CHAPTER - 153

  The sun had almost completely set, leaving behind streaks of orange and red light that colored the academy’s walls and corridors.

  The air had grown cooler, and the evening breeze brushed the leaves of the trees outside the open windows.

  A peaceful silence, broken only by Dav’s footsteps as he carried a still-weary but smiling Selene in his arms.

  "I can walk on my own...

  I don’t want to trouble you even after training..."

  she said softly, blushing slightly as she looked down.

  "Better not to risk it,"

  Dav replied without hesitation, holding Selene’s sword in his other hand.

  They reached the professors’ dormitory, a quiet wing of the academy.

  The soft lighting in the corridors created an almost intimate atmosphere.

  Dav climbed the stairs one by one, the wood creaking gently beneath his steps.

  They reached Selene’s room, and with a small hand gesture, she opened the door.

  "Do you want me to bring your meal here?

  I don’t want you going out tonight, you need to rest.

  I can clearly feel your aura begging for mercy."

  he told her, running a hand through her hair with a serious but tender expression.

  Myrrhya, in the form of a sword, spoke with a clear and concerned voice:

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "True, Mom! You need energy, your aura is so low that you’re vulnerable."

  Selene lowered her gaze, then raised it again with determination and a timid smile.

  "I... I’d love to stay. Let’s have dinner together."

  Dav smiled at her and nodded.

  "I’ll go inform Iris then. I’ll ask her to prepare something.

  Wait for me here, I’ll be right back."

  Selene sat on the bed, caressing Myrrhya.

  "Mom, you still haven’t answered me. Do you love Dad?"

  Selene froze, her face flushing a deep red.

  "Of course Mom loves Dad...

  Otherwise what kind of family would we be?"

  she finally replied with a sweet smile, holding the sword in her arms as if it were a real daughter.

  Meanwhile, Dav was briskly walking the corridors toward the cafeteria.

  Opening the door to the large kitchen, he found Iris preparing dinner with Margherita.

  "It’s not ready yet, you know!"

  Iris jokingly threatened him with a knife in hand, her gaze lively and teasing.

  "I come in peace! Just one request: could you prepare something for me and Selene?

  We’ll have dinner in her room."

  Iris stared at him, grabbing his collar with an annoyed air.

  "Oh yeah? And are we too boring to have dinner with, huh?!"

  Dav chuckled, brought his nose close to hers, and touched her forehead with his own.

  "She had a tough training... she fainted.

  I don’t want to leave her alone."

  Iris melted into a smile.

  "I was joking, stupid. I’ll make something to get her back on her feet.

  We heard that ruckus, you know?"

  Then, with a sudden gesture, she kissed him on the cheek and turned to start cooking with all her heart.

  Dav, standing still for a moment, watched her precise movements, the passion with which she arranged the trays.

  "Why does she always tease me like that?"

  he whispered, searching the shelves for a bottle of cold tea.

  Iris snuck up behind him and whispered in his ear:

  "You stink, darling. Go take a bath."

  Dav surrendered, wounded in his pride.

  "Thanks for the advice, miss."

  "Don’t mock me!" she said, pulling his ear.

  "And stop giving me compliments disguised as jokes!"

  Dav bowed theatrically.

  "I would never, my dear."

  "You’re doing it again!"

  she exclaimed, tugging at his cheeks with a pouty face.

  Then she observed him carefully, noticing how much he had grown.

  "You’ve changed... you’re more muscular and taller..."

  Dav laughed and said:

  "Or maybe you’re just going blind with age?"

  Iris pulled his cheeks hard with an irritated, goofy face.

  "Who are you calling old?! You’re older than me!"

  He smiled at her tenderly.

  "Stupid," she said finally, the only word she could manage when her heart faltered looking at Dav.

  "Take your dinner and disappear before I poison it!

  Sho sho! And take care of Selene, or I’ll hurt you!"

  Dav, with the trays in hand and a half-smile on his lips, turned toward the door.

  The last rays of the sun painted the corridor in a deep red, and in that moment, Dav felt happy, even if just for a second.

  He had a sword to protect.

  A woman to comfort.

  And a love that perhaps, without him noticing, was slowly growing inside him.

  END OF CHAPTER - 153