The Boy Who Walks Beyond The End-Chapter 98: Final Morning — The Road Ahead

[System Nex: Morning, User. Last breakfast. Last academy day. First step into inevitable chaos. But no pressure—I've already logged your emotional stats.]

Zen opened his eyes to the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. The air was still, thick with the weight of parting. Twelve days of laughter, duels, and camaraderie now collapsed into a single heartbeat.

He sat up, rubbing the stiffness from his limbs. Outside, the campus buzzed with quiet movement—the kind only big moments stirred.

Elvren's firebird had soared during training. Kleez had gone from comic relief to actual threat on the field (still comic, though). They were ready.

And today, they'd all leave.

• Nourishment Hall — The Quiet Feast

The dining hall was livelier than expected. Plates clattered. Laughter spilled here and there, though it all felt a little forced.

Kleez was making faces at his toast. Elvren smirked, tossing grapes in the air and catching them with exaggerated elegance.

Zen slid into a seat, just as Lyra sat across from him—like they hadn't both frozen last night after he kissed her forehead beneath the moonlight.

She said nothing. Neither did he.

But her cheeks held a soft flush.

And his ears were pink.

[System Nex: I detect awkward romantic tension. Delicious. Shall I engage social buffer mode? Maybe initiate "Pretend It Didn't Happen.exe"?]

Zen didn't respond. He focused too hard on his bread roll.

Sylvia leaned over and whispered something to Lyra, who shot her a glare. Arisella smirked knowingly. Fiora, of course, raised an eyebrow and sipped her tea like a noble watching a stage play.

Kleez broke the silence. "So, uh... y'all kissed yet or still pretending bread rolls are more romantic?"

Elvren coughed on his grape, eyes wide with pure drama.

Zen almost dropped his cup.

Lyra turned scarlet. "Kleez!"

Zen just muttered, "Shut up," to his plate.

[System Nex: Confirmed: Relationship Status – It's complicated but adorable.]

• Academy Gates — A Farewell Etched in Wind

The selected seven stood before the gates, where Archmage Lenver's rune-carriage awaited. Magical light shimmered across its chassis like molten glass.

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Aelric stood with arms crossed, already annoyed at the general display of emotions. Kleez had two satchels—one for gear, one apparently for snacks. Elvren looked like he belonged in a heroic painting, fire aura subtly glowing.

Zen stood beside them, quiet.

Then came Lyra—slipping between students, not drawing attention. She handed Zen a wrapped charm and looked at him, shy but unwavering.

"For luck," she murmured.

He took it, their fingers brushing. Neither said a word about last night's kiss. But their gazes lingered—eyes speaking where mouths wouldn't dare.

"Don't forget to come back," she whispered just as he turned away.

He paused. "You won't let me, will you?"

She smiled. "Exactly."

No hug. No declarations.

Just that smile. Just that quiet promise.

---

As the group stepped into the carriage, Kleez leaned toward Elvren and whispered way too loudly, "I give 'em three more weeks before a real kiss."

Elvren smirked. "You're too generous."

Zen groaned.

[System Nex: And so begins the quest, the rivalry, the chaos—and the slowest romance arc in this timeline. Let's ride.]