Chapter 119: More Than Friends

Disappearing from the entrance of the girls’ dormitory, Valerian and Seraphine appeared in the streets of the city below the academy grounds.

Their sudden appearance caused some of the onlookers to turn toward them, as they were familiar with the academy uniform that Seraphine wore. But most of the attention was on Valerian; his Apex uniform drew countless eyes, and paired with the strange effect his divine awakening had on the surrounding world, the busy street stood still for a moment.

’This is getting awkward.’

Valerian looked down at Seraphine as she curiously observed the crowd around them. As a princess, she had been trained since childhood to keep a neutral face, so all the stares didn’t bother her that much.

Valerian was a bit different. The intense gazes of the people around him made him slightly uncomfortable, so he gave Seraphine’s hand a light squeeze before leaning forward and whispering in her ear.

"We should go back and change clothes."

If they weren’t wearing their academy uniforms, they would attract a bit less attention. They still wouldn’t disappear into the crowd because of their high charm stats, but it would ease the pressure of so many eyes.

Seraphine turned to Valerian and gave his hand a gentle squeeze back.

"Okay."

They vanished once more and reappeared right in front of the girls’ dorm. The crowd of students was still gathered, as only a few seconds had passed.

"Before we start the date, I want to make something clear."

Valerian’s interest was piqued as Seraphine’s tone suddenly turned serious.

"This date, it’s a romantic date, not just something between friends, right?"

Seraphine’s eyes were deadly serious as she asked the question. She wanted to establish her intentions from the very beginning and ensure they were on the same page.

Valerian met her focused gaze and smiled softly.

"Yes, I’m asking you on a serious romantic date, not as a friend who just wants to hang out. I’m romantically interested in you, Seraphine."

She held his gaze for a second longer before smiling.

"Good. I will go change. See you in ten."

Seraphine let go of Valerian’s hand and walked into the dorm building to change out of her uniform.

’I should go change too.’

His form blurred and reappeared in front of the portal leading into his dorm room. Stepping inside, he quickly stripped off his uniform and pulled fresh clothes from his pocket dimension.

After getting dressed as fast as he could, he stood in front of the mirror, taking in his reflection.

’God, I should be in a painting.’ 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

He wore a loose white T-shirt with a dark purple design across the chest, its oversized fit giving the outfit a relaxed, effortless look. Slim black trousers balanced out the looser top, finished with clean white sneakers for something simple and comfortable. Silver chains hung from his neck, and earrings set with purple gems decorated his ears, adding just enough of his usual cosmic flair without making the outfit feel stiff.

His long silver-white hair was tied back into a ponytail, leaving a few strands to frame his face without getting in the way.

Satisfied with his look, he quickly left his room and teleported in front of the girls’ dormitory.

He was faster than Seraphine, so he stood outside waiting. Passing students threw curious glances his way, and several girls blushed as they walked past, but Valerian ignored them as a sudden nervous flutter settled in his chest.

’I should have planned something.’

Asking Seraphine out had been a split-second decision, leaving him with no real plan for where to go or how a proper date was even supposed to play out.

As he tried to come up with ideas, he felt a familiar pulse of mana approaching from the side. Ever since she had been caught in the wake of his divine awakening, her mana signature carried an echo remarkably similar to his own.

He turned toward her.

Seraphine was walking over to him. She wore a loose cream sweater that slipped slightly off her shoulders, revealing the black lace-trimmed top underneath and a hint of her collarbone. A short dark skirt sat at her waist, paired with sheer black tights and simple black ankle boots. A small black handbag hung at her side on a gold chain, while a magenta pendant and matching earrings added a subtle touch of color. She didn’t really need a bag, considering the three spatial rings resting on her fingers, but she had chosen it to tie the look together.

Her long silver hair was styled into twintails, held neatly in place by dark ribbons.

The outfit was casual and comfortable, yet refined enough for a date. Valerian walked up to her, taking in her appearance for a quiet second.

She did the same, letting her eyes wander over him to catch every detail.

"You look beautiful."

It wasn’t just an empty compliment; he meant every word. She was genuinely breathtaking, and Valerian felt he could look at her for hours without ever tiring of it. Seraphine met his eyes, a soft smile gracing her lips.

"Look who’s talking. You look really handsome. Those earrings suit you well."

Valerian held out his hand. Without hesitation, Seraphine slipped hers into his grasp.

"Shall we go?"

"Yeah."

Their silhouettes blurred, vanishing from the spot. This time, they didn’t land in the middle of a crowded thoroughfare, but in a much calmer district of the city. There were far fewer people around, though the street vendors were still bustling with business, giving the area a relaxed, cozy atmosphere compared to the main avenue.

As they stood together, a mild panic started creeping into Valerian’s thoughts.

’Fuck, what do I do now? I have no clue how this works.’

Seraphine quickly caught on that something was off. Valerian had gone entirely quiet, standing beside her as still as a statue. Glancing at his profile, she caught the faint trace of fluster across his features.

’Cute.’

She gave his hand a gentle squeeze, drawing his eyes back to her.

"Let’s go get something to eat."

Relieved by the suggestion, Valerian nodded.

"Good idea."

They began walking down the street together, fingers naturally laced so neither let go.

They passed several stalls, but because Seraphine didn’t eat meat and nearly every vendor was selling skewers or roasted cuts, finding something suitable proved difficult.

Then something caught Valerian’s eye off to the side, making him pause.

The sign above the entrance featured an elven woman cupping her hands as green vines sprouted from her palms.

"This might be a vegetarian place."

Seraphine looked where he was pointing, instantly recognizing the insignia. It belonged to an established dining house from the Elven Empire, which meant it was entirely plant-based.

Elves weren’t strictly forbidden from eating meat, but most chose to avoid it out of tradition, given the deep connection to nature and wildlife central to their culture.

Together, they stepped inside and were greeted by an interior designed like a lush, living grove, complete with trailing vines and miniature trees growing straight toward the ceiling.

A blonde elven waitress in uniform promptly walked up to greet them.

"Hello! Table for two?"

Valerian and Seraphine nodded in unison, drawing an amused grin from the server. When her gaze dropped to their intertwined fingers, she immediately understood the dynamic.

’Ah, to be young again.’

Keeping the thought to herself, she guided them to a quiet corner table near one of the decorative trees and took their orders.

Once their requests were noted, they were left alone in the quiet ambiance of the booth.

"I have to say, I was surprised when you asked me out."

Seraphine began tracing idle runic circles onto the tablecloth with her index finger, using the repetitive motion to keep her composure steady.

"I had the day off, and... I like you, Sera."

Her finger halted against the cloth. She lifted her head, looking straight into Valerian’s violet eyes. Resting her palm flat on the table, she held it open; Valerian caught the intent immediately, placing his hand over hers.

"I like you too, Valerian."

There was no awkwardness or nervous evasion between them, only the clear, mutual certainty of how they felt.

Soon after, their dishes were served. They ate at an easy pace, sharing casual conversation that felt noticeably lighter and warmer now that their feelings were out in the open.

When they finished, Valerian covered the bill, and they stepped back out into the open air, satisfied and content.

As they walked back into the street, their hands found each other once again without a second thought, fingers locking together as they strolled side by side.