Chapter 179: #Viora?

Aunt Elena’s words hung in the morning air, ringing loud and clear in my ears.

A big war is coming ahead, and you must get strong enough to protect yourself.

’So that is the reason she didn’t get angry when I came back hurt the day after yesterday.’

I took one last look at the black marble gravestones of my parents, feeling a sudden wave of strength rise up from deep within my chest. I nodded my head firmly at my aunt.

"I won’t let you down, Auntie," I said, my voice steady. "I’ll get stronger. Strong enough to protect everyone."

Aunt Elena gave me a single nod. "Good. Let’s return."

Raymond picked up the small wooden box, bowed once more toward the graves, and turned around to lead the way back down the dirt path.

We all walked back to the wooden carriage waiting at the edge of the green hill. Raymond opened the door, helping Carmilla, Leo, Mia, Viora, and Aunt Elena step inside before I climbed in behind them.

He closed the wooden door, climbed up to the driver’s seat, and clicked the reins. The carriage slowly began to move down the winding stone road.

As the wheels creaked and the horses’ hooves clicked against the road, I leaned my head back against the soft leather seat, looking out the glass window at the passing trees.

’I was wondering why we didn’t take a car this morning,’ I thought to myself, watching the green hills slowly turn back into city buildings. ’Now I get it. Auntie and Raymond must have always used this carriage whenever they came to visit my parents’ graves.’

The carriage ride was very quiet, but it didn’t feel heavy or sad like before. It felt calm.

Suddenly, I felt a gentle warmth touch the side of my right hand.

I looked down. Viora was sitting right beside me, her eyes closed as she listened to the soft rhythm of the moving carriage. She slowly slid her fingers against mine, gently interlocking her hand with mine.

Her touch was warm and soft. Even though she didn’t say a single word, her small gesture said everything. I smiled faintly, squeezing her hand back with a gentle grip. She tilted her head slightly toward my shoulder, a tiny, sweet smile appearing on her face.

After an hour of smooth driving, the carriage finally pulled up in front of the villa’s main gates.

We all stepped out, walking up the front stone steps and entering the warm, bright living room.

Carmilla took Leo and Mia to their room so they could take a short nap after the long morning trip. Raymond went straight into the kitchen to prepare warm tea and light snacks.

I walked up to my bedroom, feeling a bit tired from all the deep emotions of the morning. I lay down on my bed, staring up at the white ceiling while thinking about the gates I would need to clear tomorrow to finally raise Viora’s level.

Meanwhile, in the quiet hallway of the second floor, Viora walked softly over the thick carpet.

She stopped right in front of Aunt Elena’s study room. She raised her hand, taking a small breath before knocking twice.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

"Come in," Aunt Elena’s cool, steady voice called out from inside.

Viora turned the brass door handle and pushed the door open.

The room was large, clean, and filled with the rich smell of old paper and fresh herbal tea. Tall bookshelves lined the walls, and a large wooden desk sat near the open window, covered in neat stacks of Association files.

Aunt Elena was sitting at her desk, holding a black pen in her hand. She raised her head, her sharp blue eyes looking over at Viora.

"Viora," Elena said calmly, setting her pen down on a stack of paper. "Is something wrong?"

Viora stood near the doorway, nervously shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She held her hands behind her back, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dark hoodie.

"N-No, Auntie," Viora spoke up softly, her cheeks turning a tiny bit pink. "I... I was wondering if I could talk with you for a moment?"

Aunt Elena leaned back in her high chair, folding her hands over her lap. "I am listening. What is it?"

Viora took a few slow steps forward, using the soft sound of Aunt Elena’s breathing and the gentle rustle of papers on the desk to position herself neatly in front of the desk.

"Well..." Viora started, her voice sounding unusually shy and hesitant. "I... I was wondering if I could borrow some of your clothes?"

Aunt Elena raised one eyebrow in genuine surprise. She looked down at Viora’s current outfit—a loose, oversized grey hoodie that practically swallowed her shoulders, paired with simple dark jeans.

"My clothes?" Elena asked plainly. "Why? The wardrobe in your room has plenty of clean shirts and pants that would suit your size."

"I know, but..." Viora bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushing a much deeper shade of red. She rubbed the back of her neck nervously. "All the clothes in my room are too baggy. They look like old sacks on me. They aren’t... decisive at all."

Aunt Elena stared at her for a moment, completely confused. "Decisive? What does clothing have to do with being decisive?"

Viora swallowed hard, stepping closer to the desk and lowering her voice into a desperate whisper. "I mean... I want something a bit different. Something like... your style. A bit more fitted. A bit... hot, maybe?"

Aunt Elena’s eyes widened slightly. She sat completely frozen in her chair, staring at the purple-haired girl in front of her as if she had just started speaking a foreign language.

"Why on earth would you need clothes like that?" Elena asked, her voice dropping into a stern, defensive tone. "We are staying inside a private villa, not attending an high end party."

Viora lowered her head down at the floor, her face burning hot with complete embarrassment. She twirled a lock of her purple hair around her finger, whispering in a tiny voice.

"It’s... it’s for Woo Jin."

"What?" Elena blinked.

"It’s for Woo Jin!" Viora repeated a bit louder, covering her red face with both hands. "Lately... he seems so down and stressed out! He’s always worrying about something, about getting stronger, and about protecting everyone! I just... I want to cheer him up! I want him to look at me and forget about all his stress for a little while!"

Aunt Elena sat in absolute silence.

She stared at Viora, her mind trying to process the logic behind the girl’s words.

"What do my clothes have to do with him cheering up?" Elena asked flatly, her eyebrow twitching slightly. "If he is stressed, he can drink herbal tea or practice with Raymond."

"That’s not how guys work, Auntie!" Viora whined softly, dropping her hands from her face, looking completely flushed. "Tea doesn’t make his heart race! I want him to pay attention to me! Please, Auntie... just one or two outfits! I think you have so many nice dresses and fitted tops in your closet!"

Aunt Elena let out a long, heavy sigh, rubbing her temples with her fingers. "You kids are completely ridiculous."

She stood up from her chair, walking to her room and over toward the large wooden wardrobe sitting near the corner. She opened the heavy carved doors, revealing rows of neatly hung silk blouses, dark fitted skirts, elegant coats, and long evening dresses.

As Elena stood near the open wardrobe, her eyes randomly drifted toward the top of Viora’s head.

She paused.

Standing on Viora’s head, sticking out softly through her thick purple hair, were two horns. Elena had noticed them before when Woo Jin first brought Viora to the villa, but right now, looking at them up close...

’Wait,’ Elena thought to herself, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. ’Those horns... haven’t they gotten a bit bigger since last time?’

When Viora first arrived, the two tiny horns were barely visible under her hair. But now, they were noticeably sharper, curving smoothly backward.

Elena didn’t say anything out loud about the horns. She simply turned back to the wardrobe, browsing through her hung clothes with a calm face.

"I am not giving you any of my formal suits," Elena said coolly, pulling out a sleek, dark blue fitted dress with a stylish open neckline and a soft silk belt. "And certainly nothing too short."

She pulled out a second item, a fine black off-the-shoulder knit top paired with a matching dark skirt that fit close to the waist.

"Here," Elena said, stepping back and holding out the two outfits toward Viora. "These should fit your frame well enough. They are fitted, but respectable."

Viora reached out, her hands carefully taking the smooth, expensive fabric. She ran her fingers over the soft silk, a massive, bright smile lighting up her embarrassed face.

"Thank you, Auntie!" Viora gasped happily, clutching the clothes close to her chest. "You’re the best!"

"Do not make a mess," Elena warned sternly, walking back toward her desk. "And if Woo Jin is distracted because of you, I will take those back immediately."

"I promise!" Viora giggled, bowing her head quickly toward the desk before turning around and slipping out the door into the hallway.

Aunt Elena returned to her study room. She shook her head with a small, weary sigh, picking up her black pen once more.

"Kids these days..." she murmured to herself, though a tiny, faint trace of amusement flickered deep inside her blue eyes.

"She is just like... me."