Chapter 317: Into the Woods

After a while, Noah’s chair slid back as he stood. He looked around the table and said politely, "I will take my leave. I need some rest."

No one tried to stop him. They simply bid him good night as he left the dining hall. As Noah stepped into the corridor, his eyes naturally drifted toward one of the large open windows.

The dining hall was located on the ground floor at the rear of the manor, connected to the main building by a long corridor. Large windows had been placed at intervals along the corridor, allowing the cool night air to flow inside.

Noah walked toward the nearest one and looked outside.

Behind the manor stretched a vast woodland, its lush greenery bathed beneath the pale light of the moon. A gentle breeze passed through the trees, causing the leaves to rustle softly in the darkness.

The sky was not completely clear. Several dark clouds drifted across it, occasionally passing near the moon without completely concealing its light.

"Moon..." Noah muttered before sighing.

The gray clouds were a clear sign that the rainy season was approaching. Summer was nearing its end. "Sigh... The academy should be starting soon."

He leaned against the window frame.

"The semester was already delayed because of all those monsters appearing everywhere."

His expression became thoughtful.

What should he do next?

Should he simply focus on training and continue increasing his strength? Or should he join some damn shady organization in order to gather information? Neither option particularly appealed to him.

After staring outside for a while longer, Noah placed one hand on the edge of the window. Then, without hesitation, he jumped out.

Thud!

His feet landed softly on the ground outside.

The woodland immediately surrounded him.

The scent of trees, damp earth, and fallen leaves filled his nose. The forest was considerably darker than the manor grounds, with only fragments of moonlight filtering through the thick canopy above.

Noah looked around.

He wasn’t entirely sure why he had come here. There was simply something that had drawn him into the forest.

Without knowing what compelled him, he began walking deeper into the woodland. He continued for several minutes before eventually arriving at a small clearing.

Noah stopped. A strange feeling suddenly washed over him.

He frowned. "Huh?"

He looked around. "Why did I come here?"

He stared at the surrounding trees, confusion filling his eyes.

"What got into me?"

He couldn’t understand what had compelled him to come all the way here. His expression gradually hardened.

’Was I... being mind-controlled?’

Noah immediately stepped backward.

With a thought, a sword appeared in his hand from his storage ring. His blue eyes darted across the darkness, carefully searching for any trace of an enemy.

Someone had clearly brought him here. But who?

"Calm down, young man."

A woman’s voice suddenly echoed through the forest.

"I mean you no harm."

Noah’s head snapped toward the source of the voice.

From deeper within the forest, a woman slowly walked into the clearing.

She wore a pristine white robe that moved gently with each step.

Her long silver-white hair cascaded down her back, the ends glowing with an orange-red hue that resembled flickering flames.

Her eyes were equally striking, resembling flames burning beneath the moonlight. Her pale skin appeared almost ethereal beneath the soft silver glow of the moon.

Noah was mesmerized by her beauty. Only for a moment.

He quickly regained his senses.

"Who are you?"

His voice was tense, his gaze cold and alert.

The woman continued staring at him.

She remained silent for several seconds, her eyes moving slowly from his legs to his hands, then finally to his face.

After inspecting him carefully, she nodded.

"It appears that you have completely recovered."

A small smile appeared on her lips.

Noah’s eyes twitched.

"Would you care to explain who you are? Or should I—"

He suddenly stopped.

A memory flashed through his mind.

"You..."

His eyes widened slightly.

"Are you the one who saved Akari and me?"

He looked at her more carefully.

"A Phoenix?"

The woman simply nodded.

"Yes. I am."

She smiled faintly.

"My name is Sefira."

Noah’s tension finally eased.

His sword disappeared, and his posture relaxed slightly.

However, his expression remained cautious.

He bowed lightly.

"Thank you very much for helping us back there. I do not know how I could ever repay you for what you did."

He straightened immediately.

Sefira chuckled softly.

"You are a good boy."

Noah’s lips twitched.

’Good boy?’

He wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or embarrassed.

"May I ask why you are here, Ma’am?"

"Oh..."

Sefira hesitated.

"Hmm..."

She seemed to think about how to phrase her words.

"Actually, I wanted to speak with both of you."

"Both of us?"

"Yes. You and Akari."

Noah narrowed his eyes.

"Very well. I will call her—"

"There is no need."

Sefira interrupted him gently.

"For now, I would like to speak with you alone."

Noah paused before nodding.

"Alright."

He remained cautious.

He couldn’t understand why this woman wanted to speak with him privately.

Was there some special reason?

Unfortunately, he had no way of knowing.

All he could do was wait for her to speak.

But as he observed her more carefully, Noah noticed something strange.

The proud woman who had seemed so composed moments ago now appeared...

Restless.

Nervous, even.

Her hand repeatedly clenched and relaxed at her side.

Her eyes occasionally dropped toward the ground, and her lips pressed together tightly before parting again.

Yet no words came out.

’What is making her so nervous?’

Noah continued observing her.

Something was clearly troubling her.

"Ma’am..."

His voice finally broke the silence.

"Is there some problem? You have been standing there without saying anything."

"Huh?" Sefira was startled. She looked up and met his eyes. She seemed caught off guard. Then her expression gradually became serious.

"Noah..."

She took a small breath. "There is something important I need to tell you."

Noah’s expression became slightly more serious. "What is it?"

Sefira hesitated again. Her lips parted. "That..." She lowered her gaze for a moment at ground.

"It’s about Mary."

The moment that name left her lips, Noah’s eyes widened. His body moved before he could even think. He took a step forward.

"What about her?"

His voice was suddenly filled with urgency. "How do you know Mary?" He swallowed hard.

"Are you related to her?"

Sefira’s expression became complicated. "Y-yes... I-I am..."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"And I—"

Before she could finish, Noah suddenly bowed deeply.

"I am extremely sorry."

Sefira froze.

Noah’s fists tightened at his sides.

"It was because of me that she lost her life."

His voice trembled.

"If only I hadn’t insisted on going there..."

He lowered his head further.

"She would have been safe."

His voice became quieter.

"She was an orphan. I never knew there was actually someone related to her..."

Noah slowly raised his head.

His eyes had become slightly watery.

At that moment, he had completely forgotten that the woman standing before him was a Phoenix capable of terrifying power.

"Who were you to her?"

He swallowed again.

"But before that... I am sorry. Truly."

His voice cracked slightly.

"I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but—"

"Wait!"

Sefira immediately interrupted him.

"Noah, listen to me!"

Her voice was louder than before. Noah froze. Sefira stared directly into his eyes.

"Mary is not dead!"

Silence returned to forest. For a moment Noah didn’t move. His entire body stiffened, As his eyes widened.

"What...?" He could barely believe what he had just heard.

Sefira repeated herself, her expression serious.

"Mary is alive."

Noah stood completely frozen. His mind went completely blank.

---

"Where did Noah go? He was supposed to speak with me and explain what exactly is going on between him and Lady Akari."

Nathan muttered as he stepped out of the dining hall.

He took out his phone and decided to call Noah.

Ring!

Ring!

But Noah didn’t answer, even after waiting for a while.

"Tch... Sigh..."

Just then, Nathan remembered something.

’Right. Boss said she would be coming here. She wanted to speak with Akari, which means she should be somewhere around the manor.’

At that moment, Akari stepped out of the dining hall.

Nathan’s eyes naturally shifted toward her.

’One by one, everyone is leaving. Well, I suppose it should be the younger ones who leave first. But why is Akari leaving as well?’

Akari noticed him and offered him a small, polite smile.

’Hmm... perhaps Boss is already here and made Lady Akari aware of her presence so they could speak.’ he thought.

Nathan nodded to himself. ’Alright. I will leave for now. Will talk to Noah later.’

He gave Akari a respectful bow before walking away down the corridor. ’But I will definitely find out what’s going on between Noah and Lady Akari.’

He gave Akari a respectful bow before walking away down the corridor. ’But I will definitely find out what’s going on between Noah and Lady Akari.’