, you will need to communicate verbally to access system functions, as thinking alone will no longer suffice.]

Upon seeing the response, he let out a wry smile. 'Of course, there's a cost. Like everything else with the Records, it pushes you to achieve something—this time, military rank 3 for mental privacy. Why does the Records want me to work for it?'

He pondered briefly. 'It's as if I'm a kind of "mercenary," farming LP through various means, only to use them at the Records and its military missions... The connection is undeniable.'

Mikael didn't linger on the thought. He knew trying to understand the motives of an entity far beyond his comprehension was futile. Instead, he cast a spell to prepare himself, then left his dormitory room. He had a date to attend!

The late afternoon sun bathed the academy grounds in a soft, golden light, casting long shadows across the well-maintained paths and lush greenery. Mikael waited under a tall oak tree, his posture relaxed but his mind anything but. He adjusted the cuffs of his academy uniform, glancing toward the path every so often. 'Why am I this nervous?' he thought with mild irritation. Normally, he was composed, even playful, in Lyra's presence. But today felt different. Today was a date—not just a casual meeting or study session, but a deliberate step forward in their relationship.

When he spotted Lyra approaching, Mikael felt a mix of relief and anticipation. She wore the academy's white and gold uniform, its elegant fit accentuating her lithe, graceful figure. Her long, silky purple hair, streaked with soft pink, cascaded over her shoulders, framing her delicate features. A light blush dusted her cheeks, and her amethyst eyes darted toward him before quickly looking away, her lashes brushing against her flushed skin.

Lyra's beauty wasn't bold but quietly captivating, her reserved nature adding a certain charm that made her presence feel soothing. The golden light of the setting sun highlighted her hair and softened her silhouette, creating an almost ethereal glow. Despite her clear nervousness, there was a gentle determination in her expression that made Mikael's smile widen.

"Hi," she greeted, her voice quieter than usual but warm. Her purple eyes met his briefly before darting away. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting."

"Not at all," Mikael replied smoothly, his usual confidence returning. "You look amazing."

Lyra's blush deepened, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you. You look good too."

He offered his arm, a faint grin on his lips. "Shall we?"

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She hesitated for a moment, then slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. Together, they walked along the cobblestone path, the quiet rustle of leaves and the distant hum of student chatter creating a tranquil atmosphere.

Mikael and Lyra walked side by side, their steps taking them away from the busier areas of the Academy grounds. The noise of bustling students and daily activity gradually faded, replaced by the soothing rustle of leaves swaying in the gentle breeze. They eventually arrived at a secluded garden hidden behind a curtain of flowering vines that cascaded over an arched entrance.

The garden was a tranquil sanctuary. Vibrant blooms in hues of pink, purple, and gold adorned the space, their petals glowing softly under the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy of trees above. At its center, a small stone fountain bubbled gently, the water sparkling like liquid crystal. The air was perfumed with a delicate floral fragrance mingled with the faint sweetness of lilacs.

Lyra paused at the entrance, her purple hair catching the golden light as it framed her delicate features. A faint blush rose to her cheeks as she glanced up at Mikael. "This place is... beautiful," she said softly, her voice barely a whisper.

"It is," Mikael agreed, his gaze shifting from the enchanting garden to her. 'But she's more beautiful,' he thought, though he kept the sentiment to himself, not wanting to fluster her further.

They wandered to a shaded bench nestled beneath the trees, where their conversation naturally deepened. This time, their topics were more personal than before, and though the atmosphere was charged with a strange tension, it gradually softened as they became more at ease. They relaxed, basking in the serene embrace of nature, letting the initial pressure of the date melt away.

Noticing the sun dipping lower in the sky, Mikael stood from the bench under Lyra's curious gaze. A moment later, he summoned items from the space ring on his finger: a blanket and a cooler.

"What are you doing?" Lyra asked, tilting her head slightly.

He turned to her with a small, confident smile. "I figured the timing would be right, so I prepared a picnic," he explained while spreading the blanket on the grass.

Lyra felt warmth bloom in her chest at Mikael's thoughtful gesture. A small smile graced her lips as she quietly said, "Thank you," before helping him arrange everything.

Once the setup was complete, Lyra sat beside him on the blanket. They were close enough to show their growing connection but not so much as to feel overwhelming. Mikael opened the cooler, retrieving two submarine sandwiches he had made earlier that morning, along with two chilled beverages. He handed one of each to Lyra, who eyed the sandwich curiously. "You made these?" she asked, her tone slightly surprised.

"Yeah, I'm no chef," Mikael admitted with a playful grin, "but I can manage sandwiches for my beautiful date."

Her cheeks flushed slightly at his words, but she didn't comment, opting instead to take a bite of the sandwich. "Hmm," she hummed softly, a satisfied sound escaping her lips. "Pretty good."

They ate together in companionable silence, occasionally observing the tranquil surroundings. The atmosphere was peaceful and still, the kind of quiet that didn't require words. They focused on the moment, savoring both the food and each other's company.

Once the meal was finished, they resumed their conversation. As the sky darkened and stars began to sprinkle, Mikael noticed the serene atmosphere and decided to take a chance. Slowly, he reached for Lyra's hand, gently enveloping her smaller fingers in his own.

Lyra was momentarily startled by the intimate gesture and instinctively considered pulling away. But then she chided herself. 'No, I shouldn't move. The book said that in moments like this during a date, I should be bold!' Resolving to follow this advice, she allowed her hand to remain in his.

She felt his larger, warmer palm wrap around hers, and while she was initially nervous, a sense of comfort soon replaced her anxiety. The feeling was unexpectedly reassuring. Mikael, watching her expressions closely, prepared to withdraw if she seemed uneasy. Instead, he was relieved to see her relax and even seem to enjoy the moment.

They sat in silence for a while, the intimacy of the gesture speaking volumes. Finally, Mikael broke the quiet. "Want to lie down and look at the stars?" he asked.

Lyra gave a shy nod in response.

As more stars appeared in the night sky, they lay side by side on the blanket, gazing up at the constellations. The silence between them was no longer heavy but instead filled with unspoken understanding.

"Mikael," Lyra began hesitantly, her voice soft, "thank you for today. It means a lot to me."

He turned his head to meet her gaze, his green eyes locking with her violet ones. "You don't need to thank me. I enjoyed every moment of it."

Lyra's lips curved into a small, genuine smile. For the first time that evening, she leaned closer, resting her head lightly on his shoulder. Mikael froze for a moment before relaxing, his hand gently resting over hers.

In the quiet stillness of the star-lit garden, their connection deepened. It was unspoken but undeniable—a first date neither of them would forget. It marked the beginning of something neither could yet define, but both were eager to explore.

Author Note:

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