Chapter 28: I Won’t Let This Happen

A secluded corner behind the teaching building.

Since all the students had gone to their practical training classes in the afternoon, this place was nearly deserted, with hardly a soul in sight.

Faintly, the sound of an argument drifted from the corner.

A group of girls wearing senior uniforms had cornered a girl with long ice-blue hair against the wall.

The girl trapped in the middle was none other than Celeste.

“What do you want?”

Celeste eyed the unfamiliar senior girls warily.

She didn’t know them at all, only having seen them briefly during the all-student assembly.

Judging by the floral insignias on their uniforms, they were third-year students.

The blonde girl at the front wore a very unfriendly expression, her eyes filled with clear hatred.

She didn’t speak but simply glared coldly at Celeste.

“To think a witch would still swagger around the Academy.”

A freckled girl with chestnut hair next to her spoke first, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Seriously, if I were you, I’d have already taken a leave of absence and gone home, never to return.”

Another girl immediately chimed in, deliberately stepping forward to pressure Celeste.

“I’m not a witch.”

Facing their accusations, Celeste showed no sign of retreat after Aiden’s guidance.

She straightened her back, her ice-blue eyes locking onto them with clarity and resolve.

“Those are just rumors.”

“Oh? You’re not a witch, then what are you?”

The blonde girl suddenly smirked, a mocking curve appearing at the corners of her mouth, her voice laced with scorn.

With that, she pulled a device resembling a smartphone from her uniform pocket—the Academy Terminal unique to Saint Dias Academy, a fusion of cutting-edge technology and magic.

Because of its high cost, only elite or noble students were typically equipped with one.

The blonde girl’s Terminal projected a holographic image.

The scene was from the alley yesterday afternoon:

Celeste sat slumped on the ground, crying out in pain, her head thrown back.

She was in an extremely abnormal state; her once-clear ice-blue eyes gradually lost focus, pupils dilated and vacant.

The magical energy around her flared uncontrollably, as if about to tear the air apart.

More terrifyingly, strange black mist and black lightning-like magic swirled around her—this was the unmistakable sign of a magician’s corruption into a witch.

“W-what’s going on…”

Seeing her own image in the footage, disbelief washed over Celeste’s face.

Her lips trembled slightly.

Deep down, she knew perfectly well this was the precursor to a magician’s corruption, not as Aiden had described before.

Could it be that Aiden lied to protect her?

The rumors of her being a witch were not baseless after all—they were true?

For a moment, Celeste was swallowed by profound self-doubt, frozen in place.

“Got anything to say now, witch?”

The blonde girl sneered as she stepped closer, her voice filled with malice.

A fierce expression crossed her face, and she raised her hand, delivering a slap to Celeste.

The sharp crack echoed sharply in the silent corner.

Still stunned by the video, Celeste didn’t feel the pain, much less defend or retaliate.

She just stood there, eyes full of confusion and agony, muttering unconsciously:

“Why… why is it like this…”

“Senior Quentina hates witches the most.”

A follower whispered quietly beside the blonde girl.

“Her mother died in a Magical Disaster.”

Another girl immediately added.

Quentina shot a cold glance at the talkative girl, who quickly lowered her head, unwilling to speak further.

“If you have no awareness of being a witch, then I’ll give you a send-off. If you go corrupt inside the Academy, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Quentina’s eyes were filled with loathing as she turned back to Celeste.

Her voice was icy and piercing.

Magic began to gather in the palm of her hand.

A blinding light gradually took shape at Quentina’s core, and she suddenly struck toward Celeste.

Though still lost in self-doubt, Celeste’s body instinctively reacted.

She summoned a Frost Barrier to barely block the attack.

But because she had prepared so hastily, the enormous impact forced her to stagger back several steps.

After this exchange, Celeste finally snapped out of it, while Quentina approached with murderous intent.

Her beloved mother had died in a Magical Disaster during her childhood, so she had vowed to kill all witches.

“Don’t come any closer! I don’t want to fight you!”

Celeste hastily conjured several ice spikes, retreating while shouting at Quentina.

Her voice was anxious and uneasy, pupils full of resistance.

“All witches deserve to die!”

Quentina’s expression grew even more ferocious, grinding her teeth.

Her attacks became fiercer, each move laced with deadly intent.

The two began their fight.

Celeste refused to harm her opponent, only managing to defend passively.

But when the other two followers joined the battle, she gradually fell behind.

In the end, Celeste’s Frost Barrier shattered under a powerful shockwave.

The aftershock sent her flying backward, crashing heavily against the wall with a dull thud.

“This isn’t how it is… Aiden said I’m not a witch…”

Gasping heavily, Celeste’s ice-blue hair stuck to her sweat-soaked cheeks.

She looked utterly disheveled, her uniform covered in dust, a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth.

But recalling the image of herself from the video, she covered her face in despair.

Tears slid through her fingers, her voice choked.

“What am I… really…”

Quentina and the two others stepped forward, magic gathering in their hands.

Celeste helplessly covered her face.

At this critical moment, a dazzling white light suddenly exploded in front of Quentina and the others, instantly bathing the entire space in pure white.

Quentina and her followers cried out in surprise, instinctively covering their eyes.

Celeste felt someone gently lift her up.

The chest pressed warmly and firmly against her face, the arms strong and steady.

A surge of overwhelming safety flooded her heart.

Instinctively, she nestled her cheek against the person’s chest, catching a familiar scent.

Aiden held Celeste, using the blinding moment created by the Flash Spell to swiftly rush into the Magic Limiting Classroom.

He found an empty classroom that was rarely visited and carefully laid her down, quickly locking the doors and windows.

After confirming there was no danger, he sat beside her.

“Celeste, are you alright?”

Aiden crouched down, concern etched across his face as he looked at the dazed girl.

Her hair was tangled and messy, her uniform bore the marks of battle, one cheek flushed red from a slap, her face still stained with tears.

“Aiden…”

Celeste raised her head in a daze.

Seeing him, the suppressed emotions within her suddenly burst forth.

She threw herself into Aiden’s embrace, her voice choked and broken.

“I saw it… I saw it… that was the sign of corruption, no doubt… I really am a witch…”

Her fingers gripped Aiden’s collar tightly, her cries growing louder.

“Why… why am I a witch… why does this always happen to me…”

[Master, Celeste’s emotional instability is rapidly rising!]

Ruby’s warning sounded in time, her wings flickering anxiously beside Aiden.

Aiden took a deep breath, tightening his arms slowly, fully enveloping Celeste in his embrace.

His palm gently stroked her back, feeling her trembling body gradually calm.

Celeste’s cheek rested against Aiden’s chest, able to clearly hear his strong heartbeat.

That warmth seeped through the fabric like a gentle current, slowly sinking into her skin.

“No, Celeste, you’re not a witch. You never were.”

Aiden’s hand tenderly caressed her head, his voice low and gentle.

“But I saw it… I saw myself corrupted…”

Celeste’s crying only intensified, tears soaking Aiden’s shirt.

Her fingers clung to his uniform as if to tear it apart.

“I’m scared I really will become a witch… What should I do…”

“There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Aiden’s fingers brushed through her hair, the warmth of his palm spreading softly like vines.

Those old wounds seemed to be healing bit by bit.

Time seemed to stretch infinitely in this moment.

The outside world’s noise faded away.

Only the boy’s fervent heartbeat echoed, beating against the girl’s heart.

Suddenly, Aiden’s voice sounded from above.

“Even if fate has destined you to become a witch, I will never let that happen.”