Chapter 460:Thankful.

Chapter 460: 460:Thankful.

She grabbed his arm.

"Does it feel different?"

"Very."

"How different?"

"I understand things I didn’t before better. Footwork, transitions, blade control. It’s like all the training we’ve done suddenly makes more sense."

Ravenna looked almost as excited as he felt.

"Then we have to spar."

He sighed.

"Of course that’s your first thought."

"Obviously."

"Can’t you just congratulate me?"

"I did."

"Then maybe kiss me?"

Ravenna was quite for a moment before smiling at him.

"You’re becoming demanding."

He nodded solemnly.

"Terribly."

She stepped closer and kissed him. Silver smiled against her lips before wrapping his arms around her waist.

Ravenna rested her hands against his shoulders, leaning into him as the kiss deepened naturally. Neither seemed particularly interested in ending it quickly, and when they finally separated, she remained close enough that Silver could feel her breath against his face.

She looked at him.

"Congratulations."

He smiled.

"Much better."

Ravenna laughed softly, then she narrowed her eyes.

"You’re still sparring with me tomorrow."

Silver sighed.

"I knew there was a catch."

She kissed him again, shorter this time, and stepped back.

He looked toward her.

"There’s one more thing."

She raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Fire Resistance Lv3."

Her expression changed.

Silver smiled.

Her wide eyes stared at him.

"You’re joking."

"No."

She looked at him, then started laughing.

Silver frowned.

"What’s funny?" He asked.

"You’re going to be unbearable," she said between laughter.

"That’s unfair."

"You walked through my fire at Lv2. What are you going to do now?"

Silver considered.

"Walk through hotter fire?"

Ravenna covered her face.

"Silver."

He laughed while she shook her head, completely speechless.

"Fine," she firmly saif.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Fine?"

"We’ll test it."

He immediately became suspicious.

Ravenna smiled sweetly.

"Tomorrow."

"How hot?"

"We’ll find out."

His expression flattened.

Ravenna laughed, then took his hand again.

They continued walking.

They eventually reached a secluded sitting area near the gardens, where several benches overlooked a small artificial pond.

Ravenna sat beside Silver.

For a while they simply talked about the assessment, about Helena’s command, about Antony somehow becoming one of the highest-ranked leaders, about Dillian maintaining second place, about Ravenna’s combat evaluation, also about Shirley’s strange behavior.

Silver listened while Ravenna complained that her stepsister had been unusually cooperative during the mission.

"She actually followed instructions," Ravenna said.

Silver looked toward her.

"That’s good."

"It’s not good, it’s suspicious. She’s never done that since she was brought home."

"Maybe she wanted to pass."

"Shirley always wants to pass."

"Then perhaps she finally realized fighting you wasn’t helping."

Ravenna sighed.

"You don’t know her."

Silver nodded.

"Not as well as you do."

That answer seemed to satisfy her.

He wasn’t going to dismiss Ravenna’s concerns, but he also wasn’t going to assume Shirley was planning something simply because she had behaved pleasantly. He’d watch, and that was enough for now.

Eventually Ravenna leaned against him. Silver placed an arm around her shoulders. She remained quiet for several seconds, then looked toward him.

"There’s something I haven’t shown you."

He raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"My tattoo."

He shifted slightly.

"The Titan-Horn Mountain Bison?"

She nodded.

He smiled.

"I’ve seen the integration information, you don’t have..."

"Not the tattoo," she cut him off.

"True."

She hesitated, then looked around. The garden was quiet and nobody nearby.

Ravenna stood up and took a step before him.

Silver looked up.

"What are you doing?" He asked, confused.

"Showing you, obviously."

He found himself speechless as she stepped closer and carefully lifted the side of her shirt.

The tattoo was located along the ribs beneath her left breast.

It was larger than Silver expected.

A dark, beautifully detailed image of a massive horned bison, its head lowered and its powerful shoulders emphasized by thick flowing lines. The horns curved around the upper portion of the design, while faint silver markings ran through the dark ink.

Silver stared, not because of the location.

Well.

Not entirely because of the location, he said to himself as he tried to keep his eyes on the tattoo.

The tattoo itself was impressive.

He leaned forward slightly.

"That’s actually beautiful."

Ravenna looked down.

"You think so?"

He nodded.

"Very."

She smiled.

"I was annoyed when it appeared there."

Silver looked up.

"Why?"

"Because it’s difficult to show anyone."

Silver considered it for a moment before speaking.

"That might be a good thing."

She blankly stared.

He smiled.

"Private artwork."

She laughed.

"Idiot."

He looked at the tattoo again.

"Does it hurt?"

"No."

"Even when you activate Mountain Titan Physique?"

"Not anymore. It was uncomfortable for the first few days, but that stopped."

Silver nodded.

"That’s good."

Ravenna watched him, then noticed that he hadn’t looked away.

Her cheeks reddened slightly.

"Silver."

"Hm?"

"Are you finished inspecting it?"

Silver looked up.

"The tattoo?"

"Yes," she harshly whispered.

He smiled up at her.

"Yes."

Ravenna stared at him as the realisation of what he meant finally sank in.

Her face turned bright red.

"Silver!"

He started laughing.

She immediately lowered her shirt and hit his shoulder.

Silver laughed harder.

"Ow."

"Don’t ’ow’ me!" She whisper yelled at him.

"I didn’t say anything."

"You didn’t need to!"

He caught her hand before she could hit him again.

Ravenna glared.

Silver smiled, then gently pulled her closer. She resisted for approximately half a second, then sat beside him again.

Silver brushed his thumb across her knuckles.

"Seriously, though. It’s a good tattoo."

Ravenna looked toward him.

"Really?"

"Really."

She smiled, then rested her head against his shoulder.

For several minutes, neither spoke.

Silver looked toward the pond and Ravenna’s fingers remained intertwined with his.

The academy lights reflected across the water.

Somewhere in the distance, students were still training. Silver could hear faint weapon impacts and occasional announcements from the nearby buildings.

But here?

Everything was quiet and as beautiful as it could ever be. It felt like a dream to him.

He thought about the past month.

His time in the death Row Valley, nearly dying and Ravenna crying when he returned. Those had been the hardest times in his life.

But the academy had been a sort of healing place for both of them. He knew the trauma that had been caused would never go away, but just being able to sit here without thinking about how they would survive the next day and if they will die has made the trip to the academy worth it.

It felt as though they were finally resting even if it was just a little bit before they could face the outside world, and that was good for both of them, especially their relationship.

Having to constantly fight every single day would most definitely have had a detrimental effect, especially with the death valley trauma hanging 9ver his head.

Silver kniw his uncle trying to kill him will not stop, the academy was a temporary protection but, it also taught them a lot more.

He could Aylestone trust a few people and Ravenna could finally open up to more people instead of isolating herself like she had done in the past.

He didn’t want her to only revolve around him, the academy had led her to cteate friends outside his very own circle and she could atleast have people to play and talk to even if she could come to him.

It’s not like she could tell him all her troubles, that was a given, even he couldn’t just up and tell her somethings even though they were open with each other.

All he could say was that, he was happy than he could have ever been at the moment and he didn’t see the need to ask for anything more.

Although, to be honest, he’d spent so much time surviving that moments like this still felt strangely unfamiliar.

Ravenna shifted beside him.

"What are you thinking about?"

Silver looked down.

"You."

She smiled.

"That’s a terrible answer."

"It’s true."

"Specifically?"

He considered it then kissed her forehead.

"That I’m glad you’re here."

Ravenna became quiet.

She looked at him, then smiled softly.

"Me too."

He leaned down and she met him halfway, their lips touching again. This kiss was slower than the others.

Neither hurried.

Ravenna rested one hand against his chest while Silver held her gently around the waist, lifted her until she sat on his thighs, and for a while the academy, the rankings and the endless pressure to become stronger seemed very far away.

Eventually they separated.

Ravenna rested her forehead against his.

Silver smiled.

"Seventy."

She groaned.

"Silver!"

He laughed.

She kissed him again just to stop him talking, it worked, for a little while.