[Human, she is at the Head of the Barrier]

Zeph’s eyes widened, hearing Seraphina’s words. He sighed before falling to the ground, covering his eyes, feeling exhausted after a battle that wasn’t even true to begin with.

Looking at him, Banzihum’s eyes narrowed not understanding reason behind zeph’s sudden abnormal behaviour.

"Human, It’s commendable for yo—"

"Shut the hell up or I will send Thalia after your niece,"

SILENCE

Everything fell into utter silence before Zeph spoke again, "Professor Deventhia, it is against the rules to use mind abilities against students. What if Professor Adriannel knows?"

CRACK

The whole world began to fracture, pieces cracking like a glass crumbling down. Banzihum’s figure turned into dust particles as the woman’s lifeless body disappeared with them.

Using his hands to support his body, Zeph lifted his upper body slightly and smiled upon seeing a figure running towards him.

"Zeph!!!!"

A voice loud enough to shake his eardrums reached his ears as a sense of relief ran through his body.

THUD

"Ouch, hey, I am already injured," Zeph chuckled as removed his hands from his eyes, wrapping it around a woman’s body who pounced on him.

"Zeph, I am sorry, I resisted but Professor... sniff..." Thalia shook her head violently inside his embrace. Her emotions were swirling after witnessing his state, yet she was helpless against the force that stopped her from taking any actions.

"Hey, come on, I know, it’s okay," Zeph comforted her. At that moment, nothing mattered more than her safety and knowing she was safe brought him immense relief.

"No, I really tried, but she... Mmmmfffhhh," Before she could speak further, Zeph silenced her with a kiss.

Right now, her safety was vital to him and he needed to stop her racing mind by applying his universal method — To hide a shock, just give an another one.

"Ungh.....umm," Thalia’s wet eyes widened as she felt his lips on hers, as they intensely tried to devour hers.

Not missing this moment, her hands moved towards his hair as responding to his intensity. She reciprocated, her hands ruffled before gripping his hair, her heart filled with intense feelings.

Seeing his reaction and how he lost himself for her, he had removed all her doubts about his love for her. From this day forward, she didn’t need any proof of his love.

She was not alone; Zeph, too, knowing this very well, finally fell into the trap of this woman.

Thinking he was the predator, he let his guard down, and now this little prey has devoured his heart.

As if meeting each other for eternity, they continued their activities before a voice disturbed their solace.

"I am here, you know"

Zeph stopped, while Thalia seemed to care about nothing, continuing to kiss his lips as he, feeling amused, bent and sat with Thalia in his embrace.

"Hey, calm down. We have all the time. Should we deal with this bother first?"

His golden pupils turned towards a certain direction, reflecting a woman’s figure with otherworldly beauty, deep eyes, and a face stained with blood, giving her a deadly look.

DRIP

A small sound of liquid falling on the ground centered at her hands, revealing a severed head of a man with emerald hair painted in blood, eyes widened in horror, and excess blood soaking the ground beneath it creating that sound.

"Professor, such cruelty doesn’t suit you."

Deventhia, upon hearing his words, kept looking at him without showing much response, her mind swirling about the energy he just displayed in the middle of the battle.

// Flashback //

"I simply sensed the pure mana and a woody smell, along with such a massive barrier, requiring the energy only a professor possesses within the academy"

Hearing Zeph’s words, Banzihum at least realized the sharpness of his mind and why he couldn’t let him live.

SWISH

Banzihum’s figure vanished as his claws pointed at Zeph, moving to end everything before other Professors interfered, not wanting to delay anything.

Thalia, stood behind, bewildered due to the Zeph accepting annulment of engagement.

Suddenly her INTUITION kicked in.

’!? ’

It was Screaming for her to run away from here, making her mind fall into whirlwind, but right now she didn’t pay any attention to her own safety.

Right now, her mind was focused on someone’s safety who had become more important to her, than her own life.

’Not without him’ She sprinted towards zeph, knowing if he wasn’t there, it was impossible for her to live—a world without him was not meant for her.

"ZEPH!!"

Thalia swiftly moved and pushed Zeph on the ground, closing her eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

However, somehow, her intuition stopped screaming.

Thump thump thump

She could clearly hear her heartbeat, realizing at least she was alive.

Slowly, her eyelashes parted, and those beautiful wet emerald eyes reflected a delicate hand gripping Banzihum’s wrist.

"Banzihum, it’s not even a few minutes since Adriannel left, and you leaf-eaters show your true colors."

Banzihum noticing woman’s cold gaze can’t understand the reason for her to arrive here, when it should have been her lecture time, "D-Deventhia, why are you here?"

Ignoring his words, Deventhia turned towards Thalia, who was in shock. With a small smile, she said, "He loves you, just needs a push"

"W-what?" Thalia looked at her and swiftly turned towards Zeph, who stood like a statue with his pupils filled with white smoke, fading his golden eyes.

"No! Zeph, wake up!"

Thalia shook Zeph’s body, holding his shoulders. Her intuition confirmed Zeph’s safety, but her mind was in turmoil. She switched her eyes between him and Deventhia.

"He is alright. Should we first deal with the problem at hand?"

Deventhia turned her eyes towards Banzihum, who, understanding the situation, looked at her coldly.

"So, should we see the reason behind Valley targeting my nephew-in-law?"

The moment she knew Zeph was the real son of Adriannel and Evangeline, she had already decided to unite him with her niece. Of course, not easily; he needed to prove worthy of her precious princess.

"What do you mea—...HUSHHH" Before Banzihum could understand the meaning behind her words, his eyes lost their color as he fell into an illusion that was far too cruel even for an Elf.

Experiencing death a thousand times, the destruction of Chrintain Valley by the hands of Evangeline, everything started to repeat in front of his very eyes.

It was living Hell for him, far real than reality itself.

"An anomaly?" Through tearing his mind, Deventhia came to know the reason for Valley targeting Zeph.

Turning her gaze towards Zeph, a smile formed on her face.

" What are you, Nephew-in-law "