A soft crackling sound broke the silence behind the towering academy wall. Arvin took a deep breath, focusing his mana into the tips of his feet.
Crack!
A block of crystal ice was created instantly in the air, exactly one meter above their heads. Without wasting a second, Arvin jumped.
Tap!
His feet landed perfectly on the ice platform. However, that block was merely the beginning. Before gravity could pull their bodies back down, Arvin created the next foothold, higher than the last.
Crack! Tap! Crack! Tap!
Like a sky dancer, Arvin jumped with terrifying agility from one ice block to another. Allen, clinging to his back, could only tighten his hug, his eyes wide with amazement as he watched his husband defy the laws of nature with such ease. The twenty-five-meter wall, which had seemed impossible moments ago, was now conquered in a matter of seconds.
Upon reaching the peak of the wall, Arvin didn't stop. He leaped over the edge, heading toward the inner grounds of the academy.
They should have fallen hard, but Arvin had already manipulated the wind around them. He used wind element magic to create an air cushion that resisted their falling speed. As a result, the landing felt as light as cotton.
Tap!
Arvin landed perfectly on the ground. Allen barely felt a shock as Arvin's feet touched the academy's grass once more.
Slowly, Allen climbed down from his husband's back. He stared at Arvin with eyes sparkling with admiration, as if he had just watched a legendary hero in action right before his eyes.
"My husband..." Allen called out, his voice full of enthusiasm. "Can you teach me magic like that? I want to be able to use magic as skillfully as you, so I don't always have to depend on you."
Arvin smiled gently, smoothing down the top of Allen's hair which had been slightly messed up by the wind. "If that is your wish, I would be more than happy to do it for you, Allen. We will start intensive training whenever we have free time."
"Really?"
"Of course!" Arvin answered without hesitation. "But for now, let's head back to class immediately before the situation gets any more complicated."
Allen nodded quickly, returning to the reality that they were likely very late.
The two of them tidied up their uniforms for a moment, then walked briskly along the back area of the academy toward the main building. However, as soon as Arvin slid the classroom door open, the atmosphere that welcomed them was far more tense than anticipated.
Every pair of eyes in the classroom, including Professor Elliana's, immediately fixed on them. It wasn't a look of anger, but rather a look of shock mixed with relief, as if seeing two people who had risen from the grave.
"Where have you two been?!"
Professor Elliana's voice sounded firm, yet there was a palpable tremor of relief in it. The woman stood up from her chair, her face looking exhausted like someone who had been holding their breath for too long.
Arvin answered calmly, without a shred of fear. "We just arrived from the forest behind the city wall, Professor. We got a little lost looking for the way back."
"A little lost, you say?" Elliana pointed to the large clock above the whiteboard. "It is almost time to go home, Arvin! The practice session ended hours ago!"
Allen's eyes widened after hearing his homeroom teacher's words. "W-What?"
"Several shadow supervisors were even deployed to comb every corner of the forest, but they found no trace of you two at all!" Elliana continued in a high pitch. "We were about to report you as missing persons!"
Arvin and Allen looked at each other. Confusion clouded their minds.
"But, Professor..." Allen ventured to interrupt honestly. "We felt like we weren't even in that forest for an hour! We just walked for a bit, then came back. How could we have spent hours there?"
Silence fell over the classroom. No one expected that answer. However, inside his head, Arvin quickly formed a logical conclusion.
Time distortion! Arvin thought. It seems the flow of time inside those ancient ruins is different from the outside world. One hour there might be equivalent to several hours here.
Arvin let out a soft sigh. This is dangerous. It's better if I explore those ruins on holidays only. If something like this happens again during school hours, we could be suspected of doing strange things.
Seeing the sincerity on Allen's face and Arvin's calmness, Professor Elliana finally let out a long sigh, trying to ease her tension. "Haaah... Never mind. The important thing is that you returned without a single injury. That is the main priority."
She waved her hand, signaling them. "Sit in your seats. We will discuss the remaining material briefly before dismissing."
Arvin and Allen walked toward their desks accompanied by the whispers of their classmates. However, Allen's mind was still left far behind. The strange phenomena in the ruins continued to haunt him. The mountain of treasure, the door of death, and now the time difference.
"My husband..." Allen whispered softly once they were seated, leaning his body slightly toward Arvin. "You have to explain everything that happened later. My head is spinning thinking about it."
Arvin nodded briefly, his eyes focused forward but his ears tuned to Allen. "Yes, I will explain it to you later at home. But remember, this is just my hypothesis based on magical logic."
"No problem!" Allen whispered back. "At least I can get an idea from the hypothesis you tell me. That's better than knowing nothing."
Not long after, the great academy bell rang, signaling the end of teaching activities for the day. The tense atmosphere of the classroom instantly melted away. Students clamored out, chatting noisily about their plans for the afternoon.
Arvin and Allen stepped out into the crowded main corridor. The afternoon sunlight broke through the high windows, creating long silhouettes on the marble floor.
"My husband..." Allen opened the conversation again, this time with a more relaxed tone. "Once we arrive home, promise me you will tell me everything without hiding anything."
"I promise, Allen. There are no secrets between us."
Allen smiled with satisfaction. His face brightened again. "In that case, for now, let's stop by the district market! We need to buy food ingredients, spices, vegetables, and fresh fruits."
A sweet smile blossomed on Allen's face as he imagined the kitchen of their new home. "I can't wait to serve you as a good spouse and provide a special dish for your dinner!"
Hearing those sincere words, Arvin walked faster and overtook Allen slightly, then turned his body to face his spouse, causing Allen to reflexively stop his steps.
Arvin looked at Allen intently, then slowly bowed his body. His right hand was placed over his left chest, while his left foot stepped back. He performed a bow that was incredibly graceful and full of reverence.
"As you wish, my cute Allen..." Arvin said in a baritone voice that was soft yet clearly audible.
Instantly, the bustling corridor fell dead silent. All the students around them, from commoners to noble children, dropped their jaws. It was as if their jaws hit the floor witnessing the scene.
That was no ordinary bow. That was the RoyalObeisance, the deepest form of respect performed by a high noble. Usually, this sacred gesture was only performed by a Duke to the King or Queen of the Kingdom of Astoria.
Arvin was a descendant of a Duke, a noble with the third-highest status in the country after the King and Queen. For him to bow that low to Allen, a commoner who had now become his spouse, was something that shook the social order of the academy.
In the eyes of the other nobles, Arvin's action had one absolute meaning: 'Allen's position is far higher than my own noble status'.
Arvin did it on purpose. He wanted the world to know, in the midst of this crowd, that he not only loved Allen but also respected him more than anyone else.
Allen's face turned beet red, as red as a ripe peach. He could feel hundreds of eyes staring at him with an intensity that made him want to disappear. Shame and awkwardness attacked him relentlessly.
"M-My husband!" hissed Allen in panic. He hurriedly grabbed Arvin's shoulders, asking him to stand upright immediately.
As soon as Arvin stood up with a satisfied smile on his face, Allen immediately snatched his husband's hand and pulled him away with a thousand steps. He dragged Arvin away from the corridor crowd without saying a word, leaving only a red trace on his ears.
After they arrived at a somewhat quiet side garden area, only then did Allen release Arvin's hand and turn to face him, panting.
"What on world were you doing in the corridor earlier?!" Allen exclaimed, his voice rising an octave due to embarrassment. "Everyone was watching us! That was way too much!"
Arvin looked at him casually, as if he had just greeted a neighbor. "I was just showing my respect to you, Allen. And I wanted to show them all that you truly deserve to receive it."
"But what for?" replied Allen in frustration, still not understanding his eccentric husband's train of thought. "We are a married couple, there is no need for such noble formalities in public!"
Arvin stepped forward, closing the distance between them. His gaze turned serious yet warm.
"So that they know that you are very precious to me." Arvin answered firmly. "It was an implied warning. If I, a descendant of the Duke, bow to you, then anyone who dares to harm you or look down on you... it means they are declaring war directly on me and my entire family."
Allen was stunned. His mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. His anger and embarrassment slowly evaporated, replaced by a wave of warmth spreading through his chest. Arvin wasn't showing off public affection. His husband was protecting him in the most absolute way possible.
Allen let out a long sigh, his shoulders relaxing. "Haaah... You..." He looked at Arvin with a gentle gaze. "At least, please explain your intentions to me first so I don't misunderstand and panic like that, my husband..."
Arvin smiled regretfully. "Forgive me, Allen. I was too excited."
"Never mind..." Allen smiled a little, unable to stay mad for long at the handsome teenage boy with blue hair standing before him. "Let's go buy the ingredients I need. I can't wait to cook for you!"
Arvin nodded in agreement with a happy smile blossoming on his face.
Seeing his husband's behavior return to that of a child excited to go for a walk, Allen couldn't take it anymore. With affection, he pinched Arvin's cheek gently.
"You hopelessly devoted husband..." Allen murmured softly, but his hand gripped Arvin's hand tightly again as they walked out of the academy gates.