The Dreamer's POV

Chapter 116: Subtle Change

Sprawled on the ground, Drius stared up at the magically imbued ceiling, his chest heaving as he gulped down breath after breath.

Each beat of his heart throbbed in sync with the resonating echo of his defeat.

He had lost. And to a boy who wasn't even wielding a weapon.

The bitter tang of the realization lodged itself in his throat, the sting in his pride far surpassing the physical pain.

'I was wrong…'

A glimmer of a smile crossed his lips as he ruminated on the irony. He, a Grand Knight, had been the one brimming with arrogance, while the boy named Luke had simply shown the strength he possessed.

His gaze flickered towards Seraphina, whose eyes were wide with surprise and a hint of admiration.

'She must have realized it now… how valuable this man is…'

He had to admit it, she had brought back a veritable monster.

The click of boots against the ground drew his attention back to the boy who had defeated him. Luke was walking towards him, a small smile playing on his lips, his hand extended in a gentlemanly gesture of help.

It was a humbling sight.

"Your win, Luke," Drius rasped out, the words tumbling out with a newfound respect. His gloved hand reached up to grasp Luke's. Experience tales at mvl

The younger man's grip was firm, his strength clear even in the simple gesture.

"You're stronger."

Luke's smile widened as he helped Drius up. "You weren't too bad yourself, Drius," he replied with a light chuckle.

'Not too bad, huh?'

Still, Drius could only nod, a small laugh escaping his lips. "Thanks for the compliment."

It wasn't often that Drius Xander, the 15th Grand Knight, was bested in battle. But as he looked at the boy—no, the man—who had just defeated him, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation for what was to come.

Luke was a formidable ally, and with him at their side, the Lyma family was one step closer to overcoming their trials.

'Maybe… just maybe, we can do it this time!'

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[00 Months: 12 Days: 06 Hours]

With Drius standing by my side, I saw the change in his expression—a newfound respect reflected in his gaze.

'Guess I really showed him his place, huh?' I couldn't help but leak out a smile.

The barrier surrounding the training ground dimmed, then disappeared entirely, signaling the end of our spar. The moment it vanished, the girls rushed over, their excited chatter filling the otherwise quiet room.

"Oh my god, Luke!" Amelia gushed, her eyes wide with astonishment. "You actually defeated Sir Drius! I can't believe it!"

"I know, right?!" Rosalia chimed in, her gaze flitting between Drius and me. "He's the strongest Knight of the Lyma Family. You really are strong, Luke!"

Their words made me feel a warmth of acceptance and respect from them that I hadn't felt before.

'The way it feels, being surrounded by these girls who are praising me… it's not a bad feeling.'

Seraphina kept looking at me, awe in her eyes. It felt like she wanted to say something amid the flurry of words thrown at me by her sisters but she wasn't able to get a word in.

"But Luke... why haven't we heard of you before?" The same question hung in the air, lingering on the lips of Drius and the other sisters.

The Grand Knight also added "I, too, must admit my curiosity. How is it that we've never heard of you?"

I scratched the back of my neck, pondering how best to address their curiosity.

"Well," I began, deciding to stick to my usual script. "I've always been a bit of a wanderer, going where the wind takes me. That's probably why you haven't heard of me."

I added a certain flair to it, trying to imply that I had been keeping my identity hidden for so long.

Hopefully, they would all buy that and everyone got off my hair.

Their faces lit up, and the eldest sister, Beatrice, gave me a thoughtful look.

"You should consider joining the Lyma Family as a Knight," she said, her voice hopeful. "You'd be well-compensated."

A soft chuckle slipped from my lips.

"I'll...think about it," I promised, my heart filling with warmth at their earnestness. T

he sense of camaraderie and respect here was more than I'd expected, and for the first time, I found myself seriously considering their proposal.

'Unfortunately, I can't be tied down. Not until I've explored enough of this world and gotten far stronger…'

I had spent a lot of time blending in with the Natives and forging connections, instead of growing stronger. That was because I realized the importance of this exercise.

'But I also need to keep up my Leveling pace…'

Or I would get left behind!

********

[00 Months: 12 Days: 10 Hours]

Under the low, warm light of the hallway lamps, Seraphina and I walked together in an amiable silence, her dress swishing lightly with each step she took.

She had offered to escort me to my room, and to be honest, after spending so much time with Drius and her sisters, I was looking forward to this alone time as well.

"So, when exactly are we leaving for the expedition?" I asked, breaking the silence between us.

"Most of the participants will arrive tomorrow, although some might start trickling in this evening," she replied, her voice smooth like honey, "There will be a briefing in the evening tomorrow evening for all the participants. We'll be leaving for the Wild Lands the day after that."

I smiled, nodding as I acknowledged her answer. "Got it."

Eventually, we arrived at my room. As we stood in front of the door, Seraphina turned to me, her eyes soft and sincere. "Luke, I want to thank you again for agreeing to help my family."

I shrugged, dismissing the gravity of her gratitude. "I just did what I thought was right."

'Who can say no to rewards?'

She offered a sweet smile, her eyes twinkling under the dim lights. "Not everyone would be willing to do what you're doing, especially since we haven't been completely forthright about all the details."

At her words, I couldn't help but think back to the time when she spilled everything to me under the influence of my Skill. Of course, she had no memory of that event.

"I won't let you down, Seraphina. You don't need to worry too much," I assured her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'll do my best in the expedition."

Her smile widened, transforming her face into a picture of serene beauty. "I'm looking forward to it," she said, her words caressing the silence of the night.

In a sudden move that took me by surprise, Seraphina leaned in, placing a gentle kiss on my cheek.

"Goodnight, Luke," she whispered, her breath tickling my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

'T-this is…!'

And just like that, she was gone, her figure receding down the hallway, leaving me standing alone with a soft smile on my face and a pleasant warmth spreading from where her lips had touched my cheek.

"G-goodnight…"

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[A/N]

Is Luke/Mikey tripping? Is he falling for the innocent, sweet Noble? We shall see…

Thanks for reading.

Cheers!