Survival Guide After Accidentally Kissing a Demon - chapter 20

“If that’s the case, it really is a bit of a pity.”

Beili’s voice was soft, almost like she was murmuring to herself. It was unclear whether she was responding to Cyril or simply voicing a fleeting sentiment.

The two walked down the stairs one after the other and exited the library.

By now, it was nearly evening. The sky was tinged with a gentle pinkish-purple glow, and the sea had grown softer, as if draped in a layer of pearlescent gauze.

Most of the students who had come to Lottia Island for leisure had already returned. Some strolled along the shore, while others enjoyed delicacies brought back from Lottia Island on picnic cloths spread over the sand.

It was peaceful and beautiful, like a dreamlike Eden.

…

Having failed to find Nun Lisa, Beili stretched her slightly sore arms, pondering where to go next.

The sun was nearly set, and no one had come to notify her to go to the dock for the boat. It seemed she was not in a hurry to leave the island today.

“Your Highness, there’s also this.”

Beili handed Susanna’s Academy Badge to Cyril, asking him to return it for her.

“You two are sisters…”

Cyril looked at the badge she offered, his tone indifferent: “I only received the notice today about partnering with Miss Susanna for an assignment. We’re actually not very close.”

In Beili’s eyes, Susanna and Cyril were bound to marry sooner or later, so she already saw them as an old married couple.

She extended the badge toward Cyril again.

“Compared to me, her sister, Susanna would surely be happier to see Your Highness,” she said.

Cyril’s eyes flickered slightly. He said nothing more and accepted the badge.

The two tacitly decided to part ways. Just as they turned to leave, a voice called out from afar:

“Prince Cyril!”

Accompanied by an unfamiliar voice, a man clad in armor hurried toward them, his steps urgent.

It was a Knight stationed at Holy Island Academy by Sainthos.

When the Knight approached, Cyril asked, “What has happened?”

The Knight glanced at the Nun standing nearby, hesitated, and swallowed the words he was about to say.

Knowing she shouldn’t linger, Beili bid Cyril a brief farewell and walked away.

Once the Nun had gone far enough, the Knight spoke:

“Your Highness, His Majesty the King has sent word, arranging for you to take the ferry back to Sainthos tonight…”

“I’m not going.”

“The coursework for this academic year has only just begun.” Cyril refused without a second thought, saying, “I’m busy. Reply to my father and tell him that if he wants to hold some boring event, he should wait until I’ve finished my classes.”

“Your Highness, you’ve misunderstood. It’s not about holding an event…”

The Knight hesitated for a moment, leaned closer to Cyril, and lowered his voice to explain: “It’s about the Red Cardinals stationed at Holy Island Academy by Sainthos. His Majesty has lost contact with them. After searching today, it was discovered that not only have three Red Cardinals disappeared, but also one Envoy-a total of four people. The news is currently being kept under wraps and hasn’t spread yet.”

Upon hearing this, Cyril’s brows immediately furrowed, his gaze growing heavy.

Not to mention that the Envoys of the Holy Church Academy were all outstanding Mana users from various countries; the Red Cardinals were the very pinnacle of Mana.

If they could go missing within Holy Island Academy, it could only mean that something terrifying had infiltrated the Academy.

Cyril’s expression grew grave as he asked, “How long have they been missing? Who was the last person they saw?”

“A day. The Knights have already been arranged to search in secret. Your Highness need not worry.”

The Knight continued:

“His Majesty the King is very concerned about Your Highness and hopes you will take tonight’s ferry and temporarily leave Holy Island Academy.”

…

By now, Beili had already walked a considerable distance away.

Yet she could still hear the two men’s hushed conversation clearly.

Ever since she drank a bottle of Holy Water at the chapel and underwent a healing and purification, Beili had felt undeniable changes in her body.

The changes were not only in her appearance, but also in certain abilities that had suddenly grown stronger.

Could the Holy Water have awakened Bartholomew’s latent potential?

Though Beili was puzzled by this, she had no time to dwell on it, because she overheard the two behind her mention the disappearance of three Red Cardinals and one Envoy…
Could it be that these four people correspond to the three Bishops who healed her throat last night and Messenger Yue?

At this thought, Beili felt a bit uneasy.

By the time she returned to the attic room, she was already feeling hungry. It wasn’t until the sky was completely dark that Lisa brought her dinner.

Beili took the basket, placed the food on the table, and began to eat.

But every dish tasted strange.

The stew was too salty, the bread was overbaked, and the savory fried sausage actually had vinegar added to it…

After a couple of bites, Beili silently put down her fork and started eating the fruit for dessert.

Without betraying any emotion, she shifted her gaze to Lisa.

Lisa stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out in a daze, silent and withdrawn, clearly not herself.

She was nothing like the energetic person she had been that morning.

“Lisa?”

Beili called her softly, but Lisa seemed not to hear, completely immersed in her own emotions.

Beili watched Lisa’s back for a while, then raised her voice:

“Lisa.”

Lisa’s shoulders trembled, and she turned around as if startled.

“Sorry, I was a bit distracted… Is there something you need?” she said.

Seeing her face, Beili was a little surprised.

Lisa’s eyes were red, with traces of having cried.

Her arms were crossed over her chest, and her lowered fingertips trembled uncontrollably, as if she were afraid of something.

“Lisa, you don’t look well. Did something happen?”

Beili asked directly.

Lisa’s shoulders stiffened, a flicker of emotion passing through her eyes. She lowered her arms from her chest and forced a smile: “I’m fine, really, nothing’s wrong.”

Though her lips curled up, the smile was more painful than crying.

Seeing that she didn’t want to talk, Beili didn’t press further. She nodded calmly and said, “I’m full.”

Lisa stepped forward to tidy up. Looking at the barely touched dinner, she seemed to remember something.

“I…” She opened her mouth, a bit flustered. “Miss Bartholomew, I’ll go make you another meal.”

“No need, I’m not hungry.”

Beili stood up and helped put the fork and leftover food back into the basket.

Now that she was closer, she finally saw the red, slightly swollen mark on Lisa’s left cheek-it looked like a slap.

But as soon as Beili glanced at it, Lisa immediately turned her face away, hiding the swollen side.

Beili had no choice but to look away. “Lisa, you must be tired too. Go get some rest.”

Lisa nodded, picked up the basket, and left in silence.

Her gait was a bit odd as she went downstairs, and soon her figure disappeared around the corner of the staircase.

Beili withdrew her gaze.

A lot had happened today, but she still had no clue about her own situation, let alone the energy to deal with someone else’s problems.

So since Lisa didn’t want to talk, she didn’t pry.

She hadn’t found a way back on the second floor of the library, so she could only pin her hopes on the Third Floor, which hadn’t been opened in ages.

After washing up, she lay down on the bed, thinking she would be plagued by restless thoughts and unable to sleep.

But as soon as she closed her eyes, she drifted into a dream.

In the dream.

She was lying on the bed as well, when suddenly a dazzling blue-green ball of light enveloped her whole body.

The blue-green light gradually shrank.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself standing in an unfamiliar place.

Of course, the ‘unfamiliar’ here didn’t refer to the location, because in the distance there were waves and a beach-she was still at Holy Island Academy, still in the attic room.

The ‘unfamiliar’ referred to the strangeness of the space itself.

Looking up through the huge floor-to-ceiling window, every star in the night sky shone as if it were burning.

The entire starry sky seemed to be divided into irregular fragments by the hand of a god.

Stars rotated slowly within each section, swirling into clusters of purple-blue nebulae.

Even the moon had melted, turning into undulating yellow ribbons tangled together at random.

Strange yet beautiful.

Chaotic yet harmonious.