I Was Summoned as the Academy’s Janitor… But I Accidentally Became the Most Overpowered Harem Protagonist?!
Chapter 44: Whispers of the Past — When Secrets Linger in Twilight

‎Scene : Reforging the Southern Ward (Late Night)

‎The silver moon hung low over Velmara Academy, its pale light slipping between the spires and illuminating Selena Frostveil as she descended stone stairs toward the Southern Perimeter Wall. The air was crisp, carrying faint echoes of the day’s celebrations—laughter, applause, and the distant strains of night-bard songs drifting upward. Now, only the soft hum of warded glyphs greeted her.

‎At the base of the wall, a row of Arcane Beacon Crystals pulsed dimly, their glow flickering whenever Selena’s Frostbrand Grimoire hummed with residual power. She unfolded the grimoire—scrolling through its ice-etched pages, each lined with silvery runes. Her breath steamed in the chilly night as she traced a glacial sigil with her fingertips.

‎ Selena (whispering): “Frost binding… containment… and here—Purification link.”

‎On her right, Seraphina Noctis stepped from the shadows, her Soul-Bind Blade sheathed but its frost-silver runes humming at her side. The breeze tugged at her raven-black hair, and her violet eyes gleamed with focused intensity.

‎‎ Seraphina (softly): “I’ve secured the southern flank. No stray shadows slip past my watchers. But… I sense something else—something drawn to Zephyr’s aura.”

‎Selena paused, lifting her gaze to the Crystalline Pinnacle carved into the wall—a shard of pure mana donated by Arventian mages.

‎‎ Selena: “It’s the Nexus Gate’s resonance… it whispers like a heartbeat. Every time Zephyr’s purification magic touches a ward, that pulse grows stronger.”

‎Seraphina nodded, stepping closer to the Pinnacle’s base. She pressed a slender gloved finger against the crystal’s surface.

‎‎ Seraphina: “Then we must be thorough. If that resonance leaks, it could draw more than curious students.”

‎‎Suddenly, a lick of amber flame burst into being behind them. Drakynia Flameheart strode forward, her leather-clad boots crunching on frost-kissed ground. She loosed a wisp of fire from her palm, molding it into a swirling orb that cast dancing shadows on the ancient stones.

‎‎ Drakynia (gruffly):“Flameheart patrol can’t sit idle. If dark energies leak near these wards, even my small flame won’t hold them back.”

‎Selena closed her grimoire with a decisive flap.

‎ Selena: “Let’s combine forces. Seraphina’s shadows will catch anything that tries to slip through, Drakynia’s flame will scorch corrupt sigils, and I’ll reinforce the ice-binding.”

‎Drakynia smirked, depositing her flaming orb into a bronze brazier set into the wall’s alcove.

‎ Drakynia: “Fair enough. But if any blood-slicked hound dares cross this perimeter, they’ll face my Dragonfang Blade first.”

‎‎Seraphina nodded, stepping into the pale lamplight as Selena knelt to chisel away fractured runes.

‎‎ Seraphina: “I’ll station watchers along the ridge. If anything moves between those wards, they’ll send word.”

‎‎Selena’s fingers traced the final glacial rune. The ice-etched symbol flared with pale blue light—solidifying the containment field around the southern wall. As she rose, her gaze swept the distant towers—aware that Athalia Lynx and Maribelle Moonshimmer had vanished earlier.

‎‎ Selena (quietly): “If Athalia and Maribelle are behind this… we’ll find them.”

‎‎Drakynia let her flames wane, stepping beside Selena.

‎‎ Drakynia: “Let’s hope the thorns in our own garden don’t prick us first.”

‎‎Together, the trio turned toward the courtyard’s winding path, leaving the Southern Ward flickering with intertwined frost and flame.

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‎Scene: Celestial Terrace (Predawn)

‎‎High above the academy, the Celestial Terrace offered a panoramic view of Lumina Town's rooftops and the distant glow of the Azure Coast. Reached by ivory stairs carved with ancient constellations, the terrace was draped in wisteria vines that rustled like whispered secrets in the pre-dawn wind. Rosalia de Glorieux stood at the balustrade, her white-and-gold robes catching the first pale glow of morning. In her hand, she held the Eternal Rose Sigil—the ethereal bloom Queen Caterina had gifted her. Its petals glowed faintly with prophecies untold.

‎‎Zephyr Arclight ascended onto the terrace next, mop slung over one shoulder, cloak partially shielding the bristles’ phoenix-gold shimmer. His steps were light, betraying a mind still turning over the lessons of the past days.

‎‎ Zephyr (softly): “The air feels… thinner up here.”

‎Rosalia turned, her sapphire eyes reflecting concern.

‎‎ Rosalia: “It’s the residue of the Recall Seal. Though it’s shattered, fragments linger in the wind. This rose’s glow will guide them home—if they stray.”

‎Zephyr stepped beside her, glancing at the glowing petals.

‎‎ Zephyr: “Maribelle’s and Athalia’s disappearances worry me more. Athalia’s connection to the Shadow Circle… and Maribelle—her bubble magics are unpredictable.”

‎‎Rosalia traced the rose’s petals as if reading their outlines.

‎‎ Rosalia: “Athalia once spoke of a hidden archive beneath Moonshimmer Grove. She believed that secrets long buried could tip the balance of power. Perhaps she’s seeking truths that linger beyond the Frosted Court’s wards.”

‎‎Zephyr’s fingers brushed a frigid breeze.

‎‎ Zephyr: “Then we must find her before she unearths something we can’t contain.”

‎‎Rosalia’s gaze settled on Zephyr’s mop, still faintly warm.

‎‎ Rosalia (softly): “Your grace with that mop has drawn her attention—like a moth to a flame. But I trust your heart will guide you back.”

‎‎Before Zephyr could respond, footsteps emerged behind them. Arwen Galehart approached, draped in a pale-blue mantle woven with frost-runic thread. Her posture was calm, but her obsidian eyes held a flicker of unspoken worry.

‎‎ Arwen: “Rosalia, Zephyr—Selena intercepted a report: shadow-wraith sightings near Moonshimmer Grove’s southern glade. Athalia’s scouts may be already in peril.”

‎‎Zephyr exchanged a glance with Rosalia before turning back to Arwen.

‎‎ Zephyr: “Then we leave at first light. Aram and Seraphina will stand watch here—ensuring no dark sliver returns unnoticed. Drakynia and Kael pledged to reinforce the Flameheart forges this morning, so their presence remains crucial if things go awry. But right now, Athalia needs us.”

‎‎Arwen nodded, drawing her Spirit Bow “Aurelia” from her back.

‎‎ Arwen: “I’ll guard our passage to the grove. One misstep could lead us into a shadow rift.”

‎‎With the first blush of dawn breaking behind them, the trio—Zephyr, Rosalia, and Arwen—stepped toward the terrace’s southern archway. The wisteria vines seemed to part, revealing an elven-crafted gate of moonlit birch. Beyond it lay the winding path toward Moonshimmer Grove—where secrets and shadows awaited.

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‎End of Chapter 44