Ember Reborn: The Flame That Defied Fate-Chapter 54: A day off -

After the meaningful—questionable?—reunion with Yuren, my daily life became so busy that the word "busy" felt like an understatement.

Lectures.

Assignments.

And every evening, without fail, I met Berald and Yuren to teach them martial arts and swordsmanship.

Whenever a sliver of time appeared, I squeezed in my own training.

By the time I returned to my dorm, my body would collapse onto the bed like a corpse that had forgotten how to complain.

’I’m really going to die.’

Well, for me, dying was more of an inconvenience than a tragedy.

I’d just come back.

But mental exhaustion?

Even the Blessing of Revival couldn’t "revive" motivation.

Some things didn’t heal with mana.

Some things just... wore you down.

’Ah. I want to rest.’

I wanted to lie in bed all day and do nothing.

Not "train lightly."

Not "review notes."

Not "practice forms."

Just... nothing.

A nap under warm spring sunlight.

The kind of peace that makes you forget the world has demons.

Just imagining it made my throat burn with longing.

I swallowed hard and forced myself upright.

"Phew... still. I have things to do."

Today was Saturday.

No lectures.

No evening meeting with Berald.

No scheduled session with Yuren.

But that didn’t mean freedom.

It just meant I had no excuses.

"First," I muttered, "Professor Jade."

I looked at the small square case on my desk.

Inside was the mana-enhancing elixir Yuren had given me.

For someone like him, it was probably as meaningful as watered-down tea.

For someone like me—whose mana pool was still embarrassingly small even after improvements—it was valuable.

’Taking it directly would be fine... but.’

If I had the elixir, I might as well squeeze everything out of it.

Professor Jade was the academy’s authority on alchemy.

If anyone could amplify its effect—or refine it into something cleaner—it was him.

"And then..."

I turned my gaze to my Hero Watch.

Juliet.

After seeing Yuren’s private training ground, my desire for one had grown into a hunger.

Not because I wanted luxury.

Because I wanted peace.

Yesterday’s duel with Vincent had made things worse.

Every time I stepped into a public training area, people gathered like I was a traveling circus act.

Watching.

Whispering.

Pointing.

Training like that was torture.

’No wonder top students train privately.’

It wasn’t a privilege.

It was survival.

"I should message Juliet first."

I opened his contact and sent a short message.

[We need to talk. Are you free today?]

The response came almost instantly.

[Huh? What do you want?]

[In person. Message me later with a time.]

A pause.

Then:

[Fine. Contact me again.]

I smirked.

The cost of applying for a private training ground wasn’t small.

But with Juliet’s weakness in my hands, he didn’t have many choices.

Still...

I needed to confirm something.

Just to be safe.

I opened the album file in my watch.

The first image loaded—

And I immediately regretted being born.

"Ugh. My eyes."

Juliet.

Dressed in women’s clothing.

Striking a dramatic pose like he was posing for a romance poster.

I slammed the file shut like it was cursed.

Even if I was using those photos for a reason, having them existing on my watch was psychologically damaging.

’Once I get what I need... I’m deleting these immediately.’

I’d already gotten enough revenge for my past life.

I didn’t want to keep carrying this.

"Alright," I said, standing. "Time to move."

I reached for my sword belt—

Knock. Knock.

I froze.

Who was visiting my dorm on a Saturday morning?

I opened the door.

And instantly regretted it.

Iris stood there.

Dressed for an outing.

Neat clothes. Light jacket. Hair done.

And an expression that could melt steel.

"What’s going on—"

"YOU."

She grabbed my collar with both hands and yanked me forward.

"You bad bastard!"

"Why are you attacking me first and asking questions later?!"

"Why haven’t you contacted me for the past few days?" Iris hissed.

"...You told me not to contact you for a while," I said slowly.

Her eyes widened.

Then narrowed.

"...And you listened?"

"Yes."

Her grip tightened.

"Do you have no sense?!"

"Sense?! You told me not to! That’s—"

Iris released my collar only to pinch both sides of my cheeks and stretch them.

"Ugh—!"

"I hate you," she muttered, clearly furious—at me, at herself, at the laws of language.

Then she stepped back with a huff.

"...Fine. That was my mistake."

I blinked.

"That was... surprisingly reasonable."

"I’m not done," Iris snapped.

Then she looked at my clothes and the case on my desk.

"It’s the weekend. Where are you going?"

"Professor Jade’s lab," I answered. "I need to ask him something."

"Work again?"

"It’s not exactly work," I said carefully. "Just... a favor."

Iris’s gaze sharpened.

"So you’re not resting."

"...Not really."

A vein appeared on her forehead.

She grabbed my wrist.

"Come with me today."

"...Where?"

"To Valhalla City."

"Huh? Out of the blue—"

"You’re not refusing," she said with a bright smile that was absolutely not a request.

She even winked.

I swallowed.

"...I’ll get ready."

It seemed Professor Jade would have to wait.

Valhalla City surrounded the Hero Academy like a second world.

Huge. Busy. Loud. Alive.

It was where cadets went when they wanted to remember they weren’t weapons.

Iris walked beside me with a satisfied expression, like she’d kidnapped me and was proud of it.

"By the way," I asked cautiously, "what about Camilla?"

"I left without telling her," Iris said proudly. "I sneaked out."

"...Is that okay?"

"If you’re with me, I don’t need an escort," Iris replied, as if this was obvious.

Fair point.

Still—

"Will you tell her later?"

Iris smiled sweetly.

"Eventually."

That smile did not promise anything.

I tried not to laugh.

"And... where are we going?" I asked.

Iris clasped her hands behind her back.

"Somewhere fun."

"If this is the orphanage—"

"It’s not," she said quickly. "Today is different."

"Then where?"

Iris grinned and dramatically pulled out two tickets with a bold fist symbol stamped on them.

"Ta-da!"

I leaned closer.

"A movie?"

"Yes!" Iris nodded quickly, eyes shining. "The Republic made a film based on Iron Fist Ryujin Seong!"

Ah.

One of the Five Great Heroes.

I remembered her mentioning she liked him.

"It’s been out for a while," Iris admitted. "But I wanted to see it with you."

I blinked.

With me?

That... actually felt nice.

"I’d be happy to," I said.

Iris’s smile turned warm.

"The theater isn’t far."

As we walked, I realized something embarrassing.

"I’ve only heard of theaters," I said. "I’ve never been to one."

Iris turned to me, shocked.

"You’re from the Republic and you’ve never been?"

"There wasn’t an opportunity," I said.

That was the polite version.

The real version was: I couldn’t afford it.

During my cadet days, I lived on meager support.

After graduation, I was deployed to frontlines where "culture" meant "how to survive."

Iris’s expression softened.

"I’ve taken the children from the orphanage a few times," she said gently.

"Then I’ll follow your lead," I replied.

"Hehe," Iris laughed. "Leave it to me."

The theater was larger than I expected.

Posters filled the walls.

The movie Iris wanted was titled:

Iron Fist: Dawn of a Legend

I stared at the main poster.

A bald, heavily bearded, muscular man was roaring with his fists raised.

"...Ryujin Seong wasn’t bald," I muttered.

Iris tilted her head. "How do you know?"

"...Textbooks."

She hummed thoughtfully.

Then grabbed my hand.

"This way, Dale."

"Huh? Isn’t the entrance that way?"

"Yes," Iris said, dragging me toward a counter. "But first, snacks."

"Snacks?"

She looked at me like I’d just asked if swords were useful.

"Of course. You eat popcorn at the movies."

"Popcorn is... required?"

"Absolutely."

Iris marched up to the concession stand with terrifying confidence.

Then immediately chose something labeled "Couple Set."

I opened my mouth—

Closed it.

Not worth it.

A few minutes later, she returned holding a large box of popcorn and drinks.

"How is it?" Iris asked, offering me some.

"It’s good," I admitted. "But... we already ate half."

"That’s normal," Iris said seriously. "Popcorn is meant to be eaten before the movie starts."

"That makes no sense."

"It’s tradition."

Iris popped a piece into her mouth like she’d won an argument.

Then she held a piece toward me.

"Here."

"I can eat by myself."

"Say ’ah.’"

"...Yes, ma’am."

I ate the popcorn.

Iris looked pleased.

The lights dimmed.

The movie began.

It was... an action film.

Not subtle.

Not deep.

Ryujin Seong trained, fought, trained harder, fought harder, punched monsters, punched villains, punched fate.

And—mysteriously—went bald after a training montage.

Iris was completely absorbed.

"Get up!" she whispered fiercely at the screen, gripping her popcorn like a weapon.

"Hit him!" she whispered next.

Then, with the intensity of a battlefield commander—

"Yes! That’s it! Knock him down!"

I stared at her.

"...You’re very invested."

Iris didn’t look away from the screen.

"Obviously."

Thankfully, the theater was nearly empty.

Probably because the movie had been out for a while.

So her whispered battle commentary wasn’t embarrassing.

Just... slightly terrifying.

At one point, Iris clenched her fist and muttered—

"Break them."

"...Please don’t say that."

Iris blinked at me, then lowered her voice.

"Fine. Defeat them."

"Better."

I spent more time watching Iris than the movie.

Honestly, she was more entertaining.

After the film, we ate a light meal nearby, sat at a café, and walked through a park under warm spring sunlight.

And for the first time since returning—

I felt my shoulders loosen.

’I can’t remember the last time I actually rested.’

I sat on a bench and stretched.

The sunlight was warm. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The breeze was gentle.

My mind, for once, wasn’t screaming about demons or training schedules.

Iris sat beside me, hands folded, expression calm.

"Dale."

"Yeah?"

"Lie down."

I blinked.

"What?"

She patted her thigh lightly.

"Here."

"...On your lap?"

"Yes," Iris said like it was obvious. "No one’s around."

I hesitated.

Then Iris grabbed my shoulder and pushed me down before I could argue.

My head rested on her lap.

Soft fabric.

Warmth.

Comfort.

Not romantic in a dramatic way.

Just... safe.

Iris gently brushed my hair back from my forehead.

We stared up at the sky through the trees.

"The weather is really nice," Iris murmured.

"Yeah," I replied.

She hummed happily.

"The wind is perfect. The sky is clear. No clouds."

I turned my head slightly.

And immediately regretted it.

From this angle, the view was... blocked.

By her jacket, her hair, her posture—everything about her presence filled my vision.

I blurted without thinking.

"Wow... it’s really—"

I stopped.

Too late.

Iris’s fingers paused.

"...Really what?"

I swallowed.

"...Really peaceful."

Iris stared down at me.

Then pinched my cheek lightly.

"Liar."

"I’m not lying!"

She narrowed her eyes, then broke into a small laugh.

"Dale."

"Yes?"

"Try saying something normal for once."

I sighed dramatically.

"Yes, ma’am."

Iris chuckled, then continued gently stroking my hair.

And for a moment—

The world felt ordinary.

No demons.

No storms.

No shifting future.

Just sunlight.

Just warmth.

Just the Saint sitting beside me like she’d decided I was allowed to breathe.

My eyelids grew heavy.

Iris’s voice softened.

"You’ve been pushing yourself too hard," she said.

"...I have to."

Iris’s hand stopped for a second.

Then resumed, slower.

"I know," she murmured. "But you don’t have to do it alone."

I didn’t answer.

Because if I did, my voice might crack.

So I just closed my eyes.

And for the first time in a long time—

I rested.