I Was The Hero, But I Woke Up as a Phoenix Princess! – Chapter 496

Chapter 496 Chapter 56 Frost Winter
Igreth had never considered what his mood and reaction would be if he were to leave Verafia.
However, he had a terrifying realization that he seemed to be getting used to this reality… as if under the terrible power of time, all pain, regret, and even memories would be gradually covered, smoothed, and forgotten.
The pure white immaculate Sacred Sword was placed before him.
Through the “True Sight Eye,” Igreth seemed to be able to see a scene of himself, the future King of Peka, gently holding Misaela’s slender white hand, ruling over all of Lichen…
Would he, at that time, perhaps, in fragments of memory, occasionally look back at that bright and cute beautiful girl?
His palm clenched fiercely. A sharp sting made him suddenly raise his head.
Igreth was clear… his encounter with that girl lasted only a short half-year, and his feelings for her were more about her beauty, his habits, and his dependence on her.
However, Igreth was absolutely unwilling to arrive at a day when even he himself would no longer possess the pain he felt at this moment.
“Veer, Young Lady…”
The names that came from his lips felt like somewhat unfamiliar words. Igreth forcibly pulled on his long coat, draped it over himself, and strode out.
Pure white snow fell from the sky, blanketing the ground in a thick layer. Igreth raised his head, and the icy wind, drilling into his sleeves, stirred the flame markings on his wrist, which no longer had any warmth, bringing a bone-chilling cold.
It had been nearly three months since his separation from Verafia, the deep autumn having turned into the frosty winter.
Verafia had not left Lichen; in fact, she was still in the elemental academy of Aris Academy. However, every time Igreth tried to see her… that girl of flame would disappear without a trace.
Even when Igreth entrusted Vicena to ask the academy to help him keep the girl… this method was undoubtedly extremely laughable.
As long as she was unwilling, who could keep a noble goddess?
“Igreth.”
A familiar maiden’s voice sounded, soft and pleasant. Igreth turned his head. The exquisite and noble silver-haired princess, along with Ophi, the girl of the frost dragon, were already waiting for him by the carriage. Standing beside the maidens was his younger sister, Shiel.
Shiel knew about his relationship with the princess. After a period of sad crying, Shiel offered her sincere blessings to him and the princess.
A perfunctory smile appeared on his face, and Igreth waved back at the maidens before boarding the carriage.
While conversing within the carriage, Igreth’s gaze fell upon the frosty ice crystals being crushed by the carriage wheels outside the window, his thoughts unknown.
Misaela’s voice gradually quieted down. Her clear and exquisite crystal blue eyes fell upon the young man’s profile. Her fair, jade-like delicate little hand suddenly gently rested on Igreth’s hand. A soft smile appeared on her porcelain-white, exquisite little face, and she asked softly:
“Igreth, what are you thinking about?”
Igreth’s expression shifted slightly, but he did not lie, saying, “I’m thinking about today’s academy final competition.”
Just then, the carriage had arrived at their destination.
The silver-haired princess smiled sweetly, her tender hand holding the young man’s, and they alighted the carriage, stepping into a world enveloped by white snow and silver frost.
Aris Academy’s most famous circular arena was already filled with students and teachers of all grades, and even many highly respected Grand Dukes and cabinet officials were present, accompanying the academy’s dean at this grand ceremony.
The final examination was a rather long-standing tradition of Aris Academy. Participants were selected from different classes in various academies, competing against each other. Those who reached the end would not only gain considerable fame and generous rewards, but could even make the lord of a city feel jealous.
The moment Igreth arrived, the entire arena erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
The reason was not only because of the silver-haired princess by his side, nor solely because of Igreth’s own identity as a “Candidate Hero” and the growing fame driven by Lancaster.
More importantly, in the previous few days, during his battle with Siegfried, whom he had fought before, Igreth had exposed Siegfried’s identity as a “White Wolf” of the Orc race through the “True Sight Eye.”
Even though Siegfried had been rescued by a mysterious Saint Rank after an intense conflict, the fact that the most core Royal City of Peka and its highest academy had been infiltrated by dirty orcs still stirred considerable anger among many.
And Igreth, who had defeated and exposed the opponent’s identity, had undoubtedly become a hero once again.
“Hero…”
Igreth murmured, lowering his face.
Siegfried was an Orc spy, and William, who had come to Aris Academy with him, had also disappeared. And what about Verafia, who had had many encounters with these two at that time?
In Igreth’s mind, the maiden’s name surfaced involuntarily.
His palm was suddenly held by the princess’s soft little hand, startling Igreth. Then, a gentle and pleasant voice reached his ears:
“Igreth, you should know! The most important thing in the academy’s annual grand competition is not just those noble titles and treasures as rewards, but the imprint of a divine spark of an angel god, which is the very foundation upon which Aris Academy was established.”
The imprint of an angel god’s divine spark…
Before they separated, Igreth had heard this from Verafia. Aris, the highest institution of learning in the entire kingdom, was built upon the遗迹 (yíjì – ruins/remains) of a god’s inheritance.
An ancient goddess had placed her divine spark within it, waiting for her successor throughout the long expanse of time…
“Igreth.”
The princess’s delicate voice sounded in his ear again. Igreth turned his head, seeing the girl’s clear eyes. Her snow-white, jade face with rosy cherry lips parted slightly:
“You… you were just now thinking about Miss Vera?”
Igreth nodded.
The final competition of Aris Academy… he had fought his way to the finals as the champion of the Dou Qi department.
And on the magic department’s side, from the very beginning, Igreth had his eyes fixed on one name: Verafia.
Verafia had also participated in such a competition and showed no intention of giving up… Before long, the one standing opposite him would be such a luxurious and beautiful maiden.
This was also the reason why Igreth had been fighting until now.
Igreth sometimes wondered if Verafia, such a new goddess princess, was willing to accompany him to Lichen and Aris precisely because of this ancient deity’s divine spark?
However, it all no longer mattered.
Igreth released the princess’s hand and walked onto the empty arena in the center of the cheering crowd.
Arriving here, Igreth was not fighting for victory, nor did he even expect any rewards… he simply wanted to see that maiden one more time.
Time flowed by, and the white snow of frost winter covered the entire ground. Even the excited crowd gradually quieted down.
With the enhancement of magic, shouts of the maiden’s name continued to echo. Many senior teachers and professors in the elemental academy wore anxious expressions, moving about to search.
However, there was still no one opposite Igreth. It was as if the maiden’s cold and aloof face was subtly mocking them with a hint of sarcasm.
It was only after half an hour that Igreth automatically won the championship. The black-haired youth’s face showed no joy, only a sense of desolation.
“Young Lady, she didn’t want to see me…”
A fact that had been repeated many times.
Yes, a girl so noble and proud, how could she break her noble vow for a mere divine spark?
Igreth gripped his sword tightly, then turned around and left dejectedly.
The winter snow swept past behind him, as if creating a distance as cold as frost winter between him and the maiden he had not seen again.